Great America Trip

On June 16-17 we decidecd to celebrate and early father's day and Jon's birthday with a trip to Great America.  Brandon and I hadn't been there in years and we thought we'd give it a go.  This was the most complex and labor intensive trip we've taken so far, but it was well worth it!

The 7 of us, Krystal, Jon, Mommy, Papi, Brandon, Aubrey, and I all stayed in a suite at Embassy Suites.  We got to go to Rock Bottom Brewery (where we went to in Portland when we visited Krystal and Jon) for dinner on the 16th to celebrate and early father's day.  Then on to trying to get a good night's sleep for the busy day ahead.  Aubrey did awesome that night! 

We got up in the morning and had a great breakfast (I even let myself have milk products that day :) ), and then we were off to the park. 

We really had such a good time!  The weather was wonderful: not too cold, not too hot and sunny.  Aubrey was on stimulation overload and nothing could wipe that smile off of her face.  She even took her naps in the stroller and stayed on her normal schedule all day :). 

Aubrey before her first amusement park ride :)

Aubrey after...still smiling!

Her favorite toy by the end of the day

Everyone was so helpful with her and Brandon and I couldn't have done this trip without their help.  It was a very successful trip with great memories made.  We'll definately do something like this again!

Even at the end of the day...smiling!

All Packed Up

So this week was a little emotional to say the least.  It is maybe the FINAL time I will have to pack up my classroom at the end of the school year.  It took three days, but the walls have no bulletin boards or student work up, the cupboards are bare, and my desk is empty and the student's toys that I took away are gone.  Our once clean garage has been once again piled up with boxes and books yet to be organized.  I have done this many times as each year I have been laid off over and over again, but this year is a little different.  This time I got an official lay off notice and don't know if I would even have the opportunity to return.  It's very bittersweet knowing that my career as a teacher might be over for now, but I know that there might be other plans for me right now...teaching one very special little girl.   Although the numbers have changed (34 pairs of eyes watching and listening to you), I know that I have a very important role in one beautiful little girl's life and that is a blessing that I can be ever so grateful for.  The reward for me now will not be monetary (but who are we kidding...a teacher's paycheck is never enough), but I know the rewards will far exceed my expectations now.  My official job title may not be "teacher" anytime soon, but I will be a teacher in more ways than I know :).

Seven Months

At seven months Aubrey:
~ Is totally sitting up unsupported now!  She plays really well by herself when she's sitting, but then fusses when she falls down.  Hasn't quite got the hang of sitting back up...although she tries :).

~ Started solid foods this month.  So far has eaten rice cereal, green beans, carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, and prunes.  She's gaining some more weight with the solids and loving the new tastes.
~ FINALLY started sleeping through the night!  On average 9-10 hours!!  Yay!!
~ Started making noises and babbling a lot more now.  She makes bubbles, makes some crazy throat sounds, screeches, and winnies in a high pitch voice.  Likes to make a-ba and ba-ba sounds.  She also has a shrill scream which she uses often during her tantrums...yes, tantrums :(.  She doesn't go down without a fight sometimes.

~ Can transfer toys from hand to hand
~ Still very clingy to mom
~ Doesn't like Uncle Tyler's beard and cries every time at the site of it.
~ Almost mastered the pincher reflex

~ Started to get on her hands and knees and rocks back and forth.  Still just falls right back on her tummy each time.  Crawling on the horizon soon...yikes!

~ Loves textures and grabs everything in sight.  Puts everything in her mouth, including her hand.

~ Puts objects up to her ears and forehead sometimes and holds them there for a little bit. Who knows if she just wants to feel the texture or something?  A little quirky, but funny.
~ Is constantly moving her right leg.  When she's laying on her tummy, on her back, and even slams her foot against the edge of her carseat. 
~ Rolls all the way across the room.  She's always moving!

~ Started crying during church and not sleeping like she normally did.  We think it might be nursery time
~ Has become so happy :)

~ On May 16th: Height- 26 inches (50%), Weight- 13 lbs, 6 oz (5%)

First Foods

So Aubrey last week had her first taste of solid foods.  It was rice cereal and she loved it!  She wasn't so sure at first, but it grew on her quickly.  We were afraid of an alergy with all her tummy issues, but no issues yet thank goodness :).  We're enjoying this messy but fun milestone!  Hopefully as time goes on she won't be that picky of an eater :).

Six months

At six months Aubrey:
~ Started rolling around in her crib still swaddled.  It was like she was in a straight jacket at times and was pretty funny.  She is now being swaddled with one arm out and she rolls right to her tummy when we lay her down.  We're trying to break her of the swaddle, but for now it's working.  She's sleeping a LOT better at night and for naps.  We're guessing she just wanted to sleep on her tummy the whole time :).
~ Started blowing spit bubbles and making lots of different noises with her mouth.  She tries to mimic what we do with our mouths sometimes.
~ Loves to play peek-a-boo
~ When on her tummy she has started to get her knees under her and lunging forward.  She still keeps her head down on the ground when she does this.
~ She is sitting up unsupported more and more each day.  The other day she went five minutes without toppling over.

~ Has a crazy obsession with tags on toys.  She loves fuzzy toys the best, but always tries to find the tag on the toy and then sucks on that.  She even found the tag on the pack and play and got that in her mouth when she was supposed to be asleep.
~ Loves to pretend to fly around the room.  Even when she's crying she calms down pretty quickly if we do this with her
~ She makes a peter pan stance when she is lifted sometimes: one leg bent, the other one straight :)
~ Makes some crazy faces

~ Turns when someone in the room starts to sing.  She literally stops what she is doing to just listen and then turns in the direction she hears the sound coming from.  She does this when mom and dad talk too.
~ Loves to be outside
~ Still a momma's girl, but mommy is loving this clingyness while it lasts.
~ Laughs often and we love that gummy, no teeth smile :)
~ 13lbs, 7oz (5%), 26 inches (50%)

First Mother's Day

On this Mother's Day I woke up to a wonderful husband preparing decaf coffee for me and turnovers for breakfast.  On the counter was a beautiful painted mug with little footprints on it.  Brandon had taken Aubrey for an afternoon a while back and they painted this just for me.  I got to enjoy my coffee in this very special mug :).

I thought it was the cutest thing ever and it means so much to me. 

Every Mother's Day when we were little my sister and I would make a corsage for my mom to wear. My wonderful sister was so thoughtful that she made me my very own corsage to wear on this day. She handmade it and it was absolutely beautiful. I can't believe I was the one wearing one this year!

We got ready and went to church and afterwards went to Cheesecake Factory for lunch.  The afternoon was spent resting and relaxing while getting to visit with my mom and family.  Aubrey, Brandon and I made some cards for the new grandmas and they loved them. The whole day I felt very much appreciated :).

So I thought this day would never arrive at times...being able to celebrate my first Mother's Day. I have looked forward to being a mom for some time and now it's my turn and I can't believe it. Aubrey has brought me so much joy and I love her so much that sometimes it hurts. I think about the moment she was born and it still brings tears to my eyes (as I'm sure it will for a long time :) ). That precious moment when they laid her on me and I got to see her beautiful face for the first time. At that moment, and people told me about it, my whole perspective on life had changed. I was now a mom. I didn't know at that moment how my life would change, but I knew it would. All the days of being sleep deprived, having spit up on me consistently, and endless dirty diapers cannot take away what I feel for this little one every time she smiles, wraps her arms around my neck, and grows and changes. It is the best feeling to be a mom and I am so blessed that God has allowed that in my life.  I know now what our mothers had to go through to raise us and I have a new found respect and awe of them more than ever.  Thank you for doing all that you have done!  Happy Mother's Day!

First Family Bike Ride

So it's been a very long while since I have actually owned a bike.  I have ridden them several times, but after a tailbone surgery I have steered clear of bikes for some time now.  Yesterday was the day I finally got my own bike!  It's a beach cruiser, pale yellow, with white wall tires, and a basket to match.  I love it!  It will take some getting used to because it rides so differently than a regular sports bike, but it should be as "easy as riding a bike" :)

We got to break in the bike a little as we, the three of us, went for a family bike ride around the neighborhood.  Brandon got a kids trailer to pull on the back of his bike and we strapped Aubrey in good.  Car seat and all :)  It might be a couple more months till she can totally sit up in it, but we just wanted to try things out.  Brandon loves going for bike rides and he's wanted to do this for so long and yesterday was our chance.  It was great to get out and enjoy the evening riding in the sunset :).