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First Tooth!

Aubrey is getting so big and has so many little "tricks" as we like to call them. She claps and waves and gives high fives. She loves to dance and sing. She is a crawling fool and loves to pull herself up to standing. If there is something she wants, she will cruise for it a little bit. She is approaching 10 months old here in the next week or so...and we couldn't be having more fun with her. Even with her teething, she is such a joy to be around. She cut her first little tooth the day after Bart's birthday... the 16th of June.

We (really it was me that delayed it) finally had to cave and do a little sleep training with her, which despite all the tears in the beginning, has been a huge blessing. She is definitely benefiting from all the sleep (as are Bart and I) and she goes down in her crib, rolls over and doesn't make a peep at night (except for tonight, but I blame that on the teething...) It took about two weeks of perfecting, but I can hardly believe that she doesn't fight going to sleep. Now naps are a totally different story...lol. But, we are slowly working on those too. 


Bree LOVES the pool, thank goodness. We are going to have one of our friends give her swimming lessons, so I am excited about that. We were skeptical about getting a pool, but honestly, I don't think I would survive the Arizona summers without one. It is supposed to be 117 degrees tomorrow. We are headed up to Pine to escape the heat. It will still be in the 90s up there, but  at least it cools down at nighttime. 

 Uncle Moose, aka Uncle Tony, came in for a surprise birthday visit for Bart's 40th birthday...I will have to post the video if Bart hasn't deleted it...it was quite comical!

Father's Day...hanging out with Grandpa up at the cabin... 

Daddy and daughter moment...my two loves!

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Fourth of July!

Wow...Time Flies!

Wow...time sure does have a way of getting away from you. I can't believe our little girl is eight months old already! She is crawling, and pulling herself up to standing...dancing, clapping, waving and pointing. Can't forget hi-fiving! She is such a happy baby and a joy to be around. I'm sure it won't be too much longer before she is walking now. We are having so much fun with her right now. 

Just a few pictures and a short post today...my allergies are acting up, boo! But wanted to show pictures of our sweet angel!

Morning rinse off!

At the Ostrich Festival, 2011

Just playing

Our Easter eggs

Bree's first Easter Basket!

Daddy stealing Bree's ears...give 'em up Dad!

Too cute!

...and we're done with the ears...lasted longer than I thought they would!

Reading a book with Daddy

It's Been a While...A Quick Recap

I had this image of Aubrey going to bed by 7:30-8 and then afterward being able to get prepared for the following day, including catching up on the blog, laundry, prepping the cloth diapers, etc...then reality set in...lol. Not that she's fussy or a bad sleeper; quite the opposite actually. She just power eats most of the evening and goes to bed between 9:30-10:30pm. So, that means I do the same thing shortly thereafter...(not the power eating, but most definitely the sleeping).

The good thing is, she is an excellent sleeper still. It just means, whatever poor Bart gets done, is about all that gets done. And he's been doing a LOT...thank goodness! He couldn't be more wonderful and supportive. And it's simply amazing watching him interact with Aubrey. I had no doubt that he would be a good father; but he has stepped up to his role of father and partner in a way that I could have never imagined. I feel so blessed to have the most amazing husband to raise this perfect little girl...there are no words to describe the bliss I am living. 


I could go on, but I will spare you all the sap...lol. 

I can't believe we are already in 2011...we had a fantastic Halloween...Aubrey was a ladybug at our work party (ladybug compliments of Aunt Jimmie) and bumble bee (compliments of Esty.com and my mom for her crocheted hat and leggings) for our other Halloween parties in which Bart was a beekeeper and I was a potted flower. The first time we ever followed a theme for Halloween and it happened kind of on accident, but it turned out so cute...and we had so much fun!!

Then of course, Thanksgiving...and my mom came out to meet miss Aubrey Skye. We had dinner at Great Grandma Helen and Great Grandpa Don's. Yummy food and good times with the family. Grandma Mo got to stay for a week with us and whisper revenge into her granddaughter's ear. Neither Bart nor I had any time available to take off, so we just hung out at the house after work mostly and had some good quality time together. 

Christmas came all too soon. Each year, I say I am going to start my holiday shopping early...and I am still out the week before trying to get it all done and inevitably pull an all nighter wrapping presents and scrambling to get everyone's gifts out on time to reach them before Christmas. Surprisingly enough, they made it on time this year! 

Aubrey was spoiled for her first Christmas by everyone! I know, I know...they say you can't spoil a newborn, but she did get a lot of stuff...lol. Not that I had anything to do with that.

 

Then we got to bring in the new year with Aunt Sally and Uncle Tony who came out to visit us from Michigan! So many visitors and so much fun! 

May 2011 bring you all as much happiness, love and laughter as Aubrey brings us...Happy New Year!

Back to Work...Already

So,Thursday, it was back to work for me. Bart didn't have to go back, but since the baby has to come with me, he decided to head back too. A little backwards that he had more time off than me, but then that's just how it goes. The great thing about going back to work is that I get to take Aubrey with me! We have on-site childcare available up to age two. And my first month back, I get to stay with Aubrey in my own private office to get readjusted and try to work out a nursing schedule. I am soo thankful for this HUGE work benefit because, for one thing, I don't know if I could leave Aubrey...lol. Seriously, both Bart and I have so much fun with her. She is starting to smile for real and she just makes so many cute faces and little noises. We call her our "Little Dinosaur." 


The five weeks we had off just flew by...it seriously felt like only days off. Aubrey, thankfully, is a good sleeper. She is on average sleeping 6-8 hours a night...and if we hadn't had to wake her up to nurse, she probably would have slept that good from week two...lol. Our pediatrician didn't want us to go more than four hours without nursing because she dropped a pound at the hospital. But she is back up to over 10 pounds now, so we let her wake up when she is hungry. Since we are both Virgos, I am guessing she really likes her sleep, just like I do...thank goodness!!


At two and a half weeks old, we had some professional pictures taken. We just ordered the cd and will be posting them as soon as I receive the cd. They turned out better than I could have ever imagined! I am so excited about them! I am taking a photography class though so I can hopefully learn some neat tricks and save some money without sacrificing cute pictures. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

She's Here! Meet Aubrey Skye

So much for that "boy" feeling we had during the majority of my pregnancy...lol! Miss Aubrey Skye joined us on 9/11/2010. As most of you know, we had planned for a homebirth and although it may not have happened as planned, Aubrey is here and safe, and in the end, that was all that mattered. And hey, I got an appendectomy out of the whole deal too! Beats having to have an emergency one done later in life. 

So basically, after 36 hours of laboring at home, I was 5 1/2 cm dilated and she had come down what we thought was far enough into the canal, so we broke my water. Instead of the contractions getting stronger, they weakened and started spacing out further. And Aubrey floated back up...so, it was off to the hospital.   

And a few hours later, we got to meet our perfect baby girl...she weighed 8 lbs 14 oz and was 21 inches long. She came out with almost a full head of blond hair (which totally explained the heartburn) and blue eyes to melt our hearts. She got to stay in the room with us and Bart simply amazed me with his natural paternal instincts and all the help he provided with the late night diaper changes and waking up just to help me get up out of bed. He was a stickler on making sure I got up and walked and was my rock through the many hours of labor. 

I am truly blessed...

Less than week!! (give or take...lol)

We are quickly approaching our due date! My last appointment was just on Wednesday....Dippin' Dot had dropped the week before, but decided to float back up! So, the midwives think that Dippin' Dot won't debut until Labor Day weekend, which is quite fitting. I feel pretty good about the house and nursery. We have everything ready for the DD's B-day! The birthing pool is blown up, the birthing kit is packed in the corner with everything else that we had to gather. Bart is putting the glider together tomorrow and that should just about finalize the nursery. I need to take some pictures and post them....hmmm, maybe tomorrow! After the glider is assembled!


I am ready to find out the sex of the baby now! Didn't get too anxious until the last week or so. We have a tentative appointment with a photographer on the 8th...she likes to come out 4-6 days after the birth, so it all depends on DD! I am really excited about that. I got a great deal on Livingsocial.com! It is much like Groupon.com...

Bart is getting ready to finish school soon! Again, depending on DD, he will walk at his graduation ceremony on the 11th of September. This coming week is his last for Herbal clinic and then only five more weeks of his last class. He should be a licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist by the end of this year...after he takes all four of his board exams! It has been a long five years, but it will all be worth it! I couldn't be more proud of him! And just in time to be able to share all the special moments together of our precious newborn. Life is definitely good...