I need a sign!

I need to make a sign to hang around Ashlyn's neck that says "I dressed myself and Mommy didn't want to pick a fight"...

Thank goodness we were only going outside to ride bikes! (She thinks I wanted to take a picture of her new helmet)

I love how she thinks a skirt and sweater with a fur collar make great biking apparel! She often puts on two colored socks when I tell her to go put her shoes and socks on. They are the kind that have rubber letters on the bottom so she won't slip on the hard floors. She has even made it out into public before I notice what she had done! I'm trying to figure out how I can store outfits together so she can just pull out an outfit without "needing" to make up her own. If we have somewhere of importance to go, like outside the house where we will be seen by others, I will try to lay out an outfit before she beats me to it. But, there are days where she feels my choice is not stylish enough. I want her to have a choice and be independent but not at the expense of embarrassing her Mommy. Ha!

Ashlyn got her new bike this weekend. She got birthday and Christmas money from Pawpaw and Nana and Great Grandad and Great Grandma a couple months ago. We knew we wanted to get her a bike with her money but wanted to wait until it warmed up so she could actually ride it. She is getting pretty good on it. She is able to pedal and steer at the same time and getting the hang of stopping.

6 Months

Aubrey you are six months old! Wow, half way through your first year! I am so excited about the next 6 months, those are my favorite months! If only I can figure out how to make time move slower.


You are still incredibly happy, you love to smile and squeal!
You are eating rice cereal and vegetables. You love carrots, even though it was rough at first, you will tolerate sweet potatoes, and you love sweet peas.
You reach for everything and put everything in your mouth, including your toes.
You love baths!
You love to sit in your Bumbo and watch Ashlyn play, even when she isn't paying any attention to you.
You can sit up on your own for 3-4 seconds.
You babble one syllable words.
You wear size 2 diapers and 3-6 month clothes but are moving into 6-9 months very quickly. You still wear a size 1 shoe but won't keep them on. You even manage to get your Robeez off.
You have the cutest little feet and ankles.


This morning you scooted off your blanket. I was busy loading the washing machine and when I came in the living room you were on the bare floor. You were so proud of yourself!


I'm not really sure how you pulled that one off because you are still opposed to rolling. I'm starting to catch glimpses of my very near future, physical exhaustion and plastic dishes all over my kitchen floor!

What??

Happy Spring from our family to yours...

Just Rambling

Phillip was gone again for work this week. I definitively have a strong respect for single moms who have to do this day in and day out. There is just something nice about having a conversation with someone taller than a yard stick.

Ashlyn is talking to her best friend, Daddy, while he is in Mexico. That would be Cancun Mexico, mind you, don't feel sorry for him! And yes, Ashlyn is that sassy!



She is wearing her new "inside" shoes. It was quite the hunt to find cute toddler shoes that were A) Not gaudy and B) Under $35 a pair. Her insoles made all but one of her shoes too small. I was just thankful we are switching seasons and she needed cooler weather shoes anyways. Her indoor shoes have a little bit of a glittery sheen to them, which I played up big time when they arrived in the mail. I knew it was going to be work to get her to wear shoes all day long so I wanted some that she would love. And love them she does! She actually got upset today when we were going to Walmart and I made her change shoes.

Aubrey loves to lay on the floor with her feet up in the air! I think it's the cutest thing. She's gotta have some ab muscles under all that chub to keep her legs up like that!



Last week my brother and his girlfriend came up for a visit. Kristine slept in Ashlyn's bed so Ashlyn slept in her sleeping bag in Aubrey's room. The first night Aubrey was already asleep and as soon as we shut the door Ashlyn was up on the crib rails waking her sister up. The next night they both went to bed at the same time so I told Ashlyn to be quiet and not wake Aubrey up. A couple minutes later over the monitor we heard Aubrey blowing raspberries and Ashlyn saying "shh, Aub-wee be quiet". It cracked us up! As if Aubrey said "woo hoo party time" and the wildest thing she knew how to do was blow raspberries!

Eating!!

Ashlyn loves to help me with Aubrey. She always takes her socks, pants, and diaper off before bath time. Now that Aubrey is eating cereal, of course Ashlyn wants to give feeding her a try too...




Yes, that was a gag you heard on the second bite and yes Ashlyn took off at the end because she got cereal on her hand and needed to wipe off!

Aubrey tried carrots for the first time this week. Is it wrong that I love watching the awful faces my kids make when they are trying new foods?!

Spring is a coming!

We have had such beautiful weather lately! We have really enjoyed being able to go outside and enjoy the sunshine!!
Phillip was out of town for a full week for business and flew home late Wednesday night. He was able to stay home Thursday and spend the day with us, we were so excited! So after a trip to Fayetteville to pick up Ashlyn's orthotics, lunch at Jason's Deli, and an afternoon nap we headed outside to soak up the sun. Aubrey hasn't ever really played outside. The weather got cool very soon after she was born so she has been cooped up in the house all winter. She absolutely loved being outside! Phillip carried her around in the carrier and she squealed and kicked her legs and arms the entire time. She loved watching Ashlyn run around the yard being silly!

This weekend we headed to Phillip's parents for a quick visit. On Saturday we packed a picnic lunch and headed to the lake for some more outdoor fun. The wind was a bit chilly at times but it was still a beautiful day! They have a little visitor's center there next to the lake with little stations set up for kids. They are able to play with turtles in a little pond, look at items from nature with a magnifying glass, and even watch fish in a huge tank. Every Saturday they feed the fish in the tank with live minnows which is always so fun to watch!

Ashlyn sneaking a sip of Grandpa's coffee!

What every girl needs to know...

Ashlyn loves to show Aubrey things and teach her. She has taken it upon herself to teach her baby sister all the important things like...

How to play babies...


And who's who in Hollywood...
(Pointing to her sesame street sippy cup) "Ab-Wee this is Elmo"

I got Aubrey's exersaucer out this week and she loves it!

She loves being able to play upright and look around! She loves it even more when Ashlyn bounces her up and down in it!


Ashlyn loves to wear headbands. I think because she is able to "fix" her hair herself. The other day the girls and I were at Target I saw some cute headbands displayed in the girls apparel section and thought they were so cute. They also triggered my creative side so when we got home I pulled out some scrap fabric and made her a cute little flower for her headband.