iPod

Audrey LOVES listening to my iPod and it’s the one thing that will keep her attention for more than 13 seconds at a time.  The other day I caught her rocking out in the back seat.

 

Granny’s treasures

My Mom has an amazing collection of stuff (not junk, but stuff).  You need an Egyptian head piece?  A graduation robe (she has a plethora of colors to pick from)?  A bowling pin lamp?  Puppets?  Clown shoes?  A balance beam?  She’s got it!  She just happened to have a pair of little Dutch wooden shoes in the basement that fit Audrey perfectly.  Audrey loved them, and walked around in them all week.  The nice part about it was that you could hear her coming from a mile away and always knew where she was.

Seriously, how cute are those shoes?  She also enjoyed playing with the Babushka Dolls (while still in her wooden shoes) that my Mom picked up recently in Russia.

Oh, so many fun treasures at Granny’s house!  To Audrey, Granny’s house must just seem like one giant treasure chest full of amazing things to play with and learn about.

Kids are weird

There are two things about young children/babies that really make me laugh, and I currently have a kid to demonstrate each of them.

The first is that babies have freakishly large heads and little T-Rex like arms.  Most babies can’t even come close to touching the tops of their heads.  Can you imagine not being able to touch the top of your head because your head was so big or your arms were so short?  See exhibit A:

Exhibit A

My other favorite thing is watching a child under the age of 2 trying to jump.  It’s hilarious!!!  They just can’t get airborne, but the best part about it is that they think they are doing it.  Here’s a video of Audrey demonstrating her mad “jumping” skills.

The Columbus Zoo

One of my favorite things to do in Columbus, Ohio is to go to the zoo.  They have a couple of great exhibits, and Audrey loves to see all the animals.

Here’s a picture of their new baby elephant:

A very comfy orangutan:

A sleeping manatee (aka: “Sea Cow”) & a stingray:

And my favorite exhibit…the kangaroos:

Seriously, is it even safe to be that close to a kangaroo?

If you ever find yourself in Columbus with a couple extra hours to spare, head over to the zoo.  You’ll be glad you did.

Swinging in the woods

There are all kinds of fun things to do at Granny and Grandpa’s house including swinging on the tree swing and walking through the wood trails behind their house.  So fun!

Apples and Corn and Pumpkins, Oh My

We spent last week up in Ohio visiting my family and had a wonderful time.  The fall leaves were beautiful and the weather was cool and crisp.  Perfect for going out and picking apples and pumpkins!

Andrew says that Elise looks like Cartman from Southpark in this next picture…I think it’s the hat.

Now here’s the thing about pumpkins…they’re gross.

So, my Mom gutted mine for me. Isn’t that sweet?  I’m 31 and my Mom is still willing to rip the pumpkin guts out for me and just let me carve it.  Thanks Ma!

The finished product.  I realize it’s not going to win any fancy awards or anything, but if you knew how little artistic talent I have, you’d be impressed.

Hoodies

Q:  What’s better than a hoodie?

A:  A small hoodie!

Q:  What’s better than a small hoodie?

A:  Two small hoodies!

Q:  What’s Audrey’s favorite thing to do in the stroller?

A:  Point out where Elise’s nose is (too bad it’s not Elise’s favorite thing too).

Duluth Fall Festival

This weekend we went to the Duluth Fall Festival.  It was a lot of fun: all the fried food you could ever want, craft booths, a parade, clowns, balloons, etc.  The parade ended up being the highlight of the day.

Audrey wasn’t really that into it at first.

Then she got a sucker and wasn’t into anything except the sucker.

Then she realized that people were actually throwing candy at her, and that’s when she decided parades were fun!

It was hilarious to watch her because every time she would bend down to pick up one piece of candy, she’d end up dropping two of the ones she was holding.  She could have been entertained for hours just picking up and dropping candy.

She finally just sat down to survey the goods.

Elise enjoyed the parade too, only it was more like the way I enjoy a good nap on a rainy day.

About 13 seconds into the ride home, Audrey was out!  (Note the beads wrapped around her leg…kids are so weird)

Cubby Cheeks

Elise is getting some fabulous cheeks and rolls and extra chins.  I love this chubby little baby!!!

What a gift!

Yesterday was my 31st birthday, and it was a great day!  I received several calls and voicemails with people singing Happy Birthday, emails, cards, gifts, etc.  But I think Elise gave me the best gift of all…this gummy smile!

That precious kid decided to flash her very first smile at her Mom for her birthday.  How sweet is that?  It’s amazing how far a gummy little grin will go for a sleep deprived mama.