And what have you done?

Every Christmas I hear this song by John Lennon "Happy Christmas-War is over" and after hearing these lyrics...

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"So this is Christmas, And what have you done, Another year over, And a new one just begun"

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I think to myself, "What have I done this year that made a difference? What have I done that actually counted for something?" And every year I come up with pretty much nothing. I mean either I went to school, studied, went to work, and did some sort of occasional volunteer work or gave donations to non-profit organizations, but really I did nothing! Well this year, after my first whole year of being a Mom, when I heard this song...it brought tears to my eyes, because for the the first time I feel that I actually did something that made a real difference and that actually counts. Being a Mom is a very hard job that doesn't really get a lot of praise or thanks. (I know this now and I am so thankful to my mom and realize how much all Moms give of themselves to their kids. It's never ending, but it's amazing!) Anyway, there have been so many days this past year that I feel so small and unimportant and I just wish I was back at my desk in my normal ho-hum routine of work and then stopping at the gym on the way home instead of changing poopy diapers, fixing peas and carrots and doing baby talk all day...but now it is clear to me that my work as a Mom is so much more important! So what have I done in 2009? Well I have had some really hard days, but most of my days are filled with smiles, giggles and so much little personality! Personality of a little girl that is being shaped and formed by my day to day work...which is so important!

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Happy New Year and we are looking forward to all that 2010 brings! (Including another little munchkin!) :)

December Happenings and a Very Merry Christmas!

Such a fun and busy month! Here are some pictures!

Picture from inside our Christmas card!

My mom found this piano in her attic. It was mine, my brother's and my sister's. She loved it!


Mammo and Audrey!

We went out to eat with Allyson and Abby and exchanged Christmas gifts. Here are two angels!

My Dad got some amazing tickets to the Rockets game, Bryan, I, my brother Eric, and my cousin Sean sat court side while my Mom and Dad were up in the suite. Awesome game!

Eric and Sean

Bryan and me

Lara and I decided to go Christmas shopping at Nordstrom's and when we told my Dad he invited himself and came along. It was great to have him there with us, since I don't think he has ever really gone shopping with us before. I think he came just to spend time with Audrey! She loved shopping with her Pappo!

Helping Pappo pick out shirts! She has great taste!

Worn out from shopping!

We spent Christmas Eve during the day at Grandma Marcia's house. We had a great Turkey lunch and opened presents. Audrey helped everyone open their gifts!

Riding in the push car that Aunt Arianne got her!

Grandma Marcia and Grandpa Craig!

That night we went to my Mommo and Pappo's house to celebrate Christmas Eve with my Dad's side of the family. Here is Audrey mesmerized by all the presents. It was so hard keeping her occupied so she didn't unwrap everything under the tree!

Me and my angel!

Christmas morning we woke up and opened presents that Santa brought to our house. Here is a huge gift that Santa left in our backyard! Audrey loves it!

We then headed to Mammo and Pappo's house to open more gifts and enjoy a nice relaxing Christmas!

We are so blessed, and I am so thankful for my wonderful family and my great husband and loving, beautiful daughter! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

14 Months Old

What is new at 14 months? A lot! This little girl understands and listens to everything you say. If she could talk, I promise you we could have full on conversations!!! She also picks up on every one's expressions and copies them. Here are some things...

- She is really learning her sign language now. We are not teaching her everything just the ones that are more useful. Like 'more', 'cracker', 'all done', and 'milk'. Yes, they are all to do with eating. Audrey loves to eat and when we are at a restaurant she growls, yes...growls, for more food. So now instead of growling...she just signs what she wants, which is usually 'more'!


- She blows kisses!


- She shows you here tongue when you ask to see it.


- If you ask her if it's cold outside she makes fists, strains her face and her neck and makes the "hisssssss" sound to show you it's cold. (By the way, I think she got this one from me because every time we go outside and it's a little cold I squeeze her tight, make a fist with my other hand and tell her "It's cold outside, it's so cold!"


- She still will only sit and watch Sesame Street. She loves her Sesame Street!


- She has some Sesame Street table covers for when we eat out at restaurants and she can point out who Elmo, Zoe, Cookie Monster, Big Bird and Ernie is if you ask her. She also will point out the ball, the bubbles, the toothbrush and anything else you ask her. She also reads books like this... it seems she can point out anything you ask of her.


- This girl knows what she wants and she is not afraid to tell you. She will nod yes when she wants something, but if someone wants to hold her or asks for a kiss from her (which she passes out all the time!) and she doesn't want to she is not afraid to nod no.

-She loves to draw or color!

- She gets so excited when I tell her we are going to Gymboree! We took a couple month break from Gymboree because between her and I both getting sick with the flu and me being unbearable sick with morning sickness, it was hard getting there on a regular schedule. Anyway, now that we are back...she loves it and I'm noticing her taking more risks and being more curious!


- She got a baby doll for Christmas and she loves it. She pats it, hugs it, kisses it and feeds it it's bottle. I think she is going to be a great big sister!


- She is starting to realize that she likes some food more than others. Like broccoli...she will eat whatever is around the broccoli and then eat it as a last resort. Or she will try to pawn it off to me or Bryan!


Well there is so much more, but I think that is a pretty good update! As she gets older it is so hard to keep up with everything new, because there is something new everyday! These are just a couple things I want to remember about her at 14 months old!

Audrey is going to be a BIG SISTER!!!

Yes it shocked me too! I am pregnant and due June 21st! What took us so long to achieve for Audrey happened "just like that" this time around. I was a little freaked out at first...I mean when I look at Audrey I still see a baby, so I thought to myself "What am I doing!", but now I know that this is something I can do (so many others do it so well all the time)...so can I! I am now in my 2nd trimester so the nausea is starting to fade and my energy level is getting better. Thank goodness, it is definitely no fun when you are trying to keep up with and entertain a 1 year old!

We have had two ultrasounds and everything looks great! I will scan the pictures and post them when I get a chance to hook our scanner back up. (When we made Audrey's play room we got rid of all of our office stuff and right now our printer/scanner is unplugged and in the back "junk" room! Which by the way will be the new nursery so that task will be tackled after the holidays! FUN!!!) :)