A Day at the Aquarium

For Daddy. Love, Audrey and Avery.

Potties, Gates, and Going to Bed

So we're working on getting Audrey potty-trained. But Avery has been watching. Here she is from a couple of days ago, practicing her own skills. =)



The second video is from today. This is a daily occurrence ... as soon as Avery gets her shoes on, she knows it's time to go, and she goes to the gate, waiting to get out.



As for going to bed: Iain had to work tonight so the girls and I went to have dinner with him. As we were getting ready to leave the base, Iain was standing next to the driver's side door, talking to me. We heard Audrey start singing, to the tune of Mary had a little lamb:

Now it's time to go to bed, go to bed, go to bed, now it's time to go to bed, and put our jammies on.

So that was pretty cute (I had never heard her sing this before). But then she just busts into verse #2:

Now it's time to take a bath, take a bath, take a bath, now it's time to take a bath [slight pause, a little thinking], and then we brush our teeth.

Even cuter. But then she realized she knew a third verse:

Now it's time to take a bath [I know, this sounds like verse #2, but it has a better ending], take a bath, take a bath, now it's time to take a bath, [get ready for a really long ending], and then we brush our teeth [and then in the same tune, as if it's the first ending] and then we comb our hair [and then a pause, and in the same tune again for the ending] and then we put our jammies on [and another pause, and another ending] and then we go to beeeeeeeeddddddddd [and she carries out this last word for as long as her breath would allow her, as if she knew that the last note of a song should just be carried on and on].

Iain and I were silently cracking up, almost crying, it was so funny and adorable.

Daddies

My dad died 10 years ago this past week. A third of my life, I have spent without him, which seems almost impossible to grasp. But I am so thankful that he was MY daddy. Brantley and I are so blessed to have grown up with him. A man of virtuous character, he was also hilarious, giving, and he loved us without exception. I wish that our girls, and that Ava, could have known him. They are missing out!

Mom and Brantley, I love you guys. I wish that Dad were here to celebrate with us in the amazing joys of the last years, but I'm thankful to have you both, along with Becki and Iain and those precious angels.

Quote of the Day

Totally forgot to mention in the last post ...

Tonight, Audrey was carrying around this little plastic kanagaroo they have, that I think goes with some Fisher Price farm. Anyway, the kangaroo has a baby kangaroo in its pouch. Audrey brings it to me and says "Mommy kangaroo carrying baby kangaroo in a baby ah-zhorn." She was trying to say Baby Bjorn. Hilarious.

Runner-up quote of the day: She came into the kitchen where I was warming up some dinner. I guess it smelled like pizza to her and she said "Where's the pizza? Smells like pizza but there's no pizza."

Random Cuteness

All four of us are a bit sick, but we had a fun day together. Today was the first day Avery rode in the new forward-facing carseat (actually, Audrey snagged the new one so Avery is sitting in Audrey's old one). But they're both facing forward now and I think Avery likes it. We went to Mission Bay this afternoon, and after about a 4-month sabbatical from twisty slides, Audrey has again decided to try them and she LOVED every minute. She's also getting quite good at the 'big girl' swings. Avery loves the swings and loves just generally chasing Audrey and carrying things up and down the grassy hills.

Audrey has had two pretty good days of potty training, but I will definitely be glad when it is over. I think we still have a long way to go (although maybe we'll get them both done at the same time ... Avery seems to like to sit on the potty more than Audrey, and she's so cute ... she gets about a foot in front of it and then walks slowly backward until her legs hit the potty and then sits down)! Avery's new favorite trick is 'high five' which she wants to do over and over.

Here are a few pix from today (and then a random pic from Audrey at a friend's house on Friday ... the goggles were too cute to pass up).

Point Loma

There was a retirement party this afternoon for one of Iain's colleagues. The party was at the 'compound' of houses where his Captain and two of the Commanders live, down at the tip of Point Loma. It is, quite possibly, the most beautiful spot in all of San Diego, right where the bay meets the ocean. They have a huge backyard, beautiful homes and an amazing view of the water. Here's a little shot as we were leaving the party.

Avery is 1!

Happy Birthday, Avery! We had a little party at Aunt Connie and Uncle Bobby's house and lake. Both girls got tons of presents (yes, it was a good day for Audrey also) and then we had some chocolate cupcakes and some fun in the lake. We love you, Avery, and are amazed at your energy and sweet personality (not to mention your awesome dancing skills). You are such a joy and we are blessed to be your parents.