The Couch Incident

I heard crying. But I couldn't find out where it was coming from...

Then, I looked behind the couch.

She was stuck. And I couldnt get her out. 
I couldnt fit behind the couch and I couldnt move the couch.

I had to talk her into crawling to me.

She was not happy about it. 

Stand Up, Stand Up!

Audrie stood up from the ground about a week ago. I saw it, but it only happened once so I didnt count it as really official! Well, she has been pulling up, letting go and standing for seconds even a minute or two. Then...Audrie wanted to pull up, let go, then stand while holding a toy. Then...she started to pull up, let go and even take a step, but she would fall after one step.

Well, today...She stood up from the ground up! Of course, we werent at home. We were at my bestie Lynzie's. She got her daughter a new swing set and they are in the process of putting it up, so we put the girls in the tower just to see what they would do....And Audrie stood up! Then she kept standing up!

Today, I bought some 18 month onesies, because her 12 month ones are getting to small. It made me really sad. They looked so big on the hanger. And she is only 9 months old.

 I meant to update her 9 month blog after her 9 month check-up, but I forgot. The nurse weighed her and said she was 18 lbs 5 oz. Then measured her length. I said, "I am not trying to be rude, but a week ago when we came for her ear infection, she was 19 lbs 5 oz. And if she has lost a pound, I need to know that is pretty important." So, the nurse told to sit her up on the scale and sure enough it said  19lb 5 oz. Made me feel better. So then I asked, "what was her length?" and the nurse said 28 1/2 inches. This could not be. She was 28 1/2 inches at her 6 month appt and I assure you my child has gotten a lot longer. Or she would still fit in 9 month onesies and she does not. Either you were wrong at her 6 month appt or wrong at this one, or both. **I, of course, didnt say any of this because I am a weenie and because I already made a deal about her weight** To me, as long as she is healthy, I dont really care her length or weight, but I would like it to be accurate. So...I measured her length myself last week and it was 31 inches. I measured it 4 times to make sure I was getting an accurate number. How could that nurse come up with 28 1/2? Well, of course, Audrie was rolling over and trying to eat the paper, so it wasnt easy for her...but anyway...

Long story short- Audrie at 9 months is 31 inches and 19 1/2 pounds. 57 percentile for weight and off the chart for length. 

Top 2 Thing Before I die..

I have never made a bucket list before...maybe I should...but for now here are the top 2 things I would LOVE and hope to do before I die:

Not get pregnant. Because I have been there. And hope to be there again. I would LOVE to run a crisis pregnancy center. If I cant run it then I would love to work at one full time, even part time. At the center, I would love to teach parenting class, work with adoptions, educate women on childbirth and pregnancy....Oh, I get so excited just talking about it! I want to do this....like tomorrow!!!!!

And the second kinda goes with the first....

Not have a baby. I have done that. And hope to do that again...but I would LOVE to ADOPT! Working in CPS, I know how important it is to adopt children in our own city, state, country. I know alot of people adopt internationally. And there isnt anything wrong with that, but there are so many children here that need adopted! GT and I have discussed this some and we are considering adopting after we have our third child! Or if God changes our hearts, it could be sooner...who knows!

So these are two things really close to my heart. I love children. And I love to educate people. And I love learning/talking about pregnancy and childbirth! :)

         You should play too...click on the button and have fun! 

Mommy Milestones

I stumbled about these mommy milestones from this website. Thought I would share:

Mommy Milestones for a 9 month old

• You put that sippy cup back together with the three-part straw and five other random parts ... all without a degree in engineering. (Turns out those diagrams actually make it more confusing!).
• You are praying that somehow your child will never stop taking naps (OK, maybe when she's 18).
• You can replenish an empty diaper bag in less than five minutes.
• You've let a video of twirling toys and classical music buy you 10 extra minutes of sleep.
• You no longer think the eyelash curler is the greatest invention known to woman—disposable diapers have rocketed to first place.

Funny story this made me think of. A few weeks ago, I was so super tired and Audrie was not. Well, have to be in the living room watching her while she plays for various reasons, and I need to be awake. So, I solved that by putting her in the jumperoo and I put on baby Einstein. I sure did take a 35 minute nap and it was wonderful! I felt kinda bad about it, but man, I needed the sleep!

Blueberry Face

It seems like every time the 3rd of the month rolls around and Audrie is a month older, she starts doing all these new things!

She has probably been able to hold her bottle by herself for 2 months, however, she refused to do it. She wanted me to hold it... and for the past few days, she is doing it by herself.

About a month ago, we bought her a walking toy of craigslist. One of those toys, she can push and walk. Well, we had to pull it and she would walk behind it. Then in the past week she has figured out the process and now she pushes it around without my help.

Audrie is finally get her top two teeth after having her bottom teeth for 2 months!

We are done with pureed baby food. She is now only eating finger foods. I was worried about her not getting enough meat. And my pediatrician told me about meat sticks. Basically, baby vienna sausages without the preservatives and its made by Gerber. They totally gross me out, but she likes them. And she loves blueberries. As seen here:

I lost my camera charger. I feel like I have been missing out on so much since I havent had a camera! I ordered a new one yesterday. So for now...I only have pictures from my Blackberry.

Audrie said "mama" the other day, but she hasnt said it again. :(  So it isnt really "official".

We had a great time at my parents house for mother's day. We went to Ruston on Saturday to take Audrie's 9 month pictures. This is the first photoshoot where she can sit up and stand up holding on to things. I cant wait to see the pictures and share them! 

Audrie is the most amazing mother's day gift I could get! 

Cooking a Whole Chicken!

Monday, Lynzie and I hosted a Premier Jewelry Party. I was in charge of the menu and this is what we had:

Bacon Jalapeno Cream Cheese Things
Potato Boats
Mocha Brownies
Party Pizzas
Fruit Salad

The first 3 can be found on Pioneer Woman's Website. Those Jalapeno things are sooooo good!!!!!!!! And the mocha brownies turned out delicious!

Go buy Pioneer Woman's Cook Book. and Make them. Right now. Yum.

Then last night...I cooked a whole chicken for the first time! And friends...if you do not make this on a regular basis--DO IT!

You might be like me. Kinda scared of chicken. Well, I found this on PW's blog. It was so easy and cheap!

Guess how much a whole chicken cost?

$1.50.  Thats right folks. Can it get any cheaper than that??????

And my sweet husband carves it and give me the kind I like, I am a little spoiled. So without him, I dont know if I would make the chicken. Dark meat really scares me.

Being a 9 Month Old

One day Audrie will ask me, "What was I like as a baby?". And I want to be able to tell her details. I wish I would have done this for all of her months, but its never too late.

This is an exhaustive list of what Audrie is like as a 9 month old:

• You can crawl really fast. Sometimes I get occupied for 30 seconds and before I know it, you are in mommy and daddy's bathroom!
• You love to cruise around on the furniture.
• You can stand on your own for a few seconds but then when you realize what you are doing, you get scared and sit down.
• You clap all the time. Sometimes it is called for and other times it just because you are so happy!
• You have learned to wave, however, you do not do it to say hi or bye.
• You still wont say mama, but you love to say dada.
• You still only have 2 teeth. You have had them for about 2 months now.
• You eat like a 1 year old. You eat mostly finger foods. And you eat alot, all the time. If someone else is eating you cry because you want food, even if you are full!
• Your starting to outgrow some of your 12 month clothes, because you are so tall.
• You love to chase the dogs and pinch their skins. They do not like this and usually run from you.
• You love to watch baby einstein. 
• You have a strange fascination with shoes and plastic bags.
• You enjoy chewing on the dogs toys, and sometimes you do before mommy sees it.
• You can find anything on the ground, even after I have vacuumed. And then you put it in your mouth. And sometimes you throw up, especially if it is grass.
• You like to drink out of a sippy cup, but you refuse to drink formula out of it.
• You wear size 3 diapers. You are starting to wear size 3 shoes, even though they are still a little too big. You wear mostly 12 months clothes. You have started wearing bows without a headband.
• You drink 4 bottle a day with 5 ounces each. Sometimes you dont always finish them because you want to get down a play. You eat 3 meals a day.
• For breakfast you usually eat oatmeal, rice or yogurt. 
• For lunch you eat a veggie with some snacks.
• For dinner you have a meat, veggie and fruit or yogurt again. You REALLY like yogurt.
• You are constantly moving unless you are asleep.
• Mommy or Daddy still rocks you to sleep. Occasionally, we let you cry yourself to sleep in your crib, but its hard for mommy to hear it. 
• Every night your daddy puts on your pj's, gives you a bottle and rocks you to sleep. Right now, it makes you mad because your pretty attached to mommy, but we hope its a phase.
• As I mentioned before, you are VERY attached to mommy. (and she is pretty attached to you too!)
• On Thursday mornings you go to Mommy's Day Out at our church so mommy can go to Bible Study and run errands after with Auntie Lynzie.
• You are super silly. And you love to smile.
• You laugh really loud when mommy or daddy nibbles on your hand or foot.
• You love for mommy to sing to you. Your favorite songs are "Jesus Loves Me" and "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes"
• You take a pacifier to go to sleep, although in the past few weeks you would like it at other times, but mommy is trying to keep you from getting into that habit.
• You don't really care for any specific toys these days. Occassionally, you will play on your learn and groove table, but you would rather just walk around the furniture and get into stuff you arent supposed to have.
• You have recently started dancing. Sometimes you shake your head and sometime you shake your booty. It is super cute. And I hope you have better rhythm than your parents.
• You make alot of strange noises. 
• You say ba-ba, but it doesnt have any meaning- atleast that I know of.
• You enjoy taking bath and splashing the water. Your favorite bath toy is your bath book.
• You go to sleep about 8:30 and wake up anywhere from 6:30 to 8am. Mommy loves it when you sleep until 8, but it does not happen often.
• You usually take 2 naps a day, but somedays you only take 1. 
• You really like to look in mirrors. You smile really big at yourself.
• You give mommy and daddy kisses by opening your mouth really big. 
• You laugh when mommy laughs. Even if it mommy is doing a fake laugh.
• You love it when daddy comes home from work. He makes you smile alot!
• I buy most of your clothes from Target and Old Navy. Occasionally, Wal-Mart, JcPenny and Osh Kosh B'gosh. Very rarely, Dillards, Gymboree and expensive baby boutiques.
• You have alot of bows. No, really. Alot. And you always have a bow in your hair.
• Your mommy and daddy love you SOOOOOOOOO much. Daddy cant wait for you to walk and talk, while mommy misses you being a little baby! 

These 9 months have been amazing. All my life that what I wanted to be- a mom. I never really wanted to be anything else. When my friends came over, I justed wanted to a play house and I was the mom. I played with baby dolls a little too long for my age...and I had everything for a baby--stroller, play pen, car seat etc...And I might have really thought my baby dolls were real.

Anyway, now that I am a mom, it is even better than what I imagined my whole life. And some people think I am crazy, but I cant wait to do it again! I want to have a BIG family! With lots of kiddos and chaos! :)