Christmas - Finally!

Though we did not end up spending Christmas Day where we had expected, we had a good Christmas 2010. In our own home. An unexpected treat.

Eric and I knew our little rooster would be crowing even earlier on Christmas morning, so I decided to set one rule: We ALL have to be awake before any presents can be opened.

5:45 AM

A: Daaaaaaaaady!

Eric heads in her room to hear the predictable.

A: I'm ready to get up!

E: Ian's not awake yet so you need to stay in bed.

The next 30 minutes, yelling: "Is Ian awake yet?"

For some reason, Ian wasn't able to sleep much longer, and Christmas morning begins. First, with Audrey hearing Santa's letter to her and Ian.

And before I had even sat down with camera in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other, Audrey was showing Ian his stocking stuffers. She later moved on to show Eric his and then eventually got to her own stocking. Oh so excited!

She of course got a ton from Santa. Warm princess pajamas which make her look so grown up. And puzzles. And books. And snow boots. No coal for this little girl.

And when all the gift unwrapping was done, Audrey surveyed what she had received and thought about some things Santa could bring for her next year!

We of course have much to be thankful for, not the least of which is another year of good health and development for Audrey.

Christmas Eve

I think this year has been my favorite. She got it. Really got the excitement of Christmas this year. She would check her stocking each morning (and everyone else's!) and get so excited if Santa had delivered something for her (or Ian). She loved watching and rewatching Rudolph, and Frosty, and hearing and reading about all things Christmas. And every morning she and Eric would count down the days until Christmas.

She carefully decided that Santa should have 6 cookies this year, and Rudolph was also to receive an onion. And she wanted to make that neither Eric nor I had a fire in the fireplace when Santa was to arrive. Her last words as she laid her head on her pillow? "I will go right to sleep because it is CHRISTMAS!" Oh for everyday to be Christmas!

And of course Christmas Eve will always be particularly special. The day we brought this little girl home from the hospital. Three years ago today!

Three Years!

Happy Birthday to Audrey! It was next to impossible for Audrey to hide her excitement on her birthday. This was a day she had been looking forward to, well, all year.

Her day was just as she had requested. Filled with pancakes for breakfast, lots of gifts, the Children's Museum, and dinner at the 'balloon place'. And getting to see Uncles T and J. And of course she loved hanging out with the rest of us! She was thrilled that she got to ride the moving carousel animals at the Children's Museum (not until one's third birthday!) as well as the two story 'ice' slide set up for the holidays. And Mrs. Claus serenaded her a Happy Birthday, and she had the most AMAZING voice. When she finished singing to Audrey, she asked Audrey what she thought of her serenade. Audrey paused and said, "That. was. awesome!"

She told me very seriously that since she was now three years old, she would get to stay in the preschool room 'every day, all day. since now I'll always be three.'

I wish! Bottle you up and keep you little.

Dear Audrey,

Three years. One day shy of three years.

I am lucky enough to be spending with you your last day as a two year-old. I asked you during your lunch of PB & J what your favorite part about being two has been, and you said, "Playing with Ian!"

Your second year of life has been filled with much change, not the least of which was having a brother added to the mix. This brother of yours who you love. Just absolutely love. I hear me thru you, offering him toys, asking him who that handsome boy is in the mirror, telling him he's a silly boy, congratulating him when he is successful. I see you watching me as I care for and love on your brother. Though you are jealous at times and a bit of rivalry emerges within you, you are by all accounts a wonderful sister. And Ian knows it. He immediately turns your way when you enter the room. And he can't wait to see what you will do next. And he hopes it will be something that involves playing with him. And I am amazed at just how often that is the case.

Of course your beautiful red hair has grown longer over the past year. Your legs (a bit!) longer. Your sentences, a lot longer. You are such a conversationalist. And that memory of yours. And your attention to details. Holy cow. Can't get anything by you. And just when your daddy and I think we have something figured out, like your insistence on three prunes each morning, you insist you no longer want such things. But you still fall asleep to Alouette and Frere Jacques with daddy's accompaniment, knowing that my French is not pretty. You instead love my accompaniment of Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes. In English of course. And then your mind finally calms enough to fall asleep.

You are now a preschooler. A preschooler. How did that happen? You have so been loving preschool. While other kids have been finding trouble, I find you at pick up either in the library or at the table perfecting your 'A's. Not to say that you don't find trouble, but you still tell us about any trouble you get into. Without prompting. And of course you also tell us about your friends and the trouble they find. And the trouble you found with them. Your best friend is Kallen, who is a beautiful little boy who I think takes good care of you. He even saves a seat for you next to him in circle time. Though, I hear he tells his mom that he does not like girls. But, you are an exception. Everyone loves you.

You have recently let me start calling you a smart cookie. Spelling your name is old hat. You sing your ABCs each time you wash your hands given daddy's insistence with good hand hygiene. "President Obama" is probably my favorite thing you say, second only to "sausage". You recite the Pledge of Allegiance, where you live, your city, can recognize all upper and lower case letters and numbers thru at least 12, and can count without error to 14. Fifteen trips you up but we can see that you are well on your way to 20 in no time. And your phonics is outstanding, even the exceptions. You will be reading in no time. And spelling, too. However will your daddy and I get anything past you?

You have chosen to spend the day tomorrow at the Children's Museum and to have lunch at the 'balloon place'. I am so excited that the four of us get to celebrate with you. Your daddy tells me that won't always be the case, but I won't think about that right now.

Three years ago, your daddy and I had no idea what was in store for us. Parenting is such a tough job. But I love, love, love the person you are. And who I see you becoming. Such a wonderful combination of love, compassion, intellect, and humor. All this at age 3. Amazing.

No matter how old you get, I know I shall forever hear this in my mind:

How much does mommy love you?

Lots and lots.

Love you, lots and lots.
Mommy

Three Year Stats

Audrey had her three year visit with Dr. M a few days ago, and she weighed in at 27.8 lbs (25th percentile) and is 34 inches tall (20th percentile). She wowed Dr. M with her ability to spell her name and recognize upper and lower case letters, and offer any letter sounds which she was asked. Audrey showed off her comedienne side by asking her what the number zero said to the number eight (you'll have to ask Audrey for the answer! :)

We don't see Dr. M again until Audrey's 4th birthday. Dr. M told us this just after she offered that year 3 is much tougher from a behavioral perspective than year 2. She mentioned this would be particularly the case with our little negotiator. I think I stomped my feet when she told me this - EVERYONE tells us this. Ugh! We're doing ok so far!

Santa

Audrey and I wrote a letter to Santa a few weeks ago, and she could not wait to put it in the mail. We talked about what she would like for him to bring her this year, and she listed a few items. And then she got quiet and asked if he would be coming to our house.

"Well, I don't want him coming to our house!"

And so began her insistence to have nothing to do with Santa this year. I could see that she would try to like him for the sake of presents, but her fear of Santa seemed to prevail.

She started to soften though as Santa began to leave her (and Ian!) some stocking stuffers. She would check every morning to see if he had stopped by. But, when I told her that Santa was coming to her school, she said she didn't want to see him. And certainly would not sit on his lap. I had given up hope for a picture with Santa this year.

However, when I arrived to pick her up from school that day, she was so excited to meet Santa. She was still a little leary when we entered the room, but the director at daycare whispered something to her, and Audrey went right up to Santa and sat on his lap. I later found out that the director had told Audrey she could ring the Christmas bells while on Santa's lap. Audrey's eyes widened when Santa greeted her with a "Ho! Ho! Ho!"

So what did Audrey ask for?

"Um, I would like warm pajamas."

Good thing Santa has checked that off his list!

A Girl on a Mission

Grocery list in hand, miniature cart, and dad's debit card...next she'll be driving to the store...

I took a couple pictures of Audrey and Ian lying next to each other on the floor last night. I'm giving Ian 6 months to catch up in height to his sister...she doesn't seem too worried.

Timeout

Audrey and I were snuggled up watching the Bears vs Lions game this afternoon. It was towards the end of the game, and the Lions had just taken their final timeout, and were heading back to the field. I didn't catch exactly what the announcer said, but Audrey turned to me with BIG eyes and said,

"Mommy, ALL the Lions players were in timeout???"

Wonder what they did wrong!

Snowman!

Audrey got to build her first snowman of the season yesterday with our three inches of snow. He's a little snowman but built with lots of love. She was so excited she didn't even notice how cold she felt. She came to the door to excitedly ask for a carrot, and let me know this was for his nose, and then came back to ask for two prunes. Of course Audrey's snowman has to have prunes for eyes! She was worried this morning that the bunny she saw out front had eaten the snowman's nose, but all was well. I was more worried though the poor bunny had eaten those eyes!

Thanksgiving

Audrey had a great Thanksgiving. She loved wearing her 'warm pajamas' on the drive to grandma and grandpa P's, and though she first asked, 'Are we there yet?' before we had even gotten out of town, she was out like a light in no time. She of course loved seeing everyone, especially cousin H. Like long-lost sisters those two. She also loved meeting her new cousin, and though she insisted baby M was a boy, she ended up deciding she is indeed a beautiful little girl. Audrey also loved feeding Aunt C and Uncle M's turtles and couldn't stop talking about actually seeing their kitty. Of course she missed a perfect chance to meet their kitty the night before as she was passed out from all the festivities. She only woke at one point during the night to say, with eyes closed, "Whatchu talkin' 'bout Willis?" Guess who taught her that one?