Friday, April 22, 2011

The Girls Are Back in Town

 After months and months of trying to stay inside, we are heading back to normal! We have had multiple trips to the grocery store, (Why did I miss that?), we have been back to church as a family, and we have been out to dinner.  If feels great to be able to spend time together as a family in everyday activities. I feel like singing the song, "I'm a Survivor"! 
  We have also jumped back into potty training Aubrey. This has been our third attempt, and this time it's been better than any other time we have tried. I think Aubrey is pretty much trained at this point. I am so, so proud of her. We are still doing pull-ups for naps and bedtime, but other than that, she is in her big girl panties. I am not shy about bringing the portable potty wherever we go. Whatever it takes, right?
   Last weekend we had the March for Babies Walk. As we were walking, we passed signs that said, "In Memory Of" and it brought me to tears. My heart breaks for those Moms and Dads. It was neat to see all the little babies that had made it, what their weight was, etc.
    We met up with many of the parents and babies that were in the NICU with us a year ago. I loved seeing everyone, and getting caught up on the year. There is a special bond there that is so unique, given what we have been through together.
   Ryleigh has been saying more and more sounds. She will say the sounds Ba, Ma, Aah, and Da. She is constantly smiling and moving all over the place. She has given up the army crawling, and is doing the regular crawling now. She pulls up and reaches things she wants, and has attempted to push around the walker. She is such a sweet, happy, baby.
   Aubrey has an obsession with Caillou right now. It's a cute little cartoon that she wants to watch ALL the time. As soon as it's over, she will say, "Mommy, I want to watch it again." She used to love Barney, but it doesn't compare to her obsession with this. I think she must really relate to him. She will say things like, "Caillou is sad, or Caillou is scared". She has always been so in tune with people's emotions. 
 I was so proud of Aubrey last Sunday at church. She did great in class, (was rather quiet) but she did cry when I picked her up. She made it through the entire class without an accident. She just seems so big to me now.  I can't believe how fast time is going!   We will start swim lessons soon, and I am hoping she loves it.
  Aubrey knows that when I say 2 minutes, she doesn't have much longer before it's time to go. Sometimes when she starts to do something she is enjoying, she will say, "Mommy, 2 minutes." I love the girl!
   Aubrey and Ryleigh are starting play more and more together, and it really makes me happy. One of their favorite things to do is play in the kitchen together. Enjoy all the pics of our fun times together!
 This video cracks me up of Aubrey and Kate. They love Tin Star!

Aubrey enjoying a blizzard with Daddy!
These furry friends have been living right above our front door! UGH!

Ryleigh still manages to smile, even when she doesn't feel well.

More dinner pics!

Aubrey and Kate LOVE each other!
Aubrey enjoying some popcorn at Target

March for Babies Pics

Our friend Julie came too!

Aubrey and Julie were buddies for the day.

Our Team

Our family pic at Church
We are so glad to be back as a family!

Aubrey and Ryleigh
Ryleigh-14 Months


Aubrey eating ice cream after going the big one in the potty!

Aubrey and Ryleigh in their kitchen

Monday, April 4, 2011

Memories of February and March

 April is now upon us! We are just a couple of weeks from being home free of RSV! Of course, RSV is always out there, but we will be in a better situation in a couple of weeks. I am sad to say, Ryleigh got her first fever this weekend since we have been home from the NICU. Poor thing! She has either a rotten cold, or some kind of virus that is going to have to run i's course. She has just not been herself.  I am hoping that tomorrow will be better for her.
  We went to our Developmental Doctor on Friday, and we are happy with where we are at. Of course Ryleigh is not caught up just yet, but we are making progress slowly. Ryleigh has attempted to pull up some. She eats extremely well, and she is trying to talk more and more. She loves to swing, and it's so cute! She is such a content little baby.
   Aubrey has gotten really good at asking for things appropriately.  "May I have a drink please?" (I hear that question frequently during the day.) Especially after we have made our Sonic run! Aubrey did the cutest thing a few days ago. She got out her big play ring and insisted upon wearing it so that she could look like Mommy. If I wear my flip flops,(clip clops) then she has to wear them too. If I wear a head band, she wants to wear one, etc.
   We have been struggling with Aubrey trying to get out of her car seat while I am driving. We have had lots of talks about "waiting till the key is out". One day last week she put her baby in Ryleigh's car seat. She kept saying over and over, "Wait till the key is out, okay?" She put her baby in and out of the car seat for over 30 minutes. It made me feel good that she remembered what I told her, but it still hasn't made her stop.  I am hoping she gets it soon!
  We had some fun activities in February and March that I never wrote about. Aubrey, Ryleigh and I went to the Dallas Zoo with our friend and former nurse, Carrie. Aubrey loved feeding the giraffes with Carrie. At first she was scared of the animals, but by the end she loved it! Check her out!
Carrie and Aubrey were buddies all day long!





Ryleigh barely slept the entire time, there was too much to see!




Ryleigh has been feeding herself for awhile now. It started in February. She doesn't like to be spoon fed anymore, now that she can feed herself. Here she is eating her green beans!


Tami and I also celebrated our birthday! I love getting to celebrate my birthday with her!



In March, Aubrey got to experience her first Daddy/Daughter Princess Ball at church. Aubrey had the best time! I heard she had two helpings of ice cream! Check out these sweet pics of Aubrey and Rod!





Ice cream makes Aubrey so happy!





We got together with some our friends to take pictures before hand too! It was priceless! I love this one of Aubrey and Kamryn!





Aubrey Mama


Kate and Aubrey have such a sweet relationship. They couldn't be more different, but they balance each other out perfectly!


I love the sweet, sleepy moments. Ryleigh loves, I mean LOVEs her lovies!

Aubrey and her backpack attachment!

Has anyone heard of cake balls? They are one of my favorites! Aubrey and I made this for the first time last month! After baking a cake, you mix it with a container of icing, and make it into balls. After it's been in the refrigerator for a few hours, you coat it with almond bark. Talk about yummy!

Aubrey had no complaints either!

Aubrey  is not the only one who loves baby dolls.

During spring break, Aubrey and Ryleigh got to have some quality time with Nana and some of their cousins. Aubrey had such a blast!




We can now do wagon rides with the girls! It's so much more entertaining for the girls than the stroller!



I love dressing these girls alike!

Ryleigh loves her cheese and deli meat!

Graham crackers is also a fav!


Look at Ryleigh standing up!

I am not sure who loves the IPhone more, me or Aubrey!