13 months already

Hello everyone!!  I am working on a post that will include photo's of Audrey room before and after it was Montesorrified (I just LOVE making up new words) I am also working on changing up my blog background and spiffing (WOW haven't used THAT word since 7th grade) it up BIG time.  I will have A LOT of time on my hands at night starting this coming week so I will be putting it to good use. :-)    In any case, Audrey made 13 months, I would love someone to tell me how that happened???  yesterday she was 1 year old and the week before that she was 10 months! In any case. This is for dear sweet Audrey, aka Audrey burrito, aka little monster.

Dear little monster,

WOW how did this happen??!! A month has already passed since you turned one.  You have accomplished SO…much in this last month and seem happier than ever since mama has started walking consistently again in the mornings and going to the park with you once a week.   You finally LOVE to go bye bye.  At the sheer mention of the word, you start saying bye bye and following me around the house as if you can’t wait one more moment to leave and go on a new adventure.  You are walking constantly, your silly little crawl is gone and I miss it, but papa and I enjoy watching you toddle and even run.  Speaking of running, you think it’s hysterical when we chase you around; you simply crack up laughing.  Your laugh is our favorite thing, I make sure I hear at least 2-3 good belly laughs from you each day.  Your words are increasing with each day; your new words include can: block, ear, hair, shake, eye, shoe, puppy, push, cracker, bead, pearl, horsie, bed, nuni, poo poo, Eli, tree, more, no, and puff (your favorite snack next to freeze dried strawberries)    Every time someone knocks on the door you say “papa”.  I hate having to tell you that “papa is bye bye but will be home later.” You wait for him in the afternoons and run to the door for a big hug and kiss. You don’t even give him a second to get in comfy clothes!!  You now give hugs and say “awww” simply because whenever you hug your baby or elephant we would say that!  Everywhere you go you ask “what’s that?” Most of the time I know what you’re pointing to, but sometimes I can’t always see from your level so I go through what I see until you stop asking and seem satisfied.  Nuni (noo-nee) is something I hear whenever you are thirsty or want to nurse. For a little while it was “na na” and now “na na” is your NUK (pacifier) which you have weaned yourself from. J My favorite is when you wake up in the middle of the night, snuggle up to me and say nuni until I start nursing you.  You have figured out the power of yes and no.  We don’t use the word no a lot so you don’t use it a lot either, we really like that.  We ask you yes or no questions like “are you hungry?” If you are hungry, you smack your lips and shake your head up and down.  Every picture has mama and papa in it regardless of who or what is really in the picture. Of course, that makes us smile and laugh every time.  You are OBSESSED with beads, yup plain old Mardi Gras beads.  You walk around the house with them and won’t let me take them off at all during the day, except naps, but it’s usually a fight for that!  If we put a pile of beads in front of you, you put EVERY single one of them on. So, if we put 20 beads on the ground, you would put them all on and attempt walking around. Of course, you are so petite that some fall off of you, which isn’t a big deal because you simply pick them back up and put them on again!  You are so resilient to falling and running into things, you literally bounce right off of things you run into at full speed.  The only time it really bothers you is when you are tired.  We love watching you “read” books. You are a big mulit-tasker and like to read books while trying to ride your bouncy zebra. (don’t forget you have beads on too)  You associate Nonna (Carlo’s mom) with pearls. You know the difference between beads and pearls, this was ALL Nonna’s doing.  Along with your love for jewelry, you enjoy dressing yourself. You pull laundry from the clean hamper and walk around the house trying to put clothes on.  You aren’t picky on what you pick either, it could be underwear, a dress, a shirt.  it doesn’t matter whose it is either) you always manage to find some piece of clothing to walk around with!  Yesterday, you put your own shirt on, well you got it over your head, I helped with the arms. You also push your arms and legs to help put cloths on and sit to put your shoes on. Shoes are a MUST when we go out now because sometimes you simply don’t want to be in your sling.  You are great when we let you down to walk. You hold either mama or papa’s hand and when you go to see something we say “Touch, don’t pull” and that’s exactly what you do!! You are FULL of surprises. Now, you tell mama and papa when you have to go to the bathroom.  You just call it poo poo for whenever you have to go pee pee or poo poo. We are both working hard on getting you to the potty in time. Sometimes we make it other times we are a little late.  In any case, we are so proud that you are actually communicating this to us!!  ECing starting at 8 months worked!!! Of course, for BB#2 we will start much earlier.  Anyway, on the weekends, papa and I love to sit back and watch you be your silly little self and just laugh and have a good time with you.  We have a tough couple of months ahead little one, but I know you will be your amazing self and help the time fly by!  Mama and Papa love you so…much little monster!  

riding her zebra WITH her coat on!

I love this face! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

digging in Nonna's purse while wearing, what else but a pair of pearls!

THIS is you in a nutshell right now.  You are still in your PJ's but yet wanted to put on your winter coat (it was NOT cold outside at all) and you have to have your beads on.