We screamed

For ice cream!! I bravely took both kiddos for free cone day at Ben & Jerry's yesterday and we had a great time. I was already out, so picked Miles up early from school, hoping to beat the crowd from the high school around the corner. We got there and there was a pretty good line, but manageable. I'd talked with Miles very seriously about staying with me since there would be a lot of people. But after only a minute or so someone handed me a "Go to the head of the line" pass! Seriously! I was not only going to get yummy deliciousness for free, but I got to skip about 40 people and get it NOW. Sweet!

We got the same flavors as the weekend (didn't want to be rude when skipping line and linger over the flavor selection). Miles really likes the Mango Mango sorbet. We sat inside and Audrey snoozed while we tasted each other's flavors and decided that they were both yummy. I'm so glad we got there when we did, as the line stretched out the door when we got to the table and stayed that way until we left. One thing I did learn is there's no limit to the number of cones. You can go back through the line as much as you want. Note to self for next year... start running now so I can handle several flavors not to mention handling two kiddos with ice cream.

the snoozer

If I didn't blog about anything else, I need to share that April 29 (Tuesday!) is free cone day at Ben & Jerry's. Wayne has already wondered aloud if he could go at lunch, then change his shirt and go back with us after Miles gets out of school. We went Saturday when YaYa and B came for a visit. Miles picked Mango Mango Sorbet and ate the entire thing with much flair. I tried Imagine Whirled Peace, which was quite yummy, although not on the post-natal diet plan.

I love this picture of Audrey... it's not that great of a photo, but it captures her right now. She's actually a pretty good sleeper! (I know, sorry Wayne, I just jinxed us for the next week). I've held off saying anything because I thought it was too good to be true, but we're getting some good nights - at least 5 hours then 3 more most nights, and she's thrown in a couple of 7 hour stretches once in a while. Now we're working on some structured daytime sleep... we're getting a little morning nap routine down, but the rest of the day is just haphazard. Here she was playing on an activity mat and just fell asleep. Love that little belly b! I read Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child with Miles and think it really helped, so we'll be working on that with her soon. Thankfully we may get to skip the nighttime "cry it out" steps sine she goes down fairly well now. That could change when I stop the feeding-to-sleep routine!

And we did celebrate Earth Day last week, though a little late. I got some reusable bags and took them for a spin at Kroger on Friday. We fit what would have been 10-12 plastic bags very easily in 4 of mine, and they were so easy to carry! I guess I'll just leave them in the car and hopefully remember them every time. [Don't we look eco-friendly with our bags on the cork floor!] Too bad the bags are filled with processed food - that's Quik, there are eggos and even hot dogs in there. But one was filled with produce!!

We really have to work on Miles eating better. He has zero appetite anymore and all he wants to eat is nuggets - but not at home! He'll only eat McD's, Chick-fil-a or Wendy's. Seriously. At home it's PB&J and fruit of all kinds. We've just set forth a verbal "no nuggets out until you start eating what we have at home" rule. We'll see how long that sticks. Our other problem with how he eats is that he'll ask for something, we'll make it, then he'll refuse to eat it. Argh!! I'm wondering when this turns into the stage when he's eating us out of house and home. That can't be too far off, right?

7 weeks

It's hard to catch on "film" but we're getting lots of great smiles from Audrey these days. We'll have a little flirt-fest with each other and I don't want to ruin the fun by flashy-thinging her. She's 7 weeks old and is a real sweetheart. She absolutely lights up when she sees Miles, so I can't wait until they can play together a little better. He adores her too, the first thing out of his mouth in the morning is "Where's Audrey?" I'm sure that's out of concern for her, and not just to see if he gets all the extra space in our bed for a while. Back to her... she's starting to swat at her little mobile over her bouncy seat, but hates tummy time. She can hold her head up well when we hold her in our arms, but gets really frustrated trying to lift her head from flat on her belly. I remembered the mirror I used to hold for Miles and I think that is giving her a little more reason to look up - who is that cute baby over there? And check out that thick mane! It's really coming in and I affectionately refer to it as Kramer hair. Especially when freshly washed, it curls on top and sticks up until she sleeps on it.

Poor Miles has been running a fever today. It started before bed last night and continued all day today. But despite being sick, we had one of the best days together in a long time. It was close to a zero-fussy day, and he didn't try to swindle treats and TV time out of me, even though we were home all day. I started pulling the Disney books off the shelf to read, a big step because the stories can be really long. We started with the Three Little Pigs, which I don't think is in the book club anymore. We also tried Pinocchio and 101 Dalmations. I hope I can find Mickey and the Beanstalk at McKay, because one of his favorite Little Einstein episodes right now is about the giant up the beanstalk.

More fun stuff from Miles - he's totally into his tools. He insists on wearing jeans so he can wear all of his tools around the house. He especially loves these carpenter jeans because of the loop on the side. He refers to them as his "hooker" jeans. When we had the guys here working on the kitchen he would ask them if they had hookers. That got some good reactions! I've gotten him to call a belt-loop by the proper name, but that loop on the side remains a hooker until I can come up with a better name for it.

We're using tools for a higher purpose now too - bribery. We got him the jackhammer he earned by wearing the cute suit and shoes for Uncle Kyle's wedding. Now we have a chainsaw up on the shelf just waiting for a poop on the potty. We also got a big set of tools to dole out for more achievements like staying dry all day, telling me when he has to go, etc. The incentives haven't worked yet, but I need to start making him try to go hourly. I guess it can be my Earth-Day resolution - get the oldest out of diapers!!

A wedding weekend

I could just take the easy way out and tell you to read Tiffany's blog, but I won't (you should read it anyway!). I'll try to recap as briefly as can be, mostly since Audrey is stirring and we'll have to run and pick up Miles soon.

Thursday: We're lucky to have family in Nashville which lets us break up a looong drive, although it does add days to the trip. Miles loves playing with YaYa & B and we also got to visit his cousins and see their fantastic new home. We made it to Memphis Thursday afternoon, just beating some torrential rain coming.

Mom hosted a BBQ dinner for the family, so everyone got to see Miles and meet Audrey in a somewhat relaxed environment. Kyle and his buddies were heading out for the bachelor party, so brave Megan spent an entire evening alone with the future in-laws!! Extended-family in-laws at that!! Wayne joined Kyle for the bachelor festivities, which included a Barbecue Crawl. Much like the better known pub crawl, their BBQ crawl had them hopping around Memphis, trying out some of the best ribs around.

Friday: Since all the family would already be in town, we took the opportunity to have Audrey baptized just before the wedding rehearsal. It was a really special event - both of my grandmothers were able to attend (they're 92 & 91); both of my godparents were there; and all 14 family members from 3 generations who have worn the baptismal gown were there! I just realized that, we should have taken a picture to mark the occasion. Miles wondered why there weren't ducks in the baptismal font.

The rehearsal was next followed by an excellent dinner at Currents at the River Inn. As Tiffany described, all the cousins were again seated at the "kids" table, and I think Kyle wished he and Megan could've joined us back there for the usual antics. No, Miles & Audrey weren't subjected to our craziness. YaYa & B graciously came over to keep the kids in the hotel while we were all occupied with wedding festivities.

Saturday: In the morning, Miles introduced Ellie to big-kid toys like Rocket. Later in the evening we had to promise Miles more big-kid toys, specifically a jackhammer(!), to wrangle him into the evening's finery. (We haven't delivered yet, but possibly will tonight if we can manage family dinner out.)

Okay, this is getting long....

The wedding was beautiful. Miles told me Megan was dressed as a princess several times, and got his shy-smile going whenever he was with the bridesmaids. But he was NOT shy with Tatum, the flower girl! She was a feisty one, and they were chasing each other all around in the dressing hall of the church. I was afraid of what could happen going down the aisle. But as they turned the corner to the narthex, they were suddenly subdued. The organ music, singing and the crowd must have overwhelmed them into calmness. I'm not sure about Tatum, but Miles remained in the church for the entire ceremony & photos after.

The evening was getting late so even though the reception hall was in the same block as the hotel, we dropped the kiddos off and headed back out. We missed their first dance, but it was to Al Green's Love & Happiness. We were there for the arrival of the getaway vehicle. A little background here: Kyle called a couple of weeks ago and said he had a problem. He was supposed to arrange for the car, perhaps a nice Town Car or Bentley, but had let the task slide. Now it is prom season and all that was available was a stretch Hummer. I told him if she would be expecting a Bentley and a Hummer pulled up, she might be a tad peeved and he should fess up. He did, thank goodness, because it would have taken much more explaining to overcome the fact that it was a banana yellow stretch hummer. Oh yes. At least by this point they could laugh together as husband and wife. And climb onto the yellow seats and ride off into the night.

Congrats Kyle and Megan!!! We love you!!

UPDATE: Okay, I was just showing Miles the photos on this post and he said "That's Megan, she's a princess." Sweet. Then he said, "Where are her boobies?" Oh man, we've got some social graces to work on.

Mr. and Mrs.

Over the weekend we traveled to Memphis to celebrate the marriage of my brother, Kyle, and Megan. It was a fantastic weekend, everyone had so much fun and Audrey got to meet all of her family at one time! I think most of my blog readers were there and it was so nice to meet many of you in person. I'm still sorting through the pictures (and we're pretty tired from the drive) so I'll blog in more detail later. But here's our handsome boy getting ready for his ring bearer duties.

Miles's Wish List

Miles is taking after his daddy. Wayne used to sit and dream with the Sears catalog (didn't we all?), making out a big wish list. Miles loves perusing the Thomas the Train catalog. Check out his picks...

Happy One Month Birthday!!

Today is Audrey's one month birthday. She gave us the best gift... she slept for a 5 hour then a 4 hour stretch last night! I almost feel fully rested. Ha! Of course Miles was awake for 3 of the last 4 hours, so not as rested as I could be.

The poor thing spent her birthday unceremoniously strapped in the carseat running errands. We went back down to Wayne's office so I could do a little more filing and she met several friends who work in the building. Then we all had lunch before going to my dress fitting for Kyle and Megan's wedding next weekend. I had to get measured while pregnant, so it was pretty off in sizing. The lady I went to was so great and said it would be ready in plenty of time. Then it was off to Kroger before swooping in to pick up Miles just before the skies opened up. Whew!



Miles has been a fantastic big brother. He's so loving with her, but we are seeing some tantrums that I'm sure are related to the new baby. It's also the age, his teachers say all the kids are asserting their independence. We hear a lot of, "No, I do it!" Like yesterday at the park when he wanted to push Audrey in the stroller. The whole way. He did a pretty good job with only minimal steering adjustments from me. And then he was a real sweetheart and gave me this beautiful flower!!

Audrey has changed a lot just in this week. She outgrew one of the padding liners around her head in the car seat. After the big sleep last night she stayed awake for almost 2 hours, looking around and playing. She's becoming more vocal! Lots of coos and squeals. And Wayne and I both think we've seen smiles that are maybe not just gas. Our little girl is growing up. She's already telling her friends "Call me!".. check it out!