A Confused Audrey

With all the talk about a new baby, I think Audrey is getting a bit confused.

Hallelujah

Today after we got back from church, we looked at the slideshow that we made for Audrey's birthday while listening to some music. For those of you who don't know "All Creatures of our God and King, No. 2" by David Crowder Band is the first song Audrey ever heard and just really sums up the emotions that we felt at her birth(and still do feel!) Anyway, multiple times in the song the word Hallelujah comes up and Audrey started to sing it. She would pretty much just get the "lujah" part on each one, but it was one of the sweetest sounds Shannon and I had ever heard (I'm sure the Lord loved it too) We are so grateful for the precious gift of this little girl.

It's been awhile

Sorry for the delay on updates. It's been pretty busy around here with the due date of our son next week. Here's some random pics for those who need their Audrey fix. She's done some pretty cute stuff like wiping away Shannon's tears and saying it's okay mommy. FYI Shannon is just ready to be finished with the pregnancy and wasn't crying about anything that I did.

dress up clothes

Little A got an awesome present from Amber, Ryan and Colin--dress up shoes, earrings and a tiara!

Veteran Cruiser

We finally got the pictures from our Caribbean cruise with my family in January. Instead of exchanging gifts for Christmas this year, we all went on a cruise. Hopefully it will become a tradition. Audrey is quite a sailor with three cruises under her belt now. Being somewhat isolated from family here makes you appreciate them even more, so it was a great to spend so much time with them. I guess one of the things that you realize as you get older is how important family is.

Birthday Party

Audrey had a wonderful 2nd Birthday party. She really appreciated all of her guests and her presents. I think we ended up totally approximately 52 people. Shannon made a Beaumont meal with red beans and rice and shrimp etouffee for everyone. Again, we really appreciate everyone driving in. You truly made her day special and she loved being the center of attention. One of the really special pics here is Audrey with three sets of her great grandparents: the Bales, Shannons, and Morrisons (the Edgars couldn't make it because Grandpa broke his ankle-we hope you get well soon).

Future Colleague

Audrey looks like a future colleague with an affinity for glasses. Throughout the years, Shannon has asked me to choose between her and glasses many times. Glasses always win. Looks like it'll be that way for Audrey too.

Aye, Aye, Aye Audrey!

or however you spell that! This is what we say when Audrey spills or makes a mess, and she has now started saying it preemptively. When you hear her say that, grab a towel. This morning she had not even been awake three hours when she had said it six times. She had, 1) spilled my tall glass of orange juice, 2) pulled the leftover birthday cake off the counter, 3) had an accident, 4) pulled some soot out of the fireplace, 5) (while I was cleaning the ashes) unfolded my newly folded laundry with soot-hands, and 6) had another accident.

To her credit she actually asked for a nap today (a relatively recent phenomenon). I think she knew I was sick of her!

The Most Amazing Two Years

Jennifer, I know you've been waiting up for this emotional post all night. So here it goes, today is Audrey's second birthday. Shannon and I can't believe how these past two years have flown by and changed our lives so much for the better. Audrey has brought so much joy and happiness into our home. Literally every night we lay in bed and think of the cute things she did that day. As we've looked back on pictures of even just last year at this time, we are amazed by how much she's grown. After I married my beautiful bride, I honestly thought my heart was full but with Audrey and our new son I sometimes think my heart will burst with the amount of love I have for my family (cheesy I know, but just like my dad always said "you'll never know how I feel until you have kids of your own"). I wish somehow my words could do some justice for the joy Audrey has brought us, but I don't think they could even scratch the surface of it. Well here's some pictures of Audrey at the Funland and of her with her birthday cake.

It's party time!

Hanging with the email group

It was great to reconnect with our old friends Isa and Macy and Macy's dad Trey.

Potty Trained!

Well Audrey has turned out to be quite the expert in potty training! She started last Thursday and hasn't had an accident since Sunday! Here she is with her potty chart--25 successes earned her a Winnie the Pooh DVD and she earned them all in less than three days. Thanks to Julie for the sticker supply!

Confident with overall Cuteness

These are some of the crazier faces that Audrey has made and I know that I probably shouldn't post them, but I think they are too funny not to share. I'm confident that the other pictures on this site with solidify her overall cuteness so please don't judge on these alone. I'm kind of scared of her on this one at the dinner table.

Kelly the Killer

Okay this one isn't of Audrey, but this pic appeared in the paper last year of Shannon's sister Kelly after a killer third base tag. (She wore her pants pulled up high to look like Johnny Knoxville from The Ringer.)

Washer Woman

This morning I found Audrey had pushed a chair into the laundry room and lifted up the washer lid to see what was going on. Sorry for the lack of updates...we'll post some cruise pics soon.

The Beach

For New Year's, we went to the beach to spend some time with the Bales. They rented a great beach cabin and we watched everyone light fireworks. Audrey did not enjoy being close to the fireworks and preferred to watch them from inside. At one point, she even took a book outside on the deck to read in the lawn chairs. So I guess she's ready for her third cruise next week. Our trip was almost ruined by these two homeless guys(pictured here) who kept coming around the cabin asking for food.

More Christmas

We went to Beaumont this past weekend to celebrate Christmas for the third and fourth time. Audrey is raking in the goodies. She had a great time when we played White Elephant Christmas and emphatically stole a present from Aunt Carol after her present had been stolen.

2nd Christmas, No Festivus miracle this year

Thanks to many of the people who check this blog, Audrey is one spoiled little girl. She gets to have three Christmas celebrations. We've had the Shannon family Christmas here and the Bales family Christmas in Nagodoches with the Edgar family Christmas still remaining in Beaumont. Audrey really likes all of her gifts and is very thankful. If Audrey is ever confused about the real meaning of Christmas, we can attribute that to Uncle Pat as he repeatedly pointed to pictures of Santa and told her it was Jesus. Thanks Pat.
Here is Audrey opening presents with Aunt Sarah and enjoying Pat's new portable DVD player.

Little Miss Piggy

Here is Audrey sporting a pig tattoo she got at Adelyn's party last weekend. The weather has been super warm so she is in her preferred state of naked. When we are out and about she is lifting up her shirt and flashing anyone who looks at her! Audrey had a great time with her aunts Sarah (Sa-wah) and Jennifer (Fur-fur) this weekend.

Making Cookies with Mommy