A New Chapter in Picture Taking

The first time I took both girls to get their pictures taken, it was a nightmare. Ray was in Vegas for a real estate conference (I know, and he didn't even come home with any winnings) and Audrey was about a month old. My Mom was staying with me to help out. We had an appointment to get the pictures done on Thursday, so of course Tuesday night Ashley spends most of the night up with a fever. Same goes for Wednesday but I am determined to get the pictures done. So off we go, double stroller and all, to the mall to Sears. Everything ended up being a battle. Ashley refused to go in the stroller (it is one of those sit and stands strollers)wanting to neither sit nor stand, but instead wanted me to carry her the whole time. We get to Sears, and the lady doing the pictures was horrible. We kept bribing Ashley with chocolate to at least attempt a smile, but nothing worked and of course in the end, she had chocolate anyways. Audrey was crying (she never cries) so the only pictures I have her eyes are bloodshot. It finally ended, and we hurried home.

And then there was today. We went to Portrait Innovations, and what a change from the last experience. We had a main guy taking the pictures, and he would ask for help when he needed from the many people working there. They had great props (only unfortunately for us that included a white hat Ashley refused to take off) and both the kids did great. Okay, maybe not great, but we got some great pictures from it. I will be posting pictures from the cd they gave us all week. At the end, they had taken 86 pictures. It was so hard to narrow down, but I narrowed it down to 10.

Front Row

Back in September, I went and saw Rascal Flatts in concert. I bought the tickets on line and paid $200 a ticket for seventh row. I will never be able to see a concert from the "cheap seats" again after being that close. It was totally worth the money I spent on them.

So Friday night, we get there and low and behold, we have front row seats! I am totally getting spoiled (and so is Ashley). It was neat to be that close and not have to worry about someone sitting in front of us for the show. The show was actually entertaining for me as well as it was an actual magic show. Unfortunately, sitting that close I actually saw how some of the tricks worked. The other thing about this show, the Memorial Auditorium where it was held actually sold beer and wine during the show. Bottom line - Ashley loved it, sat still through the entire show and told Mickey Mouse at the end she would see him in October. What a great way to start the weekend.

Pyscho

So everyone that knows me well knows I am somewhat psycho about Disney. I plan every vacation to death and would even schedule bathroom breaks, but I think that Ray would divorce me at that point. So tonight, Ashley and I are going to Mickey's Magic show. I bought the tickets a couple of months ago. I knew they were going on sale on a Friday. That Thursday, I did extensive research on the internet and found a presale code and bought the unbelievably expensive tickets (this of course before we didn't sell the house in Virginia and spending money wasn't that huge of a deal). I think we have pretty good seats, if not front row. I don't really know since I have never been to this venue before. I just hope Ashley enjoys it. One of the reasons I am psycho about Disney - I love the look on Ashley's face when I take her to Disney World or just to a Disney show. She is utterly amazed at it all, that Mickey Mouse is actually in front of her. So I plan and plan and want everything to be perfect, hence the psycho-ness. Hopefully my family forgives me.

A Very Rough Day

So this was what was written on Ashley's sheet from school today:

"Ashley had a very rough day. She didn't use her listening ears and told us no many times today. She had to sit out to 'relax' a few times today as well because she wasn't treating her firend or teachers with respect. She did have fun in centers pretending to go shopping and eating breakfast. And she was much better after nap."

I would be much better after a nap as well. So everyone who has a three year old has told me it's not the terrible twos I should have been afraid of, but the threes. Threes are so much more capable of bigger tantrums, stronger wills and larger messes. She just turned three on Friday. How can it be starting already?

And Audrey is drooling so badly, I think she could keep our grass watered for the next week. I sure hope some teeth break through soon. But other than the drooling, she isn't complaining. As always, she is a very happy baby.

Poop Again

We have no idea what is up with Ashley. She pooped in her underwear three times last night. Not to be graphic, but it's softer than her normal "stuff", so maybe she doesn't realize something is coming out. Ray of course uttered the word regression, which I refuse to say. I think she is just having issues. Hopefully they will resolve themselves soon. We will just stuff her with cheese and maybe that will help!

**Update** - she did go poop on the potty at school, so hopefully her issues are over.

Audrey had her six month appointment yesterday. She is 15 pounds, 10 ounces (50% percentile) and 27 inches long (90% percentile). She weighs a little less than Ashley did at this stage, but just as long. They are definitely taking after Ray's side of the family for that trait.

Water Slide

Ray's parents bought Ashley one of those inflatable water slides for her birthday. All the kids at the party had a blast on it. When we got home yesterday, it was pouring down rain but that didn't stop Ashley from bugging us to take out her water slide so she could play on it. This is Ashley on the water slide on Saturday. We were afraid we were going to run Ray's parents' well dry from all the water we were using.
This is my Step Sister Sharon's daughter, Morgan. Sharon eventually ended up pushing Morgan down the slide, but she still liked it.

Ashley loved all of her gifts, and of course loved her Dora Dollhouse (she had literally been asking for the Dora Dollhouse for months) and wanted that opened as soon as we got home. And she is still sleeping with the stuffed Angelina the Ballerina doll that Dad and Diane got her.

Not to step on my daughter's birthday, but my brother bought me a brand new bassoon! He showed up with it at the party. I played bassoon in highschool and have been trying to find one used since they are so expensive. I don't even want to know how much he paid for it. I emailed my band director this morning, and he was as estatic as I was. Then he wanted to know if he and I could trade brothers.

Ashley's Birthday

Today, Ashley, you are three. It is amazing to me that you are three. I look at your face when you are sleeping, and you seem like you are still so little, and then I look again, and you look like you are so much older than you really are. Like you already know all the answers to the why questions you keep asking me lately. But I know you still need me, and the day when you don't need me anymore will be the hardest day of my life. I love it that I can pick you up and hold you to stop you from crying when a stranger yells at you. I love it that when I get really upset and cry in front of you, you tell me, "Mommy, stop crying." I love that look on your face when you are really excited about something, like going to the pool, and that tilt in your voice when you say, "the pool?". I love it that you give big squeeze hugs and you try to kiss Crazy Uncle Mike on the lips even though he won't let you. I love it that you call all the Grandparents by their pets' names (i.e. Grandma Mocha, Ray's Mom whose dog is named Mocha), except my Dad and Stepmom who are Grandpa and Grandma Fuzzy due to my Dad's hairy back. I love how social you are, always wanting to go outside to play with someone, anyone. And I love how much you look like your Daddy, but how you have my personality. And I really love it when you tell Daddy you are Mommy's girl. You will always be Mommy's girl, and I love you.

Pictures

Here is Audrey, sleeping like a baby. She doesn't nap much, but when she does take a good nap, it takes all I have not to curl up next to her and sleep as well.

This is last Saturday after we had spent a couple of hours at the beach. She completely crashed out in the car for all of 15 minutes, and then woke up when we were at Sonic getting milk shakes. I guess she really wanted that milk shake.