We've created a monster!

Audra has taken an intense liking to a bunny and a blanket. Not a "I am fond of you" kind of liking more of a "I cannot live without and will cry and stomp my feet if I can't have you" kind of liking. I noticed the attraction a few days ago when it was time for bunny and blanket to be washed. I brought them down for upstairs and started for the laundry room. As I opened the laundry door, I heard little feet pounding the hardwood floor. I looked up to see Audra sprinting- yes sprinting for the laundry room with this look of adoration filling her face. Me being the naive mother thought the look of adoration was for me. Ha! Was I wrong. As I began to throw bunny and blanket in the washer, Audra screeched to a halt and her face crumpled into the most pathetic little pout. Tears began to well up in her eyes and she began to sob hysterically as the washer filled with water. She stood before the door to the front loading washer and pounded her little hands on the window. She watched it turn and tumble while the tears rolled down her face. I picked her up and carried her to the other room trying to console her. 2 hours later the dryer signal sounded and I stood to get the clothes out of the dryer. Again I heard little feet pounding the floor as I opened the door to the dryer. Audra wedged her way in front of me and lightning quick had her bunny and blanket out of the dryer. She wrapped her pudgy arms fiercely around her treasures and took off out the door. As she stomped out of the room she looked back at me with this look like" you will never get these from me again!" I laughed to myself as I realized we will need to work on the bunny/blanket addiction.

Just a side note- our Doctor told us that children who have a security blanket/item are showing they are able to make emotional connections that are healthy. However, the doctor did say that if she is still carrying bunny and blanket in kindergarten we will talk. :)

Just in case you didn't believe me I have posted a picture- notice the crazed look in her eyes AND a video.

Hot Chickens

Yep- that's right, it's hot, hot, hot here and everyone, chickens included, are hot! We have been spending our days in the our baby pool right on our deck. Despite the heat, Audra and I braved the oven like temperatures and visited our friends, Carrie and Lonny's house just down the road. They have lots of fun animals for Audra to see, including chickens. I thought the baby ducks were cute but Audra seemed to take a liking to the chickens. I did not share with her that the chickens met their maker later that night. We will save that life story for another day. We are hoping for cooler temperatures SOON!

New Each Day

Tonight I was watching the movie 50 First Dates (for the umpteenth time by the way). For those of you who haven't seen the movie- the gist is a guy (Adam Sandler- who has a hilarious song called Lunch Lady that Paul likes to sing in a funny voice to me- not sure why a song entitled Lunch Lady inspires him to sing to me) falls in love with a girl (Drew Barrymore- who I think looks like my cousin Sarah) and said girl has amnesia. Each day she wakes up and has to be reminded of how she lost her memory. At the end of the movie there is a short scene where she is introduced to her daughter, again (probably 50th time- hence the movie title), but to her it is like the first time. She is awestruck by the idea that she has a daughter. Imagine how amazing our day to day life would be if we treated each person or day as if seeing them for the first time! Don't get me wrong- there is something comfortable about familiarity and routine- I do not deny this fact. However, there is a renewing thought in the idea of seeing things with fresh eyes and the emotions that follow. Months after Audra was born I would stand over her crib with the same awestruck feeling. It still takes awhile to realize the sweet little voice calling "mamma" is referring to me. I love it. Period. L-O-V-E I-T.

We are enjoying summer here and trying to update this blog more often. Take care to those of you far away! To those of you close- come on over anytime- we are usually outside. I am trying to talk Paul into a pool. Stay tuned!