getting back to normal

I think Audrey's bout with roseola is history. (::fingers crossed::) She's still not back to 100% but the rash is all but gone and things are slowly getting back to normal. The weather was kind of crappy yesterday so we were homebound and had a pretty uneventful day. Audrey did manage to get in a Skype call with her other grandparents (who haven't seen her since the holidays), so that was pretty much the highlight of the day. I attempted to break out the camera and get some good pictures, but Audrey was being less than cooperative. She is constantly wanting to come around and check out the previews on the back of the camera.

The weather was better today (quite gorgeous, actually) so we managed to get out of the house again this morning. S.B.G. is still pretty clingy - although I'm starting to think she's just been spoiled rotten from being held constantly by my parents - and she was none to happy to cuddle with 阿婆 in the Ergo.

Tonight during her bath, Audrey did something she's never done before - she got into full-on lounge mode. While still in the tub. It was one of the funniest things I've seen in a while and I couldn't help but snap a pic. I apologize in advance for the (adorable) baby butt.

Oh. And one more thing. Can you believe she is 19 months old today?? As in next month she will be 20 months old? And 4 months after that I can no longer count how old she is in months because she'll be 2??? Holyhell she is growing up way too fast.

Audrey is 1 year & 7 months old

I lied.

When I posted on Thursday I promised I would pick up the Nikon the next day for some pictures. Yeah. That so did not happen. Audrey's fever hung around the entire day on Friday and that basically meant that she was stuck like glue to me & my parents. I honestly don't think her feet touched the ground the entire day. And it's kind of hard to take pictures with a small child hanging around your neck. Especially when you prefer to take pictures of said child. So, I resorted to the good ol' classic "self portrait" mode on my phone.

Sorry for the ridiculously craptastic picture, but it was dark and (if you can't tell through the dark hazy blur) Audrey had finally fallen asleep for a nap so I wasn't about to move. It was literally the only picture I snapped the entire day.

Fortunately, by Saturday her fever had gotten under control and was much less worrysome. She was still pretty clingy & fussy most of the day but she did manage to detach herself from us long enough to look ridiculously tired play in the bed for a little while. (And I apologize for the horrible lighting/white balance/color casts/general suckyness of this picture. I'm too lazy to edit.)

Yesterday (Sunday) things finally started to level out a bit. The fever was officially gone, but we woke up to a bit of a full-body rash. Which has now led me to believe that S.B.G. came down with a case of roseola. Pretty much the same routine of staying at home, clinging, fussing & bad napping commences. But Project365 continues on and I snapped a quick shot before her bath. (And you can see a little bit of the rash popping up on her face around the right side of her mouth.)

This morning we all pretty much had enough and decided to get out of the house. We made a trek to the mall (we had stuff to return anyways) and made a quick lap before Audrey started to melt down for lunch. Headed out for a bite to eat and by the time we got back to the house she was d.o.n.e. We put her down for a nap and she slept almost FOUR HOURS (!!!) before the dog woke her up. The rash is still hanging around today but it really doesn't seem to bother her much so hopefully it will run its course and be gone by the end of the week (if not sooner). I did manage to get some really cute pictures of Audrey making silly faces through the glass of the back door, but I really want to story board them (and I need to learn how) so hopefully I can get that done in the next day or so. Instead, today's picture is of my other "child". Eating leftovers from Friday night's steak dinner. Yum.

Audrey is 1 year, 6 months, 4 weeks & 1 day old

the last 3 days

Whoops. I've been forgetting to post my pictures. That I would probably be forgetting to take were it not for my phone. My grand "I'm going to take nice pictures with my good camera every.single.day" project has quickly become a "I'll snap a mediocre picture with my phone when I think about it" endeavor. But...I have still managed to take a picture every single calendar day. Progress, people. We still have all damn year to right this ship.

Day before yesterday we were starting to get a little cabin fever and ventured out for lunch & headed to the mall. While enjoying lunch, Audrey discovered the greatness that is dipping her sweet potato fries in ketchup. I don't know why we haven't let her do this sooner.

Yesterday I spent the afternoon home solo (with the baby toddler) while my parents ran out for an appointment. And next thing I know, I turn around and everyone in the house is asleep. Including the dog.

What a rough life.

Instead of relishing in her 阿婆 & Papa time this morning, Audrey wanted to hang out with me in bed.

Absolutely fine by me, but I should have known something was up when I got a legit 20 minutes of cuddle time out of her. S.B.G. has rocked a fever since about 11:30 this morning and has basically slept the day away. Hopefully we can keep it under control since we're, you know, 3 HOURS away from the pedi right now.

But as much as I hate to see her not feeling well, I *love* the extra cuddles.

I'm so horrible.

Another benefit of having a perpetually asleep kiddo? I have been glued to my laptop adding to my iTunes library (hello, entire Beatles library!) and watching TV shows on the interwebs. Namely this one:

I am finally getting around to catching up on Lost episodes (since I abandoned the show mid way through the second season) and Z.O.M.G. I have been sucked into the abyss and can't wait to finish the series.

Tomorrow: I vow to pick up the Nikon. And watch more Lost.

Audrey is 1 year, 6 months, 3 weeks & 4 days old

we like to eat

Yesterday...homemade hot pot for dinner. Y.U.M.

Today...delicious white rice.

Audrey is 1 year, 6 months, 3 weeks & 1 day old

leave it to Papa

When we're in Houston "Papa" (aka - my dad) takes care of bath time. It is guaranteed alone time for them to spend together and they both love it. And when it is hair-washing night, leave it to Papa to give her a crazy hair do.

Earlier today, Miller & I went and had dinner with some friends of ours. They recently added a second daughter to their brood and it was great to meet the little one while the "older kids" played together.Thanks again for the hospitality, Alex & Shannon!!

Audrey is 1 year, 6 months, 2 weeks & 6 days old

first trip to Kemah!!

Growing up in Clear Lake meant going to the Kemah Boardwalk frequently for dinner and since it had been 2-ish years since our last visit we were due -- and it was Audrey's first time!! We went to dinner at the Aquarium and she loved checking out all the fish tanks. Even while we were eating, she was in a trance watching all the fish swim around.

Audrey is 1 year, 6 months, 2 weeks & 5 days old

hard at work

During our last Houston visit (a week-ish before Christmas, mind you) my parents insisted we go to the toy store so they could buy Audrey "something new." So we did. And they bought something. I recommended that the toy stay at their house so that Audrey would have some fresh toys to play with here instead of me carting all her stuff back & forth each time we come. *Genius.* Pretty much the first thing she grabbed this morning was that toy. And what was it, you ask? A laptop. I guess it's a sign that I spend too much time on the computer when she already knows how to use one, eh?

And because they're too cute not to share...

We went to the mall this morning to kill time and Audrey stumbled upon a toy shop selling those battery powered yapping dogs. She was completely enamored with them and plopped down in the middle of the mall to make a couple new friends.

......aaaaaaand, we got our first shiner today. < insert giant sad face here > We were goofing around on the bed and as I went to grab her (so she wouldn't bang her head on the nightstand), she pulled away and (...wait for it...) banged her head on the nightstand. Fortunately it's just a little bruise and will (hopefully) be gone by morning.

Audrey is 1 year, 6 months, 2 weeks & 5 days old

packing

We packed up our stuff and headed out of town today because my lack of breathing was starting to become a problem ( thankyouverymuch, cedar ). S.B.G. wanted to make sure she wasn't forgotten.

Audrey is 1 year, 6 months, 2 weeks & 4 days old

wheee!!!

This morning Audrey & I headed out to the mall for some action at the indoor play area because I can't spend a millisecond outside before I die from the stupidstupidstupid cedar pollen even though it is gorgeous outside. Luckily, our BFFs came to join us and a blast was had by all. Audrey especially loved going down the curvy-slide.

So did Camy.

Audrey is 1 year, 6 months, 2 weeks & 3 days old

forget coloring

All she wants to do is take the crayons out of the box & put them back in the box...out of the box...in the box...

Audrey is 1 year, 6 months, 2 weeks & 2 days old

I got a new iPhone app today

And I love it.

For those of you interested - it's the Instagram app.

Audrey is 1 year, 6 months, 2 weeks & 1 day old

someone had PB&J for lunch...

...and I'm not telling who.

Audrey is 1 year, 6 months & 2 weeks old

I must have a death wish.

I'm embarking on a new project - Project 365. I'm planning hoping to take a picture every day to document the blah, blah, blah that is our life. Every. Single. Day.

Yikes.

It will be tough, but hopefully it will be fun. And cool to look back on the pictures on December 31, 2011 and see what kind of year we had. And maybe - just maybe - my picture taking skills will have improved. I may not get around to blogging the pictures each day, but I'm hoping to at least blog once a week. We'll see. Aaaaaaand....we're off.

1.1.11 Welcome to my life - aka allergies suckass.