How do you top this picture? I don't think you can. At least not yet. Audrey is getting so big. She is moving up to her stationary car seat. I know, I know, you are thinking what is the big deal. Let me tell you the big deal. Now the rotten child will need a high chair at every restaurant. Doesn't sound like that big of a deal but if you consider the cleanliness factor of most restaurant high chairs (you should be gasping in horror at the thought); while also considering the "Audrey" factor which is if it can come close to my mouth then it can fit in my mouth. We have some issues.

Her balance is still a little questionable as well. Although, yesterday she sat up by herself. Not the lean to the side but a full booty on the floor, feet out, arms waving wildly in the air sit up. I was impressed. She then proceeded to crawl over to me and stand up. Once again, not just stand up and hold on to me, but stand up and let go. I don't know what she was thinking because she can't stand up without assistance at this point. And that was pointed out to her since gravity kicked in after about a half-second and she hit the floor.

She smiles all of the time. She is mean only if she is hungry or tired. Don't let her get too far past empty or you will pay for it. And yes, a this cute thing can be mean, trust me.

Alex is a crazy noodlehead. "Noodlehead", a term of endearment used specifically for Alex. Who now is using it to show his love for the "crazy dogs who keep barking dere heads off, mommy." Yeah, I guess they do repeat everything.

The following is an excerpt from a personal conversation Alex was having with himself today: "And a parrot said, what are you doin’ outside. What do you see on the, on the…, on the tree? And you say, you goin’ on a swing set? No, I say... The monster says we need to get out of here. The monster says, "You need to get out of here, boy." The monster get inside and tell me to get outside and swing on my swing set. …The monster push me and swing on my swing set and I swing on my swing set, and there’s a birdie flyin’ up in the sky. And a monster say to me – get outta here. I hidin’. The monster tell me to get out of here and go and swing on my swing set, mommy. A gorilla talked to a monster, and, um, a gorilla talked to a Rusty the Train and he lookin’ at your cup mommy."

Not so sure about the boy. I do love to sit a listen to him play. I do not know where the monster part is coming from. We don't talk about monsters or anything. The other day he said, "Look mommy, what do you see? Do you see the monster up in the tree? He scary!" I have tried to ask him where he is coming up with this stuff but he changes the subject. Odd. And speaking of where he gets some stuff... if his Papaw S only knew the stories Alex tells about going potty in the pond. Perhaps this same Papaw could shed some light on that...

This past Friday the family went to see Thomas the Tank Engine during the Day Out with Thomas. It was fun. Alex loved it. Absolutely loved it. We thank Aunt Janet so much for the tickets. Alex just sat and watched out the window. I loved watching him. I was sorry that the train ride was so short. After the ride we went and looked around the souvenir shop. Alex also played putt-putt golf. This game consisted of taking other children's golf balls because he like their colors better than his. Didn't go over so well with some kids. We will have to go back some other time so he can see Sir Topemhat who had already left for the day.

Oh well, another day is almost over. What have I accomplished today? Let's see...Alex and I finished a thank you card. We colored pictures of Thomas and Percy. We read a book. We played trains. Alex got to eat a fluffer-nutter sandwich. Ummm - oh, both children were bathed today. And I got a shower!!! Sweet. For those of you without children you may never understand. And for those of you with children who get a shower everyday - don't talk to me.

Today has been interesting. Alex has decided that he is crazy. Or perhaps I have decided that, not sure. He was running around the house today with the bucket on his head saying he was a robot. Then he would be a parrot. Not sure how the parrot became involved with everything but there was a parrot. And the boy doesn't miss anything. We are going to have to be so careful with what we say around him. No more negative talk about Aunt Em, that is for sure. Today he escaped from the bathroom and began to run around the house yelling to me that there was a "hummerd on my booty". To translate for the rest of you - his McDonald's Happy Meal toy, a red Hummer, was firmly planted on his un-diapered rump (this was of his own doing, he was holding it there). "Mommy, 'ook, dere's a hummerd 'riving on my booty." He ran away laughing. I had to look the other way. I don't want him to think that he has to do that for a laugh. We will leave that up to his dad.

Audrey is still the same - well, wait...she is seriously trying to stand up. She has no time for stinkin' crawling. Her primary goal is to get any of Alex's toys that he might be playing with. Can you see the drama that will be unfolding in my life in the near future? Alex already can't stand it when another child has anything that he doesn't. Think of how it will get to him when it is his SISTER, of all people, who is playing with his trains. At this point she doesn't do much when he takes them from her. But that will change.

It seems as if we are finally getting on a decent schedule with Audrey. She now goes to bed around 10 to 10:30. May sound late to some but to me it is glorious considering that 11:30 was the norm. And it was not uncommon for it to be around 12 AM. She is taking longer naps in the day as long as I can keep Alex from running into her room yelling, "Audrey, hey, Audrey! You 'wake? Hey, Audrey!"

Oh well, it is time for me to go to bed. Let's see - 12:23 AM. Not too shabby.

Oh to wake up smiling every day. Most babies have that advantage. Or at least, both Audrey and Alex have been prone to do so. Of course, Alex doesn't always wake up with a smile anymore. In fact, today he actually wanted to stay in bed. But he wasn't too bad about it. He didn't have much of a choice considering that he had a 7:45 am doctor's appointment. AND we had to be there at 7:30 am. But I digress... Audrey is a happy baby. I feel so bad sometimes because I think I neglect her. It just seems as if Alex needs more of my time - or attention - then she does. Now when she becomes super mobile then I will have a real dilemma on my hands. But I am thinking a stake with a rope tied to it. I can tie her ankle to the stake that way she can only go in a circle of which I will determine the diameter. Sounds like a good idea to me. But she probably won't stand for it. She would gnaw right through the rope with those little beaver teeth that she has. They are sharp. Like two little razors. Trust me, I know. Razors.

Alex and Audrey are experiencing a single parent home for the weekend. Their daddy is away at a men's retreat for church. A place for men to scratch in the comfort of their own kind, I suppose. It is supposed to be a church event but all I hear about is golfing, fires, meat, football...I don't think there is a speaker at all now that I think about it. I certainly feel for single parents. They are my heroes!! The kids have been good for the most part. Alex has not been as whiney these past two days as normal. Thank the Lord!!!!!

Alex's new thing is that he wants to listen to "wock n wool". No more Veggie Tales for awhile - another answer to prayer. He has three favorite things to play with - a little plastic fish from the dollar store, a little rubber lizard that is blue from someone, and his Thomas the Tank Engine trains. I love to sit and listen to him play. The other day, out of the blue, he came up to me and gave me "a hunred dollars, mommy". I haven't a clue. He tells the best stories to his trains. "You feelin' bedder, Murdoch (a train)?" "You ok, Murdoch?"

If only I could truly express how much I love these little wonders. They will never know until they have kids. I think about how much my mom and dad love me...I never realized it before. What I wouldn't do for these urchins...

I am not sure about the boy. Of course, I do have to admit to buying the hat. But I bought it for myself. It has been commandeered by a small urchin. He had to wear it while he was under the tunnel (the table) fixing "sumptin". Not sure what. Come to think of it, I should probably check the underside of the table for any unapproved changes. Alex is running around the house with Harold the Helicoptor and a small blue, rubber lizard. They are all flying in the snow. Not sure how that came about. "Oh no, Harold a copter, Harold get off of deer (there). I'm flyin'. Hee hee. Get off...fly, flyyyyyyy. Turn Thomas the Tank Engine on. Thomas the Tank Engine. Fly, fly, fly." And now he has left the room. Welcome to my house.

Audrey has cut two teeth. At once! I thought she was acting funny. But per the norm, I did not put two and two together. Next morning, she wouldn't smile at anyone, which is odd. About an hour before we went for her 6 month check-up I thought I saw a glimmer of something. Performed the tried and true spoon test and viola! Teeth. Both bottom front. She hasn't been the happiest, but who can blame her. To top the day off she had to go and get three shots at the doctor's office. Audrey is in the 75th percentile for height and noggin size; and in the 60th percentile for weight. She definitely did not get the height from her daddy or myself.

Audrey also loves food. I had not been giving her any table/baby food. But then there is Grandma M., who is in trouble..."But she likes it." Hmmm. Now when we eat Audrey is very jealous. She WANTS to eat. We did discover that she thoroughly enjoys circus peanuts. All kids love pure sugar. For that matter, who doesn't?

Ah, motherhood. I love it. Although last night at about 1am it was a little trying as I had work to do, Alex was not feeling well and still awake, and Daddy was in bed with a migraine. But thank the Lord, everyone is doing better now.

Well, back to work. And more football. It is football season, almost as good as Christmas!