Mimmy's Birthday Dinner

Yesterday was the first weekend after my mom's birthday, so I had my parents and Kyle's parents up for dinner to celebrate. We made brandy chicken in a paprika cream sauce, bacon-wrapped scallops, wild mushroom and asparagus risotto, sour dough garlic bread, and salad with lemon vinaigrette. I also attempted a spiced souffle, but it ended up a spiced cake, boo. Oh well, it tasted good. While I was cooking, Kyle and the grand parents entertained Audrey.

Kyle prepares the Christmas lights for the front of the house, and Audrey helps

Audrey handles quality control

Repositioning for better leverage

After Grammy, Gramps, Mimmy-the-birthday-girl, and Pappy arrived, dinner was served! For once, dinner was actually served when I said it would be (I'm always late)! Audrey really enjoyed her risotto...

Kyle lit the candles... and part of a gift...

Dishing up!

Audrey's dessert: the spoon used to serve fresh whipped cream

Post-dinner entertainment: Gramps shoulder ride!

Weigh-In

Yesterday was Audrey's one-month weigh-in (one month from her well-baby exam, where it was found that she dropped down in to the 5th percentile for her weight). She was 17lb, 10oz at her last well-baby exam, which was a whole 6oz more than what she weighed at her 9 month well-baby exam. The pediatrician acted like it was nothing; she said we should keep feeding her like we were feeding her, and make sure she got lots of whole milk, and she'd see us in a month to make sure Audrey was gaining, not loosing or remaining static.

Yesterday was that month weigh-in. Alas, she has only gained 2 more ounces, bringing her grand total to 17lbs 12oz. The pediatrician was a little more concerned this time, though not completely worried. She said we needed to make sure she was eating nutritious foods, not fillers like crackers and sugar (well, duh). She also said to watch her behavior and make sure she wasn't becoming lethargic, over-fussy, or emaciated (another duh). As long as she continues to be active, curious, and her hair doesn't start falling out, she's OK.

It was basically explained like this: one of two things usually happen at Audrey's age/stage- kids either start showing how genetics will influence their body types (which is what's probably happening to Audrey), or, if kids are going to have a problem absorbing nutrients from what they eat, their bodies will start showing it right about now. Since Audrey isn't showing signs of malnutrition, and also since I was always the smallest kid on the block, our doc is leaning towards genetics.

Anyho, her next appointment is in January, and apparently Audrey owes the doc some significant growth, or we have to start giving her Pediasure. Booo. My gut instinct says she's fine, but stuff like this makes it real easy to start questioning everything. Yesterday was kinda a bad mom-day for me. Audrey, however, seemed to have a great time after dinner, chasing the cat around and around the house, and after a playful bath, went straight to sleep and slept straight through the night, as usual. This morning, she had an entire sweet potato pancake, laced with buckwheat, oatmeal, and soy protein powder... not to mention half of her sippy-cup of whole milk. If this kid has an eating problem, she sure has fooled me. I guess we'll find out in January.

13 Months

Wow, now that Audrey is one, the month birthdays don't seem as noteworthy, which is funny to me since they were such a big deal not 31 days ago!

We are doing well, and gearing up for the holidays. I keep telling Audrey they're all the rage, but she doesn't remember them from last year, so she doesn't believe me. It inspires me to make them even better this time around. I remember last year at about this time, I was thinking to myself, 'Wow, Audrey will be one this time next year!' It was so hard to picture her walking around, babbling, and with hair! Now look at her!

Oh, Thanksgiving, I have so much to be thankful for :)

Audrey wearing her new hoodie from Jackie and playing with her flamingo from Dada when he was staying at The Flamingo in Vegas

Trying to say 'flamingo'

Being moose-chevious and totally cute in pj's from Grammy & Gramps

The holidays this year promise to be even better than last year, and we are really looking forward to introducing Audrey to the family traditions and festivities that come with the next few months! Of course, pictures will follow :)

Halloween

This Halloween, I decided Audrey should have a real costume, and I went online to find her one. Wal-Mart online ended up having the cutest option, and I ordered it about a week before Halloween. My order was guaranteed to arrive on or before 10/30, so I didn't sweat my procrastination, and moved on. On Thursday the 29th, no package. On Friday the 30th, no package. I went online to track it, and it showed that it had been delivered; they had it recorded to have been left on our front porch on the 29th at noon-ish. Ummmm, no package. I was so bummed!

On Saturday the 31st, I dressed Audrey in her "Plan B" outfit- an orange onesie with a Jack-O-Lantern face on the front- and we began preparations for the evening. At about noon on Halloween day, my neighbor brought over a box that had been delivered to her house, but had our info on it. Hmmmm. She had it sitting in her house since noon on Thursday, but she was just then able to bring it over. At least she brought it over in time- Audrey's costume!

This Halloween, we decided to take a trip down to Cleburne, and attend the annual Trunk-or-Treat celebration that Kyle's family's church does in their parking lot. Kyle's dad, uncle, cousin, and a few others play in a mad scientist band during the event, and they have a bunch of well-known songs that they've given a Halloween twist to. They're really good! I was worried that the loud music coming from the band's amps would freak Audrey out, but she loved it, and jammed to every song.

We stage a pumpkin patch with the two pumpkins that will become pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving

Audrey showed interest in the pumpkins... for about 5 minutes

Audrey and her Halloween Eve outfit

Her shirt has a "Ch-Ch" on it

Audrey sporting the "Plan B" outfit on Halloween morning

Can't quite reach that toy...

Got it!

All packed up and ready to head to Cleburne

We arrive at Trunk-or-Treat

Monkey Girl on the move

The Mad Scientists

Jamming to the Monster Mash

That's Bill on lead guitar, Grayden on bass, and Robert singing