Beatin' the Heat

For an early Father's Day celebration, we packed up on Saturday morning and headed down to visit the C-Town family. We started out at Grammy and Gramps' pool, where Audrey got to sport her fancy, high-tech swimsuit floatie:

Audrey in her OP life vest-swimsuit combo

The water was the perfect temperature, the weather was hot and muggy, and it didn't take long for Audrey to decide that being in the water was the place to be. The swimsuit made her quite buoyant, and Grammy had no trouble towing her around the shallows.

Audrey takes the plunge with Grammy

"Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

Audrey and Grammy chat, poolside

Eventually, the neat-o swimsuit became a little cumbersome, and it was time for a wardrobe change. While changing, Gramps brought down some watermelon, and once in her more conventional suit, Audrey's attention temporarily shifted from pool to watermelon... and chalk...

Audrey wearing Daddy's hat, snacking on watermelon, and coloring with chalk

Quite a multitasker

It wasn't long before Audrey noticed the wacky noodles floating around the edges of the pool. She didn't know quite what to do with them, but she couldn't keep her hands off of them. Who could blame her? Especially when Grammy lets you whack her on the head...

Grammy showing Audrey how to whack whack whack

Trying to lift a water-logged "wacky noooooodlall"

Finally, Daddy jumped in, and Audrey got to splash, practice blowing bubbles, and run around the first and second steps at the shallow end of the pool.

Daddy and Audrey in the pool

Waterbaby

Splash Splash Splash!

"Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalor!"

We concluded the day with a second pool visit at Nanny and Granddaddy's, a cookout with some killer burgers, hotdogs, potato salads, and baked beans, and a smooth ride home, just in time for bathtime. It was a good day.

Changing View

This morning, I was looking out into the room where most of Audrey's toys reside, and it struck me how much I've changed in the past 19 months. After Audrey was born, I had to kind of redefine myself, and I struggled with that process. I had a new moms' journal, and even though I wrote in it about 3 times, one of those entries really sticks out to me:

'At 7:20am, I have been awake for more than 2 hours already, and sit in the living room, staring at her brightly-colored play mat. I still feel somewhat in denial, I think, about motherhood. She feels more like a chore or task I have to accomplish, not a permanent fixture and addition to the family. I get so focused on the daily to-do's that I forget about the implications of Audrey. Now, sitting here with her asleep, listening to the washing machine and looking at her play center, I feel a slight glimmer of realization that yes, she is a person who will be in my life always and will probably outlive me. Honestly, it's still weird to see kid stuff in my house.'

I think it's human to struggle with change, no matter how big or small. Change is uncomfortable. Change is difficult. But so are the things in life worth having. The discomfort, struggle, and work that comes with change makes the result that much better, and you that much stronger. That's been the truth for me so far, anyway (isn't hindsight nice?).

Today, I can't imagine my life or our family with out my Little One. She is the most amazing person I've ever met, and the most important thing I've ever done in my life. Her little Audrey-isms and quarks, her sense of humor, and her stubbornness have been beyond worth the struggle and adjustments that came in the beginning, and the view from the kitchen today is the best it's ever been.

Memorial Day

On Memorial Day, we packed up and headed down to Mimmy and Pappy's with promises of brisket, baked beans, mac n cheese, and other tasty traditional treats. We ate, we laughed, we played in the pink sand, and yes, we even attempted a dip in the pool... attempted, anyway... it was a good day.

Audrey digs in the pink sand, wearing her new bathing suit

Daddy plays, too

Daddy and Audrey

LOVE that belly

Coppertone Baby has nothing on MY baby!