A Time for Thanks

With Thanksgiving coming up this week, I thought it appropriate to list some of the many things we have to be thankful for this year.  Last November, we had just found out we were going to have a baby girl.  Now, she is over 7 months old, healthy and growing.  So much has changed, but through it all, it is clear that God is with us.  He has blessed us with so much.

• We have to give thanks for the wonderful family that we have to support us.  When we need babysitters, dogsitters, or just someone to help us clean the house, they have been there.  They have loved us through our worst and try to help us be our best.  Thank you, and we love you! 
• Our friends have been so valuable to us this past year.  From listening to me gripe during my last trimester to celebrating the joy of Audrey's birth with us, our friends have been there to keep us focused on what is important. 
• Billy and I are so thankful to have each other.  Despite the fact that we have been together for almost 10 years, we still have a lot to learn about each other.  During our four years of marriage, we've had ups and downs, but we have perservered.  I am so thankful that we share our faith and can love each other without judging. 
• Of course we are thankful for Audrey too.  She has brought so much joy into our lives.  Even though she is so small and can't even talk, she has great skill at bringing things into perspective.  We are thankful that she is healthy, growing, and is such a good natured child.  Thank you, God, for blessing us with this little miracle.
• While we are always thankful for our jobs, this blessing is highlighted this year because of the current economic situation.  We have several friends that have lost their jobs, but we have been lucky enough to not only maintain our employment, but to also feel somewhat secure.  We are thankful to be at good companies that care about employees and to have jobs that interest and challenge us.
• Despite the fact that we thought we needed a big house with a yard out in the 'burbs, God knew better.  Continuing to live in our condo downtown has been a blessing in disguise.  It would be nice to have a little more room, but that would just mean more to clean! 
• This may sound cliché, but our church has been such a blessing for us.  With the friends we have made and the programs that we have gotten involved with, Billy and I are learning so much about ourselves and our faith.  Audrey also has a great time in the nursery and will have a wonderful church family as she grows.  

Time Flies

I was looking at pictures of Audrey from the past 7 months today, and I am amazed by how much she has grown.  I know it should be no surprise, but when I see her every day, I guess I am not as aware of how much bigger she is getting.  Even her face is starting to change a little bit.  I know I have to enjoy those moments where she is cuddling up to me and climbing all over me, because all too soon, those moments will be distant memories too.  She is getting so big that it is hard to carry her around for too long.  More than that, however, she isn't content to be held much of the time; she wants to be down on the floor where she can crawl and explore. 

I am so excited to celebrate Christmas with Audrey this year.  Every time I see a commercial for a Christmas sale or see a tree up at a store, I am filled with excitement.  It makes me feel like a little kid again; I guess that is what having your own little kid does to you.  As busy as we are, I hope we find the time to enjoy it all.  I have no doubt that Audrey will be amused by the wrapping and tissue paper.  We will have to start teaching her how to rip open presents now, so she'll have it down by Christmas.

Talents

Audrey continues to amaze us every day with her new "talents."  I've included a list of some of our favorites for you to enjoy.  

• Last night, Audrey made her first phone call.  When Billy set his phone on her lap for a moment, she called a fax machine.
• Audrey has become more skilled at crawling.  Now, she can pretty much go where she wants to, as long as there are no large obstacles that she would have to climb over.  She uses this newly developed skill to make her way to the dog bowls every time she gets a chance.  No matter where she is in the house, she heads for the kitchen and the dog bowls.  Tonight, she got to them, and before we could get to her, she was picking up dog food and trying to put it in her mouth. 
• Audrey does not like taking medicine.  She currently has an ear infection and is taking amoxicillan to fight it.  She has figured out how to turn her head, flap her arms. and stick her tongue out so that it is nearly impossible to get the medicine into her mouth; it is an even greater feet to get the medicine to stay in her mouth so that she swallows it.  
• Audrey loves to eat baby food carrots.  She also enjoys sweet potatoes, squash and peas.  She hates green beans.  
• Grandma Rosie gave Audrey crackers to chew on.  She would get them completely soggy, and then drop them on the floor for the dogs to eat.  
• Grandma Lana gave Audrey Cheetos.  Audrey just likes to suck off all of the cheesy stuff.  
• Audrey is getting good at drinking water out of her sippy cup.  We don't have the spill-proof piece of rubber in it though.  She hasn't figured out how to hold it by herself, but she does try. 
• This morning, Jack was crouching down in front of Audrey while she crawled.  He kept moving back and forth with her; I think he's getting excited that she will be able to play with him very soon. 
• Audrey tries to pull herself up on anything she can find.  As soon as she masters that skills, she'll be walking to the dog bowls instead of crawling!