Late Night Ramblings

I've been working on movie stuff nearly every waking moment that I'm not actively mom-ming, wife-ing, or slogging through hoarse pain from an eternal sore throat. Went to doctor on Saturday and learned it's not strep throat, which is good. Feeling a little low-energy tonight, although we had a lovely day all together, driving over to South Minneapolis and toddling around the storefronts at 50th and France Avenues.

We were going to go to this free family event in downtown St. Paul, but Audrey fell asleep in the car on the way there, and we didn't want to rouse her to navigate a crowd. So, we stopped for the ever-necessary cups of coffee (I ran out of the car, got the goodies, and ran back) and motored West while The Shmoo snoozed.

Tonight, to get myself out of this near rut of must-work, must-work (which really doesn't turn out to be very productive), I noodled around on the Web, trying to alight on something Free to do tomorrow with Audrey. Since I'm still nursing a sore throat, going to the fitness center and using their Babysitting service won't be an option. Well, I'm happy to report that I came across this art organization's shop that sells recycled art supplies in St. Paul. Since our little artiste is really digging on the painting supplies lately, I figure we'll go burn some daylight there tomorrow. :) And, get coffee nearby, of course.

Sorry to be so mundane with this entry, but I'm here! Trying to resume the habit that I used to have of updating this blog more often.

Let me think before signing off, what latest Audreyisms I can share?

She's really into watching Pinocchio these days. She's gotten really good at using the toilet when necessary -- and, likes getting reward stickers at daycare for doing so. She likes cuddling before bedtime and reviewing her whole day, then having Mommy or Daddy sing Do Re Mi. And, she's begun coming out of her room, like, 10 times after Lights Out for assorted reasons. Sigh. Yeah, I know, I gotta get one of those door handle thingies that'll make it hard for her to open her door. I'm sure that'll go over really well with her. Ha ha.

She's really into painting and loves her dance class. Music Class, in comparison, seems so 6 months ago. She still likes it, but she doesn't talk about it nearly as much as the dance class.

She loves answering the phone, and does not want to give it to either parent when asked. AND, playing "chase me" is a really big favorite right now, whether we're game for it, as well, or not. :)

Doing things "by my own" is also very big right now. And, she's experimenting with mercurial mood shifts and tonal bursts of extreme decibels to indicate how much we are or are not in line with her expectations.

Ken and I are certain that our upstairs neighbor is loving this phase of Audrey's toddlerhood, as evidenced by the loud stomping down stairs and slamming her outside door occurrence today would indicate.

Alright, I'm pooped. Off to bed for me. XOXO

I just need to sit here and...

Okay, okay, we've REALLY slacked off on this blog here.

That's what Facebook will do to you.

I'm not just behind here, though. I have a stack of stationery for our "holiday letter" which still sits unopened, too. Sigh.

What we have been up to:

Ken's still a happy camper working at Beka. I'm still a happy camper working at producing my indie feature film. Audrey's still a happy camper being an adorable toddler.

Today, in the bathroom she said, "I'm fine. I don't need privacy. I just need to sit here and poop."

Been querying some friends and family about which photo to submit to a Cutest Baby contest. If Audrey won, the prize is $125K toward college. Woo hoo! So, I tormented her some more today with the camera. Actually, she's pretty game, except for the fascinating cartoon of "Casper" that was on the tv. Every time I saw a shot in my viewfinder on the camera and clicked, she turned her head toward the tv again. Nice. :)

Okay, so this entry is a baby step toward posting here again more often. XOXO

Fly on the wall moments...

Some new Audreyisms.

"Are you a woman?"
"Yes."
"Is Ken a man?"
"Yes."
"I'm not a baby."
"No."
"I'm a toddler."
"Yes."

Pause.

"I'm a little booger. Are you a big booger?"
"Yes."

And, tonight while winding down toward bedtime. I was rubbing Audrey's back as I sang, "You are my sunshine..."
"Stop petting me. I'm not a cat."

Pics and viddies Sept - Oct

I'm gonna post some images/video, in no particular order. :)

To the left, we have "Fun with hats."



Below we have "Audrey coaches Cow to somersault."




Also, a couple Audreyisms from late:

Outside chatting with neighbor the other night. Audrey was playing alone in their toddler's sandbox. I told Audrey we'd leave in just a couple minutes. A few minutes went by, and she announced, 'I'm boring. I want to go home.'

Going naked is big right now. Audrey likes taking off her pants, skirts, tights, socks and/or diapers at no provocation. She's also begun using the toilet, albeit rather arbitrarily. :) The nakedness helps with that process, though.

Below is "Audrey somersaults with aplomb."



Below, "I'm a lemur."

You can tell we've recently visited the zoo by Audrey's command of monkey knowledge.



And, finally below, "Let me see!"

Tidbits

Never mentioned here that I got the big-o rejection letter from that Sundance Institute fellowship I applied for. Oh well. I put it out there. Guess the Universe is telling me that I don't need it. :)

Latest Audrey-isms:

• I fall down in the back yard. I scrape my knee. I'm okay! 'You okay? I'm okay.

• I got a Band Ape.

• Where's Daddy...? Where's Ari...? Marie, Terri, Noah...? Where's Joyce (our neighbor)...? Where's Grandma Susie? Where's Grandpa Dave and Grandma Jackie? And, REPEAT 11,000 times per day.

• Why?

• Not.

And finally, Ken and I have decided that 2010 will be the year for us to move into our own home. A return episode of Upstairs-Cathy-Claims-Ken-Is-A-Cold-Hearted-Animal-Hater -And-Liar, to boot! has occurred just recently. This time, we've been accused of putting rat poison in the shared basement. Wasn't us. Landlord denied it (he's either spaced it out, or lying to Long-Term-Renter Cathy at our expense). It's a source of low-grade stress that neither of us wants to continue to deal with for the long term...

But, other than that, just planted tomatoes this weekend!

XOXO

I'm just her plaything

Miscellaneous Audrey Moments:

This morning -

I'm sitting on the floor in my bedroom, back up against the bed. Audrey is standing about ten feet away, facing me. She says. "Ready, go!" and runs full blast into my arms. Giggle, giggle. She runs back to the starting position. Ready, go! Run, run! Big body-to-body smoosh. Giggle, giggle. Repeat. And, repeat. And, repeat about ten times more.

Another morning, last week -

Sitting on bedroom floor again. Audrey's emptying miscellaneous socks and other under garments from my drawers. She decides to put socks on my feet for me. I end up with one brown sock on my right foot, and a purple one halfway up my left foot. The crowning glory is the pair of shiny black slimming undies she puts on my head as my "hat." Then, she decides to pull it down over my head to be a "scarf" instead.

Yes, we're alive and well

I just put Audrey down for her nap. Let's hope she stays there awhile. :)

The latest Audrey-isms:

Mine.
Climb.
Up, peez.
Ope, peez (open please).
Go away!
Eck (egg).
Cereal.
Mulk (milk).
Noah!
Marie!
Ari!
Ready, go!

She's also practicing her ABCs. She can get up to G, then loses the melody (and the next letter). She really likes singing and music. Last week, she discovered spinning around in place until she fell down. That was big fun.

Last weekend, Ken worked a temp computer gig which took him away all day Friday and Friday night, as well as all day Saturday, and I thought I would lose my mind having Audrey to myself ALL day and ALL night. Ken got up with her Sunday morning (thank you, Ken, and thank you, God), and I slept in until 11:38 a.m. Did I mention I thank God?

When I haven't been full-on parenting, I've been working on a consulting gig (which has been taking me forever, although there are good reasons for that), the indie film I'm producing, an application to the Creative Producing Fellowship at the Sundance Institute, my producing blog, the website I'll be putting up for work stuff, and reviewing my friend, Ari's, business plan. Wow, as I write all that, it kind of makes me realize why I've been feeling so wound up. It takes me a fairly long time at night to get my brain to shut down. And, I feel some anxiety about the next day, like 'what's on deck for tomorrow?'

Coming up, Audrey and I will board a plane this Saturday to go visit my mom. I'm looking forward to the visit, but I'm bracing myself now for the trek through the airport, security, and onto the plane with All Things Baby. Especially, because I'll be on my own with her and all the gear; Ken's staying in MN. Audrey and I fly back on Christmas Day.

Grandma Jackie and Grandpa Dave just sent a Christmas package, and we opened the unwrapped ABC flash cards already. Those have been a big hit. Audrey really likes the pictures on them; in fact, she keeps finding the Z card and saying, 'zeeba.'

Alright, the Child is still calling "mommy" from her crib, and it's been 17 minutes... What has happened to nap time?? She's only 20 months old! She should be LOVING nap time. Mommy LOVES nap time; so should she.

Let's just be vewwy, vewwy quiet (like Elmer Fudd).

Photos of Snowsuit Audrey to come.

New vocabulary

Here's an arty photo.









Latest vocabulary:

All die -- all done
Hallo
Mark - milk
Sam - Read me Green Eggs and Ham again, mommy

Latest favorite songs/rhymes:

If You're Happy and You Know It
Pat A Cake
Pop Goes the Weasel
ABC song

That's our girl!

Guess what one of Audrey's new words is?

Now think about her parents. What are we both crazy about?

Yep, coffee! Though, Audrey pronounces it, 'coppee.' Works for me. I tell her it's not for babies, but she points to it and knows what it is.

Also in the vernacular these days are:

'side (inside or outside) - This is said a LOT.
wat-y (water)
Nah-nah - "I want"
Nose
Eye
Dog (while pointing at squirrels)

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