the peanut lately.

This girl. 
She has our whole heart and then some. 
She and Jackson are the best of friends but opposite in every way that two people can be. That keeps things both entertaining and challenging. 
Audrey is everything creative, imaginative and independent. She seems to live in her own peanut world most of the time- the land where princesses rule, everyone dances instead of walks and clothes are more like costumes that change dozens of times throughout each day.  
She's the perfect balance of sweet and sassy although in those sassy moments I'd be open to a little less drama. 
She is never far away from her notebooks where she draws her "hundreds of stories" as she says. Every page is full of thought, exploding with colors and if asked she will tell you what each and every thing is... "this is a falling star and this here is a beautiful tree with leaves and flowers..."
We'll let our peanut go wherever her heart takes her but if I had to place bets I would have a lot of confidence in saying her soul would never be content bottled up in a box, but will need outlets for creativity for all of her days, whether in dancing, singing, drawing and always putting on a little bit of a show wherever she goes. 

the peanut + pink lipstick.

My sweet peanut oozes all things girl and this weekend I pretty much made her life when I let her pick out her very first real lipstick while we were shopping. She chose the brightest shade of pink in the store, obviously. And she wore it with pride all day long.... all over her face. Somehow the pink didn't so much stay on her lips but she didn't care. Not one bit. 

This girl is the sweetest. She loves on all of us- especially her brothers- all day long. Yesterday in the car she she said, "Mommy- I love you SO MUCH and I just can't stop." Holy heart melt. I can't stop loving you either, Audrey. Ever. 

a frozen birthday...

happy birthday, peanut.

My peanut is 3 years old today- THREE! How did that happen so fast? A full post on all things Audrey and her birthday weekend to come, but for now, I loved this random photo I found on my phone from her party... because every princess needs a pink cupcake bigger than her head.

Her birth day HERE
1st birthday HERE and HERE and HERE
2nd birthday HERE and HERE and HERE and HERE

wedding date.

Yesterday, Audrey and I made a mini girl's road trip to my cousin Jeremy's wedding. We left the boys at home and so she assumed that everyone would leave their boys at home- when we sat down for the ceremony, which was outside, she started to look around and very bitterly called out, "WHY are there boys here? Why did these boys come. Weddings are only for big girls!" Oh, peanut, you were the sweetest, cutest (and maybe sassiest?) wedding date. Love our girl time.

my peanut.

pillow mates.

This is what I have woken up to almost every morning for the past 5 months or so. Her name is Audrey and she's a nightmare. A literal nightmare when it comes to sleeping. It started when Dan was working a crazy work schedule and wasn't around for 3 months, Jonah was a newborn, she was transitioning to a big girl bed and I was on the edge of losing my mind... the Peanut picked up on the opportunity to take full advantage and her perfect sleeping habits went out the window. I was hoping we would be through it by now, especially being back to work full-time, and some nights things are somewhat better, but most of the time not and there is no disciplinary strategy that works- I've tried them all, I've tried them all consistently. On nights like the ones we've been having - when Jonah is up to eat at least once, if not twice, and Audrey screams for me from her bed around 4 (like clock work!)... I try to remind myself that everything with kids is a phase- the good and the bad. Oh, Audrey, please tell me this phase is ending soon. You are the sweetest pillow mate, the most beautiful face to wake up to each morning, but I need need some peaceful sleep desperately. One day, they will all sleep, right? I'm sure of it. At least that is the hope that will get me through... monsters.

just a little story about curious george.

...attempting to bottle up her little voice forever. it's my favorite.

the peanut and the terrible twos.

I've always heard of the "terrible twos" but we never experienced them with Jackson. He's never really had a terrible stage- maybe that will come in his teenage years? But Audrey has shown us what this thing is all about... but with a peanut twist. The girl is as sweet as can be- giving kisses, throwing out "I love yous," rubbing your back- and then all of a sudden she hits you with the craziest tantrum you've ever seen. A tantrum that leaves you wondering if there is something seriously wrong. Of course there's not, she's just being two, but it's enough to test the limits of your sanity. But more than the tantrums which don't really happen that often is the hellish time of the evening that most people refer to as "bed time." Every night- ever.single.night- Jackson goes to sleep as directed and then Audrey starts her countless tours out of her bedroom. She makes trip after trip after trip to deliver her laundry list of excuses on why she is in fact not in her bed or even remotely close to falling asleep. I then calmly (most of the time anyway) walk her back to her bed in silence, avoiding eye contact and put her back in her bed.  Again and again and again. We do this little dance for hours. And eventually she gives up and goes to sleep around midnight. And then wakes up anywhere between 3 and 5am and runs into my room and climbs up into my bed. At that point I surrender and let her sleep with me because lets face it, between her antics and Jonah still not sleeping through the night even I am ready to give up at some point. And if you're thinking, "just spank her" or "do this or that"... trust me, I've done it all- Audrey withstands all punishment and usually with a smile on her face. It's the peanut way.

This photo is from Monday when I finally had to wake her at a little before 11:00am so we could go pick Jackson up from school. After a week of lasting to almost 1am every night and then refusing to nap many days I guess she finally had to catch up on sleep. So now, who wants Audrey to come over for a sleepover?!

The face of a Peanut. A rotten little Peanut.

Audrey "Big Girl" Engel

I realized that in the midst of Jonah prep I hadn't documented the Peanut's latest milestone- she is potty trained! There is one caveat- we still put her in a diaper during the night because I'm not sure if her little bladder can hold it that long since she is only 26 months old, but during the day, including naps, she's in big girl panties and rarely has an accident. The whole diaper at night thing will have to go soon because it actually hurts her feelings and she cries out from her bed "I don't want a diaper, give me my big girl panties" which breaks my heart because I'm so proud of her, but I think she needs just a few more weeks. And the best part of Peanut's potty training? My independent little woman goes all on her own- if you try to help her or follow her to the bathroom she yells "leave me alone, I do it myself" and she does... she goes, wipes and flushes all on her own. Her greatest motivation? The cute panties she gets to wear- the exact same thing that motivated me to potty train early back in the day. I love my little mini me. 

peanut stats: 2 years

An update that will probably only ever be interesting to me- some Peanut 2 year stats:

-Weight: 28.6 pounds (72%)
-Height: 34" (59%)

Our little peanut isn't such a little peanut anymore. At this age, which I LOVE, here are some of the things I never want to forget about Audrey:

-Her personality: Audrey is so laid back about so many things, but also has this sassy side that can come out of nowhere and definitely keeps us on our toes. We're working on "being nice" because she can just be mean at times, yelling at her brother when she doesn't get her way. But 95% of the time she is so sweet and loving and just fun to be around.

-Her voice: I wish I could bottle up her little voice. It is the sweetest, most adorable voice I've ever known. 

-Audrey wants to do everything Jackson does. Every thing. She copies his every move which he usually really likes and finds amusing although at times when Daddy and Jackson are doing "big boy things" she can really get her feelings hurt from being left out. One thing that has been hard for Audrey has been Jackson going to preschool- this definitely makes her feel left out and she cannot wait until she's big enough to go too. 

-Speaking of Jackson, they are absolutely best friends. They have one of the strongest brother/sister bonds I've ever known and I hope it stays that way forever. He is so protective of his Audrey and she adores her Jackson. They play together constantly and definitely miss each other when one is not there. This also means that they can sometimes create more than double the trouble together. Dan and I will often be in one room and will hear them both erupt in laughter from another place in the house and just have to look at each other and laugh because we know they are up to no good. 

-Manual labor- the peanut just doesn't believe in it. This is partly Jackson's fault because he will just do it all for her, he completely spoils her and she takes advantage of that. Her response lately when I ask her to pick up toys or take her dish to the sink is, "No, Jackie will do that."

-She is such a breath of fresh air when it comes to meal times- she loves almost any kind of food and tries new things constantly. Total opposite of someone else in this house... 

-The girl is smart. She already knows all her ABCs (we're working on better enunciating the letters), she can count to 20, she speaks so clearly and her vocabulary is extensive. She knows all of her colors and some of her shapes. Jackson has always been in love with learning and I really think this has been contagious for Audrey. Her love of reading and for books also helps- she canNOT sit still ever unless you read to her and then she would sit with you all day as long as you kept the books coming. 

That's our Peanut. Our sweet and sassy Peanut. 

for hire: a half-naked peanut, will wash dishes.

Audrey Danielle: 2 Years

look WHO-WHOOs turning TWO!

Official Peanut 2 year photos coming sometime this week, but here are a few quick shots from her birthday dinner tonight...

Mommy & Audrey Day

Earlier this year I made the decision to always take off a day for each of the babies' birthdays every year, to have a full day of just one-on-one time with them. So, today, the Peanut and I set off for a day of adventures- starting with doughnuts, then story time where we ran into friends, a little shopping, lunch and then the afternoon at the museum. There are a few things I want to remember about today because I think they capture so much of who Audrey is right now- 

First, the care she put into getting ready. She picked out just the right dress the night before, a new purple one with sparkles, it was "boo-ti-ful." She picked out her shoes, tights, coat and hat with care and she requested her hair to have a "little braid" and to be straightened. The straightening thing is new, she saw me doing it to my hair last week and ever since requests it for her own whenever I'm getting ready- adorable. 

I also want to remember her precious voice and the way she speaks- with such personality, clarity and sweetness. Today her new thing was asking me, "Mommy, are you okay?" Yes, I would reply, are you okay, Audrey? "Yes," she would say, "I promise." Pair that up with her "I love you forever and ever, I promise" and all of the spontaneous kisses and she's pretty much perfection all bundled up into one little (almost) 2 year old. 

Lastly, I was telling Dan when we got home how Audrey and Jackson have such different approaches to things, including today at the museum. Audrey was "so excited" as she said to see everything and spent very little time on any one exhibit or play station, there was just so much to see and do and she didn't want to miss any of it. This is the opposite of when Jackson is at the museum, he wants to know everything about every thing. He is there to really understand each new thing and to master it before moving on, he has been known to spend hours in the block area and would be perfectly happy skipping out on a lot of the other more play-like attractions. 

I love how they're both unique and yet are the very best of friends and while it's challenging to find the time and to set up the logistics to make it happen, I do believe that it is getting more important as they get a little older to make the one-on-one time happen so that they can feel appreciated as individuals. I can't wait to learn in what ways Jonah is different than them both and in what ways all of them will be alike as well. 

I loved my peanut time and she loved filling up the day with all her favorite things, but we both also loved coming back home to "Daddy and Jackie." She asked about Jackson countless times throughout the day, wanting to know where he was and what he was doing. She loves her buddy so much and I love them both forever and ever, I promise. 

divas always wear their jewels, even when in their pajamas.

the peanut.

The peanut spent half her evening determined to go "potty".... she probably would have actually gone if we hadn't eventually dragged her from the bathroom for bedtime. PS: Someone needs to get peanut a brush or maybe a hair cut. 

happy 1st birthday, audrey danielle

Happy Birthday to the most beautiful girl I've ever known.
The one with the sweetest smile and the most contagious laugh.
To the girl who stole our hearts before she ever came into this world,
the one who has had us wrapped around her tiny little finger all year and 
here's to hoping she'll let us hold on to it forever.
We love you, Audrey Danielle. 

the peanut: 3 things.

Do you see the little face up there? That's the peanut and she's killing me today. 

1. I stopped by Target to get her some leggings because clearly her "won't even fit in her closet" because it's too big wardrobe doesn't include any leggings up to my standards. And do you know what I realized? Her size? It's not in the little baby section anymore. It's in the section that is with all of the big girls, the toddler girls. I know this because I searched every single rack in the little baby section and nothing, absolutely nothing for the peanut. Heart-breaking. 
2. She fed herself half a bottle tonight on the way to the grocery store. My peanut does not feed herself. Maybe she would like to, maybe it would be easier, but my peanut does not do that... mommy and daddy do that. It's our job to feed our peanut. Dislike. 
3. And finally, my baby took THREE- count them, 3!- steps tonight. She has been taking 1-2 steps every once in awhile over the past week but tonight we will count them as her official first steps since she did so many in a row. Peanut, thank you for waiting until mommy got home to see, otherwise you would have been in some serious trouble. 

And that's all. Just that my little baby Audrey has completely grown up today, no big deal. I'll just go cry myself to sleep now... 

Update: We checked and it turns out the peanut was exactly ONE day earlier in taking her 1st steps than Jackson as seen HERE.