Successful Trip!

I was totally expecting the worst this weekend when Aubrey was throwing fits and going crazy the beginning of the week. 

I told Jared Wednesday night that I did NOT want to even ATTEMPT the trip to Ohio. Said he could go and have a great time, but I HATED the thought of Aubrey being terrible AGAIN for a trip to Ohio. The past 2 trips were AWFUL because she would cry at everyone and was just upset constantly. 

But she did so well! Got a little cranky in the car after an hour, but Jared hopped back and held up the computer with a movie on it. Kept her happy the rest of the ride! 

Got to Jared's Grandparents' house just in time for Aubrey's nap. She took an AMAZING nap and woke up just in time for Thanksgiving dinner. I gave her the pacifier to help her feel secure. She sat in my lap the whole time and even ate off my plate! Her version of Thanksgiving was some turkey pieces, lots of fruit, broccoli with cheese, peas and corn!

Just absolutely amazing.

Her favorite thing to do was walk up and down the stairs from the breezeway to the kitchen. It's only 2 steps but she loved it! She'd run to the stairs, stop suddenly, carefully walk down and then run to the other side of the room. Then she'd repeat in reverse!

I'm just SO thankful that Aubrey was happy and cute. It REALLY makes the difference for Jared and me. There were times we could sit and talk with people and she'd just be running around entertaining herself!

It was wonderful being with family and catching up with everyone and having a REAL vacation! Jared and I got to sleep in. We didn't have any plans for most days we were out there!

I love my little girl and I think she is awesome (most of the time). It was so great having everyone else see what a cute and good girl she really is.

How I Waste My Day

It's the end of the day and I'm sitting back thinking over the day.

I feel like I'm busy ALL day with Aubrey, but I have NOTHING to show for it!

We're working on potty training. So FIRST thing this morning, we have some no-diaper time. I had her sit on her little potty getting her used to sitting on it. I believe potty training is a PROCESS and we're taking it slow. No rush.

Anyhow, she sat on her potty and watched Winnie the Pooh. When it ended, we put the diaper back on and then watched Tarzan. But when I say WATCHED, I mean, she RAN around making a mess and would stop to watch the TV every now and then.

She went down for a nap and I had a LITTLE downtime to work on my own project of putting ALL the pictures on the computer on to DVDs to help open up some free space.

Nap ended and she was up again, making her own little DISASTER area all over the apartment. We watched Tangled while I had her on the potty AGAIN (like I said, it's a slow process). Her diaper went back on after the movie and we watched some Phineas and Ferb. What a GREAT show!

I made Aubrey dinner of spaghetti-o's. It got ALL over her, which isn't any surprise. So in to the tub she went.

Jared went out and got some groceries for our holiday trip I posted about earlier (view post here ) and came home while I finished up the bath. Hooray he was home to help with Aubrey!

If I were to try and explain to people what I do all day, I would be LAUGHED at! They'd say "all you do is watch fun movies with your child, make quick meals and then pass Aubrey off to your husband." But that is SO not true!

Aubrey is usually very good and happy and so much fun. She's just full of energy and she's a constantly distracted baby. But when she's mad, she is MAD and turns into some other baby ENTIRELY!

What I do all day is control the BEAST!! 

• We watch movies she loves so she can dance and we can have some fun together. 
• I am CONSTANTLY putting away her toys and books so she doesn't hurt herself and she knows where to find them for future "use." 
• I make meals to help her grow, but I'm limited to only a few things I know she will eat and I try and experiment with her snacks. Today I learned she likes chicken dipped in Heinz 57 steak sauce :)
• I clean her and the floor up after her eating and I am ALWAYS trying to find all the cereal pieces that fall out of her little cup.

By the time Jared gets home, I've run out of most of my tricks to keep Aubrey good! Jared is so much better at playing with Aubrey and getting her to laugh. Aubrey and I watch the SAME movies every day. We read the SAME books. It's enough to drive some people crazy!

But I know my day is not a waste. Aubrey is happy in bed. She's growing, she's learning, and she's just so much fun. I love spending all day with her, even if she's running me ragged. It was my choice to be a stay-at-home mom and I am so glad I made that decision.

I suppose I should have titled this post "How I Enjoy My Day."

Family Excursions

We are getting ready for our trip to Ohio for Thanksgiving at Jared's grandparents' home.

I'm planning for the WORST possible scenario, hoping it will be better and I can be a happy mom.

But I'm not TOO optimistic. 

The last couple trips out there, Aubrey was NOT the happiest or the easiest. She was teething and going through a growth spurt and was SO shy, getting through the day was a struggle. 

We'll leave Thursday in the morning pretty soon after she wakes up. Poor baby will have to be in the car for 2 HOURS! Hopefully we'll get there before her nap so she can run around and get her energy under control.

Jared would like to stay for a few days and come back on Sunday. I'm TOTALLY fine with that. I just always feel REALLY bad when Aubrey isn't a happy guest. 

I started making the list of things to bring to make Aubrey comfortable while there. It's turning in to a huge list! She'll need clothes, change of clothes, pajamas, socks, her playpen, blankets, her toothbrush, and the list goes ON AND ON!!

Oh man, I hope I don't forget anything! It's Jared's family so he'll want to spend time with them. I get that. No problem. But if I'm the one taking charge of Aubrey, I want to make sure she has EVERYTHING to help her stay in a good mood! If it means I take over the room with the TV to watch Winnie the Pooh or Tangled, so be it!

But I'm REALLY really hoping she'll do well in the car, be good after getting used to everyone in Ohio, and be cute and happy and playful in the huge backyard.

The REAL goal this weekend though is to get a good picture of Aubrey with Jared's grandparents! The last attempt did not have a good ending :)