Trip to Pennsylvania

Our trip to Pennsylvania was an eye opener for Ryan and me (it's hard to travel with a toddler), but looking back it was worth it to spend all that time together. Audrey seems to be learning so much lately, neither one of us want to miss it.
We started in Philadelphia. This is Audrey meeting James Madison at the Constitution Center. She had to touch all the eyes, noses, and ears (a new favorite activity) of the signers of the Constitution.
This is Audrey in the Sacred Grove in Palmyra, New York. Although I don't condone the fact that she picked this dandy lion, I had to take this picture. What a blessing to be in the trees where Joseph Smith spoke to our Heavenly Father and our Savior.
Our next stop was Niagara Falls. We splurged and stayed in a beautiful "falls view" room at the Marriott in Canada. It was so amazing. We spent so much time in our room just watching out the window.
Everywhere we went Audrey had to chase the birds, seagulls, pigeons, and ducks (to Audrey they are all ducks and they all say 'quack quack quack'). She would never get bored with this activity. Imagine being at Niagara Falls and spending so much time chasing seagulls!
We added two stadiums to our goal of going to every MLB stadium. We saw the Giants play the Phillies and the Pirates. When we first got in to the Pirates' stadium they had this tiny baseball park for the kids to run the bases. Audrey was so excited.
The Pirates game was the night before we flew home. After seven days of traveling, Audrey was looking pretty tired.

All American Girl

For everyone who's heard the Carrie Underwood song "All American Girl", I am devoting this post to that song. That song could have been written especially for Ryan and Audrey. When Ryan first heard that we were having a girl, he was pretty disappointed. Everyone had predicted we were having a boy and we had started to believe it. After the ultrasound we took a walk in the canyon and talked. He felt like he would know what to do with a boy better than a girl. He's also convinced we won't have any boys (because of the female population in my family) and thought the first one would be the best chance. I told him that he should plan on treating his daughter just like his son. He should buy her clothes from the BYU bookstore and take her to games etc. He felt a lot better after that. Audrey has tons of stuff with the BYU and San Francisco Giants logos. This year we've been able to take her to a few Jazz games and even two playoff games! What a trooper. Check out her Deron Williams jersey.
For the record: Audrey has been to six Jazz games, a Major League baseball game, a Real Salt Lake soccer game, one BYU football game in New Mexico and six home BYU football games.

Exhibitionist

Audrey got this necklace in San Antonio when they had a Mardi Gras on the river (we don't ask how she got it!). She wears it with everything or with nothing. Love that BELLY!
She also loves to take baths. (I'm sensing a naked theme) As soon as she learns how, she will be taking her clothes off any chance she gets (right Betsy?). If only we could all feel this comfortable in our own skin.

Business/Pleasure trip to San Antonio

Ryan and a few others from his office had a conference in San Antonio from January 30th to February 4th. Audrey and I were lucky enough to go with them and PLAY!!!
This is a picture in front of the Riverwalk on the San Antonio river. We spent time on the river every day that we were there partly because we loved it so much and also because our hotel was right next to it.




















This is Audrey at the Children's Museum during "Mommy and Me" playtime one day.

After a long day of playing, there's nothing like sitting back and reading a good book in the hotel room!

The Big ONE!

For all the moms out there that have been through this, I hope you can relate...
I wanted Audrey's first birthday party to be amazing. I wanted Audrey to be ecstatic and to enjoy every minute. I wanted everyone to have a good time and to think I was somewhat organized. I guess I wanted it to be perfect. Well, it was so much fun and our family was so great to help and to be excited and get Audrey great stuff. The only problem was Audrey being completely overwhelmed I think.



We sat her in front of her cake and SHE CRIED. I am not sure what she was upset about, but she wasn't going to eat it. This is not at all like her!
All was well once she got to play with her toys and she really had a blast on this scooter.























































I have to put a picture of this beautiful cake that my mom and sister made. It was hard to cut!

The first steps of many

A week before Audrey's birthday, she decided it was time to walk. It's not graceful and she's still not a huge fan, but we are so excited for this huge step (no pun intended) in Audrey's life.

First Christmas

We all had so much fun with Audrey's first Christmas. Audrey was (of course) spoiled, Mom opened twice as many presents as normal and Dad was on camera duty. Since Ryan's parents moved to Lehi we had less driving time and more family time. I think my favorite part was when Ryan and I stayed up late getting Audrey's presents ready for when she woke up. I hope I feel that way for years to come!