Smart Start Soccer

So the Riverton Soccer League (USA) doesn't have soccer for 3 yr olds, but they do have what's called a "Smart Start" program. It is basically a little 6 week, mini workshop. After going for the first time I am glad that we put Lyd in this and not soccer. It cracked me up all she wanted to do at first was go and play on the playground.

Once we got going she actually really liked it and had a lot of fun. They basically move around in 4 different stations and practice different skills. They did, running, kicking, dribbling, and trapping. I myself never did soccer so in some ways I probably looked just as uncoordinated (ha ha ha!) I also may have been one of the only mom's doing this...all the other mom's were sitting on the sidelines watching the dad's (ha ha ha!)

Lining up for the run, as part of their warm-up

Lydia loved the running part.

Stretching...and I thought no one's legs could possibly be whiter then mine, I stand corrected my daughters are way whiter (ha ha ha!)

Warming up their legs.

Afterwards they did a little cheer

"YEAH!!!"

Lyd waiting for her treat...looking a little concerned.

gotta love treats!

Finally she got to play on the playground!

Audrey what are you looking for?

Hey Audrey

Who are you looking for?

\

Looking...

really looking...

just about doing a back bend....

All to see this little girly!

I know I have mentioned Audrey's obsession with her big sister...but it is becoming more and more evident every day!

P.S. It finally happened...Lydia can dress herself, as such she starts out looking really cute and by the time she has changed 3 or 4 times you end up with what you see above (ha ha ha!)

Run Brittani Run!

Well Saturday I ran the Salt Lake City 1/2 Marathon! It was such a fun race. I had to get up extra early to nurse Audrey. Drove down to the gateway and took trax up to "Legacy Bridge" where the starting line was. Luckily this is a "Chip" timed race because I was about 15 minutes late...I was a little sad not to even hear the gun go off, but it was nice not running next to a million people for the first few miles.

I felt so much better running this race, I am not sure if it was due to the weather, the route or the fact that there are so many people all along the coarse cheering you on. Not going to lie I am very driven by positive encouragement (ha ha ha!)

I absolutely LOVED running throughout the streets of Salt Lake, and the finish was AMAZING! I had run this race in 2006 (the only reason I remember is because after I ran that race I passed out on my parents couch and missed my sister in laws baby shower...and Bode is turning 5 this year, weird!) Anyways then I didn't remember it being such a fun race, and I actually remember being quite mad at the finish because they didn't have nearly enough water stations along the route BUT this year it was phenomenal. They had water stations every 2 miles at least, they had so many I really only stopped at 3, but I was glad to have the option. I also loved that they had bathrooms at every stop as well (I didn't use them but again I like to have the option...ha ha ha!)

Overall it was so much fun, I had the camera in my purse so Chris didn't get any pictures but again I loved seeing Lydia up on Chris' shoulder's at the finish line. I know it sounds cheesy but really my family is my motivation, I want to be that mom that is able to do things with my kids until I am 102 (just like my Great Grandma Pearl) Anyways I am so glad I did it and I even took some time off from my last one (about a month ago!)

P.S. I know I am a bit of a boob, but I can say that I got emotional at three different times during the race.

1. Saw a guy in army get up running the 1/2 marathon while holding an american flag...couldn't help but get choked up.

2. Saw a father and mother pushing their handicapped son in a wheel chair, I was totally overcome just thinking I would do the same for my child. It is hard not to get emotional when you see the unconditional love and sacrifice of a parent for their child.

3. A guy dressed as a tiger (yes I know it is weird) literally gave high-5's to every single spectator. He was zigging and zagging the entire race. I couldn't believe how much he was loving running. I followed him for about miles and I literally couldn't take my eyes off of him, here I was just happy to still be running and he was running and enjoying every second of it.

Yes I know I am weird, Chris was laughing so hard...we passed a "GEO" car with American flags in the windows and he asked me if I was going to cry because that car had pride in our country too (ha ha ha!)

I finished in 2hr 03min

I was like 1880 of 4440 (ha ha ha!)

Here are some pics I stole from KSL

6 Months Old!

Audrey Lynn

is 6 months old!

To say that I am in love with this little one would be a definite understatement. She us such a happy baby, and is so much fun. She truly bring such a sweet spirit into our home. We took her in for her 6 month appointment and got her stats.

Height 25"-25%

Weight 15 lbs 8 0z-30%

Head Size 43 1/2 cm

Dr. Boettger is happy with her progress, and was amazed at how much she smiles and how interactive she is. He was also impressed with how much she is standing (but I reminded him that Lydia was the exact same way.) She hasn't gained as much weight as in previous months but Dr. B said it isn't anything to worry about, (especially since she still weighs more then Lydia did when she was 6 months) Anyways she is such a great baby, I feel so lucky every day to be her mommy.

Here are some fun facts about Audrey right now!

Sleep: She is sleeping a solid 11hrs consistently now. I have even had a few 13 hr stretches and not going to lie everything is easier when you are sleeping through the night!She is also a great little napper too, she takes a consistent 2hr morning nap, and a consistent 2hr afternoon nap. Some days we even get a third mini nap in.

Eat: She is still such a good little eater. She loves her solids and is now eating peaches, pears, applesauce, carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, squash and even prunes. Dr. Boettger told us to start introducing a sippy cup and gave us the go ahead to also introduce juice (he said to limit it to non-acidic juices though like white grape juice. She still refuses to take a bottle. I tried to give her one every day last week, thinking that maybe I needed to just be persistent. You would've thought I was trying to poison her, she definitely HATES formula and gags at the taste...I even tried 3 different kinds thinking maybe the it was just the formula. She nurses really well though, and eats solids 3-4 times a day, so I can't complain there.

Play:She is getting so fun and interactive. She recognizes people now and get's so excited when we come into the room. She is still OBSESSED with her big sister, and when I can get Lydia to play with her you would think Audrey heard the funniest joke in the world...she doesn't stop laughing. One of her favorite things is to sit in the family room and play with her toys. She loves putting anything and everything in her mouth, and is especially obsessed with empty water bottles. She loves to be thrown up into the air, and loves Peek-A-boo!

Sit and Stand: She isn't crawling yet, but she is definitely showing signs. She will lift her cute little butt in the air and will try to pull herself with her arms towards toys during tummy time. She can sit on her own, and hates laying on her back now. She also loves to be standing, if you are holding her she is most likely on her feet. She still loves her exersaucer...and loves to bounce in that thing. It is pretty funny.

Reflux:Dr. Boettger was happy to hear that she isn't spitting up nearly as often and so he recommended that we finish out this bottle of medicine, but only give it to her once a day and then see how she does without it. I am thinking that she will be totally fine, she hasn't had reflux nearly as bad a Lydia did, and now that she is eating solids and sitting up I think it has really helped.

Ticklish: This little girlie is just like her mama, and SSSSOOOOO ticklish. It is one of our favorite evening past times to gather around and tickle Liddy and Audrey. It is so funny to hear them giggle and laugh. When she giggles I peak in to see if there are any teeth visible yet, and based on the drool you would think she has a mouthful on the way, but no signs of any surfacing yet.

Overall:Audrey is just such a sweet little thing. She is mellow but spunky and even though she is very different from Lydia in a lot of ways I think she is going to be just as energetic as her older sister. I feel so lucky to have such amazing kids. Every night as Chris and I are laying down to go to bed it has become part of our bed time ritual to recap some of the cute and funny things Liddy and Audrey did throughout the day. There really is not a day that goes by that I don't say...we are such lucky to have such amazing kiddo's!

P.S. Someone is really excited about her upcoming birthday too!

I did have to put this in too...Lydia and Audrey do look a little alike, ha ha ha!

Best Friends!

We are so lucky to live in a neighborhood with such darling neighbors with great friends for our kid's. Lydia absolutely adores her friends Amelia and Peyton, and any time she gets to play with them is like heaven!

Amelia, Peyton and Liddy eathing their pop-cicles

Audrey saying "wait for me!"

Cute girlies

Best Friends!

Dun, Dun, Dun...THE DENTIST!!!

Well a couple of weeks ago Lydia and I went to the dentist. It was my first time in 3 yrs and Lydia's first time ever. She absolutely LOVED it, she watched me get my teeth clean and by the end she was telling me to get out, because it was her turn. Well I knew she had a few cavities and so a week later we were back to get them filled. I was horrified that she was going to freak out.

Our good friend Brian Black is our dentist...sort of weird but we have known each other since we were in kindergarten (ha ha ha!) Anyways who would've thought he would be drilling on my child's cavities.

Anyways we got there and they put Lydia on the laughing gas, instantly she was ultra relaxed. I can honestly say I have never seen her so still while she was awake. She did great with the shots, and all the drilling. By the 4th tooth (yes she ended up having 5 cavities) she was sick of it and started to cry. Luckily all she had left was to fill one tooth, so we took a little break and then finished.

She did AMAZING!!! It was pretty sad/funny afterwards she was complaining that her teeth were big (I am sure because of the numbing they felt rather large. She also had a little trouble gauging how to drink her water bottle, needless to say it ended up all over her lap.

All in all it wasn't the nightmare that I thought it was going to be, and we are now going to be sure to give her the flouride drops, and brush morning and night and floss. Yes we were only brushing them at night and I wasn't giving her the flouride drops. Anyways hopefully the next check up we don't find any cavities and hopefully she never has to go through that again!

Bath Time!

Well we LOVE bath time around our house...we take baths in the morning and it seems to be a great way to get the day started!

Audrey has learned how to splash, and that it is her hand doing it so she get's herself absolutely soaked...and loves it!

Lydia sings songs in the bath, and is even known to tell a story or two about a princess and evil dragon.

Baby blue eyes...love them!

My cute little "almost" three year old!

Cruising!

We got this little car for Lydia for Christmas and she absolutely HATED it. I blame Chris for putting her on the bumper cars at Jungle Jim's by herself and she was terrified and the bumper cars and her car have a striking resemblance. Anyways we have been slowly trying to get her more used to it and finally she LOVES it! She was even excited to have her very own passenger along for the ride...and Audrey loved it (as usual!)

It has a remote control, so Chris was actually the one driving the car.

Sisters!

She always wanted to give us a "High-5" as she drove by!

Love those girls!

It even still has the bow from Christmas...ha ha ha!