Sweet Summer Days

Today was a perfect afternoon with my sweet Sophie Belle on the back patio in the heat of the Texas summer. She played in the sand box, skinny-dipped in the kiddie pool, made cool side-walk chalk designs, and enjoyed a popsicle. She had orange stripes all down her bare chest within minutes. My messy girl even laid her popsicle on the ground for a few minutes when she needed a break. :) Little Audrey was inside snoozing the hot afternoon away. Good afternoon for memory making....

Simply Sweet

Today's laundry list of cute stuff Sophie has done recently includes....

• Asking to hold her sister repeatedly and getting so excited when we actually let her
• Handing Benoit Audrey's blanket so she wouldn't be cold
• Alerting me to Audrey's crying by gasping, pointing, and saying 'Aww dwee'
• Looking behind the stereo speaker to see who was making that noise when we turned the radio on
• Asking for 'hep peas' (help please) when she can't do something by herself
• Minding her manners with 'peas' and 'tank u'
• Chasing bubbles and announcing 'pop' when she catches one
• Lighting up and yelling 'Momma!' when I come in the room.

Simple pleasures, but I'm soaking them up.

Don't Blink

Please don't blink, or my girls will be grown. I can't believe it's already been a month since Audrey was born. Sophie turned 17 months yesterday and Audrey is 1 month old tomorrow. It feels like I've had 2 girls all my life - I love them so much that I just can't imagine my life without them. While there are moments where I feel my head will pop off from the chaos (don't we all have them), there are sugary-sweet moments too. Like when Sophie gives Audrey a kiss, which she tries to do a lot. And when Audrey sighs after nursing like she's the most content little baby in the world.

I recently had a friend lose her baby in her second trimester. I can't imagine that sadness and loss. I look at my girls with a renewed sense of thankfulness and remember how truly blessed I am. They bring us great joy, even when we're exhausted, spit-up on, pooped-on (oh yeah!), and screamed at. Parenting is not an easy job, but certainly fulfilling. I'm also very thankful that I had the opportunity to leave the professional world for a short time and pursue professional motherhood.

Here are some of my fave memories during Audrey's first month in this big world:

• Hearing Sophie say Audrey's name - sounds like 'orange juice' to me.
• Falling asleep with Audrey in my arms and hearing her snort and sigh.
• Watching my mom hold both my baby girls and seeing the joy in her face.
• Laughing while Sophie entertains Brad, Emily, and mom with her animal antics. She loves to stomp like an elephant, raise her shoulders like a buffalo, bend her neck like a giraffe, etc, etc.
• Dressing my girls alike - that's right, I'm doing it until they tell me not to!

The list goes on and on, but my time does not. With two little ones underfoot, I'm lucky to have time to brush my teeth. And yes, I did check that off the to-do list today! Here are a few new pics for your viewing pleasure.