The Bottle

Audrey took a bottle the first time we tried it. And she took it like a trooper. No fuss. No tears. No vacuum. Yes, we had to have the vacuum running in order for Natalie to take a bottle at first. It was the only noise that distracted her enough from her own protesting wails and screams. So, this time around, we braced ourselves, held our breath and introduced Audrey to 3 ounces of pumped breast milk wondering what drama our second born had in store for us. No problem what-so-ever. Thank you, Audrey.

Natalie had curiously watched me pump a few days before and kept asking every hour on the hour when we were going to feed Audrey the bottle. She was excited to be part of Audrey's audience when the time came. But the best part was the conversation the next morning at breakfast:

Natalie (as she's drinking a glass of milk): Where did this milk come from?
Me: The refrigerator
Natalie: No, where did it come from?
Me (still clueless): The grocery store.
Natalie: No, Mommy, where did it COME from, really?
Me: You mean, originally?
Natalie: Yes
Me: A mommy cow.
Natalie: A COW?
Me: Yes, a cow.
Natalie: So, Audrey gets her milk from your bra and I get milk from a COW?
Me: Yes...I know it sounds totally weird (and I'm, of course, thinking it IS totally weird) but that's the kind of milk most people drink once they're not babies anymore.
Natalie: That's crazy.

I'm not a fan of dairy to being with...Natalie's shocked expression at her new found knowledge didn't help matters at all! I could switch her to soy milk...but I don't even know how I'd begin to explain getting milk from a bean!

Smile!

We have a smile! Audrey has been smiling for a few weeks now but I've not been able to capture it on camera. She cooperated today!

I think she collects a new chin every week!

Smartie Pants

Natalie doesn't get much candy at this house. Corey and I aren't really big candy people to begin with and we've really tried our best to keep excess sugar out of Natalie's molars. As a result, when she gets it, it's a big deal...and she doesn't ever want those sweet moments to end.

Last Saturday she went to a birthday party where there was a pinata. The candy she brought home in her Disney Princess goody bag rivaled a Halloween trick-or-treating loot. We let her admire and sort it and then promptly put it up to be used as occasional special treats.

When I passed by her bedroom the next morning all I saw were legs sticking out from under her bed...

And all I heard was "crinkle, crinkle, crinkle"...

I asked her what she was doing under there and she, of course, said, "Nothing. Go away."

Hmmm...it was no real secret what she was up to.

I coaxed her out promising not to be mad. In fact, I was laughing and that threw her a little. She came out reluctantly, holding her almost empty Smartie wrapper and wearing a nervous grin.

It was rather funny but it made me think that we're apparently making candy too much of a big deal. I hate that she felt the need to hide under her bed to enjoy something as innocent as a package of Smarties. Then it occurred to me that that's the one candy she's probably had the most of. Corey and I both like them and if they're ever in a candy dish, we grab one, two, or four packages. When Corey came to see what all the giggling was about he asked if he could have one of the few remaining Smarties in the sweaty wrapper. Natalie shared without argument, just relieved that we weren't mad. I hope she was hiding under there enjoying her Smarties just to have them all to herself.

Seersucker Smiles

Is there anything cuter than a seersucker summer dress? Yes...2 seersucker summer dresses! It took all morning to time the "moods" right so that both girls would cooperate for this photo shoot, but they generously gave me 2 and a half minutes to get some pictures.

All is going well here. Someday I'll have time to be wordy again, but until then, enjoy the photos!

Sisters

I love that we have two girls. I love that they will always have each other. I'd be lost without my sister and my only hope is that Natalie and Audrey feel that way about each other one day.

Chub-a-Dub-Dub...

one baby with 2 chins in the tub!

When Audrey was born one pound lighter and 3 inches shorter than her big sister, I thought I might not have a chubby, chunky baby this time around. I decided Audrey got all the hair so she might not get all the rolls!

My, how almost 6 weeks of round the clock nursing can transform a figure! Now this (formerly) little one is working on her third chin! I love it!

Guilt

Dear (future) Audrey,

Please forgive your parents for being pathetic baby bloggers during your first precious weeks with us. We have a few excuses...general fatigue caused by extreme sleep deprivation and resulting in an 8:00 bedtime for your exhausted mother is the biggest one...AND the fact that you insist on being held MOST of the time you're awake (making typing impossible) is a close second.

I know we documented your older sister's every burp, cry and coo on this blog. We love you no less, my dear sweet girl...we're just a bit foggier this time around. We will make it up to you when she leaves for college...I promise.

We love you,

Mommy and Daddy

Audrey was one month old last Sunday. Such a cutie...

I think Natalie is wearing every piece of Aunt Ashley's jewelry.