Apparently I've been slacking off...

This morning Daniel asked, "Hey, what's up with you not updating the blog!?"

Well...I don't have a super good reason, but here are just a few of my excuses...

Blog to Book:
I've been working on getting our blog into book form. I'm starting from 2008...it's taking awhile, as you can imagine.

*Feel free to pass along any other sites that make this process easier. I've been using blurb.com, but I have also heard of blog2print.com, and bookemon.com.

Babysitter Swap:

Our playgroup is trying out a "Babysitter Swap". It's pretty simple: each month you're paired up with a mom/kiddo. You watch their little one (or little ones, when twins are involved) for a couple of hours one day and then they watch your little one for a couple of hours the next week.

I think what has been the most fun in trying this, is just seeing the difference between girls and boys at this age.

When we had cute, little Lauren over the girls were simply precious together. Aubrey calls Lauren "La La" and she calls Aubrey "Aubie". I just melt watching the sweetness between these two!

Lauren preparing a delicious meal.Aubrey chatting away on the phone.And then the boys...
Jake & Jack!
(or Deek & Dack, as Aubrey calls them)
Aubrey wasn't so sure about the rowdiness and the banging of toys.Finally she had enough and out came those pointy, little fingers -- one for each of the boys. What can I say, the girl knows how to boss!

Is this not the cutest mischievous face you've ever seen?!One thing is for sure, these boys sure have that sweet, innocent look down pat!

But seriously, the boys were great and Aubrey has had a blast with all her "guests" coming over.

Sidenote:
To all the lovely mothers of multiples out there reading this: There should be an additional holiday in honor of you in addition to the annual Mother's Day. Honestly...

Teething:
Oh, and Aubrey's teething (4 molars to be exact...). And judging by the size of her front teeth, these are going to be gargantuan boulders! Daniel and I laugh and say she decided to forgo baby teeth altogether and just jumped straight to her adult teeth.

Her pearly whites are big, there's no denying it, but I think she wears them well...

And, do I dare say, teething hasn't gotten Aubrey too "down in the mouth"?
Sorry, horrible pun wasn't it?

Well, at least someone thinks I'm hilarious...

So I guess that wraps things up for now.
I promise to be a better blogger, apparently this thing doesn't write itself.

(Psst, psst: Daniel--my love, you can author a post or two, you know...)

It's Official: We're Grown Ups

This past weekend, Daniel and I hired our first non-family member babysitter to watch Aubrey. Up until this point, I have refused to even entertain the thought of allowing someone other than a blood relative to watch our little offspring (not including the nursery workers at church).

Daniel was finally fed-up with us going sooooo long without a date night (sweet, I know.), so he started pouting. Then he became rather grouchy about it. It was quite clear that me and my Mama Bear mentality were at fault here.

After pondering and listening to Daniel's side, I knew this was something I needed to get over. So I called our neighbor across the street who has a daughter that practically leads a second life as a marathon babysitter around these parts. I was sure she'd have plans or other sitter responsibilities on such short notice for a Saturday night, but as luck would have it, she was totally free.

Before I knew it -- Aubrey was asleep in her crib for the night, and I was going over our cell phone numbers and the name of the restaurant (1.4 miles from our driveway) with the babysitter.

I had an array of snacks (M&Ms, Popcorn, Rice Krispie treats) out on the bar and gave a quick verbal tutorial of our TV remote. The next thing I know, Daniel and I are pulling out of our garage without our squirmy bug strapped down in the backseat.

It was a little surreal.

I looked at Daniel and said, "I've never felt more grown-up in my life than I do now."

We proceeded to have a wonderfully lovely dinner (with our cell phones both turned up to the highest ringer setting and practically attached to our bodies); we even made an unexpected trip for dessert before going home.

According to the babysitter, Aubrey never made a peep.

Which is a complete miracle considering I was sure our little fox was plotting a coup the moment we left.