Summer Vacation

We just got back from a fantastic vacation to Lake Norris in Tennessee.  It was a good meeting point for us, Nate's parents from Texas, and extended family members from Iowa. Aubrey even got to meet her Great-Grandma for the first time! The lake was really gorgeous, the crystal clear water ran through the Great Smokey Mountains northwest of Knoxville. We were truly in the boonies but the lake house was perfect and we never wanted to leave (nice being away from the Internet/cell phones for awhile!!)  I think our favorite part was the two story dock where we could swim off and park Gram and Gramps' ski boat. Aubrey wasn't sure about the water at first but we had her in it so much that she got to like it and was kicking and splashing by the end. She also got used to being on the boat, and loved watching her daddy ski.  It was hard coming back to reality but we will cherish the memories and look forward to more summers on the water!
Here are some pics to remember our trip by.

14 months!

Aubrey turned 14 months on Wednesday! I took pictures again during our playtime outside which has been cut short these days with the heat. This month she has started copying Nate and I.  My favorite is she likes to grab my pen and paper that I make lists on and mimic me writing. She has also picked up some new words since my last post. I am proud to say that she is saying Momma now very often. Her new favorite word that is giving "Hi" a run for its money is "Shoes." She loves to put her shoes on, go find her shoes, go get moms shoes, the list goes on and on!

My little one at 14 months.

I wanted to get one of her waving hi. I didn't get her smiling but this was her waving to a car while sticking out her huge belly :)

While making dinner, I turned around to see this-- it only takes 2 seconds for Aubrey to make a mess!!! 

Independence Day

Aubrey and I celebrated the 4th at Ft. Story beach. We had lots of fun with some of our friends from the squadron (just the women and children the guys are away training right now). The Ft. Story beach didn't have any waves but Aubrey was still VERY scared of the beach water and the water coming up on the sand. I don't know what to do, I want her to enjoy the water but she would rather sit up further in the sand and play on her chair.

Proud to be American today and every day!!!

ha ha this picture was funny to me. She was chasing Reba.

We miss you Nate. The 4th isn't the same without you, especially without your beach margaritas!!

Words

Here is a list of Aubrey's words for baby book and Grandparent purposes.......but first here is a picture for Daddy. I miss you Daddy, come back and play pillow fight with me soon!!!
(These pictures aren't that great, I couldn't get a good one today!)

Okay back to the words.....
She doesn't talk a ton, well let me rephrase that, she babbles a ton but she doesn't say that many words. Here are the words she does say.
"Hi"- by far her favorite word. She says "hi" to everyone she encounters especially while we are shopping/running errands. I hear the word "hi" about 30 times every hour.
"Dog"- First word. She loves dogs, especially Reba:)
"All Done"- this was her second word or phrase I guess you would call it. She tells me she is all done with her food during meal time (she started signing all done first and the words came a month later). She has also starting using "all done" to refer to being all done with activities like playing or being in the stroller.
"Da"- meaning Dad, yes I am publicly admitting this Nate:) She says Daddy's name and doesn't say mine, which frankly blows my mind since I am with her ALL the time!! She has started to make mom sounds like "mmmmaa" but doesn't say it to my face very much. BOO!
"Reba"-well in Aubrey words "Reda". She just started saying this and isn't totally confident in it yet, she says it very softly while petting Reba.

She has several signs her two favorites are "eat" and "more", my child LOVES to eat!! I also realized that she pats her chest to sign mom, it is not the sign for mom but for some reason when she is upset and wants me to hold her she pats her chest?!? Strange I know.