Hey hunny, I just wanted to let you know that today at work I’ve been thinking about you a lot.  I have a picture of you on my desktop, and you are so cute!

I wish I didn’t have to work today so I could be with you and mom.  I hope you always know that we think you are the most special girl in the world and we couldn’t imagine having a better daughter than you.  You are what mommy and daddy have always wanted.  I always wanted a little cuddly girl, and that is exactly what you are (sometimes).  Mommy wanted a daughter who she could teach everything she knows about being a mother, daughter, wife and woman.

I love you Aubrey Ann,

Daddy

According to DNA facial recognition software, Aubrey Ann is indeed my daughter. Now we just need to find the mother!

Dearest Aubrey Ann,

You have been a busy girl these last few weeks. I was waiting until you were four months to post, but I have to do it early because you are learning LOTS of new things!

You had your first laugh on Wednesday, August 15th. We had taken you to see your new friend Ella, and when we got home Daddy was asking you, “Did you see Ella? Ell-a?” and right then you made a noise that sounded like you said “Ell-a” and Daddy and I both started laughing. Well, you must have thought it was so funny that you made us laugh, because you cracked up as well.

It was your first laugh, and your very first joke all rolled into one! No wonder you hadn’t laughed yet, you are going to take after your Daddy and only laugh at your own jokes! (Love you Dad! )

Also on Saturday, August 18th you rolled over from your tummy to your back for the very first time. You were pretty shocked when you realized you finally did it. You work so hard on it everyday. Now that you have done it, you get really frustrated when you can’t repeat it.

You are also grabbing at everything now. You hold on to things and always want to touch everything. Whenever possible, you like to stick things in your mouth and give them a good taste!

Now, you want to be a big girl and eat Mommies food with her. I had scrambled eggs for breakfast one morning and you were watching me intently as I ate them. Since you seemed so interested, I held up the plate to let you smell my food, and you reached out your hand and grabbed my eggs! Luckily, I caught you before you could stick them in your mouth, silly girl!

All in all, I think you are a very serious baby. You really watch people and try and figure everything out. Some call it grumpy, I call it serious! Here is a picture of you with your Papa, looking a bit grumpy…oops, I mean serious .

Your beautiful smiles make everything worth it!

Your favorite thing to say is “Ah-goo”. Some days you get stuck on it, and it is all you will say. Other days you don’t want to say much at all, you would rather suck on your fist. I have been trying to get you to say “Ma ma” but everytime I try, you just smile at me as if to say, “Oh, I can say it, I just don’t WANT to !” What a stinker!

You sometimes get bashful around big groups of people. Everyone wants to look at you and make you smile. You like watching people, but you are certainly not ready to perform for them yet! Maybe in a couple more months…

You have really been chewing on your hands and drooling the last couple of weeks, so I think you may be getting ready to cut teeth. I can’t wait to see what those little teeth look like!

You really like when Mommy carries you in your sling. You think it is pretty fun to face outward and see what Mommy sees when I do housework. We also do a bit of dancing together in it.

And of course, Mommy and Daddy love you more and more everyday! We love to spend all our time with you, and we think you are the most precious, beautiful, amazing thing that God has ever created!

Here you are with Mommy. Do you know how much I love to hold and cuddle you?

And of course, Daddy loves you too! I bet you were thinking, “Hey Daddy, you need a shav!” (Yes, I meant “shav” and not “shave”, I use to tell your Papa this when he kissed me when I was a little girl).

I always want you to remember that Mommy and Daddy will always love you, and we love each other too!

I love you sweet pea! I can’t wait to see what tomorrow has in store for us! Everyday with you is most certainly an adventure! Love you bunches and bunches! XOXOXOX

Aubrey Ann, you had your very first swim on Saturday, August 11th.  Sadly, it wasn’t your favorite thing in the world.  You would cry unless Mommy was holding you and letting you float a bit.  The water was nice and warm in Meme and Pa’s hot tub, but nonetheless, you still didn’t like it.

Here are some pictures from that day.

Getting in the water.  “I’m not too sure about this Mom!”

“Now I know I don’t like this!”

“I love you Daddy, but sometimes I just need a Mommy.”

“Ok, ok I will stay right here, but I am NOT very happy about it!”

I think you like sunbathing much better! :)  “That’s much better!”

“Hey, Ma, your standing in my sun!”

Thanks Mamaw and Papaw for the bikini from Hawaii.  Aubrey Ann and I loved it, however Daddy is not too happy…:)

When Mari Jo was about 2 months old, her parents decided to get her ears pierced. Since then, Mari Jo’s earring holes have never sealed (even after not wearing earrings for over a year), and they rarely get infected.

Because of that, we decided that we should pierce Aubrey Ann’s ears before she gets much older. Today was that day.

Here is a before shot of those cute little ears.

Here is our little baby during the process:

And here she is after the whole thing was finished:

Ok, here are a few misc. shots:

And a special thanks to Chris Miller who didn’t want to hurt poor Aubrey Ann, but when I told him we would go to the dirty, infectious Fashion Fair Mall he agreed to do it. He said he might cry, but was able to hold back the tears!