Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Well, we've had a rollicking start to our summer. I ended my 5-year stint at La Jolla Elementary, and have moved on, hopefully, to greener pastures. Audrey and I met with my new teaching partner and her baby girl, 9 month-old Riley, and I have high hopes for our upcoming year.

Audrey and I have been having a wonderful time walking to the park, playing outside, visiting with friends and grandparents, and doing her summer conditioning program. She's had a rigorous routine consisting of tummy time, leg lifts, push-ups, swimming (in the tub) and general muscle building exercises given to us by her OT, PT and VI teacher. At first it was like watching the first week of The Biggest Loser--lots of crying, but she's shaping up nicely. Somehow she's completely gotten off her sleep schedule however, and her dad and I are trying to deal with her erratic nap times, and very early mornings.

Audrey is growing and developing like a sunflower(I can't stand the weed analogy)--rapidly, tall, and with a wonderfully sunny disposition--most of the time. She is learning much in the same way. Her favorite things to do include clapping, playing Patty Cake, banging on her keyboard, playing peek-a-boo, rolling off of daddy's tummy, listening to mommy sing (at least somebody loves my voice)swimming, laughing, manipulating her daddy who can't help but pick her up upon first tears, and testing us with her first temper tantrums.

Audrey definitely inherited the gift of gab from her daddy. She is impressively articulate, lyrical, and loquacious and her babble in its variety matches its volume--high. Already she has had one of her grandparents' neighbors threaten to call the cops if someone didn't "shut her up." We clearly have a very spirited girl and we couldn't be prouder about that, but that has its challenges. We also had to dismiss her potential child care provider, who I thought would be a great fit until she expressed second thoughts about taking Audrey after one day of care because she felt that Audrey's special needs would demand extra energy that she didn't know if she had.

We could have filed a complaint to the childcare licensing board stating discrimination according to Americans with Disabilities Act, but we didn't really consider it because we don't want anyone taking care of our daughter who has that kind of attitude. We want someone who will embrace her wholeheartedly with patience and love and give her the individualized care that every child should have.

The best outcome will happen for us in the end, but we're a little stressed. Keep your fingers crossed for us.

In other news, we celebrated Audrey's first Fourth of July. We visited her Babs and Pop in Redlands. We didn't make it out to the fireworks--She had fallen asleep early and her Dad, after a busy day of woodworking, took 2 Chlortrimeton and passed out on the couch. She certainly looked cute, however, in her 4th of July outfits and swimsuit. Her dad also quietly celebrated his 33rd birthday on the 5th. Happy birthday Daddy!