Genny at gymnastics

Those are cartwheels you're seeing.  At at the very beginning, she's yelling at her teacher to watch her.

Loud discussions

If you're bothered by the word "bra" you may not want to read this since you'll see it approximately 12 times in the next few paragraphs.  Just fair warning.

Most of you know that Genny is loud.  And articulate.  So she expresses her 3-year-old self very clearly and loudly as to be understood by all in a 50 yard radius.  This is very good.  We are proud of her.  Most of the time.  Unless she has a thought that you don't want broadcast.  She's kind of like a primitive version of twitter with no filter.

As a teenager, there were few things more embarrassing to me than having to carry a bra through a store to the checkout.  Humiliating.  And so my mom would usually do it for me.  And I'm certain that I was very exasperating.  Hold onto that thought.

Today the girls and I were shopping with my mom.  Genny LOVES to pick out clothes, and all she wants is for us to praise them in some way.  We were in the middle of Dillard's.  And she picked out a lovely shiny blue off-the-shoulder top.  And she announced "MOMMY! I LIKE THIS! I THINK YOU NEED THIS TOP!" to which I replied, "yes, it's a great color.  But Mommy doesn't usually wear tops with one shoulder because it's hard to put a bra under."

Now if you are thinking that's a little bit too much to tell a 3-year-old, you may be right.  But I think it's ok for her to know and fully buy into the idea that (a) big girls wear bras all the time and (b) we don't wear clothes that our bras hang out of.  If she believes it now, then maybe we'll argue about it less when she's 13. So there.

Anyway, back to Dillard's.  My Genny responds at the top of her lungs with "MOMMY ARE YOU WEARING A BRA RIGHT NOW?"  Yes there were people around.  Yes, they turned around, looked at us and laughed hysterically.  How could they not?  Yes, I was a bit embarrassed.  No, my mom didn't even point out that I was unable to carry one through a store until I was 20.  That's nice of her, don't you think?

And I answered with a just as loud "YES, DEAR!" just so everyone knew.

Bookworm.

She's asleep here.  Fell asleep with her book.  Just like her mama....

Cause it's just funny.

Look at this figure!  She cracks me up.

Genny's been helping Robert in the garage.  She's an excellent helper.  And she did a bang-up job decorating the cobra with a Sharpie.  Don't worry, he told her to draw on it....

It was laundry day, and Audrey found a new accessory.  And wore it all day.  Can YOU recognize it?  I told her she probably won't need to figure out how to put it on properly for about...  16 years.

Because I'm a mother of 2 and trying to be fair.

After I posted Audrey's 18 month post, I looked back at Genny's 18 month old post.  And I realize I might should have included a little more info... just so that when she looks back it's fair.  See, I'm trying.

So at 18 months, Audrey is 19 pounds and 30 inches tall.  And wiry.  And tough!

She loves to climb and is quickly approaching something that could be called running.  Or quick walking.

Audrey has a favorite word.  It's "dog".  We hear it all day every day.  For instance, here's a lesson on animals by Audrey:

This is a dog.  "dog!"

"dog."

This is a "dog" as well.

Another "dog."

"dog....."

undeniably a "dog...."

Now these?  Depends on the day.  Usually "dog" occasionally "cat"

pretty much everything is a dog. But now if you tell her "cat" she will agree to it and repeat "cat". 

Before she would just scream "DOG" louder at you until she bends your will to hers and you admitted that yes, it is a dog. Even though it's not. There is a large picture of a cat over the pet food aisle in walmart, and we've had many arguments loudly. "DOG!" No, that's a cat. Me-yow. "DOOOOGGG!" No, cat. Cat. Cat. "DDDDDOOOOOOOGGGGGG!!" (Now people are staring.) It's a cat. Meeee--yow. cat! DDDDDOOOOGGGGGGG! Fine. It's a dog. Woof.

Audrey also likes to say "baby" "juice" "hi" "mama" "dada" "water" "bottle" "diaper" etc.  

Things Audrey likes:  

carrying around a baby, bottle, diaper bag and blanket.  And a cell phone.  Where might she have learned that?

She likes to color.  She likes music.  She likes her big girl bed a lot.  She loves her blankies that she's had since she was born.  She likes to watch "Yo Gabba Gabba" which I think is awful beyond tolerance.  But sometimes a girl has to get the kitchen cleaned, which is when we bring in DJ Lance and his odd group of characters.....

She loves going outside and being able to putter around on her own without anyone else bugging her.  I think we have an introvert here.  

Alright, now I feel better.  

Audrey Kate is 18 months old!

Dear Audrey Kate, 

Today you are 18 months old.  You are so big!

And such a little model.  You're kind of a ham, little one.  And you have mastered "Cheese!!"

In fact, you talk quite a lot.  But almost never where anyone else can hear you.  Your favorite words are "dog" and "baby."  You met a dog the other day who was named "Baby" and it was like all the stars aligned in your little world.  Anything with 4 legs is a dog in Audreyland.  Except the occasional cat.

Here you are with your sweet sister, who you occasionally call "NeeNee" and sometimes call "Sssster."  She loves you so much.  She would like to hold your hand and hug you every minute of every day.

You've grown so much, and you are climbing and getting around anywhere you want to!  You're so independent and we are proud of you.  

Here you are with Mommy and sister.  The Poling girls.

You have such a funny, sweet spirit.  

I believe that you will have great discernment as you grow up.  

Your mommy and daddy love you very very much.

Yes, it IS their first rodeo!

We went to the Boys Ranch Rodeo.  We all wore our cowboy boots.  Cause we're cool like that.

They served a really nice lunch.  Under that bread is the greatest potato salad ever!

Audrey wasn't quite sure about eating on the ground.  But she eventually found a spoon and the container of apricot jam.

My picnickers!

We had some time so we walked over and found some horses.  The horse really liked Audrey.  Or the fact that she had coated herself in apricot jam.

Gen was a teensy bit nervous about the horse.  But the really nice cowboy offered to let her ride it

And she was really brave!  Look at my sweet cowgirl.... 

The rodeo was a ton of fun.  Didn't get any pictures of it, but it was neat.  We ate snow cones a-plenty and hollered for all of the riders.