My Bunnies

I need to try to get better shots of my bunnies, but for now.....

All Parks need bars!

We explored a little bit and found a new park today....especially for Miss Audrey.  None of the parks near our house or that we've been to have baby swings.  And oh my LORD is it crazy going to a park with a baby that just wants to be down on the ground eating something and a 3 year old that wants you to actually PLAY with her.  The baby swing is the perfect answer!  Some new friends told me I needed to check this park out.....so off we set after nap today.

And she LOVED it.  She was laughing so hard, enjoying herself, that she gave herself the hiccups.  Don't her legs look long?  She looks so long to me. 

And this park has a bar!!  Well, technically they call it a cafe, but it serves beer and ice cream.  Not sure what else.  That's all I saw coming out the door on this beautiful, not a cloud in the sky, 70 degree weather March day!

I'll think we'll be back.

Sauvons les Crapauds!

Mystery solved.  We received a french newspaper over the weekend in the mailbox and on the front page was a picture of the frog signs!!

So with the use of my favorite companion, translate.google.com, I was able to figure out that Sauvons les Crapauds translates to SAVE THE FROGS!

Apparently it is reproduction season, and a local area botanist has made it his mission to make sure the frogs can safely cross the roads to the ponds.

Ummmm, ok.  It's not safe for humans on these roads.  Good luck little froggies!  Which, by the way.....we pass the frog prince sign a couple times during the week and have yet to see any frogs.   But I found this website that is tracking their movement:  Frogs 

Beware of some of the images!!  :)

And this message from the botanist himself (translated)...."Hey everyone! Tonight, but quiet enough at least 120 people saved.  After two weeks of migration, I think as we approach 1500 toads saved. We can expect an acceleration in the following days including the weekend if the rain comes as expected.  Big thank you to all volunteers!"

Crazy Belgians!

Then & Now

Let's play a game of Then & Now.

Then:

 February 2011

 Now:

March 2012

Then:

 

 August 2011

October 2011

Now:

March 2012

Praying

In January we started practicing saying our prayers with Grace at bedtime.  We are using a prayer from my Mom's childhood.  Within a few weeks Grace had it memorized, and here she is reciting it, with a slight modification to reflect that it is not night time.

Words:
Dear God, I bow my head in prayer to thank you for your love and care.  For flowers that bloom, for birds that sing, for brooks and trees and everything.  I know that you are always near, so day and night I have no fear.  I shall be thoughtful, kind and good and try to do the things I should.  Watch over me till mornings light, this is my prayer dear God, goodnight.

Audrey is 10 Months Old!

Audrey is 10 months old today.  2 more months until our little baby is a year!

10 things about Audrey!

1.  Observant.  More so then I realized.  I knew she caught on quickly with itsy bitsy spider, and kind of does the hand motions.  She does really well with any clapping song.  She will also put the phone up to her ear like she's talking on it.  But last night she signed 'more' at dinner - I only started doing it here and there with her recently.  And tonight, during bath time, I was watching her rub her belly, and was wondering why she was doing it.... and then noticed that Grace always gets her wash cloth, suds it up with soap and rubs her belly.  She was imitating her sister!

2.  She also knows 'NO'.  And with enough telling of 'NO' she has gradually stopped doing some of the more illegal things around here.  Like pulling up on the oven.  She went for it tonight, and it just took a normal no and a good stare down, and she moved on.   But she's into everything, so it's constant.  Hence the reappearance of the pack-n-play for her safe zone.

3.  Tiny.  Everyone says so.  I don't really notice it, but it is almost always the 2nd thing out of people's mouth when they meet her for the first time.  I do think she is longer now though....

4.  The first thing out of their mouth....oh my gosh, she is so mobile!!!  Everywhere.  All the time.  But I will say that I don't think she is close to walking.  She immediately sits down when you take her off from holding onto something.

5.  6 teeth!  And hopefully no more for a little while.  Man, they were the devil all coming in at once.

6.  We are pretty much off purees.  I give her some with her breakfast, but she is eating what we're eating, just diced up smaller.  Today she had toast, banana and apple sauce for breakfast; ravioli and some carrot muffin for lunch, and potato, green beans, and more carrot muffin for dinner.  I guess we did skip the beer braised sausage with her tonight.  ;)  Oh, and she had half a rice cake for a snack.  She is also still on 4 bottles a day, although we're not far from ditching the bedtime one.  She only has about 2 oz. most nights before she just pushes it away and looks longingly at her crib.

7.  Sleep......she skipped her morning nap this morning.  I am hoping this isn't a sign of things to come.  (Grace and) I need that to last a few more months, at least!!  Her afternoon nap is all over the map.  Sometimes less then an hour.  Sometimes over 2.  I wish she'd nail down a good 2 hour nap and call it a day.  I can dream, right?  She goes to bed at night really well.  We put her down between 7 and 7:30pm, and she goes to sleep......  now does she stay there?!  Most nights we get at least one shout out.  This week has been bad because she hasn't felt well.  But if everything is going right, she is out for the night till about 7am.  Scratch that.  We try not to GET her till 7am.  She wakes up about 6:30ish.  And we let her talk to herself for awhile.  Although it's not doing anyone any good.  It wakes up Grace, who would probably sleep till 8am, otherwise.  Sigh.  Oh well. It could be worse.

8.  She is so much happier now.  YAY!  She really only gets fussy and/or does her horrible crying, screaming routine before bedtime (if she's overtired) and when she's mad about something or falls down.

9.  Very sensitive skin.  The water here is HORRIBLE.  It's full of all kinds of minerals.  And it is taking a toll on all of our skin.  But not only that, she gets a really sensitive bottom after on poopy diaper.   If she sits in it too long, her bottom is blazing red and so, so sensitive.  But it clears up so quickly.

10.  Loves her sister so much!  It's amazing to watch.

Birds Nest

While out on our walk Saturday, Grace collected some things for a project.  So we decided to make a bird's nest......and a bird and some eggs!

A walk in the Forest

We went for a walk down to the Pirate Ship yesterday.  And found out it is CLOSED until Summer.  RUT ROH.  Grace's most favorite playground.  Closed.  Not good.

So we kept walking and ended up at the Rouge Cloiter.

It's so pretty.

What a  mean Mommy to take a picture of a fall.  Rain boots aren't the best for running around.

Beyond the Cloiter, there are some lakes with some ducks.

And then some paths that lead through the forest. 

 Audrey was happy to be along for the ride.

There are some new 'Yield to Frogs' signs.  I guess there must have been a rash of  frog hit and runs.  Oddly, I've never seen frogs down there before......  we are on the lookout now!!

Some signs of spring emerging.

 

Heading home.  This area is right across the main street that runs behind our house.  We are so lucky to live so close to  such a great area to walk and experience nature and some history, too.

Audrey Jail

She loves it!

Sweet Faces

Deep thought

Pretty smile, and if you look close, you can see about 4 of the 5, almost 6 teeth that have popped through.

Don't they looked thrilled?

Oh, but they do love each other!