Piggy tails

I brought Aubrey up to my office this morning. And since she looked so cute in her pig tails, I took some pictures.

What we know

1. Power outages are terrifying to an almost 3 year old. Night light goes out. White noise fan stops. About 1 hour later ear splitting shrieks echo through the house. I run into comfort her. She's shaking uncontrollably. Poor little thing. It was like that in Galveston. She'd wake up in a strange place and freak out until she found us....one room over...with the door open.

When you're up, you're up...

And when you're down you're down. And when you're only 1/2 way up...why, you're neither up nor down.

Such is the pattern of Charlotte's sleeping as of late. And how can we blame her? Why would she stay asleep in her crib when she can stand up, see us sleeping on the much cozier, fluffier bed, cry for a few minutes, and get the transfer she wants?
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In other weather news: Aubrey is a potting training pro. Weekend before last we sat her down and told her it was really important that she start using the potty. And that she'd get a bike if she did it. Next morning, Monday, we put her in panties. *presto*...she hits the ground running (sometimes literally). Other than a couple little hickups (and none we'd call her fault), she's been perfect since. She tells us when she needs to go. If we pester her she tells us, "in a little bit". She loves her big girl panties and her M&M treats she's been getting. Still diapers at night. No biggie.

We went cold turkey on the paci as well that same Monday. Only for naps and sleep. And again, she's been just fine with the switch!

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Sweet girls watching the rain fall.

Aubrey LOVES cleaning. Yep. As long as it involves a spray nozel and a full roll of paper towels.

Sweet, sweet girl.

For well over a year, Aubrey and I have a little nighttime ritual. We read books. Many, many books. Then we turn out the lights and rock for a minute and talk quietly before I put her into her bed. We generally talk about what she did that day. And the last thing I ask is, "What are you going to dream about tonight??" 389 out of 400 times she has said, "Gorillas". The only break came about July 4th, when it was briefly fireworks. She knows it's a funny game we play and we both giggle and she goes to bed.

Last night as we were talking she got serious for a minute and put her arms around my neck and said, "Daddy, I miss you when you go to your office". I told her I miss her too. Then I asked her what she's going to dream about. Answer? "I don't dream about gorillas anymore." "You don't?", I asked. "What do you dream about".

"I dream about daddy".

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Edit: The next morning I asked her what she dreamed about during the night. Answer? "Gorrillas".

Beautiful face?

Changing a smelly diaper. I guess I had my nose and face turned away from the unpleasant fumes wafting my way. Aubrey says, "Don't look away...I want to see your beautiful face!"

Sayings

As I'm changing a poo diaper today:

Aubrey: Daddy...you have to be soft with my butt!

Me: I know Aubrey, I'm trying. But you know, if you put your poopies in the potty it wouldn't hurt when we wipe.

Aubrey: [silence].......Daddy you have to be soft with my butt because it's expensive!

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We took all Aubrey's stuffed animals out of her crib today to play tea party. We even brought out some that were in the closet. Right before bed we were cleaning them all up, discussing which would go into the crib and which would go into the closet. She surprised me by handing me her snow monkey, which has been a sleeping staple for many months. "Aubrey, you love your snow money." "No Daddy...he's too hairy. He can go in the closet." He is pretty hairy. I chuckled and put him up with the other cast-offs.

We read a few books. Into bed Aubrey went. Into the living room I went. Tracy finishes putting Charlotte to sleep and goes into say goodnight to Aubrey. The first thing Aubrey says to Tracy? "Daddy won't let me sleep with the snow monkey...he's in the closet".

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Otherwise we still all have the stomach ick. Ick.

Things we do

When mommy is sick and laying in bed groaning....Daddy and Charlotte and Aubrey practice Vogue dancing to Rick Springfield's Don't Talk to Strangers (yes, every song must also be an object lesson). Aubrey's great at the moves and keeps a very straight face. Charlotte giggles and buries her face in the blankets when we sing, "baby don't you know-oh?!?". Next up on the iPod? Rick's Celebrate Youth. And so we did.