awwww...

I talked my amazing husband into snapping some photos of my baby belly last night and I am just sitting down to go through them.... and they are SO sweet! I can't wait to share them with you, but here is a little sneak peek until I have time to work on the rest...

iPhone for toddlers

It's a tough call in our house who is most addicted to the iPhone... Jamie, Audrie or me. I have to admit I used to be a hater, but then I opted for the "can't beat 'em, join 'em" strategy and am hooked myself. But for Audrie the iPhone is like crack. And it is alarming ALL that she knows how to do on that thing. She sits down with it, plays her favorite apps, then gets on you tube for awhile and watches some of her favorite videos (in particular Destiny's Child performing with Elmo), then she logs into iTunes and listens to .005 second of each song, then finishes up by walking around with the camera mode on- snapping random pics around the house. So when I get my phone back from her... here is what I see on the camera roll (I think she entitled this photography set "Socks")...
(These are actually from two different days... same sock pose. Genius.)

The best part is somehow she figures out how to save a photo as my wallpaper, so I'll get to work and switch open my phone to see a lovely photo like this. Makes me smile though!
But just in case you were looking for some new apps for your toddler to try out. Here are Audrie's favorites:

Smack Talk- it records your voice and plays it back a ton of strange ways. Fun for hours.

Tappy Tunes- you tap the screen to control the playing of songs and fun images. Toddler Tools Music- this one is actually pretty smart. You have to tap the correct notes on the xylophone (it lights up the correct keys) and you play songs. But Audrie does it! (Remember she IS a genius...)Talking Flash Cards- picture with written word. You tap the screen and it says the word (over and over and over... until you will lose your mind if you hear the word asparagus one more time). Zoo Box- shows a picture of many different animals and when you tap the screen it makes their (very authentic) noise.Doodle Buddy- is a great free app with different colors of crayons and even stamps with sound effects. Very cool!

And, of course, popping Bubbles. (Actually I kind of like doing this one when my mind needs a break during the day!) Anyways, those keep Audrie entertained at times we really need to. But the camera mode is her all time favorite. She thinks it's great how she can "see" us on the screen. Except the other day she walked into the bathroom with the camera mode on... headed to Jamie taking a shower...! Yikes.

sing all you want to

I love this song video! I know it's 8 minutes long but I just had to share. (The part that gets me the most is at about 2:50 into the song.) I hope you have time to watch this...

a fun saturday

This past Saturday was pretty jam packed for the three of us but lots of fun. We started off early that morning at my nephew's basketball game. Jacob was pretty impressive out there on the court! And my niece, Emma, was a great cheerleader on the sidelines and got Audrie involved in the cheering, too. The two of them did cartwheels in between the quarters (well... Audrie thought she was doing some great cartwheels, so we didn't tell her that putting your head on the ground and sticking your butt in the air doesn't really count). Kim up too early on a Saturday...? :) After the game we went to a pancake breakfast at the kid's elementary. (All you can eat pancakes and sausage... HELLO? Preggo heaven.)

It was really fun to watch the pancake dude cranking out a million pancakes a minute and throwing them at our plates. Jacob caught his! Audrie was not interested in catching pancakes. But was excited to eat them (my kind of girl!). Group hug for Uncle Jamie! Pretty "Lowery" girls. :)

After the breakfast we took Audrie to Border's for a special Elmo birthday party event, but we didn't stay long because Audrie was getting tired and I was starting to get some random pregnant nausea (surely it had nothing to do with the two plates of pancakes I ate...?). We were supposed to go to another basketball game that afternoon for Jamie's cousin Cory, but only Jamie went because Audrie crashed and I was still so sick. Hopefully Cory will be playing another game in the area soon so we can go see him play!

for better or worse

Jamie took me out last weekend for a Valentine's date and we had a really great time. He rented a private jet and we flew to Vienna to see an Italian opera. Ok, really we went to dinner and movie 15 minutes from our house- but I couldn't have had asked for a better date. We got to eat a long relaxing dinner and talked about us and our life together and how we went on our first date 14 years ago! Then we went and saw the incredibly sappy but super cute movie Valentine's Day (I cried in a few spots... it really was a sweet movie and I thank my husband for sitting through it with me)! We sat in Starbucks and tried to pretend we were on vacation in NYC sipping some coffee before going to a show. (It almost worked.) And we actually stayed out til 1am (oooooh such rebels). But just being out on a date with the love of my life was all I needed. I might just decide to keep him around for awhile.

valentines day

This past weekend I took Audrie to a Valentine's Day party! It was super cute and I was a little over excited about it. But she was invited by a BOY... oooohhh. :) Anyways it was a really fun party at Gymboree (which Audrie LOVES playing there). They passed out instruments for the kids to play around the room in a parade.Audrie did great marching in the little parade and playing her drum like a true child of band geek alumni! I know I have extra pregnancy hormones kicking in, but I honestly did tear up a little to see her marching and playing an instrument. I'm such a nerd!
They did some hula hooping...And bubbles of course!Cole was such a little cutey at the party! I'm so glad he invited Audrie. :)Did I mention Audrie loves Gymboree??Dance party!And giving Gymbo the Clown some hugs...They had cupcakes, cookies and juice for the kids. Tons of sugar! Audrie started out being all dainty with her cupcake.But gave in and devoured it like a toddler should.Then they had the kids do a cute little craft. Audrie did really good with it, but mostly wanted to smear tons of glue on everything.I'm so glad Audrie and I got to attend this adorable little Valentine Party. I'm not sure how many parties in her life she'll let her mom tag along for, so I'll enjoy it while I can.

fashion statement

Twice a week I have a 30 minute outside duty at school and the policy is that if the temperature is below 32 degrees then no one goes out. The other day the thermometer said it was exactly 32 degrees so our principal sent us out despite the added wind chill! Luckily my friend Kate, who I teach with, has a huge ugly WARM coat that she bought specifically for these freezing outside duty days. And she let me wear it...

I may look like a crazy bag lady and it didn't do anything to improve my pregnant waddle, but I was sure warm!! If Kate and I ever have duty at the same time, I'd be out of luck... so if anyone happens to come across an amazing coat like this for cheap- let me know. The uglier, the better!

my purpose in life?

So I try help Jamie from getting in a situation where he will have to dress Audrie and fix her hair on his own. Usually if I have to be gone I will lay clothes out and leave a hair bow or something easy for Jamie to put on her. The other day Jamie was going to run to the store with Audrie and I didn't have time to tame her curls so I suggested that Jamie just grab a cute little hat to put on Audrie... so this is what she came out wearing... "Um, dad, I don't think this is what mom had in mind."

I'm not sure if this is even a compliment- but Jamie did tell me the other day that when he thinks about "what if something tragic happened to Rachel"- he said the first thing he worries about is how he wouldn't be able to dress Audrie or fix her hair. I guess its good to know I'm needed for something. :)

twins!

Last week I took newborn photos for some friends who just had twins and it was so much fun!! (And I got to hold these sweet babies!) Made me even more excited to hold my own new little baby in a few months. I was nervous about taking photos of twins but they were so adorable and cuddly it was a blast. Here are some of my favorites from the photo shoot...

Thank you, Dave and Andrea, for letting me take photos of your crazy cute babies. Hope you get some rest! :)