The Ostermann Fam: Happy 1st Birthday Audrey Marie!!! ~ July 7th, 2010

I have no idea where this past year went, but Audrey is now ONE! It's difficult to put into words how she has changed our lives. We can't imagine our family without her. I can't imagine Will not being her big brother. Even though she picks on him every now & then (ok a lot!), he loves her like crazy. She's into everything. Absolutely everything. She thinks it is her duty to pick things up and hide them. I have found the remote, my cell phone, our house phone, pacifiers, sippy cups, toys, etc etc etc in places they do not belong and I know exactly who the culprit is. She's still our "trash baby." Loves trash cans & all things in them for some reason. When she tries to walk fast she sticks her chest & belly out as far as she can and hauls bootie. She's a quick little thing. There pretty much isn't anything she won't eat; we just recently found out that she's a moocher. Keep an eye on your food or Audrey will come after it! She tries to feed herself and insists on holding her own fork or spoon & getting her own bites. But more often than not I just put her food on her high chair tray because a plate of food will just end up on the floor. She loves being read to now. She'll bring a book over and snuggle up in your lap to be read to. Still a snuggle bug & water bug too. Thinks she's allowed to stand on dishwasher door. HATES her car seat. Thank goodness she is now in a front facing one, but even that is still too much to bear sometimes. Audrey is not one for being restrained. She likes, no loves, her freedom & free range of being on the go go go. Temper tantrums are the norm when she is told 'no.' Pouty lip and all after a stern "no ma'am Audrey." She loves the "When you're happy and you know it" song. Her favorie part, which she goes right along with is "Clap your hands" and "your face will really show it." I love it when she squeezes her face at that part! Audrey kisses are the best. Consider yourself lucky if she gives you one! She's usually pretty generous with them. And she is very social! She loves to say hi to everyone she sees and waves to them. Grocery shopping is much more fun with her now because she makes it a pleasure for everyone in the store! Who doesn't love it when a cute baby girl waves & says hi to you?!?! We make lots of friends at HEB. She enjoys putting on concerts with Will, but more than that she likes to play destruction derby with all of his intruments he has meticulously set out. For a little girl she doesn't mind getting dirty. She's good at playing in the dirt and water puddles and sand and rocks. Of course she tries to eat it all as well. But then on the same token, she loves all of her baby dolls. She gives them hugs & kisses and even feeds them their bottles. Who knew that started so early?! So at one year old, Audrey is in the 90th percentile for height at 30 1/4" and 50-75th percentile for weight at 22 pounds. No growing problems here!

We had a wonderful & truly special birthday celebration for Miss Audrey. Audrey help

ed me mak

e her cake and her Uncle Trey & Aunt Jenny, Mimi & Bubba, and Grandma & Grandpa all came over for pizza & birthday cake. Since Jenny & Trey weren't going to be able to come to her birthday party they asked if they could come over on her actual birthday. I'm really glad they did because it ended up being a great evening for the birthday girl.

She hasn't even had cake yet, just batter & icing but already a fan!

Will insisted on party decorations (that Audrey quickly dismantled) and party hats for all of our guests. He is quite the party planner and was so excited for his little sister. He even picked out Audrey's birthday gift from him all by himself - an orange bucket drum and a talking purse since she likes to carry things around all over the house.