Storytime

Randall and I have tried very hard to foster in the girls a love of books.  The nursery has a small 3-shelf bookshelf that is full of books.  Well, once a week it is full.  The rest of the time the books are all over the house.  There is also a basket full of books in the living room that we rotate out.  Every night Audra and Daddy (or Mommy) read Goodnight Moon or a similar bedtime story.

I realize that neither of the girls is old enough to actually read on her own yet, but so far they like books.  Throughout the day Audra will bring me books to read to her and Eleanor.  We have recently reached the point where Audra is gentle enough to read books with paper pages which has opened an entirely new world of books for her to enjoy.  The board books were fun and all (and she still has a couple that she really likes), but she seems to discover a new paper book every day.

Audra loves reading to other people.  Sometimes she will climb into my lap with a book.  I'll read it to her and then she wants to read it to me.  Most of her reading is just babbling in her cute little reading voice, but every once in a while I hear familiar words (usually prompted by the illustrations).
    "Jabber jabber jabber DOG jabber WOOF WOOF jabber jabber PAGE."
    Mommy Turns Page
    "Jabber jabber BALL jabber jabber BABY...BAAAAAAAH."
    Audra Laughs
    "PAGE."

It seems to be more fun to read to other little people than adults.  While Kevin, Katrina, and Andrew were here for Christmas it was not unusual to see Audra and Andrew in the floor with a book between them.  Audra would "read" to Andrew and then Andrew would turn the page (or three or four).  Audra especially loves reading to Eleanor.  She jabbers and reads and points to all of the things in the picture (like I do when I read to her) and explains them to her sister.  She tells Elie about animals and the sounds they make.  She tells Elie about colors.  She tells Elie about nature.  It's the cutest thing ever.

On the top shelf of the nursery bookcase are several books by Theodor Seuss Geisel.  Most of these books penned by Dr. Seuss.  Today while reading The Tooth Book after Audra's afternoon nap, I learned that Dr. Seuss and Theo Geisel are one in the same.  Books that Theodor Seuss Geisel wrote and illustrated himself are written by Dr. Seuss.  He used the pseudonym Theo Geisel when writing books which were illustrated by someone else.  I must say, I prefer his works as Dr. Seuss.

Audra Reading to Eleanor

New Year

We are currently recovering from celebrating our first Christmas in our house.  Everything became official on December 23 when we FINALLY closed on the house.  Randall's family came for Christmas and my family came the week after.

Our Very White Christmas

Randall's sister and her family came up on Christmas Eve.  What is normally a 4 1/2 hour trip was turned into a 6+ hour trip by ice and snow.  The highways were all closed shortly after they arrived which meant that Randall's parents could not come up on Christmas morning to join us as planned.  The roads were so bad that Katrina, Kevin, and Andrew couldn't make it to their hotel.  They stayed the night at our house (which is what I thought the plan was anyway).  Sad as it was to be missing Namaw (as Audra calls her) and Grandpapa, it was so much fun watching Andrew and Audra open presents on Christmas day.  Audra and Andrew had so much fun together.  Audra would read to Andrew.  Andrew walked all over the house with one thing in each hand.

Audra Helping Andrew Open Presents

 We drove to Kevin and Katrina's home in Frisco to celebrate Andrew's First Birthday (and Christmas with Namaw and Grandpapa).  It was a wonderful time with Randall's immediate family.  It was our first time meeting several members of the extended family.  Let's just say we won't be going out of our way to meet up with them again.

Audra and Andrew Mesmerized by Yo Gabba Gabba!

My family drove down from Kansas City on Sunday night and we had our second Christmas with them on Monday.  Audra had to help EVERYONE open their presents, and Eleanor slept through the whole thing.  It was Aunty Em's first time meeting Elie.  I think she liked her (though she'll hate that I called her Aunty Em if she ever reads this).  Audra loved having her Grammy, Poppy, Mimi, and Aunts all here to play with.

Aunt Allie, Aunty Em, and Elie

I'm so glad Mimi was able to come.  It was the first Christmas without Papaw, which wasn't easy for any of us.  I don't know how she does it.  She even wrote a Christmas letter.  She's so strong.

Mimi Cuddling with Elie

It was so much fun hosting Christmas and cooking for everyone.  I got lots of new kitchen items to play with in my big new kitchen.  Randall finally convinced me to start a food blog so I'll be sharing kitchen adventures and recipes there.

Christmas Dinner #2

Randall is still off from school for a week or so.  He's determined to get things done around the house while he has time.  There's a fair amount for me to get done with unpacking and finding a place for everything.  Eventually I'll get to paint everything, but that's a task (and probably a story) for another day.