It's a Great Day to be a Blazer... and a Duck!!

Celtics 86, Trail Blazers 91

Outlaw!!!

Oklahoma State 31, Oregon 42

DTF

Just a picture of Dan that I love:

Baby's First Christmas

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday and a happy and healthy 2009!

Love, The Flood Family

Snow! (contd.)

Baby Steps, sort of

As promised, we finally got some videos up of Aud. We got some great footage of Dan teaching Audrey to play the bongos -- she's got a great sense of rhythm.
As you can see, she's a very busy girl; we can't keep her in one spot for very long. We're also trying to teach her to walk, though she does not quite have that mastered yet... soon enough.

Audrey Update

Being stuck at home the past few days has really made me realize just how fast my baby girl is growing and how much she is learning. Since this week, she is practically crawling around, pushes herself up to look into her toy basket, open and closes her dresser drawers, says "Momma" and "Mum", and just yesterday waived "Hi" to the Christmas Tree and Finnegan. She is also really responding to her new favorite books, I am a Bunny and Baby Talk. I'm better at taking still photos as opposed to using the camcorder, but, I'll work on getting some videos up soon.

3 Wonderful Years

Today marks our 3rd wedding Anniversary. This time three years ago it was a clear and cold day, and one of the best days of my life. We got married at St. Andrew Lutheran here in Beaverton in the presence of our family and friends. After the night's celebrations we stayed in Portland and just missed the ice storm that hit the area the next day. One thing that I will miss this year will be our annual trip to Alderbrook. We went there for our honeymoon, and have returned the previous 2 anniversaries. We decided to stay at home this year for two reasons: Audrey, and the fact that we're pretty much snowed in :) Nonetheless, it will be nice to stay in and be together; I can definitely say that this has been the best year for Dan and me yet!

Cookies!

I got the cutest package in the mail from my wonderful Aunt Cathy -- complete with a great gingerbread men cookie recipe and other cute gingerbread themed kitchen goodies. I baked the cookies tonight while the temperature continues to drop outside. The cookies turned out perfectly! Here's the recipe (super easy!):

• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
  
• 1 1/2 cup flour
  
• 1 pkg. instant butterscotch pudding mix
• 1 1/2 teaspoon ginger
  
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• frosting, candies, and cookie cutter

Mix egg, brown sugar, and shortening together in a bowl. Add remaining ingredients and chill for 20 minutes. Roll the dough out and use cookie cutter -- transfer shaped cookies onto baking pan (I found it easy to lay on top of parchment paper). Bake @ 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Let cookies cool before decorating.

**Thanks, Cathy!**

Snowed In

Since the storm, we haven't really left the house. But, this allows me time to catch up on much needed chores; as well as taking photos of my beautiful (and busy!) daughter.

Baby's First Snow

 

 

 

 

Scootin' Along

It seems as though every day brings something new for Audrey -- this past week she's really been wanting to crawl and is just about there. She can, however, pick herself up off the floor in a push-up like stance -- it's pretty funny. The little bean is still fighting off her cold from a few weeks back, and we were finally given antibiotics for her ear discomfort (which, if she's anything like me or her dad, is a mild ear-infection). Nonetheless, she's been a pretty happy girl.

Four Generations

Today we visited Nana, my mother's mother. Audrey's middle name is named after her, Christine. My Uncle Steve was in town for a brief visit and took this great shot of four generations of women in our family. I hope I will be around to see Audrey's grandchildren!

Yes, Audrey, there really is a Santa Claus

So, I wasn't planning on this today, but I saw that Santa would be in the mall from 11am - 7pm. I figured at 11am there wouldn't be much of a line, so after my Weight Watcher's metting we headed over to Santa. I thought it was kind of weird that I used to come to the exact same mall to see Santa when I was little. Anyway, Audrey adored the old man dressed in red. I couldn't believe what a hi-tech set-up Santa had -- no more $5.00 Polaroid picture, that's for sure!

Cozy weekend @ home

I was at Fred Meyer's the other day picking up some odds and ends for Christmas -- cookie supplies, misc. Christmas decor, and the December issue of Everyday With Rachel Ray. I had to get this particular issue because Sara has an article in it! Also, this issue has tons of cookie recipes that I was excited to try. Tonight Dan and I made Red Light, Green Light cookies (we took turns trying to put Audrey to sleep, she has a small cold and a stuffy nose). Not only did the cookies turn out looking great, they taste pretty good too. Too bad neither Audrey nor Finnegan can sample them...

Food, Glorious, Food!

Audrey's first taste of food! Well, rice-cereal anyway... she seemed to enjoy it very much!

Getting in the Holiday Spirit

Thanks again to Sara for taking such cute Christmas photos of Audrey! Both of which know how to work the camera...

One more week to go!

After two years of intense hard work (on top of working full-time), Dan will be done with his MBA program through Willamette University. Dan has been going to nightly classes twice a week these past 24 months, and along the way, went through a job change from the credit union to his current job at Knowledge Learning Corporation, and also went from being a recent newlywed to a brand new dad. I am so proud of Dan for his decision to go to grad school and stick it out to the end. As much as he enjoys his courses and his peers, I know it's been especially tough to go to class and study the past 6 months since Audrey was born. Dan's official graduation ceremony will take place in January of next year. Congratulations, Daniel!!!

6 Month Stats

• Weight: 17lbs (75th percentile)
• Height: 27 inches ( 90th percentile)

Audrey is up to speed with the "normal" development patterns for a 6 months old -- but, her development seems pretty extraordinary to me :)

Thanksgiving (part II)

Friday of last week we enjoyed Thanksgiving with Dan's side of the family at the other Flood household. Audrey got to spend some quality time with Grandma and Grandpa and Great Auntie Mary; Dan and I had fun goofing around with the camera...

With Grandma and Grandpa Flood


With Great Aunt Mary


Surely, you can't be serious...


I am serious, and don't call me Shirley...

GO DUCKS!

GO DUCKS!!!!!!

Thanksgiving

Audrey enjoyed her first Thanksgiving -- she got constant attention from all of her Uncles and Aunties, and her hives have started to go down. She was especially enchanted with her cousin, Vivian, and kept reaching out to grab her. Audrey also started to spout out her first comprehensible word: "NANANANANA". I hope everyone reading this blog had just as an enjoyable Thanksgiving as we did.

Spots!

Both Audrey and I woke up this morning after a long (and not so restful) night to find red spots covering Audrey's face and neck. I was alarmed to see so many spots, but Audrey did her normal morning ritual of smiling and chirping like a happy baby birdie. When I got up to my mom's today to help her with tomorrow's Thanksgiving, the spots started to spread all over. I called the advice nurse and soon found myself driving down Hwy 26 to take Audrey to the doctor's. Turns out that baby girl has hives. They gave her some baby dose of Benadryl and said that she should be fine, but that she'll knock out after taking her medicine. Sure enough, when we got back home, Aud was passed out in her seat. (I was happy to see that my new camera lens came in the mail, though).

6 months

I cannot believe my baby is already 6 months old to the day. She has changed so much these past few months -- she is beginning to sit up on her own, and is starting to wave "hi" to her mommy and daddy. She also knows her name, and knows how to play peek-a-boo. She is enchanted with Finny (our pug) and cannot sleep without the comforts of her Nuk and her Bearskin. For only being 6 months old, she already has quite a personality! Happy half Birthday, Baby Girl!

Sweet Baby Bean

Thanks again to Laura for taking such beautiful photos of my daughter! I am so lucky to have friends who are professional photographers :)

My Good Lil' Shopper

Sara and I hit up Nordstorm Rack today, and Audrey, as always, was such a good little girl. Like her mama, she enjoys looking at all the clothes (esp. the shoes). She eventually wore herself out and fell asleep. I took some funny photos of her while she was sleeping... but, the click of the camera woke her up! (Note the pacifier indentation on her mouth)

Just in Time! Holiday Portrait Services

My dearest friend and professional photographer, Sara Gray, is offering her services for a Holiday Family Photo Session. The $300 photo session includes: her coming out to the location of your choice (including your home), shooting photos (both whole family pictures and some portraits of each individual), and then retouching the photos and providing them to you in digital format so you can order your cards with ease. Prints, albums and other products can also be arranged. It's a great deal for you because you get a professional holiday card picture without paying an arm and a leg in an already cash-strapped season, and, if you mention my name as a reference, you will get the same services for 1/2 off - for only $150! If interested, please email Sara at gray.sara@gmail.com

Cloudy

I've been having that Simon and Garfunkel song stuck in my head a lot the past few days. Not much to note -- I realized it's been an entire week since I last updated the blog (sorry!). I've been busy working this past week and trying to keep on top of things such as laundry and keeping the house in order all while I'm still getting over my cold from a few weeks back. Dan took a personal day on Thursday and took Audrey to music class. This weekend we ventured to the Oregon Zoo and got talked into getting a membership (which I am fairly certain will be worthwhile). Baby girl was mostly interested in watching the other kids as opposed to the animals. Although she was fascinated in watching the sealion swim around in circles (as seen above). Dan and I loved seeing the new baby elephant running around, he is so cute! Last night Dan let me have a night out with the girls while he stayed home with the baby -- I have such a great husband! Kylie, Allix and I had a fun night and we were home before 1 am! (a record!)

Family Portraits

A few weeks ago, my dear childhood friend Laura took our first family portraits -- they turned out great! Here's a few that I liked, check out Laura's website here.

-thanks, Laura!-

Where's Audrey?

peek-a-boo!

Sweet Dreams

I took my chances of not waking up baby girl while she was sleeping, and was successful in getting a quick shot of her sleeping away with her "lovey". I've been sick this week with a sinus infection -- luckily, since I am breast-feeding, Audrey is immune to my illness. Both Audrey, Dan, and I are sleeping better after Tuesday night's inspiring and historic news.

Do It!

The Big 26er

haPpY HaLLoWeEN!

Our little Penguin!

With Grandma and Grandpa Flood

*Thanks to everyone who voted for Audrey's Halloween costume! She made such a cute little penguin :)