Random progress...

In the last couple of weeks, I have started to notice a dramatic increase in Aube's vocabulary. Bella was always pretty behind with her speech and her progress very gradual, so talking was never all of a sudden as it has been with Aube. I guess there might be certain "defense" mechanisms a second child has, to be able to be "seen" standing alongside the older sibling. Aube knows how to get what she wants, she knows the word or sound of the word of everything she could possibly want. For example, the other day she kept saying this word, then running into her room. I finally got the point after a few tries (silly mommy) and followed her. She was saying "mermaid, mermaid, mermaid" over and over again, pointing to her bed. Of course I say, "You are such a pretty mermaid, Aube" LOL (silly mommy) and she would tell me "NOOOOOO", then point to her bed. Turned out her mermaid Barbie was in the bed and she just wanted to play with it. Geez, ma...catch up.

I don't know if this just started happening, or because things have settled down enough for me to notice. But today, Aube walks in here to the office, points at the futon and says to me "Gramma gone".....I about started to cry! For one, because I miss my mom terribly and so do the girls, and for another, Aube said a sentence! Well, almost ...
Then, she and Bella were "camping" while I painted some leaves on my tree Ü, and Bella starts to sing "I am a Child of God" and Aube, cute little thing....starts singing right along with her. She wasn't quite sing words, more the sounds of the words (I'm sure there is a better way to say that, just can't think of it at the moment Ü). This just proves that she IS paying attention when we sing to her at night and even during the crying fits at nursery singing time!

Lessons learned....

.....from my yard sale today:
#1- it's too dang hot in Texas to do a yard sale in the summer. You are soaking wet the entire time, though if there is a breeze while you are sitting in the shade, it's lovely.
#2- when your neighbor offers to set up a canopy for you....take it.
#3- make sure your signs are bigger than 8 1/2 x 11 paper and BRIGHTLY colored. White on black just will not do...and make sure to have more than 3 posted so people know where you are!
#4- having a multi-family garage sale is MUCH MORE FUN. There are other people to talk to!
#5- older women do not like to be called "Grandma" by toddlers....especially when not by their own grandchildren.
#6- don't expect too much other than making enough money to pay for lunch....then you'll be satisfied and not disappointed that you didn't sell enough to buy your kids a swingset :(.

With all those learned, there were some bright sides:
~getting rid of some of my junk...and still having enough to have another sale in the FALL, when its COOLER.
~having a little pint-sized helper, who sad with me in camping chairs and had great chats about princess castles and grandma's.
~I re-scaped the front flower beds partially, and actually got new rock in there with all my extra downtime.
~My farmer's tan is getting prettier and darker by the day!

She's a pro

I had to add this second clip because she looks so darn cute with my glasses on her head. And she's getting pretty good at it!

And I win the "Mother of the Year" award with my "Hold on Aube" comment Ü. Sorry babe.

When Bella dropped those sunglasses on the bottom of the pool.....I said to her "Why did you drop my glasses on the bottom of the pool?" She says to me (giggle, giggle) "glasses on my bottom" (giggle, giggle). Haha...no...that does not answer my question!

Learning....

Bella has started to express an interest in learning to swim underwater. James could probably tell you more about this than me, mainly b/c he is such a good daddy and takes the girls swimming constantly! Shannon came over yesterday and swam, then the girls and I went out again today to cool off! Bella kept saying "hold nose, mommy, hold nose" ....I guess James has been teaching her to hold her nose and go under. She's so cute while doing it. I have another one to post, too...just can't get enough!