CAC and Children's Hospital checkup

This past Monday Audrey and I went to the Contemporary Art Center.  This picture is in the lobby.

 The Children's "UnMuseum" is on the 6th floor.  This picture is of the "Sensory Elephant Project".  It was made to appeal to blind and seeing impaired children as well as to encourage sighted children to discover art through other sense.  Each pull out box on the Elephant has a different sensory experience.

As usual Audrey liked the ones that had bling.  She is showing signs of being a "girly girl".

This is the "Rocking Trailer" on the Children's floor.  It was made from discarded roadside billboards and will rock to your body weight when you are inside.

She did not care for the trailer or the rocking.  This picture shows the girl has some long legs.

The lopsided floor section was mildly interesting to her.

But the best was "Paavo's Hands" as seen in this picture with our diaper bag.  We were practically the only visitors to the CAC.  Anyhow when you step up to the podium you can "conduct" the symphony to Firebird Suite.  It is named Paavo after our former symphony director pictured below.

The interior stairs at the CAC.

 Baba and Audrey watching the delivery guys bringing in our new kitchen table and taking away the one that was too small.

 Our new table. 

We have been making her food with the Babycook we bought before our trip to China.  It is a really easy to use appliance.  I don't like to cook at all and I make most of her food.  It also tastes better than the canned baby food which she won't eat anymore. 

 Her favorite is beef, spinach and pasta.

Wednesday we went to Children's Hospital for her one month check up and review of the lab work done in December.  She loves her plush piglet so we brought it along knowing the end of this visit was not going to be fun for her... again.  This time only 3 immunizations.

Audrey has gained a pound in the last month!  And she is no longer anemic.  We have a 3 month Occupational Therapy checkup, an Audiology and opthamology appointment and then a 6 month checkup.  Then we will move on to our Pediatrician.

Music class started this week!

The corner of our kitchen booth is a hit with all us.  Audrey entertains herself with a lot of standing and we can safely watch her and the news at the same time. 

It took a month but she has fully overcome her fear of stuffed animals.  The Panda bear is a gift from her Uncle Ray.  She excitedly pants when she sees her Panda and regularly hugs and kisses him.

She looks huge in this picture ... but she is not a big girl.  She is tall though.  We had to buy 18 month footy pj's because her legs are so long.  Anyhow she has figured out the car seat is not that bad. 

This picture is from Bow Tie Cafe (our neighborhood cafe shop).

Playing in the kitchen with mama.  That is "In Treatment" on the DVD, my favorite and only tv series I like.

 Tummy time isn't her favorite but she does it daily and can roll over unassisted!

 This picture, in Nordstrom's shoe dept, is from her first trip to the mall.  Although she doesn't look terribly excited she LOVED the mall!  Lots of music, people and tons to look at too.  Audrey's Musikgarten classes also started this past Wednesday and she thoroughly enjoyed the class.  Miss Amanda (the music teacher) said typically they show real response after the 3rd class.

This picture is from last Sunday at Pilgrim Chapel.  Audrey is reaching out to touch our friend Paula.

Dinner Party at Walt and Sarah's

Last night we had dinner at Walt and Sarah's house.  It was so much fun and Audrey seemed to charm the group.

Walt is great with kids.

Audrey with Anne.

I really like this picture of A and Sarah.

After Audrey ate all the baby food we brought for her she had quite a bit of pasta too.  she went home with a full belly and went to sleep easily too!

January 2011

This past Saturday Audrey and I attended Miss Amanda's Musikgarten open House in Clifton.  She had an Infants demo at 9:30 which Audrey thoroughly enjoyed so we signed up for the weekly class which lasts for 14 sessions. 

This picture shows Audrey in one of the sweaters her Mom-mom knitted for her ... 4 years ago!  The box she is holding has lots of babies pictures on it and she just loves it and is close to learning how to say "baby".

 This is her "scary" face that she will often do on command.

Another version of 'scary' face.

Another sweater Mom-mom made.  This one is huge on her which I really like as it is not only easy to get on but works well over all the layers I put on her when we go out.  Which is often since we both get bored if we stay in the house too long.

One of the places we like to go is Immaculata, the neighborhood Catholic church.

Immaculata is 151 years old.

And even though we aren't Catholic I paid for and lit a candle for Audrey on her 11th month birthday.

Audrey seems particularly interested in their creche. 

We also aren't Jewish but we lit this candle in memory of Lucy on January 10.  The anniversary of her death.  My friend Nancy sent this to us after Lucy died.

Lucy was our very loved cat.  And she almost surely was not Jewish either as she loved ham.

Our newly installed kitchen seating.  The upholstery was just installed today! 

This kind of storage is so valued in urban homes like ours.

We had the window seat in the kitchen upholstered too.

This picture does not do it justice but we really like the baby monitor.  The picture quality is pretty amazing and even though our house is not big we can't hear her from the kitchen without this monitor.

Another development we have achieved in the last week is being able to be rocked asleep.  Oh my gosh I am so thankful for this as it was killing my back to sway her to sleep.

This picture shows some books and cute Mary Jane socks my nephew and his wife sent us this week.  Audrey loves the books and I think it is pretty cute that she often excitedly kisses the kitty's when we are reading these books.   

December week 4 - another week of firsts

Playing on the bed before church on Sunday.  Audrey enjoyed the music at Pilgrim Chapel so much she joined in on the singing and then took a nap during the sermon.

Monday we walked around the neighborhood and to our coffee shop.

Audrey feeding herself Cheerios at Bow Tie Cafe.  The bib is on because she is drooling quite a bit as she is cutting 2 teeth.

At 9am the coffee shop is not busy.

Signed the white board.  Audrey also meet many of the neighborhood garden club members who meet at the coffee shop on Monday mornings.

 Tuesday we went to the Art Museum.  Currently CAM has 3 exhibits titled VOW, WOW, POW.  Vow for the bridal gown exhibit, Wow for a Gainsborough exhibit featuring 18th C "spicy" women and Pow featuring old weapons.  Two out of the 3 interest me and Audrey seems to love to people watch so this was fun.

And the Art Musuem is so pretty.

 We bought this card of one of the dresses on exhibit.

 Unfortunately she still hates strollers.

Audrey prefers visiting the museum this way.

Wednesday she got to go to her first birthday party in our neighborhood.  This picture shows the meeting of the "John's".  John N. (holding A) shaking hands with John G Jr who is standing next to John G Sr.  The party was to celebrate John G Sr 80th birthday!.

Our neighbors have a beautiful modern home and this really cool balcony with a nice view of the Ohio River.

This guest, Natalie, speaks fluent Mandarin which all of us found interesting.

Meeting our neighbor Alexis.

Thurday my Urban Iron teacher, who is one of the biologists at the aquarium, gave us this Penquin art.  The artists, African blackfoot penquins, are named Paula and Simon.

Audrey in her "circle of neglect".  Some friends visited over the holidays and suggested and it has proven to be helpful on occasion.

Playing with baba.