Learning New Tricks & Just Hanging Out

Audrey's first pool experience. She did really good & actually liked splashing & getting her face wet!

Don't let me go Duke

Watch out boys.....I'm in my bikini

Laying out with the girls



Last week, Ryan & I found Audrey like this (below) when we came in to get her from her nap. She had pulled herself up & thrown her paci overboard. You can see how tickled she is & we were so shocked that I think it made her laugh. I think its time to move the crib to the lower setting.

She has also started trying to stand up in her highchair...guess we're gonna have to start buckling her in....I'm starting to see why they made all these safety features in the first place :)

Our sweet angel..........

See my teeth.... I have two on bottom & two coming in on top!

As you can tell below, Our child has NO personality......

That's right, I'm cool like that

Whatchu lookin at?

Is it my hair?

Pleaseeeeeee.....no more pictures

That's it, I'm done

And, since our last blog, we have been trying to teach Audrey all sorts of "tricks". The one we have been working on the most is baby sign language (which she is resisting & resisting) but she keeps picking up other irresistibly cute tricks....

Here is peek-a-boo!!!

Audrey is eating all sorts of big girl foods now...she LOVES Prunes & Sweet Potato!!! But we've tried all sorts of good stuff like green beans, spinach, peas, brocolli, carrots, & squash. I opted to make all of my baby food & it has worked out really great & VERY cost efficient. Baby food cost on average $1 for a 2 pack, $1.50 if you buy organic & lets just say that she would eat about 1-1 1/2 pack/meal....so roughly $3/day. This doesn't seem like alot but I can buy a large pack of frozen brocolli for under $3...cook it in the microwave or boiling water & freeze it to last a couple of weeks....averaging less than $.20/day. That is $75/year as oppose to $1100/year (It really does add up).

Do I have something on my face?

Oh Mom, You're so Crazy!

My good friends Kat & Charlie were in town. Kat & I lived together in Baton Rouge (a long time ago) & moved to Boston together. We enjoyed taking them around old mandeville & eating on the lakefront! Audrey & YaYa

Uncle Charlie says "Roll Tide" & I didn't have the heart to tell him that I'm a LSU baby!

We had a crawfish boil with JoJo & Big Papa Bob.

Uncle Robbie is always fun to play with & ChaCha showed me how to peel crawfish....can't wait til I'm big enough to eat them

Just hanging out with JoJo

Let the Fun Begin

Over the last month or so, Audrey will try to mimick what we are doing & sounds we are making. Today I started "popping" my mouth at her & making sounds & I noticed that she was trying to do it too. I just kept doing it with her all day & she is now as good as me.....WATCH!!!

Ryan & I started talking about how its time to start disciplining her & teaching her morals. If she can reason & understand a concept of mimicking...then she can learn right & wrong. We are also starting to evaluate EVERYTHING we do & say.

Update

Ryan received this update from his cousin: Please continue to pray for Tyler


Tyler enjoying cupcakes for his 5th birthday!

Hello my Dear Family and Friends,
Today is Tyler's 5th Birthday and what a blessing it is that we are home to celebrate!!!! After Rachel and my mom got back from school we went in the backyard and opened presents and ate cupcakes. Don't think Tyler knew what was going on but he enjoyed the cupcakes. I'll have to attach pictures later.
We arrived back in Baton Rouge on Saturday afternoon and began the process of getting back into the "old" routine. Of course the real "old" routine involves him attending school. I think I will take him Wednesday morning and stay with him through lunch. His Doctor's said he could go back this week, but I don't think he is strong enough yet.
Tyler's scar is healing nicely. He still has some swelling of fluid on the right temple and forehead. I wish it would start draining better but the doctor's so far just said to watch it. His seizures are a bout 6 a day. Better than before the surgery, plus he's not just falling straight over when they hit him. He is also starting a new cocktail of seizure meds. We just keep praying for a miracle.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, for all of your prayers and support. The best birthday present Tyler has received was his coming home.
Lots of love,
Chere and Tyler

A Stroll Down Memory Lane

Audrey Catherine Amato 6 months old

Audrey is six months old now & weighing in at 15lbs 3oz. She is still in the 25% for weight but has moved up to the 75% for height at 26 1/2 inches. Ryan & I were just talking about how a year ago she was just a little peanut growing inside me. We had no idea what she would look like, act like be like etc & now she is this amazing person who has blessed Ryan & I's life so richly.

Here we are almost exactly one year ago when we were just starting to see Audrey growing!

And below, just a few days before Audrey was born!

Proud Papa.....Audrey only a few minutes old!... you can see in the second picture, Ryan not far from her side!


Our life has FOREVER changed & I cannot begin to describe how good life is. I am constantly reminded of God's love for me through the eyes of this little girl. I am also reminded of her father since she has his big doe eyes! They are also the first thing that light up when she starts to smile (like her daddy).

I used to wonder what she would be like, who she would resemble etc. but I now know that God has an amazing plan for her & I cannot wait to see what part Ryan & I get to play in it as parents of this precious little girl. We speak & pray only good things for her & she is already shaping into this funny, smart (advanced:), successful, wonderful person & she is NOT lacking in personality (as you can tell below).
Ryan & I also feel so blessed to have ALL of our family around her & know that you too will play a part in shaping her into an amazing person. We love you all & thank God for placing you in her & our lives.. for we know that nothing happens by accident!

UPDATE:
We also wanted to thank all our friends who were thinking about & praying for Ryan's precious little cousin Tyler. You will be glad to know that Tyler has been released from the hospital!!! We have not gotten a full update from Chere yet but are glad that he is well enough to go home!!!! He still has fluid around his temple where they operated & seizures daily (although the number has drastically decreased) but the doctors said that it could take up to a year to see the full results of his surgery. We will pass on any info as we get it from Chere. Thank you Lord for watching out & protecting this child of yours. We know that he is in YOUR hands & commit him to you daily. We pray for Chere & her family as they get back into a daily routine, be with them Father. Thank you for this miracle child, use him for YOUR purpose.

NOLA BABY

Hey Everyone!
My mom & I are trying our hand at our own business. We are calling it

NOLA BABY BOWTIQUE

Check it out by clicking the name or it is added to my "buddies who blog" list.

I am not the best with computers so the page is very primative for now. Kristy is going to be doing a makeover on it!!! You can check her designs by clicking on THIS LINK.

I would love feedback from you as what you would like to see or how we can make it better! We are starting with a blogspot to see where it takes us but hope to expand in the next year to a .com or even a store site!

Easter Sunday

On this easter sunday & I can't help but be so thankful for what Jesus did for me. In church we watched clips of the movie "The Passion" which depicts the life & death of Jesus & I couldn't help but feel like I could never measure up in His eyes...Romans 3:23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, BUT
24being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus (Thank God I don't have to)

Lately, Ryan & I have been tested & I feel like we are constantly being attacked yet we stand firm in our love for each other & the Lord. Our hope/identity rest in Him alone. That being said, our life is not by any means "easy". We are struggling & going through ALOT right now & everyday seems like battle.... I share this with you so that we can gain the support of friends & fellow christians & so that if you are struggling you can rest assured that you are not alone. I know that there are ALOT of people suffering right now, be it financial, emotional, physical & when I think of some of the things our friends & the rest of the world is going thru our problems seem so miniscual. But I also know that any problems we may have....God does care about them: Psalms 55:22 Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
1Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. NIV

I think if you look into our lives from the outside it seems as if we have it "all together" & that we are not affected by the ways of this world...but we are. We are just very private about our problems but the Lord has been telling me that its ok to share. I know that these "distractions" are from the devil to get us of course for what God has in store for our lives:
1 Peter 5:8-10 (New International Version) 8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

It also gives me hope that there is a purpose for our suffering.

I know that Ryan & I will find our way thru the dark & each time we've been handed a tough sentence...we make it out on the other end stronger as a couple & stronger christians. I'm sure this will be no different. My hope rest in Gods promise that he will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) & that God has great plans for us:
Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version) 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I love this cartoon http://www.jesussite.com/blog/2007/11/take-up-your-cross/ because it reminds us that God does have a plan for our lives & that no suffering goes with out purpose. Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Lately, I feel like the Lord is telling me to be content with my life....just as it is & I have tried to rest in His promise to us in John "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (10:10)

I don't know what God's plan is for my life or yours but I know that IN HIM, THROUGH HIM & WITH HIM is the only way I want to live.