Oh Charlotte!

Yesterday was an overcast, dreary, wet day. So, we had a lazy day and spent it indoors (except for later in the evening when Allie and I had our one on one time and we went puddle jumping!). After our nap we decided to color and watch "Charlotte's Web." Allie was really paying attention to it, which surprised me because it's the newer version that isn't animated. I think she was fascinated with the animals talking or something. Anyway, after Allie and I came in last night from puddle jumping we decided that we would go downstairs and get out our Halloween stuff. While Derek was getting the bin out Allie was playing with her toys. Avery and I were over with her just watching her. She goes to get a toy out of her toy bin and says, " Oh, Charlotte!!" I went over and looked and there was a huge spider in the bottom of the bin! (yes, it was dead...Derek just bombed the house for spiders while we were gone) I was just taken aback because I hadn't realized that Allie had made that connection.

While we were going through our Halloween stuff we came across the Allie the Alligator costume that Allie wore when she was a baby. I held it up to Avery to see if she might be able to wear it this year. I thought it looked a little big, but Derek thinks it will fit her. Then Derek holds it up to Allie and says he thinks it will fit her too!


Allie at 4 Months

Our Week In Lafayette

Allie, Avery and I headed to Lafayette last Friday to stay for the week. Our main reasons for going were to attend baby showers. My cousin, Ashley, is due November 6th and I couldn't miss that......we were like sisters growing up! I can't wait to meet her little boy! Our family is expanding so fast....with a baby girl due in a couple of weeks and another baby girl due in January!! Then I also went to Melissa's shower, one of my friends from high school. She's having a little boy, Jack, in December. It was good to see her and her mom, Katrina and her adorable baby girl, Paige (looking so cute in her Colts outfit)!

Our week was soooooo busy. We hung out with GG for a few days and the rest of the days we spent shopping with my Mom. I didn't get a whole lot of sleep, but I couldn't pass up the shopping since it's almost impossible to do with 2 kids alone. One day while we were shopping at Target we saw a crowd around one of the check out lanes. So, I went down there and standing there at the register was Robin Williams. I started to walk back to get my Mom's phone so I could take a picture and as I left them Allie started crying for me. My mom told her I was going to go see a movie star and that I'd be right back. Well, she wanted to see the movie star and was whining about it so they headed over too. As we were walking over there he was done checking out and looked like he was getting ready to leave. So I just said oh well and we turned around to head out. Then he passes us........Allie is still whining about seeing the movie star. So, we catch up to him and my Mom says to him, "She's crying because she wants to see the movie star." Robin Williams says, "Oh, well she's not even old enough to know who this movie star is." He wasn't very friendly so we just walked away! I can sort of understand since everyone was swarming around him and he probably never gets a break, but still.......a cute, crying little girl!! Anyway, I guess he was in town for a performance at Purdue. I read in the paper the next morning that he told the audience immediately to "remember this moment the old fashioned way....in your memory." He didn't want any pictures taken and to end up on Facebook or MySpace.

I know this is probably boring, especially without pictures (I didn't take any this time).
But this week was fun, exhausting and lonely (w/o Derek)........but mostly fun!!

Happy Birthday, Derek!!!

I know you say it's just another day, but if it wasn't for that day 26 years ago then I wouldn't have the best husband in the world with two beautiful daughters! I feel so bad being away from you on your birthday for the 3rd year in a row! All three of your girls want to be there to celebrate with you and let you know what an amazing husband and father you are (as I don't show or let you know enough). You really are the BEST. We never have to worry about anything because we know you are here to protect us, guide us, and provide for us. I know things are hectic now with school, a new baby and a toddler running around, but you still manage to take the time to help around the house and play with Allie and Avery. You're always there to help anyone when they need it. You're patient and thoughtful (still open the car door for me after 8 years!) You have a great sense of humor and know how to make me laugh. We've missed you this week and can't wait to see you in a few days. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Have a great day and good luck in your soccer game tonight!

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream....

FOR ICE CREAM!!!!!!!

Saturday we went to Young's Jersey Dairy....again. Our excuse was to take Allie to see the animals for "A Wool Gathering." Really, though, we wanted some more of their awesome ice cream! We ordered the COW's TROUGH because we were starving (there was a 60 minute wait at the restaurant there) so we decided to split this. It was massive......but we devoured it! Their ice cream is homemade and the peanut butter ice cream is to die for (so is their peanut butter sauce)!! Little did we know, whenever anyone orders this they ring a big cow bell!!!! Afterwards we weren't hungry but we already had our name in at the restaurant and we've heard it's really good so we went ahead and split a meal. It was really good .... a lot like Eckert's for those of you that have been there with us in Illinois. If anyone comes to visit, we'll have to take you there... especially for the ice cream!

Smarty-Pants

Allie's Vocab

Allie is starting to say more and more and sometimes we're so amazed by the things that she'll say. She has started calling us Mom and Dad instead of Mommy and Daddy and every once in a while she'll call us Derek and Brooke. That was cute at first, but now we have to be sure and ignore her when she calls us by our names! Every morning when she wakes up and I go and get her from her room she says Good Morning in a cheerful little voice. One thing that she's started doing recently, which I LOVE, is saying "I love you Mom" out of the blue. She also started singing Rock A Bye Baby and it's adorable when she sings it! She is saying so many things and the things she has been saying for a while are getting a lot clearer for others to understand. I think a lot of words she says are clear, but realize they aren't so much when other people are trying to understand her. We're very proud of her and get excited when she says something new. She's growing up so fast!

Huber Happenings

Wow! It's been a while since I've posted. We've been super busy and, on top of that, I think the lack of sleep has kept me from posting. Well, this weekend was exhausting...but tons of fun. Derek's Mom and Dad, Kevin, Tami, Abby and Kaiya all came to visit!!

Friday they all went to the Air Force Museum while I took Avery to her 1 month Dr's visit. Everything went well and she's already at 8 lbs even. I also got my blood pressure checked and everything looked fine there. Saturday started off bad for me (I only got 4 hours of sleep b/c Avery was up most of the night), but we did go to the Beavercreek Heritage Days Festival and the girls were able to make rag dolls and a top. After that we headed to the lake and I rode the waverunners for the first time since we had them! It was a ton of fun.

Sunday was Avery's blessing. She looked so cute in her dress and Derek did an awesome job!

She was blessed to:

• have a knowledge of Heavenly Father


• have a sharp mind to discern right from wrong


• build a strong testimony and be able to enter the temple one day


• follow the Spirit


• continue to make decisions of righteousness to bring happiness and joy to life

She is an amazing little girl and was quiet the whole time, she looked as if she was glowing afterwards. Joining Derek in the circle were his Dad, Kevin, his friends Abe and Sheldon, and the Bishopric.

After church we headed outside and found ourselves in 60 + mph winds. On our way home small tree branches and leaves were flying around everywhere......stop lights were out and blowing back and forth like crazy. Traffic was backed up for miles because of this so we took a back way home, which probably got us home faster but there were tons of trees down along the road. Once we finally got home we found our neighbors chairs in our yard, our gazebo torn into pieces and Allie's swingset was also apart. We were fortunate not to have had more damage than what we did have and we were also still with power while most of the neighborhood (and all of Ohio for that matter) were without! Kevin and Tami were traveling back to Chicago through all of this mess and were very blessed to make it home safely, but they ran into some obstacles along the way!

Shedd Aquarium & Kaiya's Blessing

Last weekend we headed to Chicago for Kaiya's blessing. We spent Friday at the John G. Shedd Aquarium so Allie could see the fish. Later, Kevin met up with us for a late lunch at Gino's and had Chicago style pizza. Then that evening Derek's Mom and Dad arrived and we spent the evening visiting. The next day I was exhausted so I slept a lot, but we did go to a Corn Roast (which was delicious) and played cornhole and horseshoes.......that evening Tami's family came over and we all played Pop 5 (I think that's what it's called) which was a lot of fun! Sunday was Kaiya's blessing. It was really nice and Kevin did a great job. After that we headed to Indiana for a reunion on my Dad's side, but we got back an hour too late. We were able to visit with some family though, which was nice.

You Know You're Not Getting Enough Sleep When...

.... you wake up at 3 o'clock in the morning to wake your husband up and in a panic say:

"Could you hurry and get the blanket off of the baby doll's face?"

"Huh?"

"The baby doll, she can't breathe, can you get the blanket off of her face...hurry."

Then your husband jumps out of bed and heads to the living room and turns on the light.

"Where are you going?"

"To get the blanket off of the baby doll."

"No, the baby doll isn't out there, she's right over here."

Then you both snap out of it and there is uncontrollable laughter for 10 minutes before you're both sound asleep again.

Allie's Home!!!

Yay! I didn't think the day would get here quick enough. Derek and I were so anxious for her to get here. I don't know how many times we called my Mom and Dad to ask when they would be here! Then when we heard car doors shutting outside the house we both ran for the door to give Allie a big hug and kiss.

It's so crazy how long that week felt AND how much different Allie looked to us. She looked so BIG! Everything about her......her eyes seemed bigger, her head looked bigger, her hands and feet...... not just physical things either, she was talking more and her mannerisms seemed "older." The weirdest thing is changing her diaper! There is a HUGE difference between changing her and changing Avery (I've been doing that a lot lately!)

Yesterday was my first full day all alone with my girls. I was a little worried about it when I woke up because the past few nights Avery hasn't been sleeping very well and I was tired. It actually wasn't bad. We kept ourselves busy going on walks, swimming in Allie's pool, playing at the sand table, playing with baby dolls, giving Avery a bath and so on. Allie is such a good helper too, which makes things a little bit easier. We even got a nap in!! Then to top the evening off we went to Bravo for dinner.....for my birthday!
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Allie had a lot of fun while she was away. She even learned how to wash dishes!!

She got to hang out with a lot of family that she doesn't get to see very often (or have one on one time with). She had a GREAT time with Mony & Papa, GG, Ashley, Amy, and Carma. I think she even spent a little bit of time with cousins Morgan and Mason. We thank all of you for your help!!!!
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Since my Mom and Dad brought Allie back and it was Labor Day weekend they just stayed here for a few days. We definitely stayed busy with going to the AF Museum, shopping at the Outlet Mall and hanging out at Wegerzyn Gardens. Mom and Dad even surprised me with an ice cream cake!

The water was shut off the night before for the rest of the year. Bummer!

Our first family photo! LOL