I swore I'd never do this...

But these dresses are just too cute! I won't dress them similarly often, but I couldn't help myself with these dresses. My girls are so beautiful.

Random Cuteness

Just wanted to share some pictures I had on my camera! Our girls are just the cutest.

Yes, my name does start with A. Why do you ask?

My angel baby

I love her smile!

Charlotte and fingerpaints. Mommy started this project and soon realized it was probably not the best indoor project. Crayola paints are indeed, washable.

Audrey just loves watching herself and the birds on her mobile on the swing.

This is just AWESOME!

Chillin' on the couch after baths. I just love my girls.

The face that says "trouble".

Perfect pants for tummy time.

And in this corner...

Weighing in at 11 pounds, 10 ounces and a towering 22 and 3/4 inches long, Audrey "The Cute" Freeman!

Put up your dukes!

The face of an angel, but don't be fooled. She is tough enough to withstand attacks from a rambunctious two-year-old.

Paddle Boats!

A few weekends ago, we went to my aunt and uncle's lake house in Cuba, MO. We had a lot of fun, ate some great food, and it was nice to introduce Audrey to my Sports Medicine and Training Center family. Matt took Charlotte out on the paddle boat and she loved it! These are the only pictures I took that day.

Hi, Mom!

Off they go!

Our future babysitter. I'm not sure she let of Audrey except to eat and swim!

Again, Daddy!

Off into the sunset.

The Lost Pictures

I found some pictures that were virtually buried in the hundreds of pictures I have on my computer. Most I won't post, but I did find the pictures we took the day we brought Audrey home from the hospital. They're pretty cute, so I'll go ahead and post those. :)

Packed and ready to go

A little peeking

Cute and smooshy

It looms.

November 26, 2011. The big 3-0. It's kind of a scary birthday. No longer "in my twenties". There is something about 30 that just seems so old, so "adult". Never mind that I'm already married, a homeowner, an attorney and a mother of two. I'm not officially an adult until that day. Its made me think a little about where I am in my life. What I've accomplished, what I still want to do. I'm sure my 10 year class reunion is also responsible for some of this introspection.

A lot of the food blogs I subscribe to in my Google Reader are from the ladies of the What's Cooking? Board on the Nest. It's a website I used to spend an unearthly amount of time on before I had a full time job and a child. I haven't posted for a year or so, but I still follow these blogs. Most of these women are my age, some a little older, some a little younger, but mostly right around my age. As a result, a lot of these women are also seeing that scary number come just that much closer. I've been seeing a lot of 30 by 30 lists pop up, mostly relating to food, but I'm inspired by one that includes other aspects of her life. So here it is- my 30 by 30 list.

I'm sharing it mostly so I have my list in a convenient place and not on a piece of paper that will inevitably end up in the recycling or as a two-year-old's art project, but also to keep me honest. Now you can ask me how my list is coming! I'm also starting this a few months before my 29th birthday because those of you who know me well also know that I'm never on time for anything so anything that gives me a little bit of extra time is great. Let the adventure begin!

Linda's 30 by 30

Cooking, Baking and Eating

1. Make cinnamon rolls from scratch- Done! Made them Christmas morning.

2. Try 5 new restaurants. (Iron Barley 8/28, Lily's Mexican Restaurant 9/25, City Diner 11/7, Spin 11/26, Crayola Cafe 12/30)

3. Surprise Matt with breakfast in bed.

4. Make my own gnocchi

5. Make my own cheese.- Done! Made it as a gift for family.

6. Use my fondue pot at least once

7. Make a soufflé that doesn’t suck.

Health and Fitness

1. Run another half-marathon.

2. Run a race pushing each of my girls.

3. Reach my goal weight.

Home Improvement and Craftiness

1. Finish the basement!

2. Finish Charlotte’s first year scrapbook. (In progress. I'm almost up through Christmas!)

3, Finish wedding scrapbook.

4. Finish Charlotte's cross-stitch. (In progress. I'm almost finished with the border and then only have accents to do.)

5. Start Audrey’s first year scrapbook.

6. Print, frame and hang family pictures for the picture wall.

7. Sew a dress for both girls.

8. Make the throw pillows for our new bedroom.

9. Decorate the girls room. (In progress. We've moved all of our stuff out and their stuff in, so I'm getting there!)

Travel

1. Take a weekend trip with Matthew.

2. Take the girls camping.

Loving St. Louis

1. Go to the Farmer’s Market at least once a month, even in the winter. (Failed in August and September, but went in October. Failed in November and December. Not doing so great on this one...)

2. Take the girls to the Great Forrest Park Balloon Glow.

3. Plan a block party.- COMPLETED 10/30/10!!!

4. Attend Our Lady of Sorrows Carnival

5. Take the girls up the arch.

6. Take our family on a picnic.

Making Me Better

1. Read 10 new books that are not work related. (Started Me Talk Pretty One Day, Finished House Rules by Jodi Picoult, Started 100 years of Solitude)

2. Update blog at least once a week.- Not doing so well on this one lately. Will improve!

3. Get a picture with just my girls. Completed 11/28- thank you, Meredith!

Sock On!

I'm generally not a product review kind of a girl, but I love these little bits of genius so much, I just have to share. They're called Sock Ons and they're awesome! They slip over your baby's socks and keep them on the foot. Genius, I say! I have so many solo socks because my girls were/are great about kicking off their socks. Since I started using these, I haven't lost a single sock. They come in a few colors and styles and are so cute in addition to being awesome! These will definitely be a go-to addition to all my baby shower gifts from here on out. I heart them!

Aren't the cute? These are the sneaker ones, but I ordered a few white ones from a website. I got these from Cotton Babies, but they didn't have the white ones.

Genius! I wish I could've come up with this idea. I'd be able to stay at home with my girls!

Summer Fun!

Summer is essentially over in our household. Matthew went back to school yesterday, students show up tomorrow and I go back to work after Labor Day. Instead of doing separate posts for each of these events, I thought I'd just do a summer fun picture round-up. Enjoy!

August 3rd was National Night Out Against Drugs and Crime. A lot of neighborhoods in St. Louis participated. We went to a nearby deli, Macklind Avenue Deli, and enjoyed that block party. This is Charlotte at the deli enjoying her spicy Italian sandwich.

Looking cool in Mama's glasses

Pinata!

Collecting goodies

Checking out the fire truck

We went to the sprinkler park at Jefferson Barracks with Charlotte's buddy, Abby. It was great fun!

Audrey had a blast.

Look what I found!

We went to play in our neighbor Logan's awesome sandbox. His dad, Sean, built it himself. Is this thing not the coolest pirate ship sandbox you've ever seen?

Audrey thought it was super cool.

Enjoying her first ice pop.

Such a big girl. She fell about 30 seconds later.

Captain Charlotte

And now, not happily, first mate

Audrey is Two Months Old!

My, how time flies! This also means I only have 3 weeks left in my leave. Boo. I've really enjoyed being home. It's going to be so hard to go back! Some days I miss my work, but then I see one of my girls smile at me and it's all I can do to not call HR and tell them I won't be back! Anyway, Audrey doesn't go to the pediatrician until Thursday, so I'll have the "stats" then, but for now, here are my girls, in the same outfit, at the same age.

AUDREY:

CHARLOTTE:

I think they're starting to look less alike, but there is certainly no question they are sisters!