My (Abby) Adventure to the Pumpkin Patch

Hi Everyone, 

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to go on a big adventure without Ella.  It meant that I got Pa and Momma all to myself.  It also meant I didn't have to share my pumpkin donuts with sister either.  Double bonus. 

This is Pa and me by the John Deere tractor.  

Here I am riding a horse for the first time.  Last year I wanted NOTHING to do with it and wouldn't even allow momma to stand close to the fence.  I was petrified, but now I am a big girl.   

In fact, I think I would like to pursue horseback riding.  What do you think, dad? I am a natural, don't you think? 

For old times sake, this was my picture last year at the pumpkin patch.  

It wasn't much of an adventure for me then because I was too young to go down the big slide.  Ella seemed to enjoy it though. 

But, I sure did look cute sitting on all the pumpkins. 

xoxox, 

Abs

21 Months ~ All About Abby

Abby turned 21 months last week!  Here are 21 facts about our sweet girl. 

1. She LOVES babies and playing with her dollies.
2. Minnie Mouse is her favorite.
3.  Her favorite songs are "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Wheels on the Bus".  She especially loves to act out the baby crying part.
4.  She is a great eater and will eat almost anything.  She especially LOVES yogurt.
5.  And although she loves to eat, she drinks next to nothing, and that stresses me out.
6.  She is super tall and fairly lean.  Her 24 month and 2t pants are quickly becoming capris.
7.  Riding in the car is not her favorite pastime.
8.  Abby easily makes friends.
9.  Babycakes is her favorite story.  We read it almost daily at bedtime.
10.  She excels at Gymboree class.
11.  Nothing makes Abby move so fast as the word bath.  Mention it, and she will scramble to the bathroom.
12.  Her favorite color is purple.
13.  Occasionally she will let me put a clip in her hair.  Sigh.
14.  She enjoys playing dress up with Ella.
15.  She sleeps from 6pm -7 am.
16.  Abby beat Ryan is bowling last week.  Seriously.
17.  Unlike her parents, Abby can dance.
18.  Like her mother, Abby likes sweets.
19.  She still wears size 5 diapers.
20. Abby loves to help~ clean, bake, unload the dishwasher, sweep.
21. She is starting to talk up a storm.

Capturing the Moment

I remember my mom's camera from my childhood, circa 1984.   Compared to today's version it seems archaic.   It had a flash bulb that needed to be replaced and the film was dropped off at a photo stand in the middle of a parking lot.  We'd wait a few days and retrieve our pictures.  Although it was exciting to pick up our photos, it was always a letdown. Half of the shots were barely visible, and if we were lucky, there would be one maybe, two decent photos.   

They say cameras have come a long way since then, but based on the pictures below, I am not so sure.    

And, I'd bet you almost anything that mom still has that camera. 

Gymboree and First Haircut

Abby is now SIXTEEN months old!  I can't believe it.. Where has the time gone?

Anyways, I adore this age.  She is toddling and chatting and climbing and singing and playing in the toilet. Unfortunately, she really likes the toilet. Actually, I adore this age except for the whole toilet deal.  This morning she had the toilet brush.  Ewwww....

To satisfy her exploring and climbing gene, she attends Gymboree weekly.  Grandma and Pa thoughtfully signed her up for this class for her birthday knowing full well that climbing is in her blood.  After all, she is related to Uncle Brett!

However, Gymboree is a bit intimidating, especially with the new apparatus they are piloting.  So, Abby played it safe on her first day of class (three weeks ago).

She did a little climbing. 

Abby did A LOT of rocking. 

And she did a little jumping. 

In real time today Abby had her first hair cut.  She needed it, desperately.  I was hoping to grow out her bangs and hair for a cute little chin-length bob, but I caved.  Her hair was turning moppy and her bangs were constantly in her eyes. 

Before: shaggy, not cute hair. 

Abby was quite the trooper.  No tears and no fits. 

 Ella came for moral support. 

Viola! Pretty girl and now we can see her eyes. 

Abby Update

It seems like my most recent posts have been about Ella, and so it is time for an Abby update.  She is toddling along happy as can be reaching many milestones and waving happily to everyone and anything.

Abby is on a drinking strike and has been for about a month, hence the VERY runny oatmeal for dinner. Ryan was not home for dinner, we stayed too late at the gym and I needed to hydrate Abby.  Oatmeal solved the problem.  

Abby not drinking is quite stressful so I am always chasing after her trying to shove some sort of liquid down her throat.  I am the mom who routinely purchases $3.50 smoothies for her daughters at the gym.  Abby has no problem drinking them.  Also, she'll drink some chocolate milk (don't judge), it was a last ditch attempt on poor drinking day.  I'm lucky if she drinks 10 ounces in a day.  No joke.  

Her drinking strike began on our way out to New York.  Until then she would happily drink bottle after bottle or cup after cup of milk or water.  No juice, chocolate milk, or smoothie was needed as a bribe.  Then she developed a double ear infection and things have not been the same since.  Three doctors visits later the double ear infection is gone and she is STILL not drinking.  I've tried different cups, straws, and beverages.  She is one determined little girl.  

For now, oatmeal it is!

Coming Soon: New York Wrap Up, Abby's 15 month check up, Gymboree

Abby's Last Day

Abby is having a tough time coping with her emotions.  Saying goodbye to her teachers and to school was no easy task.    

Just Me and The Girls

Sometimes weekends are harder than weekdays.  Admitting that makes me feel like a horrible mother, but it is the truth.  Today (and last night) we were daddy-free.  And when that happens there is no break from a long work-week, there is no Saturday morning long lingering shower, and there is no sleeping in past 6:15 am.

This is the first time I have rested all day (unless you count a car ride, I might) and I have already been interrupted three times since Miss Ella is playing the procrastinator's version of Time To Go To Sleep.  This game can test the patience of a saint.  And let me tell you, I am not a saint.

However, even though there was no break from the long work-week, no long lingering shower (in fact, no shower at all today), or no sleeping past 6:15 this morning, by all accounts, it was a great day.

We painted some toesies.  

We practiced cutting, and from what I can tell, she is advanced in this skill set. 

We played Play-Doh like it was our job. 

And THEN we went on an impromptu play date with one of Ella's besties from school.  

This was all done in lieu of a long lingering shower and sleeping in from the stress of a long work week.  

****
 While I was cleaning up the kitchen I felt an incredible sense of fulfillment.  Abby was already in bed, fast asleep.  She was worn out from our adventures.  Ella was sitting outside, winding down while eating the last of her ice cream birthday cake (from last Thursday).  I was tired from giving the girls 110%, but as I stared out my kitchen window looking at my little love bug, my heart was happy and content. I know these are the most precious moments of my life. 

****
Note:  Poor Abby was asleep both times I broke out the camera today.  However, let me assure you that she was engaged, stimulated, and loved on just as much as Ella was today, although I have no concrete proof.

Abby Girl is ONE

It is hard to believe that was me a year ago.  I was so small!  Well, I guess I was small.  After all, I was 11 pounds, two ounces!  Now I hover around 24 pounds and I know this because

I have been to the doctor's office this past week.  Sadly, I celebrated my birthday with the remnants of a double ear infection.  At least I no longer have the 104 temperature that I was rocking on Wednesday.

The picture to the right is right when I woke up on Saturday.  Momma plopped a party hat on my head before she even changed my diaper.  You might say she was on a mission to capture the moment.  

Also, you might see some redness on my skin.  I had a good sized rash on my trunk that appeared in other random places.  Apparently I am allergic to penicillin.  Lovely.

My parents had wanted to take me to the Children's Museum for the first time.  However, they decided to keep it simple since I was recovering, had Uncle Brett's party in the evening, and my birthday party the following day.  It was a wise choice because I really needed to rest up for my busy social calendar.

Grammy sent me this party dress months ago!  Isn't it cute?  I wore it all day long and that is a big accomplishment!  Also, this silly hat kept finding its way on my head.  My momma wanted me to practice wearing it for my party; she is so silly!

My mommy and daddy gave me one large present.  Ella wanted to open it all day long, so I am lucky I got to open it myself.  In fact, I do believe she has ridden it more than I have.  But that is okay, I am a very good sharer.  Plus, she has some pretty neat toys that I like to get into.

After present opening we went to the park to feed the ducks.  We used my new method of transportation.  I was the coolest kid there.  

My busy day continued.  After nap we went to Uncle Brett's 31st birthday party.  There I had my first (and second and third) piece of watermelon.  I could not get enough and Ella just kept tossing them on my tray.  What a nice big sister!

Now the watermelon was great, but what I really enjoyed was my smash cake!  Like my sister, I had a banana cake that was super cute.  Unlike my sister, I dove in... FAST!  I did not need any prompting or encouragement.  I knew just what to do.

See for yourself.

The cake was just amazing.  I had it in my hair, my ears, and up my nose.  But I did not care because when else am I going to be able to dig in like that?  Certainly not my wedding!

After my busy day, I hit the hay and slept like a baby.... er, toddler, I mean.

TEN Months and Blueberries

This is what ten months looks like mixed with blueberries and the bluest eyes!  Love you, sweet baby.  

Go Me....

I have been husbandless for a full week (minus the 16 hour whirlwind "visit" that was mostly spent sleeping).  That is a long time.  I am mostly used to it, as a pilot's wife, you have to be.  With the new job he was gone for six weeks while training on the new plane.   However, since that training he has only been gone a handful of days due to an unusually quiet schedule.  Not this week.

As a result, this week seemed long after having him home for such a long stretch.  Perhaps it was because it was the week before Christmas Break or because both kiddos were recovering from some sort of illness or because I have a gazillion and twelve things to do like finish my shopping and wrap presents while managing a full-time job and two kiddos.

One of the the to-dos on my list was to take the girls to go see Santa.  I wanted to squeeze it in over the weekend because this up and coming week is busy, busy, busy too.  So, on Saturday I dressed and bathed both the girls, dressed them in holiday finerary, and trudged to the outdoor mall.  Ever the planner, I assumed there would be no line because by now EVERYONE should have already visited Santa.  I mean, Santa has been in the malls since Thanksgiving week.  Surely, everyone who was going to visit the big man must have already done so.  Wrong.  Dead wrong.

So, after all my holiday primping and prepping, we waited in the outdoor line for precisely 10 minutes.  During those ten minutes I was formulating a plan to get my two year old to agree to leave the line and return another day.  She happily agreed.  Thank YOU, Ella, because I believe we would still be in that line waiting.

Along the same lines, today we made it to church.  I dressed them in their same holiday outfits and let me tell you, we were actually on time.  This is a first.  Is it just a coincidence that I managed to dress them, and get them out of the house husbandless?  You decide.

Awww... Sisters

Wearing a headband... a holiday miracle

I love this dress, and Abby, of course. 

Cutie ... Just Cute

Besides the stupid spot that keeps showing up on ALL of our pictures (even when edited out), this picture is one of my favorites because Abby looks so doll-like, so perfect, so dang huggable... so her.

And... ummm... who isn't envious of those baby blues?

Can you believe she is just shy of 6 months?