Abigail's First Birthday Party

Today we celebrated Ab's first birthday. IT WAS FABULOUS!!! We rented out a little hall and invited both sides of the family and all the friends. I was a little worried because everything I had read about first birthdays STRONGLY recommended keeping the celebration small, but that's just not how we roll haha.

The party had a Dr. Seuss theme. I put up books and stuffed animals on the tables, as well as some kooky centerpieces. I also ordered these really cool wall stickers of the characters off the Internet. We intend on reusing them for the next nursery. ;)

We set up a nifty little section in the corner where Abbi's friends and her could play. Arienne Vaughn, Parker White, Mason Smith, and Abigail played for the first part of the party. We then moved on to the cake where Abs simply picked at the frosting until DadDad showed her how to take giant bites. We finished with the presents. SHE HAD SO MANY!!! ... and she did so well.

All in all it was the best birthday experience ever! I can't wait for next year! :)

Back to schoool... back to schoooool...

Exactly 11 days prior to my first day of school I got a phone call. I had applied for an online teaching job back in December and constantly nagged and followed-up (border-line stalking) to absolutely no avail at all.

Exactly 11 days prior to my first day of school I got a phone call. While on maternity leave I decided that I did not want someone else raising my childrend and I was determined to find a way that I could stay home with Abigail AAAAND do the things I loved aaaand make money>

Exactly 11 days prior to my first day of school I got a phone call.

I was offered an online teaching position.

I declined.

(I just couldn't do that to my school.. but I may be regretting it now. I miss my Abigail.)

Emmons Reunion

Today Abigail, Derek, and I attended the Emmons reunion. We arrived a little late because The Worm was napping, but when we got there, she was WOUND UP! She absolutely loves to be around people and does whatever it takes to get people to look at her and smile. She is loud and she laughs a lot. She reminds me of her Auntie Natalie a lot in this aspect. ;)

When it was time to eat she had about three bites of her baby food and then decided that she should have what everyone else was eating. I gave her small bites of cheese and a cracker-- GRANDPA on the other hand covered her tray in brownie crumbs and whip cream dollups!! She loved it!


After dinner she hung out with her cousin Masen-- Anna and Joe's son. He is about a month younger than her. Last time they played together at Grandma Ruth's birthday, she screamed at him and made him cry. Twice. This time she was nicer and they took turns chewing on toys! SO CUTE!!

Abigail's First Friend

Well, summer is here and I am heading back to the world of soccer. We work out three times a week from 9 to 11 in the morning. I enjoy the time I get to train with the girls and Lord knows it is good for me to be out there workin out too! :) Needless to say, I needed someone to watch Abbi.

We are blessed to live in a fabulous neighborhood and across the street, lives another couple very similar to us (Pete and Andrea) with a little boy just 8 weeks younger than Abigail-- Parker. I asked Andrea to watch Abigail while I was doing the soccer thing this summer and she seemed absolutely thrilled to do so.

They are both at the age now where they can sit up on their own and play with toys. I need to take a picture of my living room as it is always insanely scattered with singing gizmoes and colorful stuffed animals. Anyway, Andrea has a room very similar to this and Abigail's eyes light up when she sees all of the new toys to play with. But, this pales in comparison to the way her eyes light up when she sees her new friend Parker! She gets so excited and waves her hands, starts talking-- even shouting at him, and reaches out to touch him. Andrea says they can sit and play for the full two hours together. What a great experience! I am so glad that she has the opportunity to interact with Parker while I get to coach soccer. two birds. one stone. awesome.

I am curious to see how their lives intertwine as they grow up. :) I know that I still hang out with some of my neighborhood pals from back in the day, and sadly some of my closest neighbor friends, I rarely or never talk to.

Either way, right now Abigail has a great new friend-- Parker!

100.1 degrees (once I averaged it all out)

There are a number of possible contributing factors: a second tooth popping up, vaccines yesterday, or the fact that ancient air conditioning unit decided to quit working for a 6-hour period today.

Whatever it may be, it has happened. Abigail has a fever.

It is her first fever ever and I reacted just like any other crazy mother would react.

1. I sent Derek to the store to get a new battery for the thermometer-- just to be safe

2. I took her temperature in her ear, under her arm, in her other ear, with the ear thermometer under her arm, both ears again, and again, and again at varying angles...

3. Repeat #2

4. Read every last detail on the Motrin box while Derek gave her some medicine.

5. Felt her head, cheeks, handies... all which felt SOOO HOT

6. Repeat #2

7. Had Derek dig up the information on the vaccines from yesterday and read all four pages twice. (which had some CRAZY symptoms and side-effects that made me worry even more and check for swollen tongue, crusty eyes, pale-ness... all kinds of weird things)

8. Cranked up the AC- which randomly decided to start working again

9. Repeat #2

10. Fed her a bottle and put her to bed

Currently: I am staring and the video baby monitor, armed with the thermometer, watching her breathe. .... and about to repeat #2 :)

A Good Man

So much has happened since I last updated my blog- a new food, a new word, a new tooth, and sadly, a great loss. On May 16, 2010, my grandpa passed away. Since then, sleep has eluded me and my days have been filled with tears. Abigail has been a savior though, she makes me smile. I guess each day gets easier. And yes, I KNOW, he is in a better place and he is no longer in pain. I just don't need EVERY person I talk to to keep telling me that.

Abigail met her great-grandpa Art just a few weeks ago. I took her over to meet him and grandma when they returned from Port A. I am still kicking myself for not taking a picture.

Here is the picture I have in my head of that day.

Abigail and I arrive around 6 and Grandma is over at the neighbor's having coffee. It is just Grandpa, Abigail, and I. Grandpa walks down the hallway and greets us with a big hug. He sits down in his chair and I sit next to him with Abigail on my lap. She STARES at him intently for a moment and cracks a HUGE toothless smile. HE LOVES IT. Then, she reaches up and grabs his finger and holds on.

I can still see the grin on his face-- He. Was. Tickled.

We talked about all sorts of things. He held her before Grandma came home. He was a little worried about holding her because he doesn't feel his hands so well. He was so alive and so happy.

I will remember him that way. I will tell Abigail about all the wonderful things he did and how much a part of my life he was-- at all my sports games, birthdays... ANY important event of my life. I will show her the pictures. I will share his story. But, more than anything-- I WILL MISS HIM. Rest in Peace Grandpa. I love you.

Splish Splash She's Takin' A Bath!

Abigail absolutely loves bathtime, which in turn makes it really fun for Derek and I as well. I am glad that she enjoys the water since we spend a lot of time around water in the summer. She now has a floaty bathing suit for my parents' swimming pool and a full life jacket for our pontoon boat. Derek just put the boat in the water this week after a little makeover. We named it "TOONS" OF FUN. ha.

Anyway, on of my favorite things to do while Abbi is in her tub is fill up a cup and slowly pour the water out. She is absolutely fascinated. You can see her brain working, trying to figure out how to grab the stream of water. When she does connect hand to water she tries to hold on tight, which never works obviously. Not to get too cheese-ball-yyyy, but that innocent, inquisitive expression will forever be filed in my memory. She is so beautifully curious and so genuinely happy. It is the little things I guess. :)