9 Months

Abbie's transition out of infant and into full on babyhood seems to have taken a sharper turn than Evan's did at this age. Not sure why, but all of a sudden 9 months is a new ballgame for her. This past month has found her on the move and fast. She is up on all fours and can maneuver herself just about anywhere - it's quite impressive to watch her little mind work as she gets to where she wants to be. She is pulling up to her knees but not to interested in standing - fine by me! We've had a few bumps along the way so as you'll see below, $6 at Home Depot and the iron coffee table is no longer a hazard...and it doesn't look all that bad either. She waves hi and bye and has picked up a few of the signs we are using with her. She continues to love Evan and want to be wherever he is. If she is awake before him she'll play and hang out, but as soon as she hears him stir in his room she is off down the hall just cackling with excitement. I use cackle because the girl has a laugh and a cackle...hilarious! She starts bouncing and cackling the moment we enter Evan's school in the afternoon because she is so excited to see him again. Evan returns this love most of the time. Every now and then I get an "I don't really want Abbie here right now" if she's hindering his play too much. She smiles almost all the time and really is a lot of fun.

She continues to be tall and lean...we are having to move her almost solely to table foods for the calories...I guess it's time...she's growing up. 

Stats: Head 80% (that's my smart girl!), Length 70% and Weight...well...18%. So off to higher calorie foods and fattening her up a bit. 

My pediatrician (whom I absolutely love) called her beautiful and feisty...hmmm...Evan was called "on the busy side of busy - even for a boy." Can people stop labeling the madness around here?! This comment for Abbie was partially because she and Evan have this "call" that is basically a screech that they do back and forth and laugh and bounce around together. Who needs a gym membership when you live with these two?

Fun times ahead!

Soccer!

Evan had his first soccer "game" today. I say "game" because they are just learning to play, have no goalies, don't keep score, basically play 3 on 3 or 4 on 4 or 2 on 4, the kids kind of come and go off the field almost at will. Evan likes it at times and isn't so sure at other times. He's actually quite aggressive and a good little player, however he gets very upset if someone else scores or takes the ball from him. Yes, he's run off the field crying a few times. Hmmmm....team sports at 3-4years of age are quite interesting and a great opportunity for learning. Some kids just stand around, some run like mad with no direction and a few seem to get it. All of the parents spend a lot of time on the field with their kids and encouraging the team. It is definitely a learning experience for us all and I am grateful for the positive environment this league creates for these kids.

Ready to go

Kicking the ball

Jeff and Abbie cheering

Evan in the center getting the ball

Dribbling down the field

GOOOOAAAALLLLL!!!!!!!

Winter Storm 2010

Sometimes you go to bed on a Wednesday night after hearing the weatherman tell you that you may get 1-3 inches of snow sometime on Thursday. Then you wake up on Thursday to this...1-3 inches already on the ground and it doesn't stop snowing until late that night. (so fun!). The weatherman is now saying maybe 4-6 inches...then your power goes out in the middle of the night Thursday night and by Friday night (the adventure has now lost it's fun) you have packed your family and moved in with another one because your house is 50 degrees and falling (in front of the fireplace!). Oh, and more like 12 inches of snow fell.

The snow was amazingly beautiful and the hospitality of our friends and so many others that took people in was incredible to see. We were 36 hours without power and had friends who were out for 5 days...amazing.

Thursday morning

Cold little squirrel...

Evan and Abbie watching the snow Thursday morning

Down, Set, Hike (football) with a snow football

Looking down the street on Thursday

More Down, Set, Hike

Jeff and Evan making and throwing snowballs on Thursday night - still snowing...

Abbie was not sure about the snowball that landed just in front of the door

Friday morning

Looking down our street

One of our trees

Tree in our front yard. I absolutely love the two huge Red Oaks that we have - beautiful trees.

Camping out in front of the fireplace with no power trying to keep warm. Abbie was asleep in her bed layered up and in a jacket to keep warm.

Keeping warm

Abbie Fun

Take Me Out to the Ballgame...

Abbie is ready for her first baseball season

Silly gal

A Glimpse into My Past and a View of My Future...

I have the absolute greatest brother around. Some of you may think that you do...but really, you don't - I do. He is one of the best people I know - a great dad and a great big brother. We don't get to talk and hang out as much as I'd like - kids and distance can do that...but I love him nonetheless. I love my sister too...she's my best friend (who would have ever thought that could happen??)...but this one's about my big brother. I wish I still had a scanner...I'd put a picture of us from back then.

There is a part of me that has been excited to have a boy first, the big brother, and then the little sister a few years later. I already see how much fun they have together and how much she wants to be where he is and doing what he is doing; as well as the big brother protector for her too. (we've never even said that, it's just part of him). The other night I had to call my brother during the kid's bath. Evan is so excited that Abbie is big enough to be in the tub with him to play. As I watched him pour water all over her, give and take away toys, place a wet washcloth over her face over and over to play "Where's Abbie" admist me asking him to please stop and to be a little more gentle with her; I had a flashback - and a flashforward of sorts. You see, Abbie laughed and giggled no matter what Evan did to her. She loved it. She loved being part of his fun.

My flashback? Well, that was me years ago. I did whatever my brother said and laughed at just about everything he did and said. I am (as far as we know) the first (and only) unmanned human sprinkler - why? because my brother told his two year old sister (me) to put a hose in her mouth and to not remove it while he went over and turned it on. Mom was not pleased - I am thinking I was. Just to be a part of what he was up to. I tagged along everywhere and he let me. He taught me to ride the trials around the bayou and to jump out of trees (well, there is the broken arm incident and we don't quite agree on who's fault that was). We explored caves and rivers and trails and the land of our hunting lease. I never felt like the "kid sister" tagging along, I lnew he wanted me there. I visited him in college and he came to Colorado when I moved there to see me. There are so many more memories and fun stories I can't share them all. We were always looking out for each other.

I am so grateful for that moment the other night. A glimpse into my past and hopefully a view of my future. I hope that Evan and Abbie's friendship continues to grow and that they can have some of the same memories and feelings I do. Well, maybe not the broken arm or the arrow shot at the apple on the head...but the fun, the adventure, the acceptance, the mutual admiration and protection.

Pulling Up and Peekaboo

Two of Abbie's newest favorite games...

She will cover her face and when you say "Where's Abbie" she'll pull it off. Age old simple game...yet babies always find it so fun!  :)

Abbie is 8 Months!!!

Our Abbie is 8 months old today. It's amazing how time has flown by and how big she is getting. This month has found Abbie with a few new tricks. She babbles all the time and says "mama" (yay!). She also has begun crawling. It starts with her on all fours, then it turns into a version of the 1980s worm dance and moves right into the productive army crawl. She is not too fast yet, but very motivated and determined to get where she wants to go. She has begun waving "hi" after her naps and it's so cute; she is really excited about it. She also is quite the wiggler and dancer whenever she hears music so she and Evan do this a lot. Her most recent thing is to pose when she sees the camera - cute but it makes it hard to get any action shots as she will stop and pose - I may just have another ham on my hands. Abbie is big enough for the tub seat now and she and Evan are having a great time in the bath splashing and laughing together. She has also begun to experiement in the world of cheerios and is quite proud of herself when she gets them in her mouth. She has started copying us when we are eating by making the chewing motion with her mouth; she is virtually begging for our food. She is such a joy and she and Evan have so much fun together. I can't believe that we are only 4 months away from having a 4yr old and a 1yr old - where is the time going?

Grandma and Grandpa's Visit

Grandma and Grandpa came for a brief visit and we had a great time having them. Evan and Abbie were so excited and even got to have a delayed Christmas. This made Evan extremely happy!

Evan got a #4 jersey - here's his football look.

Around the House

Sibling love....

Evan showing Abbie how to play

Figuring it out

Our little poser...as soon as she sees a camera, she's posing - hilarious!

Showing off those bottom teeth

Puffs...a great entertainment while I make dinner