11 Months

What a fun month we've had with Evan and Abbie. Abbie continues to grow and change. She is talking more and more and has added some "words" to her vocabulary. She says "tis" for when she is pointing at something she wants and she says "shhh" when she wants to visit the fish on her mobile. She definitely has an opinion and purpose to what she does...I can see the pros and cons of that now but love her determination. She is very curious and loves to be outside exploring and investigating everything.

She now has 4 teeth on the top, two on the bottom with two more trying to come in. Unlike Evan she is in age appropriate clothing - Evan is now heading out of the toddler sections and into the little boy sections and he's not yet 4!

She and Evan continue to play well most of the time and he is usually good at sharing and helping her. He usually doesn't take everything away from her and make her cry...and I try to be patient...usually...

They both love to dance so we have a lot of music and laughter around here. They love to growl at each other like dinosaurs and then laugh hysterically at each other. She has begun to enjoy books and ask for them by bringing them to me or pointing them out. She pulls up on everything and has tried to let go a few times so walking won't be too far off. She is much more of a climber than Evan was. She loves to climb up on our hearth (doesn't always dismount well but she's learning) and if something is in her way she will climb over it if she can instead of going around it.

She continues to be a very happy girl who loves to smile, wave at everyone and laugh often. Only one month until my baby girl is 1...until my baby girl officially has a year for an age...

Bath Time Fun

Easter

Love them!

Off on his egg hunt. He did wonder why we hadn't invited all his friends too...such a community purist

She absolutely loves her Da Da

Checking out his eggs. He gets 1/2 candy eggs and 1/2 with little notes in them from Jeff and I with specific things we love about him. (credit to the Vinings for that idea).

Every Day Life with Evan and Abbie

The kids have discovered these rice puff things from CM...yummmmm....

Lela getting creative for a teether

Playing in the tunnel - this quickly went poorly as Evan ran right over and trapped her. He said he was showing her how to play with it. Hmmmm...

Hangin' with Dad at the neighborhood Egg Hunt

Sic 'em Bears!

Ahhh, the laundry basket

Peek a boo!

Starting my Astros fan off early

I absolutely LOVE her eyes! Wish the color wasn't lost in the upload.

10 Months

What a sweet girl! Abbie is on the move all the time now and one of her favorite places to be is looking out our storm door - if we are not outside that is - she loves to be outside. She is definitely showing signs of being quite adventurous and doesn't let many things get in her way. She is determined and can navigate her way over, under, through or around just about anything. Where Evan is active, Abbie is busy. It's an interesting difference between them. Evan has rarely stopped moving but it's more jumping, running, tackling, doing "tricks" on the couch or the like - if it's fun he's in. Abbie is busy in that she too is always moving but with purpose and a plan for fun. She loves to smile and laugh. She is a sweet little girl and likes to give kisses and cuddles. She and Evan continue to play well. He can get a little rough at times but she is learning to hold her own. Abbie is also communicating more and more. She points and can use her signs well. When give a choice between two things she will let you know what she wants by pointing or gesturing. She still babbles constantly and says "mama," "dada," and a form of "more" and "all done." She has said "hi," "bye bye," and "ni ni" (night night) but these are not consistent words. I think she has a consistent word for Evan but I haven't quite been able to figure it out yet. I can hardly believe that we are 8 weeks away from her 1st birthday - what a joy it is to watch her learn and grow.

Spring Snow

Dallas continues to have strange weather this year as we saw last Saturday/Sunday. Friday we were in shorts and enjoying the sun. By Saturday night there were snow flurries and we woke to this on Sunday morning...still falling. All in all we got about 4-5 inches with some areas getting as much as 8 inches. In true form it was all melted by Sunday night and we were in shorts again on Monday. One last time to play in the snow before summer hits!

How we spent our 8th Anniversary

Welcome to Medical City Children's Hospital ER. Abbie started throwing up every 20-30mins at about 11:30am and didn't stop until they started her on an IV at about 5pm. It is the absolute saddest and docile she has ever been. After an hour on fluids she drank a few ounce of pedialyte and we started to see her personality return. A few smiles and even some talking. Hoping we all sleep well tonight and that she stays on the mend. Also hoping that all my lysoling and crazy family handwashing will keep the rest of us well.

As for the anniversary? I wouldn't have wanted to spend it with any other person than my amazing husband who dropped everything he was doing at work to meet us at the ER. My other favorite boy was stellar today. Absolutely stellar. I held Abbie all day and tried to clean up as we went and he was kind and sweet and spent 4 hours at the ER with an amazing attitude. Stellar.

8 years ago today...

...the journey and adventure of a marriage began with the most amazing man. We were married before the digital age (at least for our photographer) so I'll have to dig up a picture to scan. Gotta go...the adventure of life is calling....

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!!!!!!!