Me, My Chair and My Crazy Teeth

Often times recently, Abby has her bunny shoved in her mouth, looking like this...




Today, when we got in the car, she did her usual, "haaaah" which means "hot!" She opens her mouth really wide... and there were TWO more teeth! Not in the front, either....but toward the back. Could they be molars? Yikes! They aren't in all the way yet but this explains some of her restless sleep as of late and the bunny ears doubling as a chew toy. And the reason she woke up at 5am this morning, still crying after daddy tried everything to get her back to sleep (the man is a saint, I tell you).

This might also explain why she does the Downward Dog without using her hands. Or, maybe it doesn't. But it's cute.



And, this week, Abby had Christmas in July, thanks to Grandma N. She has her very own chair. And you can only imagine...up and down, up and down, up and down...try to stand, almost fall, up and down, up and down. Thank you, Grandma!





32. the thought of home made ice cream
33. friends we haven't seen in far too long who drop by

34. playing by herself in her crib

35. joy and not screaming coming from the backseat

36. going to bed early to catch up with these early mornings!

Walking Ducks

Abby's new skill....

Hollywood Bowl

We hit the bowl this week to watch a kid's show. While it was way above Abby's head, she absolutely loved rocking out to the beat with her friend Pema. These pictures don't do it justice....but she was throwing her arms about wildly and jumping up and down every time they started a new song.


She was so tired that she conked out on the ride home and didn't flinch when I took her inside and layed her in her crib. Whew! As if we needed more confirmation, the girl's got rhythm.

Practice, Practice, Practice

She's unwilling to let go of our fingers just yet...but she sure loves to practice.

Words said today: peach (ch!), edge (dggg), play

Kissin'

Abby really loves to give kisses now. Albeit open-mouthed kisses...but we'll take 'em!

Grandma was here a few times in the last few weeks and there was a lot of kissing going on from her too....

And some fun in the sun!

28. 85 degrees vs 98 degrees

29. looking forward to vacation

30. loving your extended family

31. 4 sleepers for the price of one!

Here To There

Do you know how many things start with the letter B? Abby has been saying "B!" all day today. Of course, I'm scrambling through the things she knows (ball, baby, bunny, banana, bee, boy....) until she smiles and says the right word.

We got a cute birth announcement last week (you'll notice from the outfit that this was when it was still cold and cloudy in the morning - not the "wake up and it's already 90" weather of this week) and Abby was obsessed with carrying around the picture of the "bay".

And going from here ...

to there...

over and over. This is the only flat footed picture that I've gotten of the girl.

She loves to get on our bed which is a terrifying act now seeing that she's lightning fast and has no concept of the edge. Today, I randomly pretended to be asleep and she came right over and gave me a kiss to wake me up. Since "Where's Baby", now we've got "Sleeping Beauty" (or, Mommy, rather).

Pretend Vacation

We had some friends come out this way this weekend and they stayed at a swanky hotel. This means that we got to go over and hang with them and use the swanky pool!

Abby loved it and got tossed in the air a zillion times from daddy.

She got to meet a baby (hi Xavier!)...

And a million thanks to Campbell and Quincy who kept her entertained at dinner. She learned how to "raise the roof"!


With Abby's kissing fetish, she planted one right on Campbell.

We actually felt like we'd been away somewhere when we got home. It was magic. And when it was all over, we did what had to be done... the laundry.

24. actually relaxing

25. reuniting with old friends

26. free parking

27. as Quincy said this weekend, "that Abby doesn't have a broken heart"

My Future's So Bright....

I gotta wear shades!



The double fist pump for extra emphasis....



21. summer sun
22. not having a black out (no ac!) like we did a few years ago
23. impromptu date night (thanks, Grandma N!)

Communication Breakthrough

You know how good it feels to be understood, right? I think Abby finally felt that way today. The past few days her vocabulary has gone crazy. She's trying to say everything and once in awhile I actually understand her! Today she said "pool" while looking outside, tried to say "truck" when the trash truck rolled by, can tell us when she wants "up" or "down" is constantly saying "Mama" and "Da". She's also growing taller -- suddenly she can pull herself up and reach up to the fridge demanding either grapes or watermelon.



Do you know how much fun a little silicone brush can be?



She also fell in love with a chair that has been sitting under her nose for months. Suddenly, this week, it's a huge hit. She can climb up in it herself and just loves to sit backwards and point to the bugs.

And of course... reading. Still one of her favorite things. This week she likes "new" books. Things we've never read before.

Suddenly, literally overnight, our little girl seems very, very big. (sigh).

Watermelon Hair

As I was browsing (which takes all kinds of restraint) in Anthropologie this weekend, I looked over at Abigail and saw that after I put something like this on my head, she did this (wouldn't you know those wood floors, anywhere, you Anthro lovers?!) :



She is finally starting to mimic us! Our new game, "Where's Baby?!" was born. She is a great shopping partner - it's much more fun than being alone. Although, I do miss dressing rooms. I have a feeling I won't be seeing one again for quite awhile.

We also went to the park last weekend and Grant discovered an organic, natural hair product -- watermelon juice! She shovels in the watermelon and after she's done, there is likely juice everywhere. Grant gave her this sweet mohawk. It stayed in until bed time.

New words this week : bye bye, ch (chicken), ball, baby, dog

Pomp & Circumstance

She graduated! From her "baby" carseat to her "big girl" carseat. I wouldn't say she's completely thrilled with this new contraption (despite what we paid for it) and since we've read a zillion reviews saying that facing backward is safest until they're two (even though legally she can turn around once she's 20 pounds) that's what we're doing. Welcome to the next few years of your life, Abigail!

Swim Thursdays

Since we're taking a break from music class (although the music from music class is still a part of our every day!), in it's place this summer, we're taking advantage of our friend's gracious offer and swimming in their pool every Thursday. Abby got to try on her first pair of googles. These pics are a little dark but you can tell that she wasn't so sure about them. And later, Grant showed up to swing in the hammock to make what felt like the first day of summer complete.

Abby is also truly starting to learn her vowels. She can say "a, e, i" but hasn't quite gotten the "o,u". Grant started this a few weeks ago and she's getting it. She attempted "please" this week and her new favorite thing to do is throw her arms in the air and say "st" which means "stretch" or wiggle her fingers on your arm which means "scratch."

18. Abby's insane love of watermelon -- this just screams summer

19. living in a city with crazy good food that comes out of a truck (kogi tacos!)

20. farmers markets close by and often with local and organic food

Water World

If it's not the pool she's clamoring for, it's the sprinkler. Drought? What drought?

13. a tiny little roll-on perfume tube by Stella McCartney

14. quiet

15. summer reading

16. hammocks at the bowne's house

17. 12 plus hours of sleep a night (for her!)

Happy 4th of July

Three years ago today, we got rear-ended on the way home from watching the fireworks at a friends home. Grant's back has never been the same. Two years ago, we were wishing we were pregnant, but weren't. Last year, we had a just over one month old baby girl. I spent some of the night pumping my milk for her, then "fortifying" it (to add some calories, but which eventually made her very fussy because she couldn't handle dairy) and then feeding it to her from a bottle, praying she'd take it. From what I remember, she did. That happened to be a good day.

This year, as we all sat smiling and gawking at the amazing fireworks as we sat overlooking the Rose Bowl, our tummies full of gourmet burgers and sangria, I couldn't stop thinking about how far we've come and how blessed we are. The good years, the bad years... we are so blessed to be living in this country and to be able to share this fun tradition with our little girl who stayed up way past her bedtime with a smile on her face and loved the fireworks. Happy 4th of July, everyone!!