Pop Pop

Grandma and Pop Pop's house was a really big hit this Thanksgiving but I have to say that Abby had a special thing for Pop Pop which was really sweet. I have a video of her bringing him toys so he can play with her. Really cute. Today, Grant decided to join Abby and I while we walked the dog. I said, "Abby! Do you know who's coming with us to walk the dog?" And she said without a moment of hesitation "Pop Pop?" When I told her no she said, "Grandma?" Then tonight at dinner after we said grace, I asked her who we are talking to when we pray. She said, "Pop Pop?" Grant and I both had a good laugh.

We have a little picture bible that Abby sometimes looks at. There is a picture of Jesus riding a donkey with a little girl reaching up to Him. She loves to look at that page. After we told her that we talk to Jesus when we pray she said, "Donkey?" -- which I think means that she is putting together that Jesus is the one riding the donkey. It's amazing to see her little mind work.

And here she is with a fabulous hat. We got our first "christmas treats" bag today from a friend and Abby grabbed the red cellophane and quickly put it on her head. She made a day of it. Love the "new" toys that don't cost a thing!




78. picking up baby dolls (once i thought this might never happen)
79. christmas music
80. advent calendars (yes, i'm starting Abby early!)

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. What an amazing time of year.


Abby spent her Thanksgiving in record cold temps in the desert this year. That means not a lot of swimming was going on and we had to wear jackets when we went to The Living Desert and rode the carousel (she wasn't that into it). But she loved petting the goats (with an immediate hand wash afterwards!)




The rest of the time was spent following around her older cousins, playing pat-a-cake, ring around the rosey-ing, running from the camera, having tea with her new tea set and walking around a house that's much, much larger than ours.




And sometimes, she would even comb the carpet (if you know Grandma and Pop pop this isn't surprising!)




and on Thanksgiving, all the cousins had gobs and gobs of chocolate...



73. The gift of not cooking this year
74. Followed by no dishes!
75. Lots and lots of help with Abby
76. Abby loving her family
77. Unspeakable peace

And in honor of...

her 18 month birthday, she decided to trash the bathroom. THIS is why that door remains closed at all times.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

Doggie Capes

I was loaned this adorable cape (when do babies need capes?! Never! That's what makes it so amazing!) from a friend before Abby was even born. While i was cleaning out recently, I found it and threw it on her. She'd been sick with a high fever the day before (really the only high fever she's ever had - and I am NOT complaining about that!) and she was feeling pretty frisky and happy since that had gone down. I tried to get some pictures and all of them turned out like this :







She was so crazy and wiggly I couldn't get a decent shot. Until someone mentioned Ernie. And for about 2 seconds, she sat in her chair.

Abby is now very adept at saying "sticker" seeing that every time we go into Trader Joe's, we eat a banana (the two of us) and she gets the sticker on the banana (don't worry we confess at check-out!). And it seems that I'm always saying "what happened?" so much so that now Abby says, "hap-pen." She can't say "frog" but that "happen" is clear as day. Those "f" words are tough for her....and as Grandma Heatherly says, "maybe that's not such a bad thing."

68. Healthy girl!
69. Adult dinner
70. Knowing she understands bigger concepts than she lets on
71. Christmas music (yes! before Thanksgiving!)
72. The hope of Thanksgiving in a sunny place

"Adallga"

Today I went to the shower of a dear friend and Abby and Grant got to hang out all day. This is what I found when I came home -- priceless (what a man!).


Abby loves to climb stairs by herself.


And just today, Abby loves to stack by size.




And by far, the absolute best word that she says is "lady" which she pronounces "adallga". I love it.

The Dawn...

...Of The Dress.

Now that our girl is walking well.... we're finally digging into that arsenal of dresses we've had laying around. Look out boys! The girls is finally showing some knee!

Thank You, World Series

Ever since the World Series (and we actually watched all but one game), Abby has been loving God Bless America. One night in the 7th inning stretch, she had us watch it about 10 times. "Again?", she'd say. Over and over... When we went to bed that night, I started singing Silent Night (her going to night-night song since she was 6 months old) and she put her little hand over my mouth and shook her head. I started signing God Bless America and she snuggled right up to me and drifted off to sleep.

She's also starting to say "Daddeeeeeee" instead of Dada. Pretty cute. Oh, and there was a tickle bug at our house last night and now her favorite word is "bug".

Skinned Knee

Abby, queen of Bonita Avenue in the afternoons, got her first skinned knee yesterday. She's practically running down the sidewalk trying to keep up with the "girrrrs" (girls) -- the big girls that ride their scooters down the street. They always stop and talk to her and kiss her bunny. Since they were with her, she couldn't cry.... right? She was tough. Mom didn't have any anti-bacterial spray around. Guess I've got a big girl on my hands and I need some Bactine!




63. running!
64. a mobile girl who, at 17 months, doesn't need to be carried everywhere
65. night time chocolate (ooooh yeah)
66. a lack of car seat hysterics (for the moment)
67. full nights of sleep, even with a bad cold