Missing Mom & Dad?

Grant and I went to Austin last week and had a wonderful time. My parents were kind enough to come down and stay with Abby. I wasn't sure how things would go this time, seeing that she is pretty attached to me these days, but while we were eating endless BBQ, hearing live music and enjoying the screenwriters festival and enjoying time with friends, Abby was having a rough go. You can tell by the following pictures.










Her Raggedy Ann costume got lots of attention as did eating pretzels, holding on to her "bun buns" (bunnys) and going through her diapers until she finds "ernie!!!!!" (who has now taken over first position ahead of elmo). A huge thank you to Grandma and Papa (who Abby still wakes up asking for).... we couldn't have done it without you.

58. that God doesn't forget to bless me even though I forget to "count" my blessings here
59. a very happy girl, even happier to see us come home
60. giving grandparents
61. austin memories
62. food, food, food (i love that food is so darn good. i mean, what if we had to eat dirt to survive?)

Huntington Gardens

We got a membership to Huntington Gardens (thanks, Groupon!) which happens to be right around the corner. We met Abby's friend Pema there on Saturday and the girls had the best time playing in the mud, walking through doors, getting soaking wet and running through tunnels calling each others names. It was a total blast.

One Year Anniversary

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of Abigail's heart surgery. I mentioned it to Grant the night before and we both are amazed by how hard it was but also how long ago it feels. Crazy. I kept reliving what it was like going to bed, knowing we would only sleep for two hours before a pedialite feeding followed by fasting and needing to be at the hospital by 6am. We were both in "let's get this done" mode until we met the surgeon and at that point, I think we both stopped striving and just fell apart. What a glorious day.

We spent our day celebrating in small ways. I had BSF in the morning and Abby got to play and dance with her new friends there. We went to lunch afterward and she got to have cheese pizza (a hit! and a weight gainer!). She also learned how to say "Oprah".



We sang lots of "clapping hands" songs



and she tried on her Raggedy Ann hat (possible costume number one).


After her nap we headed to the South Pasadena Pharmacy -- a ridiculously cute old school soda fountain (and pharmacy) where we shared an enormous scoop of ice cream and a sugar cone.



By the way, did you know they now call "plain" cones "cake"? So much better! Anyway.... she loved the Mocha Almond Fudge and we worked off some of the sugar at the park afterward only to come home and walk up and down the street a few times and play in the mud with our sweet neighbor, Miss. Robin.

I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in His hands

He knows my name
Can you believe it?

- Tommy Walker; He Knows My Name

I heard this song for the first time recently and it brought back all of the emotion from a year ago. How could I view the hardship of what we went through as a loving act from a loving God? It wasn't because the outcome was good. It was because we trust who God says that He is. We are so thankful that he formed Abigail's heart as "imperfect" as it was and are even more thankful for the wonderful surgery that ensued. Thank God that our lives are always, even in trials, completely in His hands.

Pumpkin Festival

Grandma N. was here this weekend and so we discovered that there was a Pumpkin Festival right here at the Rose Bowl geared toward young kids. It was a blast! There were kid bands (she danced like a mad woman), bouncy houses (too germy), an In 'N Out truck (she loved her burger!), a pumpkin patch (she climbed on the hay) and games (she threw the bean bags in the buckets and won a prize)! Apparently there were pony rides, too...but we never found those. Abby had a great time...now if I could only decide which costume she's going to wear this year!

Accessories

Our girl now likes hats. Oh yeah... and there is a matching purse. She's finally a girlie girl! Thanks to Grandma N for giving us such fun things.

Abby is learning new words everyday. Today she busted out with "mailman" during lunch when the mail was delivered and she attempted "animals" and "angel".

And, I must report, we officially have a walking girl. She's very proud. So proud that every afternoon when the really big girls are on their scooters outside on our street, Abby must go out and show off her walking skills. They sweetly "oooh" and "aahhhh" before running off.

Heart Check

It's unbelievable to us that a year ago we were preparing (counting the minutes with both excitement and fear) for Abby's heart surgery. We had a Cardio check up this week (it's been 6 months). I actually missed her previous appointment that was scheduled for two weeks ago. That's what happens when a) Grandma comes to visit that day, b) you aren't too worried about the check up and c) your too busy icing your back from bending over half the day "helping" her walk. When the doctor first saw her, he was a little worried that her weight hadn't gone up a ton in in the last few months (she's till around 17 pounds) but as soon as he looked at her heart, he said, "it's perfect! I guess she's just going to be tall and thin!" We truly are doing everything we can to fatten her up short of giving her ice cream (but that's the next step, I assure you.) This week, spoonfuls of almond butter were a bit hit.

She's also very excited to tell you that her name is "Abb-a". We're working on the "ee" sound of both Abby and Bunny.

And this week was Abby's first day at the childcare program at BSF. She did cry for part of the time (who wouldn't being away from mom for the first time?) but she had her bunny and those ladies take excellent care of her.

It's been an exciting week. We have so much to be thankful for.

Dedication

Better late than never! We had Abigail dedicated to the Lord on Sunday night at our church. It was a really special time (although we all had bad colds). Unfortunately, we asked family not to come so they wouldn't catch our nasty sickness! It was daunting to be reminded by our dear pastor who we respect so much that she is, of course, a gift from God. He has given her to us. We are responsible for raising her to know Him. It's a daunting task in light of days filled with singing songs, changing diapers and trying to make mac 'n cheese sound exciting for the 3rd lunch in a row (food ideas, anyone?). Our friend Kristen gave us this adorable outfit for Abby's first birthday. Of course, she hasn't put one toe in it seeing that it's a) white b) adorable and c) she's still such a crawler and plays so hard that the knees of all of her pants are permanently dirty. But check this out... even with "Abby" on the back...