Hello again, Sippy

While cleaning out a cabinet recently, Abby found this unused sippy cup and has been putting it to good use. We now put milk in it and she has downed more milk in the past few days than the past few weeks combined. For the love of calories, I'm saying "welcome back sippy!"



And here is the big girl waiting for some friends to come over to watch the Oscars. Too bad you can't see her "fashion diva" shirt (perfect for awards night and for hiding mud stains from playing outside earlier).



That morning she learned that "hola" means hello. She was standing at this window waving her arm above her head saying "hola, Mike!" waiting for them to get here.

Sunday Pretty Girl

Abby sported a pretty dress that Grandma N gave us eons ago at church on Sunday. In fact, knowing Grandma N. she's had this dress for years....just waiting for Abby to be brought into our lives! We appreciate it and Abby loved it -- and didn't complain about the layer of crinoline underneath!

Houston...

...We have a problem.

A DVD problem.

Abby used to pick out a video to watch while I was getting dinner ready. It was no big deal. All of a sudden, here's how it goes :

Me: "Which one do you want?"
Abby: "Sing Along!"
Me: "Okay! Sing Along."
Abby: "No! No!"
Me: "Oh. I thought you wanted Sing Along."
Abby: "No!"
Me: "Okay. Well, which one?"
Abby: "Jana!" (Jana Alayra concert -- awesome btw!)
Me: "Okay."
Abby: "No!"

And on...and on...

This could go on for an hour. The girl wants all the videos at once. Or she wants to hold all of the cases. And her voice in this period of time is high, excited and adamant. Weird! So, she doesn't get a choice any longer with videos. I choose, she watches...and life is much, much better. :) Now if she'd only hold my hand in the parking lot.... suggestions?!

And yesterday, Red made himself very comfortable in Abby's chair. "It's no problem," I said. Suddenly "it's no problem" is hysterical to her. At least Red is comfy!



162. fingerless gloves that my talented mom made (pictures to come!)
163. colder weather so i'll actually get to wear them
164. Friday Night Lights. the last one ever. goodbye to the best show on TV (don't even try to dispute me).

Bass-sit!

Our neighbor has a stuffed dog in her window next door. Need I ask why someone buys such a thing if they don't have kids? It's a mystery-- but one that we benefit from seeing that Abby runs under a certain abby-sized portion of hedge to see "bass-sit!" every day. Every. Day.



She's changing so much these days, talking constantly and repeating much of what we say. The time has come to be careful. One day she walked around saying "jeez!" over and over. I'm trying to get her hooked on "shucks" -- from the end of The Runaway Bunny. It's a success so far, other than her not being able to say the letter s really clearly yet. "Ucks!" I'll take it.

157. God's surprising timing
158. letting go
159. cuties - so much better than oranges!
160. advice from friends
161. peace that passes all understand in the midst of stress

Park Strike

How blessed are we? 3 Generations together. Especially since we once thought that this might not ever happen for us.



We haven't been to the park in months. Abby is totally content to roam around on our street, finding treasures and causing trouble. We have a great time. Here she is doing a few of her favorite things...
Sitting on "miss obin's" (robin's) porch next door with elmo and itty bitty.


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Flashing the pearly whites...


153. Vacuuming our entire house with one plug. Seriously.
154. A washer and dryer (I remember the days of not having one!)
155. Fab hand me down clothes gifted to us for Abby till she's 2
156. the promise that we are protected and secured - I love the book of Isaiah!

Let's Get Wet

We hit the Huntington when Grandma and Papa were here and had a great time. They got to see a few serious pieces of art and Abby got to play and get wet in the children's garden. It was a beautiful day here in January -- sorry Chicago!

Bye, Mama

Tonight we crammed Abby in the car at ten till 8 (her bedtime) and raced over to a new ice cream place near us that I've loved ever since I tried it at the farmer's market. Carmela's. Say it with me. Car-mel-a's. Mmmmm. The Salted Caramel is a top choice. Anyway, we got home, all abuzz with sugar and diary and Abby took a 30 second bath followed by bedtime. I told her one book was all we had time for since it was a late night. After we finished reading it I turned down the light and we prayed together and then she started saying, "bye. bye. bye." I said, "who are you saying bye to?" and she answered, "you! bed." THAT was easy. I put her in her crib and haven't heard a peep since. I'm liking this routine. :)

And here she is a few days ago getting taken on a wagon ride from the big girls on our street.




150. acting like it's summer in January
151. running up and down the street at 5pm in a t-shirt
152. abby's over 20 lbs on the scale! wahooo!