East Texas Trip: Visiting Family

One of the reasons we selected East Texas for vacation was to see Marcus' half-sister Michelle, her husband Bill and their daughter Aubrey. We haven't seen them in many years and it was a perfect opportunity for them to meet Abby and me to meet Aubrey.

We met in Longview at the mall and after spending time talking in the food court, we went to the mall's glow in the dark putt putt course to play around. Abby loved crawling all over the course. Her pants legs were black when we left the black light!Here is Bill, Aubrey and Marcus after their round of golf. Michelle and I kept score and kept Abby in line :) Marcus, Michelle and Abby

Michelle, Aubrey and Abby

Michelle and Marcus have the same father and didn't first meet until we were in college. Facebook has been wonderful for keeping us in touch!

East Texas Trip: Science Museum

Our plan for Friday morning was to visit the zoo; however, it was just too cold. So, we moved the fun indoors and visited the Discovery Science Place. It would have been wonderful for a preschool or elementary aged child. Most of it Abby missed or could see, but not truly experience. They did have a wonderful little toddler area she enjoyed for a while.

She checked herself out in the mirror. She learned how to crawl up and down the foam staircase. Can you tell how timid Daddy was and how brave Abby was? I told him repeatedly it was all foam and she needed to try it out. He did good backing away and she accomplished the up and down without a major header!

Part of the area was a small town for children to explore. Abby got to drive a car with Marcus in the little town. They also had an ambulance, florist, bank, grocery store, etc. It was cute! Abby and Marcus explored a large "cave" with bats, running water, and more.

We hoped they would have a kitchen for her to play with. Don't tell her, but she is getting one for Christmas and we wanted to see if she liked it. They didn't have a major kitchen area, but did have small food items she could mix.

I'm sad we missed the zoo, but really enjoyed the heated science place!

Abby Lu's Vacation Protest

Oh how yummy vacation food was! I let the diet slide a little to enjoy my sweet tea, hickory smoked bar-b-que, onion rings at Clear Springs and these beauties- fried corn nuggets from the Dairy Palace in Canton. I love fried corn nuggets. Why didn't God make them healthy?

Dear sweet Abby Lu also decided to let her diet change a little this week as she flat out refused to eat anything on a spoon! Seriously child, pick a different week, perhaps when we are AT HOME, to decide you are ready for big girl food. Not the week I have pre-planned and prepared your meals with enough detail a spreadsheet could have been deployed!
We had to go to Target, get highly creative at restaurants and allow bread to serve as a main course. We had hoped the protest would end when we were back home, but it didn't. So, we are trying lots of new foods this week as we transition from pureed food to small soft handheld foods.

She liked most options we gave her.... this is her face trying a pickle! So funny. She made this face and then went back for more!

We bought fruit cups, rolls, raisins, cheerios and Gerber carrots and apples at Target in Tyler mid-week. At restaurants, we fed her sweet potatoes, avocado, grilled chicken, turkey and cheese, from our meals, and even a little plain pasta. She is still alive, so it all worked out.

East Texas Trip: Day One #2

One of the wonderful things about where we stayed was the indoor waterpark! As the song says, "oh the weather outside was frightful, but the waterpark inside was delightful"! It was in the 40s and rainy outside and a warm 85 degrees inside. There were less than 10 people at the entire park making it easy for us to focus on Abby and try out her water comfort levels. She floated the lazy river in a life jacket with us, watched Daddy come down the big slide, and sat in the run off area of the kiddie section and splashed.

Abby's One Year Pictures

Having a Christmas birthday allowed me to do some Christmas photos and 1st birthday photos in one setting! We took them this afternoon to be able to give some as gifts and have them at her party. Luckily without an afternoon nap, we were able to get our favorite expressive, funny, goofy girl to the photo studio. Here are some of the pictures we bought.... others are gifts, so I can't share :)

The big Santa is my awesome husband! We bought him a Santa suit 1/2 price last year with this photo session in mind. Abby wasn't scared and had great fun playing with his beard. We also took pictures in her party dress and then had a cake session. Late last night I looked for a simple cheap cake at HEB and the sweet lady there took a custom order for me. I was certain it was too late. I picked up the cake this morning and with a prayer that Abby would play along packed her bag and headed to Picture People. I don't know why I doubted her!
She immediately crawled across the floor and put her hand in the cake. We sat her next to it and let her go to town. I think she entered cake heaven and forgot we were even there. She licked her hands, smeared it on her face with a giggle and wiped pink and blue icing all over her pants.

I love the colors! They would smear together to make purple! She loved the feeling of the icing and had no hesitation in eating it up!

When her hands were full, she let her feet have some fun! I am so glad I did this one barefoot. I had planned on her having on her new pink Converse shoes.

We even got pictures of her lying on her back licking icing off her feet. Seriously, she has to be the coolest kid! I love her sense of adventure, the stinker in her, and the fun she brings out in me.

East Texas Trip: Pine Trees

W took advantage of the cool weather and the beautiful tall pine trees to take some pictures. I wish I had planned ahead and brought Abby a rich brown dress or some cute winter boots! These pictures were taken on the resort's main drive into the property. There were pine trees as far as the eye could see. Many had lost their needles and leaves creating a brown blanket on the ground.When we packed on Sunday night, the weather was sunny and in the mid 50s all week. It was never in the 50s! It was in the 20s in the morning and cloudy all day.

It did snow lightly during lunchtime on Friday as it did around other parts of Texas. It didn't stick or make much of a mess as we traveled around town.

With the purchase of a pink fuzzy hat and a curly scarf, we were ready for the cold weather pictures.

This area must be just gorgeous in October when the leaves just start to turn. It reminded me of pictures I have seen of the northeast or my trip to Michigan two years ago.

East Texas Trip: Day One

We spent the past week in East Texas on vacation. For my birthday last year, my Dad and stepmother gave our family a one week condo stay and we were able to choose the location. We had to book the trip early this year and with a newborn we were hesitant to go far. So, we selected a small area outside Tyler and have awaited our trip.

Knowing Abby now, we could have gone most anywhere. She is a happy easy baby, but this was a great trial vacation to learn to pack, plan activities, and travel with her. We will definitely do Chicago with her next summer! We fell in love with the area. It was slow, simple, and friendly. The first morning we ran to the local grocery store to stock the condo with snacks and Abby food. Then, we drove into Tyler to Brookshire's World of Wildlife Museum and Country Store.
The store was filled with a variety of animals from the Brookshire families' hunting trips. Abby wasn't fazed by the scariest or biggest.

This hippos mouth impressed and disgusted me.

Check out these stuffed monkeys playing Monopoly. Each is wearing a Brookshires (grocery store) name tag. Funny!

I have tons of pictures to share. There really is some great activities to do in the Tyler area. I'll post more throughout the week including a water park in December!, shopping in Canton, visiting family, 1920's replica grocery store, science museum, and Abby's big boycott of the trip that threw us for a loop!

Stink Eye

This is what we lovingly call the "stink eye". Her teachers at school call it "the look".

Abby makes this face 100 times per day. It isn't associated with an emotion (anger), but just random. This weekend she would do it on command. So, when you see Abby next ask her to show you her stink eye. She is so her father's child!

Bouncing Ball Video

Marcus and Abby have so much fun at bath time! I captured her laughing at the ball splashing in the water.

Happy 11 Months Abigayle

I have loved every minute of the last 11 months and loved writing these posts; however, it struck me this morning that this is likely my last one. In 1 month my baby girl will be one year old! Not long ago I began planning her party and Marcus made fun of me since it was so far away. Here we are past Thanksgiving and coming onto Christmas and I feel like her party is next weekend. Pretty soon, it will be!She is smart and funny. She is a great eater and a wonderful sleeper. She likes people and isn't afraid of anything. She reads books to herself, is ticklish all over and loves straws more than most. She loves her teachers and friends at school but her face lights up when we pick her up at the end of the day. She loves Momma and Daddy equally, but in different ways- Daddy for play and Momma for comfort.

She says Momma and Daddy regularaly and said "hedgie" for her hedgehog (below) for the first time today. He is her favorite toy, followed closely by her spinning wheel and barn. She can shake her head "no" and can sign "more" and wave bye-bye.

She wears 6-12 month clothes and 3-6 month shoes or size 2. She eats fruit and yogurt/oatmeal or waffles for breakfast and fruit, veggies and meat for lunch and dinner. She loves feeding herself more than us feeding her. The transition is hard as I had the puree meals down pat. She loves cheese, craisins, cheerios, chicken, rice, peas and mandarin oranges still rank #1. She crawls and pulls up, but no crusing or walking yet!

Abby Meets Mr. Christmas Tree

While Abby was napping on Friday afternoon, Marcus and I scurried to put up our new 9 ft. skinny tree. We didn't do a tree last year in our new home since I was so very pregnant and our tree from our old house just didn't work. I was excited to see my tall and skinny tree up and lit!Marcus picked up Abby as she awoke and I grabbed the camera. She wanted to feel it and touch the lights first.
I think she likes it!

So far, we haven't knocked it over! Abby likes to rub the tree skirt (just cotton?) and to pull on Santa's beard on an ornament on the bottom limb.

Next up, Abby's own personal tree!

Yummy, I like this ball!

Is this a yellow ball? I wonder what kitty does with this yellow ball? I know I have seen her walking around the house with the yellow ball before? Now, how does she hold it?

Oh yea, in her mouth! It must taste yummy if kitty eats it!
Wait, it doesn't fit in my mouth!

Let's hope a cat's mouth is as clean as they say a dog's mouth is!

Thanksgiving Day 2009

We hosted family and friends for Thanksgiving this year and had a potluck lunch. Everything tasted wonderful! I did a great job balancing full and miserable. It is an art I am working to perfect!

Before everyone came over, we woke Abby up from her 2 hour morning nap to take a couple of pictures. This girl is FUNNY! She was making great faces for us in her sweet pumpkin pie dress! She loved sitting in the wagon and just being outdoors.But, you put her in Daddy's arms and she is anything but calm. She kicks and flys and shakes her head yes and no at the same time. It helps lead to a long afternoon nap :)
I am thankful for many many things this year and I am most especially thankful for this one right here. She brings so much joy to our home. I wake up with a smile and go to bed laughing at some silly thing she did each day. What a blessing!

I hope everyone enjoys a wonderful Thanksgiving with family, friends, food and football!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to our wonderful friends and family, near and far. We are blessed by your love.

Thankful

I love that Carter's has a clothing line for every possible holiday. Today at school, Abby is sporting her Thanksgiving onesie- it reads "Thankful for Mommy". Love it!Tonight, she will sport Thanksgiving pajamas and tomorrow wear her pumpkin pie dress. It is an obsession, I know.

My 20 Pound Reward

This my friends is what broccoli in heaven must taste like! And, I will hopefully enjoy one this holiday season.

I am about 2.5 pounds away from having lost 20 pounds. When I hit that magical number, I will be enjoying a large Peppermint Chocolate Milkshake from Chick-Fil-A and promise to take pictures!

This shake will be gone after Christams, so I better stay on track or it will be gone and I'll have no reward!

Momma, I'm Shy

I tried taking Abby's picture and she kept putting her head down and looking up pretending to be shy.

I think we all know better!

Those blue eyes don't lie- there is mischief just around the corner!

Casting Crowns Concert

Friday night Marcus and I drove to Belton to attend our favorite band, Casting Crowns, in concert. We both love their music and saw them for the 3rd time- the first time up close!The arena was small, but had great sound from the 12th row. Casting Crowns sang all of our favorite songs and even a few Christmas songs.

One of the reasons I love them is these two girls- Megan and Melody. Megan at the microphone is one of the only plus size artists I know. It is nice to see someone look "real" on stage.

During a concert in Houston we attended 2 years ago, each of the band members picked a group of people to pray for after one of their songs.... fathers out there trying to lead their families, teens learning to stand up for what they believe, soldiers fighting for our freedom, teachers in the important role of educating our future, etc. Melody prayed for all of the women in the arena awaiting a baby and hoping to be a Mom. It tore my heart up as we had completed our infertility consultation that month.

We missed seeing them in April the following year as I was on bedrest having completed our IVF procedure that brought us Abby.

It was wonderful to see them again and celebrate the fact that we had to arrange for child care (thanks Mom!) in order to see them this time around. We praised a faithful and loving God Friday night as we came full circle.

Silly Girl!

Abby put a banana piece on her face and found it HIL.AR.IOUS! We took so many pictures of her smiling and laughing at herself. Really, we have a ham!

Chick-Fil-A Playground with Daddy

We had breakfast at Chick-fil-A at 7:30 AM on Saturday morning. I had already been up for 2 hours with Abby. She had breakfast, we made her steamed carrots, mashed potatos, and broccoli cauliflower mix. We washed dishes and got ready for the day. Since nobody was at CFA that early, Abby and Marcus tried out the playground. Can you see the face-filling smile? She discovered the circle in front of her could spin!
Shortly after this picture was taken, she discovered there was something between me and her and hit her forehead on the plexi-glass. Her sad face and cries only lasted a few seconds and we were back in business!