2009 Powell Family Reunion

Abby Lu attended her first Powell Family Reunion. It is an annual event in my family. I would venture to guess I have attended 30 of these... in my 33 years.

It is a great time with food, family and an annual auction. This year, Abby won the prize for youngest attendee. We plan to buy her some new toys at Walmart. I have noticed she wants a toy in her hands or mouth at all times lately. I want to pick out some goodies to keep her brain stimulated.

She wore the cutest little dress that I sale stalked and bought 30% off for the occasion, but I didn't get a good picture of it. She'll wear it again soon!

She was an angel today after getting over her stomach bug. She kept her Pedialyte down all night and took 14 ounces of milk between 2 AM and 8 AM. We decided she was well enough to go and I am so glad we did.

She let others hold her without even noticing we were gone, smiled/cooed/looked directly at everyone and never let out a peep. She even slept for an hour in her cousin Susan's arms. I didn't hold her for hours! She slept and played in the 2 hour car ride each way and impressed all the shoppers in Fredericksburg with her smiles.

As expected everyone commented that she is a spitting image of me, which I agree. However, we hear both sides all the time. We'll see Marcus' extended family at a wedding in 2 weeks and I can't wait to hear them tell us how much she looks like Marcus.

She is currently asleep in her bed and went down without a sound. I know I am bragging on her and she'll have a "high maintenance" time eventually, but right now we are just so lucky she is so good!

We Have A Tooth!

While I was in Michigan, Abby Lu got her first tooth. It came at 5 months and 2 weeks. Can you see it? It is the right side of the centered bottom teeth. She did well with extra love from Daddy and Nana and a cold spoon. While trying to capture the tooth on film, I did get some cute faces. Mind you, she started throwing up within 30 minutes of thse pics. See below for the sick details.

These are taken on the quilt Marcus' grandmother, Lucille, made for him.

Two Kinds of Up

Look at this big girl SITTING UP! After shopping in her car seat inside the cart Abby was ready to be free! I held her while I checked out, but wasn't quite sure how to hold her and push the cart. So, I gave the front area a try! I sat her down and buckled her in. I think she loved it. She was free and could see everything around her! The buckle helped keep her in place so I think it'll be a few more weeks or months before we use this method while shopping.

Tonight about 5:30, Abby Lu began THROWING UP. She did it 5 times in about 45 minutes, so we called the doctor's after hours line. What a scary and helpless feeling. She had no food left in her and began spitting out neon yellow. Anyone out there- what is that? Is it stomach bile or drainage/snot? She isn't running a fever and is currently sleeping sitting up and we are giving her Pedialyte. She doesn't appear to be dehydrated, so we are sticking it out at home.

I want her to be better because this is so hard to see. I also am sad we have a long weekend at home ahead of us. I was up at 2:45 this morning to catch a flight and Marcus still has a sinus infection and has been on night duty all week while I was away. We also were planning to drive to my family reunion this weekend. I don't want to drive 2 hours and discover she is sick and we have to drive back. I am totally bummed.

Frankenmuth, Michigan

While in Michigan this week for work, my coworker Robert and I spent part of one day in Frankenmuth. The picture above it part of the outdoor shopping center we explored. I have been to this town on each trip to visit NPI and it gets better each time. It is Fredericksburg before commercialization. It was settled by the Bavarian region of Germany and has the only Oktoberfest recognized by Germany outside of Germany. You can really tell the people work as a community and take pride in their culture. This is the Bavarian Inn. It has 5 swimming pools (indoors) and a putt putt course. I took this picture from the Bavarian Belle, a paddle boat cruise we took along the Cass River which runs through the town.All along the Cass River were the most amazing willow trees. They were huge and are over 30 years old.

Finally, I don't think I have ever seen a covered bridge in person. This one was built by a 70 year old man and his son. Two oxen using logs and cables helped the bridge which was built on land take it's place over the water. Amazing!

Your Little Birdie

Call me crazy, but I've started a new blog! Journey With The Jenks has really become so much about Abby Lu and our family, that I wanted a girlie place to talk about my favorite things- cooking, crafting, shopping, and entertaining.

I designed it the last few days and did my first post and got a comment before I ever thought it was public! Crazy! I hope my friends and family and friends-to-be enjoy reading it and it gives you ideas. I needed a new creative outlet, maybe you do too!

So, check out my new blog and grab the birdie button and add it to your blog. I need some chickadees to build up my readership! I plan to add recipes, directions for easy craft projects, and ideas to help you decorate your world.

www.yourlittlebirdie.blogspot.com

Is this Wrong?

Is it wrong to show Abby a DVD inside her crib on my laptop?

Girlfriend WOULD NOT go down for a nap this afternoon. She was fussy, rubbing her eyes and too tired to do much, but she didn't want to sleep.

So, I put her nighttime Praise Baby DVD on the laptop and tried to help her go to sleep.







Look at this set-up, wouldn't you konk out? She looks so sleepy!

She did eventually fally asleep in my arms while I rocked her and she watched the DVD. Thank goodness something worked!

Buster and Dottie Meet Abby Lu

This weekend Abby met her final set of grandparents- Buster (Marcus' Dad) and Dottie (his wife). They joined us in Austin for the weekend from their home in Texarkana.

Have a safe trip home!
On our ice cream trip Abby Lu stuck her tongue out at us!

Tummy Time = Rolling Time

This weekend we saw Abby Lu roll from belly to back! It was exciting to see.

We also tried out some more tummy time. Her school tells us she loves it, but we really hadn't see it much.

Look at this happy girl rolling away from the mat to look at us!

Haha Momma- I am loose now!

See my Tongue Momma!

Really, do they get any cuter? Maybe I am just partial, but honestly she is so darn cute!

And now, I go to take a picture and she sees the orange light of the camera and sticks out her tongue. It won't be cute when she is 5, but it is cute at 5 months!

Swimming in the Tub

Marcus bought Abby Lu this ladybug swimming pool holder last weekend and we thought we would try it out in our garden tub tonight. She loved it! She was fussy before we put her in and then was so chill. She even ate water, kicked about, and smiled. I can't wait to put her in a real swimming pool! The ladybug also comes with a cover to protect our fair baby girl's skin.

Thanks Daddy. I love my new bug!

Her First PEO Meeting

I am a member of a women's organization called PEO. It is an international organization founded in the late 1800's by women attending college. Today, it provides scholarships to women around the world- women studying in America who plan to return home to better women in their country, women reentering the workforce after raising a family and women needing low-interest educational loans. PEO even runs a debt-free college in the Midwest.

I have been a PEO member since I was 23 and introduced to it by a professor at Texas Tech. It is a wonderful group of women and I am proud to have a daughter who I hope will become a second generation PEO.

Last night Abby attended her first PEO meeting. She was a ham for the ladies showing them her latest tricks with her tongue and bubbles. Great fun!

She's A Silly Monkey

While Abby was in quarantine from school, we both stayed home and alternated working and playing. It was a nice introduction to sickness- she felt fine the whole time except when we had to medicate her! Here she is playing on her mat in Marcus' office. Her legs are almost long enough for the "babylegs" leg warmers I bought her before she was born.

After some time on the mat and watching her favorite video, she got to do a little dance number on Daddy. This always makes me laugh- Marcus pops out a little boom box noise (from his mouth) and helps Abby learn to dance by moving her arms around and taking her upper body from leaning back to forward. As you can tell, she loves it!

I love that she has found her tongue and likes to stick it out! My Nana (Dad's Mom) was very dear to me and she would stick her tongue out like this when concentrating. I like to think Nana met Abby in heaven and taught her this trick to show us.

Click on this picture to blow it up and look at the EXCESSIVE amount of drool we are currently encountering. No teeth yet and no real teething signs except drool!

Nobody Told Her...

... that she has pink eye!

Abby is happy and then cranky. I think the worst part is getting the drops in her eyes. Marcus can't do it. It just breaks his heart. Looks like I'm gonna be the tough parent. We'll both be home with her part of the day tomorrow and working from home the rest of the time. She is on an antibiotic and should be good as new on Wednesday.

In Honor of my trip to Lubbock...

Thank you Patricia for the spirited onesie! I'm so happy to see her in red and black!

Goddess Girl Weekend 2009

I spent the weekend in Lubbock visiting my college girlfriends, collectively known as the Goddess Girls. Katy hosted this year, so we all arrived in Lubbock on Friday night. It is always like we haven't missed a beat with these girls- no awkward silence and somehow, no filling in the gaps since we last saw each other. I love that the conversation is always easy and flows freely with these girls.As always, we ate too much and spent too much over the weekend. We enjoyed some of the best food and shops in Lubbock. The picture above is at the courtyard at Abuelo's while we awaited our table. The food was yummy!

We also shopped and shopped and shopped! We realized we are getting old. The fashions seemed so silly- the jewelry was 80s rad, sunglasses too big, dresses too short/tight/tacky, and the use of a bejeweled headband like a Native American would wear was insane! Alison, Katy and Billye showed off some of the sunglasses. Speaking of showing off, click here to see a pair of shoes I found for $5 in Lubbock! Love them!
After we tired of shopping, we went to Katy's parents house and enjoyed their pool. We didn't really ever swim- just sat on the steps and enjoyed chips and homemade salsa, Nutter Butters and a few cold drinks. It was a great break between shopping and dinner.

A huge thank you to my lovely husband who braved single parentdom alone so that I could enjoy the weekend with my girlfriends. As always, he did a great job and Abby is healthy, happy and still well dressed with Momma away!

Happy 5 Months Baby Girl

Abby Lu is 5 months old today! Happy Birthday sweet girl!

Random Questions

I pulled these from Kristi and I tag Jacque and Alison since they are both new bloggers! Welcome to tagging. Just answer these questions on your blog and tag someone else's blog.

Six names you go by:
1. Anna
2. Deanna
3. Dee
4. Mrs. Jenk
5. Auntie
6. Random loving names from Marcus

Three things you are wearing right now:
1. workout pants
2. worksout shirt
3. plaid headband

Three things you want very badly at the moment:
1. to be debt free... so close!
2. to know the future/ what God has planned for me
3. my long trip to Michigan to be behind me

Three people you are certain who will fill this out:
1. Alison
2. Jacque
3. Kristi already did

Three things you did last night:
1. celebrate Marcus' birthday
2. 30 Day Shred
3. packed for girls' weekend in Lubbock

Two things you ate today:
1. Chick-fil-a
2. granola bar

Two people you last talked to on the phone:
1. Marcus
2. my sister

Two things you are going to do tomorrow:
1. get my haircut
2. fly to Lubbock

Your favorite beverages:
1. sweet tea
2. Grape Crush

2010 Vacation

One of the luxuries of my job is hotel points and I have a lot of them saved up. Marcus and I can stay in a free hotel about every 3-4 years with my hotel points.

We want to go on vacation next year with Abby Lu, but can't even fathom where to go.... give us ideas!

Some things to consider-

* Must be a somewhat major city with a Westin Hotel in it (to use my points)

* Needs to have some kid-friendly things to do, but not overload like Disney since she won't remember this vacation

* I would prefer it be someplace new for us. Recent trips are Hawaii, San Diego, San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans, Orlando, Denver and Las Vegas.

* We can really go anytime of year, so weather isn't a factor.

* We are okay with flying, but I don't think overseas is a good first flight choice.

I was thinking zoo.... I looked up the Top 10 US zoos and San Diego is #1, but we have been there more than once. The Baltimore Zoo is a high ranker. Do you think we could do Baltimore Zoo and throw in some DC?

Just like her Momma...

I caught Abby sleeping with her booty in the air just like I did as a baby. Aww- how cute!

Where Are My Parents?

Abby has to wonder where her parents went because both Marcus and I did something we haven't done in her lifetime or in many years.....

I tried to dye my hair dark brown (my natural color), but wasn't super successful. It still looks red! I will give it a darker try soon. I don't totally love my new hairdresser's colors and it takes so much time to get it done that I was hoping to be a little more low maintenance and just get a quick cut every couple of months. We'll see!

Marcus went wild and crazy on his 35th birthday and shaved off his goatee! He wanted Abby to see where her little chin dimple comes from. This picture is a rare sight as it has been at least 8 years since he has been clean shaven. We have one picture on the refrigerator from June 2000 (Billye's wedding) with Marcus sans goatee. He isn't fond of it (and neither am I), so he plans to have it back in place in the next few weeks.