7 Sweet Years!

Seven years ago today I married my best friend…

Abigail's VBS

Abigail's 1st VBS

Generous Act

I was taught a lesson of generosity this evening. It humbled me in the end and God showed me the compassionate love of a child through a simple act. We had VBS this week; our church van ran every evening through a trailer park near our church. We had a van full of kids every evening from the trailer park. The kids absolutely love Abigial. Several of them want to hold her, hug her, touch her, and help me tend to her needs. There was one little girl that took a special interest in her and stuck by her side most of the week. On Thursday she told me that she had gotten her a present, that was a stuffed animal, but it was at home. I told her that was very sweet of her to get her a gift but Abigail would want her to enjoy the stuffed animal and play with it. I told her that she didn’t need to get Abigail anything, that she could just be friends with her and that would be showing her love and friendship. I told her how we value friends and love above presents. Anyway on Friday, we get to Bible school and she had the brightest smile on her face, and a stuffed bear in her hands, that had a Christmas outfit on. The bear was old, worn, and to be honest wrecked of cigarette smoke. She was so pleased with her gift for Abigail. We acted excited and I took the bear and placed it in the chair beside our stuff. Several time throughout the evening she made comment to the bear and asked if we could play with it, I told her we would have to wait until VBS was over. She asked me several times if we liked the bear and if I thought Abigail liked the bear. She kept seeking approval through the gift she gave us. She so desperately wanted to show us love. She is the sweetest little girl. I have to be honest, my first instinct was to toss the bear, however on the way home, Jason said to me that was a gift given with true love and generosity. She so desperately wanted to give us something. So I am going to soak the bear in dreft this evening, and toss it in the washer tomorrow, and put it with Abigail’s other animals as a reminder to me of this generous act.

I love My Wagon...

Abbyroo loves to be outside.  We got her this wagon for Christmas and she is starting to love to use it.  We will wheel her around the back yard as the dogs follow behind.  She loves her puppies and being with them.  I love watching her grow, learn, laugh, and play.  I just love her enjoying life  Kids are amazing, and it is even more amazing to watch them grow.  It is hard to believe that 11 short months ago we were just waiting for her arrival, anxiously might I add.  She has gone from a helpless little baby, to learning to be independant and wanting to feed her self.  She has gone from wanting her baba to wanting her sippy cup.  She has gone from wanting to be held at all times, to wanting to play on the floor.  She is amazing, I love her more and more everyday.  Nothing in this world compares to the love a mother has for her child. 

Fearfully and Wonderfully made...

Psalm 139:13-14, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. “

I am ready for another baby in the house! Abigail will be one next month and I’m ready to start growing our family. I guess you could say that I have baby fever. I have so many friends who are having babies and getting to hold these new bundles of joy just makes me want another child even more. I’m 28 and definitely want another baby by the time I am 30, so Jason knows I’m ready – and I’m hoping we can grow our family in the near future. I got to see one of these new precious bundles of joy today, Olive Napier was born yesterday, weighing in at 5 lbs and 3 oz, and 18 ½ inches long. She is just precious, just perfect, and wonderfully made!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day!!!  I have never seen a daddy more proud of his little girl. Since day one Jason has just been such a wonderful dad and continues to grow in love for her. I was so excited to share in this first father’s day with him. Jason truly sets of example of our heavenly father and shows patience and love in all he does. We celebrated the day at home. Abby woke up with a temperature so she and I stayed home from church. Jason left for church and Abby went down for a nap until about 11. When she woke up we went outside and drew a message on the sidewalk for daddy for when he came home. Jason wanted to cook steaks on the grill, and requested that I make banana pudding. Jason’s parents came over to celebrate, what a wonderful father’s day at home relaxing. We ordered Jason a Frappe maker that he has enjoyed. I couldn’t imagine a better husband and daddy! We love you Jay!!!

Blackboard

I think if they had a blackboard in Abbyroo’s daycare she might have gotten her name written on it today. Abby has made friends with the little girl whose crib is next to hers in her class. They take an afternoon nap about 1:00/1:30 each day and all the babies go into their cribs and they turn off the lights. Abby and her friend got as close as they could to each other laying down, they would reach for each other, one would poke her head up and then the other would, they would poke their little bottoms up in the air, and the other one would, and they would echo each other. I think they were stuck in a game of copy cat. They both eventually feel asleep for their nap, but I’m sure that it disturbed the other kids. Abby sure does love other kids; they can make her laugh the most. It is just not as funny when mommy and daddy play peek a boo. She is starting to develop her own little sweet personality. I treasure each of these moments.

Handprints on the Wall

So I can’t believe we are planning a birthday party! Wow it has been almost a year already – are you kidding me? My baby little girl is 10 1/2 months old. I just wonder where the time gone? That is why I take so many pictures – because I don’t want to forget anything! Her first smile, giggle, slobber lick on my cheek, first roll over, pull up, and yes, 1st step!

I started going through all the pictures that I have taken of Abigail to make a slide show of her first year. This is a very hard process because I have so many of her. I am not going to list how many because it is rather embarrassing, but to be honest, I don’t put all the ones I take of her on Facebook – ha ha, I am sure that you are laughing with me because there are hundreds and hundreds on my FB page. The hard part of this slideshow video is going to be finding the perfect song. Wow, what a challenge. I have had several that have come to mind, but this is a hard decision. We will make it into a DVD for Abbyroo as a gift, and hopefully show this at her first birthday party. Hopefully I will find the perfect song – Do you have any recommendations? I am figuring that the song is going to last about 4 ½ minutes, and with each picture for 3 seconds…so that would be 90 pictures right? I had Jason configure that out for me, he can do all that in his head! I’m a social worker, we aren’t good at math! Maybe we will do a couple of songs, but I would really like to keep the video about 5 minutes.

So I have ordered Abigail’s birthday outfit, I am starting on looking around for decorations, but we have decided on doing a homemade personalized birthday sign with my new cricut expression, along with cupcake toppers and our invitations. We have decided to have her birthday party at the Bull Golf Course in their party room in the pro shop, due to space. Even with immediate family only our house is a little wee small to seat people comfortably, especially on a hot July afternoon. I couldn’t be more excited for this little girl to get all the attention she desires on her special day – we have already ordered her birthday presents, and I can’t wait to give them to her. I told Jason that he should keep them in his office at work so that I wouldn’t be tempted to give them to her. We’re are thinking about getting her one year old professional pictures done a couple of weeks prior to her birthday so we will have one to have framed at her party. So we figure, for 1st year – the simpler the better. We want a fun afternoon with friends and family that have played a special part in her life.

I treasure every day with her, every moment, every second, they are all so precious.

Chorus to Kenny Rogers song, Handprints on the wall:

“Days go by so quickly;
Summer turns to fall.
Seemed like only yesterday,
That you began to crawl.
So don't be afraid to take that step,
I'll catch you when you fall.
An' I don't mind if you leave behind,
A few handprints on the wall.”

Trip to TN

We went to TN this past weekend to visit with family. We left Friday at lunch time and make great time. The reasons we had to stop were because of me and my small bladder. Abigail slept for 2 ½ hours of the 4 hour trip. She is a great traveler; I think this is good practice for our upcoming trip to the beach in September. I can’t wait! I am in much need of a beach trip; it has been over a year since I have seen the ocean. We went on our “baby moon” in March prior to having Abbyroo, and haven’t had a beach trip since. We usually do those in September, however Abigail was only 2 months old at the time and we didn’t think the trip would be a vacation.

I missed the mountains a lot. I don’t think about them until I see them again, and it makes me miss them. We ordered pizza from Greg’s on Friday evening, which was wonderful! I hadn’t had Greg’s pizza in about 5 years. It was just as good as I remember it. It is a one of a kind pizza, I have never tasted any other like it ever, and I eat pizza often. We got to visit with my Aunt Judy, Carl, Abby’s Uncle Josh, Aunt Mary and of course her Nanny. She just reached for them as soon as she saw them. She knows they are family. It was a nice trip, since we hadn’t been since Christmas, we are hoping to make another trip in about 3-4 months, and hopefully we will see everyone in July for Abbyroo’s 1st birthday!

Day with mommy...

Abby and I got to spend the whole day together, which makes for a wonderful day. I love the days that we are together from sun up till sun down, but it makes me want every day like that! I am so happy to have some time off work coming up around July 4th, and then we will be taking vacation in September, during the equestrian games.

I’m still practicing a lot with my camera. I truly think that I missed my calling, wouldn’t that be a dream to do photography on a daily basis! I also think that I have the cutest person in the world to take pictures of, which helps a me a lot!

National Doughnut Day!!!

Abigail had her 1st doughnut today in honor of doughnut appreciation day, celebrated the 1st Friday of June yearly.  Jason picked up a dozen of Krispy kreme's for us to enjoy and celebrate this day!  Abigail loved the doughnuts needless to say!