Memorial Day Weekend

We have just enjoyed a beyond wonderful weekend with family! On Friday David took a half day and was able to get some yard work done. Then on Friday night we went over to Mike and Kathy's, where we took a little dip in the pool before going to Pleasant Valley Country Club for dinner. It was fried catfish night, plus a bunch of other delicious sides, and Abigail enjoyed herself with all of the fried food. She had fried catfish, fried green beans, fried okra, hush puppies and fruit. Nothing like some good ole southern cooking. We forgot our camera, but snapped this great picture on my phone. Mike went from an all boy family to having two granddaughters!

On Saturday morning we got up and went down to the farm for half the day. Grandma made a delicious meal and it was cool enough to sit outside and just enjoy the day. Abigail especially loved following Shepherd around and looking at the chickens and cows. It's so nice to live close enough now to coordinate with John and Sarah and be able to let the cousins be together.

After a car nap on the way home from the farm, Abigail was feeling good again and David and I got ready for the wedding of a couple in our Sunday School class. We had a wonderful babysitter named Laura Beth Moore who is a girl that I mentored a little bit while I was in college. She did a wonderful job and it was her second time to watch Abigail. The wedding was fun and we enjoyed a night out together.

On Sunday morning we got up and went to the lake to meet my parents and Tripp and Kara who were already there. We enjoyed two days on the lake, great talk time on the back porch, games, and boat rides. The water, like always on Memorial Day, was freezing. But we all got in! Abigail showed NO FEAR at all of the boat, water, or driving on the lake. Last summer she couldn't even crawl, so it was very different this year. We set her up a little pool for herself on the boat and she loved it. Next visit, when the water is a little warmer, we'll get her on in. She's going to love it.

After helping Mom and Dad clean up, David and I headed back to Little Rock with a small stop at the vista and a quick bite in Hot Springs with Mom and Dad.

As you can see...we've got an little Miss Independent right now. We have definitely entered the stage of her having her own ideas and wanting to do things by herself. It's such a fun time.

My happy place...Lake Ouachita...

We have lots of fun traveling coming up in June and also our 6th anniversary is around the corner. I don't know how half a year has passed so quickly, but I am trying to soak up every second of our "everyday life." I feel so accutely aware right now that these are such sweet days that we will always look back on so fondly.

Pool Day!

On Thursday of last week, Abigail and I treated Katherine and Caroline Thorpe to a little fun in the sun in our backyard. The girls had a great time and Katherine and I got some much needed talk time.

18 Months!

My baby is a year and half old today!

We actually had her doctor's appointment today, so I know her stats! I also have some things I want to record so that I won't forget!

1. Height: 31 inches-34%
Weight: 21 lb 12 ounces-14%

2. The doctor said that developmentally she is doing great!

3. Diapers: size 4

4. Clothing: 12-18 months and 18-24 months

5. She has TINY feet. The sandals that she wears to church, although she is right at the end of being able to wear them, are size 2! Although her New Balance and Keens are size 4. Figure that out!

6. We had her first haircut this month and it went great!

7. Talking: Abigail has plenty to say. We can't understand it all, but what we can understand thus far is: dog, mama, dada, rock, wow, whoa, yeah, no, uh-oh, oh no, and bye bye. When she says "rock," it sounds like she is clearing her throat. It's hilarious.

8. She is doing this laugh right now that cracks us up. It's fake, but sounds fairly real and she loves to do it.

9. When she is excited she will open her mouth and pant, which I think started from watching Deuce. She will also stomp her feet really fast.

10. When we are reading one of her favorite book right now, "The Big Red Barn," she can point to all sorts of animals when we ask: cow, cat, dog, horse, chicken, mouse, and bird. She can also identify lions, alligators, gorillas, whales, and bunnies.

11. I am amazed at the instructions that Abigail can follow now. I can tell her to go get her milk, shoes, snack etc. She can help me load the laundry basket, unload the silverware from the dishwasher, and loves to pat and hold Sooie. We are getting better about holding on to Sooie's tale.

12. Daily Schedule:
7:00 Wake up and eat breakfast
10:00-10:30 Snack
12:00 Lunch
12:30 Down for nap
3:00 Up from nap and snack
6:00 Dinner
7:30-8:00 Bedtime!

13. She will give all the family kisses bye bye and waves like a champ. When we pick her up she will pat us on the back just like we do to her.

14. No more passy! Right after she turned 17 months we took it away at night, and then at nap. We had a short relapse when she got sick, but after those couple of days we were passy free and we've never looked back. She does great without it.

15. Abigail is getting pretty good with a spoon and is best with yogurt. She uses a fork "ok," but loses patience with it fairly quickly.

As I said in my last monthly post, I think this will be my last monthly post. You have to pick a place to stop sometime, and a year and half seems reasonable. I'll of course post milestones, but won't do specific posts for months. It's time to do it less frequently! Our year and half with this girl cannot be summed up here. She is the joy of our life and we adore her. I feel blessed to be her Mom. I can't wait to see what the next 6 months holds as we march on towards turning two!

Abigail's 1st Haircut!

This weekend we were finally not working on anything at the house (not that there was nothing we could have worked on). We decided on Saturday morning that Abigail could not go to church on another Sunday with her mullet, so we took her to get a little trim. I was sure to call Kara beforehand and get specific instructions to give the hair cut lady. :) She got to sit in this little airplane thing and she really did enjoy turning the steering wheel. She never would have let the lady touch her though if she hadn't been watching videos on my phone. It looks really good and we both feel like she looks just a little bit more grown up.

She wasn't too sure what we were doing there...

...but she got more comfortable after a little while.

Ben came into town on Sunday after celebrating Calvin's upcoming wedding, so we got to have a nice Sunday lunch with him. The rest of the weekend was spent relaxing. We also met Jay and Katherine and Caroline up at the Greek Food Festival on Saturday night. The fellowship was great and food was delicious.