Christmas Part 1

We spent Christmas in Minnesota this year, so we celebrated Christmas with my parents the weekend before we left. We had a great time with them! We went to Flemings for an early dinner and then went back to their house to open presents. Abby got a wagon from them, and boy was it a hit!

Getting some lovin' from Gigi and Grandpa

Out for an evening stroll

Kid's Crazy Christmas Show

We went with our friends Ben and Amanda and their little boy, Quinn, to their church for the Kid's Crazy Christmas Show last Saturday. Let me tell you - it was awesome!! Abby and Quinn loved the music and the lights. We all sat on the floor and we tried to control our little ones from wanting to run up to the stage. Above is the best pick I could get of the two wiggle worms. It doesn't look like my red-eye thingy on my camera was working that day..such is life! Here are a few pics from the show.

The performance of 12 Days of Christmas - so cute!

Quinn having fun dancing around

Abby is completely mesmerized

14 Months and Growing!

My baby is 14 months old today...seriously - where did the time go? I look back at pictures of this time last year and she was so tiny. Last year at this time I was worrying when I needed to nurse her next and now she's eating all the same food as me and Matt.

My mom always told me that I wouldn't understand how much she loved me until I had a child of my own, and I never really believed her. Now, that over a year has gone by with this wonderful blessing in my life, I know how right she was. I love Abby with my whole self...I can't really describe how much I truly love her. It is really amazing to me that God has given me this much love to give to my child.

I remember when I first graduated from A&M and I would call my mom maybe once a week. She would always tell me how I should call her more, but I never really listened. Now, I call my mom almost everyday on my way home from work. She told me the other day how much she looks forward to those calls so she can hear how I am doing and to hear what exciting thing her little granddaughter has done that day. I finally get it...I know that she looks forward to my calls just like I will look forward to Abby's one day. I like to think that Abby will "get" how much I love her, but probably not. She'll probably be just like me and won't fully understand her mothers love until she has my little grand baby running around.

A few things that Abby is up to these days:

* She says "Uh-Oh" all the time - it's because I always say that to her. I know I'm biased, but it is seriously the cutest thing I have ever heard!

* I'm trying to teach her about Santa and to say "Ho ho ho" but today I was thinking that what if she just starts saying "Ho" and nothing else. I'm sure I'll get a call from school, so I'm thinking I should stop trying to teach her that.

* She likes to hit my mouth so I will do "Indian". The only problem is that her hits are getting pretty hard so I need to try and curb that.

* When she is done eating she flings her food on the ground to the dogs. Another "funny" thing we thought at first, but now realize we have to "undo"

* Yesterday she started spinning around in circles until she couldn't stand anymore - super cute! She did it again tonight after dinner.

* She loves to dance anytime she hears music playing - she will stomp her little feet and move her arms from side to side

* She will "sing" Christmas carols with me in the car. I love to turn down the radio and just listen to her.

* Some of her favorite foods right now are Teddy Grahams, goldfish, bananas, carrots, peas and wheat thins

Here is a picture of Christmas past...
..and of Christmas present.

I love you Abby Cadabby!

All Dressed Up!

My parents friends made a trip to India recently and brought back an outfit for Abby. Here she is modeling it. I love how her little belly sticks out! So cute!

What a Difference a Year Makes!

Halloween 2008 - Abby was 18 days old

Halloween 2009 - A year later

Here are some pictures from Abby's first Halloween with her Gigi, Aunt Michelle and Aunt Amy! We had lots of fun last year with our sweet girl in her Halloween onesie.

And here we are a year later. We met Gigi and Grandpa at Chuy's first for some yummy Mexican food!! Abby and Grandpa sharing a secret.


Daddy playing airplane

We went trick or treating with Quinn the Dinosaur and his parents. We had such a great time!
Abby hanging out alone - doesn't look too excited.Daddy is silly dressed up as Spiderman!
Going up to the first house - how fun!

First Birthday Party!

Abby turned ONE a a couple of weeks ago and I am finally catching up on blogging about it! We had a great time with all of our friends and the party managed to go until 11:30! (Don't worry - Abby was in bed) Thanks to Amanda that took all the pictures and videoed everything for me - what a great friend! Abby's 1 year stats at the pediatrician were:

• Height 30 1/4" (85 percentile)
• Weight 20 lbs 7 oz (50 percentile)

Some things that she is doing:

• She is a walking/running champ
• She is just like her daddy - a busy bee all the time!
• She loves the Tupperware - I really don't think there is a need for actual toys anymore - ha!
• She has started using a spoon - I was so shocked, but one night while I was feeding her mashed potatoes she grabbed the spoon from me and fed herself. Now she does this on a regular basis. Granted, she makes a HUGE mess, but I love it!
• We order off the kids menu for her
• She is starting to understand coloring...she needs some prompting to do it. Daddy and I will help her color her kids meals at restaurants.
• She loves the dogs, even thought they don't really love her.
• She can say "dog" although it sounds more like "dah", but she points to the dogs, so I know that's what she is saying.

Here are some pics from the first birthday bash!!!

We had such a great time celebrating our baby girls birthday with family and friends! Abby obviously loved her cake and love having all eyes on her!

Abby's 1 Year Pics

Abby is turning 1 very soon so Matt and I decided to have some family pics taken recently. We had a wonderful time with our photographer, Kasey, and she took some truly amazing shots.

Here is the link to Kasey's blog that has some pics of Abby on it. Just scroll down to the post dated September 22 - if you live in Houston, I HIGHLY recommend Kasey at Monkey Tree Photography!

http://monkey-tree-photography.blogspot.com/