Dear Santa: It's Not You, Its Me...

Dear Santa,

We met for the first time last week. While I didn't grasp the scope of my behavior at that time, someone at the school (paparazzi, probably) is paying waaaay too much attention to me and got some rather embarrassing photos and forwarded them to me and, well....



It was a rough day. I didn't wake up at the appropriate time, but instead 45 minutes early. That throws everything off. And Mommy had been threatening to complete my weening process the coming weekend...as if an ear infection wasn't enough for me to worry about. Couple those with the fact I didn't have regular poopies all day (four BMs before 3 PM - could you imagine?) and my teacher tried to feed me carrots again and I just wasn't right.

So - I ask for you to forgive my behavior. You know...just in case you happen to be in the neighborhood sometime around...I don't know December 24/25?




I've been a good girl most of the year. Aside from some isolated incidents when perhaps I cried for Mom and Dad when I didn't really need them, I behave pretty well.

If you can see it in your heart to forgive me, I would be so grateful.

Sincerely,

Abby

First Birthday for Abigail!

Abby's first birthday party was last weekend at Party Pals. Abby had a great time running around and playing (or trying to) on all the equipment. Here's a few pics.




















































































Abby and her cousin Corey:















Abby in the climber:















Ian playing:














Pics of Abby's cakes:

Updates - Halloween

Here are a few pics of Abby in her Halloween costume - a little lamb!












































Abby's favorite thing to do is to push strollers around. We've gone to pick her up at school to find her unwilling to leave because she's in the gym pushing the other kids in the stroller or buggy. She ended her Halloween night with a push of the stroller.

















A picture of the family at Uncle Joe and Aunt Jamie's wedding.

Abby on the move

Abby took her first unsteady unassisted steps on Monday, Sept. 30! She also started feeding puffs to her dad this week. Some of her favorite things at this time: water bottles, remotes, cell phones, diving over and onto anything, being outside, and purses. Here's a few pics.


Go BUCKS!

Playing:
















Seeing if she can make enough of a mess with pears and crackers to get a bath.

















Being cute in her new cat coat so that she doesn't have to get in the car seat!

Ever Have That Dream....

...where you showed up at school naked?



I dreamed I was at the library trying to find my favorite Dr. Seuss works, specifically "One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish", when all of the sudden I realized I was nude.


Naturally, I was terrified. You see, I have this complex about my butt crack. Quite frankly, its long. One of the boys at day care saw it creeping out of my diaper and called me the "...poster girl for crack..." and jokes, " the Nile is not just a river in Egypt - its in Abby's diaper!!!" I am hoping to grow into my butt crack.

Regardless....I woke up very upset. I got dressed and tried to calm myself. It was hard though. On top of the bad dream, the lotion wasn't in the basket. Instead, it was sitting haphazardly on the floor. We all know where the lotion is supposed to be (basket).













Mom was taking me in that morning and I was feeling a little funny from the dream. Something about waking up in a fright I guess. I started doing silly things to get Mom's attention. I needed to be nurtured...I was feeling very vulnerable. She seemed to ignore me until I dern near swallowed a sock. The things I need to do to get noticed around here, sheesh!!





By dinner time, things had calmed down. I had a nice day at school. I wasn't naked. And I had some good play time with Mom and Dad. To show my appreciation, I tried to appease Mom by eating all my vegatables. Problem is, I'm not a huge pea and carrot fan. Don't get me wrong, they're good once in awhile. But three days in a row? I started hiding the food I didn't want to eat, totally forgetting that Dad would take my tray away when we were done with dinner.

Busted!!






They must not have been too mad, because they let me crawl up the steps after dinner. In this shot, I was distracting Mommy from my intentions to hit the stairs by making a cute pose. Side note: notice Dad in the background and his posture. A lot of times, Mom complains I slouch. Nah, baby. I'm just exercising what the kids call a "gangsta lean". Dad taught me all I know - he's a pretty sweet dude.








By bedtime, I was ready to get a book to read to Mom and Dad. They're learning so fast - its amazing how much they pick up at their age.

Ahhh...pajamas...no nightmare tonight!

Another Level of Responsibility

In the first 6 months of being parents, we learned a great deal about responsibility and putting another life ahead of ours. Any parent can tell you the pitfalls of the Greatest Life Experience: less sleep, worrying, frustration, more worrying, and even less sleep. (Benefits far outweigh these pitfalls...and we know it just gets better with time.)

Mid-July, Abby presented us with another level of worry. Where in the first 6 months we could set Abigail on the floor and have a minute or two before we knew she could get herself into trouble - she eliminated that margin of comfort when she began crawling. I don't want to use the term "prisoner" because of negative connotation - but it is safe to say we now have entered a new realm of responsibility.




Its made changing diapers a heck of a time!




Since she is crawling relatively early (and I continue to preach how advanced our daughter is) - I am very confident she will be potty-trained within the next 7 weeks.

She already has a sound relationship with toilet paper.




We just need to educate her that it is not an accessory.

New Happenings.

Abby has impeccable taste already - um... it's a Coach!!


Two days after we lowered Abby's crib because she was sitting up, we had to lower it again because she started standing. The crib railing is a mighty fine teething ring! She's had her fair share of bumps and bruises from falling and hitting various things. She fell at day care a couple of weeks ago trying to pull herself up on the wall - we had to sign our first incident report.

Abby and Great Grandma Jenkins

Abby and Grandma and Grandpa Turner

You probably know who these people are!

Recent visit with the Vogel Family

Abby's cousin Joe - what a ham!!

Abby and her Aunt Terri

Cousin Karen and her little one - Lydia

Cousin Cassie and Abby

Shark sighted in N KY - Oh No!!

So, we have a new addition to our household - a Sienna mini-van, aka The Great White. Most of you know, I've (Steph's writing today) been adamant about not driving a mini-van, and Bob has been contemplating his next car buy; A tundra or mini-van?? So, the mini-van won. We really had not planned to buy a car until next spring, but a fleet sale came up for employees at Toyota and a mini-van happened to be in mix, so Bob put his name in for the drawing to test drive the car and he was pulled in the first slot. We test drove it and I guess you could say it was love at first sight. And no, I'm not driving it - Bob is. He swears up and down he has a flock of women beating on his window and following him around now that he drives The Great White. Bob describes a scene very similar to the new commercial for Cinti Bell with Nick Lachey. The Great White is very nice, with lots of bells and whistles (my favorite part), a bizillion cup holders; it even has a fin (or a spoiler, as some call it), so it can go really fast. Abby loves her new ride - it's no longer bumpy like the Jeep.

Events of this past week

Abby - being cute in the morning before school.

Abby being grumpy as we are putting her back in the crib to take a nap. She kept pulling her arm out of her sleeve! She didn't like it when we stopped her and put her arm back in.

Abby had her first adventure in a big pool - she loved it. She got in and started kicking her legs. Later she splashed everyone but herself.

It's hard work swimming! Abby was really tired after swimming for 20 or so minutes. She got to snuggle with Grandma and Grandpa and get them all wet! We thought she might sleep if she rode in the stroller back to the grandparents' house, but nope! Wide awake even though she could barely keep her eyes open!


And... the big news of the week - she finally started crawling... appropriately. For those of you that have had the pleasure to witness the army and downward facing dog crawls Abby's been so famous for at school during the past 2 months, we hope those crawls are things of the past and gone for good. No more rug burns on her head and arms. Oh yea! Almost forgot - she's pulling herself up and standing, and walking a couple of steps while assisted too. Aunt Patti - we might have to suck it up and buy gates instead of using yours - we'll see!

More Swimming

We were able to get Abby some pool time again this past weekend. Seems she's taking to water quite well. We won't go so far as to project Olympic-caliber performance from Abigail...but I think she'll definitely like going to the pool.

Mom Wins the First Battle

I'm not a big fan of bikini's, but we received an itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny, pink polka-dot bikini from a co-worker....to cute to pass up.




On a related note, this will be the last bikini our daughter ever owns.










She got to swim in for the first time today, but seemed more interested in the grass around our rather grand pool. Giving everybody two tickets to the gun show....

Dad, It's Pronounced "Luh-ville"...

On our great nation's birthday, we were offered an opportunity to take Abigail to visit Great-Grandma Joan. Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, Dad, and Baby loaded up in Grandpa's SUV and made a road trip.

During the 90 minute drive, 45 minutes Abby did her best Ethel Merman - just a bit off key. The next 45 minutes she slept peacefully. She offered her approval of Louisville with a nice, stinky diaper upon arrival (with her, that's a good thing).

Abby got to meet Great-Grandma Joan for the first time. The two hit it off..

It was Abby's first exposure to a more pronounced Kentucky accent, and Abby showed off her ability to forcefully plow her head into the carpet, yet (impressively) have no rug-burn.

We stayed a short while...had dinner, played some more, then came back home. It was a very nice trip.

Joke I'll give to Abby when she's a bit older:

Question: "How do you pronounce the capital of Kentucky: Louie-ville, or Louis-ville?"
Answer: "Frankfort"

Hey-oh!!! Get it? Louisville isn't the capital! Hah!! Hello? This thing on?

I'm here all week!!! Tip your waitresses...