Sunday, June 23, 2013

A Little Landscaping

Just some pics from the latest work that's been done on the house.  Ethan chose the week before Abbie's birthday party as the week to make our front yard a mess, in order to build the front retaining wall. 
As usual it was a perfect job for his "eye for precision" as the hardest part was getting it all level. Those first few days were interesting while we both were figuring out how to make the awkward slope of the house cooperate with our plans. 

Friday, June 7, 2013

This One is Dedicated to Abbie Reece

 Today is our little girl's last day being a "0"... her last night before she turns 1....I can't believe that a whole year has gone already.  Wow.
*Bear with me on this one...I'm not writing for an audience, just writing as I think.  It could get sappy*

So much has changed this past year. Abbie is a beautiful compliment to our little family and definitely brings some punch to the calmness we once had. She has already grown into such a little person, fully of feisty personality, and a very curious mind.  It's hard to believe that at this time just last year, we were a little family of 3, unsure what Miss Abbie would have in store for us.  I've been thinking back to June 8, 2012 all day...the events leading up to her delivery, those few hours afterwards, the 2 nights in the hospital - just me and her, and then our coming home.  Wow. It's already been a year. 


I honestly thought she wasn't a pretty newborn, and it's true. She was a wrinkly, bald baby...and I thought she looked like an old man. Funny though, others thought she looked like Grandpa John, haha.  She took all morning on the 8th to get here but when she was ready to meet us, she didn't waste any time at all.  I still remember calling Grandma Rhonda to come watch Hayden at 3AM, walking around the hospital for TWO hours, being dismissed, crying in the car not knowing what to do, Ethan grabbing breakfast but the thought of eating made me nauseous, getting out to walk at the park and knowing it was a bad idea, returning to the hospital - barely able to make it to the check-in office, then it's a blur but there was Abbie....  She was different from Hayden already, so different.  


Since then, she has definitely made herself a part of our family.  I can't imagine our family without her.  She is, for the most part, easy going and very content as long as she can see what everyone is doing and you give her what she wants.  :)   She really is stubborn and "strong willed" (to say the least) and has learned to throw her own little pity party recently .  

Here she is at one year: 
  • weighs rougly 20#
  • seems to be right-handed
  • still no teeth (no shock there)
  • sooo close to walking; seems to think she has to hold onto your fingers in order to walk
  • LOVES Hayden and wants to be wherever Hay is and play with whatever she's holding
  • she loves music
  • too stinking smart: knows how to turn on/off her cd player, brush hair, tries to put on necklaces, can work the fridge ABC magnets, 
  • can say momma, dada, go, bye-bye, almost says up
  • signs bye-bye, all done, almost has "more"
  • loves to be outside and especially loves the slide right now. 
  • not a big thrill seeker as in heights...doesn't like to be up high without support yet
  • however, really good at climbing...both up and down safely.
  • nicknames: Abbie-gator, Abbie-cakes, Abner, HooDabs, PooDabs, DabDabs, Slabbie (grrr, Ethan...and Slabner...more grr), 
Hayden loves Abbie (thankfully). Although she's getting to the stage where she realizes that Abbie wants her stuff at inconvenient times so there is a lot of "teaching" happening in the house.  Hay loves to go into Abb's room and see her after she wakes up, singing silly songs.  She will entertain Abbie or distract her when we need a good distraction. Hayden wants Abbie to be big enough to play with her and it can't happen soon enough.  She wants to help Abbie walk - loves to sit across from me and get her to walk back and forth.  Hay is fairly gentle with her -- it's adorable hearing her talk or sing or read to Abbie when no one is listening.  
 


Tomorrow we're having her birthday party here at the house.  It's a watermelon theme and should be pretty cute. Definitely stay tuned for pictures from the party --- but it might be late Sunday night before I get a post up.  

Until then, here are some of our favorite Abbie pics taken June 3,2013. 







Happy Birthday to our sweet Abbie Reece! 






Saturday, June 1, 2013

Quick Update

I figured out how to make it so anyone without a Google account can still leave a comment! YAY!  Also added a FAQ section on the right-hand side . Let me know if there are any other problems/suggestions.

End of May Photo Drop

I can't believe that today is June 1st.  That means Abbie is less than one week away from turning one! Hayden is 6 weeks away from being 4! And school starts back up sooner than I want to count.

What's new at our house:
Me & E

  • Yesterday was our 10 year anniversary! Can't believe 10 years have passed already We spent the day with the girls at Silver Dollar City but will be celebrating later this month with a trip to Cozumel. 
  • We have also decided to run a half marathon this fall at the Bass Pro Shops Marathon Weekend, Nov 3rd and we made it official by actually signing up for it!   Eeeeek.  But that was on my 2013 'bucket list' so I am super excited. 
  • I'm on summer break and haven't gotten cabin fever too much (yet) and Ethan is still enjoying his work at Accenture. Thankfully they haven't sent him out of the state in almost a year! 
Hayden
  • She continues to amaze me and make me so proud. Not sure we could have gotten a softer-hearted little girl. 
  • She completed gymnastics for the year and will pick up again in the fall.  At her "meet" last month she placed 1st on the floor, 1st on the trampoline, and 1st all around *we might be just a little proud*
  • She LOVES all things girlie: dolls, make-up, high heels, dresses and LOVES being outside on her swings and trampoline. The trampoline is a new addition this year and she loves to bounce, and bounce, and bounce,   Same with the swings - she can swing herself now yet still wants someone to push her again, and again, and again.  
Abbie
  • Her personality is getting stronger...and I'm a little scared.  She is definitely full of spunk, she's strong-willed, and determined.  Not sure where all of those come from but such a turn around from baby Hayden!  She knows what she wants and demands it.  Don't get me wrong, she's not high maintenance just maybe aggressive and adamant about it.  This sounds contradictory but she is a pretty easy baby. 
  • She's sooooo close to walking. I thought she'd be doing it by the end of May but not quite. She definitely loves to take off holding onto your fingers though and has taken her first few steps, but never consistent.  We're still working on it. 
  • Since i've been out of school we've been working on signing more. She can do "more" and "all done"  and she can say mom, dad, go (for the dogs) and a bunch of gibberish :)  
  • Still can't believe she's almost one. 
  • She loves to be doing whatever Hayden is doing and wants whatever Hayden has in her hands. She usually has something hanging out of her mouth that she's been chewing or drooling on. She's a great eater. She loves trying to bounce and loves trying to sit on Kobie. 

Here's some extra pics from the month of May

Silver Dollar City Trip

    
  

Surprise Visit from Talyn


Springfield Zoo