A Sick Week

Abby was sick all week. I think we're finally almost to the other side nine days later. Our poor girl was a mess, but as always she welcomed lots of snuggly rest time. And it's not always a bad thing when we have to wipe the schedule clear and rest A LOT!

We got a visit last weekend from our friends, Alana and Jamie. It was one of those sweet reunions where we didn't have nearly enough time to talk about everything we wanted to catch up on. It had been way too long, but it was great because we got to meet Alana's boyfriend Jamie for the first time. Abby was so sick that she slept almost the whole time in my arms. She just fell asleep randomly while we were talking and slept for 3 hours. Sick as she was, when she woke up, she still loved meeting new friends. She's been calling their names all week long!

playing games with Alana and Jamie

Abby jumped right up next to Jamie to watch some Barney.

A lot of our mornings and nights this week looked like this:

And at the end of it all...

"So, what's been going on in the world, Mommy? I've been a little out of it lately!"

Thankful to be on the mend!

Abby's Book Review

Abby and I share the same love for books. She could seriously sit on my lap for hours and read through her entire bookshelf. One morning, this week we read 18 books in one sitting. We would finish one and she would immediately run to bring me another.

Tuesday mornings, we go to the library for story hour and as soon as it is over Abby runs into the main library faster than I can stand up to collect her new bag full of books.

She has had certain favorites since she was a baby and of course there are the classics, but since we read so many, it's fun to see new ones she enjoys! What better way to keep track and help all my friends with kid book recommendations. A list of personal faves from a toddler herself.
These are some of Abby's most recent favorites:

1. Anything by Sandra Boynton is a favorite in our home. The books are really silly and have really fun rhythm. We can read the Belly Button Book with our eyes closed. Fun quoteable: "We hippos love our belly b's. They're round and cute and funny. And there's a place we take them to, when summer days are sunny."
2. One day, while picking our books at the library, Abby decided she wanted a book about fish. No really. She walked around the library yelling fish until we found one that worked. We have had this book ever since. I'm pretty sure it will be one to purchase once this one is returned.
Fun quotable: "

3. She loves loves loves this one! Another library book that will be adding to our home library. This counting book has lots of fun repetition and sounds. In my opinion, the more a book gets my little reader interacting, the better it is. This one does for sure! Fun quotable: (imagine Abby wagging her no-no finger) "No luck, still stuck!"

4. Spot books are pretty classic, but this one is special. Here's an interactive book again. At this age, Abby loves books with flaps and being that "No!" is her favorite word right now, she has lots of fun reading each page. Until the end of course, when we finally find Spot and then she proudly shouts, "Yes". We will often find her sitting in her room reading it out loud to herself. Fun quotable: "Is he in the _______? NO!"
5. Karen Katz books have also been a favorite since the very beginning. Now, Abby just loves to read along. This book is just like Where's Spot? for that reason. Check out the video of Daddy and Abby reading it together. Fun quotable: "No! No! No! Yessssss!"

21 months old

21 months old

This month:

• Abby's speech has become even more clear. She's starting to link words together and communicate exactly what she wants. Her level of understanding (and defiance when she understands and doesn't feel like listening) has reached a new level. There is no longer any confusion of whether or not she really understood what we asked her to do.
  

• We've realized that we can't tell stories about her in front of her anymore because she understands. Especially those stories when she thinks she is funny (and she is), but we have to keep a straight face with her because it shouldn't be funny. AND we have to watch what we say to each other. The other day, I told Joe he was acting like a pig (in reference to something he was eating...oohh marital love!). Abby overheard and started oinking at him. Whoops. Lesson learned.

• Abby has been sick for the last week, which has made sleeping through the night difficult since she could hardly breathe without coughing. One night, we comforted her and she was ready to go back to bed, but didn't want to be put in. Then, we had the simple joy of watching our opinionated baby on her video monitor. Not crying, but repeatedly shouting, "Mommy! Daddy! No! No! No! (insert finger wag and head shaking here.)"

• Prayer. We've started praying with Abby when she was just a little baby, especially before meals and bedtime. Recently, we've started helping her pray herself. At first, she would repeat some basic prayers to "Dee-sus", but one of the most fun things is to see her start to understand more and start to pray for different family members. If we skip over the part when we thank God for people, she interrupts and won't continue until we add it in. Every night, it seems to be someone different that she prays for, but the first person she always thanks Jesus for is Abby! :) Can't forget herself.
  

• Hungarian kisses. Abby represents her Magyar heritage with lots of European kisses on both cheeks. She can't wait to give her Nagymama Hungarian kisses in just one week!

• She also prefers showers to taking a bath. She could stand under that stream of water for what seems like forever. We can't complain. It makes hair washing a much better expereince. No more screaming fits while we dump cups of water on her head and rinse her hair. Now, she willingly rinses her hair out herself under the water.

Only 3 more months until our little girl is 2! Can you believe it?

Weekend at the Bluff

After a jam packed summer and moving into the new house, we didn't think we'd have the chance this year to spend time at one of our favorite summer spots. So, we were pretty excited when scheduling worked out and we were able to spend Columbus Day weekend at the Bluff! Beautiful weather + a peaceful lake + a cozy cottage + delicious steamed clams + awesome people = a wonderful fall weekend to close out the "summer" season!

Abby had a blast exploring and enjoying the Bluff for her second time. For her, it was more like a first because last time she was only 7 months old.

Lately, Abby enjoys taking showers and she took a Bluff shower like a champ. Showering at the cottage is a special experience. You have to have been there to understand!

There's something special about waking up on a chilly fall morning, sitting near the wood stove, watching the lake through the window and enjoying a lazy weekend breakfast with family.

Abby doesn't do "lazy" very well yet. After finding the toy cabinet filled with lots of Daddy's old toys, she grew tired of waiting around and let herself outside in her footie jammies to see her buddy, Greeley.

Abby and Grammy relaxed on the front porch swing and watched the lake.

Then, we went for a walk to the beach. Through the woods, into the field, under some branches and onto the fun rocky beach. Abby and Grammy stopped to pick some flowers along the way.



Keeping Abby out of the freezing water was the challenge of the morning. Grammy tried to show Abby how cold it was, but it didn't really phase her....which is why someone was holding the back of Abby's hood the whole time. If it were up to Abby, she would have jumped in a long time ago. After all, no one was stopping Greeley from having all that fun.



G-Diddy taught Abby how to skip rocks.


Abby finally met Lauren! Officially (and I always mix this up), I think they are third cousins. Sweet little cousins who will grow up together. It didn't take long for them to hit it off. After all, they have lots in common...like playing outside, eating grapes and watching Barney!




Grammy made Abby's day with a "Made with love" tutu! A little princess' dream come true. Now, Abby's had tutus, but never one like this. We didn't even have to tell her what to do. She slipped that skirt on and all of her ballerina instincts kicked in. She was twirling and displaying her beauty for all to see! Especially Grammy.




The weather was perfect for a boat ride. It was Abby's first. She wasn't sure at first. You could see the look on her face when she put the life jacket on and the boat started moving. She started fussing and for a millisecond I thought she might be afraid, until we realized she wasn't scared at all, she just wanted to be hanging over the front of the boat as far as she could, hair blowing in the wind, "I'm the king of the world" style! This girl loves a good adventure.

the cottage from the lake

Baby came on the boat too!

and just to add to the "Uncle Tommy sleeps anywhere" picture collection

love.

Another perk of our weekend was getting to spend some quality time with Uncle Tommy, who came up from New York City! We even got to spend a few hours with Tori on Sunday afternoon.

sharing some snacks after our boat ride

"good story, Uncle T. Tell me more!"

representing.

On Saturday night, we celebrated G-Diddy's 65th birthday with a big Bluff party, which always equals lots of fun hor d'oeuvres at happy hour. The little cottage filled up quickly with more than 20 people, but that didn't stop Abby from eating through platter after platter of crackers, veggies, chips and dip. She kept sneaking Laughing Cow cheese wedges, but instead of unwrapping them she would squeeze out all the cheese with her mouth. Funny quote of the night: "Abby, I don't think you're supposed to be eating cellophane!" Thanks for looking out Vicki!

After dinner, Lauren and Abby watched some Barney while the adults talked.

Happy Birthday G-Diddy!!

Sunday morning, we savored every Bluff minute we had left. This time, Abby & I enjoyed our time on the swing with some books.

Nana, Uncle John and Tori all came in on Sunday afternoon. Our time with them was too short, but we loved the time we did get. At lunch, Abby and Nana sat next to each other. I nearly forgot our little girl was there with us because she and Nana had such a great time together. They colored. Nana gave Abby all the ice from her cup (their special "thing" that started last spring) and they shared lots of french fries.




Until next year...