24 weeks

24 weeks

 

so excited to meet her baby sister

Only 14 more to go...

This one's for you, Nagymama!

riding the bike Nagymama got her for Christmas

big CHEESE!

And a little Hungarian message to start your day...

Moments to Always Remember

I must have at least one moment everyday when I want to stop time and freeze the precious moments I get to experience as a mom. Here are just a few to always remember:

• Counting, counting everything around us and though she knows how to count to three, this is Abby's favorite counting method: three...four...six...seven...eight..nine...ten...seven...eight...nine...ten...seven...eight...nine...ten
• I love that since we've started working on her numbers, every letter O has become a zero. 
• I love watching Abby play with her friends and get SO energized by being with people.

taking a movie break with her friends Ally Grace and Micah

Favorite Quotes: 

• "Mommy, your 'hello' is ringing!" (translation: "Mommy, your phone is ringing!")
• "I NEED YOU" - Abby's new favorite line every time she needs some quality time/hugs OR any time she is jealous for my attention. She knows how to melt her mommy's heart! 
• When we go to the store and someone asks Abby her age, she'll often respond: "Two! Mommy twenty six. Daddy twenty nine."
• While I was in the kitchen cleaning up from lunch, Abby went into the living room to play with her blocks. After hearing them continually come crashing down on the glass tabletop:

                    Me: Abby, please take the blocks off the table and play on the floor.                  
                   Abby: No Mommy! I'm building Noah's Ark.

• Abby's favorite game is Hide and Seek. She waits until her Daddy walks through the door everyday and excitedly asks him to hide. If it's her turn, she counts (from 3-10, skipping 5) and then runs around the house calling "Dadddddddy? Joeeeeeee?" until she finds him. The funniest is when it's Abby's turn to hide. When Joe goes to find her and calls for her, Abby's response is always to tell Joe exactly where she is. 

               Joe: Abby? Are you in Mommy and Daddy's room?
               Abby: No. Baby's room.
               Joe (trying to make the game last a little longer): Abby? Are you in your room?
               Abby: No, Daddy! In Baby's room.
               Joe (walking into baby's room): Abby? Are you in the baby's room?
               Abby (popping out of her hiding spot): Daddy! I'm here!

one of Abby's not so obvious hiding spots

taking a rest after reading the circulars

Some of my favorite moments lately have been watching Abby experience my pregnancy and understand to some extent that she is going to be a big sister. She is so sweet about it. When she comes into our bed to snuggle with us in the morning, she will often lift up my shirt, rub my belly and say, "Hi Baby. It's your sidder, Abby" and then sing the baby "Choochee" (the song I made up for Abby when she was an infant and still sing to her every night before bed).

If you were to ask Abby what she is going to do when her baby sister is born, she runs through her list. Change diaper, wipe baby, dance baby, Shhh shhh shhh baby, walk baby.  The other day, I asked her if she will tell Mommy when the baby is crying. She paused deep in thought and then as matter of factly as ever said, "No! I help baby".

As I shared in a previous post, we had Abby in the room with us during our recent ultrasound. She was totally interested and observant while we were in there, but like anything else, it's hard to know exactly how much she has understood. The following morning, Abby and I were playing downstairs in her playroom. She pulled out her doctor kit and routinely "checked me" by using every piece of equipment and declaring "healfy" after each part. Only this time, at the end of my "Dr. Abby exam", she got up and brought back her little V-tech laptop. Abby put it on the floor, powered up the computer, lifted my shirt up while pretending to squirt gel on my belly and started to roll her mouse around on my stomach. Pointing at the screen, she said, "Mommy, look. Baby's face." :) I know I say it all the time, but I just love her!

quality time with Daddy

Abby's first snowman

excited for her first ride in the wagon Papa gave her

Finger Painting

It was really fun to see Abby play with paints for the first time. She loves making art. We sat and painted together for an hour. Rainbow colors running through her hair, a kitchen floor full of drying art and eight paintings later = finger painting success and an immediate trip to the shower!

So excited to paint

streaks!

proof of a good time.

Look Mommy!

21 weeks and a delightful SURPRISE

21 weeks

Abby wanted her picture taken too!

kissing her little baby

21 weeks and we're excited to announce....

It's a GIRL! 

Everything about having another little girl thrills us. I've been dreaming all day about how much fun it will be for Abby and her sister to grow up together! My heart is so full thinking about it.

Abby came with Joe and I today for the ultrasound.

Quote of the day: On the way to my doctor's office, we passed the hospital and it's new building addition. All of a sudden, Abby started shouting from the back seat, "Mommy! Look Mommy! Noah's Ark!" She is pretty fascinated these days with the "big ark God told Noah to build for all the animals".

Abby was fascinated when she saw the baby on the screen (until she was ready to go back to reading her High Five magazine with Daddy).  Abby has not stopped talking about her baby "sidder" all day.

After our appointment, Daddy went back to work. Abby and I went to the store (as planned) to pick out a little something for her baby sister. As we walked to the baby section, I spent time letting it all soak in. In the last 20 weeks I've completely connected with the fact that I'm carrying a baby inside of me. But, today when I learned I was carrying another baby girl I connected to her in a new way. My daughter. And if you think sundresses are cute...just imagine little summery sundresses in newborn size. Precious! Abby saw a little plush baby doll for an infant and said, "Mommy. Dollie. My baby sidder."  Abby picked out her little sister's first baby doll. She's got your back, little one.


We all love you so much already!

our baby's gift

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
   your works are wonderful,
   I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
   when I was made in the secret place,
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book
   before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139: 13-16

As I sit here tonight, I'm in awe of our Creator, who is carefully creating another one of His masterpieces within me. I'm thankful and humbled by all that He has entrusted to me. I'm excited to meet my daughter face to face. I'm excited to see my sweet Abby's face when she meets her lifelong best friend. Thank you, Jesus!

Valentine's Day

After a LOVE-ly V-day breakfast with Daddy (during which Abby decided it must be her birthday because she got a few little gifts and a special breakfast), we celebrated with a bunch of our friends that we LOVE! My friend Heather coordinated a wonderful mommy/children breakfast that we enjoyed so much. Here are a few photos from the fun morning:

the kids' table

the mommy table

Everyone's chair had a personalized valentine holder hanging on the back. Abby loved walking around and putting a card in each one.

Even the moms got special treats!

enjoying the breakfast spread

 

me and Nichole

 

 

We are so thankful for the amazing group of friends God has blessed us with! Not only does Abby have a great group of kiddos to grow up with, but their parents are equally great friends to Joe and I.

Our Daily Entertainment

Just in case you needed one more reason to smile today...we wanted to lend you some of our day's entertainment and laughter. Sometimes I wonder how I get anything done with this sweet and hysterical little love following me around everywhere I go.