Abby

My sweet girl,
Only three more months until you are four years old!

Currently, you are:
loving: sign language, sorting and organizing everything you can get your hands on (your favorite is your colorful hairties), playing PBS kids on the computer, baking with Mommy, going to the library, reading books in your room after lights out with Mommy's booklight, all things dance and those Monday nights when Mommy lets you stay up to watch the opening dance on Dancing with the Stars
dreaming: about becoming a dancer. You talk about it all the time and are captivated whenever you see someone dancing. You practice your tap routine from the summer over and over again and tell us daily how much you want to start going to dance class.
reading: You have 20 books out of the library at a time and most are read multiple times a day. Right now, we can't get enough of The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt. You also make sure no one forgets to read you the Bible everyday. We love The Jesus Storybook Bible.
excited about: trick or treating. This year, our friends are coming over for dinner and trick or treating and you are thrilled! Not to mention, you are pretty excited about dressing up in your cute leopard costume and going across the street to Miss Nancy's because she gives out candy necklaces every year.
trying to: take naps, but are having a harder time falling asleep in the afternoons. I think your days of regular afternoon naps are coming to a close.
working on: not sneaking into Mommy and Daddy's bed in the middle of the night
enjoying: fall days, family walks, pumpkins, apple crisp and homemade chocolate pudding
wearing: size 9 shoes, which mean this week we need to go shoe shopping! The chill is officially in the air and your shoes are suddenly too snug.
planning: what we are going to put in our Operation Christmas Child box. It is fun to see you start thinking about tangibly loving and sharing Jesus with another little kid across the world!
singing: the Fresh Beats, "Oh Happy Day" has been on repeat in the car for days and the ABC's (which you keep singing over and over again as you practice signing your ABC's)
learning: sign language, how to read and the books of the Bible (so far you can tell us Matthew-Colossians). You love to learn. You want to do school with Mommy everyday and remind me if I forget to do a reading lesson. You have developed a serious interest in American Sign Language. When you were little, I taught you the basics, but you have taken it to a new level. You have been teaching us. After rewatching a baby signing DVD multiple times, you even started to tell us the ways we were signing incorrectly. Then, you asked me to check out new sign language DVDs from the library. That is when you learned the ABC's and some techniques to spell words (see video below). Now, you sign all of our names, the ABC's and are working on learning your colors. I love to watch your desire for learning grow in new ways and am excited to see what the Lord does with that in your life.
watching: Doc McStuffins, Sofia the First and Strawberry Shortcake
wishing: for another baby. Not so fast sister! :) I think you have baby fever because a lot of your friends' mommies have babies in their bellies.

We put you to bed and you came our twenty minutes later like this! 80's aerobics instructor playing in the rain?
You came out and said, "Do I crack you up, Mommy?" Yes! Yes you do! 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jtkrLsevw0&feature=youtu.be

Abby at the dentist

doing her excited dance in the dentist's chair 

Abby loves the dentist. Not like, love. She counts down the days until her appointment.  It is a wonderful office for kids. Their effort to create a positive experience for kids really works.

At her last regular visit, the dentist detected some decay in the back teeth on both sides of her mouth. Abby sat like such a big girl when it was time to get an x-ray. The hygienist noted that they normally have to sedate children under the age of six to get the pictures they need, but Abby listened so well and did everything they asked. We learned that Abby's teeth are genetically very pitted, which means there are deep crevices that are impossible to reach with even the best cleaning. The dentist wanted to make sure we took care of it before it became any worse.

Last week, Abby had her first procedure done and she did great! She couldn't eat anything after midnight the night before, which means no breakfast or water the morning of. Her appointment was at 8:45 in the morning and with a 6:30 am wakeup, I braced myself for lots of "I'm hungry!" complaints. She did not complain once. She just kept saying, "I can't eat anything because I am going to the dentist this morning. They have to work on my teeth. I can't wait to go to the dentist!"
When Joe and Abby arrived at the office, Abby had to drink a sedative (similar to Benedryl) and sit in the waiting room for an hour. When they called her back, she had to go all by herself. She was allowed to bring Horton! In the room, Abby and Horton chatted with the dentist and hygienists while they gave her some laughing gas and Novocaine. The procedure took about forty minutes. When Abby was brought out to Joe, she was happy and loopy as she carried her handfuls of prizes for her job well done.  Our little girl who talks a mile a minute had slow, slurred speech as she recovered from her meds. It was pretty funny to watch.

Abby: Daaaaaddddddddddy, do...youuuuuuu...like...spiiiiiiders?
Daddy: Not really. Do you?
Abby: No Daaaaaddddddy. I like it when...you...killlllllll...them.

Daddy: Abby, do you feel loopy?
Abby: Yup.

Our only regret...not getting it on video on the way home.
My fear going into the appointment was that somehow in the midst of the work she was having done she would lose her fearless love of the dentist. No need to fear, Abby's only tears came when she learned she only had to go back one more time to finish the work on her teeth AND she doesn't understand why she has to wait so long. Why can't we go to the dentist ALL the time?

So, one side down, one more to go. Her next appointment is in November.

So proud of you Beebs!

showing off some of her rewards

Apple Picking 2013

Last weekend, we had the perfect afternoon for our annual apple picking trip. Lots of apples, the red wagon, cider, donuts and sunshine. Ella wanted to be out of the wagon and picking all of the apples. Abby was very aware of any bees (remember last year?) and really anxious to move on the the hot donuts and cider. We love fall and making memories as a family! 

"Mommy, those must be the empire trees because empire makes the 'e' sound and that word starts with an E." 

Ella: 15 months

Ella: 15 months

2 ft. 8 inches

21 pounds 2.5 oz.

 

 

Going bye-bye is your favorite. You dramatically throw a fit if anyone tries to leave the house without you. You are dramatic and expressive. When you are thirsty, you go into the cup drawer and bring me a cup to fill. Using sign language and lots of words, you let us know what you need and how you are feeling. It is a joy to communicate with you.

You've become a big Barney fan. When you are in the mood, you bring us both remotes, ask for "Bar-bar", climb up onto the couch, then pat the seat next to you inviting me to sit with you.
Anytime you go to the bathroom or "toot", you smile and yell "tinky"! You have figured out some basic systems in our home, dirty diapers get put into the trash and taking off shoes when we come in the house. It is adorable to watch you do both of these things yourself.

You are down to one afternoon nap a day. You love running, walking, dancing, going on wagon rides, waking up Abby, going downstairs all by yourself to play with Abby in the playroom, coloring and playing with Abby's Leappad (or other special "big kid" toys) when no one is looking. It took a little while, but you have developed a love for books. You like to read them by yourself. Though I think you really like the idea of joining us for a story or climbing into my lap with a book, as soon as I try to take the book or turn the page, you yell at me and make it clear that you are going to do it yourself.  My passionate little girl! One day soon, I'm sure you will actually want to hear the story.  You make us laugh and give the best hugs! We adore you Belly B!


 (The purse!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy_aT9PMWCI

 You love pointing to Papa on the fridge and saying his name. The perk of having a grandparent name that is easy to say!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gr54byKLOM

Snapshots and Quotables

bubble bath time 

Abby's favorite way to fall asleep is with Horton's trunk wrapped around her neck.

"Don't forget to pack us, Mommy!"

This is what it looks like when Grandma babysits and I tell her Abby can stay up for a movie night. The movie put them both to sleep. So sweet. 

Papa's sweethearts

a perk to having a teething baby = a cuddly girl who needs her mommy

 I asked Ella to pose for a picture in her new outfit and sweater from Nagymama. She did just that.

Abby came upstairs and walked into the kitchen with a big bulge under her t-shirt.
A: Hey guys, I'm on my way to the hospital. I'm going to have a baby. Will you pray for me?
D: Of course.
She heads down to her room. It is quiet for a moment. Then we hear...
A: Oh...you are so cute!
Moments later, we met our grandchild. :)

morning cartoons in jammies. I tried to capture the moment. Ella can't resist an opportunity to say "CHEEEESE" to the camera.

 Abby got her haircut. She looks so grown up with her cute little bob. On our way to the hair salon, Abby asked, "Mommy, are we going to the place where you get your eyebrows wacked?" She didn't understand why I spit out my coffee and couldn't stop giggling. I adore her! She brought whole new meaning to the idea of removing unruly facial hair.

Ella's new favorite game is finding a purse (in this case two), "getting ready to go" by putting them on her arm, gathering some shoes and pushing her baby stroller around the house. Then, she starts shouting "Bye!" and walking around to each person to give them a kiss. What a big girl! 

Abby is loving her rolling bag from Grammy. She is even more independent now on our trips to the library. She wheels her books in, returns them, chooses her new ones and then wheels them right up to the counter. This time the librarian even moved over to the short counter, so that Abby could complete the transaction all by herself. 

all dressed and ready for church 

For weeks, we were getting excited for our neighborhood's first annual block party. Abby had heard us talking about it and preparing for a while. On the day of the party, Abby ran to Joe as we were starting the preparations outside and said, "Daddy, we better start getting my blocks ready for the party. We have to bring them all outside, don't we?"

Bookworms: Back to School Edition

Our latest library favorites:

These silly farm animals are lots of funs! 

Duck keeps Abby laughing from the beginning to end. 

A great book to help young children identify and respond to bullying behavior. 

Beautiful illustrations, fun word play with the different varieties of apples while communicating a nice message about individuality (vs. people pleasing) and friendship.

art. beauty. poetry. dreams. joy.

A Hungarian Rhyme

As I grew up my grandparents taught me this special Hungarian rhyme. When Abby and Ella were born Nagymama started saying it with each of them. A Hungarian family tradition passed down through the generations that always ends in a fit of giggles. I found Abby this afternoon sharing it with her sister. She was saying some of the words so clearly. It totally blesses my heart!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cbKf6gVijc&feature=youtu.be