low-photo weekend

We had a fun weekend . . . but even though the camera came along with us on our excursions (Kai's 1st birthday party! Pizza dinner with Jessie and her parents!), no photos were snapped. It must be hard to eat, drink, chase a toddler, manage toddler meal-time/cake eating, and try to carry on conversation all at the same time or something. Here are a few from a visit to the park today.

In pursuit of bird. Those birdies sure are fast!

This is the look you get when you call Abigail's name when she's mid-jog through the grass. "You called??"

Another bird sighted in the distance.... and she's off!

bye

Here's Abigail, saying "bye!" to her good buddies Madeleine and Bo at the end of the day . . .

walking, reading . . . the usual

What a beautiful spring morning. Hey...who's that coming over the bridge?

Why, it's Papa and Lovey!

Teddy came too.

Speaking of teddy.... here's Abigail getting him buckled in the booster seat for story time.

Reading a teddy-sized book!

Story time is over - time to get out of my chair teddy!

PS - isn't the orchid looking good?

zoo

Abigail went to the zoo! She had been before, but she slept through her last visit. She saw many animals this weekend, a few of which we captured on film...like the elephants.....

.... and the cows and llamas! As much as Abigail stubbornly refuses to say "mama" and "papa" when talking to us, even though we know she can, she will gladly tell you what a cow says. "Mooooooooo" And a sheep "Baaaaaaaa"

And a new gift from grandma . . . a little harness/leash, in monkey-form!

Abigail's still getting used to the monkey backpack idea, but we think it may come in handy for navigating airports and other crowded places.

And finally, not to be outdone by Uncle Dan and Aunt Anna and their yummy looking Coconut Cream Pie.....we made a special treat for a rainy Monday .... Raspberry Buttermilk Cake - delish!

grandparents arrive, bedtime routine

Abigail (and her mommy) are so happy that A's grandparents have come to town to visit! We are excited that Papa will be home from his travels soon too, so we can all hang out together.
But first, Abigail caught up on some reading with Grandad....

Went for a walk and pointed out an airplane flying high overhead.

Showed us the way upstairs for bathtime (you can see the molars in this picture if you look carefully . . . darn molars are making for a little fuss around here - who knew baby molars were so BIG?)

Look who is getting cleaned up!

Then a little toothbrushing....

...and a bedtime story from Grandma, and Abigail is ready for bed! Goodnight!

14 months

The camera is off on another adventure with Papa in Vietnam, so no new material. Abigail is 14 months + one day, and gets busier and busier all the time. Here she is, taking a momentary pause to rehydrate. She likes to say "aaaaahhh" after taking a sip of water - so refreshing!

backyard explorer

The backyard, from Abigail's perspective.

lovey colors

"Oh, hi guys! Just looking out the window, as usual..."

Abigail is lured to the porch by the promise of crayons and paper - hooray!

Getting the hang of the scribble.

But then, oops, this seemed to Abigail like a good idea at the time....

Yuckers. Crayons are not tasty.....(remember that next time Abigail...)

mother's day!

Happy Mother's Day all . . . we had a fun one here. It started bright and early, as usual. It was chilly this morning, so A's choice of outfit (yellow flowery dress - a gift from her pal Eloise who is almost 1!) was sported over her sweater and pants for a while.

Later on, it had warmed up, so Abigail could shed the under-layers.

Keeping track of teddy bear friend is hard work - he's so squirrely that A has to constantly put him in the stroller, take him out, put him back . . . whew!

Oh teddy.

Finally, all squared away - off for a stroll around the living room.

We enjoyed our lunch on the patio - crustless spinach eggy quiche - Abigail had two plate-fulls. Delish!

We had a VERY fun time playing in the yard on such a beautiful spring day - we even read some books outside.

Abigail is a champion lap-sitter.

Abigail still loves flowers, and plucked many azalea blossoms off the bushes to bring to mommy..special presents.

Diaper changes are so much more fun when you're outside.
You can look at trees and birdies and airplanes..... so much to keep track of!

post dinner

After dinner and before bath-time, Abigail finds all sorts of things to keep her busy. She plays the piano with Papa....

So much fun to open and close the keyboard lid (especially while Papa is playing!).

"Hmmmm....what next?"

"I know! Follow me....."

Abigail's special corner, with Shiraz's scratching post and the plant (which includes a pot with DIRT!)

Then, Abigail explores Papa's briefcase and scores a newspaper....

Newspapers are so exciting...! Off Abigail runs to keep her new find safe and sound.

And, just because it is so fun to look back and see what we were up to a year ago today . . . here we were, seven weeks old and showing some signs of fuss!

And more fuss...

Abigail demonstrates that yes, her lungs really do work.

Also - we realized that the blog is over a year old....happy birthday blog, we think you're pretty fun.

PS - Abigail has been busy in the tooth department - her fourth top tooth is emerging, completing the 4 on bottom, 4 on top look. And a second molar is poking through the gummy gums - the other molar hasn't made much progress since its initial debut....stay tuned.

PPS - Welcome baby Alistair!!! (He has a head of hair quite similar to someone else we know. . . ahem, Abigail)! We can't wait to meet you!

rainyspringy

We are enjoying a rainy springy weekend here . . . here's A heading off for a walk this morning, while still in pjs. Abigail brought her bear along. Her vocab is expanding, and she can say (at least in such a way that we can interpret..): bear, ball, bye, hi, bath, book, uh-oh, yum yum, shoes.....

Speaking of flowers....last year at this time, Abigail and papa were off for a similarly rainy azalea walk.

Just a tiny little babe!

Everyone is a year older, and wiser! How smart will we all be next year???

And a random, but familiar sight chez nous . . . "Pick me up!"