Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Friday, July 9, 2010

Craft Projects

This very small two bedroom apartment is getting smaller and smaller for some reason. It's like it is shrinking in direct proportion to my children growing. For five months we have stored Abby's wipes and diapers on the changing table. She has found a new love for kicking things and she was finally able to reach those items when she was being changed. So, I set out looking for a diaper stacker. A plain pink (or purple or some other girly color, I'm not picky!) diaper stacker. Three stores, one of them being a major baby superstore (that I still managed to spend an enormous amount of money in that day!) did not have a diaper stacker. Previously mentioned "major baby superstore" had a really pretty brown and pink version and they were really, really proud of it! They were about three times prouder of it than I felt comfortable with. So, I bought some cheap pretty pink storage boxes and made my own. It works out much better, because there is not a place in a traditional diaper stacker to put the wipes case, much less babies' duct tape!!!

Photobucket



This isn't completely finished, but I'm really proud of it. I cannot take credit for taking the pictures, just putting them in their frames and then throwing them on the wall in a haphazard fashion that would have made my Mother ill. I didn't measure. They are not straight. They are not equally distanced. They aren't even on the wall very securely, but I love them!!! The large picture in the middle is an engagement photo of Patrick and I, with the signatures from our wedding surrounding it. The four small frames are our heaven children's initials H,C,A, and D, for Hannah, Colin, Airen, and Dash. The two boys pictures were taken at our local Wal-mart. Amazing photographer! Seriously love her! Unfortunately, she is now on maternity leave. The picture of Abby is from her hospital shoot. I want to add some words above the pictures that say, "Where great love is, there are miracles." Isn't that the truth? Patrick and I have an amazing love story with one another and our precious Creator. These seven miracles are the results.
Photobucket

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Exersaucer

Hey, have you seen my new toy???
Photobucket



It's uber cool!!!
Photobucket



There's just one little problem . . .
Photobucket



I'm about five Baptist hymnals to short!
Photobucket

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Tummy Time/Bumbo


Photobucket


Photobucket


Fashion Show

The little Princess in the house has more clothes than all of us combined, I believe! When I was pregnant I kept telling people I was worried about Patrick spending all of our food money on his baby girl. This is a psychological tactic called "deflection" to distract from the real issue. I am the real issue! Ha! I love buying for this little girl. So, here is a quick 0-3 month fashion show! I still can't believe she's just now fitting into some 0-3 month clothing. She actually has some 0-3 month things that do not fit her yet! She is outgrowing her sleepers in length, we've moved to 3-6 in those. Ironically, I don't think I bought most of the outfits pictured below!!!

Cousin C.J. gave Abby this beautiful purple and eyelet dress.
Photobucket

Cute outfit purchased by Mommy and Daddy. Shoes from Aunt Carol and Uncle Charles.
Photobucket

These are Newborn size. They are so, so cute!!! I'm constantly looking for a reason to put them on her. However, she is constantly looking for a place to sling them off of her!
Photobucket

Abby loves to stand. This is a strawberry/picnic number by Osh Kosh that Mommy and Daddy picked out for our trip to "the winter strawberry capital of the world." Okay,okay, maybe I bought more of these than I remembered!
Photobucket

All ready for the fireworks celebrating the Fourth of July.
Photobucket



Not very impressed with the pre-firework entertainment.
Photobucket



But those fireworks were mesmerizing!!! She loves fireworks!
Photobucket

Five Months Old

Abigail is five months old! These pictures were taken on her five month-iversary. She is wearing a beautiful dress she got from her cousin C.J. She is still in 0-3 month clothing. She can wear Newborn size shoes now. She loves to stand up, sit, watch her brothers play, and be in the center of the action. She likes to roll over on her playmat and look up at her mirror. She is still sleeping through the night and she is getting close to being ready for solid food, but not quite yet! She loves to smile and most people call her "smiley." Her hair has fallen out, except for a little mowhawk down the center that makes her look like a Kewpie Doll. It seems to be growing back in quickly and it looks like it is going to be a strawberry blond! She loves to make raspberries and has started trying to arch her back and get out of whatever seat is currently containing her. She reached for the balls on her play mat and then realized that meant she could reach for the cat's tail! Max was good and just moved away from her. Whew! She's growing so fast, yet is still so tiny compared to other babies her age. I don't really realize how tiny she is until I see her next to another baby. I love that she wakes up in the mornings really, really happy. She is definitely teething!!! There is drool everywhere and she is chewing on everything in site, but nothing has poked through yet. Here's Miss Abby at five months old!


Photobucket



Photobucket



Photobucket


Disney and the Island Vacation Extravaganza

Day Eleven
We went for a boat ride, Abby drove the boat for the first time. Then, we cleaned the house, packed up, and drove back home to Plant City. We left Illinois with five suitcases. We came home with eight!!!



Day Twelve (Last day!)
We flew to Chicago and got a limo ride home! Great way to end an amazing vacation!!!!

Disney and the Island Vacation Extravaganza

Day Nine
We had family pictures made on the beach. I can't wait to see them! Then, we just played in the sand and surf the rest of the day!



Day Ten
Patrick took Grandaddy fishing for tarpon. They guys had a blast! Grandaddy caught the biggest fish, it was 100 pounds. The girls and the children went to Boca Grande. We ate and had ice cream. That night we all played in the sand and the surf a little more.


Sunday, July 4, 2010

Disney and the Island Vacation Extravaganza

Day Seven

We took my parents to eat a Cuban at Norma's. Yummy! That night we had a wonderful "Meet and Greet" party for Abby. It was great to see so many family and friends and to show off our Princess.




Day Eight
We took Abby to the doctor for 102.5 temp. Doctor said her ears were a little red, that's all she found wrong though. Aiden threw up several times. We all rested. Everyone got better. We truly believe they were just exhausted. We went to the island. Great day! LOL! You can tell we were tired, because these are the Only pictures we have from this day!

Photobucket

Photobucket

Disney and the Island Vacation Extravaganza

Day Five
We started the day by exploring our hotel a little more. Herbie was cool, but Buzz and Woody were awesome! We had lunch at Coral Reef, where we all had some wonderful seafood while watching a huge aquarium. One of Patrick's fondest memories of Epcot, as a child, is of eating in a really nice restaurant (he thinks it was Coral Reef) and getting Mickey shaped butter. The reason he liked it was because he got to cut off the ears. The butter was not Mickey shaped. So, I drew a Mickey for him and he cut off the ears. We watched the lightshow at Epcot. Abby loved it, except when the fireworks would stop, she would cry. It was a great day to be a Princess!



Day Six

The boys began the day in the hotel pool while Mommy packed and Princess Abby got some much needed rest. Then, we were off to Hollywood Studios. Patrick and I got a Fastpass for Aerosmith's Rocking Rollercoaster as soon as we walked in the park and our time was 5pm. We ate lunch at Pizza Planet! Then, we stood in line for Toy Story Midway Mania. It was a really neat ride, despite the hour wait. Grandaddy and I were amazed, as we saw 3D for the first time in our lives. The technology has come so far that it does not matter that we have depth perception issues. I screamed on more than one occasion, it was so cool! After meeting Handy Manny, Playhouse Disney was mesmerizing to the boys. Then it was time for Patrick and I to ride our roller coaster! We were so excited! The children stayed with Nan and Grandaddy and off we went. We got to the gate. We were next to get on the ride. They shut the coaster down for technical difficulties. We didn't get to ride. We were so sad. They gave us a fast pass to come back on another day, but that didn't do us any good, because it was our last day. So, we had our Mickey shaped ice cream and headed out to Magic Kingdom. We we arrived on the monorail at Magic Kingdom, we all split up and did our last minute shopping. I took Anthony shopping for his Daddy. Grandaddy took Aiden shopping for Nan. Patrick took Abby shopping for C.J. and Nan went shopping for C.J. too. I needed to take Aiden shopping for his Daddy too, so I met up with Grandaddy. Two stores down from where I had been. That's when I realized Anthony was holding a Mickey Mouse spatula. I said, "where did you get that?" He looked up at me with the cutest, most innocent smile, and said, "for Daddy!" So, we talked quickly about "paying for things" and the boys and I went back two stores and found some awesome kitchen supplies to make Mickey Mouse shaped pancakes for their Daddy! Then, we watched the fireworks and Tinkerbell fly one more time before it was time to say goodbye to the Happiest Place on Earth!

Disney and the Island Vacation Extravaganza

Day Three
We spent the morning at Animal Kingdom. We were so excited to see Jiminy Cricket and Rafiki! Loved the safari ride, but it was bumpy! Then, we went back to Magic Kingdom. Anthony rode his first rollercoaster. He LOVED it, but we don't have any pictures. Patrick and Aiden rode together and Anthony and I rode together. Nan and Grandaddy danced during dinner. Then, we ended the day with Angie getting a present from Patrick. It was a Mickey Mouse shaped chocolate box and a beautiful red rose.



Day Four
We started our day at Chef Mickey's for breakfast! It was so much fun! We danced and ate and met all our favorite characters. (Well, except Daisy. Apparently Anthony is pretty attached to Daisy.) Patrick was thrilled to eat Mickey Mouse shaped waffles (and cut the ears off). Abby's favorite character was Pluto, she liked his ticklish whiskers! Then, we went to Epcot. We loved the boat ride in Mexico. In Norway we became Vikings. Nan, Grandaddy and Angie enjoyed Fast Track. Later, Aiden and Patrick went on Fast Track and loved it. We ate lunch at the Japanese restaurant and I got to practice my Japanese and meet some wonderful cast members from Sapporo and other places in Japan. Last, we found Nemo! Crush's Turtle Talk is hilarious! We made this a short day, which means we went home before 10.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

The Dress

In November, while Abby was still kicking me from the inside and I still had a hard time believing I would ever get to take this baby girl home with me, I wrote about the dress here.

There are days that I still stare at her like it's all a dream. A beautiful, giggly, rolling over!, trying to sit up, still wearing 0-3 month clothing, finally fitting into her Newborn size shoes, losing a little of our hair, grabbing our feet, blue eyed, strawberry blonde haired dream. Please, please don't wake me up!!!

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket