Muddy Buddies

Abby and Maize took advantage of some 49 degree weather after having lunch and took their first outside adventure of the year. Abby was more interested in being outdoors than Maize. She helped me sweep off the porch and we checked all around the backyard to see what was growing now that we've had almost a week straight of 40 degree days. I know it's way to early to expect Spring in the Upper Peninsula - I'm sure we will get some more snow and cold weather - but it was nice to enjoy some springy weather today. It's just a shame she wouldn't turn around and give me a smile for a picture. And her pants are pretty muddy, especially the bottom since the yard was kind of tricky to walk in.

Abby, Steve, and I spent the evening yesterday with our friends the Dodge family, including Abby's great friend Maddie. They had so much fun dancing and hugging. They are pretty adorable together. Steve also got his first - and probably last - dose of the Academy Awards. Neither of us are really movie people, so we really didn't care who won what or who wore which dress, but we did have fun with friends and Abby got to spend time with one of her two best buddies, so we always jump at the chance for that to happen.

Today Abby is using her imagination and is pretending to be Grandma Mary's puppy "Bark-ski". The real puppy - who's name is Barski - moved to a new home, but I'm sure Grandma Mary would rather have this new version of her puppy visit. We even had to get a dog leash out so that Bark-ski could go on a walk around our house. And she's crawling everywhere around the house instead of walking, since dogs can't walk. What a girl...

No, I'm Fine

We have been hearing "No, I'm fine." a lot lately. Ask Abby about anything and you are likely to get that response. Like, "Abby, do you need some breakfast?" or "Abby, do you need a new diaper?" She is apparently fine. All the time.

We survived our unplanned trip to Hastings and now have the hard task of getting back into a regular routine - including nap time. Yesterday Abby was so exhausted that she had to leave the nursery during church, then she fell asleep while listening to the sermon. She also took a 3 hour nap in the afternoon. She was apparently pretty tired. And she slept her normal 11-ish hours this morning.

Last night Abby put a little soccer ball under her shirt and walked around for a little while with her baby "Angela." She wouldn't let me take her picture, but it was pretty hilarious. Maybe we can catch her in the act again sometime.

It's Puppy Time

Abby is having a great time visiting her grandmas and grandpas, but I think she is most concerned with the 5 wiggly bulldog puppies at Grandma and Grandpa Hodges house. She is pretty impressed with those guys and has been sneaking in to pet and hold them as often as possible. She even has all of their names down pretty well.

Abby spent almost all day yesterday with Grandpa Roy and she had a great time. She even made it an entire day without watching Beauty and the Beast - this is a big step for us. And Grandpa Roy survived watching all 4 of the Obreiter grandkids at once by himself for a few hours before reinforcements in the form of Great Grandma Joy and Great Aunt Jessie arrived. I am so thankful that we have wonderful family who don't mind having an extra little person around.

Abby cracked me up yesterday watching Aunt Emily play basketball. She was pretty good about staying in the bleachers and actually watching part of the game. But... she was most impressed with the automatic flushing toilets in the bathroom. Apparently she's never seen one of those in Sault Ste. Marie before. She was also pretty impressed with Grandpa Scott's popcorn.

We are just about 2 months away from having Baby Sister (who still needs a name, by the way). I will be glad to be over some of the "joys" of pregnancy, like the 7 charlie horses I had during the night last night. Or the fact that the seat belt in the very back seat of mom and dad's car only fit around me if I pulled it all the way out (which then causes it to tighten and lock, so that I was strapped in tighter than Abby ever is). Or my all time favorite, being so big that my pants don't go up high enough to beat gravity and keep falling down and practically off. I'd rather have the crying baby, the sleepless nights, and the surgical recovery than any of those annoying pregnancy issues...

Abby Loves Puppies

It is official - Abby loves puppies. Ever since we left Grandma and Grandpa Hodges' house, Abby has been talking about Grandma's puppies. She was very hesitant around them at first, but by the time we left she was holding (with supervision of course) and petting her new little friends. Fortunately all the friends will be staying at Grandma Mary's house and then hopefully finding homes other than ours. Bulldog puppies are cute, but I'll pass on the full grown version.

Abby had a great time on our most recent travels. She really enjoyed Cabelas. She talked and talked about the deer, fish, bears, and elephant that she saw. There were a few animals she wasn't a big fan of, but for the most part she thought it was a pretty incredible place. And she really, really, really loved swimming at the pool at our hotel. She had a blast. So much fun, in fact, that I came home and looked up when the next toddler swim class is being held. So starting next weekend Abby will be hitting the pool at Lake Superior State University. She is already really excited about it.

We can't sum up our little trip without saying how much we appreciated the ability to leave Maize at a dog daycare while Steve was in his class yesterday and Abby and I were shopping and visiting friends. I would have been one of the type to laugh hysterically at people who use a dog daycare (and still probably would if it were an everyday kind of thing), but for us yesterday it was a life saver. We got to do everything we wanted without the distraction of a dog in the car (and without feeling mean for locking her in the car). If you are ever in the Ann Arbor area with a dog friend, Maize would with out a doubt recommend her new friends at Karla's Bed & Biscuit. We give them 2 paws up!

Now... on to the unpacking and digesting of everything that was in the car... ugh!

Abby Back Hurts

It must be that Steve and I have been talking about my aching back a little too much, because this morning Abby woke up, came down for breakfast and said to me "Abby back hurts. Hot shower." Needless to say I couldn't control the laughing and we took Miss Abby up for her hot shower, after which she was all better. She doesn't seem to miss a thing anymore. So, as much as my back is probably going to hurt for the rest of this pregnancy, I think I am going have to grin and bear it.

Last night Abby found her portable dvd player and insisted on watching Veggie Tales on it, even though her dad volunteered the big screen t.v. for her. She sure has a mind of her own. But she enjoyed Bob and Larry and her daddy was able to enjoy his sports center and other programs. She also insisted on wearing only dog clothes this morning, but after spilling a whole cup of milk on herself at lunch, she is now wearing a cute blue sweater and plain old khaki pants.

Abby enjoyed her daddy's day off yesterday by taking two walks around town, including one to the library. She enjoyed her library books so much that she went to bed with them last night. They were still sleeping with her when she woke up this morning. Another example of the crazy ideas that this girl gets into her little head. And another reason why we love her so much!

Here's one last picture of Abby and the puppy her dad said would be too much work for us (and I'm sure he was right, but it is such an adorable puppy).

Getting Back On Schedule

We had a great time visiting family last week, but now it is time for us to get back on schedule. We have a lot to do this week!

We headed down to visit family last Wednesday night and enjoyed seeing Grandmas and Grandpas and Great Grandparents too. Abby had a lot of fun playing with Aunt Hannah and Aunt Emily. She especially enjoying having play-doh time with Emily on Saturday while everyone was busy. Emily made lots of good things and then Abby cut them up. We were cracking up. And Abby also had fun teasing Uncle Dan and talking to him on the pretend phone. She had so much fun doing it that she kept it up for a good part of the car ride home.

I think the highlight of Abby's weekend may have been visiting Aunt Ruth and Uncle Jim's puppies. Abby and I tried really hard to talk her dad into letting us keep one, but he is a stickler for the one dog rule. She had so much fun with the puppies that she talked about it into her sleep that night.

Abby also came home with some neat stuff, like a double stroller and a rocking chair. We test rode the stroller around our house this morning and it worked well. And we also brought home Abby's new favorite shirt - a monkey sweater. We have a lot of stuff to put away and so I'd better get back to it.