Abby Reads

Abby's version of reading (this is the same video we put on facebook earlier this week - it just wouldn't load here until now).

If you can't tell, she reads this book a lot. Like 5 to 10 times a day. I'm pretty sure she knows every single word.

Readers Are Leaders

Abby is continuing her education by learning to "read" certain books with her dad. She can finish the pages for him in about 5 books that they read often. It is pretty adorable to hear him stop reading and listen to her pick right up where he left off and finish the page. Now we just need to get her to learn her ABC's (I know... bad parenting, since she is way smart enough to have known these for months).
















Abby and I took some paperwork over to the crisis pregnancy center today since I do all the bookwork for them in my job as treasurer of the board. While we were there one of the volunteers noted that I "looked like you are about to have that baby." Unfortunately... not. And today I definitely felt like I was about to have a broken back from carrying this heavy little girl around. I think we are going to set the "over/under" for her at 9 pounds and I'm pretty sure the smart bet is going to be way, way over.

Frozen Fingers

Somehow I managed to get locked out of our house this morning. I'm not sure if Abby or Maize closed the locked door behind me or if I shut it myself. All I know is that I found myself outdoors with no keys or coat and wet hair this morning. Luckily I happened to have my cell phone in my pocket, so I was able to call Steve for help. After about 20 minutes he showed up to open the doors. I'm not sure his patient appreciated switching dentists midway through the procedure, but I'm pretty sure I would have frozen to death if I had to wait for him to finish his filling before he came to rescue me.

Abby, meanwhile, was enjoying her time in a parent-free zone. She was laughing and waving at me while I watched her through the french doors (thank God we have those!). I'm pretty sure this was all one big plot. First she had the world's stinkiest dirty diaper, which required immediate removal to the outdoor garbage can. Then she made sure I got stuck outside with the diaper. And she proceeded to pull out her ponytail, take off her shoes, and otherwise undo all the progress I had made toward taking a little girl to her playgroup. Maize, on the other hand, was freaking out. I think she realized how dangerous it could be to be trapped in the house with only Abby.

Needless to say, we now have multiple sets of extra keys outdoors. We had loaned our extra set to a friend who watched Maize in September while we traveled and hadn't gotten it back yet. But now there are many places where I can get a set of keys if I need them. So Abby is out of luck on locking me out.

I enjoyed my birthday yesterday, but got reminded again of why Steve and I don't even bother trying to watch grown-up movies or t.v. anymore. We put on a movie we had wanted to see (we knew it had very little if any swearing and only a little violence, which Abby doesn't notice because she only listens and doesn't watch most of the time). We didn't get to watch much - first it was "color with Abby" and then it was Mr. Potato Head time, then it was "read Abby book." I think we ended up pausing the movie about 20 times. And we had both read the book the movie is based on, so although we liked the movie, we thought that the book was much better and knowing the story ahead of time made the movie less interesting. Don't act all surprised - I have gotten Steve to read some books for pleasure. I know it seems like a stretch, but he really has been reading more.

Resolution Recaps

These were our new years resolutions from last year.

Abby's list:
1. Learn to walk and finally catch Maize
2. Learn to use a spoon so she can feed herself ice cream and cheese cake and not have to share it with her mom.
3. Learn enough words to boss everyone around

Jen's list:
1. Read through the entire Bible at least once this year
2. Lose the last 10 baby/law school pounds
3. Learn to make knitted (as opposed to crocheted) baby blankets

Steve's list:
1. Lose more weight than Jen does
2. ???
3. ???

Apparently only Abby was successful, since she daily terrorizes Maize, feeds herself anything she can get on a spoon that tastes good, and knows enough words to hold a conversation. She has certainly changed in so many wonderful ways in the last year.

I, on the other hand, have only made it through 1/2 of my Bible this year (which I still say is pretty successful considering I have very little time when a small person is not supervising me and she does not tolerate me reading anything - she barely lets me use the computer). I'm pretty sure I've gained way, way more than 10 pounds, so I don't think I can say I've lost that last 10. And the knitted blanket happened, but looked like a giant dish rag, so we put it into the doll box. Oh well... there is always 2010!

I'm not sure if Steve lost any weight, but since all I've done for the last few months is gain I'd say he is safe in claiming he lost more weight than I did.

I'm sure this year will have many, many new and interesting challenges and we haven't yet sat down to decide what, if any, New Year's resolutions we plan on making. We're just too busy playing with Abby and all her new things.

Abby Knock Up Door

We left Abby with her friend A.J. today while we were at a funeral. On the way in, Abby helped knock on A.J.'s door and then she said to me "Abby knock up door." I could hardly keep from laughing. She is quite an observant little lady.

Not much else is going on. We are just working on laundry and packing. Abby is reading me Hop on Pop (only the big words, not the whole page). So on this page above, she would read me "Hop Pop" and then I'd read the rest. She is pretty smart to have memorized the big words on almost all the pages. That and we read this book almost everyday.

Glued

Abby made a terrific mess today. I should have pulled out the camera, but I was worried she'd either eat the wall paper glue she found and got all over the floor and herself or that she would end up stuck to the floor. It was a huge mess - one whole quart of wall paper glue all over her arms and legs and our new bathroom floor. We are now clean again, for a little while at least.

We've been boring today, just reading lots and lots of books. Abby is especially into this new book called Pie Rats Ahoy. She has pushing it onto my lap all day. At least she loves to read! Now we just need to get her to want to read more than one book. New word for the day - t.v. Great...

Finally Final

We signed the last scrap of paper and finally closed the contract for the purchase of our new home. Hooray!!! So now we are well on our way to home ownership. Needless to say we are relieved that this negotiating and bartering is done. Now on to the fun part - making this house into our home!

Abby and I worked on our tans outside today in the 68 degree sunshine. It was great! Abby helped "mow" the lawn with her bubble mower, picked up golf balls, and showed Maize all the flowers that are blooming. We are hoping for another great day tomorrow since Steve has the day off. And now, I am being begged to read another book... again...

Happy Easter!

The Easter bunny stopped here this morning and let Abby have her Easter basket early, especially since she was not feeling very good at all and we needed a new book to read. So now we have a new Easter book and a touch and feel bunny book. When Abby isn't feeling well she really wants to be held and have books read to her. She loves reading books - especially the same one over and over and over. I know at least 3 of the books by heart. Hopefully Abby's teeth come in soon because we need a break from the fussing, runny nose, and general whimperish behavior.

We are all packed up and ready to go - and Abby is shoving a new book into my face, so I'd better get back to reading (or just quoting) her favorite book.