You have turned around...

Dear Abigail,

Taa-daa....

You have turned around in the car!!!! I am so excited and so are you. You absolutely love it and every time I turn around to look you are just smiling the whole time at me! You look out the window a lot too, and it's easier getting you in and out of the car. Yes, yes, yes, I know, we are 2 weeks shy of your birthday, and yes yes yes, the law does say you need to be 1, but you out grew your baby car seat and, well, I will give you permission to break one law. Just one, missy. Oh, but it's soooo much better. Last night daddy put it in, and today we made real sure it worked. We met Ms. Kristin and Jacob, Ms. Jill and Ms. Alicia at Wolfgang's for lunch. We were a few minutes late due to a little napping controversy between me & you, but it all worked out. You actually did really good at lunch, well, other than breaking the glass baby jar under the table, but Mommy takes full ownership for that. I think we may have scared Ms. Jill further away from babies, if that was even possible! After lunch, you and I ran a lot of errands, all for your big birthday party. I even brought you home for a good nap (since this mornings was a bit rough) and then we headed out for more errands!!! You did excellent though, all day, and I know it's all because of that carseat, and also because you love me, right?! Oh, and Mommy got you your first basketball goal! It goes in the "BAAAAAAAA" (that's Abby talk for 'bath') and you already know how to put the ball in the goal!! I've already called Pat to let her know you are headed her way in 18 years!!

Get ready for the weekend Love, it's a big one. Mexican/Titans/the Gang on Friday, lots of errands/yard work/house work on Saturday and Mommy's work is having a cookout on Sunday which I'd prefer you to be on your bestest behavior. Thanks in advance. Love you lots. Oh, and one more thing, you are getting SOOOO good at giving me kisses when I ask! Every night you give me one when daddy takes you to bed. it melts my heart... love you baby girl, or should i say BIG GIRL!!!!

John Michael's shower (or well, the shower in honor of him...)

Dear Abigail,

We are so excited we are finally getting a little boy in our family. It has been VERY long, 17 years to be specific, and this weekend, we went to Munford and showered him with presents, or at least Aunt Gina. We left after Mommy got off work on Wednesday, which never seems like a good idea, but Mommy always insists it will be fine. One day I will learn... maybe it's that I am just so anxious for you to see your grandparents. You stayed awake the whole car ride, and we listened to your CD over and over again. Mommy is counting down the days I can turn you around and you'll be able to face forward (and more importantly, face the tv that will have elmo movies playing for the 2 hours and 45 minutes it takes me to get from one door to the next!)... Anyway, you didn't start fussing till the end, understandably so, and mommy's stubbornness was keeping us from pulling over, but finally I did, and we danced around the car (to your cd of course) for about 5 minutes. that was enough to get you past the last 25 minutes of the trip. We went straight to Papa Rob & Gramma's house this time. I could tell Mimi was a little hurt, but she JUST had you all weekend AND she's getting your next weekend, but she does love you a lot, and we did go over there first thing that next morning. Anyway, so when we got to Papa Rob's, he could not believe how much you were walking. He just stood and stared at you. And you did the same to him. You were checking him out, and he knew to give you some time. It paid off, b/c shortly after arriving, you were everywhere with him. And you were talking to him up a storm. Man, when you start saying words, mommy is going to have some competition for the floor, to say the least. Gramma didn't get home till after you went to bed, but you better believe she was waiting outside the door the next morning. and she didn't have to wait long - you woke up at 5:45!!!! NEVER have you done that - ever. Why don't you do that when it's Daddy's turn, sweetie??? I will say, I think it was partially my fault. I, somehow, only came home with one paci, and that one paci disappeared at 5:45. I was on my hands and knees searching for that thing while you cried, half awake, half asleep. Never ended up finding it, but I did get you to lay in the bed with me for about 20+ minutes. You never went back to sleep, but it was nice to cuddle with you. Usually you get in teh bed and you immediately want to start playing (i.e. running back and forth from front to end until you fall off and bump your head, just like those monkeys mommy sings about - it's true...) anyway... After an excellent breakfast by gramma (healthy pancakes) we were off to see Mimi. We spent all day getting stuff together for the shower including visiting mammaws and going to the grocery store. and Clara Lee went with us too! It's hard taking care of two babies... I don't know how Mimi does it. Thursday afternoon we went back to Papa Robs and this is when you began your clingy stage, which still hasn't completely faded from the long weekend. You wouldn't even let Gramma give you a bath - you love baths, you couldn't care less who gives it to you... Anyway, that was a sign of what was to come. The next morning, you and Clara Lee and Emily went to get your pictures taken by Mr. Phil. Oh boy... I'm not going to blog about what happened, because then it's on record, but I will say this in regards to Aunt Ash-ash... What comes around goes around... or whatever the phrase is. Mr. Phil saw a whole new side of you - that is, the clingy side. You would not let Mommy leave your side. I have no idea how the man is going to pull off a good picture. All I do know is that it was 8:30 when we were done, and I could have used a big bottle of Yellow Tail. So, we will just be patient and see what happens. Friday afternoon we spent the day at Mimi's again getting stuff for the shower. You did good with Clara Lee and Jack was there too, a big ole nursery! You and Jack had so much fun. He calls you "Abby-gale" which, is your name, after all. Friday night, Mommy was just going to run up and grab Mexican with Sarah, but we all know how Sarah gets the mamma jamma margarita so by the time I got home you were exhausted and Mimi said you could just spend the night with her. I put you to bed, with no problem i might add, and went to Papa Rob's to get a good night sleep. We had a big day on Saturday...

Oh my goodness did you girls look cute at the shower in your matching dresses. Mimi had been saving those and this was the perfect occasion. I was a little worried you weren't going to get to wear yours because you slept through the first hour+ of the shower. I even had to come wake you up b/c i wasn't going to let Clara Lee get all teh attention, I mean I wanted everyone to see your pretty dress... Once I woke you up, the party began! You had so much fun playing with all the kiddos and then Aunt Gina opened up a present and it was a monkey just like your monkey! Mimi had to go get yours out of hte car because you wouldn't put John Michael's down. AFter the party, you took a long nap and then Mommy got to go party it up with Sarah (that's code for eat and fall asleep watching a movie). You stayed with Mimi and played bubbles and rode in your toy car. Sunday me, you and Lynnie went swimming at Mammaws. You were such a good sport at Mammaws. They both were amazed at how much you were walking and talking. Oh, Mimi had a new nickname for you - Walkie talkie. You just walk around blabbing about whatever... All in all, LONG LONG LONG weekend, yet again, but yet again, you had a blast with all your family. The ride home was my favorite part though - you slept the entire way home - ENTIRE. Wha????? yeah, entire way home. Okay, I'll post pics when I get a second. Love you lots. You are getting so good about giving kisses. And mimi taught you to run to her for kisses, which mommy and daddy make you do to us now!!! Love you baby girl. We're getting really excited about your birthday!!!!!

St. Louis (i.e. your weekend with in Munford)

Dear Abigail,

Although it may seem like it, we really do sit still. Okay, no we don't - I'll tell you like i have to tell Papa Rob all the time, just embrace it. It's what we do - we travel. All the time. It's who we are... Anyway, so yes, this past weekend, Mommy and Daddy took you to Memphis and then we jetted off to St. Louis to watch your daddy goo-goo and gaa-gaa over a baseball team, in particular your's and his favorite player, ole Al. We got in early on Thursday, so we met Papa Rob at the mall to do a little shopping. Well, that came to a pretty sudden halt when all the stores started closing their gates. I even asked Daddy what time it was and he said 5:30ish so I knew it wasn't time for the mall to be closing. Then, that's when we realized it - same ole same ole with you baby girl. We, once again, for the third time in your dear life of 11 months, had to seek shelter because a tornado was headed our way. And, once again, i'm not talking about just watching the news, staying at home, being a little nervous because you hear thunder - I'm talking about cops pushing down into the random back walls of the mall - AGAIN! Member that time we did it at that elementary school with Miss Cerez and Lillian? and then member that time we did it with Ellie and Aunt Steph?! I thought I would have several years to go before I had to deal with that again, but no, just a couple months and bam, we're back in the walls at the mall. Thankfully Daddy and Papa Rob were with us and keeping me calm, or more acurately, thinking it was nothing and the mall was over reacting b/c mommy was a wee bit nervous this go round. The phrase "third times a charm" and "three strikes and your out" kept ringing in my ears. Finally they let us all go, so we jetted home, or well, to eat Mexican, and then later learned that that tornado was indeed right there adn actually messed up the building across the street. Abby, i don't know what it is with you and tornados. Never have I had to take shelter, much less 3 times in less than 11 months!!! (other than this one time at home when the tornado took our trampoline away - but i was like 10 and at HOME!) Anyway, mommy was pretty exhausted on Thursday, but thankfully Mimi was there to get you situated. Friday morning, mommy and daddy left to go to the games and you stayed with Mimi. Mimi reported updates on your every so often, but she had to call to tell me about this one incident... Apparently you and Em were taking a bath. Em had already had a shower, but watned to get in the tub with you. So the 2 of you were playing and Mimi was washing you when she picked you up, and well, found some rather unpleasant 'things' floating in the water. According to Mimi (and based on what i know about her) she let out a scream and that did nothing but scared the mess out of you (no punt intended) so you started crying and poor emily was freaking out. This is the 7 year old who carries around a bottle of hand sanitizer in her back pocket, keep in mind. I'm not sure how it all ended, but I am pretty sure Mimi spent the evening with a bottle of soft scrub and Em with a bottle of Lysol wipes!! Here are a few pics before the 'incident.'

I told Mimi to write her own story of all the fun things you did, but she's too busy taking pictures apparently! Here's a few more shots of some fun things you did with Mimi and Em this past weekend:

You and Emily blew bubbles - one of your favorite things to do AND say!! You say Bu-bul over and over again, even if no bubbles are in sight!

Em taught you how to mow the grass, too! Daddy was excited about this one:

She taught you how to just chill...

and to be cool...

She of course rode you on her 4-wheeler...

Looks like the 2 of you just hung out and chit-chatted a little bit...

And then let you drive a car!!!!

Oh, and if you can't tell - she lost her other front tooth, so now she doesn't have any teeth in the front!!!! She's kind of opposite you actually. She has all her teeth but the top 2 and you don't have any teeth but the bottom 2!!!

All in all, I think you had a good time hanging out with Emily and Mimi while we went and did our own thing. I did tell Daddy that next time we were taking you to a game. There were too many other babies and kids there, not to mention i found the cutest Cardinals cheerleading outfit for you to wear!!!! Love you lots - thanks for being such a good baby through all the tornados!!!