Jake, Elmo, Baby Grant, Mimi & Rain

Dear Abigail,

The title says it all. Okay, well not ALL all, but it pretty much sums up our weekend. Let's begin with Jake...

Oh, Jake. That little rascal. You may be a little confused on who Jake is - he's better known as Ryan's little brother, but since he officially got named just yesterday (2 days after he was born I might add...) we will call him Jake. Jake. Jake. Jake. We're all so happy we can finally call him a name!!! He also may be referred to as Lance (but don't let Miss Leigh hear you say that!). Why you ask, well because he was born in an ambuLance on Friday morning in his driveway!!!! Yeah, in his driveway. In an ambulance. Born. Right there. Told you he was a little rascal. I'll let Miss Leigh give you the full details when Jake's old enough to embarrass, but let's just say when Jake is ready to go, there is no stopping him! So Friday morning we awoke to learning about old Jake's entrance into this world, and after a little pool time, we met Daddy at the hospital and went and visited Mr. Jake himself! He's such a cute, tiny little baby and was just so peaceful all snuggled up and being held. You were interested enough to glance at him, pet him a couple times, then your attention was set on climbing on the couch. Unfortunately the only picture I got was of Daddy holding him, and that pretty much is because we were constantly on guard as to what you were doing/climbing.

I know, you can't even see his cute face... (Jake's that is.) After our little visit, we met Aunt Steph, Uncle Jaybee and Ellie at Mexican and enjoyed a little running around outside. Saturday morning came soon enough and guess where we went??? To Sesame Street Live!!!! That's right, we got to see Elmo and all his friends sing and dance for us, and you got a little dancing in there yourself!

Here's right before we left - you were SUPER excited!!!!

The first one to come on stage was Big Bird and you about lost it! You kept screaming, hand to the mouth, (to help project your voice) "HEY BIG BIRD!! HEY BIG BIRD" steadily waving your hand enthusiastically! I seriously am not sure I have seen you that excited to see anyone. Maybe Mimi when you are hollering out your window, but I don't know... And it only progressed with each friend - and Elmo, oh Elmo - were you excited! You were pointing (and it looks like Ellie is "praising hallelujah" to Elmo!!!

You were so engaged...
Everyone was dancing on stage, so you asked Ellie if she wanted to dance with you!

And she accepted!!!

Did I mention Ellie met us there??! Fun times all around!!!!

It was lunch time after the show, so we all walked across the street (did I mention we were in downtown Nashville???) to Rippy's!! Now typically this isn't really a place for 2 year olds, but apparently during the day there is no age limit! So Mommy didn't have to say "We have a baby. In a bar." :) It actually worked out perfectly because we had a whole area to ourselves upstairs, with a little air conditioning!!! We ate and ate and ate (so it felt like) and eventually had to split you and Ellie up. Ellie was playing with you (i.e. poking you with her glow stick thingy) and, well, you weren't wanting her to. After a little separation, you two were fine and of course had to copy everything the other did, including potty time... (Aunt Steph always gets lucky with that, by the way. You'll need to thank her when you get a little older :)

We headed back to the house where Daddy TRIED to get you to take a nap, but alas, no luck. So we just got ready and headed over to Baby Grant's birthday party!!! Of course you fell asleep in the car, but we planned on that, so we just drove around a bit and let you get a little sleep - you needed it after your glorious morning and now we had to celebrate Baby Grant turning 1!!!!

Look how happy that fella looks to be turning 1!!!

Miss EP (and Mr. Jay, of course) went all out for the big first bday and had a picnic theme galore!!! It was super impressive, but Mommy wasn't surprised by it at all!!! That's how Miss EP rolls! When we first got there A) you were just waking up from your car nap and B) you were the only kiddo, so you decided you'd just chill on the swing until some friends joined you...

It didn't take long for friends to join us and the fun was on!!!! You kiddos jumped in the bouncy house and played on Baby Grant's new swing set and threw balls and ran in circles and everything!!! And, of course, since you 4 were all together, you HAD to get pictures taken...

You and Ryan are waiting patiently for the madness to end...

As expected, this was about the best shot we could come up with, or I could. Let's hope Miss EP's camera caught something a little better!!

You and Ellie helped Miss EP and Baby Grant open up all his presents!!!

(if you are wondering, Ryan was doing his own thing in the jumpy house!!)

And soon enough, you two got distracted by a couple of Baby Grant's presents... (that's his puppy AND his wagon.) You are trying to negotiate with Ellie about her turn to play with the puppy (like for real you are - it was tripping me out...)

Apparently she didn't like your offer...

Soon after presents, Miss EP announced it was cake time! Now, Mommy knew that meant first we had to sing Happy Birthday to Baby Grant and watch him eat his cake, but you, however, forgot you had to wait. BUT, you accepted (in order to eventually get cake) and waited your turn. And by waited your turn I mean constantly asked if it was your turn yet! AND, I think Miss EP forgot she had little kiddos watching another little kiddo eat cake because after watching Grant play and play in his cake, she then took Baby Grant off inside to take a bath after he ate his cake and didn't bring out yours!!! So to say the least, you had to REALLY wait your turn!!!! You of course asked and asked if it was your turn, and Aunt Steph tried distracting both you and Ellie...

We tried to get your attention on coloring, too...

But at the end of the day, the 2 of you knew you were offered cake, and were not giving up until cake was on the table (or in your mouth!!)...Here's you girls waiting (i think maybe growing impatiently at this point...)

Finally, you came up to me and said "Mom - I have an idea. Why don't I go get the cake?". Cross my heart, hope to, well, cross my heart - I promise you said that! So, I thought you know what, that IS a good idea! So Mommy headed inside to see if I could get someone's attention long enough to get us some cake!!!! Soon enough Miss EP came down the stairs with a sparkling clean Baby Grant and I politely hinted - fine, I flat out told her she had 2 little girls who were dying for some cake and could we please at least cut your piece! HALLELUJAH! Cake was to be served!!!! (and what a precious cake it was, might I add!!!)

Oh, so when we walked into the party we immediately saw said cake. You were SO concerned about the 'lady bugs' crawling all over the cake!!! You kept saying "But I don't want bugs on the cake - I don't like bugs"!!!! I'm pretty sure you changed your mind after waiting long enough :)

Clearly, cake was enjoyed by all!!! Not too long after we tried to get you kiddos to eat some actual dinner, but that didn't work, other than you eating 3 pieces of watermelon. At one point Miss Kay (Ryan's grandmother) came up to me and said "Can Abigail have another piece of watermelon? She's eating the white part."!!! Miss Kay was so sweet about it!!! And of course I said sure! After lots more of jumping on the bouncy house and playing, it was time to head home no doubt. You were a mess, and well, were in need of much needed sleep! Oh, and did I mention your Mimi was waiting at the house for you?!!!

That's right! Mimi and Pic-pic decided to drive up on Saturday (rather than Sunday) so she was waiting patiently for you at our house. Pic-pic needed to look at our new fancy house we're building and you are going back with them for a whole week!!! Without Mommy!!!! I think you will do just fine, although you are being super clingy these days to me, but I know Mimi and she can distract anyone...

So here's what we had planned for Sunday: swimming, looking at the house, grocery store, Ryan's Big Brother Party, and Carnton concert. Here's what happened: It rained. and rained. and rained. UGH. Swimming was definitely out, so we got dressed and headed to Puckets for breakfast, where I might add you ate very well! After breakfast, there was a short little window of no rain, although it looked as if it wasn't going to last, so we jumped in the car and headed straight to our house to show it to Mimi and Pic-pic. It was super wet on the inside, and it made Mommy even more nervous than usual with you galavanting around in there, but between Mimi and me, I think you were fairly safe (oh, and I guess Daddy and Pic-pic, too, although they'd get to talking about something and, well, forget to look down and see you hanging over the edge!!!). I'm pretty sure Mimi was impressed, especially when you showed her room, and she even had a few good ideas! After house touring, we headed home and the rain began again - heavy rain. We all just piddled for awhile (some of us slept literally all day - Pic-pic!), and, because Mommy and Mimi can't sit still too long (and because when Mimi comes up we ALWAYS have to go to Target), we decided to go to Target! And yeah, it was raining... It wasn't too long of a trip, but somehow you walked away with new mermaids - surprise, surprise. And not too long after we all took showers and started to get ready for Ryan's Big Brother party!! That's right, Jake was coming home and so Ryan had a big brother party and invited us over. Unfortunately, we were waiting until Ryan woke up from his nap and while we were waiting, you fell asleep for a MUCH needed nap. Pretty much right when you went to sleep, Miss Leigh called to say it was party time... We decided to just leave you be and Mommy and Daddy went to see Ryan (and his baby brother Jake!). You missed out on cupcakes, I hate to tell you, but I think you will have plenty of opportunities to see Ryan as a big brother (and of course, Jake!).

As you can imagine, the Carnton concert was out, at least for us. Apparently they still had it because it did indeed quit raining around 5ish but man alive, it would have been SUPER muddy, and wet - so I voted we go to Chuy's instead! And so we did, and you even got a special snack there!!! A push up pop, which was your first time tasting it and I'm pretty sure you enjoyed it. Daddy was happy because he loves those - Mommy can't stand them!!! ugh...

Anyway, after Chuys, we headed home and pretty much all went to bed. Monday morning came around and Mommy and Daddy gave you hugs and kisses and miss you already's like crazy, and off you, Mimi, and Pic-pic went!

You've got a big week ahead of you including a water park, lots of swimming, spending the night with Clara Lee, and I'm sure lots and lots more!! Mommy will see you on Sunday!!!!!!!

LOVE YOU! MISS YOU ALREADY!!!!