Christmas Lights

I have been loving watching the Holiday Magic through the eyes of a child this year. Abigail has been loving lights even before they were up. She loves looking at the moon.

We have had fun driving around to see lights this year and looking at the lights in our own backyard.

We went to see the lights at the Temple with John's family. The three two year-olds just love Auntie Cristina. Abigail had a hard time holding still on this trip. She just wanted to see everything.

One house had a little blow-up train and a penguin kept popping up in the back. Abigail's first reaction was quite the squeal of excitement and joy.

The Arizona Republic had a map of light displays. We enjoyed seeing so many awesome displays - including some that were programmed to music.

30 Years

I turned 30 back in October. I can't say that I was very excited, but the day went well - even with Abigail's doctor appointment and me having to work in the evening.... John left me flowers and a note before leaving for class.... I also spent the week trying to do something small most days like a friend of mine did. (Which - I think I still have a zoo trip with cousins and grandparents to post about.).... After the doctor appointment we just enjoyed being together as a family - per my request.

John surprised me by making me one of my favorite meals - gnocchi(sp??) I love the homemade stuff from my mother-in-law (compare all the ones I eat with it). John had her help (the chicken had to cook most of the day for the broth). While I was at rehearsal, he and Abigail went to grandma's to finish making it.

I was VERY surprised and loved it!! It made for a great ending to the day with my little family.

He topped it off with one of my favorite desserts: strawberries and cheesecake.

The other big birthday fun was an overnight to a resort. This is partly a big deal because it was the first time I left Abigail like that. I have been away from her for work, but John was still home. She also was left with Grandma one night because we were out late and would have been dropping her back off early the next morning.

It took me awhile to decide on going, but I am glad we did. We found a last minute deal on Hotwire.

John slowed down as we turned in because he already knew I would be getting the camera ready to take a picture.

Here was the view from our room.

We pretty much did nothing, but enjoyed being together. Here are some fun views from walking around the resort.

We even went all out and ordered room service.

Minus getting stung by a bee while relaxing in the pool, it was a fun time. After checking out of the hotel, we went to Arizona Mills Mall. We ended up with a few fun things, including the Mickey and Minnie Abigail sleeps with now.... However, I was very happy to be back with Abigail.

Summer Project

Ya -that's right....Summer Project - trying to catch-up....Towards the end of the summer I finally figured out what I wanted to do in our Master Bathroom. As you can see from the before pictures, it was pretty much all white. We are pretty proud of our work, and things went pretty well - except a mishap with the toilet, but at least the whole things didn't need replacing. I also have yet to touch up a few spots between the ceiling and wall..... I have been wanting to post pictures for awhile, but kept forgetting. Today, I cleaned the bathroom and remembered to take pictures before it was dirty again.... John and his dad did a great job tiling the floor. I was inspired by another friend to refinish the cabinets to somewhat match our bedroom furniture color. I learned a lot for the next time I take on a project like that, but I am not looking to do so very soon.

BEFORE

No Doors...

AFTER

Blogging Catch-Up

Scroll down....I have been working on finishing some posts that I started weeks ago, including a fun time of cookie baking with a two year old (have to click on "Older Posts").... Happy Christmas Week!!

I finished up my long-term sub job and hope to get caught up on December - including Abigail's latest ear infection. (We didn't get much sleep in our house last night.)

November Recap

Just like October, November has flown by - but I want to record some of what has happened, at least for me.... John and I have basically switched roles temporarily while I continue on in my long-term sub job and he works on school and finding a job. It is hard some days and I miss Abigail, but I do enjoy teaching and music. The first couple of weeks in November were rough because I said yes to playing in an orchestra pit - and though it ended well and I worked with great people - it was more than I could handle. One day I saw Abigail awake for 10 minutes. She started revolting and refusing to go (or stay asleep). Once I got home and said goodnight - asleep she went. Glad she still loves her mommy!!

Abigail is full of energy and sometimes we struggle to keep up. Although, she makes us laugh probably everyday and always melts our hearts. She has become a parrot - so we have to be careful what we say. Example - I said "Oh my gosh Abigail!" when she got into the wipes (AGAIN) and she went away saying "Gosh, gosh, gosh!" Some of her latest words are: "ooking" (cooking); cra-er (cracker); wa-er (water)... and my mind is drawing a blank, but she talks up a storm - even if we can't always understand her.... The other day John re-tightened the legs on our table. Abigail discovered she couldn't get the table to make the noises she had created earlier and had something to say about it.

Her two year check-up was awesome! The doctor continues to be happy and amazed by her progress. She is over 28lbs and about 35 inches. She loves pasta and pizza and sometimes bananas and zuchinni. The grandmas must have magical food, because she often eats better for them. She has also become very into babies and caring for them. She needs a sibling -- we agree and wish, but no luck yet.

Hopefully soon I will finish up the other posts with her birthday and other fun happenings in November, but here are a few fun pictures....

She is getting more hair - we can almost put all of it in pig tails.

Soon after getting a kitchen set for her birthday, Abigail insisted on having cereal in a bowl from her set one morning.

Abigail seems to be showing more signs of being ready for potty training -- like digging in her diaper, saying "pee", and trying to regularly remove her diaper on her own - often with success. (Sometimes she does multiple of these things.) So we let her get some Minnie Mouse underwear. She opened the package on the way home and did this.

She wanted to put her new shoes on her doggie - and she is trying to feed the baby doll a bottle.

She gets in "the zone" watching Mickey Mouse -- I had to convince her to back up from the TV.

Thankful

I have been feeling a little reflective lately, but also very grateful.... 2010 has not been the easiest year for our little family. In some ways I am eager for the year to be over and start another year fresh. We celebrated our 3rd Wedding Anniversary with the "official" news of John losing his job. We are still figuring out what to do - so the year is pretty self-explanatory.... Some days have not gone well, and I have certainly not endured as well as I could have on some days. On top of that - I am not going to lie - we are baby hungry over here and have been trying for awhile without success.

With that being said - I feel so very grateful. This year has allowed our family to grow in ways, both collectively and individually, that we could not have grown otherwise. I feel so very blessed to have all that I need and much that I desire. I am truly blessed to be surrounded by such a wonderful support of family and friends.

Along with the year we have had, November is just a reflective month for me now.... Two years ago I was standing at the beside of a precious angel baby - and though I was at peace that all was going as it should, I still wondered what the future had in store for sweet Abigail.

A year ago, I was so excited to be celebrating her first birthday.

This year I am, in many ways, finding it hard to believe that my baby is two. She was so fun to watch with her birthday this year. The day of her birthday was one of my days where I am gone for a long time. I was able to come home for lunch. John was very sweet and had it ready to go when I walked in the door. We enjoyed a nice outdoor picnic.

We also revealed her kitchen set that we got her with some of the birthday money from grandparents.... She has been in love with it ever since.

She was quite eager to help set it up.

We had a little party with family. I was going to go with an "Abby Cadaby" theme and have fun with the name, but since she is in love with Mickey Mouse - AKA "Hot Dog" - we decided on a Mickey Mouse theme.

Here is kind of a picture of the cousins at the party after the pinata -- not sure many were thrilled to be in a picture.

I had fun making her birthday cake this year. It was my second project since taking my cake decorating class this summer. I had some issues with it (like mixing black frosting), but I think overall it turned out well.

I also made some cupcakes.

Abigail was not quite sure about us singing to her, but when it came time to eat cake - she was all about that.

She was spoiled with many gifts, but wasn't thrilled she couldn't play with each one right after opening it.

She got straight to playing with her new toys.

I am so grateful for my sweet little family. I am so grateful for the wonderful husband I get to wake up next to each morning. I am so grateful for the sweet little toddler who keeps me busy everyday and fills my heart with so much love. I am so grateful for our good health and for the many wonderful people we are surrounded by.... Thank you!