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!

Disneyland

The weekend before Thanksgiving we took a very quick trip with my parents and sister to Disneyland - and I mean we booked it out of town Friday after work so Wendi and I would not have to take sub days and drove back after attending church at a ward near Disneyland....I know it looks like we go alot, but we got in free. John and I have been four times together now and have only paid park admission once - and even that was a discounted price (Pretty sure most of those trips would not have happened otherwise). Plus, I think it was a very needed get-a-way for my little family.

We split a room with my parents and sister - so there was plenty of help with Abigail. When we awoke in the morning, it was a little misty - which was fine for me because I knew it most likely meant lower crowds. However, it didn't help me trying to do my hair in an attempt to get pictures for our Christmas card. I tried, but was not very successful. Oh well!!

Abigail got a birthday call from her favorite characters. She also got a birthday button - as part of the parks' "Celebrate" theme for the year.

It didn't take Abigail long to realize this place was full of Mickey Mouse. She was in love - and my heart was melting. I really had no desire to do much but watch Abigail. In fact, I only rode one ride without her - Splash Mountain - and even that took convincing.... I love watching the magic through children's eyes.

With Grandma Amy and Grandpa Kyle

Abigail was a little unsure of getting on Dumbo, but then didn't want to get off when she remembered how much fun it had been at Jeepers Creepers making the airplane go up and down.

After stopping for Dumbo we continued heading straight for Toon Town. One of my goals for the trip was to get a picture with Mickey - and we figured trying earlier the better.... We went in when the gate was only still cracked and really no one was there.

Abigail soon recognized that there were Mickey items all over his house. She was in heaven...

...then we got a VERY pleasant surprise.... While walking through his house to go "outback" and meet him, we happened to find him walking up to the front of the house. Abigail was startled and then quite excited when she realized who was standing in front of her. He knelt down to greet her and then motioned for her to take his hand.... and together they finished walking to the front of his house.

Unfortunately, we didn't get the best pictures and video because it happened so randomly and fast and the workers kept stepping in front of the cameras...but we adults were just in heaven watching Abigail.... I mean, come on - when is something like this ever going to happen again?

Can you just see her cheek-to-cheek smile as she sucks her thumb? I love it!!!

The picture person in me was not very thrilled that I couldn't get my child to look at the camera in almost any picture. However, the mommy in me couldn't be more thrilled that it was because my daughter was too focused on the characters we came to see.

The crowds were still few so we took another turn to see Mickey (I was hoping for a better picture). However, Abigail was confused that she had to wait for a couple other people to take a turn - unlike her other encounter.

Abigail was quite focused as we rode "It's a Small World". It was all decorated for Christmas.

I didn't realize Santa would be in place for visiting and pictures. (I thought just in parades.) We found him and his reindeer in a place kind of hidden between, I think, Frontier Land and Fantasy Land.

Enjoying a walk in the rain with Grandpa Kyle. It rained ALOT in the middle of the day.... We eventually went to the hotel room to change and get warm - didn't want Abigail in cold clothes all day. We tried to keep her dry and warm, but it was close to impossible. Most of us were squishing in our shoes.

We enjoyed the Live! Playhouse Disney show. (I had never been before - go figure.) Abigail loved seeing her TV favorites on the stage.

Riding the carousel at both parks was one of Abigail's favorites. She even got to just stay on for a second turn at California Adventure. We rode it at night waiting for everyone else on California Screamin'.

Enjoying the falling "snow" on Main Street. Due to the weather the fireworks were cancelled (We were very disappointed), but they still lit up the castle and did the snow.

Enjoying my traditional churro.

Playing with our new "Birthday" Mickey ears and waiting to be seated for "World of Color". I thought they would be fun to start using as a birthday tradition in our little family.

She was quite intrigued by their new show, "World of Color". Then the villain music came on -- and she wanted Mommy and Daddy.

And - judging from this picture -- we think it was a great day!