Colorado Trip -- finally finished with this post

We've been wanting to go visit John's sister and her family in Colorado for awhile now.... so mid-April we took an extended weekend there. It was Abigail's first time on an airplane, and considering, she did awesome! The flight crew on the way there even gave her a certificate documenting it as her first flight.

We didn't get there on the flight we originally purchased for 7:45P.M. because it was delayed until 9:05P.M. for maintenance. I was not hanging around the terminal if I could help it. With the help of one of those awesome tram driver guys we got to Gate D from Gate C in record time, with just a few minutes to spare and make the 6:55P.M. flight. We could change our flight for free because it was their delay, but our luggage had to come with the original flight. We still had some airport wait time, but I was so glad it was after our flight. We got to Liz's pretty late, but it all worked out.

Once we all got going Friday morning and Andrea got back from her half day at school (it was cool -- the other two girls happened to have the whole day off from school) Liz took us to the Denver Zoo.


Looking at the Grizzly Bears.



This orangutan came and sat right up against the window. We thought it seemed like she was a wise mother coming over to tell us something with the way she was looking at us.

Abigail had fun with Aunt Liz and her cousins....I was telling Liz I thought this shot looked like it was a "secret" shot of someone famous. Liz is wearing sunglasses and it is very candid.

Abigail decided on new ways to use her stroller at the zoo.

Nadia loved being able to push Abigail -- can you see Abigail is looking very ready for a nap?

Liz treated us to dinner at Sweet Tomatoes....Abigail is very into shutting doors right now, and as we were leaving she was trying very hard to close the automatic closing door. It took its time to close and there was Abigail pushing with all of her might trying to close it. We were all laughing from that one.


Enjoying game time with Uncle Johnny

Abigail LOVED, LOVED getting to sit at this table to eat (thinking about getting one for her)! We just love her face in this picture.

My grandma gave me a Samantha book one year for Christmas -- and I have been a fan since. However, I am not thrilled that they discontinued making Samantha. Anyway! This is the new store that recently opened -- and so since Liz and her girls are fans, we made a visit.




Outside the Denver Temple

Chatfield State Park


Uncle John showing the nieces how to skip rocks on the lake water


I just think this is a super cute picture of our little girl - showing how much fun she was having.

Enjoying being a "big girl" at her cousin's table


Hiking at Roxborough State Park


Abigail was the center of attention - and I think she knew it. Aunt Liz taught her to say "Hooray!" while putting her hands in the air and then having us imitate her. I think Abigail enjoyed watching us "big people" be goofy! Too bad I couldn't get the camera to snap a picture at the exact time she was making the happy looking faces.


Enjoying flying a kite with her cousins - just before we left for the airport

Hanging out in the airport.... Abigail kept wanting to go on the moving walk-way






Safely off the plane home

I have been hoping for this project for awhile, but we had to get HOA approval first.... Between conference sessions today we put the grass in. I am so excited!! We still have some things to do, but I think we are more than half way done -- we are still getting rid of the big pile of rock we made while moving rock from the center of the yard.

We don't have much yard, but I will be enjoying the use of our space much more now than I used to.... Thanks to a hard working husband with my crazy ideas, but I do help where I can.

Abigail tried to help, too - but this morning she ended up dirty. She enjoyed cleaning off in the sprinkler and hose.

Before and after the grass was put in

Springtime Fun

We are loving spring time over here. Last Spring we were pretty much bound to our closed up house to protect Abigail and get her bigger and stronger. It has sure helped me appreciate Spring more this year. With Abigail walking and ever so exploratory, it has just been so much fun.

There is not much in the way of updates except for the fact that we discovered Abigail has been working on four molars, not just two. It also looks like that fever she had was probably Roseola and not tooth related. We think this because of the rash she got after the fever. Abigail has been pretty good through all of this, and I hear that pretty much every kid gets Roseola and then doesn't get it again.

This picture doesn't really show it, but she likes the slide. We enjoy going to the mall and playing in the play area. Abigail just loves it!

We bought a kite at the dollar store - Abigail likes it. She has started doing this really cute laugh/giggle.

Our Life Lately

It's been a little crazy and sometimes stressful around here, but we just feel so blessed for all that we have. When there has been a rough day, all we have to do is take a look at Abigail and we are lifted for the day. Plus, I also love that I have John to wrap me in his arms -- He is such a great guy.

At our latest doctor check-ups Abigail is about 22lbs and 29 1/2in long. Can anyone believe she is already sixteen months old? She is almost old enough for nursery. She has gone with me to nursery a couple of times while I go do some singing time. She didn't want to go back with Daddy last Sunday -- So I gave her a few extra minutes more to play before heading back to Primary. She is pretty much always walking and is doing really well at standing herself up without a wall or couch and even bending over to get something and get back up. She sometimes likes to pick-up her pace, but this tends to lead to falls. She says "Da-yee" alot - which stands for "Daddy" and lots of other things. I am getting to hear "Mom" more and more. She was doing some signs for "please" and "all done", but she appears to have stopped using them in the last couple of weeks -- and we can't get her to use them anymore.

She loves to be wherever her parents are and imitate things we do. John found her sitting in her chair pointing her remote at the TV. She is also a big fan of playing "Peek-a-boo" now - which also includes her taking the dish towel off the oven door and pulling it over her head. She especially loves to play it with her Daddy when we let her sit in bed with us in the morning. It is one of our favorites.

She is currently trying to bust out teeth #9 and #10. She had a couple of rough nights a little while ago, but has been fine -- and we don't know if they were teeth connected or something else. That particular night the poor thing had to get a middle of the night shower to clean up the mess. However, her misery is back with a vengeance the last couple of days. I am watching to make sure there are no other symptoms - in case it is something else, but the poor thing had a fever for almost two days. All that she wants to do is be held and cuddled. It is very sad, but very cute. I have been up with her the past two nights, and I am starting to feel a little under the weather - which I think is due to my lack of sleep. John offers to take her, but I told him he needs to get his sleep. He also feels bad for both of us, but I have no complaints. I wanted to be a Mommy, and I am loving it.... It just breaks our hearts for Abigail because she plays for like five minutes and then is back to laying her head down. Her fever seems to be gone now, though. Hopefully, her appetite comes back soon -- darn teeth coming in. Even as I type this blog entry, the poor thing is just sleeping by my side.

Abigail seems to love books -- good thing being in the Merrill family. Grandma Amy gave her this cute little Abby-Cadaby book that makes sounds. She also got a big box of books from Daddy and Grandpa Merrill at a recent book sale. She loved seeing them.

Abigail loves computers. I have recently found some sites that are made for toddlers. Try http://kneebouncers.com/

We have a little soft baby brush. We have "Mommy's turn" and "Abigail's turn". We make "pretty Abigail" and "pretty Mommy" - and even sometimes "handsome Daddy".

Here is a dress Abigail got from my Aunt. She looks so big. We just got her the shoes, and I am just in love with how cute they are.

John tried to get a picture of her with the remote, but she stopped when the camera came out.

Modeling another birthday gift dress that she now fits into. She is sitting in her new rocking chair -- I got it for a picture. I still need to get another picture of her piano. It looks so much better black.

Poor little girl -- trying to get some more sleep in mom and dad's bed.

Little Cuddle Bug

A New Toy

I found this cute little thing on Craigslist. Abigail was quite thrilled when her daddy brought it in the house.... I have since painted it black -- looks better for upcoming picture ideas.... Abigail loves playing it - sitting or standing. She hasn't gone over to mine much lately, either....

Also, Abigail is walking more and more and, if you are lucky, she will blow you a kiss. She waves "bye-bye" more and more. She can also do a sign to show us she is "all done" eating and sometimes we can even get a "please". She is just super cute!!

My Little Valentine

I believe this dress was with the Christmas dresses, but it made me think of Valentine's Day.... Abigail looks so grown up in it. I tried to take some pictures of her to make her daddy a gift, but she was not too thrilled about the idea.





Abigail and her Daddy that she adores.

Woohoo Celebration

One year ago today we got to bring sweet Baby Abby home from the hospital after 14 weeks in the NICU. We were so excited, but very nervous.... In honor of this special day, we had a "Woohoo Celebration!" We had cake and ice cream with our families. It was a fun excuse to gather with family. We are so grateful for the past year and look forward to countless more with her.... Abigail is growing so fast and is just so much fun to be with. She loves getting to play with other children, especially her cousins. She had so much fun tonight!!


This was what we were doing exactly one year ago... and now look at all the fun we were able to have.

My mom and sister and I made a cake. We had lots of distractions and issues with both the cake and the frosting, but it still seemed to turn out well for the most part.



I couldn't get a good shot, but here is Abigail having so much fun with her cousins in Grandma's toy room.

Dare Devil Baby

Abigail loves my piano so much that we can't turn our backs long at all before we see attempts like this. She uses her favorite chair for more than just sitting.

Our sweet little miracle baby will be 15 months old this week -- making her a 12 month old with her corrected age. Woohoo!!

As of her latest trip to the doctor she weighed 20lbs 7oz.... Side story: She now screams and fights when getting weighed. It makes for some difficulty getting an accurate weight. Plus, I am sure that she now knows what shots are.... She got her latest round of her monthly Synagis (RSV prevention) last week. She starting crying-even before getting poked- when she saw what the nurse was holding -- I felt so sad for her.

She can pretty much walk now, but is kind of half walker/half crawler -- and LOVES it! She doesn't quite get "mama" or "dada" out, but she seems to be saying "this". She will call to us upstairs as she stands by the gate (She usually wants whatever parent is upstairs, compared to the one downstairs with her.) She has busted out teeth numbers seven and eight. She has become a little more picky in her eating. Sometimes she refuses to eat, unless it is coming from off our plates. So -- we try and pretend to take a bite of hers or we grind our meal up, but put it back on one of our plates to give to her while we eat.

She continues to make great developmental progress. I just keep counting my blessings. Her Chronic Lung Disease is our biggest issue. It has her at high risk for getting and staying sick, but we seem to keep on top of it - hope that continues. We still have to be careful with our outside time because she gets stuffed up so fast. The pulmonologist says we may be able to grow out of it, instead of turning it into Asthma -- so that is our goal.... We get to give breathing treatments multiple times a day - which she usually sits through really well.

She is just growing up so big and changing all the time. She loves to smile and laugh and run our household. We just love her!


We now have a gate blocking the kitchen (in addition to the one blocking the stairs) so that we can keep her from emptying the kitchen cupboards.

She has discovered the greatness of straws -- We think it is quite cute!!.... I shared some of my rootbeer with her.