{Abbi-a-Day} Days 50-56

This girl loves dogs like nothing else!!

You Capture - Shapes

This week's You Capture theme is shapes. At first, I was thinking I would skip this week, not really feeling inspired. But then, as I was at my sister's house babysitting for the weekend, I started noticing all the shapes everywhere. And before I knew it, my camera was out and I was snapping away.

A few years ago, I really became passionate about photography. I took on a "365 project" - taking one picture every day. I didn't make it through the whole year, but I had fun looking for the little things all around me that inspired me to take pictures. But since Abbi joined us, I shifted over to taking pictures of people, and those pictures of "things" around me have become few and far between. So what started off as an uninspiring theme to me became a lot of fun - making me remember that there is so much around us and to not forget the little things.

I decided to just stick with one shape. And I stopped at posting 15 things, because really, you could go on and on and on. But I did have fun with this, and I'm so glad I participated this week!

Book #12 - Shelter Me

Shelter Me
Juliette Fay

Well, the goal was 12 books in 12 months for 2010, and it looks like I hit my goal before February is even over!! I haven't read this much in a really long time, and it has actually been really nice. I had forgotten how much I like to read. And I've found myself spending less time watching tv and spending less time online, so I think it's a good thing! (Hopefully my family doesn't feel neglected, though...)

I'm really torn on this book. I really liked the style of writing, and it was nice to read a "modern" story since it seems like the last books I've been reading have all been in the future, the past, or in fantasy land. I read this book as a recommendation from another blogger, so I really didn't expect anything bad in this book. But once again - the language is horrible. And some of it is really unbelievable - like a priest using the Lord's name in vain and swearing - I'm sorry, but I just don't see that happening. It really was unnecesary. But besides the language, it was really a sad book. It is the story of a woman who loses her husband to an accident, and the struggles she faces over the year after the accident. It is a tender story, and I found myself crying many times throughout the book, probably because I found myself thinking about how I would handle it if I lost Josh. If nothing else, this book really made me grateful for what I have.

Now onto #13. I keep thinking that maybe I should slow down now that I've reached my goal, but I'm having so much fun!

Have you read this book? Share your feelings!

Wordless Wednesday - Black and White

Family

Just another reason I love my family...

The girls had all decided to have a girl's night out - dinner and a movie. I sent out an email with the details, and this is what I got back -

First, from my older sister:

whoooop whooop!!!!!

Then, from my youngest sister:

Toot toot!!!!!

Then my sister in law:

YIPPEE SKIPPY!!!

Followed by my sister just under me:

BOO YEAH!

And last, but not least, my mom:

Wahoo Yahoo!!

I laughed all day long as their emails came in. And then we all had a wonderful time eating at Zupas and watching Dear John. Can't wait to do it again!

And It's Over...

This past weekend, Abbi decided that she is done nursing. It was kind of a bittersweet moment when I realized that the day was here. I knew it was coming - she was down to only first thing in the morning and right before bed, but I was still a bit sad when I realized what was happening. You see - I'm one of those people that loves nursing. I love that time with my baby, getting to snuggle and feel her close to me. I loved it when she would look up at me, and when she would rub her hand across my collarbone while she ate. I loved that I was always the first person she wanted in the morning and the last person she saw at night. I loved brushing my fingers over her hair while I looked down and wondered how I got so lucky to have such a wonderful, perfect little girl. And now, those moments are gone, and my little girl has grown up into a toddler. Luckily, she is still a cuddler and loves to be cuddled to sleep. And she will (almost) always give me loves when I ask for them. I never realized how hard it would be to let go and let her grow up!

On the other end, though, I no longer have to worry about biting, which was happening more and more as the nursing sessions shortened. And maybe in the near future, I'll be able to button up some of my shirts that have not fit, because - well - if you have nursed a baby, you know what I'm talking about. I'm not looking forward to exercising and eating healthy now, though, because nursing has been the best diet I've ever been on. I'm down 5 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight, and really, I've basically eaten whatever I've wanted over this past year. Now I find myself questioning every little thing I put in my mouth.

I can't believe my little girl is now such a big girl!

Book #11 - Enna Burning

Enna Burning
Shannon Hale

This is the second in the Goose Girl series (Books of Bayern). If you remember, I just loved The Goose Girl. And this one was almost as good! Although this is only the second Shannon Hale book I've read, I'm quickly becoming a huge fan.

This book follows the story of Enna, who was a secondary character in the first book. It was fun to see things from a different character's perspective. Now the third book has been requested and I can't wait to read it!

Have you read this book? Share your feelings!

{Abbi-a-Day} Days 43-49

Because she's not always smiley!!

Curious, curious...

Yes - she has figured out how to get onto the couch by herself. We are in trouble!

You Capture - Kisses

This week's You Capture theme is Kisses - so I thought I'd take this opportunity to take pictures of my family and introduce them!

Let me start off by saying how much I love my family. They are my best friends, and I'm so grateful to live so close to all of them!


First up, the 2 that started it all - my parents. High school sweethearts, and married for going on 39 years. Growing up, I never doubted that my parents loved each other. My dad would constantly tell us kids how much he loved my mom and how beautiful he thought she was. And he still does it today! They are such an example!!


This is my older sister and her husband. They have 5 kids, and she is super mom. I don't know how she juggles everything and stays sane!


Then comes my brother - the only boy - and his wife. They have 3 beautiful children. They are the only ones who have lived away from everyone during our married lives, and I'm so glad that life has brought them back so that we all live so close to each other!


Then it's me. And I don't have a current kissing picture of my husband and I. How sad is that!! (Since I'm the one usually behind the camera, I don't find myself in front of it very often. I need to change that!) We will have been married for 5 years this November, and he is the love of my life and my best friend. He is always my biggest cheerleader and always stands behind me 100%.


Then comes my younger sister. We had some good times growing up since we are only 19 months apart. She is always there when I need advice - everything from child questions to what to make for dinner!


And then the last of the bunch, my youngest sister. Although it's almost weird to call her my youngest sister when she has 3 kids and I only have 1!! Her and her husband and kids spend time in Australia every winter, and I'm always so glad when she gets home.

I seriously have the best family. And I pray every day that all of my future children grow up to love their siblings like I love mine. I can't imagine life without them!

Bubbles!!

It is moments like these when I think about what life was missing before Abbi. This is pure joy. Watching your baby girl get giddy and excited over something as simple as bubbles.


You know that you are sick and tired of winter when you decide to go crazy with the bubbles inside. But regardless of the mess it made, (and the time it took to clean up afterward), it was all worth it to see this little girl squeal and chase after the bubbles.


She tried to catch them, she chased after them, and yes - she even tried to eat them. And although I'm over the snow and am ready for the spring, I find myself almost wishing for another snowstorm to see if she would react in a similar way to the snowflakes coming down around her.


I think she would have gone on for hours. It was so fun to watch the joy on her face and to see her laugh and smile at something so simple. I think I need to learn a lesson from her - to enjoy the little things more!


And yes - these were super bubbles. These things lasted forever. In fact, a couple of days later, I found a bubble that still hadn't popped stuck on the side of the fridge!


I think my little girl will now have a love affair with bubbles. I can't wait until spring and summer when we can run free in the backyard with them!

Book #10 - No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
Alexander McCall Smith

This book was actually recommended to me years ago by a coworker. But I had forgotten all about it until I was at the library one day, and happened to look up on the shelf to see other books from this series. So I searched for this book - the first - but there wasn't a copy. So I went to the computers and requested it.

It's a cute book! Not one that totally draws you in, begging you to keep reading, but a good book nonetheless. It's pretty short, so it was a quick read. I'll be checking out the others in the series soon! (And from the looks of it, it has been turned into a movie on HBO. Never seen it because I don't have HBO, but I'm curious...)

Have you read this book? Share your feelings!

Happy Valentine's Day!

This year for Valentine's Day, we had a family get-together! My dad was leaving the next day for a few months for work, so we took the opportunity to all get together and see him one last time before he left.


And since it was Valentine's Day and all, we decided to celebrate! The kids each got to decorate a bag for their valentines.


Then they went around and gave each of their cousins a valentine. Abbi even played along, even though she didn't really know what was going on and Josh and I got to eat any candy she got!

I love holidays!

Gardner Village

Last week, Josh's mom, Abbi and I all took a trip up to Gardner Village. I had never been there before, but I know I'll be back! The main purpose of our trip was to check out the photo studio up there, but we had fun going through the shops and looking at everything.

The day started off rainy, so we didn't think the ducks would be out, and we didn't bring any bread with us. Luckily, the sun sort of came out, and the ducks did, too. Abbi loved them. And tried to jump right out of her stroller! Makes me eager for warmer weather and spring and summer afternoons spent feeding and chasing after the ducks!

There are so many cute shops there. Abbi loved all the dolls, and was drawn to more than one tea set. I need to find her a little plastic set that she can play with. There were all kinds of little treasures to be found, like this fun princess headband. Since Abbi is in the stage of hating anything on head, this didn't last long, but it was cute while it was there!

We enjoyed a lunch of Tomato Ravioli soup and rolls, and Abbi and I shared a chocolate cookie. Abbi loves that she can eat grown up food right along with her mommy!

And she loved that nanas kept giving her the buttered pieces of rolls. Yummy!

12of12 February

Another 12of12 day that noon rolled around before I remembered and got my camera out!! And even though it was a pretty uneventful day, I managed to capture a few things that went on in our lives.

1 - Taste and Tell was featured on Giveaway Today! I spent some time there going over the different entries to see what people had to say.
2 - Finished Wicked. Thank goodness.
3 - Josh, Abbi, Max and I went out to run a few errands. One stop at Babies R Us to check prices on car seats and to buy safety latches for the kitchen drawers that Abbi has been getting into.
4 - A stop at the library to pick up 2 new books that I had reserved and that had come available.
5 - A quick lunch at Wendy's - nice and healthy chicken nuggets.
6 - Abbi stealing my new books
7 - Max sleeping. This goes on a lot every day, though!
8 - Lots of playing. This goes on every day, too!
9 - Searching for something to make for dinner since I didn't start the crockpot like I had planned to
10 - snacks for Abbi
11 - Watched a little bit of the opening ceremonies
12 - Ended up with a PB&J for dinner!

{Abbi-a-Day} Days 36-42

Giving loves to her teddy bear

More loves!

The adorable skirt and doll Kacy made her for Christmas

Getting snacks from daddy

Grocery shopping!

Crumbs on her face - a normal occurrence around here!

Abbi the princess

Book #9 - Wicked

Wicked
Gregory Maguire

Let me first start off by saying that a couple weekends ago, I started 2 books that I ended up putting down and returning to the library. The first had such horrible language, then the second had some other issues that I just didn't want to read about. I've always had a hard time starting a book and not finishing it, so this was really hard for me. But I wish I would have put this one down, too. I hated it. But by the time I decided I didn't want to read it, I was probably into it 100 pages, and I had already invested that much time, so I decided to finish. Yeah, doesn't make much sense. But it didn't get any better, and I just ended up wasting a lot more time!

I have heard rave reviews about this Broadway production. I haven't heard one person that didn't love it. And I didn't know it started out as a book, until I saw a copy of the book. I thought the book should be good if the Broadway show is, but boy, was I wrong!!

There is a little bit of swearing, and some sex. And nothing I liked about this book. There was a lot of politics, and if I was more into politics, I'm sure there was some underlying message through the book, but I just didn't get it. I found myself reading, and then minutes later, not even remembering what I read. I didn't find any of the characters likable, and frankly, I just like the original Wizard of Oz story much better.

I wouldn't recommend this one to anyone!!

Have you read this book? Share your feelings!

Wordless Wednesday - Kids are Weird

(yes - she did this all by herself. I walked into her room to find her like this. Luckily I had the camera close by!)