Sneak Peek

Here you go! Our Lil' Stinker!!

Windy Out, Fun Inside

Oh October, I don't enjoy your rainy/windy days as much as I once did. At one point in my life a day like today meant hot cider or hot coco, a good book and a cozy blanket. But, now I have Abby and even though she enjoys a good book, it doesn't keep her attention for more than a few minutes. What to do, what to do....

Obviously, Abby was thinking the same thing (and Snuggles too):




So, I got out the Discovery Tent and Tunnel for the first time and she loved it! I'm guessing that this gift will get more than its fair share of use!!

Snuggles (and later Konig) seem to like it too!

It turned out to be a fun day after all! Abby makes me laugh and smile more that I ever thought possible! On another note, Abby learned to say "Cracker" today too. Imagine that, fun and learning all in the same day ;)

A Great Fall Weekend

We went to the Ann Arbor Children's Museum with Emily and the girls on Saturday and the cider mill and pumpkin patch today! Other than Abby having her first case of the Snarphs for the season, it was a GREAT weekend!

Just Another October Day

Ahhhhh, what a good day today was! First, Abby and I got up around 8:15 (after a rather restless night--up at 12:40, 1:20 and 3:15....) and had breakfast. We chatted about animals and the sounds they make. It is amazing how fast she is learning things. Of course, she knows some better than others but it is pretty funny to hear her interpretation of some too. Here is a little video of our breakfast (excuse the first part, I was trying to hide the camera so she wouldn't cry for the baby...I failed).

Then, it was time for a nap. Abby took a 2 hour nap again today!!!!!!! This is the third time this week that she has taken a LONG nap (read-longer than her typical 40 minutes). Tuesday it was 2 hours, Wednesday it was 1:20. I think we might be on to something...

Then after a little trip to Kroger for a few things (organic 1/2 gallons of milk are on sale BTW) we took a little nap then did a little dancing. Abby loves Dance-a-lot Robot, especially the Flower Dance. Get your dancing shoes ready:

Playing in the Leaves

Just a quick post of Abby's fall frolic in the back yard! Ahhh, the wonders of fall and little ones!!!

Beetle Juice

As you know, we started the weaning process back in July. Sadly, though inevitable, we have been done nursing for about a month now. Abby survived, as did I, and we have been living a life of formula only ever since.

Today brought another change to this journey as Michael answered the phone to find that our local Kroger store was giving us a courtesy call regarding the Similac recall. Thank you Kroger and to Similac I say: YUCKKKKKKKK!!! I am sad to report that we have two cans of the recalled formula, one of which is 3/4 gone. DOUBLE YUCKKKKKKK! These were going to be last two cans we would need since we got the go ahead from the Dr. to move on to milk, but needless to say--we won't be using them. So on to the store I went to get our first gallon of whole milk.



As a skim milk drinker, all I have to say is that I never realized just how white and thick that stuff is! But, Abby didn't seem to mind. In fact she chugged it! I am so relieved that she didn't fight the switch that I could cry! I thought we would have the same fight as we had when switching her from breast mile to formula---ounce by ounce switching---slow and steady---not that many ounces in a day. I hope she still likes it in the morning!

I Love Sleep

So, I have to confess...I slept until 11:30 this morning after going to bed at about 11 the night before. Yes, I spent 11 and 1/2 hours in bed (minus the 3:30 trek to Miss Abby's room to close her window b/c it was getting a bit too cold and the walk to the alarm clock at 6 to turn it off...). When Abby woke at 7 am I had MJ go get her and we snuggled/wrestled til 8 when MJ took her downstairs for breakfast and such. They came back around 8:45 (I think) and MJ showered and got ready for a visit with his friend who recently had a baby while Abby and I snuggled/played. When they left I told myself that I should get up, but I dozed off again until the phone rang at 11:29. Yikes!

At first I felt guilty for sleeping the morning away....

Then I chuckled. I thought to myself: I deserve this! I work hard, everyday, at being a good mommy and wife and seldom do for myself. MJ tells me all the time to stop being so hard on myself (especially over silly things like this)... Who cares if I slept til noon? Just then, MJ called and said they were on their way home.

Funny how that happens. So up I jumped. And after a trip to the bathroom to put my contacts in (and the obvious...I just spent 11 1/2 hours in bed people...), in went a load of laundry, I picked up a few things before heading downstairs and yes it all began again...

Every Little Girl's Dream

At the ripe old age of one, Abby has fulfilled every little girl's dream: owning a pony! Ok, ok, it is not a REAL pony, so I guess she can still dream. But hey, her plush Radio Flyer rock and jump pony will do for now! Aunt Wendy and Uncle Scooby gave Abby this for her birthday and I just got around to putting it together for her... I have to say that this looks like it will be a lasting relationship...

Free for a Follower

I keep getting those Enfagrow coupons and into the recycling they go. Each time I feel guilty. Each time I think, I wish I knew someone who could use them.

So, the first Follower of this blog to e-mail me their address (journeysandjoy(at)gmail(dot)com) will get four (4) five dollar ($5) ENFAGROW manufacturer coupons AND one (1) five dollar ($5) ENFAGROW KROGER coupon.

Hope one of you can use them!

No Longer an Infant

Abby's second year is off to a...hummm...uneventful/sassy start. We haven't done much other than regroup ourselves after the big party and a bought of the fever and sore throats. Even so, Abby continues to blossom into her own little person!

In the last few weeks it is amazing just how much she is starting to understand. You can tell her to "take the ball to Daddy" and she will go across the room, pick up the ball and take it to Daddy! Or, when you tell her it is time for a nap or "night, night" she heads to the stairs so she can go to her room. She loves to "clean up" and "help" when asked, to play hide and seek or pretend to cook in her kitchen. She has become quite the little monkey too! She loves to climb up and down the stairs, well on pretty much anything she can find. Abby has turned in to a little Lovebug too! She loves to give hugs and kisses, she will come from across the room and lay her head on you and start to pat your back or leg while giving a little "ahhhhh". It is to funny and oh-so-cute!

Her vocabulary is growing too! Her new words are ball, bear, banana, teddy, shoe, sock, nose (points to it), book (and signing it too), cheese (she signs it and requests it first thing in the morning...)Os (as in Cheerios, she is signing this too). I think that is about it. She loves music, so much so, we were playing the piano the other day and she started singing her own little song! This girl is a TALKER!!!!

Her sass has blossomed as well! She has started to throw herself on the floor when she gets mad or tries pushing out of her highchair with all her might when she doesn't get what she wants to eat. Her latest has been fighting to go to bed at night...yet again! This seems to be an issue EVERY time she get the least bit sick. After getting her back to health, it seems to take four nights of retaining (a.k.a. 45-90 minutes of crying and screaming in her crib) to get her back to going to sleep on her own. It never gets easier for us, each time it like tourer for all of us. But, tonight was a good night--it was the first night in almost two weeks that she went to bed without crying--Thank the Lord!!