Abby's Swim Buddy

We were blessed with a visit from Aunt Shue recently, and although we all thoroughly enjoyed every minute, Abby especially enjoyed it. Abby told me before Aunt Shue arrived that "Aunt Shue loves me because she finds me". Aunt Shue tirelessly plays hide-n-seek with Abby on every visit, and she plays it just like a three-year-old expects... which means that she wholeheartedly searches for Abby even when Abby discloses to her exactly where she will hide before the game even begins. It usually goes something like this, "Aunt Shue, you close your eyes and count while I hide under the bed". Then, Aunt Shue looks everywhere but under the bed for the first three or four minutes, while Abby loudly laughs from her not-so-secret hiding place. On this trip, Sue also climbed in and out of a cardboard fort made out of refrigerator boxes that was lovingly decorated and dubbed "Cousins Cottage" by Aunt Melissa. Aunt Shue was given another adoring nickname on this visit -- "swim buddy" -- because she patiently stuck by Abby as she bopped from the hot tub to the big pool back to the hot tub over and over again. I forgot to ask Aunt Shue if she broke any records on her pedometer while she was here. We all miss her!

Happy Birthday Baby

OK, this is sad. I am blogging about a babydoll's birthday before I am blogging about our sweet Katie's first birthday! Check back soon for Katie's birthday! Abby woke up one morning and declared that it was Baby Doll's first birthday. So, making a reasonable and rational decision, I planned an impromptu party and purchased gourmet cupcakes from Cupcake Couture. Yum! Ok, so I was really very pleased to have an excuse to buy a half dozen yummy cupcakes. We partied at my parents' neighborhood pool, sang "happy birthday", watched Baby Doll blow out her candle and enjoyed sugary bliss. The sweetest moment for me was when I peeked into Abby's room where she had disappeared alone for quite a while before the party, and I discovered her dressing Baby Doll in a frilly pink party dress and shoes just like a real mom would. So precious.

Just Like My Popop

"Mama, Mama! Hey, Mama! Look at me! This is just like Popop!"

Sweet Celebration

Of course, as part of our role as parents, we aim to train Abby's heart with many different tools. I have to say, however, that the most enjoyable one is the "family celebration" tool. When Abby has a stellar day with no disobedience and no fits, whining, complaining, then we all get to celebrate together. Yesterday was one of those days! So, after dinner we all went out for ice cream. Thanks for a great day, Abby!


Katie and Daddy say, "keep up the good work, Abby!"

Abbyisms

1. As we are walking out the door to drop her at summer school, she gets an urgent look on her face and says, "Mom, your pants don't match!" Huh? Is my 3-yr-old really giving me fashion advice?

2. "Haha! Mom, I ran into the wipees and went ka-boom! Watch! I'll show you!" Then reinacts the scene with lots of laughter.

3. "Watch me!" "Watch me!" "Watch me!"

4. After not taking a nap at Mimi's and Mimi telling her that she could not watch a DVD because she had not slept yet, "Mimi, work with me here!" So, Jake. Can't you hear him now?

5. She is so excited about summer school at her new preschool that she is already dressed and ready with shoes on by the time she opens her door and hollers down the hall in the morning. On Monday when I went in to get her, she said, "Look, Fancy Nancy is standing all by herself. She was holding Cindy, but I had to take Cindy since she was going to poop in her panties and she is too little to wear panties. Oh, and look at Fancy Nancy's panties they have lace like mine." When I pointed out that Nancy's did not have a bow like hers and that Nancy would love a bow since she is so fancy, without missing a beat, Abby said, "She did have a bow on her panties, but Cindy pulled it off because they were fighting over the bow and they both wanted it." She lives and breathes her pretend world so richly. So fun to see how naturally it comes to her. When I enter into pretend world with her, it is an effort for me to stay for long... but I try, for her benefit and mine...

Daisy's Biggest Fan

Daisy's biggest fan happens to be the littlest member of our family. Every day she stands at the kitchen window watching Daisy, hollering, knocking on the window and even "woofing". Here are a few clips of Katie's affection for Daisy.

First Visit to Chuck E Cheese

Abby and Katie had their first visit to Chuck E Cheese a few months ago. I was not even aware that Chuck E Cheese still existed until Abby began to notice the sponsor ads before Sesame Street and asked about it. One day when Mimi was watching Sophia, a neighbor's little girl while her Mommy was having a baby, we decided it would be a good activity to visit Chuck E Cheese with all the girls. We had a great experience. Even Katie had a ball. We decided the trick is to go around 10am on a weekday during the school year to avoid crazy crowds. We nearly had the place to ourselves, which made it pleasantly easy to keep an eye on the girls.

A Ballerina Inspired

Mimi treated Abby to a tea party with Angelina Ballerina and a ballet performance several months ago. Before the tea, Abby and I had never heard of Anegelina Ballerina, but she is now a HUGE fan. So adoring is Abby that Dora is history! Angelina's all the rage in our house now. And so is ballet. We had dabbled in learning ballet positions before, but now she enthusiastically initiates the lessons. She plies, pirourettes, grand jetes...all over the place. She was thrilled to find a new pretty pink leotard with a tiny little skirt that looks like a tutu in a box shipped from Aunt Sue, and she quickly told me that a pair of silver flats in the box were "ballet shoes." She wears her ballet outfit around the house a lot, reminding me of myself as a little girl. Here are some photos from the tea party with Mimi. The completely girly, sassy tutu from her Aunt Kim made the perfect outfit for the event.

Vicarious Dining

Here's a shot of Abby feeding cousin Piper back in May. I love the way she vicariously opens her mouth wide along with Piper.

Hangin Out

I am trying to catch up on my blog, which means there will be a bunch of quick outdated posts. Here are some photos from Abby's last haircut appointment as a 2-year-old, at the very end of April. Katie was taking it all in, and trying to hard to act like a big girl. Sadly, she is starting to look like one too.

Jam Session

Abby always requests her music to be turned on in the car, and lately Katie always grins, laughs and dances in her seat. Lately, Abby is hooked on a CD from our church VBS program. Katie approves too! Here's a video we caught recently.

Sisters

The girls are starting to look more like "sisters" to me, rather than a preschooler and a baby... you know, the kind of sisters that knock around together, laugh together, and "occasionally" fight over toys :-). There is little doubt that Abby enjoys being Katie's big sister, as she tells every stranger in every store that happens to make eye contact with her that "this is my little sister", and I overheard her telling Katie recently, "you are so much precious to me". Of course, if this it to remain an honest blog, I must also say that I "occasionally" hear Katie screaming because Abby tries to micromanage her, which interferes with Katie's drive to independently explore her world. And, to put it mildly, Katie knows how to scream! Here's a sample: http://daddyoleo.blogspot.com/. So, we are having lots of fun around here! Whew!

When I am a Mommy

Tonight as I was cuddling with Abby at bedtime, she randomly said, "Mommy, when you get little, I am going to be your mommy. I am going to buckle you into the car and run back in the house to get things. And when you throw-up, I am going to get you your bucket. And when you are sick, I am going to pack your backpack and take you to the hospital. OK? Let me show you what I mean... (standing up out of the bed) See, you will be this tall (as short as her bellybutton) and I will be this tall (as tall as her arms can stretch)...

Katie hanging with the Kyle boys!