Cousin Piper

Now we are all counting our many blessings that Piper is well! Of course, Mel, Billy, Mimi & Popop have had a very good reason for not sharing photos yet... but now that Piper is well, the clock is ticking, dontcha think? I did get to see her and hold her, but not for long enough, so I keep looking (in vain) for some photos to study... I am sure I am not alone in waiting excitedly for more photos of the beautiful baby and happy parents. Ok, ok, ok, so maybe I should have thought to take my own camera to Austin for the big meeting so that I could have shared photos... so I am equally to blame! :-)

Blanksie Washing

Have you ever watched a toddler trying to wait patiently on her blankie in the wash??? The range of emotions is pretty humorous. In this case, the clock was ticking past bedtime, as the whole family gathered in front of the "chines" (for "machines") to wait on clean & fresh-out-of-the-dryer blankies, because Mommy messed up by throwing all of the "back-up" blankies into the wash all at the same time...right before bedtime... where is my brain these days?

Baby Kate

Baby Gray #2 is "scheduled" to arrive on July 6th! Unless she has a mind of her own like her big sister and decides to come early, she will share a birthday with her Popop! How fun! (Clarification- her big sister definitely has a mind of her own... but definitely did not come early... we had to practically beg her to come 10 days after her due date). We have decided to name Baby Gray #2 either Katherine or Katelyn Reese Gray... we decided to leave the exact first name to be decided when we first meet her... we need a little surprise afterall.. here's a glimpse of her room all ready for her...


(Thanks to friends and family for hand-me-down furniture! Makes it easier not having to take from Abby yet!)

And a glimpse of her very excited big sister, who requests to have pretend "sleepytime" in Baby Kate's bed at least once a day... something tells me that this won't end when little sis arrives...



Here's a shot of big sister INSISTING with real tears that she needed to be buckled into Kate's carseat and carried around the house by Daddy!


Oh, what fun we are in for very soon...

Cimmin Addiction

"Cimmin", anyone?

The double layer of jammies gives away the fact that the video clip was taken in much colder days... back in early February actually. Here's our little chef who has developed an early addiction to "cimmin". She would sprinkle it on everything if we let her... from scrambled eggs to ice cream to spaghetti. But you have to listen closely to distinguish "cimmin" from "simmin"... maybe only Mommy can make the distinction... although the words may sound similar, they imply two entirely different series of events... while one requires only a trip to the spice rack and the selection of a suitable delivery mechanism, the other requires a swimmy diaper, bathing suit, floaties and a car trip to Mimi and Popop's backyard pool.

Hug Me!

"Hug me!" As if she had to ask...

Mommy has been way behind on blogging for months, ever since contract work resumed & lots of other crazy things started going on all while Mommy's energy level continues to drop off as due date inches closer... Good thing for me, Abby is at an age that provides a steady flow of good material that needs little clever commentary to be enjoyable... so here you go! Enjoy! Got lots more where this came from... I'll try to post another tomorrow.

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checking poopoo

pick up poopoo

Turning Two

Here's the birthday girl 10 minutes before party-time... Mommy is still running around like a crazy woman. Thankfully, Mimi and Popop arrived early to lend a last minute hand with important things like dressing the birthday girl in her "Bitty" dress!


The party was lots of fun, with plenty of photo ops...


Not too bad for a group shot of wiggly toddlers!


Lots of flowers planted...


...by pretty little girls in pretty party dresses


Lots of garden-themed cupcakes...


...and tears over the pressure of blowing out candles... actually, not sure what caused the tears...and after all that practice blowing out candles in the weeks leading up to the big party... too much attention?!


But, not to worry, the birthday girl found a secret hideout to enjoy her "buthday cake" without all that attention! Thanks Mimi, Popop, Buzzy, Pops, Mom & Dad for the fabulous new playhouse!


Already following in her Daddy's entrepreneurial footsteps... open for business & selling ice cold bottled water to all the party guests!


Already knows how to use that smile for good...


Again, following in her Daddy's footsteps with goofy antics like plunging her face into the ice cold water!


Wahoo!


And during the last half hour of the party, the birthday girl gave nearly exclusive attention to her new baby-doll. This doll was literally a "show-stopper". It was the second present she opened, and she disappeared with the doll, never to return to open the remainder of the presents during the party. When she woke up from her nap after the party, I told her that she still had presents to open, and she said "no way!" and ran into the living room to excitedly open all of the presents.