Present and accounted for

Whew, we're still here, I promise. Honestly if I didn't put up pictures I would post more often. I hate really dislike organizing/editing photos....especially since I didn't do any of that for almost 4 months after Abigail was born. Can we say over 400 photos that weren't in any type of folder or category?

But, the best part about this blog is, I'm pretty sure, the photos of Abigail. So I'll keep pushing on. To entertain you in the meantime here's a video of what it looks like when spoons are in use at our house.

It's here!!!

One year old today! Hip, hip, Hooray!!

Happy Birthday my sweet Abigail!
 From the very beginning you absolutely filled up our hearts,

but somehow each day brings even more fullness, and we love it. And you.

We love your funny faces,

how easily you get tickled at yourself,

(we were out for a walk on a 32 degree day. Christmas Story anyone?) 

 

 

and the simple joys you find in each day.

they all delight our hearts on a regular basis.

chasing Mimi

And the delight we find in you must be, I think, just a small taste of what God's delight in us feels like.

 We love you sweet girl, I'm so glad your ours!

First Birthday Thoughts

So, a couple of months ago (I really do believe it was October), we received a wonderful catalog in the mail that we had, mysteriously, never asked for (don't you love companies that sell your information?).

It was full of pages and pages of things I could buy to.....wait for it.................pull off a perfect 1st birthday!  And just a first birthday. No 2nd or 16th birthdays celebrated here, no siree.

Pages and pages of $100 ways to decorate. Not, mind you, $100 for a cake, party and clown shipped to your door. But $100 to have matching plates; pinatas; wall stickers; and, my personal favorite: a photo mat all the 1yr-old friends could sign as a keepsake for your sweet little one.

My decorating thoughts generally run to balloons, a cake and candles, and maybe some confetti thrown out. The daring side of me had seen pictures of these:

on a friend's blog and toyed with the idea of really branching out to do something fancy :o)  But fear not fair friend! 1st Wishes Birthday catalog was here to the rescue.

Actually, as a disclaimer, everything was really cute. Just not $150 cute.

But, if I were to buy something (say in my wildest imaginations), it would have been this:

who knew? Although, my favoritest, favoritest part of the whole thing? This disclaimer:

Product Safety Information: Close (x)

• WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD – Small parts. Not for children under 3 yrs.
• WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD – Children under 8 yrs. can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Adult supervision required. Keep uninflated balloons from children. Discard broken balloons at once.

Poor 1st birthday girl would be too small to use them. 

She's shaping up to have 2 parties though, so I think we'll be just fine :o)
(btw- Have I mentioned lately that she's running? Sweet girl is so proud that she can walk with something in each hand, she'll start speeding up and face plant. Lord have mercy on her eyes so she doesn't poke something out!)

11 months

Mmm, mmm we already have a disk full of photo shoot pictures! Nate & Arancha Photography did a fantastic job editing and we're really, really pleased.

We now are the proud owners of an 11 month photo ( or several), Christmas card pics, and the temptation to print out way more poses than good sense dictates.

She was cold; had a runny nose, watering eyes and a hungry stomach... but Abigail persevered ( with the help of a graham cracker) and we got some fantastic shots  (and Arancha did some great editing!).

This, to me, looks like Amelia Bosma? Anyone else?

This is her "about to starting fussing" face. So we quit here :o)

 Sigh; I'm one content mama. 

 Plus, I felt pretty,

 

 and John looked handsome.

....seems like a winner to me.

Sneak Peak

   A couple of weeks ago John gave me my birthday present (I love extended birthdays).

Usually I do not ( definitely do not) want to know what I'm getting as a present. Please never hold something up asking if this is what I want and then buy it then and there. Surprise is my operative word for gifts...Usually.
This year though, I asked for a family photo shoot. And that's exactly what John gave me :o)

I love, love outdoor photo sessions with photographers. It's just, more fun, than going inside the Sears studio and getting everyone carefully set up in front of a lambskin backdrop.

I mean, this is good, with two such handsome guys how could it not be:

nicely done, gents.

But this is alive

from MA Family Institute

And I love things that are alive.


Sessions are often expensive, and I want digital rights, so I'd never really pursued it....until now :o)
We found a fantastic photographer (from Spain no less) with extremely reasonable prices AND she was fun to work with!!
Her website is: http://www.nateandaranchaphotography.com/  or here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nate-Arancha-Photography/59681445127?sk=wall;  she's excellent, sweet and so good at getting Abigail to smile.
Unfortunately for everyone else their family is moving to Spain next year to plant churches.

We should get the finished product today, but I wanted to show you a few of the pictures now. We took a couple of Abigail with her monkey and I'm hoping to use those for her 11 month growth-chart pics....she was awfully chilly and hungry though, so we'll see what came out :o)

 

 

Such fun. 

Spoonfed

Abigail decided today that she was old enough to use a spoon.
I got so excited that I"m offering you the once in a lifetime chance to see the raw, unedited footage.
Enjoy.

A Little Gossip

She turned 10months on the 19th. 

and was more interested in eating the mums than in smiling.

-We didn't take her out trick or treating this year, mostly because I forgot. There are a couple of neighbors, though, who would have loved to see her dressed up, especially since this was her costume:

 We were chicken farmers, she was the hen.....she wasn't too impressed, but everyone else loved it.

my favorite parts were the feathers and the John Deere hat. My husband is a good sport :o) 

 She's taken to whistling lately. I can't get her to whistle on command, but she gets a pretty good sound out as she purses her lips just so and blows.

It's adorable. 'nuff said.

 And, we're proud to announce: She's walking. As soon as I can catch it on video I'll send one your way. I think she got serious about it when she realized that walking gives her a much better chance of escaping outdoors. Every time I crack an outside door she runs, arms straight out, almost toppling the whole way, lunging for the stoop. Great wailing & gnashing of teeth ensue if I block her way, but that's another story.

We are also test-driving these:

mostly because we aspire to this . That sums it up.

Although I think this looks like more fun:

If I can figure out how to give John enough time, he can get this running:

then my "fun car quotient" will be filled and I can drive a van satisfied
( actually. I can drive a van satisfied anytime. But I would like a ride in the corvette....)