Blue-eyed Girls

These are the only 2 good pictures I got because she was too concerned with looking around making sure a small little lovebug wasn't flying towards her.

I have not posted a video in FOR-EV-ER! I'm trying to organize pictures right now because I'm going on a scrapping weekend in a few weeks. Looking back at my old posts, I was so much better with video. I know a lot of my friends that don't live here haven't actually gotten to hear Abby's voice or how she says things. When she comes home from school she is usually just talking up a storm about all kinds of things that she's done...I decided this was my perfect opportunity! Granted there wasn't much school talk going on here, but she still had plenty to say :)

I'm SO pleased!

This school thing has been fantastic! The first day, sure, Abby looked a little unsure of things. But it was the first day. Every time that's followed, she's ready! Her teachers are really wonderful, and she's come home with the cutest little crafty things. She's really having a great time, and I can tell because she doesn't glance back once to tell me bye. She's in the door and ready to play. Honestly, I LOVE that feeling. The feeling of knowing that she's having a good day, and she's excited about being there.

She wore her hair in a little ponytail today.

I don't know what this pose is about, but in her hand is one of those stickers that comes from a new shirt....y'know with the size down it? She's obsessed with them. Before I got her dressed, so put the sticker down her leg.
I love how she alway sticks her cup under her arm. She carries it like this all the time!

On the way to school, she needed her glasses. When she puts them on she says, "Cool, Mommy."
And I love that she mimics everything I do...like when I walk into a building, and I put my sunglasses up on my head like this.

This was from a few weekends ago, our friend Anna turned 3! She had face painting at her party, and Abby sat oh-so-still to get a butterfly painted on her cheek.

And this was from even longer ago, when I went to the Children's Museum with a few friends. Abby next to never falls asleep in the car anymore. But I must've worn her out. I love the fact that when they're so tired...they fall asleep...then as you make a turn, their head just rolls with the turn. So she went from this position--to this position. Sweet girl :)

My Super Cheeser Child

Yet another "cheese(y)!" smile from Abby. But when I look at this picture, I think I'm surprised how grown up she looks. And her hair. My goodness, there's a lot of it, isn't there? In person, I don't think it looks like this much, but this was freshly brushed right before her second day of school. That can make a difference, I think.I don't know how well you can tell in this picture, but those are small little weenie dogs all over her dress. Ahhh, how cute is that? I think I bought the whole weenie dog line out--seriously. I mean, we did have a weenie dog themed 2nd birthday party...so it was only right that I bought a lot of it!

School is going so super great. Granted we've only been 2 times, but neither time did she cry. In fact, on day 2, she was SO excited. Never even turned around to say bye--off she went! I love that! She calls her "Mrs. Sandy" teacher "Mrs. Sandy dog." I hope Sandy teacher isn't offended :) The teacher hugs and kisses her when she leaves. They make the cutest crafts each time. I'm loving it!

First Day Drop-off Success!

I started documenting her first day of school from the very beginning of the day. I walked in with the camera, and she stood up and said "cheese." :)
Then she showed me that her baby doll's hand fell off. Isn't that lovely? (Quick back story. The child has tons of super cute baby dolls. Nana B. was in town, and they took a trip into the Dollar Store where Abby had to have this particular doll--so says Nana, haha! And what do you know...its hand falls off!)

We got dressed, and it was picture posing time! I mean this "cheese" smile is, well, just that--so darn cheesy! And she wouldn't let go of the stroller, so fine--have the stroller in your picture, haha.

Trying to get a Mommy and Abby picture...

But then she was telling me the light was too bright (when it flashed)

Then she really started to work with me...I would tell her to sit, or do something with your feet, or crouch down. And she did!

Then we got to school, but she was too busy looking at everyone in the parking lot. I was able to get her with her backpack. She won't wear it on her back. I guess she thinks she's too cool for that :)

Her Class.

And the final look she gave me right before she went in to her class. Holding her hair--sweet girl. I think she was a little nervous, but not ONE tear was shed. She walked right in! I'm so proud of her being a big girl!

And now I'm off to see how her actual day was!! I can't wait to hear her stories :)

The long awaited...

FIRST day of school is upon us! Woohoo :) Don't get me wrong, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my little Abby girl, but it's soooo good to have this time. And I absolutely adore hearing/seeing the things she comes home doing/singing/saying.

If you don't have Facebook or if I haven't talked to you, then you haven't gotten to find out that my child is in the "Playful Puppies" class. But wait, it gets better! Not only is she in the Playful Puppies class, but one of her teacher's names is Mrs. Sandi! I mean, how much more perfect can it be??! Seriously, I'm ecstatic over this. It's completely meant to be. We even met Mrs. Sandi today. And what a nice lady she is! She asked Abby, "What's your name?" and Abby replied, "I wanna go bye-bye." Niiiice. Abby completely laid on the drama by putting down the most pitiful bottom lip ever when she thought I was getting up to walk away and leave her. I told her teacher all the same 'ol stuff --we just need to get back in this routine, if she cries it'll stop shortly after I leave, we were here last year, yadda, yadda. Sometimes I just feel they're thinking in the back of their head, "Oh great, a clingy, crying child who doesn't want mommy to leave." (They gave me no impression like this whatsoever! These are obviously just my own insecurities.) Instead of them reassuring me that everything is going to be fine, I feel like I'm reassuring them that everything is going to be fine. Silly? Maybe. I just don't want to feel like Abby is going to be complicated for them. She won't be. She hasn't ever been. She'll do fine...I know that...I just know that they don't know that---yet. Y'know what I mean?

Because of my extra excitedness of this Playful Puppies class, and the love we have for our sweet Sandy...I had to get her outfit all planned out tonight. Ahhh, Gymboree--you keep on amazing me. This weenie dog line has Abby's name written all over it :)

Tomorrow, I'll actually have pictures with the munchkin in the clothes :)

Who wouldn't love...

to put their underpants on their head??! (Won't Abby just love me for these pictures someday??!) We aren't actually potty training yet, but we're gearing up. She found her princess panties in her cabinet while I was hanging clothes up. When I turned around, this is the process I was seeing--so what else was I to do except start snapping pictures?! :)

This is Abby looking completely dazed and sleepy. She was so close to falling asleep in the car. I love that she puts her arms behind her head like that in her carseat.

Our Austin Friends...

The Ege's! They don't really "belong" in Austin, but it's where they are for now :) And we were so happy that we got to visit them last weekend! We had a great time!

We got there around 8:45ish Friday night. Caleb greeted us, naked, at the door. Perfect. I guess the Ege's are really getting into the slogan "Keep Austin Weird." haha, kidding! They wanted to play together for a bit before bed, so they had their fun time being silly on the mattress pulled out for us.

The next morning we went to their mall. It had a nice little area to ride some cars...and by ride, I just mean those little rides where you put in 75 cents, and it goes back and forth. Honestly, I've never done them for Abby when we're at Wal-mart or something. So this probably was her first time with it. She chose to ride on Thomas.

Then the kiddos got in the pink car together....

Then we went to the little mall play area...and she followed Caleb wherever he went!

For the rest of Saturday the guys had their fun--playing basketball. And then Kim and I got our chance to shop a little and scrap.

Sunday morning, it was time for some group pictures. First of just the kids. (LOVE Caleb's arm around the girls.) Are these kiddos precious or what?

Then I LOVE when we set-up the camera and get a shot with everyone in it! It's so funny to try to tell the kids, "ok, watch the light blink, here it comes, here it comes..." It cracks me up, but then again, maybe I'm easily amused :)
We visited their church and then drove around a bit to see the houses in "hill country." It really is so weird to see so many hills, but it's really beautiful, too! Then we went out to eat at a BBQ place. It was great!

I love this picture of Caleb...it's just too cute!

We are so thankful we got to have that time with them! Thanks, Ege's, for letting us crash at your place, keep you up late with our hilarious conversations, and take over Callie's room--can't wait to do it again :)