Wordless Wednesday - Mushroom Hunt

My mom and Abbie, pausing during our hike to check out a mushroom.

More photos from this weekend's adventure to follow shortly. :)

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Wordless Wednesday - A is for Abbie... and Aligator

Flashback to April 2006 when Abbie was 13mo...

And they meet again five months later...

*wink*

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Going Bearfoot...

Conversation with Abbie, as we were getting ready to go play outside:

Mommy: Get your shoes on, kids!
Abbie: I wanna wear my feet shoes
M: You mean go barefoot?
A: Yes, go out with my bare feet shoes!
M: No, it's just called barefoot, no shoes.
A: Oh okay.
M: Mommy likes going barefooted, too. We can go barefoot together!
A: [thinks a moment] No, you have bearfeet, I'll have deerfeet.

Wordless Wednesday - *meow*

Taken at the 2009 Roanoke Strawberry Festival.

No picture of Isaiah, as he was horrified at the idea of painting his face. (Which didn't surprise me. A couple days ago, I doodled a teeny smiley face on his hand with a marker, and he started screaming and sobbing until I washed it off.) Regardless, we all had a blast at the festival!

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Happy Birthday, Abbie!

Last Thursday (the 26th) was Abbie's birthday. I can hardly believe my little peanut is now FOUR! We were originally planning on having a campfire picnic to celebrate her birthday, but it was postponed due to rain. Instead we had family over for spaghetti and strawberry shortcake (both Abbie's choice). Here are a few pictures:

Fabric bunting I made and painted. Abbie picked out the colors herself. I made another one, alternating the colors, minus her name. I hope to use these for many years to come (as an alternative to disposable paper streamers/banners).

Abbie with one of her favoritest people in the world- my younger sister, Maggie.

Anxiously awaiting presents (wearing the felt crown I made just for her special day)

While singing Happy Birthday...

Abbie made a wish right before she blew out the candles, and it was the most precious thing. I wish I had it on video. She very quietly and quickly went "Iwannabeaprincess *bloooooow*" all in one breath. We didn't tell her to make a wish, and she really was just talking to herself. But her voice, I could tell she meant that wish with all her heart. Gave me goosebumps. *wub*

Something I do every year... snap a picture on the exact minute of their birth. So here is Abbie at 9:26pm, playing with a balloon as we said our goodbyes to everyone.

Despite the rain, I think Abbie still had an absolutely wonderful day. She was grinning ear-to-ear the whole day, which made my heart even more overjoyed than it already was. There is a little poem that I stumbled across on Abbie's first birthday, and it's always stuck with me. It goes

Your birthday was the day we first were us, And so for me it is a day twice blessed. I celebrate my having you twice over: First, that you are you, then that you're mine

And I am truly blessed to have such a spirited daughter who makes me laugh on a daily, no, hourly basis. Who is so creative and already quite the little artist. Who tells me "Mommy, you my girl" several times throughout the day, usually when I need to hear it the most. I love you so much, Abbie. Thank you for choosing me to be your momma. It's been quite the journey so far, and I'm looking forward to many more adventures with you.

Wordless Wednesday - Pretty in Mud

This sums up Abbie perfectly. She may like dressing up in pink frills and lace, but she's still a nature-loving outdoorsy girl through and through!

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Wordless Wednesday - Flashback to March 2007

These pictures were taken two years ago...

One of my all-time favorite pictures of Abbie (a couple weeks shy of age 2):

Love this one of Isaiah, as he was in such a good mood that day. Wasn't too many of those back then, unfortunately. (age 8 months)

And a bonus shot... mmmm, dandelions.

To read previous Wordless Wednesday posts on this blog, click here. Or to explore Wordless Wednesdays across the blogosphere, click here to visit the official WW site.

Wordless Wednesday - Thank goodness for Magic Erasers...

...and child labor, or else the walls (and floor, and fridge, and dishwasher, and stove, and microwave) would still be purple!!

That's Abbie in the picture (complete with her crazy morning hair), although Isaiah was the one who went haywire with a purple crayon. Actually, it was the first time he's ever done that- Abbie is the usual culprit as my little artist. But they were both more than willing to help clean it up, so it's all good. It was actually quite fun scrubbing the kitchen down together! :)

To read previous Wordless Wednesday posts on this blog, click here. Or to explore Wordless Wednesdays across the blogosphere, click here to visit the official WW site.

Wordless Wednesday - Snow Baby

We got our first substantial snowfall last night. Granted it was less than 3 inches, but it's the most we've gotten this winter, and the first time it's been enough to actually play in. However, I haven't had the chance to upload pictures from this morning, so you'll have to settle with a flashback. Here's Abbie, age 8 months, enjoying her first snow back in December 2005.

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Christmas 2008 - part II

What's in the stocking?

Daddy helping Princess Abbie put on the crown and fleece cape

Yes, I'm one of *those* parents who put fruit leather in their kids' stockings. But doesn't look like he's complaining!

Thomas actually didn't mean to pick up the Dora version, but as you can see, Abbie was thrilled to open her Dora Play-doh thingie.

The kids playing with their new trainset, still wearing their capes.

We weren't planning on buying this, but glad we did. Abbie and Isaiah both have already spent hours playing in it.

Christmas 2008 - part I

Best picture I could get of all three of them

Isaiah and Grandaddy (Isaiah's trying to "steal" his glasses from his pocket)

Putting the angel on the tree... oh wait, that cherub is Oliver!

Decorating the tree

Just a cute shot of Abbie

May you always dance...

Here's just a quick photo of Abbie dancing in the kitchen. It's my new favorite picture of her... I only wished I had centered it better. Although, to be fair, Isaiah was pushing me from behind, wanting me to twirl him around as well.

Wordless Wednesday - Three Sleeping Sprites

The kids were snuggled on the couch, watching the last few minutes of a movie a couple nights ago. I walked out of the room and when I came back, I guess bedtime had snuck up on them.

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I feel the same way...

This morning, the following conversation took place:

Me: What are you thankful for, Abbie? What makes you happy?

Abbie: (thinks for a second) You make me happy. (hugs me) Thank you, Mommy!

I feel the same way, peanut. Thank you for making me so happy. *wipes away happy tears*

The Littlest Entrepreneur...

Abbie was painting with watercolors yesterday, making these beautiful suns in a rainbow of colors. I complimented her, asking if I could have one to add to the artwork lining the hallway.

Her reply? "No, you hafta buy one".

I've had to explain countless times that she can't play with the lovey/wipes/bib/etc. that I'm making because someone is going to buy it. I guess she decided to start her own little business. (She finally gave me a painting... not like I gave her life or anything!)

She loves working along side me while I sew. The other day, I was making some Little Lovey Buddy Ladybugs. She cut circles out of red and black paper, glued them together, and then glued scraps of black ribbon that had fallen to the floor for the legs. And when I was working on my Cloth Diaper Cakes (coming soon!), she stole a few rubber bands, went to the our diaper basket, and started rolling diapers of her own to stack. :D

She is so wonderfully creative. I hope I can continue to foster it, as I never want her to lose that love of imagining and creating!

Wordless Wednesday - "I have boootiful eyes, mommy!"

Here's what happens when you leave your mascara in the reach of a 3yo...

`

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Abbie's birdie...

Abbie made this the other day out of blocks. The eyes are Isaiah's picture card magnets (for speech). It was surprising to suddenly see this creature appear on the floor. I couldn't stop laughing- it was just so cute!

Good thing I snapped a picture when I did, because moments afterwards, the bird was ripped limb from limb and scattered about the living room.

Funnel Cakes and Ferris Wheels!

Last Wednesday, we took the kids to the Buchanan Carnival. It's a really rinky-dinky, small-town affair, but the kids still enjoyed it. Abbie wanted to ride ALL the rides, but unfortunately the tickets were outrageous. ($1 per ticket, with rides costing 4-6 tickets each). They went on the big slide with Daddy (something this momma is afraid to do!), as well as the carousel. The plan was for me to then take them on the Ferris Wheel, as that's one of my favorites. But the attendant wouldn't let me due to being pregnant. So, Daddy got to go again. *pout* Since I missed out on all the rides, I treated myself to a funnel cake. And, of course, I shared with the kids. I wish I would have got a picture of their powdered sugar-covered faces, but my hands had suffered the same fate, and I didn't want to get the camera sticky. Here's a few shots that I did get that afternoon... Riding the Merry-Go-Round (look how serious Isaiah was!): On the Ferris Wheel: We forgot the stroller: Just a cute shot of Abbie:

A Toddler's Epiphany

Abbie just ran in here and exclaimed to me: "pee-pee makes yellow... and poo-poo makes brown!". And now folks, you are just as enlightened as I am.

Gee thanks, kid

I bought a new water bottle the other day, as I'm trying to up my water intake. Nothing fancy- just a clear, plastic jug. The kids are insanely jealous, as they are forever asking for sips, and ocassionally stealing it. I don't mind too much, as it's just water. Last night, I retrieve the bottle out of the playroom, and take it to the kitchen to refill it. But as I'm carrying it, I notice the few drops of water clinging to the sides are rather dingy in color. Now, I haven't had put anything other than water in it- no tea, no juice, just water. Open the top, take a very cautious sniff, and I find myself yelling #822 of Things Only Mothers Will Ever Have To Say: "WHO PEED IN MY NEW WATER BOTTLE?!?" I assumed it was Isaiah, as I guessed it would be rather hard for a female to aim into the very narrow opening. But I was wrong, as I heard Abbie chirp in reply to my shouting "Mommy, I make you lemonade!"