Hmm....appetizing huh? A bare bottom while I fix dinner. I so wish I had grabbed my camera a few seconds before this as she was laying on the ground with it in the air.
All kinds of new stuff to update you on...first up, the exploding vocabulary. I am shocked each day to hear new words come out of her mouth. Like ABC, 123, mouth, nose, eyes, shoes, Bob (Veggie Tales), Bow, whoa!, yea!, Mickey! (always said with enthusiasm thus the exclamation point), blue, and shockingly, can name every family member in her photo album. I sound like a braggadocios parent and I really don't mean to...she is behind or normal in many other areas, but not surprisingly (with me talking her ear off all the time and the fact she is a girl!) she is talking up a storm.
Her personality has emerged. She is still ultra observant, sometimes still pausing for a while to size you/or a situation up. However, she is mostly just happy. She smiles a lot still doing the nose crinkle. She is super dramatic and always exclaiming loudly! She loves her books, loves to snuggle with her dolls or animals and loves exploring. She LOVES being outside and squeals when our playground comes into sight on our walks each day. She loves the swings and sometimes likes the slide if I go with her (which I am beginning to hate due to the excessive amounts of static electricity). Other than that, she is simply fun.
But best of all, she has become super affectionate. She latches onto my leg numerous times a day just squeezing with all her might. She will come to my chair, lift her arms and squeeze my neck and then smile sweetly. She gives wet sloppy kisses and now says please and thank you. Basically, my every dream for motherhood is accomplished in these moments. Thanks for letting me goo all over this post but I love to share her with those that do not know her well yet! I love each of you! More pics soon, I promise. We will have our niece here next week for her Spring Break so the pics of our many activities will be fun to share!
Playing with Aunt Ashley!
Trying on size 16 flip flops!
Neannie and Pop got to visit Thursday through Saturday. We were all SO sad the weather was so cold but they got her a swing set for Christmas and Pop and Daddy put it together on Friday in the snow. It was so worth it! She LOVES to see it outside and is constantly wanting to play! We had SO much fun with them as always. She ADORES them both. 
AGH! Independence is overrated.
We had a shower for my friend Jodi this past weekend and we laughed about how we have all had daughters! Guys that want sons are out of luck when you marry a Sallisaw girl....Not really. But it is so weird....must be in the water. So the first pic is just of the girls and the second is all my friends and our daughters.....
As promised, here are our pics from this week. I have to say, AK ADORES her big cousin. I have never seen anything like it! I was the oldest on my Mom's side and always took that role so seriously. I watch Kourtney, her sweet spirit and kindness and I am so glad AK has her to look up to. She has been tireless her whole time here. She just plays and plays with AK. We went to the aquarium on Monday (the first pic) and went to the Zoo yesterday and had a BALL. We stayed for hours and even got to hear a lion roar. That is what they were watching in the last picture. I cannot wait until summer when she can stay a whole week!
So let me explain the history behind Pete's....my Grumpies was a friend of Bill, Pete's son and so Grumps would take his family to eat every time they were at the lake. Of course, once you eat at Pete's, you will be hooked and will drive the distance just to get a taste of the incredible, authentic, huge portions of Italian food. If you know me, you know this place elicts more excitment than anywhere else. Thus I am thrilled that I married a man that loves it as much as I. If you make reservations, they will seat you in a private room (they have many, as the building was an old house and still holds such charm, even under modernization and rennovations). They first serve you salad with delicious oil and vinegar salad, cheese, olives and the best homemade garlic bread ever. Then before your meal arrives, they bring you bottomless (yes bottomless) spaghetti, ravoli (the best in the world), and meatballs. That is in addition to what you order....ummm Heaven! My very first solid food as a baby was Pete's spaghetti. Perhaps that is why I love it so. I have been DYING to take Abby Kate (she went once as a 5 month old but was a bit to young to try the food). We went for our birthday this past weekend and all ate until we were sick. The first pic is of AK and her Aunt Ashley, who she ADORES. The second is her trying the spaghetti for the first time. The third is a glimpse of what is Pete's. The final of the fam with AK's head cut off. I was so bummed! Anyway, just wanted to share!
The first picture is earlier on our "warm" (50ish) day. As the evening rolled in, we added layers which, after all was said and done, left her looking like a crazy Hollywood starlet/bag lady. (Though what bag lady would have such cool shades?)
We took full advantage of the warmer weather today. I simply think we are a warm weather family. We all go into a bit of seasonal depression when the cold hits. We went on a picnic and little "hike" in the wooded area of a new subdivision (no houses yet so it was perfect). Abby Kate loved it so much. She sobbed when we put her back in the truck. Daddy rode 4-wheelers and after he returned home, he let AK ride a little, which she loved.
We went on a walk with our friend Rachel and Adi and then Miss AK refused to go in....we must have walked around outside our house for 2 hours. We finally came inside about 5:30, much to her protest. Bring on SUMMER!
