Happy Father's Day!

Dear Daddy,
I asked Momma to write this for me….because…well, lets face it, I am smart but not smart enough to read and write before I am two. So, Momma said she would do it…tell you how I feel. She knows too! She is a girl just like me and loves girls enough to know their hearts. So she is going to tell you, even in adult words, just how much I love you.
Daddy, I know you know this a little bit, and will know it more as I grow, but girls love to be loved. You are so good at loving me! I anxiously await your coming home at night because I know you will drop everything when you walk in the door, just to play with me. You play like a child, just like me! Your imagination and games always make me giggle. You can play forever…unlike most grown-ups. You are special Daddy. You tell me how much you love me all the time. I will never get tired of hearing this Daddy. You whisper that I am beautiful….but even when you whisper, I hear you. Those words will shape me. Those words will be etched upon my little girl heart and I will need to hear them even more as I grow. You make me feel like a Princess,
You are such a hard worker Daddy. In a grown up world that has become different than what Jesus intended, you still hold to the value systems of worth. You are teaching me by example already. And I am so proud of you Daddy.
You are a believer! You still believe in right and wrong, black and white, good and evil and you never waiver. I am watching Daddy. And you are teaching me things the grown up world has forgotten. Thank you.
So many little girls don’t even have fathers. I know how much my Jesus loves me by looking to you. He did not give me a father, he gave me a Daddy that loves me and protects me and honors me and forgives me. He gave me a Daddy that looks like Him! I would say that I am lucky, but Momma says the word is blessed. So I am blessed Daddy. You are the best Daddy on earth and Momma says you are doing what God made you to do. I am so glad! He made you to be my Daddy and nothing else matters. Happy DADDY day!
I love you bunches and bunches,
Abby Kate

HELP!

Okay, I meant to post about this when I posted the Poop story but forgot. I am in DESPERATE need of help. I know I have a ton of great friends that are great Moms/aunts/grandmothers that read this that can help me out. Even if you have never posted before, I beg of you to post any ideas. It is easy, I promise.
Okay, it is getting H-O-T. We have been enjoying the outdoors to pass a lot of time and, well, lets face it, it is getting hot. I can handle a little sweat but not the kind that soaks you through in the first 15 minutes. Abby Kate is sick of her toys. She is so bored and frankly, so am I. Do any of you have fun activities for toddlers. I really need to invest in new toys but would love some recommendations. If anyone wants to trade out toys for a while, I would LOVE that too. PLEASE HELP ME!

Bathroom Mishaps (and other adventures)

So I promised to post the now infamous Poop story and so true to my word, here it is (with other crazy additions)...
AK and I had gone swimming at our neighborhood pool. Upon our return, we were both wet, sweaty and happy. I changed her out of her swim diaper and bathing suit and put on the diaper she had on before going to the pool (it was clean and fresh and had been on about 10 min before deciding to go swim). As we all know, the tabs do not stick so well the second time around...this bit of info will be important in a moment.
So Daddy gets home and as always, they play and play and jump and spin and play some more. I then suggested we all go outside so in her diaper, we proceed to the backyard for more play. She slides and swings and climbs as usual and then begins to chase the dogs around the yard. B and I sat in the swing laughing at her. I then look over to her bare bottomed. The second-time-around tabs had given way and like her dogs, our little lady (I use that term loosely) was squatting in the yard tinkling (sorry, I cannot use the "p" word....I guess I am too southern, just a little crass for me), anywho, we laugh and watch her start chasing again. Then she comes running toward us with "stuff" falling out of her behind. It takes me a few seconds to realize the child is pooping and running. Now, to paint the most vivid picture I can for you at the hilarity of the moment, I need to tell you that my husband HATES, and I mean HATES anything from the body that is not clean. He is as rugged as any man I have known. He comes in filthy from work, covered head to toe in mud from 4-wheeling, reeking of deer urine after hunting but there is something about the dirty things of humans that sends him into orbit. He even gags his face off if he gets a hair, yes a hair, in his mouth. So anyway, I scream, "SHE IS POOPING!!!!" and start dying laughing. Our dogs are anxiously hovering behind her to do what dogs do and B goes into freak out mode. He yells, "GET HER!" and runs to grab the dogs. At his anxiousness, AK freaks and runs up on the porch, poop still flying. She now notices there is no diaper to catch it and bends down to play in it before I can stop her. Well this really bothers B and he yells for me to "GETSOMETHINGTOCLEANITUP!" I run in and grab a roll of paper towels and hand them off as I scoop up my poop covered child and head for the outdoor facet. I promptly put her under the freezing water as she starts to scream, I now notice that I too am covered in poop. B yells again "TAKEHERINANDPUTHERINTHETUB!" and while this makes sense to me, I, being the practical housekeeper I am, want to get as much feces off of her before I go dunking her in the very tub that cleans her each night. But B will have none of it and orders me inside. I put her in the tub screaming and flailing (and consequently getting it all over the rug and tub side) and manage to hose her down. I then get bleach and fill the tub up with hot water before placing her back in to REALLY clean. Ridiculous.
Then today, we are in AK's closet playing with her awesome bubble machine. I am changing her out of her pj's and into a clean diaper. She is laying on the floor and before I can catch her, she has grabbed the bubble machine and poured all the bubble solution in her hair and ears. I tried to clean her up but as in all soap based products, the suds got bigger and bigger. I went to start the bath and she takes off for the kitchen. In the time it takes me to walk in our tiny guest bath, pull back the shower curtain and turn on the water, I hear my child fall and start to cry. I run around the corner to see a huge yellow-tinted puddle she is skating on and that she had fallen and promptly falls again. Now I have urine all over my kitchen floor and a child covered in it and bubble solution. Welcome to toddlerhood.

Born to be WILD!

New favorite picture. Enough said.

Time with Pop

Pop came to visit this weekend and he never got a break. Abby Kate would not even let him eat but would pull him around by his hand. Neannie had to work but AK called out for her the entire weekend. She has all of her grandparents wrapped around her fingers :) (and they have her adoration!)

He even walked the sidewalks in our neighborhood for an hour, barefooted no less in intolerable humitity after a storm this morning! Thanks for the visit Pop!

18 months

I am back. I know the blog laid dormant for a while. I know most of you read both of my blogs but I had a rough few weeks following a miscarriage. But I am back. And as God intends through pain, better than ever.

Today marks 18 months of life. Crazy how a year and a half can seem like a lifetime and a heartbeat at the same time. Daily, I cannot believe I have been a mother so long. And daily I remember something I did a year and a half ago and think to myself, "why was that so easy?...oh yeah, I wasn't a mother." I read an incredible post on Beth Moore's blog authored by her daughter Amanda who also is the mother of a toddler. I loved her description of the freedoms you lose when you become a mother. Not selfish freedoms (though you DO certainly lose those) but freedoms in ministry, in relationships. Freedom of time and energy and passion. Freedom to sit for long hours and listen to someone elses heart. Those were the freedoms I grieved the most too.

But I am finding such sweetness in stolen moments with friends while our children play. Motherhood truly rewrites life.

Abby Kate has been the sweetest blessing of my life. She daily reminds me of my Father's love for me. He entrusted her to us...what love.

As for an update on her life, which is what this blog is about, obviously....

can be summed up in one sentence...a daily prayer for patience, energy and creativity. If you ever want to watch someone truly take in LIFE, pull up a chair and observe a toddler. I am constantly moving. I have a child that does NOT like to play alone (I am working on this) so if I sit, she comes and grabs my hand (even if I sit on it...evil, I know) and starts to pull. When I say, "no Mama is going to sit here for a second" she will look up and sweetly say "please?" and I can hardly refuse (I mean come on, I am teaching manners here ya'll and PLEASE has to be rewarded). But really, I am working to show our little bundle of joy and the world does NOT revolve around her. She still has an extensive vocabulary and constantly walks on her tip toes, as if already practicing for her lead in The Nutcracker. She loves the water, hates green vegetables and loves to pet dogs. She loves her babies and stuffed animals, loves to read and loves my jewelry. She loves Backyardigans and Veggie Tales more than life itself. She loves cold milk and she loves to snuggle. She loves to make animal noises and learn new ones (this week was elephant...and she uses her arm as the trunk). She is the pick est eater I have ever met. She loves to play "tea" and loves to take a bath with bubbles (she shouts "WHOA, BUBLES! BUBLES! over and over). She has no fear and will try anything. She is super tough and rarely cries when she falls. She is the light of our lives.

Thanks for listening to me gush but also know, I am daily praying for wisdom. I am tough on boundaries and sometimes feel my day consists of constant battles. We are dealing with fits (frustration and anger are great, we are just learning how to express them) and her neediness have been the hardest things lately. We are also playing with other kids a lot so the age old battle of sharing has begun. I know this will be a long process.

So anyway, that is an update. Remind me to post later the Poop story. It truly would have won $10,000 on Funniest Home Videos. It was classic. Love you all....

Little Gym Award Ceremony!

Abby Kate's last Little Gym class was today until the fall. She began this class when she was 7 months and has LOVED every time. Our teacher, Ms. Tammy (first pic) is one of AK's favorite people. She is a precious Godly woman that we are so thankful for! We have BOTH made many sweet friends through this class. My dear friend Kizzy and her little boy Everett is in AK's class too (3rd pic) and AK loves him (she says "Ev, Ev!"). They are only 2 months apart so I anticipate a fun friendship! I got all of this on video too. Maybe someday I will load it.

I woke up this morning and had an amazing quiet time on my porch. I came in and it was just 6:45 so I started a load of laundry, watered my plants and started the dishwasher. AK was STILL not up so I made the bed and fixed breakfast and then B brought her in to me with crazy hair and sleepy eyes and as I sang our good morning song to her, she squealed Momma! and leaned to me. My heart, yet once again, felt like it would burst. I dressed her and started to fold some laundry. When I looked at her playing in the living room, I noticed her once short, chubby baby legs were now long and lean. I noticed her little pot belly had flattened. I noticed her hair, now up in pig tails and I realized how quickly time has flown. I wanted to freeze the moment. Our quiet little morning with her toddlerhood so evident and her babyhood still such a strong, sweet memory.

Smile!

More Outdoor Fun!

It was such a pretty day. First day in a while with no rain and we enjoyed! This child is FEARLESS! She climbs her rock wall on her swing set all by herself and will go down her big slide...she wants no help (I promise I am there close to step in if need be!). We are spending hours outdoors! I LOVE SUMMER!

Sprinkler Fun!

Future Blogger

I went to check on my quiet child and found her typing away. Stay tuned for her posts.

Abby Kate and Isabella

This is obviously not the best picture of AK but I had to post it seeing as how we don't get together as often as we would all like. Isabella is my oldest and dearest friend, Jocelyn's daughter. And she is a delight! I love her like my own. She is so fun and witty. She even put on a concert for me in her bedroom...singing Wide Open Spaces with a microphone in perfect tune no less! She is a girl after my own heart! Her Momma and I spent many an hour singing at the top of our lungs on my karoke machine. We have many tapes that could be used as major blackmail of our amazing vocal talents. Don't worry Joce, they are well hidden!

Memorial Day Weekend

It was our 7th Memorial Day weekend celebrated with our dear friends Trey and Christina. We always canoe the river (we actually have a kayak which I found is much more stable than the canoe, which B and I used this year...yes, I found this out in rapids and snake infested waters). Anyway, we also get to swim and play at Neannie and Pop's. We grilled out and had a ball. AK got to spend a couple of nights with them and Trey, Christina, B and I got to spend some time in Sallisaw in my parent's vacant house (they were on vacation). We stayed up so late just talking. This says a lot about how much I love them due to my 9 pm bedtime being missed. Hehe!
We also had a special time planning for the future Memorial Days seeing as Trey and Christina will have a baby!!!! next year! We are SO excited for them and cannot wait to keep adding kiddos to our great get togethers (we both want 4 kids so get togethers and vacations with 8 kids will sure to be memorable!)

Outside Fun

The last 2 pictures are of AK trying to catch the drips from my hanging pot after I watered it. She always wants to play in the water. She goes immediately to the dog's water when we are outside and when they try to drink, she says "NO NO!" I really want to get her a little pool but don't know how to do that without the dogs chewing it. If any of you have ideas, PLEASE post them.

Outside Fun with Uncle Hal and Aunt Ashley!

I so wish I would not have cut off Hal's head in this picture because you can see a piece of AK's red bow. It was hysterical!

Sweetie and Poppy!

I know it has been FOREVER since I posted. We have had company for a couple of weeks. We got to celebrate Uncle Hal's graduation from medical school this past weekend and had a wonderful time seeing family and friends. Sweetie and Poppy took us to lunch for Mother's Day at Johnny Carino's and I snapped the first picture of these three! I loved it! Check out Poppy's new braces-free smile! WITH TEETH! He used to never smile with teeth! You are so handsome Daddy!

Ozark Fun!

Abby Kate got to play at Neannie and Pop's for 3 days while B and I went to Conway to visit buddies. We had a ball, great rest and great conversation and AK had even more fun. She constantly talks about Neannie and Pop! We are SO blessed with such amazing grandparents! We cannot wait to get back to visit!

Rainy Days

I know it has been forever since I last posted. Falling down on the job for sure. I actually left my camera in my purse which, consequently, was in the car for weeks. I guess there really is something to say about having it close. I grabbed it a bit too late last night. I was fixing dinner and I hear B and AK giggling outside. As I go to investigate, they are playing in the pouring down rain. My eyes soaked in the sight for a bit too long before I thought to grab the device that could actually capture the moment. By then, the downpour had passed. Those two find more uncommon adventures than any I know. Praise God she has him.
As for our daily life, things have been hard but grand. We have moved in to the "terrible twos" a bit too soon. Lots of frustration and tears. From both of us. I begged for wisdom to parent this child. God has been gracious as always.
The most exciting thing to me is her verbal development. Yesterday alone, I said, "do you want to go see Uncle Hal?" She replied, "Al? Al?....Ashley?" It shocked me that by merely mentioning Hal's name she placed Ashley beside him. She did the same thing when we shopped this week for Neannie's Mothers Day present and I told her we were shopping for Neannie and she said "Neannie? Neannie? Pop?" I also handed her some water in the car yesterday and she said "Tank you." There has been nothing that has hit me so hard...she is growing up. Her abilility to process and then repeat is incredible to me. Because I love words so much, hearing my baby speak in her own sweet voice her very own thoughts is the sweetest blessing.

Laughing at Daddy

Bath Time

Fun with Aunt Ashley!

We got to go play on the Riverwalk on Sunday. Abby Kate ADORES her Aunt Ashley and starts saying her name the second we turn down their street. She LOVED playing with her in the fountains. She kept getting wetter and wetter saying "more, more" and sweet Ashley got soaked obliging her...but as you can tell in the pictures, neither of them seemed to care. I was far away zoomed in on their faces...I only wish you could have seen the glee on AK's face!

Chillin'

I died laughing when I walked into the living room after putting away laundry only to see AK kicked back in her chair watching TV. Hmmm....this is such a Bobby pose!

Fun with Friends!

Abby Kate and I had a ball last Thursday with our friends Issac and Ethan and their Momma's, Erin and Nancy. Erin, Nancy and I worked together at the U of A and were all pregnant at the same time. Erin and I even shared an office so we got to share in our pregnancy joys and pains every day! It was SO much fun to watch our kids play together and get to catch up. I miss them both SO much. Thanks again buddies for coming! We miss you already....

Fun Spring Day!