Picture Catch Up

You may not be able to see it but this is the letter A that Abi drew on her finger. Yes I let Abi play with pens and 98% of the time she is good. The other 2% is when I find her drawing on her fingers. She drew this and came running at me yelling "A! A!"

Abi finding an egg at the Easter hunt at Grandmas

Getting ready to find eggs (or just run around in her pretty matching dress with her cousins)

She doesn't know anything about posing...

So we had several tantrums the week before Easter all due to eggs. She is obsessed with hard boiled eggs. We finally just gave her the carton and let her have at it. She picked apart the remaining 5 0r 6 eggs and nibbled at them and then we threw the rest away and the tantrums were over.

This is Abi smiling with an egg yolk in her mouth. It doesn't make me as sick looking at it this pregnancy but if I had looked at it while pregnant with Abi I would have certainly lost it.

Our little grape bibber is so addicted to grapes. I can't ever leave them on the counter if I want to have any left over for Richard or I--she would sit there and eat them all if I let her.

She loves hats lately. Her she is playing with the homemade playdough. Let me know if you need the recipe. It is awesome stuff!

The one and only time she has let me do real pigtails in her hair. Don't you just love the whole ensemble with the stripes and wings and all?

Spring break 2009. Abi has a rock in one hand and she is stepping on my columbine. We had fun in it. I was one of the few Utahns happy to have it. We got to play in the snow one last time.

We have no need for a cat. Abi is better at making a mess with a ball of yarn any day.

Abi and I flew up to Washington last week to see my folks and sister and friends while Richard was on a business trip back east. I wouldn't do it over if I had the chance but I am glad for the most part I got to go. Here is cousin Garett:

Abi playing with the play tools.

My sister Tawni and Riley

Abi, Me, Garett, and Riley

My friend Beth and I and our girls

Abi and my friend Beth's little girl Emily. Abi really wasn't that much shorter than Emily, she was just slouching.

Abi and Grandpa or "Pa" as she called him in their hats.

"Why isn't there another plane to watch right now?" Abi was obsessed with watching the planes take off and land. She loved it and was upset when there wasn't a continuous stream of them. She did really well on the plane. Better than me. I didn't do well on the landings. I hope I never have to fly while pregnant again.

I didn't get any pictures of my mom on the trip. Sorry. I wasn't much of a picture taker. I was exhausted and Abi was a bit cranky for most of the trip. A BIG SORRY to REBEKAH for not seeing you for more than 20 minutes!!!! Things didn't work out so well for Abi that day and I'm sorry we didn't get to see you again. Anyway, that's all I'm posting about the trip because I took a phengren and I'm dozing off. Night.

She Did It!

Yup, I'm sure you are all soooo interested to know that Abi pee-peed in the potty yesterday. She was pretty excited and we gave her lots of praise. No, we're not really potty-training yet. We're just getting her used to it and helping her understand the concept. It would be awesome if she was potty-trained before the baby comes but it us up to her. She's been initiating it the last few days and yesterday she was successful. Anyway, that is what is up in our neck of the woods.
(oh, and I had a talk with one of the dogs yesterday. Yup, I went and talked directly to it. I asked it to not bark all night and morning. It obeyed. At least this once. We'll see if it continues. :) )

Disclaimer

Ok, ok, before anyone else thinks I'm an animal or dog hater I'm not. If you read the next post and you don't really know me you may take me seriously. I'm not really being serious. I'm just pregnant and tired and one of the dogs in my neighborhood caused me to lose a few precious hours of sleep. I actually would love to have a dog. However, with a baby on the way that we can't even afford, how could we afford to properly take care of a dog--let alone pay for the initial cost. I believe dogs do need training and there is no way we could afford it. I would love for Abi to have a cute little puppy to roll around and play with.
Anyway, so in future posts---don't always take me seriously because I'm often not.

I'm Pregnant--I get to.

So why in the world do people who live in suburbia have dogs??? Dogs need room to run and play like a big field in the country-- not tiny enclosures. They need to be separated from other dogs so they don't sit and bark at each other all night & morning long--don't their owners lose sleep from this incessant barking? AND they need to not coax my daughter up to the fence until she is two feet away only to bark hysterically at her and make her bawl. Goodness. I like dogs but I would never have dogs here for my neighbors sake.

A Poem for my Readers

Goodbye my favorite jeans.
Goodbye my favorite shirts.
I've gained a little weight
and now my tummy hurts.

I've made a resolution
to get rid of excess weight
I'm afraid though I have a condition.
My resolution will have to wait.

I plan to loose 40 pounds
in October or November maybe.
How can I loose it so quickly?
Just wait and you'll see.

In January I took a pill of sorts
That Richard gave go me.
Since then my belly has grown daily
and that's how it's supposed to be.

If you're not the smartest lampost
along the winding street,
let me tell you plainly
there's a baby in me with cute little feet.

Retraction, Mom Cut, First Accident, She's Growing Up, and Musings &Babblings

So for the Retraction. My last entry praised Shannon Hale. However I hadn't yet read Austenland. I read it a few days after I published that post and I am so dissapointed. I'm not a big fan of pride and prejudice anyway but I felt there was so much innappropriate stuff in that book for an LDS author. I figured she would have a wonderfully clean book and I was so sad to find it wasn't. Shame on you. I thought the plot was intriguing as hers always are but the language and suggestive talk is pathetic. Anyway, enough of that... onward to the

MOM CUT

So I gave in and got the "mom cut" and I love it. I really don't care how it looks because anything is better than the rats nest I've had of late. Apologies to Cousin Julie and Sarah for not calling you. It was either I get it cut in the next half hour or I'm doing it myself. Anyway, I'm happy with it and Abi doesn't care because she can still play with it and she loves to comb it.

First Accident
So Abi's elbow got hyper-extended a couple of weeks ago. She was miraculously blessed though with healing as it only took 3 days to regain full use as opposed to over a week the doctor predicted. Here is a picture of her holding her hurt arm. She was so quick to adapt and use only the one. She was getting into the bath--that's why I hadn't washed her face yet.

She's Growing Up!

She's obsessed with this hat.

I think if you poked that dimple, your finger would get lost.

Sleeping Angel

Our neighbor Melissa gave us this kitchen set. Abi loves it. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Abi and her hunk of a Daddy (her favorite person in the world)

Falling asleep at the table. I tried to clean her up but everytime I took the apple away, she'd wake up, grab it back and take another bite and then return to this pose.

Our "Tom-Boy" Princess. This is what she looked like after she rolled in the dirt and proceeded to rub her snotty face in the dirt. Lovely eh? She had the best time. It's worth more laundry.

My grandparents visited us last week. Abi loved my grandpa! They had so much fun together!

This is the new fashion don't you know.

Helping me make granola. MMM... it is yummy and oh so healthy!

I was glad it got cold again so she could wear this new hand-me-down dress we got. Isn't she stinkin cute in it?

Musings & Babblings

I've been writing down some fun things about Abi and I haven't posted them yet so some of these are back from January--

January

Said "Buh-Bye" perfectley

"I gave Abi a sucker today and she was so sweet to share. Whenever it was in my mouth, she was making licking motiions and smacking her lips.

Says All-done and Yeah

February

Abi got up on her hands and knees, pointed to her bummy with one hand and let out a really big fart. Sorry if that is offensive. Toot doesn't do the loudness justice.

Abi woke up at about 4:00 a.m. and talked to her teddy "Oopsy Bear" for about 20 minutes.

March

While I was going to the bathroom one day, Abi tore off some toilett paper and tried to wipe my bummy! Wow. That was odd to say the least.

Said Potty, the letter "A" and dog in one day.

She blew raspberries at me when I farted. I guess she thought I was just blowing raspberries at her.

In the last few days she's started saying heart, star, the letter "B", hot, and will attempt most words you ask her. I asked her to say love the other day and she gave me a kiss. It's great. If she's not in the mood to give us kisses though, she shakes her said and says no.

WE LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, raising our 1 year old. She is so amazing and we are having a blast--even on days where she throws tiny tantrums we still agree--she is wonderful!

Praise to Shannon Hale

Ok, so when do I ever get to read a whole book in a day? Richard is wonderful and just let me read and read tonight the book called "Book of a Thousand Days" by Shannon Hale. I love, love, love her novels. If you've never read her works, start with this one or Goose Girl, or Princess Academy. They are just amazing! I hope she keeps on writing!

Don't Feel Sorry For Her

So I made this dress and these are the reactions I get:

Stinker.

How to keep your house clean

Ok, I'm really not an expert but I've been doing some stuff lately that really, really helps. First I assessed my problems--
Problem 1. Stuff that belongs downstairs collects upstairs and vice versa.
Solution: I got 2 cute baskets and put one at the top of the stairs and one at the bottom. Whenever something finds its way to the wrong floor, I put it in the basket and when I get time I unload it where everything belongs.
Problem 2. Stuff that I need to give or return to others piles up everywhere
Solution: I have a box specific for that purpose. It is wonderful!
Problem 3. Even if I can manage to de-clutter, how do I get the house clean?
Solution: I created the following schedule, maybe it will help you.
Monday
Wash Laundry
Fold Laundry
Vacuum Upstairs
Water Plants
Tuesday
Put away Laundry
Clean Bathrooms
Dust
Wednesday
Vacuum Downstairs
Water Plants
Mop Kitchen Floor
Thursday
Wash Laundry
Organize room or area (i.e. closet or my desk!)
Friday
Fold and Put away laundry
Monthly Task (i.e. cleaning fridge or oven, cleaning car, etc.
Water Plants
Saturday
Clean Shower
Clean Bathroom

Daily Tasks:
Unload and Load Dishwasher
Sweep & spot mop as needed
Cook Dinner or pull out a freezer meal

I hope this might help someone. It has really made our house cleaner and has helped increase my sanity. Plus, the weekly organizer has helped me to unload unneeded items and I know have a couple of shelves in closets that are currently unused. Crazy! Let me know if you have other ideas that work and if my ideas work for you.

Hooray! I finally have a camera!!!

Thanks to Kristen, I finally have a camera again! I have so missed taking pictures of our Geunter Baby. Doesn't she so look like a "skater" in these pictures?

Don't forget I'm teaching how to digital scrapbook tomorrow night (Wednesday the 18th) at my house at 7:00 p.m. and I'll be giving away free stuff. There isn't any obligation to buy anything so come and learn and eat some treats.

Digital Scrapbooking Party/Gifts/Food Party :)

Help!!!

Does anyone have any 24 month or 2t thick, warm pajamas for Abi? She just shot up and I went to the store to buy some and all of the spring/summer stuff is out. I think that might be why she isn't sleeping so well because her pj's are all of a sudden way too tiny. I don't care if its for boys or girls.

More Scrapbooking Freebies & Products

Check out my digi scrap blog at http://dirtcheapdigiscrap.blogspot.com/ every day this week to get a freebie and new product for sale each day!

Can you believe this was 6 years ago?

We've been nearly inseperable for 6 years now. Richard proposed January 18th, 2003 and this was picture was taken just a few days before at Amy's reception.

If you want the template, go to http://dirtcheapdigiscrap.blogspot.com

*If anyone would be so sweet to add the above blog address to their blog, I will give them something free (something that isn't currently free of course) from the site. When people add my blog address, it shows up on Technorati which increases my ranking on Digi Free which in turn allows more people to see my stuff etc. Anyway, if you add my address I'll love you even more! :)

Weekly Freebie Posted

Sorry it's late. We got the "24 hour cold" which always lasts at least a week for both Abi and I. I'm behind but there is this freebie and some new stuff with more new stuff on the way soon.

Thanks sooooo much to everyone who has bought stuff. You are the best!

http://dirtcheapdigiscrap.blogspot.com/

I Just Had To Post Another Freebie

So, I just had to do another scrapbook template because I wanted to scrap our "Girl's Night." Richard went on splits the other night and so Abi and I played with make-up and we painted our toe nails. She LOVED it. It was so fun and her little toes are too stinkin cute with or without toenail polish. Sorry for the picture of my feet but I wanted to remember our fun.

The Abi Report:

Abi is so busy learning as much as she can. She is soooo fascinated with animals. She loves cows, tigers & lions, bears, and monkeys. She can say cow, cat, and bear. She started making the "roar" sound on our girls night. It is too stinking cute. She is SUCH a good helper. She loves to help me bake and cook and she helps me with dishes and laundry and whatever it is I'm doing. She LOVES to draw. Give her a pen and paper and she's happy for twenty. She also loves to "fix" old computer parts and is fascinated with anything that remotely seems technical. You can definitely tell who her daddy is. She sometimes gives un-asked for kisses and she love piggy back rides. She loves climbing into the rocker and reading stories to herself and she especially loves it when we read to her. She is a TV junkie and can watch an hour of Little Einsteins straight. She is amazing and we love our Abi.

Oh, and if you want the FREEBIE, go to http://dirtcheapdigiscrap.blogspot.com/

Weekly Freebie Posted

I just posted the next weekly freebie at http://dirtcheapdigiscrap.blogspot.com/

Remember you all get something free. Just ask.

Move over Utah--HELLO California

Ok, so on Saturday, the 27th Richard and I decided to go to Cali on Tuesday the 30th. We didn't know until like noon on Monday the 29th if we were going to be able to go or not but alas my young friends we were able. Thanks to our well saved stimulus we were able to take a 4 night, 5 day vacation (if you would call it that) through Vegas and on to Disneyland.
Not that anyone cares but here is the story of our trip:
Tuesday we drove to Vegas and stayed in the Excalibur on the strip. I heard of all sorts of fun family things to do there so we went and checked them out. I'm sad to say everything was a flop except for the fountains at Bellagio which were so cool.
The next day we drove to Anaheim and stayed right across from Disneyland in the Portofino. It is supposed to have 1 seperate bedroom but we found that the glass sliding french doors with an inch gap doesn't provide any darkness or hardly and sound proofing to allow us to even watch a movie. Oh well. We got lots of rest...Except for the fact that the Geunter girl woke up every morning around 1-3 a.m. and required to sleep horizontally in our bed.
Anyway, that day we arrived in Cali we went to Newport Beach. Abi loved playing in the sand and chasing seagulls. Too bad it wasn't warm enough or else we would have stayed longer and would have played in the water.
The 3rd day was our day at Disneyland. First I must say that Abi was an angel driving down and trudging through crumy Las Vegas. She was wonderful! However, she was not so sweet on the day we went to Disneyland. She was so tired. She usually loves being scared and doesn't mind the dark or anything like that but she hated the rides at disneyland. We first went on the Carousel and she didn't care one way or the other about that. Then we went on pinochios adventure or whatever it's called and she screamed the whole way. Then we went on Dumbo and she didn't like the cold air in her face. We went on the circus train and that was all right. We went on It's a Small World which was all done in Christmas themes and she LOVED it. We then went to Toon town and met Mickey and she was ok with it.
We then went to lunch and she took a 30 minute nap after which we let her run around for a while in the hotel. After that we went to a 3D bug's life thing which we had to leave early and a little caterpillar train which she got scared in because she thought it was going to be bad just like everything else. We then went on the jungle cruise which she hated and then the tiki room which she actually liked. We watched the parade which was torture trying to keep her still to wait for and she liked quite a bit of it but she screamed when Santa came by (it was their Christmas parade). We left after that and let her run around the hotel room. We got some food and when we went back to the hotel, she kept climbing in her stroller because she wanted to go back to Disneyland. We were so through. We weren't going to attempt that again. The next day she found the disneyland tickets in Richard's wallet and she kept whining because she wanted to go back. Stinker is all I have to say.
Friday we went to the zoo in Santa Ana which she LOVED. They had a farm their and she said "Cow" when we saw the cows. She loved the monkeys. They were awesome. We went when they were getting fed and they were all so lively. We even rode on an Elephant (yup, a real live elephant). It was pretty cool. Abi got freaked out again though. Dr. Wise is right that there is just something about this age. We drove back to Vegas and stayed in the Hilton--which was way better than the excalibur. Saturday we drove back and got in late that night.
It was a nice vacation. I wish Abi had been happy the day we went to Disneyland. We just needed to get out of the house and we're again grateful for our Stimulus!!!
So, to the title of my post--if we could afford it, we would absolutely pack our bags today and move to California. We love the climate, the humidity, the beach and even the people. We had so much fun talking to locals and other vacationers. People were soooooo much friendlier in California than I have seen here in Utah. That's sad. Even in Vegas people with glazed over eyes held the door open for me or Richard as we pushed Abi around in the stroller. I can count only once in the last 6 months or so that someone in Utah has held the door open for me. That's pathetic. Even at the distribution center 2 weeks ago I had my arms full and was pushing Abi in the stroller and people walked right past me and wouldn't hold the door for 2 seconds longer. Anyway, if I had my way we'd be out of Utah in a milisecond.

Abi and Daddy in Vegas

Mommy & Abi at the Bellagio

Abi at the Beach

Abi and Daddy on Dumbo

The Castle all decked out for winter

Abi loved this piano which made some pretty sweet sounds.

Abi, Daddy, and Mickey

Abi learned that each hotel has paper and pens just waiting for her to use.

Abi liked the goat. Her favorite was the cows and the monkeys.

Why only these pictures??? Because the Not So Cool camera we recently acquired scrambled the data on 1/3 of my pictures (which were mostly from the zoo where Abi was the happiest) and so I lost 1/3 of my pictures!