I LOVE RICHARD!!!

Richard is so sweet and romantic. We had been walking at the mall occasionally and he saw this dress and told me he wanted to buy it for me. So he did. He is so sweet. I LOVE YOU RICHARD!!!

Our Silly Abi

We started feeding her squash on the 18th of of February and she really liked having flavor in her cereal. I don't think she'll like squash quite as much once she gets to try other things though. The other day while I was feeding her, I left her in her highchair while I got a rag to wipe off her face. I turned around and she was licking squash off her bib. The next day she started to lick it off her lips in between bites.

Little Miss Abi started sitting up by herself around the 21st of February. She really likes the independence and freedom it brings. This is her in her new dress from Grandma.

I should probably explain about her grandparents names. My mother is called "Gram " by all of her grandkids and Richard's dad has been called "Papa" by the other grandkids. Since both sets of grandparentas have last names that start with "T" we can't call one Grandma T. So, my parents are Gram and Grandpa and Richards' are Grandma and Papa--in case you are ever wondering who I am talking about.

Abi Loves her Daddy

Abi loves to play on the floor with her Daddy. We read the Book of Mormon Picture Book with her at night and she spends most of the time looking at and touching her Daddy's face.

Abi Loves to stand now. She thinks it is a lot of fun. We enjoy it too. Richard taught her how. She's always learning new stuff from her Daddy.

Quilting

So here is my first attempt at Machine Quilting.

Thank you so much to my Mother-In-Law for teaching me how and letting me borrow your supplies. Oh, and I guess this isn't really my first attempt. I am unpicking the first one I did. Machine Quilting is really fun. I'm excited to do it more.

$20 at Kid to Kid

Can I just say I LOVE Kid to Kid. Look

at all of these toys I got for $20.00 thanks to an unexpected check from one of my parent's good friends. I didn't realize how important toys were to a baby. Abi wasn't rolling over and we were trying to help her out. We finally got the idea to get her some more toys and she started rolling on February 15th--the day after getting her some new toys. She rolled 3 times that first day from her back to her front and has figured out how to roll from front to back more consistently since too. Go Abi!

VICTORY!!!!!

I have an amazingly wonderful story of victory that Michelle can attest to. :) Michelle and Jason wanted to go out to dinner tonight and invited us and Bruce & Nancy (my inlaws) to go with them. Bruce, or "Papa Bruce" as he is more commonly known these days, is a very, very generous man and always insists on buying dinner whenever we all go out. He always tells the waiter/waitress that if they want a tip, they had better bring him the bill.
Well, tonight we went to "Los" (Los Hermanos) and Bruce made the mistake of leaving for El Bano. So while he was away, we told the waiter we all were on seperate checks. Papa Bruce thought he was so sly in slipping the waiter his card halfway through the meal. I will never forget the look of suprise, astonishment, dumbfoundedness, and disbelief that crossed his face when the waiter brought out three seperate bills. Michelle and I cried out in glorious victory. Thanks for your generosity but it was so great to have stumped you. Sorry, we should have paid for your meal but we're making baby steps. We're suprised we've made it this far. :) Oh, and this picture is compliments to Kristen's Tacky Sweater Party in '06

Happy Valentines Day!

Abi wanted to wish everyone a Happy Valentines Day and she has some special valentines for a few people.

Happy Valentines Day Gram & Grampa

Happy Valentines Day Grandma and Papa

Happy Valentines Day Tawni, Scott, Garret, Baby, Bear, & Bo

Happy Valentines Day Michelle, Jason, Ben, Jane, Elizabeth, Liam, & Baby

Happy Valentines Day Kerri, Tony, Alex, Spencer, Keana, Emma, Julia, & Cameron

Happy Valentines Day Amy, David, Caleb, & Jacob

Happy Valentines Day Kyle, Jess, Baby, Moose & Jess' Dog (I forgot her name)

Happy Valentines Day Kristen, Ron, Nizmo, & Baby

Happy Valentines Day Jenna & Brett

Happy Valentines Day Daddy!

Happy Valentines Day to Everyone I know and Love!

Love, Little Miss Abigail

Teeth, Soap Box, and Ode to Feet.

So, everyone has been asking me about pictures of Abi's teeth. Yes--she is only 4 1/2 months old and she has 2 huge teeth--and she has had them for about a month now. Good thing she loves to stick her fingers in her mouth or we would never get any pictures of those teeth. Which leads me to mention my soap box. Can I say I love the ease of digital cameras but I hate how long it takes to take a picture. By the time the camera has flashed, my adorable sweetheart has her eyes half closed and the smile is gone or else she is looking away. I've tried to turn the flash off and then this camera can't seem to focus so I get tons of fuzzy--somewhat cute pictures. It frustrates me to no end. So you are just lucky you get to see a few pictures of her. (I now can understand Natalie's frustrations better and she isn't even crawling yet.)
ODE TO FEET: So, if you are like one of my good friends from high school and can't stand feet, don't look at the last picture. I love Abi's feet and I think they are so cute. I took about 50 pictures (no joke) trying to get one of her feet because they are just darn cute. Anyway, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do, which is doubtful unless you are one of her grandmas. As cute as kids are, they never seem to be as cute as your own.

Tag, you're it!

So I’ve been tagged. Here are 7 things you may not know about me:

I grew up watching mystery shows like Columbo, Murder She Wrote, Magnum PI, and CSI with my mom. In high school I started thinking about realistic career choices. I joined FBLA and decided I wanted to be a business woman, but part of me wanted to go into crime scene investigating. I started out at BYU exploring both. I preferred going into crime scene investigating but I figured I would never be emotionally able to have a family. So I stopped taking psych classes and focused on business. Who would have thought though that I would get my degree in Marriage, Family, and Human Development (the same degree I made fun of my freshman year because so many of the freshman girls took those classes because they wanted to get married—I however didn’t take any until after we were married).

You may not know that I have tendonitis in my wrists, arms, shoulders and neck. I worked as a seamstress for Beehive Clothing where I received my lovely lifelong pains. Will you all promise me that you will always wash your clothes—especially underclothing before wearing them. I don’t want to scare you but I saw some things that would make you cringe if you have ever worn new clothes without washing them first.

If I could have anything I wanted right now I would not be sick and I would be on a date with just Richard and I. That would be nice. 4 ½ months without any alone time has made me go crazy.

If I were to pick a decade to live in I would have to pick the 50’s. I would love to have a pastel retro kitchen and get my groceries delivered to my door. I would have a pink 1957 Chevy Bel Air Convertible and matching pink polka dot knee length short-sleeved dress with matching polka dot scarf.

If someone gave me a million dollars tomorrow, the only things I would buy would be a new wardrobe and probably a trip for the three of us to Taiwan and China. I would keep the same vehicles, the same house, and I think I would be totally content. Can you imagine how it would feel to be debt free? I think Richard would buy some new computer parts and probably a new microwave (he has hated ours since we got it after our wedding. He has every right to hate it—it is absolutely pathetic.) He would probably want to get an ‘08 F350 but it wouldn’t fit in the garage and neither one of us would want to give up our house and plus—who wants to move?

I think everyone has at least a little tiny bit of OCD. I’m OCD about drawers or cupboards ajar—I HAVE to close them.

Probably the most embarrassing thing about my growing up years was that I was a cheerleader in Junior High for basketball and football. The dancing and stunts were fun but I actually hated cheering. I wouldn’t ever yell unless my “coach” walked by because I was afraid I’d loose my singing voice. Our “team” was pretty good though—we did take first place in dance and cheer at some competition (I can’t remember the competition because it was that eventful).

I tag Jenna, April, Rebekah, Rachelle, my Mom, cousin Kim, and cousin Whitney. Write 7 things about yourself that you can stand to share with the world and then tag 7 others. (since 5 of you don’t have blogs yet, you can send it out over email.)

4 Truths

I am responding to the poll that is now closed on the right. Since I don't tell lies (I really try not to) I couldn't really lie on my blog. So I just mislead. If you chose the first choice, you were somewhat correct. I did shake President Thomas Monsons hand but not Thomas S. Monson. One of the members of our stake presidency in Pleasant Grove was named Thomas Monson. I did eat seafood (well, just a little shrimp) in Taiwan in 2006. Richard and I actually didn't kiss until we were engaged. Call us crazy but we became much better friends that way and I think our marriage is far better because of that. And when I was little, I did aspire to be a famous singer and I really liked Mariah Carey at that time. So there you have it. And you all thought I lied....

A Treat for the Grandmas

Our Baby is Growing Too Fast!!!!

Abigail sporting her cute jeans. Don't you just love babies in jeans??? Thanks to all of the friends and family who have given us hand-me downs!!!

Below: This is Daddy's favorite pose right now. She folds her arms (really her hands). She did this the other night when we were having family prayer and we told her to fold her arms. We would love to claim her as a genius but we know it is coincidence because she does it all the time!

Below: She loves playing with her toes and she doesn't like to have her PJ's on because it restricts her toe access.

Below: Wild Hair

Below: Abbi was watching TV in her tot rider. She loves American Idol.

Below: Here's Abbi staring at her Daddy.

It's taken me well over a week to come up with a new post because our little cute thing has been a "Little Grumplet" (as Richard likes to call her) lately because of her 2 new teeth. She was sucking on Richard's finger last Wednesday when she bit him and we realized she had a tooth on the bottom (which accounted for her disposition). The next day, she had another one. I guess it's better to get two over at once. She is now feeling much better as the teeth are above the gums (hopefully the won't go down again). Abigail becomes more and more fun to play with every day. She is such a spitfire and is so perfect for us. I really couldn't imagine a more perfect baby for our first child. I wouldn't classify her as an easy baby but she is absolutely amazing in our book. She is getting better and better at putting herself to sleep and she always seems to wake up from her evening nap right before Richard comes home. I think she really misses him during the day. (SO DO I). Abigail has been squealing a lot lately. She thinks its fun to test out her vocal chords. She sounds like a cat fight in my opinion and I cant help but laugh. Speaking of laughing--she has laughed the last two days. Once while I was eating her belly and the other time I was sweeping the floor in the kitchen. I would really love to understand what is going on in her brain!

A Theory

So, I've been working on this theory as to when, how, and why babies sleep through the night and I think I have come up with a solution--a very, very complex and intricate solution. Lately I figured out a few of the missing ingredients. I was getting ready to read my scriptures the other night and I thought of a question I needed to be answered--"How can I get my baby to sleep more at night?" Now I knew that there are no scriptures saying "Thou shalt do A, B,and C and your child will sleep" but I know that Heavenly Father loves us and He promises to answer our prayers and often the answers our found in His Word. So, I asked for help and went to the scriptures. In Proverbs I read the scripture about training your child and when they are old they will not depart from what you taught them. I pondered that scripture for a minute wondering how it applied and then the inspiration came that Abbie has to feel absolutely loved when we lay her down at night. I thought I was doing ok at this but I beefed up my expressions of love to her and she slept much better that night.
In addition to the principles we have implemented from Baby Wise (I strongly recommend getting a copy--you can get them for $5.00 (shipping included) on amazon.com) such as a routine of feeding, then keeping your baby awake and then help them fall asleep on their own, along with showing forth much love I have come up with another important discovery. I have looked back at the times that Abigail has slept really well--including the night she slept through the night. Each of those nights I was more relaxed and happier. Last night I had a feeling Abigail would sleep through the night again because I felt great. I went walking at the mall yesterday morning with my neighbor and I got in a good nap, I got caught up on some chores, I got in a few minutes of reading and playing the piano and had lots of fun with Abigail. I even had a few minutes to cuddle with Richard on the couch. The result of all these wonderful things lead to Abbie sleeping through t he night. Now, I know things will come up that will throw her off schedule and we'll still have some rough nights but I am pretty darn sure that if I focus on being happier and take a few minutes of each day to do something for me we wil all sleep better at night.
I would love to hear your comments on this. I hope this information might be helpful to someone.
Oh, and an odd coincidence we noticed with the two times that Abigail has slept through the night is that both times she laughed (and both times in the tub) before she went to sleep. Weird huh? I wish we could get her to laugh more often. There are few things better than hearing your baby laugh and sleep through the night.

Dear Life

So I was blog-hopping and saw someone had a "dear life" column which has the objective of writing messages to those people you may or may not be able to reach. I think it is a great idea... here goes:

Dear Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam,
Thank you for writing Baby Wise--the tips really do work when I stick my baby to a routine. Despite what some people think about routines, yours really works for my baby.
Sincerely,
More Rested

Dear Billy Ray Cyrus,
I'm glad you got rid of your mullet because you would probably have ruined your daughter's career if you hadn't.
Best Regards,
Glad to be out of the eighties

Dear Sonic Burger Employees:
Thank you for completely ruining my order every time I go through your drive through, even if I just order a #1.
Yours Truly,
Never Going Back Again

Dear Cranky Old Lady at Kmart:
Thank You for demanding that my husband help you put that box in your cart for you, even though he would have gladly offered to help you if you even attempted to move it an inch. oh, and thanks for not even thanking him.
Cordially,
Vowing Not to be an Old Cranky Lady Like You.

Commitments

On Richard's cousin Nora's page, she posts a weekly commitment that she makes to do something and then she reports on her progress. I decided last week to do this too but didn't get a post up. Last week I decided to memorize one chinese word a day seeing as I always get overwhelmed when I pull out my flash cards. I was successful in memorizing 7 new words--so if you ever want to know how to say sun, mountain, forrest, flower, neck, ankle, or bed in chinese, just ask.

This week, my goal is to start walking. I told the Relief Society President I was interested in walking at the mall and asked her to make an announcement to see if anyone else wants to go. So far, I have one taker--one of my neighbors down the street is going to go with me tomorrow and I'm excited to get out of the house, get some excercise, and get to know my neighbor more. Don't you love the Enrichment Group idea? Does anyone have any really cool enrichment groups that they belong to? I'm always looking for more ideas for our ward.

The Best Diet

So, I know you're not supposed to diet while nursing but I have no choice with my wired and picky little one. I am now down to no chocolate or sweets because they keep her from sleeping and no mexican or any onions because it keeps her from eating. So, with my three favorite "food groups" eliminated, what else is there to eat? Not eating chocolate or sweets really has dropped my weight quickly and I can fit into all my pre-pregnancy clothes. So if you want to loose some quick weight the healthy way, try eliminating sweets. The first week is torture and then it really isn't so bad. Just make sure you have fruit on hand to quench some of your sweet cravings.

Abigail has been playing in her booster seat the last few days. The picture below shows her new found friend--her tongue. She chews on it often.
She doesn't have any chub....

Here is her thick outdoor outfit.

This is Abbie wearing her 9 month clothes (yes, she just turned 3 months). She has a super long torso from her Dad and somewhat longer than average legs from her Mom.

Look at that pose. What a cutie! This is her Christmas dress fro Grandma Tregaskis.

Abbie enjoyed playing in wrapping paper on Christmas day.

Here's Abbie with her bear on Christmas morning. She actualy had a really good time and was pretty excited about all of her gifts---especially this bear.

Our Little Abigail - Entry 4—December 24, 2007

I can't believe how much Abigail has grown the last few weeks--not only physically but in what she is able to do. I weighed myself and then weighed her with me two days ago and she is now 14 pounds. She has been wearing 3-6 month clothes for a few weeks and even some 6-9 month outfits.
On Thursday, December 20th, Abigail rolled over on her own for the first time from her stomach to her back. She was pretty suprised and I was very excited. She now loves to sit up (with help of course) but she wuld surely do it on her own if she could. She thinks she should be crawling already and she is really trying. She does manage to scoot a little bit. She is just in a hurry to grow up.
We tried putting her in a walker toy and she actually likes it (for a few minutes that is). She is now very interested in toys and is grabbing them and sometimes putting them to her mouth but she still thinks her fingers taste better than toys. A few of her fingers are red from sucking on them so much.
Abigail has developed a flat head which we are trying to help her fix and she also has a bad case of cradle cap but these problems are starting to go away a little.
We're pretty excited to open presents with her tomorrow morning. I think she is going to have fun with her new toys.

A Christmas Suprise for Uncle Kyle

I'm oh so cute!

Me and my bear

Me and my chub
My Dolly

Our Christmas Letter—2007

This has been a great year for us—primarily due to our newest addition to the family. Abigail Maye was born at the end of September and is such a cute thing! We love her sweet and feisty spirit! We’ll get back to more details about her later.

Our year started off with Richard in school at UVSC and working at Western Standard Publishing. Richard is the CTO or Chief Technical Officer for the company. He has done a lot this year in helping his company do a project for the government. His boss repeatedly tells him he is so glad he hired Richard. Richard just finished taking his tests at school and we’re hoping he’ll be able to test out of a few more and actually be done. Prayers are appreciated in this area. Richard is still serving as an Elders Quorum instructor and together we put together the Ward Newsletter. This summer he built a trebuchet with his brothers and a friend. On their first attempt to launch it, the counterweight broke through the support, ruining the whole thing. They at least had fun working on it.

I started off the year working at Micron for Hoffman Construction as a buyer in the purchasing department. In February or so I began to feel really sick. We thought we might be miscarrying again but at about 6 weeks, we realized we were pregnant. At about 3 months I told the VP of the company that I was pregnant and within 2 weeks, I was let go. Interesting how those things happen huh? It really was a blessing to get away from the environment of that job. I wasn’t able to get another job—who is going to hire a pregnant woman? Oh well. I was able to do some odd jobs for a previous employer and we managed. Because I wasn’t working, I was called to be a part of Activity Days and I have loved being around all of those girls.

The only trip we took this year was to St. George in May for a vacation that we won. Our main project this year was building a pond & waterfall in our backyard. We were surprised at how easily we put it together. We started to buy goldfish to fill it and we figured a lot of them would die. We were wrong and we now have 22 goldfish with the longest at about 5 inches (they all started around an inch or so). They are now enjoying the winter inside our garage. Richard was also able to help his friend do a lot of projects on his house, which Richard was happy about. He loves to help people and build things.

There are several other great things that have happened this year. Well, this one actually started at the end of last year. Brett & Jenna moved into our ward last November & have become life-long friends. We have spent a lot of time with them this year and have loved every minute. We’re so grateful that they moved in and that we have become such great friends. Another great thing is last month, one of Richard’s friends got married and we are so happy for him. Also, my parents were able to visit over the Thanksgiving Holiday and we are so glad they were able to come and meet Abigail.

Speaking of Abigail, she is absolutely adorable and we love her so much. We can’t imagine life without her and it is amazing to see her change almost every day. She slept through the night on December 10th and we are so grateful for that. She also has started to laugh and talks up a storm. She loves her Daddy and he certainly loves her back.

This has been a wonderful year and we are so glad to have friends and family to share our news with. We’re so thankful for our little girl and that we are sealed together for Eternity. We are grateful for our home and for all of our modern conveniences. We are most grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and His atonement and what a far-reaching blessing that is. We wish you health and happiness for the upcoming year.

Love, Richard, Dedra, and Abigail

The Best Thing

So last night we decided to let Abigail sit up in the bathtub. While looking down at her rolls of flub and the little ducky floating around in the tub, she did the unthinkable--she laughed. It was so cute! It didn't last long but Richard and I agree that it was definitely a laugh. Now the question is: Was she laughing at how many rolls she has or the duck? Or maybe she was laughing at the water? Who knows with this one! :)

"Meditation" and other cute pictures