Abby feeding the baby...already

Abby, Alma, and I were all 'cooking' a couple minutes ago. Abby was mixing with the wisk and held it out to me and said "Mom, bite?" Then she took a bite, then held it out to my belly "Ammon, bite?".

I guess she understands the concept of there being a baby in my tummy, just doesn't quite grasp the logistics of it.

Shifty Eyes!

I love this little boy. His eye on the right is always a little more closed than the other. for that reason when he smiles or growls or grimaces, he has a sideways mischevious look to him. and it matches his actions perfectly. He is such a boy

i used to think(before having a boy and girl) that boys were boys because their dad's were more rough with them, and more gentle with girls. TOTALLY not the case. He has been more boy than abby since birth. he is just a tough little kid who bumps his head and falls and hurts himself without a peep. but at the same time, if he get emotionally hurt...... be careful cuz he gets UPSET!

a part of me is sick of traveling. i don't like it. but i love this changing of client every few months. the change of scenery is awesome.

but without fail, almost every night, i have to see some toddler about the size of abby or alma, or i have to hear a baby laugh or cry or whine, and it reminds me of these two and it makes my heart ACHE. i hate it. in that moment i would do anything to pick them off the ground and hold them.

what's funny is i think my kids don't need that comforting as much. i think they are just tough kids. i think they have to be, just because of what is ahead, with the signs of these times. even at these young ages, their character seems so much more prepared and talented enough to withstand everything that will be thrown at them.

i feel like human teaching a rabbit how to jump. like the second i teach them something, they will surpass my abilities almost immidiately. what's funny... it doesn't bring me a feeling of sadness, it just makes me so proud and relieved at how amazing these two are. they are so incredible, happy, and full of the spirit. I have to work my hardest not to screw em up.

What happened on Abby's 2nd Birthday

Abby woke up this morning a full hour before Alma, I got her right away ( I usually let them both play in their cribs for 30 min - or as long as they're happy). I'd been waiting, listening for her to wake up. I got her up, brought her into my room (where her bike was) she started playing with it, and I crawled back into bed (I'm pregnant, so I'm not letting myself feel guilty about this). She played for a good 20 minutes and then we made breakfast, pancakes with blueberries... I even gave her syrup today! Checked on Alma, tried waking him up, but he was out cold (usually if I start talking to him about eating while he's asleep he'll wake up. today it didn't work).

So Abby and I sat down for breakfast, just the two of us. She ate a banana with the peel peeled back (instead of detached) for the first time today! (she was sooo excited... it's the little things) Alma woke up halfway through breakfast and pounded 1.5 bananas and 4 pancakes before Abby finished her 3/4 banana and 3 pancakes... this is a lot for her , but pretty average for him.

After breakfast we read books played with the trike/walking toy (Abby got a walking toy for her birthday last year and just became okay with Alma using it on Sunday- after she got her new trike) for a couple hours until it was time for naps.

When it was time for their second naps, I let Abby stay up. We made a new necklace, bracelet and tutu for her. It was really fun to see her take part in all of it, and watching her excitement grow as she watched everything come together. Once we finished the necklace and bracelet, she wrapped her old necklace around her 'empty' wrist so she would have a bracelet for each hand. I took her over to the mirror and she was so proud of herself! It was really cute... She kept waving and would watch the bracelets move around on her arm.

When Alma woke up, we hopped into the car, ran by McDonald's and headed to the park (I was feeling guilty that I hadn't gotten the kids out of the house yet, and really didn't want to make dinner). We had a picnic, complete with blanket, wicker basket, and HUGE ants. Abby was really brave, there was an ant crawling on her shirt and she stayed really still and said (while slowly turning towards me "Mom?... MOM?". We ate pretty quick, packed up even quicker, put the basket up on a park bench and played on the swings until the Birthday Girl was about ready to fall asleep.

Then we came home, played with the trike some more, wrestled with mom, read scriptures, and went to bed... It was a good day :)

Our Baby Girl is 2

So, today is Miss Abigail Irene's 2nd Birthday! (pictures to come... really!)

I really can't believe it. She's growing up so fast.

On Saturday, Tyaler and Abby went out on their very first "Daddy-Daughter Date" (have to admit I was a little bit jealous, but got to have lots of fun with Alma while they were gone). They went to Jason's Deli for Lunch, Abby picked a little at her food, and then ate the ice cream cone really well. Then they went to Target where Abigail got to pick out her very first bike. She went straight for a really ugly one first (this is according to tyler, so it's not an exaggeration), it was all set up and ready to go, so she hopped on. Tyler found a better one that is amazing... almost as good as a car!

This bike (tricycle) has a bunch of buttons that play music, beep, turn the bike/car on, fill it up with gas... it even has turning signals! Only bummer is that it's pink, purple and covered with princesses (I know I'm kinda weird, just don't like all the branding). Anyway, at least the princesses dance and the castle spins right?

Tyler put the trike together on Saturday night, and Sunday after church we celebrated Abby's Birthday. Tyler showed her the bike when she got up from her nap and she spent the rest of the sitting on it and playing with all of the buttons. On the box it says for ages 24 months+, but it lied.. Abby's a little taller than average, but her feet don't quite reach the pedals...she doesn't seem to mind. She spent most of today sitting on that bike again and walking it around all through the apartment. Glad Tyler got her something that she likes so well.