Funny Pictures

So Abby Grace is pretty entertaining these days. This first picture is her trying to be like her Daddy by wearing a hat (he NEVER wears his backwards though) and sunglasses. The second happened the other morning after I had put on knee high hose to wear to my rotation. She was so proud to also be dressed in knee highs!

In other Abby news, school is going much better. She no longer cries and actually seems to be enjoying her class. For the last two weeks, there have been baby chicks beside her classroom that she visits each morning. And other than the fact that they get a little stinky at times, they really are pretty cute.

A couple of days ago, she reported through demonstrating that she has mastered the art of walking backwards and sideways. When I asked her where she learned it, she told me, "at school." Abby is also starting to grasp her colors and parts of the alphabet. For instance, if she is eating M&M's and I tell her to show me an orange one, she can do it. Oh, and have I mentioned that she knows her left from right? I will take personal credit for that accomplishment because when we walk Sassy, Sassy likes for the leash to be held in the right hand. I should also mention that Abby does not miss anything. This week, after the whole car overheating incident last weekend, she has pretended the whole scenario over and over again...complete with her car getting hot and not working, calling her daddy on her cell phone, writing instructions down on paper (not on how to fix the car but how to get to the campsite once we switched cars), etc. It is such fun to watch her! Finally, I'd like to report that Abby is continuing to make progress verbally. One of her favorite things to say is, "My no like that," and that refers to just about anything on any given day. One day she refuses to even look at a carrot and the next day she will eat 5.

Sorry for the lengthy update, but a mom has to share!!

The Kissing Hand

Abby Grace has continued to struggle with going back to school this year. Most mornings, upon being dropped off, she has cried and clung to Mommy. Her teachers and the director of her school promise that she just has my number and recovers quickly once I am gone, but those words of encouragement were only getting me so far. So, like all good mommies, I typed, "toddler dislikes daycare" into my little Google toolbar, and look what I found!!! The Kissing Hand is about a little raccoon who is starting school but is afraid to leave his mommy; he wants to stay home, play with his toys, read his books, and swing on his swing (basically the same story I hear each day). But his mommy tells him of a way that she can always be with him, even when he is at school. She opens his fingers and gently kisses his palm; then when he misses her he can simply rub his palm against his cheek and feel her kiss. On Friday after picking Abby up from school, we made a special trip to Barnes and Noble and bought this book. Last night, we read it together as a family, with me taking very deep breaths between many of the sentences in an attempt not to cry myself. I managed, and Abby was able to relate the story to her situation, "Raccoon crying. Raccoon miss Mommy. Raccoon school? Raccoon no cry?" So was this book the miracle we needed? I don't know, but I do know that Abby Grace did not cry this morning. We kissed palms and she went into school with a brave (not happy) face. And the look I got when I turned to leave, was one of, "I am staying but you need to know I would rather be going!" followed by a little wave. Progress is progress, right?

Happy Birthday, Peyton

Happy 3rd Birthday, Peyton! I had fun at your princess party.

Go Friday Night

Maybe it's being married to a coach or maybe it's just the fact that I grew up never missing Friday night football games, but there is something about the start of football season that makes me almost giddy. And while we miss about as many games as we make it to these days, Abby Grace seems to share in the delight. She was so excited to finally get to wear her new Bulldog T-shirt like the big girls last Friday. And really, doesn't she look grown-up? (Trust me, the grown-up part was only out of necessity; I had to make a youth small T-shirt look like it fit her, and the only way to do that was to tie it how the tweens tie them these days.) Anyway, other than 5 trips to the potty and a break to eat a few nachos with Mommy, Abby's team spirit continued throughout the whole game as she clapped and cheered, "Go Dawgs Go!" with the fans.

More "First Day" Pictures

It seems that Abby believes taking a picture of her with her kitty backpack is just part of getting ready for school each day. We have probably taken 5 days worth of pictures now!

Her new school year is going pretty well; she tells me every morning that she wants to, "stay home and play with Mama," but most days are tear-free when I actually leave her. It is those non tear-free days that make it hard. Part of that may be that we have already transitioned her into a new classroom (which she loves), but change on top of change is always a little hard. And it is because of this that I am incredibly grateful for the teachers and friends that we have at her school!

First Day of School...Again

Look out school, here I come!

Seriously, though, Abby Grace had a great day at school. Our afternoon conversation went something like this, "Abby, did you have fun at school today?" "Yes." "What did you do?" "Play." "Did you eat lunch?" "No." (I promise, they did feed her...she just said no for some reason.) "What is your teacher's name?" "I don't know...Mama, teacher's name?" "Ms. Grant." "Abby, do you want to go back tomorrow?" (asked hoping I would hear the right answer). "Yay!"

Of course, this whole conversation was in 2-year old words but I interpreted for you.

Sunscreen and Off

There have been two constants to Abby Grace's summer, sunscreen and Off. These stem from the overall theme of her summer...outside. And I just hope there is no such thing as overexposure to either. This one looks ripe...into the bucket it will go
Spraying water...sometimes with permission and sometimes without
Can you tell she loves the water hose?

Hanging out in the boat...check out these massive earthworms!

In the bucket (full of water)

Mowing with Mama (Mama does NOT mow; she lost a bet!)