Me Time

I rarely get me time. During Abby's three hour nap in the day, I too need to nap when really I'd rather turn on a good movie or read to my hearts desire. (however, I've come to love my almost daily 2 hour naps.) So while some of you may think taking a nap is me time, for me it is absolutely necessary.

So when do I get my me time? At 2:00 in the morning when I get home from work. The house is quiet, and I don't have to worry about little hands getting into anything. Despite how hard it is to go to my job, I so look forward to that half hour or so after I get home to get ready for bed and read for a while without the guilt I feel when I read in the day while Abby sneaks off to the stairs or finds the tiniest objects to put into her mouth.

And I also love peeking in on this beautiful sleeping baby.

I just love quietly tip-toeing into her room, wondering how she got into some of her sleep positions, and just staring at her for a while. Its during this time that I reflect on how I still can't believe she is mine, and how she has grown up so much. What is it about a sleeping baby that just makes the heart melt?

And after tip-toeing out of her room, I just enjoy the peace and quiet of the night with a good book.

Oh and climbing into bed next to this sleeping guy is pretty amazing too.

Love you babe!

The Eleventh Month

Photo done by Erik Bingham

It's that time again. Time for another baby update. And once again I am shocked Abby is already 11 months. Even more shocked that in less than a month from now, my little baby will be one year. I can't help but play the last moments of my pregnancy in my head. What I was doing and feeling a year ago. How uncomfortable I was. And now she is 11 months, a few short weeks to a year. Time really does fly. Way too fast.

Weight: Abby is still a whole 18 lbs. I swear, no matter what we do to plump her up, it doesn't work. I promise we don't starve her! We offer her plenty. Perhaps she throws more on the floor than I thought she did. She is just a small little thing.

Waving while she eats, chillen in her stroller, cool beach baby, and Harry Potter Abby.

Food she likes: Well, as far as pureed baby food, Abby is done. She prefers to feed herself, causing a huge mess if I try and feed her by swatting my hands away with her flailing arms. Once in a blue moon though, I can still feed her the fruits. But mostly she is onto 100% table food. She loves pancakes, bread, lunch meat, string cheese, mac and cheese, peas, strawberries, and especially grapes.

Hamming it up while eating.

What she can do: Abby is a pro at climbing the stairs now. Such a pro, that even when we have blocked the stairs with a chair, she will find the tiniest space to crawl through to get to the stairs. She is also really good at crawling away from us, and quickly. She will look back, laugh, and crawl her little might out. She is a quick one. She is also quick to crawl to things she knows she isn't supposed to be into....like when I unload the dishwasher, she is right there trying to 'help'. She is also getting good at growing hair so I can do more cute little ponytails. And now "Dada" isn't just a noise she is making. She knows what she is saying.

Discovering the way to the stairs, a short-lived victory, and then I dashed her hopes and dreams by turning the chair the other way.

What we are working on: Growing even more hair, balancing on her own while standing, finding more nutritious food and snacks that a girl with only 6 front teeth can chew. Learning that 'mama' is me.

Favorite Things: She loves drinking from her straw sippy, hugging her doggy (that sadly I don't have a picture of) swimming, and bath time. And playing with anything BUT her toys.

Mama let me out!!

Things she hates: Her car-seat. We are heading to St. George Saturday and I honestly don't know how she will do on a 3 hour ride in that thing. Every time she is in it, we hear her grunting trying to get out. And when we put her in it, as soon as she sees the car she cries. Can't wait to upgrade!

How mommy is doing: I am doing pretty well, but I am so tired all. the. time. This work schedule that I have me on is all the sudden taking it's toll. That and the sudden heat. That is taking it's toll too.

What we are looking forward to: Taylorsville Dayzz Friday, St. George, my birthday, the 4th of July, camping, and turning one!

Photo done by Erik Bingham

The weekend that beat me up and killed my phone.

This weekend was fantastic. We had so much fun...but it came with a few injuries to myself, and my brand-newish phone. Lets start from the beginning.

So I must say, life as a stay at home mom can be a little dull....especially with a sick baby. Abby cut two teeth this week and was down with a fever for two days. By Friday, I was very stir-crazy but assumed my day was going to be full of what the rest of my days the past week was: nothing. So I went to yoga that morning and by that afternoon, Sam came up with the idea that me and Abby meet him downtown for dinner at one of our favorite restaurants: Asian Isle.

So about 4:00 Abby and I headed over to Trax for Abby's first train ride. The train that takes me to the stop I was supposed to get off at was difficult to get Abby's stroller/carseat combo on. It didn't fit up the stairs and NO ONE helped me. So I waited for the next train and walked to Sam's work. It wasn't that bad, and Abby enjoyed her train ride I think. And the food, as always, was delicious!

Train ride, chillen in her seat, and Asian Isle

After dinner we drove around and enjoyed town before rushing home for my last night of 9:00 work. And nope, this wasn't the part I got beat up at.

Saturday morning we slept in. Once we were up and got our chores done, we smothered Abby in sun screen, got in our swimming suits and spent the afternoon at Taylorsville Pool. Abby really hated it at first. She cried the WHOLE time in the water and then fell asleep. Sam and I took turns swimming laps and jumping off the diving bored while she slept. I realized that it was probably time to put sunscreen on myself....not realizing how long it had been. So Sam made an effort to lather me up. Meanwhile, my ear was getting very plugged up but I didn't think much about it, and my new swimsuit shorts were chaffing my legs, making them hurt more and more. When Abby woke up, she started to like the pool. We stayed for a little while longer and made our way home. My ear was still plugged. So plugged I couldn't hear. When we got to the car and my phone slid into a cup of water and shut itself off. I put it in rice, and we quickly got ready, ear still plugged, phone still broken, and legs still chaffing, to go to a wedding reception. During that time, I was getting more and more EARitated. I could not hear out of my right ear. We went to the reception, got some dinner and then got me some ear drops. Which didn't help. By that time I realized my back was FRIED! I waited too long to put sunscreen on.

So lets review all my injuries so far: broken phone, chaffed legs, plugged right ear, and sunburn. Miserable. But despite that it was so much fun. And Abby is quite the adorable water baby!

By Sunday morning, my ear was still super plugged, so I spent the morning at Insta-care getting it checked out. I missed some of church but it was worth it. It was starting to hurt. It was full of disgusting ear wax. Once it came out it was like a whole new ear. The rest of the day was visiting our dads, eating yummy food, and Sam busily getting ready for scout camp.

Like I said, super fun weekend. But to add to the list of my injuries, I woke up this morning with a very stiff neck. So sunburn, chaffed legs, stiff neck, no phone, and Sam is away til Wednesday on scout camp and I miss him. At least I can hear out of my hear again!

And Wednesday, please hurry and get here.

Daddy's Day

Happy Father's Day to my wonderful Husband! Seeing him take the role of Daddy these past 11 months has filled my heart with so much joy I never thought possible. He is patient, loving, fun, and would do anything for his little girl. He is wrapped so tightly around her little finger, I wonder if she'll ever do anything wrong in his eyes.

For his day, Abby gave him the cutest little present ever:

Thanks to this blog I found through Pinterest and my brother Erik, this was Sam's favorite gift by far.

Also, Happy Fathers Day to my daddy. He and I have a very close relationship. So close, we see who can dish out the most fat jokes to one another. I promise you, It's all in love and it's so much fun. And although I have gotten him good, I'm pretty sure he still is the winner of most hilarious joke. I love you daddy! You're the best dad in the world!!

Our Life Lately.

Or should I say Abby's life lately...

Feeding ducks with Aunt Kari and cousins Lydia and Ammon

Not loving the grass so much

Being pinned down so I could get a decent picture of her with sunglasses on

Pulling herself up on everything

Being enthralled with Blues Clues. (who I always thought was a boy dog.)

Enjoying her lunch with Grammy

Large dirty puff baby after her graceful fall in the mountains today. Seriously, she fell in slow motion.

Despite this past week and next week being shutdown at the temple, making it so I work from 9-2 (instead of my usual 10-2) we have still managed to have some fun round these parts. Or at least Abby has. :)

Happy Weekend

Hope you are all having a nice weekend. We have been having a pretty good one so far, full of yard work and 5 guys.

Abby has also been keeping herself entertained.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!