Abigail is 8 months old!

Ok, this month flew by! Between preparing for Audrey's birthday parties and Christmas, Abigail turning 8 months was here before we knew it.

Abigail did great with food this month. Actually, I started giving her more and more of whatever we were having...green beans, corn, carrots, spaghetti. I'm upping her to 3 solid meals a day and keeping her at 3 bottles. She wakes and has her morning bottle and then an hour later she has cereal. I started mixing fruit into it for a little more flavor and variety. When she wakes from her morning nap she has lunch (usually any leftovers from dinner. Today she had macaroni and cheese!) She has a bottle before her afternoon nap. She eats dinner with us (whatever we're having [plus cereal with a veggie sometimes mixed in), then has her bottle before bed.

She's still on a great eating/napping/playing schedule. She can be clingy sometimes. She definitely lets us know when she wants us. If I'm playing with her on the floor she will turn and basically throw herself on me and whine until I pick her up. She is thisfreakingclose to crawling. She can get on her hands and knees, but doesn't stay up very long. She army crawls and scoots herself forward though and she's pretty quick! Think inch worm :) She wants to pull up but I think that's a ways away. She can't get herself to a sitting position just yet. She LOVES her stuffed Mickey Mouse and he sleeps with her in the crib.

She's still teething but I still only see 3 bottom teeth. She sleeps beautifully...usually we put her down wide awake and she puts herself to sleep no problems (she's had her moments though!) She absolutely loves her baths. She really loves her big sister! Any time Audrey pays her any attention, she soaks it up!

She has the biggest, brightest smile and you can't help but smile back when you see her face light up! We adore her so very much.









I was getting out her monthly onesie sticker and I noticed that there is only 1 sheet left for months 9-12. Ugh- this is going by way too fast! I'm already thinking about her 1st birthday party! I'm so excited to see her next milestones...sitting herself up, crawling, pulling up. She's going to be doing all of those things before we know it!

Christmas 2011

What a wonderful and blessed Chritsmas it was!

We began celebrating on the 23rd with Christopher's family. Chris's grandparents were visiting from Texas and got to meet Abigail for the first time! We had a yummy spaghetti dinner then opened presents.


Waiting for the festivities to start...




Great-grandma Patti


Great-grandpa Richard


I think spaghetti is one of her favorite meals!

Auntie Sarah can always make her smile!

Bella and Audrey loved their play kitchen

Abigail was kind of in the middle of all the mess. She would be sitting up one minute, rolling around in wrapping paper the next (trying to eat it, of course!)


Audrey's favorite gift was the Lala Loopsy Clubhouse, but she was bummed about having to share it with Bella. That's life, kid!

Fast forward to Christmas morning at our house with my family...


Seeing presents for the first time.

After all the presents were put out on Christmas Eve, I snuck into Audrey's room and tied her stocking to her crib. Wouldn't you know it, she woke up in the middle of the night wanting milk and when I returned, she had taken out her toys :) The look on her face was priceless as I told her that Santa brought it. Luckily she went back to sleep and even after she woke up in the morning, the toys kept her busy!



Checking out the milk, cookies, and note that Santa left


Abby watched all the action from her highchair. She was thrilled when Uncle Scott brought her a gift!

Pausing to watch A Christmas Story (it stays on all day and night at our house!)

She stopped unwrapping gifts and just read for the longest time as her presents were getting piled up!





After all the gifts were opened, Abigail took a nap and we got ready to go to Mom Maw's house for more celebrating!



Second time meeting cousin Ansley!

Audrey loved watching cousin Nina rock the karaoke!





We ate and opened presents and had the best time. We missed Uncle Ryan and Auntie M, though!

It was a long drive home and we were so tired! The girls went straight to bed. Hard to believe that it's all over. I love Christmastime so much! Next year we'll have a 4 year old and a 20-month old! They'll both be running around and squealing and I'm sure it will be even more crazy. Can't wait!

Happy Birthday, Audrey!

It was a really great day!

Audrey woke up in a great mood as we serenaded her with 'Happy Birthday.' She really loved busting out of her room :)




Hiding under her pillow as we sang :)


HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLING!

I took her with me to go grocery shopping and run some errands. She picked out her birthday cake and was so excited to get home because Aunt Kelly & Jeremy were coming over early to celebrate with her. They got her an amazing present- all of the Disney Princess dolls!



She had a nice afternoon nap then it was time for her party!





This is as close as Audrey will sit to Abigail. She laugh and pulls away every time Abigail touches her (I think she's afraid of how hard Abby can pinch and pull!)

We were so excited to celebrate with close family. Grandma and Grandpa Allen (her great-grandparents from TX) were able to come and that was so special.


Audrey and Bella mostly played in her room

Chris made a spiral ham and after we ate she opened presents. She kept telling Bella, "This is my present, Bella!" and then Bella would dramatically turn away, lol. You could tell by her tone that she wasn't at all trying to mean, more like, "Look what I got!" She had the best reaction to getting the Lala Loopsy Tree House...she cheered and sang and danced and it was so funny!


Time for presents!


Opening the princess book from Aunt Caroline and Uncle Jason :)



My favorite part was the cake. Of course I loved watching her as we all sang Happy Birthday. But then, to my surprise instead of spitting all over the cake, she blew out the candles on her first try! I don't think she could believe it either :) And then, before anyone could stop her, she took a big lick from her cake!! I let her go for it, because she had been DYING to "take one little lick" the entire day. Grandma Allen got it all on video, too!






3 years old= 3 licks!


It was such a fun little celebration. I'm so grateful to everyone who came out to help celebrate, especially with the craziness of it being Christmas Eve. Audrey felt so special and can't wait until next year :)