Full Week Ahead

It's Monday again....the weekends just seem to go so fast. I swear I feel like it was just Friday and then I blinked my eyes and I am back at work. We had a nice, busy weekend. Saturday morning, Matt, his best friend, my brother and his friend all participated in our company's annual golf tournament. They had a good time but they were all exhausted when they got back to my parents house. While the guys were relaxing, I did snap a picture of my husband's best friend playing with Abigail. It is so adorable watching him play with her and learn about little ones. 

While the guys were golfing, Abigail, my mom and I went running errands. We ran to the cleaners, the bank and then to the Outlet Mall in Allen. We got Abigail some cute summer items at Carter's and then my Mom got some new clothes at Chico's. In the afternoon, my brother and his friend drove back to Austin and my sister drove up from Austin. She is getting married this Saturday so she will be staying up here all week. 

Yesterday we had a relaxing morning at my parents and then went home to unpack and get ready for the week. Last night ended up being a night that we would like to never have happen again. Abigail went to sleep around 7:30 or so and by 8:30-8:45 pm we heard a huge dog from next door barking. He is a big dog and he was continually barking. Matt went next door to ask the neighbors if we could stop his barking as he was right outside our bedroom window and Abigail's. Well, lo and behold, no one was home - that was why he was barking. He was left outside. We called animal control and had to leave a message on their voice mail and then we called the non-emergency police line only to be told it is an animal control matter only. 

Matt and I ended up sleeping in the living room - on the couch and on the floor where the barking wasn't so loud. Thank goodness that the music playing in Abigail's room and her new blackout curtain helped to block the noise and she was able to sleep. Unfortunately,  Matt only got about 3 hours of sleep so he is working from home today. Oh and the dog barked throughout the night and was barking this morning as well. We hope that it doesn't happen again tonight! 

6 Months Old

My baby is 6 months old today!! It is amazing to see how much she has grown over her monthly pictures. Here are some monthly stat updates:


Diaper Size: Pampers size 3


Clothes Size: 9-12 months, depending on how they are made


Hair Color: Medium to dark brown


Eye Color: Still blue!! We think she will be keeping her blue eyes...we hope!


Favorite Toy(s): Loves her soft books she can swing around and chew on and during bathtime, she must have her yellow rubber duckie!


Key Achievements:

• Can now fully sit up on her own, without any assistance
• Her two bottom teeth have broken through the surface and are in the process of fully coming in
• Loves to "talk" with her coos, ahs, and other adorable noises
• Can stand on her feet with assistance and be able to support herself for a few minutes
• Eating baby food at lunchtime - finishing up the veggies this week and will be starting the fruits next week
• Loves playing in her exersaucer at home and in her walker at Grandma and Grandpa's house
• TOTALLY adores my parents' dog, Jake - always lights up when he is around and wants to pet him
• Recognizes her Daddy and I when we are around - smiles and gets excited which we just LOVE! 

The next 2 weeks will be big ones for Abigail and our family. Next weekend, on Saturday the 26th, my sister is getting married. I am the matron of honor, Matt is a groomsman and Abigail is the flower girl so we are all involved. Thanks to the wedding, Abigail will be meeting her great-grandmother from Illinois as well as her great uncle/aunt and 2nd cousins from Iowa. 

Then, on Thursday, the 31st, we will be driving down to Austin for the weekend so Abigail can meet her paternal great-grandparents from Arkansas. We will be driving back to DFW on Saturday afternoon and house/dog sitting for my parents on Sunday and Monday while they help my sister and her husband pack up to move to their new home in Virginia. Whew! I am exhausted already! 

Here is a picture of Abigail trying to pet Jake - too cute!! She loves that doggie! 

Round One

So, as you can tell from the picture above, I will be gracing the dentist with my presence this morning for round one of my scheduled treatment. My lovely appointment is at 9:40 am and they say it will probably be about 1 1/2 hours long. I am not scared of the dentist - I just don't like going. I mean there are SO many other things I would rather do than go to the dentist...like laundry, rearrange my sock drawer, or work!

After this treatment is complete, I will have 3 more appointments to undergo and once they are done, we will talk about the next stage. Needless to say, I wasn't really thrilled about the idea of all the treatments I have to go through but I know that it is best for my teeth. Hopefully I won't swell too much after this first appointment since it will be the longest one.

Guess I better go finish getting ready - wish me luck!!

Loving Wednesday

Happy Wednesday everyone! We are officially at the halfway mark for this week. This month has been SO busy for us that it just seems to be flying. I want to send a special birthday shoutout to my brother, Travis - today is his 22nd birthday! It is hard to believe that my baby brother is already 22 - definitely no longer a baby! 


Here are my Wednesday "loves":


1.) Matt and I's office is very lenient and laid-back when it comes to days of work missed so like today when Matt has a severe sinus infection, he can work from home and relax. 


2.) Matt and I presented our birth story to a childbirth class last night and only one couple was present so we had a very nice, relaxed one-on-one with them. Miss Abigail was a total gem during our talk - sat in Daddy's lap and just played!


3.) We get to introduce Abigail to her great-grandparents on Matt's side at the end of the month! We are driving down to Austin on the 31st and spending Friday with them while they are in town. 


4.) My parents have presented Matt and I with an amazing proposition on our mortgage that will benefit both sides. We are SO blessed and excited!


5.) Matt and I's office has many activities and events for their employees and their families - this weekend is the annual golf tournament and Matt, his best friend, Adam, my brother, Travis, and his friend, Brecken, are all playing for free!


I would say that we are abundantly blessed! 

Worth Sharing

Today, I wanted to take time out to call attention to a very special woman and her blog. Please go and visit www.nogreaterjoymom.com and read about Adeye and her amazing family. I love to read Adeye's blog every day - it always allows me to put things in perspective and to remind myself if I am doing all I can for God. Adeye and her husband, Anthony, have 7 children - 3 princes biologically and 4 princesses via adoption. They are currently fighting for their 8th child, Hasya, who is in a deplorable situation in an orphanage in Bulgaria. They are trying to do everything they can to rescue her as soon as possible and bring her home. 


Reading her posts help share her utmost faith in God and His Plan for her and her family, not to mention her undying concern and support for all children but especially those labeled "special needs". Personally, I know that Matt and I are not able to adopt one of these children but I have gone to reecesrainbow.org and seen all the available children who are waiting for their "forever" families. One child in particular, Juliette, just captured my heart - she is SO adorable and I was so overjoyed to read today that a family in Texas is in the process of adopting her - http://lovinglifewithbandt.blogspot.com/! I cannot wait to follow their adoption story and to see the day when that adorable, precious girl becomes a citizen of the Lone Star State! 

Mother's Day Weekend

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend! I had a wonderfully relaxing and loving weekend. We have been house and dog sitting for my parents who were out of town. Saturday morning, Matt went into work for a couple of hours and Abigail and I went shopping. We went to Kohl's and got Abigail lots of new clothes on sale and then we went to Walmart for a few essentials and also picked up a few adorable pajamas for Abigail. Here is my Princess modeling her new Disney Princess Pajama Dress. 

I think she loves it - our little Princess!! Saturday afternoon Matt gave me my Mother's Day gift early - a mini shopping spree at Mardel's - since they are closed on Sunday. I got some wonderful stuff! I got a Busy Mom's Bible, a book on Worrying Less for Moms, 2 Princess girl books for Abigail, a pink flower carrying case and a pink cupcake tote bag with a faithful reminder on the front. I love it all!! I have my cupcake bag with me today and I can't wait to start reading my new Bible in the evenings. 


Sunday morning - Mother's Day - Matt went and picked up a large Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha and Banana Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake for my breakfast. Yummy!! Then we went to Babies R' Us and got Abigail her first high chair and a pink umbrella stroller. She sat in her new high chair and ate her green beans with no problems! She is getting to be such a big girl! And the "cherry on top" was Matt took Abigail and I got to enjoy a 1 1/2 hour nap! Yes please! Needless to say, I was very spoiled this weekend. I hope you were too!

Long Night

It was a long night last night in our household. It seems the wonderful 2 bottom teeth that have been trying to come in are starting to break the surface. Little Abigail was not a happy camper at all - she was waking up almost every hour or so and she cried very hard around 10:30 pm which she never cries so we knew she was hurting. We finally broke down and gave her a little Tylenol to help take the edge off and then Matt and I took turns holding her and rocking her back to sleep. Needless to say, none of us really got any full, undisturbed sleep. I am hoping that Abigail gets some good naps in today at school. 


Despite the long night, Abigail did seem to wake up in her usual cheerful way. Here is a picture of her this morning in her very patriotic dress, getting ready to leave for school.