Family Living: Abbott Style

A new session has arrived.  A few nights ago, I converted the crib to a toddler day bed.  Toddler.  Because I have one of those.  Not a baby, but a toddler. This is nothing new, but it just seems official now.  She isn't a baby anymore. She is handling it fairly well.  The first night was a rough start, but since then she has gotten the hang of it.  I'm actually kind of shocked that she stays in bed and calls for me when she wakes up rather than just get up.  Actually, I take that back, she did get up on her own this afternoon after nap time.  She pulled out all her shoes and was sitting in the middle of her room surrounded by shoes. Esh.....now potty training is a whole different challenge.  I don't want to think about it right now.

Recently, we were lucky enough to escape the cold snowy weather in exchange for some family time with my grandparents down in South Padre, Tx.   This is the type of weather we left behind (and came home too) Heated pool, steps away from our condo back door.   We used VRBO to find our condo at a great deal.  It was beautiful.  Two bedroom, two bath, full kitchen and two living areas.  AND cheaper than a hotel.  It was perfect and truly felt at home.  Haley and great-grandma were great buddies.   Played at the park Played in the sand Played in the water.  Brrr it was COLD Tried to SWIM in the ocean.  Girl was trying to strip naked. Ate a lot of delicious food Enjoyed the beach Went for a beautiful walk and saw what the island had to offer Entertained everyone Went to the zoo, hands down the BEST zoo I have ever been to! With her newborn I have soo many p...

At some point in the last month, I looked over and saw my baby girl for what she is. A toddler.  Obviously I get reminders daily.  I think  they call it something like the "terrible twos" maybe.  I joke.  Because she really isn't that bad.  She is spirited, and I have learned to embrace it.  She is vocal, and I love it--even if she is screaming and screeching  I say this with caution:  I am hitting my stride here. I am finally feeling like a mom.  I am finally feeling like I know what I am doing.  I finally feel like I have SOME control   The newborn stuff is cute and all--but this toddler stuff is where it's at for me. The thing for me, is that I work better with little humans that have some form of reasoning.  She is starting to understand cause and effect in a bigger way.  She is starting to understand "choices".  Don't get me wrong.  She tests daily.  But I don't find ...

You know what drove me nuts before I had a kid?  When people referred to their toddlers as XX amount of months.  Anything over a year really.  In my mind, a 1-year-old is a 1-year-old & a 2 year-old was a 2-year-old.  Everything in-between was all the same. But here I am, I have a 20-month-old daughter.  Because when they are this little, every month matters.  There is a big difference between 12 months, 18-months, 20-months, and 24-months.  There just is.  I decided after she turns two I will probably stop counting by months.  I will just say, I have a 2-year-old.  But then again, I am not there yet.  Number 1 rule in parenting: All bets are off. But today marks Haley's 20th month of life.  She is a third of a year away from being 2.  I say it that way, because 4 months seems like such a short amount of time and I am having difficulties comprehending that I will be having a 2-year-old soon. ...

I am emotionally and physically drained.  It stands to reason as my body's attempt to bring us child number two ended in  miscarriage .  I am doing well and am at peace with this loss that occurs frequently in the whole baby making process.  Despite my best attempts to talk myself out of the emotions, I still find myself feeling that sense of loss.  But again, rationally, I understand these things happen.  And often.  And probably for a good reason. But we move forward.  Regrettably, Ian has been so busy at work we haven't had time to really process together.  And then my mom has been in Texas attending to my grandfather who is also having some health issues.  I miss my mommy and I want my grandpa to be better!!!  So my broken heart, is being healed by this face here: Haley had been fighting the worse cold and respiratory problems; therefor, she has been in a funk for awhile.  But suddenly--my healt...

Here were mine.  I was.... ambitious: Eat Exercise at least 5 days a week.  I got up to 6 days a week and ran a half marathon!  Start planning meals a week at a time to help with my organization and grocery shopping. Haha Eat balanced.  Forget diets, I am so over that stuff.  Just eat like I hope to teach my kidlet to eat.  Moderation, moderation, moderation! Still needs work Loose 15 lbs. by the time the new house is finished. I am not sure if it was by May but I ended up losing close to 25 lbs!  (And gained a few back) Redefine my definition of  a glass  (4 oz.) of wine per day.  Apparently a 16 oz. solo cup isn't the same.   Glass, I just drink out of the bottle now.   Pray   This area will need to be addressed..yikes! Attend church every Sunday until summer, then at-least 2 out of 4 Sundays (we often go out of town to the lake during the summer) Yikes, we need to work on this Start attending...

Wow--Blast from the past.  First off, if you are one of the people that get my blogs via email.  I am SOOO sorry.  I went back and re-published all the drafts I had once published on my blog.  A lot of it was pictures of Haley and posts about her development, and I didn't want to loose that stuff, so I wanted to make sure it was published.  Little did I know, it was going to re-email ALL of those posts AGAIN.  So sorry for 100's of emails.  Yikes. So, we tired to break the binkie habit in the past and I caved. This time, it is for real.  She let the dog eat her last one, so enough is enough.  Tonight was night one.  She cried for awhile.  Threw a fit.  Even asked for the binkie by name and ask please.  But now she is asleep and all is well with the world. And so we move forward.  Nap time will be a whole new battle tomorrow.  Wish me luck.