Family Living: Abbott Style

Haley is now 5.  And our life is about to forever change as she enters the "school age years". Newborn, toddler, pre-schooler, no more---school age child. How could I possibly summarize the last year in a few moments.--This last year went by fast.  And as far as Haley is concerned, one of my favorite years.  She is smart and funny.  Full of energy. She makes me proud. She is a great big sister.  She and Owen play well together. They have their moments, but when it comes down to it--Owen is one of her best buds. Here are a few highlights about Haley at this milestone: She loves mac and cheese--it was her dinner of choice this evening She makes up her own song lyrics, and it is pretty hilarious. She has started telling jokes.  Some are funny.  Most are not. She loves her daddy, but also loves doing girlie things with mom. She LOVES clothes.  And shoes....and fighting about clothes and shoes. She hates having her hair brushed.  Sh...

Dear Dad, First things first, I love you.  I miss you.  And I am sorry. I wish I had told you that sooner.  It still haunts me.  For too long, I wanted to hate you.  I wanted to hate you for hurting mom.  I wanted to hate you for leaving.  I wanted to hate you for coming and going.  I wanted to hate you for being so damn selfish. But I didn't.  I only hated how much I loved spending time with you.  I didn't want to want you.  I didn't want to miss you.  For me.  For mom.  It was like loving you meant I wasn't grateful for my life.   So at times, I pushed you away.  I am sorry. Wasted time. God made something beautiful out of the broken.  Mom did so good.  You knew John was a good man  And in some ways, it was good not having to come and go--being a visitor everywhere and home to nowhere.  That is no life for a kid.  We had stability.  We had love. Th...

Tired, frustrated, under slept, under groomed...and two kids are making it their goal to tear down the home.  The home I worked so hard to clean, after they were tucked in bed last night---again. I look down and see elastic around my ankles.   ELASTIC.  I vowed not to wear sweats--as like...an attire.  I judged...JUDGED mothers for wearing Yoga pants.  Even after Haley.  But here I sit.  Two kids, a messy house, under groomed---in elastic sweats.  In fact, I am not exactly sure the last time I wore pants that required a button.  And in these pants, I am not sure I could even get a prisoner to lust after me. I actually loath myself. I hurry through the day.  Holding my pee longer than what is healthy for the bladder. I've re-heated my coffee for the 3rd time.  THIRD time.  I am not even human until I can consume coffee. And even after my come to Jesus revelation just two days ago--I am thinking about my holey cup, leakin...

I want to publicly apologize in advance to my son's future girlfriends/ wife.  I hate you already. Our family is really hitting our stride.  We are settling into a good groove.  For a long time, it seemed as if life was a struggle.  Transitioning from one child to two was no an easy one for Haley...or for me for that matter.   Since day 1, Owen has been my easy baby.  Easy going.  Happy.  Go with the flow.  Haley is my smart, strong willed girl.  She puts up a real fight.  I admire that--but it is damn hard to parent. Owen at 2 Sweet, tender, kind--Owen is a lover. He loves playing with big sister, and big sister loves playing with him His vocabulary is blooming more and more each day.   Loves hotdogs. He is an awesome little sleeper.  Love his Daddy.  And his Daddy's yellow car. Mom doesn't get a lot of cuddles anymore.  He is a busy boy.  Playing and learning. He is reluctant to b...

My sweet baby is now an 18 month toddler.  And it is a blast He is officially weaned. Had our first overnight trip without the kids and it went awesome. Separation anxiety is finally easing up He is happy and silly He plays rough with sister. REALLY into animals.  He sleeps well and takes 1 nap a day. He is really into daddy right now. He is learning more and more words every day.  ' He says No, even when he means yes,  And it is totally cute. He has zero interest in tv.

I couldn't possible truly capture out last year in a single blog post.  But I will do my best.  I will likely fall short of painting an accurate picture. First, I have to be honest.  Looking through Haley's pictures today REALLY made me want another baby...for a fleeting second.  And then it went away, She is now a little girl. No longer a toddler.  A little girl.  Almost a school age girl. She is sweet. Happy.  Enthusiastic. Bright.  Strong. I have full conversations with Haley. I can reason with her and often talk her down from tantrums She still loves to read.  I hope she always has a passion for books She enjoys puzzles She took some tumbling lessons and is now in swimming.  So far, I think she enjoys swimming more.  She looks very zen during her lessons. She likes to be independent and likes to do things on her own. She enjoys going to AWANAS on Wednesday nigh...

"Can I sit on your lap...." Yes... The answer is yes . And will always be  yes. Shortly following the newborn stage, my darling daughter would express a distaste for being held. She was my busy and independent girl from the littlest of ages.  I felt robbed.  She wouldn't even allow me to rock her to sleep.  Some of the best advice I ever got in parenting is "parent the child you have, not the child you want them to be."  Now, I know how that sounds.  I love and have loved my Haley, as is.  But I had a certain expectation of how I envisioned parenthood, and there was a real let down for me when I had a daughter who simply rejected the simple affectionate gesture of being held.   Haley is now quickly approaching 4 and a new stage has approached us.  Cuddling with Haley.  Finally she is asking for affection.  Finally she is asking to be held.  Finally she is asking for cuddles.  And my heart couldn't be happie...