Family Living: Abbott Style

Today, my sweet little girl turned 6. Our lives have been chaos lately, so it was very important to me that she felt special today. I attended her FABULOUS school play, we kidnapped her at lunch to spend some birthday money and eat Jose Peppers--after school--was swim lessons, pizza and cake at grandma and grandpas. It was perfect. This evening, she was singing in the shower and cuddled up to bed with a mermaid tail blanket. Like most yearly events, I can't help but spend some time in reflection. First, I want to encourage moms everywhere. Parenting is hard. From day 1 with Haley, I felt like I was always struggling to "figure it out". How to not mess her up. As I stand here after 6 years, I still haven't figured it out. But she has turned out to be a wonderful little girl in spite of it all. The 3's and 4's are tough. But something magical happens in kindergarten. ---and I have enjoyed ...

Today is a good day.   Starting Sunday, Haley started running a fever and complaining of neck pain, headache, and sore throat.  This continued for several days and she has yet to go to school this week.  While taxing and frustrating, there was something good that game out of it.  Haley is feeling much better today, so we took advantage of the situation and invited her to the ultrasound of her little brother! He is developing beautifully.  Placenta has migrated so no previa.  The baby was an active little boy, kicking wiggling around.   The woman doing the sonogram was getting so tickled and ended up taking about 30 pictures total of the baby.  She said he is a character already.  The joy filled the room. Praise be to God.   The thought of three kids is sometimes...terrifying.  It is hard to imagine.  I remember similar feelings when I was pregnant with Owen.  But eventually, it passes.  The...

This evening I was reviewing some of my old posts---wondering how to stop time.  When I realized, I had not done my yearly recap. 2016--In Review 2016 began with the sudden loss of my grandma.  It was hard. Realizing our loved ones morality is hard.  I literally, slowly, watched her life slip away.  It was hard. I made AMAZING friends.  For so long, I carried a hole in my life.  I had an emotional need that never felt filled.  I loved God.  But I had this desire to connect that I could not shake.  Then I made two of the best friends I have ever had.  And now our group of three has expanded to a community of people.  Who all love God.  And we are loving God together and changing as people.  I can look back and see God's work being played out in these relationships.  It is not a doubt in my mind that these people are a very special gift and together, we will strive to glorify God. I found a church.  This ...

I am pregnant.  11 weeks pregnant to be exact. The number one question that I get-- Wow, was this planned? I can't say I blame them for asking the question.  Our family of four appeared to be very settled.  We had hit our stride,  Haley started Kindergarten.  The days of infanthood and toddlerhood were but fading memories. But I felt an undeniable desire for one more kid.  I tried hard to talk myself out of it,  It felt like starting over.  I told Ian I could certainly imagine having three adult children.  Three teenagers.  But volunteering for another pregnancy.  Volunteering for a newborn,  Seemed just short of insanity.    And then there was the IUD incident.  One an August morning, I felt an odd sensation and quickly realized my IUD was attempting and unscheduled evacuation.   An emergency visit to the OB confirmed that, in fact, my IUD had one leg out the door (literally).  ...

I cannot even begin to explain the joy this boy has brought into our lives.  He is full of laughter, playfulness, tenderness, and love.   A few highlights: Owen is mostly potty-trained! He recently moved to his big boy bed. He loves all things boy.  But doesn't hesitate to dive in with his big sister in whatever she can imagine up. Loves his dad.   He was cake.  Like seriously.  Birth thru 2.5 with him was so easy.  He is growing into toddler-hood.  I have begun to see a few tantrums here and there.   Terrible threes perhaps.   He is a descent eater.  I would say fairly typical toddler pickiness.  Loves Paw Patrol He enjoys the lake! 

This morning, Haley put on a new leopard print shirt.  A new khaki colored skort, A new pair of socks.  And a new pair of sneakers. She went to a new environment.  With new faces.  Pulled out new crayons our of a new pencil box.  Took her sack lunch in a new lunch box.  New routine,  New rules.  New faces, New...life. Everything is new. Including my role as a mother. Last night I had a nightmare.  It was like I was living the movie 'Taken' and Haley was in the starring role as the abducted girl. If you are wondering how I am handling, I thnk that summarizes it.  My anxiety is hijacking my dreams and spiraling into obscure levels.  Haley is coming home to a surprise of MORE new school clothes and a pizza-making-party.  I am trying to make the best of it.  My emotions are wild right now.  I remember loving school.  So the amount of sadness I am feeling today is selfish. ...

Tomorrow is the first day of a long journey.  With Haley, I was always excited for the next big milestone. First smile. First time rolling over. First time crawling. First steps. First words. In many ways, she has taught me more about life than I have taught her. And tomorrow, I hand her over to the world. I will still have a hand in her development--but her education and much of her social  interaction is in the hands of her tiny little community. Tonight, when I bow my head, I will pray hard for the years to come. And that God will continue to look over her and guide the hands molding her mild. As we close this chapter of our life, we begin another. This milestone, I approach with anxiety, hesitation, and tears. I am excited for her--she is going to LOVE kindergarten. Without a doubt, I know there will not be a tear shed on her part. She will walk through that door of her classroom, with not so much of a glance back. If anything, a reassuring smile to mom. To let me know-...