Easter

Abby's first Easter was spent in the hospital. She was a day short of two weeks old, we had only met her 2 days before. We only got to spend 2 hours with her. It was so hard to leave, I did NOT want to. I wanted to take my baby with me, to celebrate Easter with her in my arms, all day. But, while we were at the hospital that day I did get to feed her for the first time, the first time I got to do something for her, and it was fantastic! I wrote all about it here.

Since there wasn't a whole lot of celebrating last year it kind of felt like this was Abby's first Easter, or at least our first whole Easter together. For years I have been looking forward to holiday celebrations with our kids. I've been so excited about trick-or-treating, Christmas parties, and Easter egg hunts. It was so fun to get to participate this year!

The first Easter Egg Hunt we planned to take Abby to was cancelled due to weather. We were super bummed. It was rescheduled for her birthday. We went but were 2 minutes late. I guess they had a few eggs for kids her age, but they had all been picked up by the time we got there and all that remained were a few tootsie rolls strewn through the grass. Even these it was hard to get her to be able to pick up because by the time she would notice them some other kids would come up and take them away. So it wasn't a huge hit, but she was still cute.

Our second Easter Egg Hunt was much more successful and fun. We decided to spend Easter with my sister Mindy and her family in Houston. The day before Easter we went with them to their church's hunt. They let the young toddlers go first and had an area just for them. Abby understood picking up eggs and had fun. 

Later that day we all dyed eggs.  

Easter morning Abby looked for her Easter basket. She got a little distracted by the Cozy Coupe but eventually found it.

The Easter Bunny knows her well!

We tried to get a picture of her withthe bunny we gave her on her first Easter but she was not super cooperative. Still, you can see how much she's grown!

And a couple pictures with her cousins Elli and Wesley.









Because She's So Cute

I take LOTS of pictures of Abby, hundreds each month, just because she is so stinkin cute. Here's a smorgasbord of ones from this month.

At the zoo, eating lunch while watching the orangutans

We went to lunch with friends at Blue Mesa Grill and Abby colored a picture for the first time - it now decorates our fridge.

 

I don't know what these toys are called but this is mine from when I was a kid. Abby really likes playing with it and is really good at making it work - plus she is just super cute walking around with it.

 

We have been to the zoo a lot. Abby loves it there and loves lots of different animals. She always enjoys feeding the birds.

 

"Hiking" at a park in Houston. (It's hard to consider anything hiking in Texas, it's so flat :( ).

 

Just hanging out, reading some books to Dad. I interrupted to take the picture - hence the look.

Backyard fun

Pretty daffodils, prettier Abby

 

Talking to Grandma

Our Baby's Growing Up!

Abby turned 1 on March 26th. One may not sound very old to you, but to me it does. Abby is my baby and I would be happy to have her stay small forever (but it is very fun to watch her grow up too.) We would have loved to have our entire family there to celebrate with us, but we are too spread out. Ryan's sister, Heather, really wanted to be but she had to work, so she came a few days early (along with their parents) and had a little celebration/ present opening.

 

 

 

On her birthday I made her banana oat pancakes for breakfast - her favorite! 

 

 

That evening, after Ryan got home, we had her birthday party. Ryan's parents, Cheyenne, Cathy (Cheyenne's mom), Cheyenne's friend, and Cheyenne's future step-kids came to celebrate with us.

There were lots of presents,

 

And lots of food. We had taco salad - Abby's favorite foods are rice and black beans, so that is what she got. She also loves fruit - so she had a "fruit cake". I know people probably think it was rude not to give her a traditional cake and I often get asked when we will let her eat sugar. The answer is, I don't know. But I'm not ready to polute her perfect body with it. She is happy with fruit for now. She loved her cake. I think she had a good first birthday - surrounded with people who love her.