Abby's Birthday

Yes, Abby's birthday was two months ago.... I have been bad about updating the blog, so now I'm playing catch-up! Abby had a Snow White party with some family and friends. We had a great time. The kids played outside in the sand and on the swings. She is two! Hard to believe!

Disney World!

We got to go to Disney World last month when Dan had a conference in Orlando. They had a great promotion for Disney passes through the military, so we decided to do it. Abby loved the kiddie rides like Dumbo, Winnie the Pooh, and Peter Pan.... her favorite was "It's a Small World After All." It was HOT, but we drank plenty of fluids and went back to our hotel for naps... we all had a great time! Even Dan and I rode our favorites while visiting... I rode the Tower of Terror and he rode Star Wars! Abby especially loved the lazy river at our hotel and meeting Snow White in person!

After riding the Dumbo carousel:

At Epcot:

Abby looking at the seahorses:

Abby and me in the mouth of a shark!

Abby with her heroine, Snow White:

(she looks like she's crying, but she's just HOT!!)

South Padre Island

We spent a week at South Padre Island with my family (Mom, Kenley, Foster - they are engaged now!, Landon, and Preston), and we had a blast. We flew kites, made sand castles, visited a sea turtle rescue hospital, ate shrimp, spent hours upon hours in the pool with our little waterbaby who would live in the water if we let her, and enjoyed lots of family time.

Abby's Singing Debut

Here is Abby's singing debut.... a selection of her favorites including, "ABCs", "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," and excerpts from Snow White's "Someday my Prince Will Come." She is often camera shy, but as long as the screen is turned toward her and she can see herself as I am filming, she is happy to oblige her camera-happy Mama and Daddy.

Peek a boo

Here are a few black and white shots of Abby we've taken over the past days.... she seems like she is trying to play peek-a-boo with the camera. Her current hobbies are Snow White (she has a little plastic Snow White that she eats with, sleeps with, and takes a bath with), "jumping" (her feet don't even come off of the ground), singing, and being "neck - ud." :)

Just so cute!

These are just some random pictures that I can't resist posting. Filthy with ice cream, on the swing with Mama and Daddy in a handmade dress from MaGa, and Abby at a friend's birthday party with a tootoo on her head. :)

Valentine's Day

Ok, so I have to brag on my husband. He did the sweetest thing for Valentine's Day. We celebrated a couple of days early since we were going to be out of town for the 14th. He told me a couple of days beforehand not to plan anything for this particular night. When I got downstairs from putting Abby to bed, he made me close my eyes and walk outside. When I opened them, I saw that he had set up our tent with sleeping bags and camp chairs outside for a campout! We love to camp, hike, and be outdoors, so this was a perfect way to spend Valentine's Day. We made smores, looked at the stars, talked, and slept in our backyard! (with the baby monitor, of course). It was a wonderful, inexpensive, and thoughtful Valentine's Day gift....

we didn't take any pictures, but here's one of Abby and me (let's be honest, she is why you are here anyway) :)

The Cruise!

In early January, my side of the family took a cruise to the Carribean.... it was great, relaxing, and so much fun. We stopped at Costa Maya, Belize, Guatemala, and Cozumel. We got to go diving, cave tubing, snorkeling, see some ruins, read next to the pool, and play a little blackjack! Mom, Kenley, Foster, Landon, Preston, Dan, and I had a vacation we will never forget. Quarters, darts, escargot, bingo, carrying intertubes through the rainforest, and our meal at "Cheers" are some of the great memories.

Just after snorkeling in Cozumel....

At one of the many delicious meals....

At one of the lounges on a couch that looks more like a bed! The guys loved it.

Our "dress up" night before dinner.....

Can't wait until the next one!!!

An Encounter with Santa

As you can tell by Abby's face, it was more like Close Encounters of the Third Kind for her; she was not pleased at all with having to sit in Santa's lap. We couldn't help but laugh when we saw the pictures afterward. Even after she got out of Santa's lap, she said, "ho, ho, ho" and smiled at Santa as if she hadn't screamed and wriggled for freedom while in his lap. Maybe next year she'll be a little happier to visit Santa!

Trimming the Tree

We had a great time trimming the tree the weekend after Thanksgiving... we put up the tree, put lights on the front of the house, and put up other decorations.  One of her favorite holiday decorations is the snowman, which she calls "pizza" for some reason we have not figured out!

Ava is here!

Ava Lynn Bentley, our newest niece, is here! Bruce (Dan's brother) and his wife, Jessica, welcomed a new baby girl on Thanksgiving day! She is beautiful, curious, and has a great temperament so far. We are so excited that she is here. Big sister, Bella, is getting used to the idea, and has no shortage of kisses for her new baby sister. Bella spent the days leading up to the birth letting everyone feel the "baby" in her tummy by jutting out her stomach to mimic the baby kicking!

Silly Abby

Just a few pictures of our silly girl! Just, you know, the everyday pants on the head.... playing in the cabinets....waking up with crazy hair....

Halloween

We had a great Halloween holiday at our house... Abby dressed up as a nurse - cute as can be! We got to go to the pumpkin patch just outside of Montgomery, carved pumpkins together, and went to a Halloween party where Mom and Dad dressed up as Napolean Dynamite and Deb from the movie.... it was great! More posts to come with backlogged pictures...... :)

I had to document Abby's first set of pigtails! Her hair is just barely long enough to fit into pigtails, and she won't leave them in long, but they are precious!

She's walking!

I know, I know..... the blog has been neglected, and has lain dormant for six weeks now! I attempt to revive it with what will hopefully redeem me... a video of Abby walking and playing chase with Daddy! I hope y'all enjoy!

She's just so CUTE!!!

Everyday Abby

I took several pictures of Abby doing what she does everyday because Daddy had to leave for three weeks, and we made a litte card that said.... "I miss Daddy when I'm reading." "I miss Daddy when I'm playing." "I miss Daddy when I'm jogging with Mommy" etc. We miss him, but he'll be back soon! Meanwhile, it is fun to have some time just for us! (most of the time, ha!) She is saying several words including, "Daddy," "Ball," "Door," "Poppy," (Grandad), "Doggie," and "Ni night."

Abby turns one!

It is so hard for us to believe that Abby is already a year old. This is the cake smushed in the face shot. :) We had a little party at a park near our house, and invited friends and family to celebrate. Abby especially liked feeding the ducks and smushing cake between her fingers. Roddy was able to join us from Texas and we were so glad she came! Abby's other grandparents live in town, so all of Abby's grandparents were at her party! That is a true treat for a military family! Happy Birthday, Abby! You are beautiful!

I must mention her outfit for the party was picked out by her Aunt Kenley... what style!

A Visit to Tullahoma

Over Memorial Day weekend, we tagged along with Dan's brother, Bruce, his wife, Jessica, and their beautiful daughter, Isabella, to see Dan's grandparents, who live in Tullahoma, TN. We had a great time visiting, riding Great Grandpa's tractor, and shooting the BB guns Dan and Bruce played with as kids. Great Grandma and Grandpa were so hospitable and kind, and we enjoyed our visit so much, even though it was short.