Pride

Today we had arts and crafts time in the morning. We made a family of snow people out of cotton balls. It was one of only 3 crafts I can think of that she has been really proud of it. As soon as Daddy woke up she showed him and kept yelling "snow" and "mine". She just kept walking around with it in her hands, looking at it and saying "cute", "mine", "snow". It took us along time because she was so interested in sticking all the cotton balls. Great activity for an almost 2 year old.

She didn't want to take a picture with the craft but instead sat on this chair and kept saying cheese until I took her picture.

Hanging mittens

Last week was my first week with more hours at home. I was prepared with 2 craft projects for Miss Abigail. I'm trying to keep as close to Lori's schedule as possible so we don't just lay around the house, as I would probably prefer. So I'm going to do my best to have art or craft time when I'm home on Thursdays.

The craft project she was really into it is a special surprise for some loved ones in her life so that post will have to wait. But here is the other craft from last week, hanging mittens. She wasn't too into it but I had fun and aren't they adorable. Check it out at http://www.kidcraftsmagazine.com/recycling/hanging-mittens-craft

It was so hard for me to resist taking this to work to hang at my desk. Do you think my co-workers would tease me? Happy crafting.

Abby Sad

I think I inadvertently taught her to do this, but I LOVE it. When she doesn't get her way some times, she slumps her shoulders and walks sadly away. Then she sits on a chair and just makes this pout face and we laugh and laugh. I prefer it to the tantrums.

Sorry you're sad Abby but I love this cute little face.

Snow Day

January 13th, 2012. First snow of the season in West Allis. Abby kept shouting "snow, snow" all morning while we were eating breakfast. On the way home from work the night before, I saw a girl her age playing with her sand toys in the snow. I couldn't wait to take her out the next morning.

We ate breakfast. Then I asked "Abby do you want to got outside and play with snow?". Her eyes light up and she shouted "Snow snow. Le's go, le's go". So we bundled her up and she was so excited.









She took some tentative steps. She refused to wear her mittens.

She stood for a photo op.

Then she started to freak out. "Cold, cold, cold". "door, door". Abby's first snow day, lasted about two minutes. But doesn't she look cute in Mya's old snowsuit?

Time in a bottle

I finally feel like a mom. It's only been 3 days since I reduced my working hours in half but I feel amazing. When I start to feel stressed I remember I don't have to work 5-8 days straight this week. Cleaning can wait, laundry too. I can sit and sip tea or just take a few breathes. This weekend I took sometime for myself and watched a stupid movie, drank too many cosmos, watched all 4 playoff games with my hubby. Not once did I feel guilty. But most exciting to me was I really enjoyed being Abby's mother.

When I would get home from work i would always have a list of things that had to get done before I woke up the next day. My mind was like an overworked computer that kept generating more and more lists. I just wanted Abby to play by herself so I could get all these things done. I gave myself a time limit so I would still spent time with her but I was so tired it wasn't enjoyable. Maybe that sounds terrible too you but working full time and trying to be the kind of mom I wanted to be was not working out for me.

I know this honeymoon phase will pass but right now I love being with her. Even if we are reading books in the same room or she is playing with her leapfrog computer while I update my price book. A long time ago a friend posted about how she knew every inch of her daughter including this one freckle behind her ear. I cried so hard reading that heart felt post because I didn't feel like I had time or made the time to really study Abby like that. These three days I really studied her and learned a lot. She is trying to repeat everything we say but I wasn't really listening before so I didn't notice. She always gingerly touches the cat every time she passes her. She knows that certain toys go together (i.e her blocks go in one container and her fake food in her grocery cart). I had thrown a bunch of stuff in a drawer so I could sweep and she put everything where it belonged. She has so many phrases now: "oh no", "where you go", "let's go", "night night", "bye bye", "all better", "come back?", "I see you", "where abby", peek a bo "peep a bo".

I'm so glad that we slowed down our lives and will have this extra time. I barely remember the first year of Abby's life and I don't want to miss anything else. This week we have two crafts and one field trip planned. Wish us luck!! Here's to more joyful mothering to come.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Wouldn't you know it, Abby was sick this Christmas again. This year Tim joined in the sickness fun. Christmas Eve he could barely speak and went back to bed after he got a light breakfast in. Despite the illness surrounding me, I was in good health and pranced my wonderful husband and daughter all over southwest Wisconsin to every planned family Christmas party. I didn't get many good pictures this year, we don't even have a picture of the three of us. But it was nice to be in the moments really soaking it all in. Most of our pictures of the kids are the backs of their heads.



Christmas Eve:


For weeks now Abby's Great Grandma Ruth kept telling me and my mom about how she was getting Abby a boring toy. Nothing with buttons or music. Something boring. Abby loved it. It was her favorite toy that whole night and she even took it to daycare one day where Lori said she carried it around all day. As soon as she opened it she tried to ride it, her first pony. My other cherished memory from this night was seeing the first ultrasound of my future niece/nephew and listening to the proud papa talk about everything that happened at the doctor appointment.




As is custom, we went straight to Abby's other Great Grandparent's house that night. GG has a train that he has been waiting for ages for little kids to come enjoy again. Abby loved watching that train with him. It went backwards and forwards and sometimes would hide behind the tree. Then Abby would say "Where you go?". Everytime it came around again she would shout "Choo, Choo". The other great grandkids weren't into the train. Melted my heart that she had that special time with GG.

Sebastian got the favorite toy that night and reluctantly shared with his two girl cousins. This is the happiest face he made playing with them. Later he found a quiet spot to play by himself but Abby found him again and kept "sharing" with the sad little boy.

Christmas Day:

I was most excited for our Christmas morning just the 3 of us. We decided to do it December 26th but I was too excited so we opened gifts Christmas morning. We still had our big breakfast the 26th and played with all Abby's new toys.

Here's Abby opening her first gift from us.

"Opa" - Abby's word for open

Then she started to get into it.

"Wow". She then precided to ride it around the room.

Christmas Day we spend with the Grutzmacher clan at Mike and Gayle's. We got this dress in a hand me down box and couldn't resist a wardrobe change for Christmas party #5.

Half way through the party she got a fever. This picture makes me smile because even though they both felt awful, they didn't want to miss Christmas. Even if it took all their energy to open one gift. Don't they both look ready for a nap?

Other favorite moments include:

- Watching Kai open the fishing stuff we got for him and his pole from his grandparents. Great to see a big boy smiling like a little boy.

-Hiding from the scary movie with Kayden in the toy closet and playing Iron Man. Later he told me "I like you". Love that little man.

-Seeing Reiland trying to take steps. He's only 7 months old but pulls himself up and can even stand sometimes.

-Meeting the new babies in the family.

Above all my favorite part is the food and family. Hope you all had a great Christmas like we did.

Christmas Fest 2011

This year our Christmas season started December 17th. We had Christmas with Abby's Great Grandma and Grandpa Gates at Grandpa Dave's house. Then Abby and I headed off to the O'Malley-Campbell's for delcious food. Abby went straight to Orla's room and played for 2 hours straight with one short intermission to eat crackers and chase Molly.

Favorite memories of our first Christmas weekend include:

Abby petting and chasing Molly all around COC's home

Playing bowling with Sue

Her confusion over why she has to keep opening presents when the first two are so fun.

I hope this phase lasts through next year.

A New Year's Announcement

It's really happening. I can't believe it. We've been waiting since August for the news. . . .

Ha, you thought I was announcing a pregancy. I finally have a date for when I will part time at Froedtert. January 13th. Good old lucky Friday the 13th. As a superstitious person, I'm highly afraid that this may bring me bad luck in our new adventure. So wish us the best as we strive to find a better balance between family and work at Casa De Grutz.