Santa Clause

We took Abi to see Santa. She did pretty good. She wasn't really scared. She looked at him a couple times. She wouldn't smile for the picture though. She doesn't smile, she does just not for pictures. Everything is so new and different that she just wants to check everything out. Oh well. I am just glad she wasn't terrified. Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays

Wow, does time fly. I know I have been slacking on my blog, things have just been busy. Nothing in particular just always doing something. Thanksgiving went very well. I love being able to spend time with family you hardly ever see. This year has been fun to Christmas shop, I always enjoy it, but this year shopping for Abi has been especially fun. I am so excited to celebrate the holidays, family and just the feeling and spirit you have around this time of year is amazing. The only down side to December... besides the cold...my birthday. Yah remember when you were a kid and you looked forward to your birthday, that stopped at about 22. I am 27, holy cow thats old. I had a hard time at 25 and 30 is going to be a nightmare. I guess its gotta happen. On a better note.. Abi is getting so big. I can't believe she is 7 1/2 months. She is learning new things all the time. She has been sitting up by herself for the last 3-4 weeks. She is making new faces and sounds everyday. One of these days a real word is just going to pop out. She is so much fun. Hopefully more posts to come shortly. Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Kansas City Road Trip

We are back from our road trip to Kansas City. It was long but short. The drive was long, but the stay was short. It was a take stuff out pick stuff up trip. We took out a bunch of water barrels, Stephens hot chocolate and Cox's creamed honey, in return we brought back a bunch of tools and Ethan's parents' belongings. Didn't get everything we went for, but it was to be expected. Anyway, Abi did so good during the drive. I was so worried so would throw a fit the whole time. She slept 90 % of the time on the way out and about 50 % of the time on the way back. The trip overall was pretty good. We got to see most of the family together. We only got to be with the family for a couple days. Megan and her family were in Omaha, Ne most of Saturday, getting sealed in the temple. - Congrats.I don't know why we didn't see much of Micah. Oh well. Seth wasn't there, but that is because he was on his way home from Afghanistan. We are so glad he made it back safe. He was in our thoughts and prayers. I was going to do so good to get lots of pictures... I think I got 2 maybe 3. I want to use my new camera, but I forget and then its too late. Oh well. Anyway its good to be back. I am so excited for the holidays. This is my favorite time of the year. Here are my few pics from the trip.

Abi hanging out in her car seat during the drive

Abi and dad at one of many pit-stops

6 Months

Abi just went to her 6 month check up. I can't believe it has been 6 months already. She is doing great. She weighs 17 lbs. 9 oz, I know a chunk and she is 26 inches. I am so glad she is healthy. Keeping her that way is going to be a challenge. Poor little girl, had to get 2 shots today, one in each leg. It breaks my heart to hear her cry like that.
Well, tomorrow we head off to the midwest. I am a little nervous about traveling 16+ hours with a 6 month old. She already hates being in her car seat for too long. Hopefully she will sleep a lot. Hopefully the next post will be of how wonderful the trip was, until then wish me luck.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Our Halloween started with a trip to Clifton, ID to see Grandma and Grandpa Jonhson. They were quite surprised to see us. Abi looked so cute in her flower costume. We had a lot of people ask if she was a grape or an eggplant. I thought she looked like flower. Oh well, she was cute anyway. After our trip to Clifton, we went to Great Grandma Ballards, which she was asleep for. After that we went to Grandma and Grandpa Ballards. We had homemade pizza, that was really good, thanks Ang for the recipe. Abi tried to pass out candy to the trick-or-treaters, but she decided it would be more fun to keep it for herself. She loves the noise wrappers make. Anyway, it was a good Halloween.

Abi with Granpda Johnson
Abi in her flower costume

Abi in her Halloween onsie

Not much going on

So, not much has been going on, but I feel like I am slacking. I can't believe it just snowed, well actually I can... its Utah. I am not ready for the cold and the snow.

Things have been going well. I guess no news is good news?? Abi is getting so big. I can't believe she is 6 months. Time goes by so fast. She has started eating baby food. We have only tried a few flavors, but she seems to like them all, well we tried beef in beef broth, she didn't like that. We'll try again later and see if it taste any better. My guess is no. It smelled like wet dog food. Gross. She is growing like a weed. She doesn't like being in her car seat for very long. I am a little worried about our 16 hour drive to Kansas City in a few weeks. Maybe if I put on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse she will do better. Her eyes are glued that show every morning. Poor dad has to watch it with her. Well hopefully more frequent posts to follow. I am sure with all the holidays coming up. How exciting!!!!

Abi, Mom, Grandma & Great Grandma at the Utah State Aggie game

Abi eating something yummy

Abi trying to grab the spoon- I should let her try feeding herself : )

4th Anniversary

Yesterday we celebrated out 4 th Anniversary. I can't believe it has been 4 years. Time has flown by. It actually seems like its been a lot longer. I am so lucky to be married to such a wonderful man. He is such a sweet husband and a wonderful father. I love him so much.

Abi's Blessing ~ 5 months

So, I know I have been slacking. You would think that with more time on my hands I would get more done. I have gone to part time. I work until 1:00 and Abi still comes to work with us.

Anyway, last Friday, Oct. 2 Abi was blessed. It was such a neat experience. She was a little fussy before and afterward, but during she was so great. What a sweetheart. She is such a sweet baby. We love her so much. Ethan's parents were able to take time off and spend the weekend and be there for the blessing.

She is 5 months now. She is just over 16 lbs. and is about 24 1/2 inches. I can't believe how big she is getting. She is learning so much. Everyday she seems to learn something new. She has been such a joy. I can't imagine life without her.

Abi in her blessing dress

Daddy and Abi

Abi in her new toy from Grandma & Grandpa Duffel

I don't know if you can tell, but Abi is

turned to the side in her jumper

watching football. I have corrupted her already.

4 Month Check-Up

Today Abi had her 4 month check up. She is doing really well. She is 15 lbs. 5 oz. and 24 in. long. She is getting so big, I can't believe how time flies. She had to get her shots. Poor little girl, she has such a sad cry. I can't believe how much she has learned and grown. She is holding her own bottle and she has been sleeping through the night for about a month. I am so lucky. I hope all my kids are like that. She has been drooling for about a month and a half. I thought she was starting to teethe then but hadn't seen anything, now I can feel bumps all along her gums and she is starting to get more cranky. Everything she can get her hands on goes straight to her mouth. We built a walker that was given to her, she is a little to small for it, but she enjoys playing the piano on play table. She is such a blast. I love being a mom.

It seems like I have been so busy, but not much has been going on. On Aug 21 my family, excluding Ethan and Abi (they stayed in the hotel) went to the Toby Keith and Trace Atkins concert. It was alot of fun. The next weekend we went camping up at the Grey's River in Wyoming- Abi's first real camping experience. After that was Labor Day weekend, we of course went to Bear Lake. We also went to Soda Springs, ID to a drive inn theater. Kara and I had never been so it was really cool to finally go. The picture was a lot more clear than I would have thought. That next Wednesday we went to the Keith Urban concert. My mom, her friend Vicky, Kara and I. It was a lot of fun. We had great seats. We were on the side but no more then 20 yards away. It was a lot of fun. And this last weekend Ethan got more tile work done in the basement bathroom. It is coming together, hopefully by the end of the year it will be completly finished. Anyway, the only thing going on now really is bowling and work. It's kinda nice to not have plans weeks out. It does make for a long blog... :) Here are some pics, hope you enjoy.

Cute Abigail

Camping at Grey's River Wyoming

Keith Urban concert

Keith Urban

Cute Abi playing on her walker

Abi in her cute buc outfit- Go bucs!

Bear Lake

Two weeks ago we went to Bear Lake for Raspberry days. I love to go and look at the great craft ideas. We don't really buy anything cause we think "oh, I can make that", which we seldon ever do. Thats ok, its fun to look anyway. It was fun this year cause I would look at the childrens booths just as much as the others. There were tons that had bows and outfits for little girls and boys. We actually got together last weekend and made some birp cloths and bibs that we saw over there. They are really cute. Thanks Kara for your help. While we were over at the lake we went tubing, well Ethan, Kara, Ryan and my Dad did. I am really good at holding the flag : ) Anyway, we put Abi on the launch-pod and dipped her toes in the lake for the first time. I was expecting a reaction when her toes hit the cold water, but it didn't seem to phase her. She likes hanging out on the beach. Next year will be a lot more fun cause she will be able to run and play in the sand and water. Hopefully I will update soon, next on the agenda Toby Keith and Trace Adkins. I am so excited for that concert. Take care.

Abi's cute hat and bow we bought at the craft fair

Abi dipping her toes and bum in the lake

Abi chillin with dad on the launch-pod

Abi hanging out around the fire

Ethan on the tube

Ethan backwards on the tube

Kara on the tube

Ryan on the tube

Grandpa on the tube

Relay for life

This past weekend my family and I participated in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. It was a 24 hour walk that started Friday night and ended Saturday Night. I had a lot of fun. It was a great experience, taking one day out of the year to celebrate and remember those effected by cancer. Cancer is such a terrible thing that effects people of all ages. I am glad I had the opportunity to walk and show my support. We had items up for raffle to earn money. Kelsey, Mataya and their new friend Josie were great saleswomen. They would ask everyone walking by if they wanted to buy a ticket. They definetly did their part to help, not mention all the walking they did. As part of the relay you could by luminarias to show those who had survived or died from cancer. Here are the ones we got and decorated.

Megan Augustine- Ethan's sister

Sally Meikle- friend and co-worker of my mom's

Chris Bair- Melanie's husband

Carrie Andersen- Justin's wife

They had a dunking booth there, you could pay $5 to nominate someone, and they had to pay $10 to be un-nominated or face the water. Well as you can see in the picture Lynette was nominated, by her own grand-daughter. Mataya nominated Lynette and she bravely participated.

Lynette anxiously waiting

Into the water she goes

Ethan, hanging out at the relay

Abigail hanging out

Update

I guess I should update my blog with what has been going on. Not anything too interesting, but we have been busy the last couple weeks. First, Abigail got to meet Grandma and Grandpa Duffel on Friday June 26th. They were driving through on there way to Washington. We are so glad we were able to meet to see each other.

Grandma & Grandpa Duffel and Abigail

We spent th 4th of July weekend at Bear Lake. I am so glad it was a nice weekend. Every other time we have been to the lake it has rained. We were able to take Abigail down to the beach. The water is still a ways away, but has come up from last year. We had alot of fun hanging out on the beach.

Abigail sleeping on the beach at Bear Lake

Abigail in her cute hat that doesn't match her cute outfit- Oh well


Abigail in her cute sunglasses Grandpa had to buy her

Abigail hanging out with Grandma at the beach

Abigail just chillin with dad at the beach

Abigail's first pedicure- how cute she matched her mommy

Abigail turned 2 months last Friday. I can't believe she is 2 months already, it seems like just yesterday... She had to go in for her 2 month check up yesterday. She is doing really well. She is up to 11 lbs 6 oz and 22 1/4 inches. She had to get her dreaded shots too. She was so brave. She had such a sad cry. It broke my heart. She is doing very good though. No more shot until 4 months. Wow I am sure the time will fly. I guess thats all for now. I will update soon.

Abigail sleeping after getting her shots with her bugs bunny bandaid- Poor girl