UPDATE

I know finally an update. These past months have been so busy and hectic. Now I am part time again in the afternoons, so I should have more time to update more often. Ya, I know I've said that before. Nothing wrong with being optimistic. ; ) So, what has been going on...?

Since Abi's birthday in May, I can't believe it has been that long, she has learned to walk!! It was the middle of June, so about 13 months. She had been standing quite a bit but started actually moving away from objects, It was so exciting to see my baby learn something new. Now I am trying to keep up with her. : )

So later in June, Ethan's dad got sick while he was out on the road. When things really got bad they took him to the hospital in Sidney, NE. He had a torn intestine that was leaking toxins into his body. They tried surgery but it had done too much damage. He died on June 25Th. Everything happened so quick. We were going to drive to Sidney as soon as we heard he was not doing well, but he passed before we left. We drove out anyway, which was good for Ethan and his family. We said our good-byes and then he was sent off to be cremated. We enjoyed some family togetherness, reminiscing about days with Morris. I can't believe he is gone. He was such a great guy. Always there to listen and always supported everyone in life. He will be missed greatly. We love you!! Morris Robert Duffel April 23 1948- June 25 2010

All of us with Julia & Morris's truck in Sidney, NE

After dealing with that we had the Relay to look forward to. It was at the USU track, which was so much better than the quad. We had made a bunch of crafts that we sold "raffle" tickets for to earn money to be donated. While there doing the walk... it was sooooo hot. It was bad. We had a lot of fun. And it was for a good cause. Looking forward to next year.

Abi and Dad hangin out at the Relay, trying to stay cool

Of course throughout the summer we had made several trips to Bear Lake. Abi was so much fun. She loved to play in the sand and she loved the water. When it was really cold she didn't want to be in it so she would play where the wave came up on the beach. Towards the middle to end of summer our weekends were cut short because Ruby had puppies again. We tried so hard to not let this happen, but they were both very determined. We had the puppies delivered by c-section and they also spade Ruby at the same time. So there will be NO more puppies. Just recently we had Roman fixed also. We are still trying to sell these puppies. It is so frustrating. I want them all gone.

Abi playing in the sand and water

Abi's first time on the boat- she loved it

Meanwhile, our house was being built, in Smithfield. There was a lot of headache and the process at times seemed real slow, but all in all they got it done pretty quick. We signed on Sept. 21 and started moving in.

August, like June was not a good month. I experienced an emotional and physical trial. Then later that month our family friends lost their daughter in a car accident. She was 15 years old. It was and is still so hard to believe. I hadn't seen much of Madison lately, but now I think about her everyday. I can't imagine how the Kimballs feel each day. My thoughts and prayers go out to them.

September we closed and moved into our house. It was such a relief. We are still moving things into the house. So in October, we took a trip to California. One to take Ethan's mom's motorhome to her current residence. And two to meet Ethan's grandparents ( Morris' parents) for the first time. It was fun. They were so nice, it was such a pleasure to meet them. We stayed with Seth's house, so it was good to spend time with them also. While we were there we went to Sea World and the beach. It was a lot of fun. I love Sea World. Abi loved the penguins. The rest she could take or leave, but the penguins excited her. I am sure she will love it in a few years. We got to the beach just as the sun was setting, so our stay wasn't long. On this trip I learned that I was a total control freak. In all fairness who wants to travel for 12+ hours to sit around and do nothing the whole time. Anyway, we survived and I was glad to be back.

Us with Ethans grandparents

Us at Sea World

Abi on the beach in San Diego

That brings us to Halloween. Abi was a witch. Her costume was a little big and she hated the hat, but she looked super cute. On Friday, we went to my moms work for a trick or treat thing in the afternoon and then later that night to Qwest for a trick or treat thing. It was lots of fun, by the end Abi knew how to grab for candy. On Saturday, we went up to my grandparents house in Idaho and showed off Abi. Later that day we went to Grandpa Ballards and Grandma Ballards house. Then off to my parents. We had pizza and watch Halloween movies. It was a lot of fun. My mom took Abi around the neighborhood to do some trick or treating. She made a haul over the two days. We are still eating Halloween candy.
Abi in her cute witch costume

Oh ya, earlier in October we got together to have family pictures taken. They turned out really cute. Abi is such a ham when she is the center of attention.

Our cute family picture

That brings us to current. It is just a few days before Thanksgiving. I am so excited. I love getting together as a family. This year both aunts and uncles are coming from out of state. I love this time of year. Everything about it. The family get together's, the shopping, the Christmas music, the decorations. Uhh I love it all. I can't wait to put up the decorations, hopefully there isn't too much snow on the roof. We are planning on cutting down a Christmas tree this year. I think it will be so fun. It will be such a great new tradition.

Well with more holidays and events approaching hopefully I will keep better updated. No guarantees. : ) Happy Thanksgiving! and a Merry Christmas, just in case.

1 Year

Wow. I can't believe it has been a year already. Boy has the time flown by. Abi is doing great. She had her 12 month check up. She weighed 19 lbs 14 oz and was 28 1/2 inches long. Both in the 25Th percentile. So at least she is growing proportionally. I can't believe all the new things she learns each day. She knows "no" she tries me but she knows what it means. She says mama and dada, ba(bye), claps when you say "yeah", waves bye, gives high fives, and loves to clap along to bingo. She loves to be sung to. She loves itsy bitsy spider, bingo, rock a bye, and many more I had forgotten since I was a child. She isn't walking yet, but I think in the next month or so she will be off and running, just in time to go to Bear Lake. She is going to be so fun this summer. More of a handful, but a lot of fun. We had her a birthday party on her birthday at my parents house. Too bad it was raining (what else is new these days) or we could have had it at the park. It was still a lot of fun. Abi got lots of clothes, which were much needed, now if it would just warm up enough to wear them and lots of fun learning and growing toys. Ethan and I got her a miniature little slide swing combo thing that she has enjoyed playing on inside Grandmas house because its too cold to go outside. Had grandparents, great grandparents, and some cousins and aunt over for cake and ice cream. We gave Abi her own cupcake to eat. We stripped her down to just a diaper and let her have at it. She was a little timid at first, but after awhile she was a total mess. It was a good birthday. Sad that my baby is growing up, but I look forward to all her achievements over the years. I love you Abi.

Abi's birthday cake

Abi eating her birthday cupcake

Abi opening one of her gifts

I had a great mothers day. Ethan, Abi and I went to a park and had a picinic lunch. Abi kinda played around on the playground, hard to do when you can't walk and want to eat the bark. After that we went to my moms house for dinner. My aunt Angie was up from Tucson, so her and my grandma joined us. It was good to see her. It had been just about a year. It is so fun being a mom. I love it!!

Abi playing at the playground

So not much else has been going on. Just stress. We sold our house!! Yeah. But all the stress of moving out, living in our dumpy basement apartment, and trying to get everything settled to build our new house. Wow this month has been stressful. I hope it is all worth it when it is all done. Nothing much new. Looking forward to Bear Lake this summer, the Relay for Life in July, and our house being built. Hopefully this summer will go fast, it usually does, but when I need it to it won't. Oh well, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right. I hope so.

UPDATE

So, I thought this would get easier, but no. I still can't find time to update. Oh well something is better than nothing. So, what has happened since the last post...

Well we have sold all but 1 of our puppies. Yeah. They went so fast. I am surprised and relieved. We still have 1 black male. He is so sweet. We let him and Sydney out to run around and play. He ran over to Abi and just curled up in her lap. It was so cute.

Abi and Sydney

Had a wonderful Valentine's Day. Ethan arranged for us to get couples massages. It was wonderful. I think Ethan enjoyed it more than me. We had lunch, then the massages, later dinner and a movie, Valentine's Day. I liked it was good. We also celebrated Ethan's birthday a couple days later. He didn't want to do anything except stay home with Abi and I. It was a great night of just hanging out. What a wonderful husband and father. I love you!!

Let's see... that following weekend we went to St. George. It was a very quick trip, but it was nice. We met up with Seth and his family to see Ethan's grandfather who wasn't very well. We had gone over to see him, but he was sleeping. They were able to speak to him before we left to say there goodbyes. It was hard to see him like that. He was a great man. So, the next weekend... we went to St. George for funeral services. Seth and his family were able to return and Micah flew in. Ethan's parents also were there. As well as cousins and aunts. It was really nice. Well ,until the claws came out. Family issues. Anyway, we had a good time seeing everyone. Abi enjoyed her first experience in a pool. She loves the bath, so I knew she would love the pool. She is going to be a handful this summer at the lake. It will be so much fun though.

Abi enjoying the pool- she loves to splash

Abi enjoying her first ride in a swing

.Look at these handsome guys... and girl

Our cute family at the funeral

So, what else.... oh we have listed our house for sale. It has been a very stressful thing. We want to get into another house that fits our needs better and there are a lot of really good deals. That just means its hard to send ours and make money. Oh well things will happen when they need to. Until then we just keep chugging along.

I think thats it... oh wait last weekend we went to Salt Lake for the state bowling tournament. It was a lot of fun. Ethan had to bum along. We had tickets to Daniel Tosh's show that night, so he spent the night and hung out a little with us. We did ok. Don't know if we will win anything, but we had fun.

So, Abi is growing like a weed. I can't believe she is 10 1/2 months. Holy cow how time flies. She has started teething. Yeah... I feel so bad. And yeah he has started crawling. She is all over the place. She is pulling herself up to things. One of these days she is going to just start walking. I don't know if I am ready for that.

Wow what a long post. I should really try to do it more often. I can say that I will try to post more often, but we all know that won't happen. Oh well. See ya soon.

PUPPIES

Yeah. Ruby had her puppies. Last time I posted I thought it was going to be awhile, but that was not the case. She had 14 puppies on the 14th. Only 12 of them made it though. : ( Its so sad. Had we had a better idea when she was due we could have saved them. I was home that Thursday afternoon doing my usual house stuff and Roman was barking for like a half an hour so finally I went out to yell at him, when I did Ruby came out of the dog house. Which was fine.. then I heard this squeeking noise. I thought maybe it was baby mice or a baby ferret ( we have had one visit us) I was too scared to go look, so I called Ethan and he said I hope its not a puppy. Dun dun dun... I hadn't even thought about that. Sure enough there was a puppy out there. She had damage to her nose and cheek and had some frostbite, but other than that she was fine. We call her scarface. The first one she had didn't make it. Ethan found him in the snow : ( Everything from there went pretty well. We have quite the variety again. Three blues, 2 male and 1 female, which we are keeping her name is Sydney. She had 4 brown ones, 3 female and 1 male. She also had 5 black ones, 3 female and 2 male. They are so cute and growing like weeds. I will be sad to see them go, but I know I can't keep them all. Anyway other than that not much new. Abi is still growing like a weed herself. Still no crawling, she is getting pretty close and still no teeth. Oh well, all in due time.

Happy New Year

Wow it is 2010! I remember when it was 2000 and how weird that felt. That was 10 years ago. Wow how time flies. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. Christmas was great. Spending time with family is always a joy. It was fun with Abi this year getting to play Santa was fun, I am sure we over did it, but oh well, it was my first time. 2009 was a great year. I am optomistic that 2010 will be just as great if not better. One of many new years resolutions is to post more often. Things are settling down... well for a minute, Ruby is having puppies again. Yea, I think. She still has like 4-5 weeks, so until then things can settle down and I can hopefully post more often.

Abi with dad at the Johnson family Christmas party

Abi with her stuff from Santa

Abi opening gifts at Grandma & Grandpa's

All of Abi's presents, what a spoiled girl : )

Abi is getting so big. I can't believe she is 8 months old. She is learning so much everyday. She is about 19 lbs. and about 28 inch. After Christmas Abi got sick for the first time. She had a bad cough and was very congested, so I am sure she had a sore throat. It is so heartbreaking. There is not much of anything you can do for them. It lasted about a week. Poor little girl. : ( No crawling yet. I want her to crawl, but I don't. I will be so happy for her when she does, but that means she can get into trouble. : ) Still no teeth. I was about a year when I got teeth, so maybe she is taking after me. Just as long as she has teeth.

Abi test driving the high chair Santa brought her