Maybe a Teacher....

A few weeks ago, I noticed that Abby liked to "read" to me.

She holds the book up for me and talks nonsense.

Points to the pictures, but rarely says what they are. Just babbles.

She loves this picture of a mommy bear hugging her cub!

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All of Abby's life, when it is bed time, I just lay her down and she is out. No rocking of any kind. I was always told, "Don't rock them to sleep, they won't learn to go to sleep on their own." Well, I think that is nonsense. But I also had a baby that didn't need it.

For the past few weeks, about 2 minutes after I lay her down, she is screaming and crying. I go into her room and pick her up. She immediately lays her head on my shoulder and I just sway with her. Then she is perfectly fine to go back to sleep.

And you know what?? Those few minutes are the highlight of my day. I look forward to it. So, to anyone that believes that "Don't rock the baby" crap - just remember, they are only small once. In a few short years, she won't "need" me to sway her.

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I have been asking Stu why we haven't gotten any artwork lately. Apparently, it was all sitting in her cubby. So here is some of it:

Red, Yellow and Green paint.

Apple Prints

And this just makes my heart melt. How sweet is this? Could it be a boyfriend??

Videos

I am hoping that everyone can see both of the videos below.

The first one is Abby playing in Ali's crate. (I think that Stu called it Abby's crate in the video - I swear we do not make our daughter sleep in there!)

The second is her reading her book. The reason that it is so dark will appear towards the end of the video.

Enjoy!

Abby in the cage

Abby Reading

Katie's Wedding

Saturday, Stu and I went to Katie and Benton's wedding. I am so happy for them (and jealous as they are currently on the beaches of Mexico).

Stu and I at the reception.

Katie with all the boys.

Me with the beautiful bride.

All the gals.

I am so blessed to have such a fantastic group of friends. We have been through it all together - boyfriends, marriages, babies. And I don't see any of it stopping any time soon!

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Abby is such a goofball. Here are some of her most recent antics.

Getting in the dog's crate and saying "Night, Night".

Sitting in her baby's stroller and reading a magazine.

Craft Fairs and Cupcakes

Saturday, my mom and I took Abby to Bell Buckle to the Webb Creek Craft Fair. It was ridiculously overcrowded and hot.

We did manage to get out of the crowd and take a few pictures. Abby was pretty much over it at this point and refused to smile.

Me trying to get a picture of us two. She is just staring at me like I am crazy.

We stopped for some strawberry ice cream.

Loving it!

If anyone has tried to call me lately and I don't answer it is because about half an hour after we got this ice cream, we decided to do a hay ride. I was trying to fold the stroller and I set the ice cream bowl in my purse. Completely forgot about it and dropped my phone in there. Now, it only works on speaker phone. Luckily, I am getting a new one soon!

They also had a petting zoo. Abby was pretty excited about the goats. She must have remembered them from the Pumpkin Farm last weekend.

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I made strawberry cupcakes for work and thought Abby might enjoy them.

She sure looks like she deserves and wants a cupcake.

Digging in!

Hmm, not so sure about this! Why is the top part sticky?

"Oh Gawd! Get it off!"

She completely freaked out when icing was on her hands. We probably went through about 20 napkins. Finally, I just gave up and we threw the cupcake away.

Marathon Results

**Sorry for the blogging lapse....lots of reasons, but I am about three blogs behind so I will be catching up!***

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The Murfreesboro Half was Saturday. 13.1 miles. Guess how long I made it???

About 1.5 miles. If that.

I hate running. Really hate it. And I didn't realize how much until mile 1.

But I did stick around for the whole race and got to cheer on the "real" marathoners!

There were so many people there. I loved the excitement of being there and just the general vibe of being around people that are completely dedicated to this sort of thing.

Right as I got to the finish line, I heard "Teesha Orr". Teesha is one of my good friends that loves to run. She finished right above 2 hours! That is amazing.

Here are Teesha and my bestest, beautiful friend Amanda. These gals are my heroes that they can do this sort of thing!

And check out this beautiful couple! JD and Jess did their first marathon as well. JD ran to give his little lady a hug as soon as she crossed the finish line.

They are so awesome! (Although I think JD's eyes are closed in this picture)

Lo and behold in the distance......

In the red....my momma!

What a champ!

My family of runners!

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Yes, I am a total wimp for only making it a mile and half. People keep saying, "Well at least you tried". Yes, I did, but I didn't try hard enough. But I did realize that I need something more in my life. I need goals to work towards. So, lately I have been thinking a lot about what I DO want in life. I have no desire to finish a marathon/half-marathon or any sort of activity that involves running. Ha!

BUT I would love to volunteer more. And I really, really enjoyed being at the race. When I did walk out of the race, instead of getting in the car and driving home back to bed (which trust me, held its appeals), I walked to the 6 mile mark, cheered on the runners and then walked to the finish line to meet everyone. (Let me just add, that was quite a walk for a quitter). So, my goal is volunteer more at events.

So, we will see how that goes!

Abby's First Haircut

Abby had her first haircut tonight. I have been a nervous wreck about it all day. I am not sure what I was expecting (other than her melting down, which did happen), but it went very well.

***My mom took these pictures, and bless her heart, she does not take take good pictures ;)***

Shannon brushing her hair. Abby had just got done eating, so she still had her bib on.

Abby looking a little hesitant.

"You are going to do what with those??"

The "Oh God" moment.

Help me! They are pinning me down and cutting me!

Oh the agony.

After Shannon did the front, I held Abby so she could do the back.

I shoved Vanilla Wafers in her hand thinking that would help. At first, it didn't.

But she did eventually start to calm down.

The hair cut overall went well, she still looks adorable.

Mood Swings

Abby has extreme mood swings. Case in point would be tonight.

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It started out with us deciding to eat at the Snappy Tomato. Abby was a doll during dinner. She laughed and talked to the kids at the table next to us. The best part of the evening was when this huge black bald guy walked by and Abby pointed at him and said "Daddy?"

Stu said, "It must be because he is bald" Ya think?

But the point is, she was having such a great night.

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We get home and I tell Abby that it is time for a bath. She does her normal routine of running and hiding under our bathroom sink. I do my normal routine and drag her in there.

Oh my goodness. She freaked out the second I put her in the bath. I am not talking about crying. I am talking about standing up (which she knows that she is not allowed to do), trying to jump out, throwing herself backward. She started hyperventilating to the point that I had to just take her out.

Trying to put her diaper on took both hands and both elbows.

I finally got her calmed down to the point that her pj's were on. She reached in her crib and got her blanket and stuffed animal. But then would not let me put her down. Imagine trying to change clothes (as I was soaked from the bath) with a sobbing toddler in your arms.

For the rest of the night, we sat in her room in the dark and rocked. She was out at 7:10.

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We never heard another peep out of her. But about 7:50 the dryer alarmed (I have no idea how to turn off the alarm and it is ridiculously loud). Over the monitor, we hear "UH OH" and then not another peep.

Wednesday Night Randoms

I am dying to see this movie.

I love Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel. Seeing the previews, I have to assume that it will be funny and well worth the $100 trip to the movies.

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I am NOT a news person at all. My news consists of what is in People magazine. Seriously. But I did follow the miners somewhat today. It is amazing that those guys were under the earth for like 2 months and are finally out.

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I love my Ali so much. About 2 months ago, she was jumping out of Stu's truck and bit the pavement and scratched her face.

I noticed this on her today. She scratched her face again! We have no idea how it happened. Poor Ali. We also found an empty box of high-dollar treats that she somehow got into. Not sure if the two are related.

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Why are all the celebrity couples separating? First Courtney Cox, now Christina Aguilera? What is going on in the West?

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My marathon is in 3 days!!!! Let me just say my training has been zilch. The past few days, I have been power walking a little and even less jogging. Tonight, I snapped the IPOD on, and was off! The wind was in my hair, IPOD jamming, rocking it. I felt great. Finally, when it was over, I went back in the apartment. I had been gone 14 minutes. 14 lousy minutes. It seriously felt like hours. I am so doomed.

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The last time I bought a cd....was probably at least 6 years ago.

I broke down and bought Darius Rucker today. I am so excited to listen to it tomorrow at work. He is probably one of my favorite singers out there.

While looking up this picture on Amazon, I noticed the price was $7.99. I asked Stu, who went and got it for me.....and that is what he paid at Best Buy. Can you believe that cd's are only $7.99? I remember when they were like $19.95. I might have to buy more of these!

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2 days until D-Day. Abby has a hair appointment Friday at 6. Luckily, the lady lives behind my parents and is willing to come to their house to do it. I think that is much better than a salon. But I am still freaking out!