16 Months

"Hi".  That's one of my newest words these days.  I'm 16 months old and lots has changed since we last talked.  I figured out how to climb the stairs and boy is that a fun game.  Going down isn't quite as much fun and I still need help to do it, but I'm getting there.  I can show you where my belly button, toes and eyes are and I finally got my first top tooth!  I've got 3 now, two on the bottom and one on top but I've got two more that are already coming in.

I went through a little stage where I didn't want to eat anything that Momma tried to feed me and it took about a week but she finally figured out that I wanted to be a big girl and feed myself.  So, you know what that means?  No more mush!!  I eat all kinds of big people food now.  Bananas are one of my favorite, but I also like apples, clementines, grape tomatoes, french toast, waffles, chicken nuggets and fish.  I even tried eating crab a few times.  It's not my favorite but Mom says we're going to try a few more times.

I'm getting pretty good at talking and can repeat most of the things you say.  I'm picking up quick though and talking to Momma and Dadda is getting more and more fun every day.  This weekend I said Owl for the first time (it sounds more like "ow!") and we're working on "love you" and "please" now.  I say "thank you" but I don't quite get the words out right.  It's more the like "doo doo" but Mom seems to know what I mean.

Do you like my fabric this month?  It came from my aunt Erin.  It has planes and trains and cars on it because she lives far takes all of those to come see me.  Love you aunt Erin!!!!

15 months

Today is my 15 month birthday and Mommy is going to spoil it by taking me to the doctor and making me get shots.  I'm a little scared but I remember that it doesn't hurt for long.  The last time I only cried for a minute or so.  Here's to hoping today goes as well.

On a happier note, I'm learning all sorts of new things.  Last night when we got home I didn't want to wear my socks anymore so I promptly took them off.  Momma didn't argue and just let me so I played with them and then I hid them in a paper bag that I found for later.  Awhile later Mommy asked me where they were, I looked down at my feet and remembered I'd taken them off.  She was searching drawers and in my pile of toys but I remembered where I put them!  So I toddled over to my paper bag, dug them out and brought them to her.  She laughed and gave me a big old hug.  I guess I must have done something good but I think I just found my socks like she asked.

I have a few words now too.  I say "yea" and "no" the most and I really do know what they mean, especially no.  I say "woa" when I fall down or maybe hurt myself, and I repeat "cool" when someone else says it.  I say it really funny and it gets higher pitched at the end.  Of course I say Momma and Dadda and Doggie but I still use Dadda for just about everything.  I know what Dadda means, but everything else can be called Dadda too.  I talk a lot now and I've really been working on my "Ca" noises the last few days so maybe Car or Cat are next on my list.

Oh and one more thing!  I played in the snow for the first time.  Ok, by play I mean Mom let me touch it on the car.  It was cold and it made me laugh, but I was really confused when I saw it on my hands and then it was gone.  Such a weird new thing.  Mom says we will play in it more in a few months and we can even go sledding.  Whatever that is!?!?!

See you next month everybody.

14 months

I'm 14 months old now and boy have things changed.  You already know that I've been walking all over so that's not new, but Momma did start brushing my teeth a few weeks ago.  I still only have 2 bottoms but she said I've got to start getting used to it.  We don't want another repeat of the shoe crisis!!  Oh, and I've been practicing climbing the stairs too.  We don't have stairs at my house so I only try it when I'm at someone else's.  I'll get there eventually.  Mom also switched me to my big girl car seat so now when we go to stores I get to ride in the cart like the other kids.  The doctor says I have to still sit rear facing until I turn two so I'm sure I'm missing out on stuff when we go in the car, but what do I know?  I'm just a baby!!

I eat lots of big people food now too.  Did you know that I can eat two whole eggs all by myself!  Last night we had chicken pot pie and that was pretty good.  It's fun to taste new things that actually have spices in them.  Though, I wasn't a huge fan of Momma's butternut squash soup the other day and she thought I'd love it!  Oh well, I'll try it again next time just to be sure.

See you in a month.

13 months

Wow, I sure missed talking with you guys!  At first it was nice to have a break for taking these pictures every week, but then I sort of missed it.  I think Momma was lost without this project to do.  She says "no" but I don't believe her!  Anyways, I'm 13 months this week.  Since my birthday I've been walking (and running!) like no tomorrow.  My new favorite game is when Momma or Daddy chase me around the house and tickle me.  I'm really starting to know what I like and what I don't and I certainly don't like it when I have to do things that weren't my idea.  Like sitting down the bathtub.  That's silliness to me.  I love to stand and walk and even though the tub is slippery, I want to walk there too!!  Momma says nope, tubs are for sitting.

I eat a lot these days too!  Sometimes for breakfast I eat and whole egg and toast all by myself.  I eat lots of big people food these days too.  I wear my shoes without crying and I drink real milk now too.  I still take two naps a day (most days) and I sleep nearly 12 hours a night.  I love to pet the doggies too and Momma thinks my first word could easily be "dog".  We will see, I'm keeping my words to myself.  Oh!  And, I started to color the other day.  Momma got me some fat crayons and she can't wait to hang one of my pictures up at work. 

See you guys in a month!!

1 year! (Week 52)

Guess what happened this weekend.  Mommy and Daddy had a ton of people to the house and there was food and music and beer and PRESENTS!!!  It was a crazy day.  First I woke up from my nap and Momma put me in a poofy dress.  Then we went outside and there were new people around.  Then, they just kept coming and they brought these bright boxes and bags with bows and the crunchy paper I love!  I played with the kids and with some bubbles and then the really strange part happened.

Momma and Daddy plopped me down in a chair and everyone was looking at me.  They sang some sort of song (who knows what that was?!?!) and then they put a pretty pink and white thing by me.  Momma blew something out and then they gave me the yummiest lunch I've EVER HAD!  I want to have that for lunch and dinner every day.  At first I wasn't too sure, but then I realized it tasted really good.  Way better than that stuff Momma's always giving me to eat.  I ate a lot of it and made a really big mess.

Momma said it was my birthday party.  I hope we can have one of those every week!!  Oh...and I got presents too!

Outtakes:

Mom's gonna have to work on these new standing up pictures.  She needs to get my feet in them!!  We talked and we're gonna back down from doing these every week here.  But!  Keep coming back because I'll be here monthly with a new picture for you!!  Heck, I'm gonna miss telling you about my life each week. I hope you keep reading!

Week 51

Gosh, so much has changed in the past few weeks.  I'm growing up so fast, and my Birthday is NEXT WEEK.  Lets see, I have 2 bottom teeth and a third one coming in on top.  I'm a full on walker now (though I still break down into tears at the very sight of my shoes...I sure do hate them.  Daddy says's its like jail for my toes).  Mommy thinks I'm close to saying words here any day.  I've got so much to say and she thinks Doggie might be my first real word.  Who knows...maybe I'll surprise her and say Momma first!  I'm still pretty little though.  I still fit in my carrier car seat.  I haven't been to the doctor yet for my 1  year appointment and an official weigh in but Mom did it at home a few days ago and I'm only about 19 lbs.  I can still fit in my 3-6 month onesies...but most of the time wear 9 month clothes.  


Outtakes:

"That Daddy, he's one funny guy!"

This picture below is what my photo shoots look like most of the time these days.  I don't want to sit still at all!

Week 50

Momma and Daddy have been hard at work getting the last few projects done around the house for my birthday party.  We spent all weekend working on it...well, when I say "we" I mean Mom and Dad.  Mom was glad I took a few long naps so she could help too!  The weather has been so cool around here that we've been going for lots and lots of walks and I even had to wear a long sleeve shirt and sweatpants the other day!  The only outfit we had that fit me was a Purdue outfit they bought before I was even born!  I sort of looked like a boy, but that's what headbands are for.

Outtakes:

Doing the hand jive!

And you thought I was going to sit still!?!?!  I'm a walker now!

Week 49

We're really getting down there now!  Bubby got me this fabric because my Daddy went to Purdue.  Momma forgot to use it during football season last fall so she squeezed it in here right at the end of my weekly photo project.

Momma and I have been talking about if we want to keep going with this whole project.  She said she doesn't mind doing it if I could just SIT STILL!!  I'm all over the place these days and now that I've taken my first few steps (while camping this past weekend), I'm ready to roll!  Momma says if we do it, it's only going to be monthly.  52 yards of fabric is a lot and it takes a good amount of time each week to take and edit the photos.  Though, I don't know what she's editing...I'm cute already!


Outtakes:

Daddy helps now that I'm so quick.  He's a funny guy!

See, this is how lots of my photos come out these days.  I just don't to lay down still, not even for a minute!

Momma says she can see me as a teenager in this picture.  I think i"m getting a little too big for her liking.

Week 48

Momma loved this picture because it's exactly how I sit/stand most of the time.  Daddy calls it my football stance.  Don't worry, I am not going to play football when I get big, it's just me learning how to stand up and walk!  Anyways, Mommy's been having a REALLY hard time getting me to lay down nice and flat for her these days.  Lucky thing we've only got 4 left until I'm ONE YEAR OLD!  I know!  Can you believe it?  I'm kinda sick of taking these pictures every week anyways.

Outtakes:

This one almost made the picture of the week, but these days you're more likely to see me standing the sitting down nice so Mommy picked the one that looked most like me this week.

"See?  I'm wild!  You didn't really think I'd lay down nice, did you?"

Rolling and rolling and rolling.....you can't stop me!

Week 47

This week's fabric came from Mommy's friend Rhonda.  I actually just got to spend time with her this past weekend.  We went to see Reese, the newest little baby we know.  She's so tiny.  I was really interested in why Momma was holding another baby but then I realized that there were lots of new toys for me to play with and I spent the rest of the night playing with Parker and all of his toys.  We had so much fun.  I couldn't stop watching Parker run all over the house.  He's a wild man, but more than that, I can't wait til I can run like that myself.  Momma says I'll probably be walking pretty soon!!  I'm gonna try and do it before my birthday.

Outtakes:

Oh, and teeth.  I've gotta have some teeth in there soon.  I've been chewing on EVERYTHING!!  

"Hey Momma, come lay down here next to me.  I want to play with you."

Week 46

Happy 4th of July everyone!!!  This week's fabric came from Grandma's friend Carol.  I think she must have known that we'd be going to the lake for the weekend of the 4th and that's why she picked it :O)  It's Red and Blue so that's prefect too!  Mommy says that the 4th of July is her favorite holiday.  She loves the fireworks.  I haven't seen any big shows yet, but I can tell you that I'm not the biggest fan of the neighbor kids little poppers.  They scare me!  I'll let you know who the 4th goes.  Maybe I'll come around when I see the pretty colors.

Outtakes:

"I'm Popeye the Sailor Man!"

"Peace people, peace in the Middle East"

Week 45

Guys...I'm over 10 months old already.  Can you believe it?  Mommy's taken 45 of these pictures already and we are almost done.  Last weekend was Grandma's retirement party.  I've got lots of years left until I get to retire, but who cares about that!  I'm a baby!  It's almost the same as being retired.  I get to sleep and eat whenever I want and everybody else does all the hard work.  My job is to grow and play.  It's the life I tell ya!

Outtakes:

"Wanna see a trick where I make it look like my thumb is in two pieces?"

This was a close runner up to the picture Mommy actually picked.  I was full of faces this week.

"Um...Momma?  I think I need a diaper change!  See how full this baby is?"

Week 44

This weeks fabric came from Bubby.  She got it to represent the lake probably, but Momma picked it for this week because it represented summer and we did lots of summer activities on Father's Day.  We went for a swim for the first time in our pool, and I went on my first bike ride!!

My picture is just the teenyist bit blurry because I just don't sit still these days!  Momma used to be able to snap a few hundred pictures and choose the best, but not anymore.  Now she needs Daddy to distract me and we maybe get about 50 in.  She's gonna have to start letting me sit up here soon!  This laying down is for the birds!

Outtakes:

"Momma...no more...please!"

Mom was so sad that this one was blurry and wrinkled.  It was by far my best shot of the day.

Moving and a-shaking!

Week 43

Guess where I'm going tomorrow.  New York city!!  I'm going to visit two of my favorite people.  Aunt Erin and Lindsay!!  Mommy seems a little stressed about the whole flying thing but Daddy keeps telling me that she's always like that.  I don't know why though, I love flying.  It's my favorite when Daddy tosses me up in the air and catches me.

Outtakes:

I stayed still long enough for Momma to get two good pictures of me this week :O)

"Wha???  Don't you see I need a new diaper?"

Week 42

Momma says I'm really starting to show my personality these days.  I know when I'm doing something funny and when I get someone to laugh I just keep doing it.  I learned how to do Peak-a-Boo the other day when I hold the blanket myself and hide behind it.  I wait for you to ask "Where's Abby" and I start giggling before I even take the blanket down.  I gibber jabber all day long and have tons and tons of stories to tell.

Outtakes:

I've been trying out some new smiles these days.  That and I wasn't feeling very well when Momma took these pictures.  My tummy hurted so I wasn't really up to being my usual smiley self.

"Cha-cha-cha!" (with finger tambourines!)

Week 41

Isn't this week's fabric pretty?  It came from Momma's friend Jennifer.  I really like it because there is a big ol' fox right there in the corner.  Daddy's business is named Fox (or something like that), so I already know all about him. 

Guess what else!  My cousin's birthday is this weekend.  We are going to go and see her and eat cake.  I don't know what cake is really, I've never had sweets.  But, I think there's a good chance that Momma might let me have just a little bit of hers.

Outtakes:

We had a pretty busy weekend so we didn't take too many outtakes.  Just this one, that Momma almost picked to be my picture this week.  Next week though, we will be back with more funny outtakes, so come on back!

Week 40

Happy Memorial Day!  I know it's a little early but it'll be gone before I come back next week so Mommy picked this fabric.  She's pretty sure that it came from Bubby but she tossed the little label.  Silly Momma!  We are going to Koontz Lake this weekend and I can't wait.  I hope it's warm enough so I can show off my swimming skills but Momma says it's probably not going to be warm enough.  Maybe for a baby pool on the pier though!!  I'll tell you all about it next week.

Outtakes:

You'd think I was a chunky lady from this picture.  I mean, look at my rolls.  But, I just went to the doctor and I only weigh 17.5 lbs.  I'm only in the 35% for height and weight.

"Yes!"

"Whistle while you work...."

Week 39

 Guess what?!!  I'll be NINE month's old this week.  Can you believe it??  Momma can't.  I think she spent all day on Mother's Day trying to squish me back into a teeny tiny baby.  Silly Momma, doesn't she know anything?  Mom picked this picture because blowing raspberries is my new favorite thing.  I used to just do it with my lips, but just this week I figured out that I could do it with my tongue too and it's way more fun.  My favorite is when someone does it back to me.  That makes me laugh.  Those big people, they are so funny.  And gullible too!!  I can't make them do whatever I want.

Outtakes:

Momma must be crazy to think I'll sit still long enough for these little photo sessions anymore.  I've got places to be, and people to see.

"What now Momma?  Can't you see I need to go get my toys over there?"

Week 38

Do you like my fabric for this week?  It came from our friend Natalie.  She wears red lipstick like these hearts all the time.  It's her signature color so Mommy and Grandma call it "Rosenstiel Red"!!  Mommy was sad she forgot about this fabric when it was Valentines Day but it's ok.  Everyone needs a little love in their life all year round!  Daddy is in Kansas City this week so it's just the girls at home.  Mommy and Daddy and I had the flu last week but this week is better so I think we are going to go for some walks outside in the big girl stroller.  Oh, and we are going to see Grandma tomorrow for dinner.  Grandpa is away too.  He's turkey hunting so it's really a girls week around here.  Good timing though!  It's Mother's Day on Sunday.  Daddy said that we've got something nice planned for Mommy.
Man, I'm feeling pretty random today!  HA.

Outtakes:

"Mommy are we done yet?  I wanna roll over and crawl!"

When Mommy does Yoga they call this pose "happy baby".  Mommy says that I do it way better than she does though :O)