Birthday Party at Daycare!!

Tuesday is daycare day.....and the last day before Abby's Birthday...........so they had a birthday party for her. It was great they decorated the place with balloons and streamers and we took rice crispies and lots of art supplies to play with. They made puppets, painted and colored! :) Here is Abby before daycare dressed in a brand new outfit for the day! :) She had a blast and Carrie gave her a piggy bank for her present....perfect gift for Rick's kid!! :)

Blizzards & Brownie Batter!!

Sunday night we went out and got Blizzards. There was a deal at Dairy Queen...buy one get one for $0.25!! And then, on Monday I decided to make brownies....yep the Smith Family surely had some sweet "tooths!"

Ponytail Time!!

Here is Abby's Pony as she calls it. Please....if you see her sporty it do not call it a pigtail....it is a ponytail!!!!

Flower Sunday!!!

Hi Everyone -

So on Sunday Rick went riding and Abby and I got to hang out. Well.....if anyone knows me they will know that I have a very structure routine on Sat and Sun. Saturday we go to the gym and then hit up Starbucks. Abby so loves the gym because the play area is like the ones they have in the malls with stuff to crawl all over, etc. Sundays I go to Big Foot Java and grab 2 Sunday papers and of course Berry Warm Milk for Abby. Then Abby and I go through the papers and drink our Foffee as she would call it. :)

After her nap....I thought a fun project would be to plant flowers! We have a irrigation system and hangers on our front porch so hanging pots would work perfect and I really wanted a tomato plant! Well....we loved loved shopping for flowers. Abby had so much fun!! Best shopping trip ever! she was a good helper but, as we were planting....I have to admit I turned by back and she picked 3 of the flowers!! So out of 21 only 3 didn't make it! Success!!!

Of course Abby had to take care of her baby while we were planting...Baby Crying....she told me! ;) Abby hold Baby!

Babysitting Courtland

Hi Everyone!

So this Saturday we watched my friend Stacey's baby boy Courtland. I have been nervous to have Abby around him because he was so little and she wants to help so so so much. But, at 6 mo he is a tough little guy and Abby finally understands more about how to be gentle and how to properly help with babies. Stacey and I are going to switch on a off babysitting so we can each every so often enjoy a quiet dinner with our hubbies! I think I go the better end of the deal....Abby moves a lot faster then Courtland right now!!! Although - Abby can say want she needs which is often. EAT, PLAY, SHOW!! :) Here Abby is reading to Courtland while he is jumping! :)

Happy Tuesday!!

Hi Everyone!
We had a great weekend filled with an early birthday party for Abby and hitting up the Spring Fair here! That was all on Saturday.....so Sunday and Monday were filled with relaxing and of course now Abby has a bit of a cold!! :) Poor thing - but...she still is full of energy.

Abby had 7 friends over for her birthday party. We had it set up so all the kids could color on the floor and of course had toys all over! To eat with had BBQ chicken, Mac & Cheese and Cupcakes with Abby's fav....M&Ms on top. They were a huge hit. I am waiting on pics from that and from the fair....of course couldn't find my camera on Saturday :(.

Yesterday & Sunday.....Abby was quite the fashion model check out Abby dressing herself. Yes, that would be a poka- dot shirt under a fishy tank top matched with leggings, a skirt, and shorts topped off with her flower socks. She is quite proud of her taste. Then, in the evening...she wanted to wear undies and be "Nake" as she calls it.

Hi Everyone!

This week our buddy Pete (Rick's old high school friend) has come to hang with us. He is an aircraft mechanic and he travels around working on planes. This week he is at McCord Airfield. This is a military airport as most of the plane he works on are for the military (going / coming from war). Yesterday Pete, Abby, and I went up to Seattle for the day - to go to the aquarium and then to also hit up lunch with Rick. After lunch Abby and I headed back down to Puyallup to hit up a quick nap for her and Pete spent the rest of the day in the city exploring.

Here is a pic from Tuesday before daycare - Abby sporting her barrette and going "shopping!"

Catching Up!!

So I have kind of lost touch! Sorry!! So to catch up! I have now hit my 30s! Oh my! Enjoying it. I spend it with Abby in daycare - cash in hand - Thanks Rick and a girlfriend in tow to the Outlet Mall! YEAH!!! We had a blast. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday between being brought coffee on my door, going shopping without kids, and dinner with Hubs and Abby. So fun.

We spend Easter at home with a great service (including a great Good Friday service!) followed by dinner at my friend Kyra's. Abby loved it. She had kids to play with, they did a Easter Egg Hunt, and she even got a present from Kyra's parents....including a sand pail and shovel. (Which she can use in her new sand box!)

This Friday Abby got a tea set to take pictures with see the professional ones at: www.staceyatkin.com/blog/

Here is her playing with it after the pictures were taken! She loves it...who knew how much fun a tea set would be.

Sunday Rick went riding and Abby and I hung out / cleaned up and enjoyed her new chairs (a handme down from Inde and Henry). Her she is reading a story to her baby! Have a great night everyone!!

Happy Monday!!

Hi Everyone -

We had a great weekend! Friday night we went out to eat and played in the backyard for Rick's birthday....he turned 31 on Saturday! To further celebrate his birthday he went riding on Saturday and we had pizza and cookie dough on Saturday night!! :) Sunday we hit up church, Toys R Us, and cleaned the garage!!

The biggest news of all......ABBY is in a big girl bed!! Here is a pic of her this afternoon napping in it.......turned backwards! :) :)

Underestimating........

So many days in the NICU I underestimated Abby - she would do such amazing things everyday!! Since Abby got tubes we have had to give her baths with ear plugs in.....putting ear plugs in a two-year old is not very fun. But last night I started the bath water and she said....Ears, Ears!! She knew she had to put her ear plugs it and she didn't even fight them. She just sat there while I put them in her little ears. This morning......Abby finally let me put pig tails in her hair! She isn't the most reasonable - hair brusher.....so this was quite a surprise! Check them out!

Hunter is Born....

Also on St. Patty's Day Hunter (Dot and Andrew's baby) was born!! Welcome to the world Hunter - can't wait to meet you!!

2010 St. Patrick's Day!!

Hi Everyone!
Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! Today was a mellow day....we hit up the YMCA for toddler gym, played outside, and went to dinner at Kyra & Gavin's. Kyra made Green Eggs, Ham, and Green Pancakes!! See the pic!! They were great and of course followed by cake with green sprinkles.
On a not so mellow note....it is 9:35 pm and we are still awaiting word as Dottie and Andrew are in the hospital as Dottie will soon be having a bouncin' baby boy! We are excited to hear when everyone is safe and sound, of course a pic of him & what his name will be. Love surprises!! This will be Abby's first cousin and Rick and mine first nephew. Will update with a pic when we get one.
May the Luck O' the Irish be with you!!

Huge first for Abby

Last night Abby had a huge first. She (with help) got to hold a real baby!! Since she is so crazy about babies.....this was so exciting for her!! This is a pic of Abby, my friend Kyra and Kyra's nephew Eli.

Happy Monday!

Hi Everyone! Hope today is going well for you. We are enjoying Sunny weather here and Abby and I hit up the gym this morning. She has a toddler gym class every Monday and Wednesday that we go to. I will get some pics and post them soon. Wanted to throw out some birthday wishes to Auntie Kelly (Abby's God- Mother / Rick's Brother's wife) and Grandpa Tom (Rick's dad). Happy Birthday!!

Laid back Sunday!

Hi Everyone - We had a laid back Sunday with Abby and Kate going out for coffee, Sunday papers, and grocery shopping this morning and Rick studying for his CPCU (insurance exam) - his exam is tomorrow.....wish him luck!! This afternoon Rick went for a long (8 mi) run as he is preparing for Grandma's Marathon and Abby and Kate both caught a nap! After all of that it was finished off with a video call with Brian and Kelly in England....and Abby got some hand-me-down doll furniture from one of her friends! She loves it!! Thanks Ashley and Lily!!! Have a great week everyone.

A Beautiful Saturday!!

Hello!! Today is a great day out here in Seattle. Rick went riding for the day and Abby and I have been running errands / grocery shopping, etc. This morning as we were waking I started thinking about all the fun stuff Abby has learned like her vocab, running / walking, coloring, etc. Then, I started to think of all the funny stuff that we have taught her.....Rick has taught her all the fun things a dad should....like jumping on the bed, saying poo-poo, and today how to take all my clothes off the hangers!! lol!! He has also taught her the following items are quite sweet. (see pic) I suppose one could say I taught her about accessories like headbands, and sunglasses. Thanks Gma for those - they are so fun and cute!!! And I suppose I also taught her to dance and talk on the phone. (see pics). Lastly I suppose Nana is to blame for the following.......wearing lipstick!!
Lesson of the day.....may you always learn something new everyday!!

Trip to aquarium & baby legs

Today was quite a fun day!! It was filled with craziness, getting lost in Seattle, great times, and some great deals!!

We started off at the aquarium. I love this place it is so open and totally set up for kiddos! We went with Gav & Kyra. (Sorry my pic isn't the best it is off my phone and they were moving so fast!). They have great displays and two huge touch ponds with is great. Like I said before totally set up for kids!!! We spent about an hour there and on that point some nice gentleman gave his ticket for us to park there for free for that hour! Yeah!!!

Then, we went to the Baby Legs warehouse where they were having a sample sale. Needless to say it was hard to find so we got lost AND the kiddos were hungry. But, the kiddos did great! So proud of them!! Baby Legs is a place that sells "leg warmers and tights" for kiddos. Leg warmers are great for little little babies because you can put a onesie on them and these leg warmers and they don't get cold and you don't have pants to take off for diaper changes! So great!! Got some great deals at about 20% of the reg price. Hummm.....should we go back again tomorrow to stock up for "future baby gifts........" (See pic)

We got home late and Abby crashed!! She was so tried. Actually, took me an 1/2 hour to wake her up!! :) But, woke up watched Elmo and waited for Daddy to get home. Daddy got home and he took us out for Olive Garden with Gav and his family.

Great day! Fun, crazy, fun......love my life day!!

Friday, March 12th

Well this week started off a bit rough or I guess kind of scary for mom........ with Abby getting tubes. See the pic of us on the way to surgery. But, she did great.....although bath time with ear plugs isn't quite as much fun as it used to be!! The "tubes" really only took about an hour in total with recovery and prep.

We are ending the week on a few "highs" though. Addy, Abby's friend from the NICU got released yesterday!! She has been back in the hospital for about a month due to some tummy and infection issues. And today....while it is cold and rainy outside we are going to go into Seattle to the aquarium and also hit up a sample sale at Baby Legs with our friends Gav and Kyra. Baby Legs is a place where they have cute little. like, leg warmers for babies. Yes...I will be raising Abby in leg warmers!!! Will try to post some pics of our day and maybe even some of the leg warmers I pick up on sale!!!

Jackson Arrives!!!

I knew I picked a great day to start a blog. My cousin Sarah and her hubby welcomed Jackson Edward into the world today @ 10:45 am. He weighed in at 6 lbs and 10 oz and is 19.5 inches. And from what I hear....he is perfect!! Welcome Jackson!! Happy Birthday!!! We love you!!

Starting out....

It is 2010 and here we are!! Starting a blog has always been something that I wanted to do...but, just really haven't sat down and done it. Well, enough with the wish I dids - and here we are.

Introduction - We are the Smith family and we currently live in Puyallup, WA just south of Seattle. The family is made up of Rick, Kate and Abby, and of course the puppy - Charley. Abby will turn two in April....so terrible twos here we come!!

I hope to write fun things, post great pics, write about our adventures, and put in some life lessons in this blog on a regular basis. So my first lesson to Abby is may each day you find a reason to wear a Tutu and smile. And secondly, know how blessed you are to have friends and treat them like a blessing, as this Tutu was handmade by our friend Kyra.