12 months

Dear Abby,

You are 1 years old! This is the last of your monthly updates and we are so sad. You have grown up so fast and are turning into the sweetest, funniest little toddler!  We have loved every minute of the last 12 months!

We took family pictures and captured your first 'cake smash' while we were there. You loved your cake and were not shy about digging in!

You are getting bigger and stronger everyday and your little legs are getting more and more sturdy. You took your first steps (on your own) on August 26th and every day since then you walk a little longer and a little farther. You have been bare foot all summer and learned to walk that way so when mom put shoes on your feet for the first time you thought she was crazy! You curled your little toes and refused to walk in them. You are tolerating them more and more each time she puts them on though.

You are 28.5 in. long and weigh 19 lbs. You still only have your two bottom front teeth. Mommy loves that gummy smile, it keeps you looking like her little baby a little bit longer. You LOVE to eat and will eat and eat and eat. It seems like you never get full. But all of a sudden, now that you're 1, you've decided to start being a little bit picky. You won't eat avocados or mashed potatoes any more. (Maybe it's a texture thing). We think you're favorite thing to eat is macaroni and cheese, you'll eat that by the hand fulls, and  you LOVE yogurt.

You still say "momma" and "dada" and now say "me" ALL the time. We know that even though you don't say much, you understand a whole lot more. You know what to do when mommy asks you to "go get your bottle". You'll crawl over to where it's at and bring it right back to her. When you wake up from your nap we tell you to leave gaffy (your giraffe binky) in the crib and you take it our of your mouth and drop it in the crib. You are so so smart! 

You love to play, play, play. Your favorite game is "chase around the coffee table". You scurry around and around as fast as your little legs can carry you to try and get away from mom and dad. Now that you can walk more you keep yourself busy by walking back and forth from the family room to the toy baskets to get what you want. Your favorite toys are still pens and whatever you can fit just right in your little hand. You can clap your hands and wave goodbye and love to stick out your tongue and suck on your bottom lip!

You have always been a busy little thing and now that you're even more mobile you are getting into anything and everything that you can reach. You keep mom and dad busy too!

You are such a sweet little girl. You love to "give loves" to any little kid around and to mom and dad when we pick you up in the morning or after naps. You wrap your little arms around our necks and then pat us on the back. It's one of the CUTEST things you do! We can't forget about your dolls! You love to play with baby dolls and give them hugs and kisses! You are always so smiley and happy!

You still take 2 naps during the day and sleep for about 2 hours each nap. You're a funny little sleeper. You have to have a binky in your mouth and you one in your hand. We love your quarky little personality though and love the funny positions in which we see you sleeping!

Family drive in Daddy's truck!

The new stroller you got for your birthday. You love to walk around with it!

You are the sweetest little thing that has entered our lives and we have loved watching you grow these last 12 months! Thank you for making us so happy Abigail Cait! We love you!!

11 Months

Dear Abby,

You are 11 months old and are in such a fun stage of life! We love seeing your sweet cheesy grin, hearing your high pitched babbles, and watching you crawl and climb all over the place!

Add 11 month photo shoot!

Good thing we're almost done with these growth pictures, because you are getting really tired of them!

That cheesy grin!

You continue to grow so big and are starting to grow out of the last of your 6 month clothes (yep you're a little itty bitty thing), and some of your 9 month clothes. Mom just bought a bunch of new 12 month clothes for you to start wearing. Your hair continues to grow and grow. Your little pony tails are getting thicker! Mom likes to try some new 'do's' on you too! You finally got another tooth! You now have both of your front bottom teeth, although they are still taking their time to grow in taller, they are definitely there!

Trying a new hair style

What your hair looked like the next morning!

You have always been a big talker, but now you can say a few solid words! They are the BEST first words to have. "Momma" and "Dada". We LOVE it. You mostly call for Momma when you're tired, a little sad, fussy, are hurting, or need some love. And you mostly call for Dada when you are happy and playing and having so much fun! But you definitely know who's who and Mom and Dad LOVE that you know who they are! And without so many words you sure know how to let us know what you want! You have started to push food away that you don't want and when you do want something you get really excited and wiggle your feet and hands and flash that cheesy grin.

You are a CRUISER! You have mastered crawling and are moving on to walking. You crawl all over the place and then pull yourself up to whatever you can reach and then walk all around holding on to things to help steady yourself. You can't walk on your own yet but you have gotten to the point where you can stand unsupported for a few seconds and a 'controlled' sit-down instead of just falling down on your tush. You get closer and closer everyday! Since you are able to move around so much Mommy has to watch you close because you've started getting in to EVERYTHING! (recently you've discovered the toilet and the oh-so-fun roll of toilet paper!) And sometimes you end up getting yourself stuck in some odd places!

You have learned so many new things this month. You learned how to feed yourself - those fine motor skills are getting better and better! You also started climbing stairs! And figured out how to get off tall things like Mom and Dad's bed and the couch by turning around backwards and sliding off. You usually grab onto the sheets or cushions for support on the way down. And, dear Abby, you have discovered a beat! You have started dancing. When you hear music you'll bounce your knees and wiggle your torso! You are simply the cutest thing to watch!

Abby, you have experienced a lot of new things this month as well. You went boating for the first time in your little life. Daddy got to take you. Mom was sad she missed it; she was working. But Daddy said you LOVED it and had so much fun. It must have reminded you of being in mommy's tummy. Something about the water made you fall asleep a lot! 

You also got to go 4-wheeling for the first time! Daddy jumped on the chance because he knew Mommy would have said 'NO' if she was home! You and your Daddy have so much fun together.

Abby, Mommy knows that you love to play in your baby food. So she thought it would be a good idea to let you try some finger painting. It started out pretty fun for about 30 seconds and then your paint covered hands ended up right in your mouth! I guess we'll have to wait till you're a little older to try that again. Mommy learned her lesson!

We've discovered a few new things Abby. You have ticklish thighs, just like Mom! Daddy loves to tease both you and Mom! You are starting to get a little dimple up by your eye, like your cousin Lillian. It is so cute! You're pretty protective of those you love. When Daddy starts to wrestle with Mommy you usually start to cry until he stops! (You've got Mommy's back huh!?) And you LOVE babies! We went to Idaho to visit your newest cousin and you just loved her!

Giving kisses to new cousin Annabelle!

Silly girl!

Once in a while you will still cuddle with Mom

Meeting the neighbors turtle!

Studying like Daddy

Playing with the neighbor girls at church. You're a little short Abby. Sorry, that's Mommy's fault!

We love you Abby and we love watching you grow and learn! We thank our Heavenly Father EVERY DAY for the gift he gave us. You make everyday a joy and we a grateful for your sweet spirit that is so pure and innocent.