Remembering Grandma Fran

On a sad note, my Grandma Fran (Abby's great-grandmother....my dad's mom) passed away week before last, and this past Friday we celebrated her life and got to reflect on our memories of her. So we had 2 full days visiting with my family, and Abby got to see her cousin Sheila, Aunt Amy, Aunt Sarah, all her Great-Grandparents and Grandma & Grandpa, and many others too!! Just too cute! Those eyes always make me smile!

My grandma Fran painted these animals years ago, and here Abby is hugging and kissing on them in her living room. Abby gets to take them with her to our new house too, so she'll always remember where they came from (once I tell her in 10 years of course!!).

GRASS!!!! Okay, so my child wears shoes outdoors 99.9% of the time, so she doesn't get very many opportunities to walk barefoot! She did this day though! And it made me laugh to see the curious look on her face as she took each cautious step in the grass.

And don't mind the stains on her cute dress, she ravaged through a plate of mexican food just before we took the photos.....I swear she was clean before!And here is her first skinned knee "boo boo". Guess thats bound to happen when you start wearing dresses and learn to run all at the same time!

Time with Roxy

One of Abby's new favorite things to do is snuggle on the floor and pull her blanket over her and pretend like she is sleeping. Roxy likes to join in and snuggle too! Abby always loves her company!!

Say, "CHEESE"!

Say "CHEESE"!!!!
She now "Cheese's" at all the photos; but usually she gets too close to the camera and ruins the picture.

She has finally gotten the hang of laying in our bed leisurely at times.....it has been such a struggle to get her to lay there for 10-20 minutes while I get done, but last week she finally figured out if she has her pacifier, her "Eeyore" lovey and pulls the covers up to her chin, life is good! Here she is relaxing with Mike one morning.

More "Cheesie Face"

Hanging out at Home

Being silly with her daddy

She discovered the bib drawer the other night and was determined to have me put each and every bib we own on her at once.

And she has a new love for olives.....I showed her how to put them on her fingers; I think she thought that was a bit bizarre!

Abby's new words

So in the last week or two Abby has increased her spoken vocabulary significantly. Of course she still does great with the signing, but we were anxious to see when the words would actually come out of her mouth. Here are the signs and words she knows and uses regularly now (18 months old): In addition, she also learned where/what her bellybutton is last week!

WORDS:
Apple
Banana
Cow
Cheese
Mama
Dada
Dog
Fish
Truck
Bird
"Sarah" (her auntie)
Eyeore (her lovey that she sleeps with)
Eye
Ear
Nose
Mouth
Slide
More
"Dora" (as in Dora the Explorer on tv)
Shoe
Foot
Bubble
Balloon
Water

SIGNS:
Bird
Monkey
Horse
Dog
Elephant
Cat
Fish
Mommy
Daddy
Grandma
Cracker
Milk/Drink
Eat
Baby
Banana
More
Water

Animal Sounds:
Cow "moo"
Cat "meow"
Duck "quack"
Dog "ruff"
Bird "tweet"
Monkey "ooh ooh"

Our New Home To-Be!!!

Front of the house....located at the end of a court with 6 other homes!

Entry way from the front door flows into the family room (hardwood floors here and in kitchen)

Living room off of the entry way, leading to dining room (both carpeted...as well as bedrooms) Dining room...first thing to go will be that wallpaper!! Left side of kitchen overlooking family room

Right side of kitchen

View of kitchen from family room....cut-out over sink/counter looks into family room

View of eat-in-kitchen (family room to the right....utility room to left)

Eat-in-kitchen overlooking the pool

View from family room, thru the kitchen, looking into the utility room

View of back side of family room overlooking the pool
Utility room off kitchen, looking thru to the 3rd full bath (and door to garage and door to finished room over the garage on left.... and pantry door on right)

3rd full bath off utility room

Master bedroom..with wood shutters....faces the front yard

Back patio off the family room

Pool and grassy yard!

More pool

Diving board & jetted side seats

Back end of the yard

Visit to Virginia....and good friends

We had a very productive week long trip to Virginia to go house-hunting! And successful since we found a wonderful home that will soon be ours to call as such! In addition to that we were very grateful to have stayed the week with our friends the Lunettas who offered up their home to us. They have a daughter "Abby" who is 4 months older than our Abby....so needless to say they had a great week long play date together.

Our first encounter with "Chuck E Cheese" in Virginia....with our friends the Mitzners! Here is Abby and their daughter Emily (2 yrs old) on the fire truck ride!
Abby's probably thinking....."when did this mouse get in the car with me??"

Abby Smith & Abby Lunetta.....bath time!

Its funny because although Abby Lunetta is 4 months older, and much taller, they are identical from behind with their curly/swirly hair! It was quite the challenge distinguishing between the two girls when we had to discipline! Last names came in handy, yet I'm not sure how much they comprehended that!

After the bath.....Abby playing with her adopted doll who talks.....we are getting her one of her own this weekend!

Smith Baby #2

So its official. We are off and running with another pregnancy (planned).....amidst an upcoming house hunt in April, packout in May, and a week long drive across the country with a toddler in June! Oh dear what were we thinking!!! It must be love!

Randoms from March

Jack came over for a playdate....and they worked together!!
Sitting at the table...briefly

Sharing breakfast with Daddy. Food is always better off someone else's plate!

She LOVES to wear her Mrs. Potato head glasses.....sometimes for long periods of time, walking around, playing, going outside!! Its a real hoot!! I think she's thinks they are a real accessory!!

Ahhh...shirtless with a hat!! How cute. She loves putting hats on all by herself.

More of Sarahs visit

We took a trip to the Santa Barbara zoo!

Grandpa pushing Abby

Walking thru the zoo....
Stopping to pick some flowers

In her favorite rocking chair

Eating dip!!