Maybe she can get paid...

Abigail loves to sing and dance. And we love it when she does. But I'm not sure that people would pay to watch her do these things. If they did, Abigail would be in the money! Today we went to visit our friend James and after that we went to Beeson lunch. People tell us all the time that Abigail looks like Shirley Temple, but today at lunch, I was told three different times by three different people!

James and Abigail Today

Shirley Temple, in the 1930s

P.S. Did you know that Shirley Temple's mom curled her hair every day? That's dedication!

Knock, knock!

Abigail and I have been working on the proper etiquette for trying to talk to me while I'm on the phone. Tonight I was talking to my friend Robyn and I reviewed it with her. "If you have something to say, tap Mommy, and I will say just a minute (one finger up), and when I have a chance I will listen to your question." She seems to think this is a fun game, so it works out pretty well. Well, later I was talking to my friend Courtney on the phone and Abigail was having some trouble with a chair. She started to whine and said, "Mommmmmeeeee!" and then she caught herself. She turned, tapped me on the leg and said, 'Knock, knock!"

Don't you love their little minds!?

The Azaleas are starting to bloom!

February 2009

I am delinquent... need I say more?

Dance Party Leads to First Prayer

So last night we got to have our friend Jonathan over for dinner and we decided after dinner that we should have a dance party! Abigail was so excited that she was more than willing to clean up the toys for room to dance.

As the party got underway, Abigail kept dancing her little heart out, enjoying it very much. Jonathan danced a little bit, but was generally more interested in seeing Abigail on the video camera and the other toys. After every few songs Abigail would stop and with a sweet smile on her face and eyes all aglow ask me, 'Party song mommy?' Yes Abigail, that was a dance party song. After a little while I turned down the music to make an annoucement. She turned to me with an offended look on her face and said, "Uh!" "Just one more song, and then it's time to get ready for bed," I told them. Abigail's look of concern did not leave when she said, "Uh! Cake?" Oh. Whoops! "Oh, no, there's no cake at a dance party." No wonder she was so excited. To my satisfaction, she took it very well!

(sorry no video, technical difficulties!)

We got the kiddos ready and got them together to pray before going to bed. We pray with Abigail every night and her routine is to excitedly tell us all the people she wants us to pray for, but she doesn't want to pray. Well, last night we all sat down together and Abigail immediately bowed her head and launched into a prayer in a somber, monotone voice (very funny), thanking the Lord for several friends (by just mentioning their names), Courtney's boo-boo, for 'picking up blocks' and 'dance party.' I thought it was great! I am excited to see if she will pray again tonight!

Also yesterday we went to a local beading store called Bead It with some friends. We were looking around at the beads and Abigail found a cross. She held it up and said, "Sign mommy? Jesus Christ?" Make my heart melt. We're not exactly sure where she got 'Jesus Christ' from, since we usually refer to Him as just 'Jesus,' but she has been asking about Him lately using his name and title :). I think that maybe she is getting it from church, since we have started keeping her in for the entire service every other week. Anyway, I am so excited to see her putting things together and asking questions about God in her little 2 year old way. It is such a precious time. It also scares me a little bit because I know how easy it has been to have a little one that doesn't ask questions. Up to this point, I mostly have had to be concerned with just her behavior and physical health. Well, of course her intellect too. But now we are venturing on to the faith ground. I pray that the Lord will always give me an answer that satisfies/encourages that yearning in her. Whether it's a good example, an explanation of things or an 'I don't know, let's go look it up!' (or ask Daddy)

Mama tortures me

I got a great light meter for my birthday and finally got the chance to use it! Abigail was delighted to get to walk on the 'flag' (the backdrop) and gave me some great expressions. To see our best images, click on the picture.

SNOW!

Yes, snow! We got 3 inches of it! We woke up yesterday to a winter wonderland. Everything was absolutely beautiful. Abigail and I got up and played in the backyard for a little while before Church. Somehow, she knew that one of the great purposes of snow is to throw it at each other. I was innocently taking pictures and she came up to throw some snow at me. Poor girl, it kept sticking to her gloves, but it was fun anyway!

We went to church and this is what Lakeshore looked like!



After church Jake and I had a little fight--a snowball fight--and he was hurt in the exchange. Don't let him tell you it was my fault. He should have let me get him back after he threw a snowball down the front of my shirt!



By the time we got home, the snow was melting, but there was enough to make a snowman!

Still throwing snowballs