Feeding Abigail

We tried rice cereal at five months but Abby's system didn't seem to be ready so at six months we tried again.  Eventually we pulled out the highchair - she looks so small in there!  Abby is loving carrots, sweet potatoes and peas.  I'll add some fruit in about a month.  Daniel never would eat the ones I made but Abby seems to like them more than the store bought ones!  Yea! Another way to save some money around here. (I didn't mention yet on the blog that I sold Abby's small cloth diapers on Craigslist.  If we add a generous amount for laundering, I figure Abby's diapers cost less than $10 a month for the first 6 months!  I should be able to do better the next 6 months because a friend passed along some diapers and I only bought tri-folds this time.)  She has made it to 14lb 13oz and 26.5 inches tall.  That puts her around 15% for weight and 75% for height.  With her chubby little legs and cheeks we aren't concerned about her weight!

Roxy and Abby

 Abigail loves Roxy and I think the feeling is mutual.  Roxy will allow Abby to grab, pull, pinch, and kick.  If it gets to be too much she just turns around and gives her lots of stinky kisses.  Eventually Roxy will get up and move elsewhere but not before she is well beaten up.

Visit with Great Grammy and Pappy

Since we didn't get to see Great Grammy and Pappy for Easter, we drove down for the day today.  It is always a great visit and such a blessing to spend time with family of that generation.  Abby was just a sweet and pretty as can be and Daniel got right to work.  He wouldn't even take off his Church clothes first!

Philadelphia Zoo

Sloth Bear

Jason has been working very hard recently and decided to take a morning for a road trip.  We have been to just about every zoo within a days drive except for the Philly Zoo so we decided to give it a try.  It is by far the most expensive we have been to and therefore perhaps the biggest disappointment.  For $12 to park and $45 or so to get in - the oldest zoo in America kind of looked like it.  Many of the enclosures were small and sparse and the assortment wasn't great.  I think I would have liked it more if it didn't cost so much!  There were some neat old buildings and some of the exhibits, like the ape house and domesticated petting zoo complete with a place to groom the sheep and a big tractor to sit in, were nice. The Lorax was everywhere, providing Daniel with some fun ways to see one of his books come to life.

One of three beautiful Cheetahs who looked bored.

Smiley 6 Month Old!

Abby's pants are off to let her little bubbly butt air a bit and she couldn't be happier.  I just can't get enough of her easy, stunning smile.

Abby's 6 month check up went well.  While she is a bit thin, she is super healthy and growing tall.  26.5 inches tall (75%) and 14lb 13oz (15%).

Easter 2012

I did a little Easter Egg hunt for Daniel on Easter Sunday before church.  He got to look for his basket and a bunch of eggs.  This time he knew what he was doing!

Our baby doll in her Easter dress.

My silly men all dressed up.

We had amazing weather so Daniel got to ride his tractor then my dad made a great ham dinner and we just enjoyed a relaxing Easter day.  He has risen indeed!!!

Swing Set

Daniel loves to play outside and digging holes in the dirt only keeps him occupied for so long.  We decided to get him a play set.  I found someone on Craigslist who lives nearby and was willing to deliver!  So, the Saturday before Easter, the whole family arrived, parked their truck in the back yard, and Jason and Brian unloaded the set while Daniel played with their little boy (they had met a couple days earlier at their house and got along very well).  By the end of the day Pappy and Jason had the thing set up and ready to go.  It needs a good washing and some stain but it works!

A few days later we added a swing for Abby and later still, one for a friend (or Mommy!)

Easter Egg Hunt

Our friends Steph and Bryan seem to like cahos in full.  They host a huge Super Bowl party, throw big parties for their kids' birthdays and hold an annual Easter egg hunt.  Daniel isn't quite experienced at this kind of thing (see last year's attempt) but he caught on with his Daddy's help.  Notice how he just stands there and looks around for a long time while the other kids run amuck all around him.