There's A Frog in the Bucket

Cookie Monster

What do you get when you combine oreo cookies and a gorgeous one year old?

A very messy, very happy one year old!

Flood Relief Auction

I love blogging. I love all of the energy and ideas that I find on other people's blogs. I especially love how it has helped the crafting industry. I have many 'bloggy' friends who live around the world and several who are currently being touched by the tragedy that is unfolding in Queensland as we speak. People are losing their children, their homes, their neighbors and even their cities. The devastation makes what happened in New Orleans look tame and predictable.

I would like to try and help. I have a new blog where I will be posting my crafty and sewing pursuits. I have posted an auction there for a little fox that I have made. He resides in an 8" hoop and he is adorable hanging pretty much anywhere!

If you would like to help and add this little fox to your family, you can find him 

here.

Poker Face

My little darling is such a ham for the camera. I guess with all of these pictures, I should take some time to tell you how much I love her. How do I love her? Let me count the ways. 

1: She is twenty pounds of perfectly adorable sweetness. 

 2: She can say 'doggy', 'Callie', 'daddy', 'milk' and as of this morning, 'sit' (said to Callie).

 3: Kissing her chubby cheeks is so very very fun.

 4: Love loves to read books. Her favorite books are 'Doggies' by Susan Boynton and 'Go Dog Go' by PD Eastman. (are you sensing a theme yet?)

 5: She still takes two naps a day. I still love naptime, but not as much as I love Abby!

 6: Abby can help you find her sippy cup, the doggy or her books or toys if you ask her where they are. I am LOVING this communicating thing!

 7: Abby no longer walks, Abby runs. Everywhere. All the time. And she is fast! She can catch up to me pretty much wherever I go in the house now.

 8: Abby sleeps all the way through the night, every single night, and has for a couple of months. I hated letting her 'cry it out', but really, I think it was the best thing for both of us.

 9: I have never met a little girl with such a sense of humor! She cracks me up all day long. It's like she knows she is telling a joke, and she can't help laughing at it herself. I love listening to her laugh!

10: Abby loves to be a part of whatever you are doing. She is so fun, loves to play peekaboo by closing her eyes or hiding behind small objects (or clear objects like the shower door). She is hilarious when she opens her eyes and sees us. 

Life has never been so busy or so fun. I love this stage of 'babyhood' and I am really enjoying being able to talk to and be understood by my wonderful little girl! I can't wait to see what she learns to do next!!!

Baby It's Cold Outside

I have to admit I love the snow.

 Especially new snow. 

And it makes me giddy inside when we get piles and drifts of snow overnight.

 Doesn't it make the world seem fresh and clean again?

 This was Abby's very very first time walking and playing by herself in the snow. 

(Thanks, Angie, for takingthe pictures!)

They should warn you how much you are going to love these little people. Seriously.

Wonderland

I live in a valley of wonders. I am silenced daily by the beauty that surrounds me on all sides.

Last week, we were blessed with a thick, wet snowfall that covered our little corner of the valley with nearly eighteen inches of snow. I hear groans, but really, its amazing, gorgeous, and even fun.

It would have been a shame to simply sit indoors, so we all bundled up and headed out into the frozen world to see what we could see.

And what we saw amazed us. I love how the snow makes everything seem fresh and clean. I love that you can grab a simple disc and head down a hill at breakneck speed with a small degree of safety.

Abby went down the hill over and over. She laughed and waved her arms. She is a true champion, and I promise you, she has no fear....unless you wear glasses :) Right now those frighten her a little bit.

So, another first has come and gone and we had fun and will cherish the memories. My brother and sister were both in town, so we were able to go as a family. I really do enjoy having company. The effort is worth the reward. And now my house is empty again and I am cleaning up and putting away. Tomorrow, I will take down the Christmas tree. But today, I am just enjoying the memories of a sweet Christmas all together and praying that this new year will be free of some of the challenges we encountered in 2010.

So, Happy [belated] New Year to all of you. 

I hope that this year, all of your wildest wishes come true!

Full of Hot Air

Do I really need words for this post?

Ok, Well...

 It's about a little girl who had a lot of fun with her first balloon. 

 She bopped it and bapped it and carried it all over the house.

 This silly pink balloon made her a very cheerful little girl.

 What is that saying from Winnie the Pooh?

"Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon"

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

This Christmas was a fun and special time for our little family. We were blessed to have Abby's Grandma and Granddad fly up from Florida, along with her auntie and uncle. While it wasn't Abby's first Christmas, it definitely was her first Christmas being aware of what was happening around her.

Santa brought Abby a fun new toy...

But Grandma and Granddad brought her toy that was way more fun!

 Her Auntie brought our little dancer her first tutu and it is ADORABLE!

 And I, well, I must have been very very good!!! Or perhaps my sweet husband just loves me very very much. I am so delighted with this that I simply cannot not blog about it. I know that this isn't supposed to be a craft blog, but I am a crafty girl. I love to sew and quilt and create. Unfortunately, that is hard to do with a broken sewing machine. So my sweet Mr Darling went out and bought me the sewing machine I have been dreaming of. I was shocked and surprised. And I feel so loved. It really is the thought that counts, and the thought behind this was wonderful and sweet and kind and selfless. I cannot say thank you to him enough! (but that won't stop me from trying!)

 I was able to spend time sewing with my mom, eating yummy food, celebrating my brother's birthday with amazing steak talking with my dad and just enjoying time together as a family.

It was wonderful!