My special 3 words

I have been absent from the 3 word posts for a while. I have been saving these special 3 words tho. This past Thursday we had to say Goodbye to dear friends Jen and Jainy. We had been having weekly play dates since Abby got home and Jen was a wonderful source of support and encouragement for me as well while I waited the long wait for Abby. Now their gone as of Friday. They are packed up in their RV for their 30 day trip that will end in their new destination. Alaska:(

Below are some pictures of Abby and Jainy over the last 4 months.

Jainy took such good care of "Sister Abby" (That's what she called her).

Jainy even swung on the baby swings just for Abby.

I love this picture:)

Jen and the girls on our last play date.

Then we tried to take a group photo.

And tried again....

Oh well.

Saying good bye. Tears then and now still when I see this picture. Jen, Jain and Kev too! You are Good people and we are lucky to have your friendship. We will miss you and all of the good times that we had. We love you guys:)

So sweet

Today I broke out one of the fake bags I bought in China to use as a replacement bag for the luggage that United lost (remember that? I still do!). As I was packing it to go over to my Mom's I found a side pocket that I missed when I unpacked it from the China Trip. These little shoes were one of the things in there. They are just like the little shoes that Abby had on on gotcha day. Those were yellow and had little monkeys on them. I got these at the Walmart in Nanchang. They were the only shoes I could find small enough for her at that time. I wanted to save her gotcha day shoes for her to have and was really afraid I might loose one if she kept wearing them. She really wasn't walking much then so these worked out just fine.

I have no idea what size these were but I am guessing maybe a 3? The tennies she is wearing now are a 5. It really blows my mind how much those little feet have grown in only 4 and a half months.

Here's my fake Louis bought for 7 bucks or 35 yen,

The label says Beijiale . Gotta love it:) I will say that this bag did make it back from China in good and reuse able condition, Unlike the Fake Polo Bag I bought that had to be thrown away on arrival home.

Beach Fun!

This past Sunday Abby and I had the pleasure of a play date with new friends at Yorktown Beach. We finally met up with J and A and their precious Ava after recently discovering that we live practically right around the corner from each other. Warning! Extreme cuteness overload ahead :):):)

Abby looked adorable in her little suit!

Sweet little Ava who is about 5 and a half months younger then Abby. What a cutie she is. Don't you love her little suit??

J and A were about a week or two behind us in China.

I love this shot from behind.

Ava is a true little water baby :) She was fearless in the water.

Amy I swiped a few pictures from your blog. Hope you don't mind :)

Abby wasn't to sure about the water at first. Once she saw how much fun Ava was having tho and she warmed up quickly. (Even tho the water was COLD) She actually pitched a fit when I took her out.

Water babies.

In true toddler fashion, the girls played side by side :)

Having fun with Ava and her Daddy.

It was a top ten day :) Abby warmed up slowly and decide near the end of our play date that these new friends were not only okay but also fun.

Did I mention that it was a top ten day????? :)

What a fun day we had. Miss Abby had a great time and passed her first sunscreen application by Mommy test. No burns for her anyway. (Mommy should have used a little sunscreen on her self too!) A and J it was great to finally meet you and sweet little Ava! It was neat to compare stories and experiences and trade tips with you too. I hope our girls can have more play dates SOON :)

I leave you with one very tired little girl who was out cold soon after we started the car ride home:)

Memorial Day

You want to see me jump????

Ready?????

Here I go.........:)

I'm Jumping!!!!

WEEEEE! I love to jump :)

Just for you I'll do it again!!

Oh! You missed it????

I'm just too quick for ya :)

And on a more serious note............

No, Freedom Isn't Free written by Kelly Strong


I watched the flag pass by one day.

It fluttered in the breeze.

A young Marine saluted it,

And then he stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform.

So young, so tall, so proud,

With hair cut square and eyes alert

He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him

Had fallen through the years.

How many died on foreign soil?

How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?

How many died at sea?

How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?

No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of taps one night,

When everything was still

I listened to the bugler play

And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times

That taps had meant "Amen,"

When a flag had draped a coffin

Of a brother or a friend.

I thought of all the children,

Of the mothers and the wives,

Of fathers, sons and husbands

With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard

At the bottom of the sea

Of unmarked graves in Arlington.

No, freedom isn't free.

WE THANK YOU.........

18 month check up

Abby had her 18 month checkup appointment this morning. Here she is admiring her pretty dress. She weighs 21.8 pounds (up almost a pound and a half) and is 31.5 inches tall (up at least an inch if not more). They pronounced her as doing great:)

What I see while she naps :)

Love this picture of us taken by Jen. jen and Jainy leave for their move to Alaska next friday. I don't know how we are going to be able to tell them goodbye :( :( :(

She loves her books:)

Oh No!!!!!!!! She can't get all the way up yet and hasen't tried to climb out yet.........

Imprompt photo shoot after bathtime. The dress was a little small and I couldn't butten it in the back.

Peek ")

Coloring with my crayons :)

Family pictures

These are some late pictures from Mothers Day weekend when Grandad and MeMe came to visit. Little Joshua is getting big!

Who is Mommy holding?

There is always one that won't cooperate :)

Told ya :)

3 Generations and Christopher :)

Grandad and Josh.

Playing with Grandad.

Grandkids.

Holding my cousin.

Uh Oh.

Abby and MeMe

Fun with Auntie L

Trying out Joshua's swing. She loved it. There isn't a weight limit, we checked. It just said that you should no longer use the swing once the baby can climb out. So we stayed right with her while she was in it. She was quite content and never even tried to get out:)

We had a fun weekend :)