Spring Reading: Apocalyptic

Since my thesis is coming up this summer (I hope), and since I am writing on Revelation, I am dedicating my spring reading towards Revelation and apocalyptic literature (mainly 2nd temple Jewish apocalypses).  Here are some of the books I am/will be enjoying:

Abigail's First Christmas

 It's hard to believe that Abigail's first Christmas is already here.  She was so cute in her Sunday Christmas dress.

At the Playground

We took Abigail to the playground for the first time.  She had a blast even though the toys were too big for her.

She looks so much like her Daddy!

Chess & Christmas

So I really enjoy chess... studying and teaching it.  And since I have to decorate my classroom door for Christmas (with a lot of restrictions, mind you), I thought I'd share with you my idea.

Yes, this is a chess nativity scene.  If you know me, you know I hate to include the 3 "wise-men" into the scene.  However, I felt it necessary to help pull it off, otherwise many wouldn't get it.

Merry Christmas!

Fun video of Abi playing w/ my face.

Big Picture Update

I know what you're thinking...Finally!!!

There are finally lots of new pictures on our shutterfly account.  Just click HERE to see all the great pictures of our little (but fast growing) girl! Here is a little preview of my favorites...

Abigail @ 7 Months

Abigail @ 8 Months 

Abigail @ 9 Months

Abigail's Boy Friend

Yes, Abigail already has a boy friend.  Kyle & Melodee, our neighbors, had a little boy three months before Abigail was born.  They are both at such a fun stage right now and will actually interact with each other.  This weekend they came over, and we were able to take a few pictures of them playing.  So cute!

"Are you really eating MY toy???"

Abigail didn't play nice the whole time.  She's not used to sharing.

Poor Levi didn't always know what to do with the high pitch squeals coming from Abigail.  Overall, they had a great time together.  Thanks for coming over Kyle & Melodee! 

Eight Months of Happiness

Abigail has now past the eight month point, and life just keeps getting more fun! Everyday there seems to be something new she starts doing (or getting into).  Here are a few of my favorites for this month!

"I am so happy Momma is home from school!!!!"  (That's really what she's saying, I promise!)

1) When standing (holding onto something) she'll get on her tiptoes to reach farther.
2) We've given her so many kisses that she's starting to lean in and give us a kiss.
3) She loves to nod her head YES.  Especially when she's getting into something she's not supposed to.  I will say, "No, Abigail!".  She then starts nodding her head YES.  I can't help but laugh.

4) When she hears music she starts to dance.
5) She has learned how to climb into the kitchen cabinet.
6) She is starting to eat real food.  Her favorites so far are bread, muffins, pizza crust, noodles, bananas...really anything soft that we're eating she'll enjoy.
7) She has 4 teeth and the 5th has broken through. I love her smile full of bright white teeth.
8) Crowds are not her favorite.  She's too overwhelmed by all the noise and faces.
9) She likes to bite...stuffed animals, pillows, tables, plastic toys, and people.  Her nanny showed me a bruise on her shoulder one day and said Abigail bit her.  Oops!
10) Abigail loves to clap.  If she's crawling away from me I will say "Yay Abigail!" Then she will stop crawling and start clapping.

"Are you going to give me the food or just tease me?!"

This is by far my most favorite stage!  She responds to our voices, crawls to us when we come home, laughs when we tickle her, stops when we say 'no' (most of the time), and sleeps well at night! I love this little girl! What a joy she brings to our lives, and I am so thankful I am her mother!

Cousin Lailynne has Arrived!!!

On September 6, 2013 a ten pound baby was born into the Peters side of the family.  Baby Lailynne is a HUGE bundle of joy, and she is absolutely beautiful!  Abigail doesn't really understand that her best friend has finally arrived into the world.  Congratulations, Lori and Jason, on the safe/healthy arrival of your sweet baby girl!!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures Lori has sent me of Lailynne!! 

How cute is this little ray of sunshine?!?!

It's just not possible to get any cuter!!!

Just like her Aunt Liz!!!

Only nine months to go before we get to meet her for the first time!

Abigail Changes

I love this stage in a baby's life.  There seems to be so many cool changes that happen over night.  Here are a few of Abigail's amazing tricks at 7 months.

1) crawling everywhere
2) climbs stairs
3) says 'Da da' (which of course Tim is getting excited about) but really says "da da da da da da da..."
4) stands by herself for a couple seconds
5) makes the FUNNIEST faces - the most recent is wrinkling her nose while squinting her eyes
6) holds her own bottle (which is so helpful when shopping)
7) successfully cries herself to sleep
8) laughs at herself in the mirror
9) amazed by people brushing their teeth
10) gets bored very easily with her old toys
11) ALWAYS tries to play with things we definitely don't want her to have
12) loves the kitchen cabinets but can't figure out how to keep them open
13) wants to eat anything we are eating (and I can't wait to be able to feed her whatever we eat)
14) loves to be naked and hates when we put clothes on her
15) knows something crazy or silly is going to happen when I count to 3 slowly
16) when I walk downstairs with her and pause before getting to the bottom, she starts looking all over the place for her Daddy
17) holds on to things with one hand and even bends down while holding on to the table to pick something up
18) sits in her high chair to watch Baby TV (her favorite is the snowman show!)
19) loves the computer, especially when we're skyping with people
20) my favorite...get's so excited when she sees us walk in the door after school, tries to free herself from the nanny, and crawls as fast as she can to us

Basically, I could have summed this up in one sentence.  My daughter is advanced! (I'm not bias.) :-D

I LOVE being able to crawl where ever I want!!!

This computer is awesome! Can I have my own?!?!

Sippy cups are genus!! Finally someone invented something I can hold on to easily!!

This snowman show is my favorite.  I can't wait till Christmas! Momma said that's when she pulls out all of her snowmen toys! :-) 

Abigail Compilation Video

Enjoy!!!!

Parenting Mishap...

Since our car has been broken Tim and I have been riding the bus each weekend to go shopping.  This weekend we needed to buy diapers so we purchased a cheap form of Huggies.  We knew we were going to our favorite store with our favorite diapers in a week so we thought they would be fine.

When Abigail woke up from her nap I happily went to get her after a long day with 18 fourth graders.  I walked in her room to find a soaking wet bed, a little girl that had a soaking wet outfit, and to top it off she started dripping as I picked her up out of the bed.

Lesson learned through this experience...DO NOT purchase cheaper diapers!!  A dry baby is worth A LOT of money!

Where in the world have we been???

WOW! Time has certainly flown by, and it has been so easy to overlook the little things like blogging. :-)

It was really difficult to try to blog while visiting in the States.  We were everywhere visiting everyone (and not always with great internet capabilities)!  Here's the run down of our busy summer...

The trip started with A BANG!

 Abigail experienced her first plane ride and I experienced my first time being the parent with the crying baby.  Though the trip could have been a lot worse, I didn't enjoy one part of it.  That could be because I started getting terribly sick during our last flight.  By the time we landed in VA I was so nauseous I had a hard time taking care of Abigail.  Thankfully my parents were there.  The next morning I passed out, Tim had my sister call 911, and my whole family was in a state of panic.  I talked them out of taking me to the hospital but later went to an urgent care center.  Praise the Lord for whatever they gave me because I was feeling better by the next day!  That was the first time ever I wasn't able to take care of (or even think about) my baby girl.  Tim and I are so thankful for my family and the fact they jumped in took care of her!

I only took short naps on the plane.  This was one of my better moments. :-)

Camping/Class
The very next day Tim left for his week long class in North Carolina while Abigail and I went with my parents camping.  This was a nice vacation and Abigail got to meet one set of great-grandparents and my sister Amy (and all of her kids).

My cousins were always playing with, me and now I miss having them around!

Charlotte (Part 1)
Two weeks after arriving in Virginia we loaded the car and headed to Florida.On our way we made a short stop in Charlotte to see Tim's siblings and let them finally meet Abigail.  We had a great time and wished we had been able to stay longer. 

On Daddy's side of the family there are only girl cousins.  We had fun together!

Florida
After a long trip in the car we made it to Florida.  We learned a very valuable lesson about traveling with an infant.  Even if they're quiet, content, or sleeping, NEVER keep driving just to make good time.  Abigail had used the bathroom and leaked all in her car seat.  What a great way for the grandparents and great-grandparents to meet her for the first time. :-)  Because it was their first time meeting her, it was very difficult for them to say goodbye knowing they wouldn't see her again for many months.  But we think we've convinced Tim's parents into coming to visit Honduras for Christmas.  It's so much easier talking people into visiting now that Abigail is here. :-)

Grandpa loved on me for two weeks!

Charlotte (Part 2)
The one day, one night stay in Charlotte wasn't long enough, so we decided to make another quick stop on our way back to Virginia.  It was especially fun because Mom, Dad, Grandma, & Grandpa followed us to Charlotte so we could have the whole family together.  This doesn't happen very often, and so it was a special visit.  We did miss Ella though.  She was on a road trip with her daddy.  Maybe next summer we can ALL get together again.

Back to Virginia
Rest time (sort of).  All the traveling was over for awhile and the plan was to spend the last few weeks of summer relaxing at my parents house resting up before school started again.  Unfortunately, Abigail was teething (again) and got a terrible cold.  We had many sleepless nights that seem to continue even now.  This was also the time we spent preparing and purchasing last minute items to take back to Honduras for the next year.  Looking back, time went by extremely fast, and I didn't get to do all the things I wanted to this summer.

Popple let me drive his big truck!  I'm so spoiled!

Honduras Bound
The dreaded moment finally arrived.  Saying goodbye to family AND getting back on the plane with a baby.  This trip was sooooo much better than the first but we were still thankful when we finally made it back to our house on the mountain in El Hatillo! 

Back to the Routine (sort of)
We're back to school already and have gotten into some what of a routine again.  Abigail still doesn't sleep well through the night because of all the teething that's going on.  Our car broke down the first day we drove it (!), and we haven't been able to drive it since.  On a happier note we are all moved into our new house, a house which we LOVE!  We don't deserve a place like this but are very thankful for all the extra space that we have for Abigail to crawl around. :-)

I love playing in my new house.  This pig was a gift from my Aunt Lori and I'm so thankful it finally arrived. I LOVE it!

Prayer Request

1) That Abigail will start sleeping well at night and taking good naps.
2) Our car can be fixed (for good) this month and doesn't drain our finances at the same time.  

Fall Reading (in no particular order)

Here is my fall reading list for my Guided Reading I class.  I kept the books general NT studies.  The spring will be more concentrated on my research project (a mini-thesis of 60 pp.).

 

  

 

Looks like I have my work cut out for me.