I know I have mentioned before how much Abby loves Belle and I wanted to show you a typical morning at my house. After we go for our morning run, I let Belle stay inside for awhile to cool off. Being a furry dog, having gone for a run in this Texas heat, one has to have sympathy. Thus, the first thing she does is plop down on the tile to cool off. Then soon thereafter so does Abby. Then as you can see Abby also loves to play with the leash and try to put it on Belle. For the most part she puts up with because I think, Belle is too tired to do otherwise. So you can see Abby plotting her next move.
Then Belle realizes that Abby needs some assistance with this whole thing and tries to accommodate as best as possible.
I just think it is so cute. The first thing Abby looks for in the morning is Belle. She tries to bark and has a huge look of surprise on her face as if she has never seen her before. While Belle puts up with a lot, often times changing where she lays several times due to Abby constantly trying to mount her like a horse. She does eventually get annoyed and I have to put her out.

Its the little things like this that make me smile.

Memories

Well My sister-in-law posted this on her blog and it looked like a fun idea. So leave a memory if you will, and if you do it I will leave one for you!

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments. EVERYBODY PLAY! I want to see what memories you have!!

Little Rascal!!!!

The other day while I was cooking dinner, I could hear Abby playing in the cupboards. So when I looked this is where I found her. Thankfully I have taken everything out of there that is dangerous but, there are still plugs, wires and such. It was so cute the first thing I did was run and get the camera.

I think she was going after the block she had thrown in there awhile ago. But when she realized I had found her, she just grinned, laughed and tried to get further into the cupboard so I couldn't reach her. But she only succeeded in getting herself stuck to where she couldn't figure out how to escape. Then she became frustrated and started crying. She really wasn't stuck though all I had to do is show her how to move her body and she was out! How can you not love such a little pill.

Completing the Book of Mormon

Awhile ago, my sister-in-law Christy decided to put forth the challenge for the family to read the Book of Mormon in 30 days. Thus, I thought it was a good idea to help with life trials and to gain further inspiration and knowledge. So it is now complete and I am very grateful that I have the full knowledge of the Gospel. Although it was time consuming to read it so quickly, and hard to maintain that pace, it was really worth it. Every time I read the BOM I learn so many new things. I try to read it at least once a year and have successfully done so for the past 5 years. Depending on the situation of life I am in; new passages stand out and have new meaning. I am just grateful that I have Another Testament of Jesus Christ available to me. I have learned so much about Christ and His Atonement, the love Heavenly Father has for his Children, faith, hope, charity, and so much more. I know that Heavenly Father is a an unchanging Father and only wants what is best for us. Thus he gives us so much knowledge on how to better return to Him. I can only imagine the heartache he feels when people choose to not follow His plan. But, then that is what is so amazing about the gospel is that we have the freedom to choose. Agency is such a central part of our lives, if we but use it wisely the blessings of Heaven will be poured out upon us. I am greatful to know that Christ is there to lean upon in hard times and I really feel like the Footprints Poem; that I only see one set of footprints because he has been carrying me through these hard times of life.
I was able to also attend the Temple yesterday and I am greatful for the peace and spirit that I feel there. It is amazing to know the Lord has established places on earth where such sacred things take place. So, thanks again Christy for that challenge and to end, here are a few of my favorite scriptures...

Alma 37:37 Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

Omni 1:26 And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.

Moroni 7:26 And after that he came men also were saved by faith in his name; and by faith, they become the sons of God. And as surely as Christ liveth he spake these words unto our fathers, saying: Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you.

A snippet from Utah

I had tried to upload this video awhile ago and just noticed it in my post options as a draft, so it seems like it finally worked. It is so funny. This is Abby laughing at Jamison while we were visiting Utah.

Abby can walk

Please disregard my annoying mom baby voice you hear, its embarrassing I know.

Random Thoughts

Cindy was making Abby laugh really hard it was so funny. Can you tell Abby is teething?

I have been trying to stay busy on a daily basis but, sometimes that just doesn't happen. Unfortunately my life's motto as of late has been "same old crap, different day" so if you get that as a retort from me, just take it in stride. By the way, Abby can walk now all by herself and she also learned to crawl like a normal baby and not like a wounded soldier. Anyway...Abby and I spend the day making a huge mess of the house. First she starts with taking all the toys from the toy drawer and dispensing of them equally throughout the house. Then she moves into the kitchen and commences taking out every pot and pan while at the same time attempting to step or sit in everyone she touches (don't worry, I wash them before I use them). I think she likes this one the best because it makes the most noise and it drives me crazy. Then she makes her way to the cabinet with all the Tupperware. Which of course she throws every piece out in a matter of minutes. But, some how she always seems to find the Tupperware that makes a nice top hat and proceeds to play about the house as though it belongs there. She definitely keeps me entertained. Although recently she has learned to climb onto the fireplace and then trys to walk off like someone is there to catch her. Which thankfully so far I have been, there have been a few close calls though. I am sure sooner rather than later she is really going to give herself an injury. She also likes to climb back and forth in the kitchen table chairs which acts as a minnie play area. She will do this for a long time, which she gets herself stuck often which of course brings on a frustrated tantrum.

Which brings me to my next topic. I would appreciate any and all advice on the subject. While Abby of course is the best child on earth and cutest :) she does have her flaws. As of late she really has started to throw some of the worst temper tantrums I have ever seen. Mostly because she likes to hit herself in the head with massive force as well as fling herself on the floor which usually end up in bruises. If I am there and trying to calm her down she will bite me like I am a Christmas ham as well as pull my hair with such aggression. Of course these tantrums worsen and she is tired. On Sunday while at church she sat through Sacrament just fine but as the next hour came she had a melt down. The worst I have ever seen from her. She was screaming at the top of her lungs and flailing like it was a sport. Thankfully I had the mothers lounge to myself. But as I tried to keep her in my arms and calm her she was yanking my hair and biting with a passion. After about a half and hour of this I put her on the floor where she immediately threw herself as hard as possible into the chair leaving a huge gash and welt on her head. Needless to say I was sweating bullets by this time and had had enough. So I packed her up and went home. She promptly went to sleep as did I after such a battle but I was frustrated as well. She also will bang her head really hard on her high chair pretty regularly. What do you do? I feel like I am going crazy, I have tried the method of "put her on the floor and ignore" as well as try to soothe and cuddle. Neither seems to do the trick. Any suggestions????

And lastly just a quick funny story....Most mornings Abby wakes, I give her bottle and I go for a run outside. Generally around 7:30. Each time I try to make it a little further so I can get back into shape. The route I take is about 3.2 miles and is actually kinda hard when you do it. So the other morning I was determined to make it a certain distance and I had my mind set. So when I was approaching the area I saw the sprinklers were on. I thought, perhaps by the time I made it down there they would switch, but no such luck. So getting closer I was debating because I had Abby in the jogger and Belle (my dog) in tow who hates sprinklers. But I thought I have come this far Abby wont get wet if I pull the shade down. So I pulled the shade and trudged on. However I did not get very far when I heard a scream and Belle freaked out and yanked my arm off. So I looked in to see what was wrong with Abby and apparently I had not done the proper job and she seemed to have been hit directly in the face. Poor thing I felt so bad, gosh why am I so stubborn. So I turned around and she cried most of the way home. What a great mom I am!

So that's life in a nutshell right now. Her are some more recent pics of Abby......Evidence of the Tupperware. This was funny because when I walked into the kitchen this was how I found her. Sitting in this box trying to wear that bowl.

There is that top hat again

For some reason she likes to squeeze herself into little places. Like the box above and this little toy bin. I sometimes find her trying to squeeze behind the couch or into her toy drawer.

Tag a wag

I was tagged by Code Sloth..
1) LAST MOVIE YOU SAW IN A THEATER. Indiana Jones with my dad.
2) WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? The book of Mormon
3) FAVORITE BOARD GAME? Monopoly
4) FAVORITE MAGAZINE? Ensign, probably the only one I read
5) FAVORITE SMELLS? The smell of clean, cookies baking and rain
6)FAVORITE SOUNDS? Abby laughing, rain, people who snort when they laugh
7) WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD? Stress, stomach cramps, Loneliness, slamming your finger in the door, hopelessness and C-section.
8)WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN U WAKE UP? Not yet
9) FAVORITE FAST FOOD PLACE? In and out
10) FUTURE CHILD'S NAME? Not so sure it changes all the time.
11) FINISH THIS STATEMENT—"IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY I’d…Pay off debt and families debts and then go on a freaking vacation
12) DO YOU DRIVE FAST? Depends if Abby is in the car...
13) DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL? Umm how old am I?
14) STORMS–COOL OR SCARY? Cool
15) WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR? 1984 Toyota Cressida named Dexter
16) FAVORITE DRINK? water
17) FINISH THIS STATEMENT-IF I HAD THE TIME I WOULD… Do a lot of things differently
18) DO YOU EAT THE STEMS ON BROCCOLI? Broccoli is dis-gust-ing!
19) IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY OTHER COLOR, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE? Purple, just kidding, I have no Idea
20) NAME ALL THE DIFFERENT CITIES/TOWNS YOU HAVE LIVED IN. Carmichael, farmington, lotus, rescue, trophy club, Keller etc...
21) FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Football, volleyball and lacrosse
22) ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?I don't think I could name just one. She is a great sis and I love her.
23) WHATS UNDER YOUR BED? Moth Balls
24) WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE BORN AS YOURSELF AGAIN? Umm what? OK.
25) MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL? Middle of the day
26) OVER EASY OR SUNNY SIDE UP? Over Easy
27) FAVORITE PLACE TO RELAX? in my bed
Where's 28?
29) FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Mint Oreo
30) OF ALL THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE TAGGED, WHO IS THE MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND FIRST? ???
I tag.... YOU

More of Utah

Here are some more pics from the first week of my trip with Abby to Utah. Along with the Bean museum, going to Orem summerfest, hanging out and touring BYU we spent time at the pool and also Hiked the Y. Although we only went to the bottom of it, but it was still a beast. Between the altitude difference, steep incline and blazing sun burning our flesh, we did it. Randy was a great uncle and carried her the whole way (along with a back pack). It was very difficult but it was good to say I actually did it. Needless to say we were all sweating bullets and exhausted by the end of it.

Abby loving the water and people watching

Codee and Jay

Abby and I, I was trying to keep my hand dry for the camera. Look at her Teeth :)
We made it to the top of the bottom
Rans with Abby and the beautiful view.

Codee and Jay on the Y

Home Again

Abby and I made it home after a rather intense and stressful flight. On the flight to Utah I was able to carry on her car seat because the flight wans't full which seemed to work and the flight went pretty smoothly. However the flight was full on the way home and I had to hold her on my lap. She screamed 75% of the time and sucked her fingers the rest. Not to mention she was a little sick and had not slept well at all the night before or for her nap. Needless to say, I was sweating bullets by the time the plane even took off and I basically held her in a death grip the entire flight. But we are home safe. I have so many pictures to sort through and share. So check back soon.

Abby Jay and I at Summerfest


Abby At Summerfest


Abby at the BYU creamery


The Kids having fun!