Poolside Temptress

We love to go to the pool now that it is getting hot and Abby loves to see all the people. We usually go after 6pm so it's cooler outside and not as sunny. Abby is so cute in her little bathing suit. Here she is giving me the look.

A whole body shot!

I love the hat!

When we take Abby out of her car seat to go swimming, everyone looks at her and smiles. People here just love seeing babies. Especially one a beautiful as Abby!

Chicago, Albany, and Boston... Oh My!

We took a vacation over Memorial Day to visit John's family and friends in Albany, New York. We had a great time. The trip started out with us getting up at 4:30am to leave for the airport by 5am. Note to self: Early flight = Bad for Abby. Everything was fine until we got on the airplane. Abby is independent and usually doesn't like to be held when she wants to play or go to sleep. She has been awake this whole time so after 3 hours of awake time she's getting kind of cranky because mom is holding her on the airplane. Luckily the seat behind us was empty so John went and sat there while Abby played on the seat next to me and eventually fell asleep. Then we had a 4 hour layover in Chicago (hence the city in the title). We may as well have gone sight seeing for all the time we spent in Chicago. Again Note to Self: Don't do Layovers with babies/children. So finally we get to New York. Yea!!! Sunday we went to the Farm to see John's Grandparents. New York is so beautiful in the spring. It was fun just driving out there and seeing all the trees so green. We also had dinner with the Stevenson's and Abby got smothered by the adoring children. Luckily she is so good natured that she just took everything in stride! Monday we went to a Stake Picnic and had the opportunity to see a lot of friends, John went golfing with the guys and later in the day we went Wakeboarding with the new In-Laws (thank you Doug). John golfed another time during the week and played basketball with the men. Abby got to meet John's friends from high school and other influential people in his life. Here are some pictures of family with Abby.

Aunt Jenny with her Niece Abby.

Grandpa playing with Abby

Grandma getting all snuggly with Abby.

Our 5 Year Anniversary was on Friday, May 29th. We had the opportunity to get away and go to Boston just the two of us (thanks to Grandma and Grandpa). We had a wonderful time and I only called to check on Abby once! We stayed in the Renaissance Marriott on Congress Street and here was the view from our room.

We had a bay view (that's the Boston Trade Center with all the flags). We walked the Freedom Trail, John loves History, and learned so much about the Revolution and the history of the United States. Then we went to the Boston Childrens Museum. It is only $1 on Fridays from 5-9pm so we took a look and can't wait to bring our children there in the future. Then we got all gussied up and went out to dinner at Bricco's. I had some fantastic Gnocchi which I would recommend if anyone goes there. The next morning we headed back to Albany where Mike and Tina had such a great time with Abby that they decided they wouldn't mind having another child! We left Sunday morning and headed home to Austin. Once again, Abby didn't like being held or the 3 hour layover in Chicago but there was nothing we could do about that. Overall we had a great trip and can't wait to see our New York Family and Friends again! Come visit!

Thug Princess

Abby received this nightgown with a hoodie. I think she looks like a thug. I love it.

Abby throwing out the peace sign

Abby beatboxin'

Break Dancing

3 Months Old

Today Abby is 3 months old! I cannot believe how the time flies! She is such a good girl and I can't get enough of her! At night I put Abby in her crib awake and she falls asleep with no crying! We are still struggling with naps but she is so sweet I don't mind. Abby is starting to laugh and smiles for me all the time. I try to get her smiling and laughing on camera but whenever I get my video camera or photo camera out she is too busy looking at the camera and she is no longer smiling or laughing at me! Here is a picture of her checking out the camera when I am trying to get pictures of her smiling.

Last Saturday we went swimming in the pool. Abby loved Grandma and Grandpa Quiggle's pool so we thought maybe she would enjoy our pool. Unfortunately the water was a little colder than the 85 degree pool she got used to in San Diego. After about 5 minutes she was shivering but still not fussing so we decided it was time to get her wrapped in a towel. The funny thing is she didn't cry or fuss so we think she just loves water!

Abby just chilled on her towel for a little while enjoying the Austin weather. Life is so fun with this little girl. She is constantly learning new things and surprising me.

John and I are staying busy with our own activities. John is on a basketball team and still works out at the gym while I am painting the house and training for a Triathlon in June. Even though I'm not working I still feel so busy! Abby and I go to my card making class, book club, mid week activities, run errands and of course we visit the office (Hellas Construction) every week. Everyone there loves to see, hold and dote on her.

The Sweet Taste of Victory!

So here is a little follow-up on the crying to sleep post. Today when Abby got fussy at 2:30 I laid her in her crib and let her cry it out. Only this time she only cried for 20-25 minutes! Luckily she loves her thumb so after she calmed down a little she found her thumb and went to sleep! The only difference from last time is I didn't go in and console her at all. I laid her down and she didn't see me again until she woke up. I think I was just making it worse when I would go in and try to calm her and then leave. John worked from home today and was dying to go get her but I kept him away until she was asleep. So hopefully this is a new beginning to easy naps during the day!

To Cry or Not to Cry

So today I decided that Abby was old enough to learn to put herself to sleep in her crib without my help. She got sleepy and fussy so I laid her down in her crib. I went into the check on her after 5 minutes then 10 minutes and so on. She cried the entire time and my patting her back and rubbing her cheeks did not calm her down much! So she cried for an entire 1 hour and 50 minutes. By then it was time for her to eat again. I picked her up and within 7 minutes of feeding her she was out! I talked to my sister Wendy today and she said it gets easier over time and Abby will learn to go to sleep after shorter and shorter increments of crying. So I have some questions for all you mothers out there! Did you let your children cry themselves to sleep and if so what methods worked?! Share your stories with me!

On a different note, here is a picture of Abby and Cousin Gavin at Grandma and Grandpa's House in San Diego. I was able to hangout with my sister Stacy and her boys almost every day! It was so fun! Gavin just loved Abby and kept wanting to "pet" her hair. Here Gavin and Abby are talking back and forth with each other!

Abby's First Trip

On April 23rd, we flew to Phoenix, AZ to attend Doug VanDerwerken's wedding. Abby was such a good girl on the plane. She slept half the time and the other half she was happy and playing around. Doug got married on April 24th to Charisse and they were such a cute, happy couple! Here is a VanDerwerken Family Picture outside the Mesa Temple.

Front Row: Jenny, Mike, Doug, Charisse, Tina

Back Row: Brian, Christina, John, Christy, Abby
We decided to take some Family pictures at the temple so here is one of us! After the Wedding, we attended a dinner and reception. Doug and Charisse were so happy and in love it made me think of our own wedding and how mushy we were. It seems to long ago but I still love John so much and even more!

The next morning we drove to San Diego with Mom and Dad Quiggle (thank you for watching Abby while we were in the temple!).

We went to the Padre's game and had great tickets thanks to Mom and Dad Quiggle! Abby had fun then fell asleep for a while! Unfortunately after a while she decided she'd had enough so we left a little early!

Our friends Jordan, Lindsey and Ella Scott came down from Rancho Cucamunga and went to the game with us. After the game we had yummy mexican food!

Our happy little family!

We went to Poway Lake to feed the ducks (we forgot the bread) and walked around. Abby liked the cool breeze and fell asleep in Daddy's arms.

Julianna, Nolen, Me and Abby went to lunch at Panera then talked and played at her Grandma's House.

Lianna and Dean came to visit me and Abby. It was fun to visit and see how big Dean has grown! Abby will soon have a friend in August once Lianna has her little girl!

Grandpa had the magic touch putting Abby to sleep and she would just nuzzle right into him!

Grandma and Grandpa with Abby in the backyard. Abby took her first swim in Grandma and Grandpas warm pool! She loved the water!

Just before we left I took some pictures of us in front of the house!

I was a little worried about the flight home because I was flying with Abby by myself. Luckily she slept for 2 hours! She couldn't have been any better!

We had so much fun in San Diego and can't wait for our upcoming trip to New York!