Nothing Too Exciting

Sorry it's been a while since I posted last, but the truth is, not much exciting has been happening. No being locked out of houses in a while. No exciting news. Nothing too post-worthy. Well, I take that back.

I have come to realize that being the mom of a 22-month-old is the absolute best role on the face of the earth. I mean that. I told Matt just the other day that the past two weeks have been the most enjoyable of my stay-at-home mom career. Why, you ask? I think it's because Abby is finally a little person who doesn't rely on me 100% anymore. Do you know what I mean? I now have actual conversations with her. What do you want to drink? Juice. Who do you love? Elmo! What's wrong with your hand? A boo-boo. It's amazing!!

Most of February and March were getting a bit difficult with Abby. She had hit "the terrible twos" too early, and I felt like all day long all I did was say, "No Abby...No Abby....NO ABBY!!" Don't get me wrong. Abby has always been the sweetest, most loving child on the planet (perhaps I'm a bit biased though!), and that never stopped. It's just that for about a 6-week period, she was testing the waters. And we're not talking pond-sized, folks. I'm talking ocean-sized. She threw fits. I lost my patience. I was contemplating getting a job at the local 7-11 just to get out of the house for a couple of hours each day. Ha. Just joking. :) What she was doing was, from all I've heard, absolutely normal, but boy it's no fun when you're actually living that phase!

But everything changed when we went our separate ways for a few days. Abby went to Longview for 6 days to stay with the grandparents while Matt and I spent some time at home (alone!) and then out to Lubbock. And you know what? When we reunited that Sunday, it was like a light bulb came on. Something clicked. The fits stopped. My frustration went out the window. We have had more laughs and more fun in the past two weeks than I can remember (and we've always had lots of laughs, so that's really saying something!). We are the best of buds. PB and J. Peas and carrots. Jenny and Forrest. Little Roo and me. :)

Lesson learned: when you're getting to a breaking point, take a vacation! Or if you can't do that, at least get a babysitter and get out of the house. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder, doesn't it??

I still can't believe she'll be 2 next month. Where has the time gone? I find myself looking at Abby and the things she's doing, and I find myself getting choked up at what a truly beautiful little girl Matt and I created. What I love most about our little Roo right now:

She has so much empathy.

She is also the absolute funniest person I know. She cracks herself up, and each night at dinner, she has Matt and me in stitches.

She HAS to read her Ernie book, her Grover book, and either her "Ho-ho-ho" book or Pooh book at least twice a day. (She is a creature of habit like her mother!)

She says hi to every person she passes at Target or Kroger.

She gives the best hugs, and I love when calls out for me first thing in the morning. There's nothing like it.

She hates for her daddy to try to put her hair in a ponytail because she honestly thinks that he's made her hair disappear because she can't see it in the mirror. So, she starts to whine, "No Daddy!!" It's really quite humorous.

She can spot the letter A like it's nobody's business. She also knows the letters O, E, B, T, and I. The funniest thing is when she spots an "A" on the Fox News ticker at the bottom of the screen, and she tries to follow it, but it disappears off screen, and she gets really confused as to where it went!

When she sees the letter "T" she immediately yells for her Daddy and puts her "Guns Up" in the air. Matt is so proud.

She can spell her name. Well, I take that back. She spells it "A-B-Y". Close enough, right??

So much more, but I'll stop at that and leave you with pictures from the past few days. Enjoy!

New Easter Dress
She loves wearing her Daddy's boots!

Aren't BFFs the best??

Abby's "boyfriend" Noah (or "Cassa-noah" as the grandparents like to refer to him) came over the other morning. They had the best time! Here they are playing with Abby's baby stroller...

...and here they are looking for dust bunnies behind the chair. ha!

Just a smiley Abby
Gotta love bubble baths!Future boot model??

Looking out the window just minutes before the cold front blew in. Typical Texas: short sleeves one minute, parka the next!

Happy girl

This picture captures Abby's personality to a T. Love it.

Oh, and I can't forget about the newest member of the Tenner clan. My nephew Clark. Isn't he the most handsome 6-week-old you've ever laid eyes on?! My dining room table + Boppy and towels + Clark's mommy in charge of holding the lamp = beautiful baby shots. Take THAT, Sears Portrait Studio!!

I love this little guy!