Happy Birthday Baby!

Abbey on her Birth Day, June 14, 2006

• It's hard to believe that June 14th marks Abbey's 2nd birthday! I feel like my baby is growing up so fast. It seems like only yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital. I feel so humbled and blessed to be her mommy. Here are just a few of the many resons why I love her little spirit and BIG personallity:
• Abbey, almost from the beginning of her life, has known how she wants things done. Recently she has adopted a new phrase when Eric offers to help her with something: "Mommy do it!"
• Abbey is very particular about things being put where they go. If we've given an item a location in the house, Abbey tries to enforce this 'rule'.
• She is a little helper. And along those same lines, she tries mimics the cleaning we do. So, for example, she will wipe down just about everything in the house with a wet wipe. She recently has started trying to help me sweep the kitchen and living room floors.
• Abbey is independant and strong willed and wants to try the things she sees us doing. Recently she has adopted a new phrase: "Abbey's turn." Yesterday as we were leaving the house she had my car keys and she told me "Abbey's turn drive."
• She is a polite little girl. She will say 'excuse me' if we're in her way (really this isn't polite because its her way of saying 'get out of my way'), 'thank you' if we do something for her or 'you're welcome' if we say thank you to her. Sometimes she tells us: "Thank you, you're welcome."
• She is thoughtful. Seems like a strange quality of a 2-year-old, but often she makes sure both her mommy and her daddy are participating or sharing. If Eric kisses her goodnight she will tell him "Mommy turn" which means he has to kiss me goodnight as well.
• Abbey is shy, but warms up to people quickly--or at least quicker then I would expect. She takes a moment to assess people and if Eric and I trust them she will trust them too, but she'd much rather be with us. She loves looking at pictures of her grandma and grandpa and asked "Where grandma?" one night after seeing my mom on the webcam.
• Abbey loves to see pictures and home movies of herself. She loves books, music, animals, playing in water, being outside, helping Eric wash his car and helping me make dinner. She loves her blanky, sucking her thumb, and eating pizza for just about every meal.

I love my beatuful little girl and have enjoyed watching her learn and grow. She is truly a blessing in my life!

Abbey with Baby Bear on Camping Trip May 2008