Abbyisms of the Weeks:

I have a long list of these since I haven't done them in sooooo long. I'm sure I've forgotten some . . .

Debbi makes a rhyming scavenger hunt for special occasions for Abby to find her presents. Here are some of the clues and Abby's guesses:

Clue: When you go outside in the Spring, Daddy can push you high on your new . . .
Abby: Tricycle?
Clue: When Coach likes to go very far, he goes in his big red . . .
Abby: Balloon?

And some others:

Abby: (while praying before bedtime) God, thank you for killing all the dinosaurs because I don't like dinosaurs because they could eat me.

Abby: Mom, why did God make mosquitos? I mean do they do ANYTHING good?

I realize I keep apologizing for not updating more regularly. Well, I'm going to stop apologizing and get to it when I can.

We have so much going on. Will is now full-on walking, so look out world! Of course, he used to have a super fast crawl, so it's not too much different now, but it's so darn cute! Can't believe we're closing in on his first birthday. He'll be 11 months next week! And Abby started her LAST year of preschool this fall. Next year, it's the big time!

The Pampered Chef is going well. Still trying to find my groove to have time for it and myself in the midst of my family duties. I have a website but I'm not supposed to link it here, so let me know if you're interested and I'll send it to you separately.

Cousin Phillip (and his parents) came to visit in August. Both the kids thoroughly enjoyed having another little one around.

The Recital

Six days after we moved, Abby made her debut on the dance stage at Westlake High School. Although she likes her dance class, she did NOT like her costume (IT'S TOO ITCHY!!!) or Daddy's shirt that she wore as a cover-up. She also did not like having to sit in her car seat in her costume and Daddy's shirt, nor did she like being awakened from her nap in the car to go backstage (as evidenced here). Boy, those LOUD struggles were worth it to see her on stage . . . well, at least I think they were.

She DID enjoy getting to wear make-up and hair gel that became known as our special "pirate's gel" in my effort to convince her to get ready for her dress rehearsal. Of course, she was hard to recognize. My sister, when looking at pictures from the event, almost asked who the cute little white Asian girl was! :)

The routine was so cute and she's such a ham. The audience just ate it up. I'm just glad she woke up enough to be happy on stage. What an ordeal. And, we're signed up for it all again this year . . .

Abbyism of the Week:

Abby got a toy Fiona (from Shrek) in a Happy Meal several weeks ago . . .

Abby: What is it?
Emily: She's an ogre that's a princess.
Abby: No, she's too ugly to be a princess.

What am I teaching my daughter???

It's been 2 months already?!?!?

Can't believe it's been that long since I last wrote. We've been A LITTLE busy moving to a new house this summer. Here are the kids "helping" me pack up the old house.

Packing and unpacking have definitely been a challenge with the little ones. Especially since Will started to crawl at 6 months, right around the time that we started packing. He started going up the entire staircase 2 days before we moved. So now, we have to keep constant watch over him or he makes a bee-line for the stairs EVERY time. Now, he's 9 months old and can also climb ladders and step stools. He's into everything. Just a matter of days before he's walking. Then, LOOK OUT! Little stinker.

Once we moved out, we found a renter for the old house, so we could hang onto it. Now we own 2 houses! Unbelievable! And a little scary at the same time.

Things in the new house are starting to come together. We still have a couple boxes to unpack almost 2 months later, and nothing on the walls yet. But, hey, we're making progress!

In the midst of moving, I decided I wanted to become an Independent Consultant with The Pampered Chef. (I know, my timing is questionable, but many of you have called me crazy in the past. Here's another perfect instance!). I've had 3 shows so far, and it's so much fun! I'd love to do a show with anyone who is interested in earning free high-end cooking products! I'll have a website soon, but in the meantime, you can check out http://www.pamperedchef.com/.

Guess that's about it for now! Stay tuned . . .

I'm an Aunt!

Phillip Maxwell Chambers was born on April 13, 2007. I'm so excited to meet him. Mom (my sister Meredith) and baby just celebrated Mother's Day and one-month birthday together! Hooray.

Family Update

Man, I can't get my act together to get to the blog more than once a month right now! SIGH. A quick update for now, and then I'll return soon (hopefully!). Will has started crawling and pulling up. He took 3 steps this week. I don't think he knows he's too young for that! His most recent trick is to pull up in his crib and stand there and cry until we go in and let him down. Then he gets right back up. He's been doing this at naps, bedtime, and in the middle of the night. Last night, we decided to just let him cry himself to sleep. Took him TWO hours. Makes me feel like a great mom sitting there listening to my baby cry that long. But now we know he CAN get down by himself if he so chooses.

Abby's done with school next week. Just one more year until kindergarten! Can't believe it.

Well after 6.5 years in this house, we're moving. We found a house close to where we currently live with a little more space, plus a playground, pool, and elementary school all within walking distance. We close June 1 and move June 4. Exciting stuff. We're all very excited about it, but I HATE moving. The current house is already being taken over by boxes and everything else is in shambles. We'll get there I'm sure as long as I can avoid an anxiety attack! We plan to rent our current house out if we can manage it. We'll see how much we like being landlords.

Will's Tonka

Easter Kids

Buchanan Family

Will's Milestones

It's been a busy month for Mr. Will. He's fully sitting up now, trying to stand, eating solid foods, taking big-kid baths and getting very near to crawling. Look out world!

I don't know how entire months get away from me. Well, yes I do, but it still amazes me! It's been a busy month at the Buchanan household. Abby had a week off at Spring Break, so we went to the San Antonio Zoo. That's her 3rd zoo in 9 months. Gotta make up for the first 3 years of her life!

All ready to go!

Pretty fishies

The elephant says hi too!

Abbyism of the Week

Abby is talking about Texas at preschool (in conjunction with Texas Independence Day last week). So, they went to the Capitol grounds to explore. She was telling me about her day one day . . .

Abby: We talked about Texas and went to the Capitol today.
Emily: Did you know the Capitol is where they make laws for Texas?
Abby: Yes, like you can't marry your brother. Or strangers. That would be funny. Or Sandpeople or Darth Vader.

Will went to visit his great-grandparents last week. It's wonderful having four generations all living in the same town! What a blessing!

I think I've already mentioned that Abby wants to be a ballerina when she grows up. She's starting dance classes in February, so we'll see how they go. She got her first "ballerina clothes" for Christmas.

Abbyisms of the Week:

Abby (randomly at lunch): When I grow up, I'm going to have a house of my own where I get to make the rules. In my house there will be shoes on the sofa and jumping on the bed.


Abby (waving to Brad as he leaves for work): Goodbye! If you get lost, call our phone number and we'll help you out!

Christmas

We had such a busy Christmas season this year. The kids and I joined my mom for our 2nd annual gingerbread house making session at the Austin Children's Museum. Mom and I also did our annual holiday baking (making enough cookies to feed an entire army!).

Our little elf

The elf's big sisterWho can resist such a smile?

Making gingerbread house with mom's friend Judy

The Buchanan family traveled to Washington, D.C. to have Christmas with the entire Berger family at my sister's house. It was a lot of fun. After Christmas we got to go to the Museum of Natural History, the National Zoo, and the White House. A good time was had by big and little kids alike.

Christmas Morning

Off to the Zoo (Yes, Will is wearing a bear suit! The wind chill was in the 30s!)

A trip to the playground for sand castles and a tire swing

Our last night with Meredith and Spencer

The Kids

Fall has been fun for us. After making the adjustment to having a new family member, we've been busy.


We had a nice crop of leaves this year. Abby loved raking them up and jumping in them. (We never got around to actually picking them up from the lawn!!).

And Will has been growing like a weed. He takes 6 oz. of milk at a time (50% more each feeding than Abby did at this age)! We go in for his 2-month check-up this week. We look forward to seeing how the huge appetite affects his stats!

Thanksgiving

We had 3 days of Thanksgiving this year, rotating among all our families. Boy were we stuffed!

One of the highlights of the weekend was celebrating the last big family holiday in Emily's grandparents' home. They are moving in January from their home of 40 years into an apartment.

Abbyism of the week:

Emily: Jesus' daddy, Joseph, was a carpenter.
Abby: What is a carpenter?
Emily: Someone who makes things out of wood like a chair or a table. What else can you think of that's made out of wood?
Abby: Uh, like a buffet.

Abbyism of the week:

Debbi: We'll take Coach's car because it's a hybrid and can go faster than Grammy's car.
Abby: Is your car a lo-brid?

Baby Care

Abby's been super helpful when it comes to taking care of Will. She's helped with his first sponge bath, his first walk, and one of his first bottles (Brad got to do the very first). In general, she's a doting bis sis', almost to the point of smothering at times. I know it's out of love, but I keep a close watch because she has also been known to punch him in the head! Don't think it was malicious, just experimental. We cut that experiment short and Will wasn't even phased!

Sponge Bath

Sunday Stroll

First Bottle

Abby Helps

Care Bears in Town

The Care Bears came to the mall at the beginning of November, so we HAD to go meet them (turns it "they" were just one bear!). So, we packed up the kiddos and Will had his first trip to the mall at a week and a half. WAY different than our approach to going out when Abby was that size!

Halloween

Okay, okay, I know it's a month late. I'm TRYING to catch up. Brad took Abby trick-or-treating with some of the neighborhood kids.

I got to stay home and hold down the fort (and the candy bowl--quite literally at times) with 1-week old Will. I sat outside so I wouldn't have to keep answering the door. It was the first night with a little chill in the air. Of course.

Abbyism of the week:

Abby: Can ballerinas be boys?
Mommy: Ballerinas are only girls, but boys can be ballet dancers.
Abby: When I grow up, I think I'm going to marry a boy ballet dancer who's nice.

Wow! It's been a while since I posted. We've been a little busy since then. William Thomas Buchanan was born at 4:40 in the morning on October 24th. And now he's getting hungry, so I'll post a pic and try to return again sometime soon . . .







Here are some more pics now . . .

Daddy & Will

Big Sister

Buchanan Family

He's a peeper!

Abbyisms of the week:

Abby (in her car seat): Mom, Sophie is hitting BB.
Emily: That's not very nice. We don't hit people.
Abby: Well, Sophie does.
Emily: Who is Sophie?
Abby: She's one of my friends from High School. She was the first one to get married.


Abby (also in the car): Is this (song) the Dixie Chicks?
Brad: No, but it does sound like them, doesn't it?
Abby: Then, is it Madonna or Ariel (The Little Mermaid)?

Birthday Fun
Brad's 30th birthday was this last week. Wow! He's been celebrating for 2 weeks straight! We had a bowling party for him at the end of September knowing we would be busy with wedding plans and preparations. And, he's been milking the birthday meals out of everyone he knows ever since! :)

We hadn't taken a family photo that I can remember since my brother's wedding last October, so here's an updated version from our party (sans Cocoa). Updated, at least until we add a new member in less than 2 weeks . . .

Wedding Success!
Well, we got Jenni, Brad's sister successfully married off last week. It was a beautiful weekend and a beautiful wedding. No matter that the minister skipped the vows and went straight to the rings! Of course, he realized his folly and went back to make sure this thing was legal! :)



Abby was yet again a beautiful flower girl. And she discovered that she really likes maraschino cherries. I think we counted about 10 throughout the course of the night!