Photo Session

Since I finished Abigail's dress I took the girls to get Abigail's 9 month pictures taken. I went ahead and got a picture of them together while we were there in matching outfits I made earlier this summer. These are the "non-touchup" versions of the pics that they let you keep on CD:
I didn't order this one but really love her face in this picture:
And because I never posted Abigail's 6 month photos on the blog . . . here they are. My mom made this dress for Abigail:
You can tell from these pics vs the 9th month pics that she has slimmed down in the face now that she is mobile.

I also got the Mommy and Me photos since I did the same thing when Emily was 6 months old. My mom made this gown and robe for me when I got married so I wore it with both Emily and Abigail's 6 month pictures:
We had fun yesterday. The photo place is over 30 minutes away from my house so we were gone most of the day. We had the photo shoot and then while we waited for the pictures to print we ate lunch nearby. Emily and Abigail did well in the restaurant. Then after we picked up the pictures I took Emily to the toy store next door since she had done such a great job helping me that morning. Then we headed home and went to her swimming lesson. She is in the next level now and learned some new things yesterday. She cried a little but not bad. She did all that was asked of her including holding on to a board and kicking her legs and putting her head in and out of the water while she swam!

On the Move

I'm behind on my updates for Abigail's accomplishments. A couple of weeks ago, Abigail started sitting up on her own and now she has started pulling herself up to her knees. She has discovered the bottom stair but hasn't quite figured out how to get all the way up it . . . so the bottom gate will need to be installed soon:
She is also starting to use a sippy cup and actually drinking from it. She took several sips yesterday and some tonight. Tonight she actually "asked" for her sippy cup. Joe was feeding her supper and I was walking past and she started fussing and looking at me. I stopped to see what she wanted and she looked towards the sippy cup and started leaning towards it and trying to reach it. It was so cool! She also loves to point now and babble at whatever she is pointing at. Tonight when I picked her up from Dawn's house she put her hand up in the air and we are pretty sure she said "Bye" to Dawn.

The other day I had to take a phone call for work while Emily and Abigail were at home. I really try to not do that but sometimes I have to. Abigail was just starting to wake up from her nap so I figured I had a good 10-15 minutes to take this call before she lost it. I told Emily to play and I cracked the door to the office to work. Well Emily heard Abigail and decided to be a help to me so she opened her door and dragged Abigail's basket of toys to her room and started handing them to her in her bed. She stayed in there and talked to her until I got off the phone. I thanked her for being such a big help:
My dad got Emily some bubbles and she has loved playing with them. Thanks PawPaw!!!
Yesterday morning it wasn't 1000 degrees outside yet so we invited our friends Rachel, Julia, and Lilly over to swim. We stayed at the pool for almost 3 hours and the girls had so much fun! Julia wanted to know when she could come back . . . we will make it a date soon Julia!
Last night Joe had to work late so Emily, Abigail and I had a picnic in the back yard. It was overcast just enough to be bearable.

Do you see all the scattered little toys in the yard? Those are all the "dog toys" for the 5 dogs Emily says we now have. She kept tossing her toys around the yard for them.
Her favorite thing as of late is to add things to her "collection". The collection can be in a box, or zip lock bag, or purse. But she moves those items from container to container. She is too funny sometimes!

Emily and I have tangled up a few times in the last week because the girl would argue horns off a bull . . . so I've been struggling with my patience. I also feel like I'm speaking to a brick wall sometimes. I say things 50 times before she hears me . . . help me! Pray that I can be a good mama to her. She's only 3 and I'm struggling.

I FINALLY finished this dress for Abigail. I want to get her 9 month pictures taken in this dress. I had to hurry and finish before she isn't 9 months old anymore . . . and I want to get her pictures before she cuts her top teeth:

Blaylock Reunion

Last weekend we drove to Mississippi for the Blaylock Reunion (my mom's family). It was hotter than all get out . . . I have never sweated that much in my LIFE! Luckily we had a kiddie pool and slide for the kids. Some of the "big kids" enjoyed the slip n slide as well.

There were 49 of us in attendance! Everyone made it but Joe (he was working) this year. Here are all the beautiful people : )
My Granddaddy and Granny B would be so proud to know we all spent time together.

Here are my mom and her two brothers:

10 grandchildren:

21 great grandchildren:

We spent the day eating lunch and the kids playing in the water:
Here is my crazy brother going down the slip n slide:
My uncles solving the world's problems:
On Sunday we went to church in Oxford at the church my mom went to growing up:

Emily and Sarah wore their matching dresses that my mom made them:
I have fond memories of walking to church with my grandparents from their house right down the street. My mom was born and raised in this house:
Here is the town square. You could also walk here from my grandparents house:
My granddaddy owned a drug store on the square. It's now a bookstore:
Here is sweet Abigail in her car seat. Emily rode in the van with my sister and Abigail and I rode with my brother and Mandy. This sweet girl spent most of the weekend just like this:
We had a good time in spite of the heat and long hours in the car. It was great to see everyone! Thanks for putting up with your sometimes cranky passengers Robert : )

Aquarium

We were so glad that Michelle and her clan were able to come to Atlanta on Sunday afternoon so we could have a smaller version of our planned weekend together. On Monday we went to the aquarium together.
We got there close to lunch time so we ate outside the aquarium before going in. As you can see from the picture Abigail had to have her lunch right along with everyone else:

When Abigail started getting tired I tried walking around with her in this carrier I am borrowing:
She tried to sleep but never did . . . too much going on. So I put her back in the stroller and we also took turns carrying her. She crashed the second we got in the car to go home.
I asked Michelle how it would feel if Abigail was her 4th baby and she said. . . "not too good."
This was the first time Emily decided to touch the sting rays and starfish:
She also still enjoyed running around with her cousins more than actually being at the aquarium: