Teeth

Well you wouldn't know if from this picture but Jackson has not been the easy, happy baby he normally is. However, I recently discovered the reason behind the madness...TEETH! Abigail got her teeth so late so I was not expecting for Jackson to already cut a tooth at 5 months. Sure enough he was chewing around on my finger and I felt something sharp! We then had a day or two of normality but I am now suspect of the fact there could be another on the way.
With all that said though - this kid is just great. He has such a happy, sweet disposition. He loves, loves to cuddle. He loves for me to hold him close - he will then wrap his arms around my neck (as far as his arms will stretch :)) and he just snuggles and snuggles. It's awesome. I can't get enough.

Abigail is such a good big sister to Jackson. John and I are both amazed with how patient she is with him. When he has his moments of fussiness she works and works to help make him happy. If I need something quick and need some extra hands, she is eager to help. She's great. The other day he was in the exersaucer and was NOT happy, but I was elbow deep in cooking dinner and wasn't able to get to him right then. She was doing everything. She would stand in front of him and pat her knees (like she was calling a dog) and would say, "Jackson, Jackson! Here buddy. It's ok big boy!"

Sprinkles

I'm always so thankful for the times that God encourages me with snippets of hope that maybe Abigail is getting some of what we are trying to teach her. This morning I was talking to her about what she learned last night at AWANA - the church's children's program on Wednesday evenings. They learned that God is Love. Well, she either was not in the mood or simply wasn't getting it (maybe a bit of both). So I dropped it and prayed a quick, silent prayer to God asking for wisdom. She's just been in a bit of a stage lately - discipline and behavior-wise.

Anyway, today we had BSF at church, which was just such a blessing. It was snowing quite a bit but not so bad that we needed to stay home. It was actually quite a pretty snow - light and fluffy flakes.

So we got to church and I got out and went to her side first to get her out before Jackson. As I got to her door and was unbuckling her seat she said, "Mom, you have sprinkles in your hair!" (aka snow :)) I chuckled and said something in reply. I got her out and we were walking over to Jackson's side. She then ducked her head and said in a pleading voice, "God, please don't put sprinkles on my hair."

It was such a small thing, but I just had to (or have to) thank God for that little encouragement - the fact that she attributed the snow to God causing it to fall. I hadn't even mentioned the giver of snow being God today, but she apparently knew that from previous teachings or conversations.

How gracious God is to us...

Stop Sign

So I bet John is cringing as he sees this title, but I just have to write about this. Abigail says and does some of the funniest things and I know if I don't document them, I am going to forget this stuff.

Several weeks ago, one morning, our subdivision road was extremely icy. Our road is always far worse than other roads with more traffic. Our road then tees into a fairly busy road. Well, John was driving on the icy road and tries to stop before getting to the tee, and realized the brakes were not going to work. To make matters worse, our road kind of goes downhill near the stop sign, so he actually started picking up speed! In order to avoid the busy road he headed for a neighbors curb, so the snow would stop him. Well, in doing this he plowed into a stop sign splitting the pole in two. (I'm smiling as I write - knowing how embarrassed John is going to be reading this, but I feel that I need to give background) In his defense, I ventured out the same day, and had I not known he had done this and how icy the road was, I would have done the same thing. It really was bad!

Anyway, the bumper got dinged up, so he had to send the Pilot in to get fixed and he drove a rental for a few days. Of course Abigail noticed the different car so John told her what happened. Randomly Abigail remembers this and likes to talk about it.

Yesterday afternoon/evening we hear the garage door open, so we knew John was home from work. Ecstatic Abigail runs to the door to greet him. She opens the garage door and exclaims, "Daddy! You didn't hit a stop sign! Yay! Daddy! You didn't hit the stop sign!" She then runs to me..."Mommy! Mommy! Daddy didn't hit the stop sign!"

Then, this morning, she was watching John leave for work (she likes to do this when she is awake when he leaves - she stands at the garage door and watches him pull away). So as he is getting in his vehicle she instructs, "Daddy, don't hit the stop sign today! Be careful! Don't hit the stop sign!"

Shopping

Today we made our weekly Target run. I took this picture on my cell phone in the van. I thought Abigail looked too cute and funny. When it's sunny she insists on wearing sunglasses, and lately, she has been very religious about carrying her purse with her when we go places. In her purse she keeps her "blackberry", a credit card (a fake/toy one of course), other play money and maybe an extra cell phone or two.

Today when we walked into Target I headed straight for a shopping cart as my hands were laden with a very heavy infant seat, purse, things to return, coupons, etc. etc. As I was attempting to carry all this I was also trying to hold Abigail's hand so to keep her from slipping on the ice and helping her keep up with my pace. When she saw the cart I was claiming she realized it was our favorite kind - the cart with the two seats attached so she has a place to sit. Incredulous, she shook her head and exclaimed loudly, "Oh! Praise the LORD, Mommy! O praise the LORD!"

Kids have such a way of making us stop and recognize the blessings God gives.

A Girl After Her Fathers Heart

Abigail has been practicing her swing lately. The other day she was "golfing" and said, "Get the camera. Take a picture of me!" :) Such a modest, humble little thing.

Roll Over

Jackson finally did it! He figured out how to get from back to stomach! :) Though he still isn't CRAZYabout his stomach...I can now tell when he has gotten over onto his stomach. His sounds change. He goes from squeals and happy sounds to grunts.

Bye Bye Binky

It's New Years Resolution time and one resolution John and I made for our family (or for Abigail) was to give up the pacifiers. Bye, Bye Binky and No More Pacifier for Piggy are two books that we checked out of the library earlier this week and have been reading over and over in preparation for us giving our pacifiers back to God. In the first book Nori (the little boy/cat) sends his pacifier away on a balloon. This seemed like a fun way for us to give up our own (Abigail's that is). Abigail adored her pacifiers. Every night and nap she had to have a minimum of two - one for her mouth and ideally one for each hand. She would have one in her mouth while rubbing the others on her cheeks. Then, she would switch out the pacifier in her mouth. It was crazy. :) Knowing this was going to be a REALLY big deal we promised her a "Paci Party". We invited over the Snyders because she adores Leah and Rebekah! They so graciously obliged and joined us in sending away our pacifiers.

It took 3-4 balloons per pacifier to get them up in the air. :)

We polished off the evening with some celebratory cake and ice cream. Outwardly we were celebrating, inwardly John and I were dreading the night ahead. :)

It took Abigail about 3 hours to finally fall asleep and she woke up early, but she at least she got some sleep. Her nap the next day went pretty smoothly as well. Hopefully, we are on our way to freedom...

Happy New Year!

We had a fun New Years this year. I can't help but remember last year's New Years. I was sick, sick, sick - preggo with Jackson. I spent the entire New Years week either on the couch, bathroom or bed. So needless to say this year was GREAT! :)
John and I went to the PU basketball game, took naps, and then spent the evening with friends and kiddos. We had a quality meal at the Pizza Hut buffet (ha) and then came back to our house for what we thought would be just a few hours til the kids needed to go to bed. But the kids were so good people stuck around til nearly midnight! And yes that means that the kids were up until almost midnight!

Go Purdue!

We tried to help the kids wind down by watching a video. It worked for some... :)

 The morning after :) Jackson at least had a full nights rest.

Merry Christmas

We had a great Christmas. We celebrated our immediate family Christmas on Christmas Eve morning and then went to my parents that afternoon for two nights. We celebrated with the immediate Dale Gudeman family and then Saturday with extended Gudeman's. Sunday morning we then traveled to Bluffton for the Sprunger Christmas.
In Bluffton we were able to spend some time with Yerglers (who are now living in Japan), which was great because Abigail just loves them (Gracie especially). She has so much fun with her. Gracie is one of the few people in this world that maybe has more energy than Abigail even so it works out great (for both Abigail and me!)! :)

Abigail with Braylyn & Morgan

 Abigail had no trouble this year getting presents unwrapped! :) Last year was easy because she still didn't seem to get it, but this year it was a different story...

 All six Gudeman grandkids (left to right: Abigail 2.5, Jackson 4 mos, Morgan 2.5, Braylyn 4, Tucker 1 mo, Lincoln 7 mos). Needless to say it was a CRAZY Christmas this year, which to me says it's probably going to be crazy for many years to come. :) I cringe to think of what could come of Mom's house once the boys go mobile (wince)!

Grandma Gudeman got the girls matching sleeping bags. They of course had to then sleep in them together in the play room in their own personal tents that Grandma had supplied. They were so cute.

 Jackson with Great Grandpa Gudeman.

Jackson with his grandmas.

Jackson with Aunt Marie.

Abigail and Lucy

 Grandpa and Grandma Sprunger got Abigail a Dora bike! Now we just have to figure out how to ride it. :)

Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving

Had a great Thanksgiving with family. We just have so much to be thankful for...sounds so cliche but I REALLY mean it. I'm so humbled by God's goodness and protection over our family. We spent the first part of the holiday weekend with John's family and the last part with my family - where we tried to take Christmas pictures of the Gudeman grandchildren. Trying to take a nice picture of 6 children ages 4 and under equals CRAZY!!!!

Poor Jackson must have been exhausted all weekend! :)

Go Colts

John and I had the opportunity to go to the Colts game with Daryl and Allison Starr. We bought the tickets off of her brother, Anthony. Such a fun game! Colts lost which was a bummer, but we had fun nevertheless. The seats were right by the tunnel where the players run to and from the field, so we got some great pics and a few autographs, of course. :)