Update

I don't know what my deal has been lately. It's been such a long time since I have blogged! Here is a quick recap of the past couple of months.

We spent Easter in Francesville with the Gudeman family.

Jackson with Great Grandma Gudeman. This kid loves the camera. Seriously, you put up a camera in front of him, and he strikes the best smiles. It's hilarious!

The girls getting ready for the big Easter Egg Hunt!

So excited!

Dancing Queen

Abigail LOVES to help me in the kitchen and she wanted to bake cookies. Well, the only time I will bake cookies, is if there will be opportunity for us to share (or give them away rather). We had Brad Widmer and Ben Sprunger over to lay a patio in our backyard, so I said we could bake cookies and serve them to Brad and Ben (we also delivered them to friends and neighbors - of her choosing :)).  Well, she took a plate out to them while I busied myself with something else. Before I knew it she was back in and heading back out with a plateful of cookies. I asked her what she was doing, and she said so matter-of-fact, "They want more." She looked so cute I had to get some pictures.

All the Gudeman grandkids at Lincoln's first birthday party. I can't believe he is 1 already!

There is his charming smile. This kid is so cute I want to eat him up. His squishy thighs don't help matters. I just love to squeeze and kiss on him!

Here is our family on Mothers Day at Family Dedication at church.

We have a fun week planned for Abigail this week. She is spending three days (started today) in Pretty Princess Dance Camp (I just can't stand how cute it is!) and then tonight we are attending a soccer call out/ice cream social. Abigail is a funny kid. She loves nothing more than glitz and glam and the more she can get the better! I'm talking hair accessories, make up, lip gloss (or chapstick, doesn't matter), jewelry, lotion, shoes, dresses, etc, etc, etc. She loves it all. HOWEVER, the funny thing about her is she also is showing a real interest in sports. She loves dribbling a basketball, kicking around a soccer ball, etc. So we are going to try it out and see how it goes.

Chicago-Bluffton

We've had a really busy spring thus far! We were in Florida the last week of March. We then had one week home. The next weekend we were in Chicago for an appraisal seminar. The next weekend (last weekend) we were in Bluffton for a Moser get together. Now this weekend we will be celebrating Easter with the Sprungers on Saturday in Bluffton and Sunday with the Gudemans in Francesville! Whew! The traveling is tough on the kids and the parents - though it's all been fun stuff that is hard to say no to. I'm trying to take it easy this week so to recouperate and rest up for the weekend to come. Although I will say I realize that our family does pretty well when we are on the move.

Yesterday I was home all day with the kids and after a few hours of just being home, we were all ready to be doing something! Melissa King came over in the afternoon to chat so that was a wonderful breath of fresh air for me.

Then, John had a meeting last evening, so I had Heide Sprunger come over to join us for dinner. Aahhh that was nice. I mean I love my kids but after awhile talking to a three year old and 8 month old just doesn't cut it. I need adult interaction!!!

Speaking of 8 months...Jackson turned 8 months yesterday! My baby is getting so big! I am affirmed in this as we go out in public. People see the infant carrier and they expect to see a baby. Nearly every time they say, "Awwww,"  but then as they peek in the carrier we hear, "OH! Oh! He is a big boy!" :) Cracks me up! He's got such a round face that if you just see his face he just looks huge. :)

She's becoming quite the poser. :)

Abigail in FL wearing Grandma's golf visor.

Abigail with Grace and Ryan in Chicago.

Jackson with his "tool bench". Is he going to be my handy man? :) Thanks Yerglers!

Abigail, Lucy and Grace

Isn't it like a rule or something - that you have to have multiple bath pictures of your kids with other kids? :)

Florida

We had the wonderful blessing of visiting my parents in Florida over a few weeks ago now. It was marvelous! The kids were healthy and happy. They slept great and we just relished our time there. We took Abigail to the beach one day but the rest of our time we enjoyed at the pool and the park.

Excited to hit the beach!

Abigail refused to give me the satisfaction of looking at the camera and smiling (stinker!).

Jackson's first time in the pool. He loved it! :) He kept putting his face in the water and would come up sputtering and smiling. So funny!

Abigail's scalp got red after our first day so we had to improvise with a hat.

For some reason Abigail was obsessed with the water guns? :)

Gone Mobile

Well, Jackson is now mobile. Not sure how I feel about this...I have to say I have mixed emotions. Now - he is not yet crawling. He just uses every other skill he has to get places. :) Yesterday I laid him on the floor to change his diaper. I remembered I needed something in the other room. I quick ran to the other room to grab something I needed to return to the store (we were getting ready to do some shopping). When I returned he was across the room chewing on a toy that was on his bouncy seat. I couldn't believe it!

Then this morning we were in Abigail's room getting her ready. I laid him on the floor, and the next thing I know Abigail is complaining about how Jackson has one of her books. He had somehow gotten himself several feet over to her book basket, gotten in the basket (which is a significant size for him), and got a book and was happily lying on his back chowing down on it. :) I told her it was ok - it was actually God's book, and God wants her to share. Plus it was a board book that a little slobber wouldn't hurt.

I proceeded in getting her ready and next thing I know I look over and there he is - he'd gotten himself back over to the basket and was straining for yet another book.

The crazy thing that I need to get used to with him is he has always been VERY patient and determined. When he is trying to get something or do something he remains very quiet and patient. He will work and work until he gets it.

I have always known when Abigail is or was trying something or having trouble with something - she is EXTREMELY impatient and will let you know quite loudly if she is struggling! But he is just quiet, determined, strong and fast! I have to say I think both qualities come with their challenges. I'm going to have to watch him like a hawk!

Cute Stuff

Abigail and Jackson watching a video together.

I was working around the house and stumbled upon this - Abigail and John reading the Sunday paper together...John reading the Comics and Abigail reading the ToysRus flier (eeks!).

Yes - you are seeing this - Jackson standing! Well, more like him holding himself up against the ottoman, and his dad placed him there. But he was balancing and holding himself up! :)

These two pictures were taken right after we got home from getting Jackson's 6 month shots. Bless his heart he did so good and was such a good sport. You can see how happy he was not too long after the fact.

He had to get four shots this time because he had to get a flu shot. I held him on my lap and the nurse was almost done with the first shot before Jackson started to cry. He cried through the second but stopped immediately after it was done. The nurse then applied the 3rd and 4th shots in the other leg. He cried during the shots a little but stopped immediately after she was done. I turned him around to give him a hug to comfort him, and he looked up at me with eyes just FULL of tears and tears were streaming down his cheeks. As he looked at me he gave me the sweetest, strongest smile. He then looked back at the nurse with more tears spilling out of his eyes and gave her the same sweet, strong smile.

He just melts your heart.

Call Me

The other evening I was cleaning up the kitchen after dinner, and John was playing with Abigail in the living room. He asked her if she wanted to call Grandma Sprunger, and she was of course quite fond of this idea. Abigail talked to Grandma for a little while and then asked where Grandpa was. Grandma explained that he was in his car, working (appraising). Abigail then replied (with such conviction), "Ok. Well, just have him call me if he needs anything!"

A little while later my phone rings, and it was Grandpa. He asked for Abigail, and I put him on speaker phone so she could talk to him. He said, "Abigail, Grandma said I should call you if I needed anything. Well, I need something. I need you to sing me a song." And she happily met his need. :)

Good Morning, God

Typically Abigail rises somewhere between 7-8 in the morning. Jackson wakes much earlier (especially lately since he's had a cold), so I am up early with him. This morning around 6 I was running on the treadmill and heard something coming from Abigail's monitor. I stopped to listen and realized she was singing a song she learned at BSF (Bible Study Fellowship). "Good morning, God. This is your day. I am your child show me your way." She sang it through a couple of times and then must have fallen back asleep because its now 7:45 and she has been silent ever since. Whatever prompted that little interlude I don't know, but it was so encouraging to me. I have to think it was a little gift from God. I would also love it, Lord, if it could be a sign of how she will behave today? :)