Happy Birthday, My dear Abbie!

My sweet little Abbie turned 2 on May 26 (I know I am sooo behind!). I took the day off since both Abbie and I had appointments so it was so nice to be able to spend the day with my little 2-year old. We went and picked out some doughnuts (a birthday tradition) and then she got to unwrap her gifts...later on after the girls got home we sang Happy Birthday which she just loved and then had cupcakes...it was a very sweet day! I still can't believe my baby is 2!!! Here are some things I want to remember about Abbie at this age...

• she just started to call me mommy-before that I was called "Baba"...which I just loved
  

• Abbie is currently going through a socially awkward phase...if somebody talks to her and she gets nervous she will go into a catatonic state and will remain that way until you coax her out of it...it's actually quite funny!



• Abbie still loves her binky...not good I know!



• LOVES playing with her sisters



• Abbie always tells me "Don't worry!"

• She loves to count (thanks so her older sisters!) and actually has made it to 10 on several occasions!

Here are some cute pics of her actual birthday and then her party...we went very low key this year for her party since I am 9 months pregnant and we spent the week before the party in the hospital with Ella-but I have to tell you-it was so much more enjoyable for me to go low key!!! I loved it!

It was a very hot day...so we got to spend some time outside in the pool...the girls had lots of fun until Abbie got sunblock in her eyes and spent the next hour crying and saying, "ow...eyes!"...note to self-PUT A HAT ON YOUR CHILD RATHER THAN SUNBLOCK ON THE FACE!

All ready for her Party...

I think Kenzie was bummed that it wasn't her birthday...don't worry Kenzie...August is sooner than you think!

Abbie didn't want to take the glasses off that her Aunt Suey got her!

We love you so much, Abigail Grace! You bless our lives in so many ways!

Spring-time fun!

Here are some cute pics of the girls enjoying the beautiful spring weather... although it has been a little warm for my taste it definitely beats the snow!!!

Grampy (this is what the girls call my mom) and the girls on Grampy's birthday!

On our way to church Sophie (our little animal lover) spotted a butterfly-so of course we had to get out of the car so Sophie could get a better look...it just so happened she was wearing a butterfly outfit that day too! :)

Aunt KeeKee bought Ella some Ni Hao bubbles to help with her recovery...the girls had a blast-looks like they did the trick!! Thanks, Aunt Keekee!

My sweet little "almost 2-year-old" Abbie..

Ella's surgery

So so behind...but since I am using my blog as a scrapbook I really need to catch up!!!


Ella had another surgery on May 18th. She had a P-flap constructed in the back of her throat to help with the amount of air that escapes through her nose during speech (cleft related issue). The poor girl can no longer breath out her nose since the P-flap comletely blocks airflow from the nose but her surgeon is hoping that once the swelling decreases she will have some airflow. In the meantime she is forced to breathe out her mouth which leads to a very loud snore (which the surgeon says she may snore indefinitely-poor future husband!)...She has completely bounced back at this point but continues to be on a soft diet which is hard for her. She really misses the popcorn we usually have on Fridays but I told her once she is able we will have a popcorn party!!! She seriously talks about this popcorn party all the time! So cute. Here are some pics pre and post surgery!

We love you Ella and we are so proud of how brave and strong you are!!!

Daddy and Ella pre-surgery...Daddy got to go back with Ella to the OR this time since they didn't want me back there being pregnant...it was hard to see her go back there without me since I had been there for the past 3 surgeries!

The Child-Life Specialist allowed Ella to put stickers on her mask to help decrease her anxiety...the stickers coupled with some meds really helped!! The two Child-Life Specialists that worked with Ella during our stay were just so wonderful!~

Abbie came to visit after a couple of days...she just loves Ella! Sophie stayed with my in-laws that live about 30 minutes from the hospital so we were able to see her everyday...

It was hard being away from Abbie for 3 days but I also know that Ella just loves the one on one attention she gets while in the hospital-and she deserves it~

Mother's Day!!

Once again I had a great Mother's Day...how could you not have a good Mother's Day when you are a mother??? We went to church in the morning and during the service all the little ones from Sunday School came in to give their mothers a flower...it was just so cute! After church the girls and I headed home and had a little photo shoot while we waited for Daddy to come home from church (Daddy always stays for both services to teach a class). We then went and grabbed some lunch and then headed back home to relax...a day spent with my girls and hubby is my kind of Mother's Day!!!

The girls and decided to try and get some pics of the four of us...since nobody was around to take our picture we had to set the camera on console table, set the timer, and quickly run to the couch...the girls thought this was so much fun! After this first picture I quickly realized I had to go and close the playroom door!!! :)

Sophie wanted to change things up a bit for this last picture...

I can't believe next year a little boy will be in my mother's day pictures!!!

Spring Break...up North!

We typically head down south for spring break but the past several years we have headed up to Maine and have loved it! Now don't get me wrong I do miss the warm temps of South Carolina but as corny as it sounds it is so true that as long as you are with your family it truly doesn't matter where your going! I love getting away with my little fam! We actually got to enjoy some very warm temperatures for Maine this time of year (reached 70 one of the days!) and of course we enjoyed the LOBSTER!!! Oh my...I could eat lobster every day if I could!!! We had a great time and I really enjoyed the peacefulness Maine had to offer! Here are some (actually a lot!) cute pics from the Whitacre vacay!

We actually stayed in CT one night b/c Greg had a business meeting early the next morning...we stayed at a hotel by the airport and Abbie loved to sit by the window and watch the planes...it was very cute!

We have gone to this lighthouse since Sophie was a baby (we would always head to Maine once school let out)...so here are our annual lighthouse shots...check out a visit to memory lane here

Amazing Daddy with his girls

Pool time!

Ughhh...the dreaded maternity bathing suit...in my world maternity should never be paired with bathing suit...it wasn't pretty folks!

Sophie would set acorns on these rocks every night for the squirrels and moose...she is our little Ace Ventura!

I know the girls are out of focus but I just love the next two shots!

Mommy even got to have a birthday celebration while on vacation...yep thats right-33! Oh my! My wonderful hubby surprised me with a prenatal massage at the hotel spa...it was wonderful! Then Sophie and Ella bought me a stuffed animal lobster since Sophie knew I loved lobster-little did she know I only love lobster when I can dip it in butter! It was so cute!!