My little helper

This past week Donald has been working a funky work schedule and has been up at work until 8 o’clock!  BLAH.  Fellow mommas who have late workin’ hubbies – I feel for you in a whole new way!  So because of Donald’s absence – Abi’s had to pick up the slack in household chores.  She’s done it all with a smile on her face.  What a good little helper lady!

Helping momma load the dishwasher:

Sometimes you just need to play in the dishwasher too (and then be upset when momma has a double standard that lets you do something to get a cute picture and then asks you not to do that behavior anymore!):

But don’t worry, she tries again – and momma still thought it was cute, so another bad standard for me!

It’s Texas, so sometimes you need a cool glass of lemonade:

And what makes something cool except for some ice cubes! 

Oslo LOVES icecubes (weird cat) so he wanted in on the action!

Poppa’s also not around to make momma laugh, so Abi helped out with that too:

 

I guess the cupboards weren’t organized correctly, so Abi graciously helped me rearrange them:

And it’s only Wednesday!  We are anxious for the week to end so that we get Donald home right on time.  I have certainly learned from this week how spoiled I am.  We miss you and love you MUCHO, doons!

Abi’s Chair

Now, some women have crazies for their mother-in-law.  I lucked out.  BIG time.  I got a crazy-talented mother-in-love (as we like to call it around the Wallace households).  Check out what she made for Abi’s first birthday.

    Abi loves it.  She likes to read in it.  She likes to place baby in it.  She likes to munch on yummies in it.  It is a welcomed member of our family room!

Got me some bedhead!

Our little sleeping beauty, gotta love it!

(Nothing could tame this craziness except a shower at the end of the day!)

I’m One!

Happy Birthday, sweet girl!  We simply can not believe that our Abi has been with us for one year!  What a joy she has been.  We had a wonderful day celebrating her birth with family (both near and far) on the 8th!  We are thankful for her life and are so thankful for the opportunity to know her, to love her, and to parent her.

Some things that we love about our one year-old:

(Obvious professional pictures are taken by Kenny Comerford – kennywaynephoto.com ) he also shot our wedding, so having him shoot Abi’s one-year pictures was such a blast!)

1) She is a joy to be around, sweet contentment and LIFE flow from her.

2) She is BEAUTIFUL!  (Our affection for her is in now way anchored to this, but you can’t deny beauty!)

3) She has made us appreciate the love of Christ more and marveled at how the Lord loves us as a father

4) She has richly increased my love for Donald.  I am in love with our family unit and for the amazing blessing it is to me.

5) I have grown as a woman through the process of carrying her, mothering her, and learning from her sweet life.

6) She hiccups when she laughs (how sweet is this?!) – it is insanely endearing.

7) She always smiles when she sees Donald or I.  It makes our hearts melt. (Below is as we woke her up on her birthday morning!)

8) She really loves nature.  Get Oslo near her, a leaf in her hands or a flower behind her ear and you have a happy Abi!

9) My baby loves to EAT!  We are ever-thankful, as we are aware that this phenomenon could change at any moment!

10) There truly isn’t enough room…We love you, our darling Abi!

My piece of the Amazon

 

Well, not exactly…

But, Abi’s loving her new little backyard oasis – and we think it’s hilarious!  Getting in and out as adults is a bit humbling, but Abi’s having a blast – so, I suppose it’s all worth it!

(Practicing her backstroke above)