Bringing up Stinky: December 2009

I am sitting here trying to make a list of all that Abigail has accomplished in 2009 like I did last year and I am struggling. 2009 has been an amazing year for Abigail and she has grown into a very nice caring sweet young lady who thinks of others first, can do anything she sets her mind too and is OBSESSED with learning new things, and trying to figure out how things work.

In January:

Abigail started talking back. If I tried to rush her she would tell me to "not use my mean voice" and "stop being mean"
Abigail continued her interest in shadows, echoes and reflections. She describes an echo as "a shadow for your ear"
She watched President Obama's innaugaration address with rapt interest and adoration and then ran out to play in a random snowstorm that we had
She read for the first time on camera
She began her obsession with word play
She continues to share her love of knowledge and specifically science with us.
She begins to enjoy 3- D creativity. We made a bridge of marshmallows and many many animals and shapes out of salt dough

In February

Abigail gave up the paci! This was a HUGE change for us.
Discovered a love of cooking. Our first recipe: 3 bear bread!
Abigail learned that no matter what she can get her way. One day she was grounded from TV so she took her bears, and a portable table easel and made her own tv show.

In March

Abigail got sick. This was the beginning of her struggle with strep throat and she never really got better. Looking back at these pictures makes me realize how ill she really was during those months!
She also went to see Laurie Berkner again! She loved it. Abigail loves music in general and really enjoyed this concert.
Continued to cook and cook and cook.
Learned to write her name, and the names of her friends.
Confronted that age old question that bothers us all...what came first, the chicken or the egg

In April

Abigail was a kid.
Abigail still had strep
We hung out and played and went to the earth day festival.
We enjoyed the warm weather that came back to Wilmington
We died eggs and went to egg hunts
We lost a 75 foot tree in our backyard. If it had fallen a different way we would have lost our home. We were very lucky

In May

Abigail still had strep
Friends came to visit and we spent a lovely weekend hanging out at the beach
We spent Mothers Day celebrating with other friends
Abigail discovered knock knock jokes
Abigail got a real big girl bed

In June

Abigail still had strep
She started to learn hot to swim again- it as a long winter
She went to the ENT and we scheduled an appt to get her tonsils out
Her and Grandma grew some mega vegetables in the Garden
We traveled and traveled and traveled. We went to Charlotte, DC, Philly, back to DC, back to Charlotte, and then to New York.
We met Carolina Klear for the first time as she joined her family in North Carolina

In July

Abigail did not have strep. She also did not have tonsils. Her surgery was a completely and total success
She is a knew child. She wants to see, know, here, smell explore, EVERYTHING. Mommy can see the difference and realize how much the strep actually did affect her.
Abigail si starting to read about a kindergarten level. She still will not let me to video tape her.
Abigail can swim with her head under the water! It is a big step and something she would not even try before her tonsils came out

In August

Abigail discovered the mail system adn wants to spend her days writing letters to people and mailing them and most importantly getting responces
Abigail starts to draw scenes and families. She learns to write her last name
She discovers soccer and wants to play constantly- too bad it is 110 degrees out most days
She has her first days of school. She is in school 5 days a week now and loving what being with the big kids has to offer!
She has been healthy all month!

In September

September was full out art. Clay, crayons, painting any type of art available
It was a month of story telling. Abigail learned to tell (and type) stories
It was a month of boogey boarding as Abigail learned to ride the waves
Abigail discovered simple machines, loves levers, pulleys, inclined planes
It was a month of Soccer. Abigail joined her first YMCA soccer team, and had a great time!

In October

Abigail turned 3!!!
She is 36 lbs and 39 inches.
She knows all her information, can read, add subtraction, tell time, and just be a wonderufl and loving child!
She wrote her first letter to Santa
She was a zinnia fairy for halloween

In November

Abigail became more introspective
There are not as many why questions. More how, or what do you call it. She is thinking things out a lot more. She is a more solid kid. Of course she is still a kid:)
Abigail made a list of what she is thankful for friends, family, pets are on there...but so are clocks, grilled cheese sandwhiches and her little people
It was a month filled with parties for stuffed animals, cooking and playing
Abigail is writing more songs, she is getting creative in what she writes. She is making her own tunes. She is constantly thinking planning and creating

In December

Abigail is full of word play. Riddles, puns, songs, stories, plays, etc. if it is made of words, she is doing it.
Abigail is buidling, drawing creating constantly. She is explaining her drawings more and more. She can make an entire story about a picture that starts with a random squiggle that she draws on a paper.
Abigail has decided that Santa does not exist. At least she did until Christmas morning. Now I am not sure. She liked getting all the presents she asked for
Abigail has decided that God does exist. Has questions about the Bible, going to church and God. I am doing my best to answer those questions and letting her explore the information I give her
Abigail no longer wants to become a doctor (last month) or a princess (last year) she now wants to be a balloon blower upper.

Abigail is a wonderful creative and introspective child. She has grown so much this year. She is a reader, a thinker and a questioner. She is smart, beautiful, nice polite and a dream to raise. I am very lucky that she has blessed my life and I am so proud of who she is now and what she will become in the future.