New Job

I just wanted to let everyone know that Sam got a new job! I am so incredibly proud of him. He will be working for Flight Safety International in St. Louis. He is so excited to be able to start his new job. His first day will be August 27th.

Also, I will be starting my nursing classes on Monday. This should be about a 3 year program. I am hoping to start my clinicals in August 2009. Wish us both luck!

Swimming Lessons

Abby has had swimming lessons for the past 2 weeks, and she absolutely LOVES it! We really think that she is part fish. :) They have just been working with her on getting comfortable with the water, like kicking her feet, blowing bubbles, and reaching for things in the water. Since Sam works from home on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, he got to go with her a few times. Here is a few pictures of our little Miss!

She really likes to reach into the water and grab the rings. Of course, she also likes to try and chew on them.:)

She will lay on her stomach, and kick her feet. It is so cute seeing those little chubby thighs kicking in the water!

She didn't really like it when we tried to lay her on her back in the water. She would get really tense.

She was trying to blow bubbles in the water, but she hasn't quite gotten the hang of it yet. She just ends up drinking half the pool water.

Race for the Cure

As some of you know, my grandma passed away last month from her fight against breast cancer. She was 66 years old. For the past 2 years we have raised money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and participated in the Race for the Cure. Abby was really into it this year. She loved watching all of the people, listening to the live music, and going for a walk in her stroller. Here are a few pics from the race.

Abby and Daddy chilling out in the shade before the race.

The crowd was absolutely amazing! All we could see in front and behind us were pink and white shirts. It was a very emotional day.

Abby and Mommy right before we started our walk.

First Summer Vacation

Sam, Abby, and I just got back from our first trip to Branson as a family. We had such a great time! She did so well considering how worn out she was, and the length of time that we were in the car. We went to Lambert's Cafe, did some shopping, went to Silver Dollar City 2 days, and spent some time on my dad's pontoon boat.

This picture was taken as we were getting ready to take off to Branson.

Waiting for a table at Lambert's Cafe, right outside of Springfield, MO. She enjoyed chicken and dumplings, green beans, and throwed rolls. She really got a kick out of

Abby, Mommy, and Daddy on Grandpa Slusher's boat. She had a blast! However, as you can see, she had her snacks with her. That always makes her happy. :) I don't think she cared too much for the life jacket, but she dealt with it. She LOVED having the wind blowing her hair.

She even got to drive the boat with Grandpa! Good thing she didn't run it up onto a sandbar, like her Mommy did when she was a kid.

Her first trip to Build-A-Bear. She made an adorable teddy bear.

Abby and Mommy after Abby's first amusement park ride, the balloons. She just smiled the whole time, and then didn't want to get off.

ICE CREAM!!!!

Abby and Daddy on the big rocking chair at Grand Village.

This was by far her favorite area in Silver Dollar City. It is called Guyser Gulch. There is just a bunch of water stuff to do. This was a little padded walkway that shoots water out of little holes. She had so much fun crawling back and forth. It was honestly priceless!

First Trip to the Salon

We took Abby to Great Clips the other day to have her bangs trimmed. Now she can see without having to have her little pebbles sprout. She did awesome! She just sat there and let the lady cut it, and then she got to watch Mommy get her hair cut.

Before

After- Look at those beautiful eyes now!

Teeth

Abby is cutting her molars now, and the poor angel has been so miserable! Her other 6 teeth were no problem for her. I didn't even know she was getting any teeth until they were already in, but these ones are different. I am hoping they pop through soon, so she won't be as miserable.

Next week we are leaving for vacation!! It will be Abby's first week long vacation. Sam and I are so excited about it, but we are quite nervous about how she will do with the car ride there. It will be about 3.5 hours. I will definitely update the blog when we get back, and post pictures from the trip.

Here are a few recent pictures we have taken of her:

I put her in her swimming suit and put her outside with some shaving cream. She really didn't know what to think about it. She touched it a little bit and then tried eating it, so needless to say, that was the end of our shaving cream play. Next time I am planning on using chocolate pudding, so if she eats it, no big deal.

Here she is coloring a picture for her Grandma and Grandpa Slusher. She really enjoys scribbling, even though a lot of it ends up on the table.

Sleepy time!! Abby LOVES laying on the pillow that her Grandma Larko made her for her first birthday. It is so cute to watch her cuddle with it, and all of the moms from our playgroup are jealous! They all want one too!

First Trip to the Zoo

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Sam and I took Abby to the zoo, for the first time, on Saturday May 1oth. I have to say that it was about the best day ever! It was our Mother's Day outing, and the weather was great. Abby had such a blast. He favorites were the Orangutans and Penguins. Here are a few pictures from our wonderful 2nd Mother's Day as a family:

She is posing by the front entrance before we went in!

There was a little ledge, so she could actually stand right against the glass and see the fish.

We stopped at the Cafe so that she could eat her Lunchables Jr, and drink some cold milk.

Do you think she has enough stuffed animals? Her Daddy bought her a giraffe, hippo, and pink frog.

The little angel was so tired by the end of the visit that she was asleep before we even got to the highway.