Singing . . . of sorts

Of course whenever I pull out the video camera, Annie refuses to cooperate. A few minutes in she finally does sing for you a little bit. Some of her current favorite songs are Jesus Loves Me, ABCs, Amazing Grace, Itsy Bitsy Spider, and Blessed Assurance. Quite a mix. She also likes counting. We're up to 13, then she goes back to 9. :) This week Annie has started "reading" me books. She has some books memorized, but the ones she doesn't know she will look at the illustrations and tell me about them. I'm a bit partial but I think it's super-cute!

Peanut Butter Cookies

Annie helped me make peanut butter cookies last week. She thought it was pretty awesome to get to be my helper. And even better to eat the cookies!

Family Reunion

We spent the weekend with almost all our extended family at Nana and Papaw's house. Annie and JJ had the best time exploring their beautiful gardens and being spoiled. And we introduced Sophie to so many people who love her.

Sophie meeting her Nana


Honey hadn't seen "her" baby in four days


GiGi


NeNe


Aunt Tessie


Uncle Tyler


JJ giving Uncle Dwight a big hug


Bubbles!


Wagon rides with Poppa and cousin Dillon


Croquet with two year olds?


Square dancing
 

Annie loved it


Really loved it


Butterfly wings are a necessity


Dancing with Daddy


Those curls. I love.
 

Sugar.


Nana and Papaw


My girl.


Chalk.


Fun times.
 

First Bath and First Bottle

Sophie is a fan of both.











Now that the bottle has been successfully introduced, I think it's high time for a date night. :)

A couple of Annie posts coming next week...and JJ has court again next week so please be praying about that. Happy Friday to all!

Spending time with Bebe and Papa Rick

Bebe stayed with us last week and helped me so much with all three babies and keeping up the house! The Gent and I are very thankful to have such a supportive family behind us. This week we are on our own and so far so good--I know people think I'm crazy but I really am having fun with my little ones. Yesterday we went to the children's museum and then had a picnic lunch with Daddy. Today we are going grocery shopping. Balancing out the fun with the necessary. :)

The Gent and his girls

He's an awesome Daddy. We all love him bunches. Happy Father's Day to the Gent!

Truth to Remember...let it sink down deep

Jeanne Damoff, as quoted in World Magazine's June 15 edition: "God really is sovereign, loving and good, and He is working out plans formed long ago with perfect faithfulness. Nothing you would choose for yourself could ever surpass the beauty and wonder of the gifts He has prepared for you."

Winners of the Baby Guessing Game

No one guessed Sophie. :)

There were six guesses for Elizabeth--Gretchen, Samantha, Jenn, Poppa, Papa Rick, and Granny. I think we'll call Poppa the winner because he got the initials right.

Bebe and Aunt Tessie got closest on the date - 5/26.

And Aunt Linda and Katie got closest on weight, but were still off by almost a pound - 7 lbs, 14 oz.

Sophie did a good job of surprising everyone!

Choosing names is always so much fun. Sophie and Elizabeth are family names, reaching back a few generations. The Gent and I also liked the meanings of her names. Sophie means "wisdom" and Elizabeth means "consecrated to God."

Faces of Sophie

(this is a yawn, not a cry)

Some thoughts and and a few pictures from Sophie's first week home

I love this sweet, squishy newborn stage! I mean it, I really, really love it. And it is so much easier this time around because I have felt SO GOOD (even with the cold I caught in the hospital) since Sophie's birth. Now that I have something to compare it to I realize how horrible I felt after Annie's birth--I was so weak from blood loss I went to bed by 8pm every night and couldn't stand up long enough to take a shower till she was a week old.

Sophie is nursing wonderfully and sleeping well. She sleeps from about 8pm to 7am, waking up on average three times to eat. She likes to be awake most of the morning and just take little cat naps, then take a long nap in the afternoon (which works great because the big kids take their nap in the afternoon and most days this week all three have slept at the same time!). I'm sure Sophie's routine will be changing quite a bit from week to week, but so far so good. :) We had her 1 week check-up yesterday and she is 21 1/2 inches long and 8lbs 13 oz, so already back up over her birth weight. Doctor says Sophie is perfect and we agree.

Annie and JJ seem to have adjusted just fine. Since Daddy went back to work, we have had lots of help from Honey. Today Aunt Tessie and Uncle Dwight took them swimming and out for lunch. Bebe is coming to stay next week. I am thankful for the help and Annie and JJ have enjoyed the extra attention.

Here are a few pictures from our first week home. You can find more on Instagram--abbasgirlfamily.

first sponge bath




sleeping beauty


tummy time with big sister

Memorial Day (a little late)

Honey and Poppa came over to grill out with us. We set up the kiddie pool and water table in the front yard and the children and dogs had a blast. :)





Huck


Zeke


Nick