Random pictures from last weekend

I am absolutely horrible at taking pictures when we are out - mostly because I'm chasing Abby around everywhere but also because I didn't have pockets in my dresses to hold the camera.  But here are a few random pictures from this past, wedding-filled weekend. 

Abby looking on shyly as all the other kids tear up the dance floor.  She's still a SUPER cautious baby.

Ruby a-yi and Abby!

See why people think they are the twins and NOT Ruby and me???  Throughout the evening, people kept mistaking one for the other - including Matt!  :)  But they are used to it.  It's been like this since 4th grade.  Neither of them have ever had braces either - so nice!

Me and my baby!  I love you!

A rare family photo at Lake Travis.

Look at how well Elliott stands!  He started walking at 9.5 months!

Losing the battle after back to back weddings and a road trip to Austin.  Can't blame her! 

Side note:  I think my mom will only be able to hold Abby for a couple more years.  Look at how big Abby looks on my mom now!  My mom had strong arms from carrying Ruby and me around and I joke that her biceps have 30+ year old muscle memory because they are back!

Abby kept telling my dad "Lao Yie!  Go home sleep!".....until she konked out herself with toy in hand.

She likes to investigate the holes that squirrels dig trying to find acorns.  Those are her new size 8.5W tennis shoes.  She looks like such a big girl. 

We are FINALLY back on a normal schedule this week.  All of April has been so much fun and traveling yet all a big blur now.  May should be a relatively mild month and then Bryce and I are off to Spain for a week in June!  We can't wait - it will be my first trip to Europe!

As I mentioned before...

...I have a goofy baby.  Such a little lady.

Silly Goose

That's what I call Abby - Mommy's little Silly Goose.  It is astounding to me how much Abby and her Daddy are alike when it comes to their personality.  One of my favorite qualities that I love about Bryce is his sense of humor and how much he makes me laugh.  It's definitely a top quality on my list.  Turns out our little girl is just a smaller, cuter girl version of Bryce.  A regular goofy baby who likes to test her boundaries.  Since our trip to Taiwan, we have discovered Abby's love for singing (can't go to Taiwan without singing karoke!!), she likes to imitate people (a quality I had as a child) and is very proud/stubborn and already knows how to "save face."  What a handful!  Oh, and I love that she's old enough to understand how to pose and smile for the camera (when she wants to).  :)

Abby and her Lao Yie - two peas in a pod!

My attempt to take a picture with my Silly Goose.

You get the idea with this one....  :)

Abby being defiant.  That's her thing.  She won't make eye contact when she's mad at you or knows she's in trouble.  It's hard not to smile when she does this but I think it's so cute (for now!).

I asked what her 'mad face' looks like and this is what I got.

This is actually my old umbrella from my childhood!  Look at how angelic she looks.  :)

Our attempt to get a shot with Lao Nian too.

I am SO happy to announce that afternoon naps have made a comeback!  YES!  She is currently going through another growth spurt: eating literally ALL day, taking naps again(!!!) and pooping twice a day (TMI but y'all know what I'm talkin' 'bout).  Based on our 2 year doctor's visit, this little one is not that little but I guess I only have our genes to blame...  :P  She's already wearing size 8.5 shoes (same as Mommy)!

2 year old stats

For record sake, we went to the doctor today for Abby's 2 year well-check and here are her stats:

Height: 35.25 inches (85%)

Weight: 30.4 lbs (90%)

Head circumference: 50 cm (>98%...again!)

Our doctor says she's ahead in all of her development and doing well!  This doctor's visit was fun because Abby knew where we were going and who we were going to see.  The only part I didn't tell her about was the shot she was going to get.  And this time, she cried (and cried and cried) and kept telling me she "got a new boo boo" over and over again.  Poor baby - gone is my happy-go-lucky baby who goes through life without a worry.  It's times like this that it's not good that she knows so much about what's going on.  But thank goodness for stickers on the way out of the office.  Winnie the Pooh made it all better.  :)  Can't post without a quick pic.

Bryce hid Easter eggs all around the house Sunday morning and Abby had a BLAST Easter egg hunting throughout the day.  :)

Happy 2nd Birthday, Abby!

We had a blast celebrating Abby's 2nd birthday today!  She went hunting for Easter eggs and ate jelly beans for the first time!  Since the weather is warming up, she got to play/swim in the pool today too and guess what??  Our little Abby can swim around with the assistance of her floatie!  Hooray for Abby!  She's a regular fearless fish in the water (which means Mommy and Daddy need to keep extra watchful eyes on her at all times!).  Opening gifts this year was extra fun for all of us too!  Abby made the cutest "I'm so excited" faces with each gift and we all got great laughs along with her.  We love you, Xiao Xiao!! 

Thanks to everyone who helped make Abby's birthday party a blast and thanks for all of her birthday gifts!!  :)  It's been a super fun but long day so here are just a few highlights from the day.  Enjoy!

Winnie the Pooh Abby!

Easter eggs!!

My little swimmer!

p.s.  The rest of the Taiwan Trip post will come in due time.  We've got a busy next 2 weeks ahead of us so don't hold your breathe!

Taiwan Trip April 2011 - Part I

I have so much to update on but only have time to post my favorite video from the trip for now.  In the short amount of time we spent in Taiwan, Abby has picked up singing!  I hope you enjoy this video!

One last quick post...for now

We are off on our trip to Taiwan tomorrow but wanted to send off one quick post before we leave.  These are random, really.  Just the daily going-ons of our lives lately.  Wish us luck on the cross-Pacific flight!

This is what a sleepy-no-afternoon-nap baby looks.  She only takes afternoon naps about 3 times a week now.  *sigh*

Enjoying her outside time before the mosquitoes devour me.  Anytime is a good time when you have a sleeve of Ritz crackers!

Janice was awesome and lent us her umbrella stroller for the trip and we took it out for a test drive.  Result?  Success!  She wouldn't get out of the thing.

Sometimes I just think she looks like a big girl.  I still miss my little baby sometimes...

Abby discovered Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry.  Just look at the intense concentration.  Reminds me of Kirk and me - not Ruby though.  She was never a TV baby like we were.

My little girl doing just that - being a little girl.  She's wearing a beautiful Chinese jacket my mom gave me.