I got Abby dressed up today. We went out shopping and playing yesterday. We will probably do the same today. I hope to go out hiking with Abby since we got the backpack carrier. Abby graduated from her swimming class. She enjoyed splashing, kicking and playing with all the toys. We got a new water softener this past week. I can taste a difference in our water. Hopefully our appliances will last a little longer this way. Abby is still picking on Yukon and so Yukon licks her back.

Abby is having a better time now that the stairs are blocked off. No going up and no going down. She has no fear of them and that is the problem. We went for a walk tonight with our friend Steph and then had a new recipe of taco salad. Abby keep eyeing the food so started feeding it to her. She really liked the deer meat. I guess that is good because that is what she'll get in this house. I had to get a second helping because she was helping me clean my plate. We had some loud storms last night and Abby just slept right through them. She is a really good sleeper.

Abby and I have been pretty busy this week. We went to see G & G and Great G & G last Sunday. Abby enjoyed finding all of the things to explore. We went to swimming class where she has taken a liking to splashing. I can barely see to hold her with all the splashing. Then G & G came down yesterday and Abby got to see the fish grandpa caught out of the pond. She really just wanted to play in the leaves though. And I finally got picture of her showing us how big she is. Her sitter taught her this one. You ask Abby, "How big is Abby?" and she puts her hands up and you say "So big." It is really cute. She also waved goodbye to me for the first time when I left her at the sitter and she is saying mama. Not all the time but when it counts. She bumped her head this morning and started to cry. When I picked her up she said "Mama". I love this kid and she has me wrapped around her little finger.

Abby and I are just hanging out at the house today. Getting some laundry and cleaning around the house. I went through her clothes. Started pulling out the 18th month clothes as some of the 12 months are getting short in the legs and and shirts don't cover the belly. I am trying to teach her how to use the stairs. She likes to take off over edges of beds, couch or stairs. We are going through a new phase of crying at night when it is time to go to sleep. Thought I would wait her out and she went to sleep in 8 minutes and this morning nap only took 4 minutes. I think something is wrong but come to find out she is just testing me. I guess she has to find her limits some how.

Dad has been home for two weeks and is gone again. The news around here is that Dad got a new truck. He got a Toyota Tundra and loves it. Abby gave us a stomach bug. That wasn't a pretty couple of days. We just layed around the house until we felt better and then disinfected everything so we wouldn't get it again. Abby and Dad went with me on a couple of work trips and we got to go to Cabela's. We got a backpack that we can put Abby in. That way I can go hiking around our property again. She has been cruising on furniture and even stood by herself for about 5 seconds and then down on the bum she goes. She takes reading books very seriously but is actually just turning the pages. She enjoyed chasing Dad all over the house. She is getting on the fireplace but can't get back down. She had her 9 month check up. She is 29 inches and 21 lbs. She is in the 90 percentile for her height and weight so I think I will be the short one in the family. People think she is older at the store and expect her to talk. She just stares at them.