Abigail is growing like a weed! She is strong, happy, independent, and loving. She was 7 months old on the 8th of December. That seems unbelievable to us. We find ourselves saying things like, "One year ago we found out we were pregnant" or "One year ago I was SO sick". It doesn't even seem real that over one year has passed since this journey started and now we have this beautiful, amazing little girl that makes every aspect of our lives infinitely better in every way. Her personality has really developed and for as loving as she can be she can also be equally as demanding. And as tough as it can be to keep our sanity when she is being demanding we love that she is such a fighter!
Abbie had a busy summer...she swam twice...the first time at Uncle Duong and Auntie Nha's party and again at the Kocher's house after the fantasy football draft. She loved being in the water and actually fell asleep in Daddy's arms during the first swim! She also went to the beach this summer. We visited our good friends the Barrettos at the beach house they rented. While she didn't swim she loved feeling the warm beach breeze tickle her face and the sand beneath her toes. Of course, getting all the sand out afterwards was a task in itself!
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| Swimming Tires a Girl Out! |
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| Beach Baby! |
Abbie really seems to like her school. We wish we could say the same. Don't get us wrong, we are happy with the school, but would rather have her at home with one of us! No one will ever care for her like we can.
Abbie started cereal over two months ago and was rather ambivalent about it. We couldn't feed her fast enough and she got pretty worked up. We decided that since she did well with the cereal (didn't throw it all back up) that we would just forge ahead with solids. She has tried (and likes) peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, and pears. More will be introduced in the coming weeks, but for now she gets one jar per day with rice cereal mixed in. The doctor wants us to do this so she can get the iron benefits found in the cereal.
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| Carrots! |
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| Cereal? |
About 3 months ago Abbie rolled over in the middle of the night. Lisa woke up and found her laying on her tummy in her crib. Ever since then she is, without question, a tummy sleeper...just like her mommy! Speaking of mommy, Lisa has witnesses and a reluctant Tuna agreement that we have heard her numerous times saying MAMA! We are not sure if it is intentional, but dang it, she said it!
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| First Roll Over! |
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| Can This Even Be Comfortable? |
She also has this new habit of blowing air between her lips. All the time. It is so funny to hear her do it. We will have to get it on tape as it is funny stuff! She smack her lips, and is starting to chat up a storm. We often wonder what is running through her little mind. Wouldn't that be interesting to know?
We love Abigail so much and love all the adventures we have been on in the last few months. We hope to give her more and more experiences that she will be able to look back on with happiness and joy.
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| First Aggie Tailgate and Game! |
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| First Food Truck...Good Dog Hot Dogs! |
Since Abbie has been born we have been asked the following question: "It is hard to even imagine your life before her, right?" We found ourselves answering yes to that question...but not truly believing it...and feeling bad about that. But the truth is, we feel like the arrival of Abigail has only enhanced the life we shared together before her arrival. That time has prepared us for this little girl who means the world to us. We loved every minute of that life together and she is another chapter in the great adventure.
Unfortunately, some of the change that has occurred has been a bit more difficult to accept. As most of you know by now we lost our beloved Golden Retriever, Rosey. Lisa came home from work in mid-September and found that she had passed away while she was at work. It was unexpected, horrible, scary, sad, and outright gut-wrenching. But it was evident that she went peacefully. Thank God for that. We miss her so much and are trying to adjust to life without a dog. But don't worry, we will be getting a dog one day. We just want to be prepared to put the time in to properly raise a dog, but more importantly we want Abbie to be able to share in the process of picking out, naming, and caring for a dog. Until then, we will sorely miss the nudge of a cold nose and cuddling with a furry friend. Well, unless you count this cute little puppy...
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| Windows won't let me rotate pics sent from my iPhone...sorry! |
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| We miss our Rosey. |
"I never met my grandfather on my dad's side. He passed away when my dad was just 18 years old. So in a way, Uncle Henry played two roles for me - Uncle and Grandfather. He was funny (boy was he funny) even though his jokes had to be the corniest jokes - EVER. He always had a story. No matter what the occasion or event he had a story about something that he had heard or experienced or knew of. He should have written a book. I learned more about life spending weeks at a time at the Crown B Ranch. Chickens, pigs, cattle, (insert the "Circle of Life" song here!) etc. Speaking of which, Anne and Henry loved their "girls" - cattle that is. I am pretty sure that there was a photo album at one point! At an early age I learned that it is truly a compliment to have a heifer named after you. Both your first name and then your middle name. A heifer birthing a calf - a bull calf - is a miracle. Thus, Miracle, their first bull calf was born and I was there to witness that. Oh yea, you should also make certain that no one has a video recorder when you fall off of a 4 wheeler and your ass lands straight in a steaming, fresh pile of cow shit. This really happened. Really. Poor Henry...but he was such a good sport! Now where is that video? He constantly wanted to pick the "tick" off of my neck. He tried for 38 years. Never play 42 (dominoes) against him. He was a pro. And if he was teamed up with Anne, you should fold. Immediately. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is better than a Coke Float with Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream. Especially on a hot summer evening - right after supper. He taught me that and every single time I make a Coke float with Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream I think of him. I can't wait to share one with Abbie one day. When we do, I will tell her stories of Uncle Henry and explain to her what a big heart he had. He loved Anne so much and their marriage was a model of what everyone's should be. I will miss Uncle Henry more than any words can ever express. To end this I will use Henry's own words - 'Love ya kid.'"
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| Aunt Anne and Uncle Henry with Abbie @ 1 day old. |
Lisa also lost her God-mother and namesake this past week. Christine Marsters was a very special person to Lisa and her passing has been difficult to accept. Chris was a master of words and a master of making you feel important and cared about. Luckily, Lisa was a recipient of one of the letters that Chris was so famous for writing. It was dated July 29, 1999 and was written on the occasion of our wedding. It will serve to remind us of the importance of relationships. Rest in Peace, Chris. You are one of a kind.
It has been very difficult to deal with all of theses losses, lately. However there has been a silver lining...Lisa has been reunited with some dear friends and family members she hasn't seen in decades. While the occasion has been sad, it has been wonderful to reconnect and share stories of the good times. This just serves as a reminder to us that we need to provide these types of experiences for Abbie. We need to surround her with people that love her and care for her and her well being. We will strive to provide this for her.
Continuing with the theme of change, we both have started new jobs. Lisa went back to the classroom and is teaching 7th grade ELA in Katy. A LOT has changed since she was last in the classroom during the 2007-2008 school year. But she is adapting. She is thankful for a job and is glad to be back teaching with some of her friends. Of course, the ultimate goal is to become a school librarian and it will happen when the time is right!
Tuna has completely switched fields. In early September Tuna decided to leave the landscaping company that he and another person began in 2011. It would be fair to say that they did not agree on how to run the business and Tuna decided that it was time to move forward. After A LOT of soul searching and number crunching and sleepless nights we decided that for the sake of our family that Tuna would not continue with the idea of opening his own landscaping company. Besides, Tuna was ready for a change and an opportunity to work in the oil and gas industry literally fell into his lap. He is now employed as a Junior Commissioning Specialist with Audubon Engineering. The job requires travel and as many of you know (or have figured out) he has been in Pecos, Texas since before Thanksgiving. He was able to come home for Thanksgiving and the company flew him home when Uncle Henry passed away. But by the time the job he is currently on is finished he will have been gone a total of 47 days. It has been tough being apart as we have never been apart for that long. Not in 22 years of being together (outside of college). Tuna misses Abbie terribly, but we both feel that this will be worth it in the end. Additionally, we are abundantly thankful that he HAS a job. The good news is that he will not be gone for this long of a time in the future. He was there early to train for his position. He comes home Thursday and we cannot wait to all be reunited.
Thank you to everyone who has been there to support us and offer words of wisdom. It has been a tough road and we cannot express enough how much it has meant to us for to feel the love and support of our friends and family. And for those of you who have had to constantly listen to us and our pity party (you know who you are) and has offered advice or just an ear to listen - THANK YOU and WE LOVE YOU!
We embrace change. We look for change in order to make us better. But sometimes change finds us when we least expect it and we wish it would just move along. But when it is all said and done change is inevitable. We have decided that change will make us stronger and happier and closer and more in love with our family unit - no matter what form the change comes in.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year and a good ole Happy Holidays! We love you all and feel blessed for having you as a part of our lives!
xoxo,
Tuna, Lisa, and Abbie
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| The Nguyens - KDK Ranch - Thanksgiving 2012 |
