Abby's 4th Birthday

Because I was due so close to Abby's birthday, I knew I didn't want to have a big birthday bash that involved a lot of planning and work on my part. So we decided long before that we would take Abby to Disneyland for her birthday. We invited my sister and her daughter, Taylor, to join us and they said YES! They made the long trek to So Cal from Utah, my sister being sick and pregnant, but she convinced my mom to join her on the trip down. My dad joined us a couple days into the trip, but didn't get to come to Disneyland with us.

We decided to do a character lunch with the Disney Princesses at Ariel's Grotto with just the girls. I have to say--we planned a 10:00 brunch, but because we showed up late (after I ran from the parking lot, to the tram, to the ticket booth, to California Adventure, to Ariel's Grotto--all that being 8 months pregnant), they booked us for the lunch sitting. I was grateful because after all that running, I needed to sit and breathe. The girls loved eating their lunch and getting to meet each princess as they ate. I had made both the girls an autograph book and princess shirts and a little bag to carry their books in. It was so cute to see them wearing their little back-packs and carry their books around to get autographs.

After a day at Disneyland, we were exhausted, so we just chilled out at the hotel the next day. The weather was unfortunately, cold, so we didn't make it to the beach like we had planned. But Mike took the girls swimming, which they LOVED. I waddled around most of the weekend, trying to recover from my long run through Disneyland. Abby had a great time opening presents from her grandparents and from Taylor and Robin. And LOVED that she got to go to Disneyland for her special day. She keeps asking me if we can do it again for her birthday this year. Maybe we will make it a tradition.....

Abby has grown up so much in the past year--I'm amazed at what a little grown-up she is. From starting preschool to becoming a big sister--she's really matured. I feel like I can have real conversations with her and am always amazed at what she remembers and learns from me. :) She is still very tall for her age. At her 4 year check-up, she measured in at a 5 1/2 year old size! That's my girl. She is a GREAT big sister and always willing to help me with Emma. She asks me hundreds of times a day, "Can I see Emma? Can I give her a hug and kiss?" She loves to make her smile and will help me in the car by putting her pacifier in when she's fussy. It has been pretty easy adjusting to 2 kids--but I think that's mainly because Abby is such a great big sister!

Swimming at Newport Beach

Abby with her Fancy Nancy doll from Grandma and Grandad

Abby's birthday brownies...

We were sitting in Downtown Disneyland when Minnie and Mickey Mouse came out to sign autographs. They went on a walk around town, and Abby and Taylor chased after them. Minnie and Mickey waited for them and took them by the hand and walked with them to their designated autograph spot. It was so cute. I was chasing them to get this picture....

This was Abby's highlight of the day. I waited in line for 30 minutes to meet Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder. Abby loved meeting them and talking with them. Rapunzel asked her what her favorite part of the movie was and Abby said, "When you sing your song together." And then she started to sing part of it. It was so cute.

Riding Soarin' Over California. We had to convince Abby to ride this--she was so afraid. She cried quietly while we waited in line and was still apprehensive about it when we sat down. But she loved it--and wanted to go again after it was all over.

Riding Toy Story Mania....

Lunch with the Princesses....

Cinderella

Snow White
Sleeping Beauty

Riding the tram into the park...

The loot--I made these party favors for the girls to remember the special day...

After our trip, we went to dinner on Abby's actual birthday. She requested one thing from Mike--flowers for her birthday. It was pretty cute.

After opening presents...Can you tell I'm ready to pop?

We invited a few of Abby's friends over for a small swim party to celebrate her day.

Abby got to celebrate her special day at school. They sung "Happy Birthday" to her and "Skimmarink", too. She also got to put the candles on her birthday cake...

Abby with Grandma Kathy and Grandpa on her out-to-dinner birthday party.

Some random tidbits about Abby:

1. She still LOVES to read. When I'm nursing Emma, she will bring book after book out for me to read to her. I am usually more than happy to oblige.

2. She knows all her letters and can write all of them, too. I was surprised when she came home from school one day with her name Abigail spelled out on her paper. I never taught her how to write it, but she just asked her teachers which letters came next and she wrote it all by herself.

3. She knows what sound each letter makes, and is working on sounding out words.

4. She loves playing with her little Disney character figurines. She has about 100 of them and can play for hours with them.

5. She loves to "work" in my craft room with me. She usually gets a blank piece of paper and colors a picture. She has gotten really good at drawing people. Her artwork from preschool each day is a picture of our family. I have a stack of about 100 different pictures (no lie) of the drawings she did the first few weeks of Emma's life. Because I slept so much, Abby kept busy by drawing picture after picture. I'm in the process of putting them into a book.

6. Abby gave her first talk in Primary this year (2011) and did awesome! I can't believe my little girl is in primary.

7. She is genuinely concerned about other people, especially her friends. If a kid is all by herself at school, she will go over and play with her. She is a great friend to all.

8. She loves Jesus and talks about Him often. She asks when she can see Him, and I always tell her, we can't see Him, but we can feel him. And she says, "We can feel him in our hearts, right?" It's pretty dang cute.

9. She loves to tell stories at night. Part of her bedtime routine is for us to tell her a story and she returns the favor. Her stories are hilarious--usually something to do with the story we just told her, but with her own spin on it. I love hearing her imagination go wild. I've just recently started recording her because I love the detail she goes into. She also makes up songs for me and sings them to me before she falls asleep.

10. She is a great helper around the house--she clear her plate after she's done eating, she's always willing to get a diaper for Emma, she entertains Emma when she's fussy, she cleans up her room when asked. She has also become more independent with herself--brushing her own hair, dressing herself, picking her own clothes, and putting her clothes away.

We love our Abby and can't believe she is 4 years old! She is our little, redheaded spitfire and we wouldn't trade her for anything. Love you, Abby!