Just put a basket over her head

Another week has come and gone, quickly. Our week almost began with an impromptu trip to Las Vegas last week to celebrate a birthday with some great family members. If you know Andrew and I, you know that we are up for impromptu trips and adventures so this was right up our ally. I love Las Vegas and knew this trip would have been a blast, but it just did not fit into our schedule. Also probably for the better since I lost about $700 in Vegas last time, and that was just the gambling. I was a little sad, but then began looking at booking our trip to Jamaica to celebrate my graduation in November! That's right I said GRADUATION! and JAMAICA!! (anyone is welcome to join us for a week of beach, clear waters, and fruity drinks!)  I started my final semester this past week, which so far has been pretty low key. I still need to get in touch with my preceptor, but she has been unavailable the past 2 weeks due to a commitment with the Army. I can't argue with that, just hope that I can get in touch with her tomorrow and start the 250 clinical hours I need to complete in 12 short weeks. 12 weeks seems so long, yet so close!!!!

I was able to meet up with some girlfriends this past week. We all have little ones, so it is nice to get them together, but more so so we can catch up and talk about how awful parenting can be...I mean I love my child, she does not annoy me at all, she is perfect. You get the sarcasm. It is nice to know that there are other parents out there that have the same troubles as you, and that you are not the only one with a crazy, needy child. Don't get me wrong I love Abby to pieces, but for example, after our little get together (for which she was darling for), we went to Kohl's where she proceeded to have a major melt down, partially for her being overtired (she wouldn't take a nap) and partially because she had a ginormous poopy diaper that she was upset about. I was that parent carrying their squirmy child across the store while she is screaming at the top of her lungs. I got quite a few, "oh, I feel so sorry for you looks." These are the times I am not a fan, but I guess it is a part of parenting, and I'm sure I have many more of these times ahead of me. I can't wait until she is a teenager.

I would have to say that the good times with Abby definitely outweigh the bad. Take for example this weekend, she finally started making animal noises. I have been working with her on this FOR EVER!!! We usually work on puppy, cat, pig, sheep, cow. But Saturday she was playing with her toy snake and we were telling her that the snake says "HISS" No sooner had we told her this, did she repeat it and then make the sound if you asked her what the snake says. Its cute, she puts her teeth together and has this sneaky grin on her face when she makes the noise. I asked her this morning after a whole night of sleeping what the snake says, and with only a little hesitation she made the "hiss" noise. She's so stinkin' cute sometimes.

Here's another example of her being stinkin' cute. She decided that she wanted to put this basket on her head and run around into things. It was pretty funny, and was even better that after she ricocheted off whatever she ran into she would laugh, grab the basket, put it over her head and run around again.

We also made a family trip to Minnehaha falls. I love this place, especially since we can take Dexter with and eat at Sea Salt. We also wondered around and found the mini wading pool they have there. I came prepared and brought Abby's swimsuit. We headed to the pool and she just stood there. When I tried to move her further into the water, she screamed. When I tried to have her touch the bubbling water, she cried. Little steps...maybe we will try a beach again. She likes sand. It was a nice way to spend our Saturday, especially since we have not had a weekend to ourselves in over a month.
 

Dexter wasn't allowed to be in by the pool, so poor Andrew looked like the creeper taking photos of the kids in the kiddo pool. 

Just hanging around in the grass with her best friend Dexter.

Slamming her drink at Sea Salt. 

Our crazy weekend schedule starts up this coming weekend again. Andrew has a bachelor party and I am meeting up with some great college roommates in Wisconsin Dells. The next weekend will be spend up north for "El Norte" and then its a Chicago wedding!!This summer is flying by! Which I will take though, because the sooner the summer is over the sooner I am to graduation!!!

The little "mine-o-saur"

I can not believe it has been over a month since my last post. We have been very busy this past month and it is looking like the rest of the summer will be the same. How the time flies. To sum up the past month, I think a picture dump will be appropriate, and maybe a little writing.

This past week we celebrated the 4th of July up in Lakewood, Wisconsin at my parents "cabin on the lake" for the whole week. This was a much deserved break for Andrew and myself, since we had been on the go the 3 weeks prior. I just finished up my semester at school, which I can proudly say I got straight A's in!!, and now only have 1 more semester before I become an NP!!!! October cannot come fast enough!! Our week at the cabin was great! Jenny and Drew came for the 1st weekend, and somehow Andrew and Drew managed to win about $800 (combined) at the casino playing craps. I can say that I did not loose any of my own money....it pays to be married sometimes. We had a great time with them!

Yes, that is a "bark collar" on Andrew. Both Andrew and Drew now know that it actually works. (Drinks were involved)

Andrew's parents joined us for 3 days up at the cabin and we enjoyed having them up there and taking Abby to the beach! She loves the beach....the water, not so much. She loved splashing on the shore in the water so I decided to carry her into the water. I was definitely "that" mom on the beach trying to get her child in the water while they are screaming.  I eventually gave up and put her back on the beach. Hopefully Abby does not become a "dock diva" and warms up to swimming in lakes, because I see many more trips up to the cabin in her future.

What did Grandma put in her drink??

We were then joined by my brother and his family for a day. During this time we learned that Abby is a tiny "mine-o-saur" Let me explain. There is a book called the mine-o-saur. A mine-o-saur is a dinosaur that likes to always have all the toys, blah blah, none of the other dinosaurs like him because he steals all the toys; moral to the story, share toys and you will have friends. Well, Abby being an only child and 1 year old, is a complete mine-o-saur. We brought up her pink chair to use, and while my brother's sweet little 10 month old (Kristen) was trying to use it, my little mine-o-saur decided that she did not like this and proceeded to go over to "her" chair and cry and have a mini melt down because someone else was in it. Oh my, we really need to work on sharing. Lucky for us, Kristen is a 2nd child and is used to having things stolen away from her and went on her business finding another toy to play with. Sharing, we must work on sharing....

Besides Abby not sharing, it was great to have them up there for the day. We were also joined by my parents and we enjoyed drinks, sitting on the lake, and doing random chores around the house. Yes, I said chores. All those things I hated doing when I was little, I now actually take pleasure in doing, like hauling and burning wood. Best part about our little vacation though, was getting Abby her 1st ice cream cone!!! She wasn't too fond of the cold at first, but she warmed up to it and before we knew it, it was dripping everywhere!!! I see many more trips to the ice cream place in town when we visit!!

Hanging out with Grandpa, before trying the water again.

We rented a paddle board. Lots of fun, and much easier to do on a calm lake than in an ocean!

Sitting in the Kayak, not quite big enough to take a ride out in the lake yet.

 Getting used to the shallow water with Grandma. 

Just playing with toys outside. 

Big smile!!

Trying the water again!!

Going in the water again, and Dexter looking for fish or dragonflies to chase. 

Down we go, not as much screaming as the first time, but still not happy.

Just hauling some wood. 

Playing in some water, she's happy playing in it when she's not getting dunked. 

BUBBLES!!!! 

Exploding Bubble!

 ICE CREAM!!!!!

 Annual Family Picture