Abigail is such a bright spot in our family's life. She is a joy. An exasperation. Truly one-of-a-kind. I have a hard time even trying to describe this little radiant, enchanting imp who alternately skips, gallops, and dances through her days!
On Mother's Day, Uncle Dave and Aunt Joyce were in town and at the family dinner at Marc's parents' house. Abigail was in fine form--our little social butterfly. She's got brains, beauty, and the cutest little personality you'll ever meet! Uncle Dave came up to me and said, "That Abigail is quite a character. It's like she's right out of a storybook and I want to put her in my pocket and take her with me." That same day, I have been told, after we left there was a discussion of how we could monetize this child's charm. It's true, if there was a way to buy a little Abigail in your life, I know it would be a best-seller. Everyone needs a little of her.
Having a two-year-old helps you see a reflection of yourself. She is a little imitator. I love to watch her sing and blow kisses when putting her stuffed animals to bed. I will take credit for that because I have to take the blame when she is pretending to change her stuffed animal's diaper and exclaims, "Dang it! I got poop on my hand!"
Abigail, channeling her inner 30-year-old, announces that "Anna is so adorable!" and tells everyone "Anna is seven months." She loves to come up to Anna, squeeze her, put her face inches from Anna's and say, "Hi Anna, hiiiii!!" in a happy voice.
After visiting Grandma Donna (and getting a ride home in the convertible), I took Abigail with me to pick up Joseph in our 2001 mini van. She said, "Let's put the top down, Mommy!" I wish we could, little girl.
She says the cutest things in her little expressive voice with bright, happy eyes. After I hopped out of the shower, she said, "Mommy, you are so fresh and clean!" She randomly asks cheerily, "How are you doing today?" or driving along, "It's a beautiful day Mommy!" or when we arrive at our destination, "We made it!" with pure delight. Another favorite of mine, "Mommy can you do me a favor?"
She likes to play doctor and asks me to "Take a deep breath" over and over again.
She loves shoes. Trying on grown-up shoes, wearing different shoes that she owns for inappropriate occasions (rain boots with a dress on a blazing how day, Sunday shoes to the park, ...)
She loves to sing and dance. Yesterday, I cheered for her after she finished a dancing performance. She then sat down on the floor, leaned back against the couch and instructed me to dance, after which she clapped and cheered.
One day, Marc asked her to stop doing something she wasn't supposed to be doing. He said it in a gentle voice, but Abigail reprimanded him, "Don't shout at me, Daddy!"
If Abigail is upstairs and I'm downstairs and it gets a little quiet, I always ask, "Abigail, what are you doing?" If the answer is "nuffing," then I race upstairs as quickly as I can!
This morning as I was lying in bed nursing Anna, Abigail was playing next to the bed--trying on my shoes as she usually does. She put a shirt over her head and took Anna's hand. "Hi Anna. Nice to meet you. I'm Mary. Do you like my hair?"
Abigail has a make-believe friend, Louie. I've overheard her telling Louie, "Wait just a minute. Can you be patient?"
Abigail loves to be read to--currently her favorites are any of the
Babybug books,
Pete the Cat, and Mother Goose rhymes. I love it when she reads/sings along with me.
Abigail loves to play hopscotch. Somehow, Abigail believes hopscotch is when you stand on the couch and fall face first into the pillows below.
When Abigail gets nervous or self-conscious (which almost always happens when she meets a grown-up for the first time and they speak directly to her) she puts her finger up her nose. It is an amazingly effective way to keep people from getting too close to her. I've even stopped trying to stop her. Obviously, she feels threatened and wants to keep people back. She's got her unique ways, I tell you.
I love my Abigail. She whispers, "I like you and I love you, Mommy." And I feel the same about her!