Going Pro...

Hey everyone!  We've been laying pretty low around here... but we know how you love your updates, so we thought it was about time we got one for you.  Plus, how often do you get to publish a post on LEAP day.  (Yeah, yeah - once every four years...) 

One of the most exciting pieces of news is that I have taken my dancing career pro.  I have started ballet class - and my talents are finally being recognized and refined.  We went to my first class at the end of January - and Mom was STUNNED to be handed a note that said "To help our young dancers concentrate we will ask all parents to drop their dancer off outside the studio...." WHAT?!  DROP OFF?! 


Issue #1:  Mom was kind of hoping for a fun Mommy-and-me Saturday morning activity.
Issue #2: (The true issue) As you can see, I am seriously adorable in my ballet leotard and tutu - the purchase of and opportunity to dress me in such things were 90% of the motivators to participate in ballet class - and you aren't even going to let mom hang around and hear everyone tell me how cute I am?!  Seems wrong on so many levels to me....  (but here, in this great photo my Grandpa Howe took of me - you can see and comment on how great I am - I was more than happy to show off my skills to them when they came to visit one weekend.)

It turns out that I LOVE ballet class ... and it didn't bother me ONE small bit to be on my own.  I take off down the hallway and sometimes toss Mom and Hayley an afterthought of a wave and then I'm off to perfect my dancing skills. 


Unfortunately for you, blog friends, that means that there is a true picture shortage.  So here's a video clip from my first class, and that'll have to satisfy you until Mom is allowed back in during my last class - the big PERFORMANCE.  I've been told scouts from Julliard will be there...



In other news this month:  Hayley got baptized!

The church takes pictures of the whole family at these events - so since we were all in them - we don't have any of them!  We'll try to post them when they are sent to us.  But Grandma and Grandpa Howe came for the big event - and so did Nana and Auntie Em - and of course our boyfriends Tucker and Evan (oh - and their parents) came to check me out on my big day.  Which was good - because for a normally easy going, laid back baby - I had quite an issue with being doused with water. 

I did the "scream and cry" thing while everyone in the church just laughed.  Really - I don't have a lot of hair here people - and what I do have takes a lot of effort to "style" - so I just can't have random people dumping water on me.  (Grandpa captured this great photo too!)



Then the next major holiday was Valentine's Day!  Ta-da!!!  We got gifts, obviously!  Who wouldn't want to be our Valentine?!

In skills I have acquired since our last post - I love to clap my hands, I show "SO BIG!", I slap my hands to my head when you say "OH NO!" - and my cheeks remain absolutely amazing.  I don't crawl (yet) but I like to cruise around on a sofa or an ottoman... provided of course that you pick me up and stand me there.  It sure looks like I have every intention of skipping all the steps that lead to walking and just jetting off one day...

We had our boyfriends over for a little Valentine exchange and then we tried to get a good picture with them - you know - cute material for the eventual wedding slide shows... Alas - "cute pictures" were not to materialize that day - but here are a few winners from the "outtakes" pile...

 Hmm.  From the looks of this:  "He's just not that into you"...

But Tucker seems very into Abby with a sweet hug...

Which Abby obviously responds to with a gentle smooch (YIKES!!!!!)

Tucker:  "YUCK!  EW!  Get these girl cooties off of me!"

Abby: "WHAT?!  You hugged me?!  JEEZ!!  Talk about mixed signals..."

To wrap up February we took a family trip to see Disney on Ice.  Everyone thought it would be princess-obsessed Abby who LOVED the show - but we BOTH loved the show.  I danced and bounced in Daddy's lap while Abby turned around to Mommy squealing with shock and delight to see all her favorite characters signing and dancing.  It was a fantastic outing - (and if you ask me - Mom and Dad thought it was pretty fantastic too).

I did manage to meet one more major milestone this month - I used my first (real) sign!!  For a while now I've used ASL - Abby Sign Language when I'm done with a meal.  I whisper what sounds VERY close to "All Done" and then I rip off my bib and hand it to Mom.  The chance of me changing that one over to the correct sign for "All Done" is seeming slim... but then one day Callie walked into the room AND....

(The sign for dog is to pat your leg like you're calling your dog) - and wouldn't you also say that that was a very definite attempt to SAY dog?!  Genius. 

We hope you've all had a fabulous February!!