Bathing Beauty

I invested $9.99 in a blow-up baby pool, and we tried it out last weekend!!  Once Daddy added in some nice warm water, she was a big fan and loved splashing around and playing with the various things I threw in the pool for her.  I think we're going to hit a big pool next week!

Father's Day, Rice Cereal, and Grandparents...

Father's Day was so fun- I'm still amazed that I'm married to Jake Gross, much less the mama of his baby!  He is such an incredible daddy, and I am so grateful and amazed by how he makes our family his first priority, even when he has tons of Ph.D. work to do on top of a busy job! We had such a sweet day on Sunday celebrating him and just enjoying some family time in the middle of a busy month for Jake.

On Saturday, we started the child on rice cereal and expected big drama, since Abby Jane has definite tastes and opinions on life in general.  We were amazed to see her enjoy her cereal!  She doesn't eat a whole lot before she decides she's done, but she sure enjoys what she eats... and enjoys grabbing the spoon to hurry mama up with the whole feeding process...

Sandy and Ken (Mimi and Pop Pop) came in town this week to play for a few days.  Jake and I were thrilled to see Abby Jane be HAPPY with someone other than us for the first time since this clingy phase started.  She was very settled with them both, which we all enjoyed!  We had a great time having them here.

I've tried to avoid the semi-naked pictures, but I couldn't resist- I had taken off her nightgown while she was playing the other day to start some laundry, and she was just so cute playing that I had to capture my blue-eyed baby.  Sorry Abby Jane!

Here's one of my girl just happy and playing while taking a break from tummy time.  Jake says I think I'm Abby Jane's personal trainer (when she's trying to roll, I say, "Push, girl, push!") Maybe I'm living out a fantasy or something.

Four months and getting ready for Sammy...

On Saturday, we had Lesley's baby shower- Sammy is coming next month!  It was such a sweet time and perfect weather, fabulous food, great fellowship with a wonderful turn-out of friends, and such precious gifts!  We missed our dear friend Kathryn, who's on staff with Crusade and on summer project in New Jersey until next month- she's the only thing that would have made the day better!  Below are Lesley with the hostesses.  

On Sunday, Abby Jane turned four months!  She is getting so big- her legs kind of hang off our laps now.  Jake thinks she doesn't look like an infant any more.

My mom sent this outfit- notice the personalized tulips- I love it!
Outside continues to be her happy place...

I have also been meaning to tell about Jake's fabulous babysitting last week.  I had a meeting at church, and Jake and Abby Jane had a WONDERFUL daddy/daughter night.  They played outside, had dessert with our neighbors Jarrett and Katie, drank a sippy cup, took a bath, went to sleep, and she slept through the night!  Sleeping through the night is thankfully no longer newsworthy, but doing it with only a sippy cup as her pre-bedtime nourishment definitely is!  YEA!  Jake is such a wonderful daddy.

The other great thing that happened last week is that she laughed without us trying to make her laugh for the first time.  What was so funny to be her first independent finding of humor?  I sneezed while we were getting her ready for bed.  She thought it was hilarious and laughed and laughed.  Which made us laugh, which made her laugh, and it was generally a very funny moment.  

One challenge we do continue to have is Abby Jane's "clingy-ness"- she frequently does not tolerate being passed around or even held by folks other than Jake or I very well at all.  Sometime she does great, especially if we're within sight, but often she hits amazing decibels if she's not with one of us.  I am open to any suggestions!  

Coming tomorrow...

My niece, Ashley Elizabeth, is going to join the world tomorrow!  Susan's doctor wants to induce in the morning.  What's ironic is that tomorrow is also my sister-in-law Susan's birthday!  And Scott's 5th birthday (their oldest)!  And my big sister, Jodi's!  No kidding- four birthdays on one day!  If my brother forgets May 29th, there would be no man on earth in bigger trouble.  Seriously, what are the odds for four people to share the same birthday, and three in one immediate family?!  All odds aside, we can't wait to meet Ashley!

Ash, Joy, and Mallory Jonas came out to visit last week- we had such a great time with them!  OK, so it's obvious that Mallory is beautiful, but she is also such a sweet-spirited little girl!  It was such a delight to spend time with them and get to know such a darling young lady!!!  Here are Mallory and Abby Jane on the beach...

Mallory and Joy- it started out pretty cold, but warmed up when the sun came out!

Action shot of Ash learning to surf- you can see Jake's head behind the wave!

Here is a picture from a Memorial Day picnic... Jen (on my left), and Lesley (on my right) are due in July with more friends for Abby Jane.

I took this one yesterday- I was getting dinner ready for a group of Jake's students who were coming over and plopped Abby Jane in her Bumbo with a friend from my Aunt Gretchen to

 look at.    Her hair is starting to look blonde in the front...

My last update is that my crazy child continues to refuse the bottle.  But she has decided that a sippy cup is OK by her!  It's a pretty messy process, but it's a BIG step in the Gross family!

After-work beach picnic last week

Look at me holding my head up like a champ!

They keep making me practice that rolling over thing- it's hard work!!

My favorite man in the world...

What about BOB

Traditionally, Abby Jane is not a fan of carseats, strollers, or anything with straps not attached to a human.  But today, we took our morning walk with BOB Revolution jogger instead of her Bjorn.  And it was a fabulous success!  She even fell asleep, which is one of the purposes of her morning walk.  It was so exciting!  So we'll let her get used to the BOB a bit more, then let her join me on my runs!  

A Visit and Four Accomplishments

Fittingly, Mama came out for the week before Mother's Day on a visit that included one of the best beach days yet, Sunday brunch at Coogie's, Mom doing some damage in my favorite shopping district in Santa Monica (Montana Ave.), and free babysitting during small group!  

Mama left on Thursday, and since then Abby Jane has done four big things... 1. She sat in her baby seat for the first time!  I think it's so cute to see her sitting all by herself- she seems to think it's relatively fun, too. 

2. On Friday afternoon, she rolled over from her tummy to her back for the first time!  3.  She started putting her hands together and holding them.  Sometimes it looks like she's going to launch into Sound of Music- it's so funny!  On the topic of hands, she is enjoying putting her fist/knuckles into her mouth these days as well.  4.  She has graced us with a delightful, discernible laugh!  Before then, she just would breathe really fast when she got excited.  But now, not every time, but sometimes when she's doing her huge, open-mouthed smile, she has cackled.  Today it made me tear up because it was such a beautiful sound.  And I wasn't even doing anything exciting at the moment to encourage it!  Alas, she still isn't a bottle-taker, but we still love her.

On Saturday, we went down the hill to the Malibu Pier- here's a cute daddy/daughter moment...

Then we went to the big field at the base of campus called Alumni Park for some grass-time for Abby Jane, her favorite part of the whole day other than eating...

Mother's Day was so wonderful!  Abby Jane gave me a full night's sleep, which happens a few times a week now.  After church, Jake took us girls to Coral Tree Cafe in Brentwood, which is a great little spot where you can sit outside (and it turned out they had complimentary champagne for mamas!)  Then it was onto Montana Ave., where I was treated to a couple of fun things!  I love Mother's Day- Jake made me feel like a million dollars, and I've only been mothering three months.  

Please continue to pray for my friend Katherine (see previous posting and http://www.katherinewolf.info/).  I was thinking about her yesterday and how she should be out celebrating her first Mother's Day, not in the ICU.  

I know I've been "tagged", and I promise to follow through in the near future, but I think our small group would be more appreciative tonight if I used the remainder of naptime for a shower...