Abby has found her love for shoes.  Her daddy is in trouble now!!  She can say Shoes, shoes, shoes...  She will go get her shoes and bring them to you (or to the front door) to put on; get shoes out of my closet and bring them to me like she's picking out my shoes to wear for the day.  Abby walks around the house with one of either mine or Warren shoes on the wrong foot.  Pretty cute!!

Some people like to avoid their birthdays, others like to announce it from the rooftops.  I'm kinda a middle-of-the-road type of person.  For me it's about people taking the time to remember and going out of their way to say something.  Sure, I like gifts just like the next person but I had a hugely wonderful b-day and little of it had to do with gifts.  Here's a brief recap.

• Phone call from my mom at my approximate birth time (4:00 a.m.)  This is an annual tradition that I've come to love and anticipate.
• Gift on my car from my neighbor and best friend when leaving for work
• HUGE balloon bouquet from my dad delivered to work around 10 a.m.
• Text message from my former boss (also a close friend, mentor, father figure)
• Email birthday wish from a college buddy whom I haven't talked to in a couple of years.  Delightful surprise!
• More text messages from friends
• Flowers and lunch date with my hubby
• MANY cards and birthday wishes from staff, coworkers, and residents
• Homemade card from "Abby" when I got home (isn't my husband AWESOME!)
• Package from my mom when I got home
• Date to Red Lobster for dinner
• Numerous phone calls from friends & family throughout the evening
• Chocolate ice cream to round off the evening

There's nothing here that is outrageous but I think this is one of the best birthdays I've had!  Thanks to all!

It feels a bit surreal to be blogging about my daughter's first birthday.  The cliche' where did the time go or time flies doesn't even sum the reality up.  Wasn't it a few days ago that I was announcing to my readers that our munchkin was indeed Abigail Mahree?  Oh,.... 

I shall move on before I digress even further...  Abby's birthday was great fun.  Her actual birthday was on a Thursday.  She got to wear a special birthday girl shirt, visited Mommy at work to show off, and go a really big cupcake balloon.  But the real adventure was held on Saturday when we invited all the family and our neighbor friends.  It was a great success!  7 little ones ranging for 2 weeks old to 5 ran around eating snow cones, chasing bubbles and having a grand time.  Abby had her first cake (strawberry cupcake) and lots of new toys were opened. 

Abigail moved into a converter car seat a few weeks before her birthday.  Since these we delivered to our house they came in two big boxes.  These boxes have provided hours of entertainment.  They have become a tunnel, hiding place for Abby.  Even during the birthday party, the kids climbed in and out of these two boxes.  While Abby has enjoyed all the new and exciting toys from the baby dolls to the singing book and cell phone, her favorite is the outdoor swing.  Part of the reason is because it allows her to be outside and she feels independent because no one is holding her all the while "soaring" through the air in her swing.

Abby's one year checkup went well. The doctor told us what we already knew; Abby's small and is only in the 10% on the growth chart.  Doctor's not worried because she's been in this small section since the 3rd month or so.  As he said, she's maintaining, she's just petite.  I'm not sure where she gets that but we'll take it. 

We've taken some pictures the last few weeks that I want to edit and will then post as her one year pictures.  Until then, have a great week!