Update on Our Little Dancer

Well- As you know- if you have read the previous post, Abby Anne's first night of dance was a little emotional and rocky....with not a whole lot of danicing going on!! We decided to give it the month of September to see if she improves. I am so happy to say that her 2nd night of dance was a huge improvement!! She tried to give Momma a good "fake" cry when I dropped her off, I am sure just to make me feel bad, and then, somehow-the tears just instantly turned off! Funny how kids can do that! She didn't cry the entire time!! After the hour was up, here came her class, all lined up, one by one- and there was my little Abby Anne- right in line walking right behing the others...being such a big girl. She was excited to show Mommy and Daddy her star sticker and tootise roll that she got for being such a good dancer. Her teacher told me that she definitely made progress- and she even got down and danced by herself! I knew my little dancer had it in her!!!

Our Little Dancer

Abby Anne started dance last Thursday night. The first night was...well...a little chaotic to say the least. Can you imagine a dance studio full of about 15-20 toddlers all gearing up for their first night of dance? I wish I could say that Abby Anne went in there and danced her shoes off that first night- but the truth of the matter is....she wouldn't let her teacher let her down the entire hour- so I am not sure how much dancing Abby Anne actually did! I have paid for the month of September- so we will see how the next three weeks go! Regardless- we are proud of our little dancer!!

ABBY ANNE IS GOING TO BE A BIG SISTER!!

"If you ask for anything in my name, you will receive it." John 14:14- this verse is marked in my Bible and has the date August 2, 2008. On that day, we began praying that the Lord would give us another baby and allow us to be pregnant soon! This is a verse that Stephen and I have claimed over the past month. We are so excited to announce that the Carlisle family is growing! We will be adding baby #2 this spring (Beginning of May or end of April.) As many of you know, being pregnant, and even trying to get pregnant is very hard for me. I have a genetic disorder called PKU that requires you to be on a very strict diet when trying to have a baby and especially throughout your pregnancy. I also have to take between 50 and 100 pills each day that contain a formula that helps my body breakdown protein in my body and keep my phe levels low. I know this is all very confusing to most people and very hard for me to explain. But basically it just means I have to really watch what I eat- foods very low in protein- since my body can't break it down on it's own. I go in weekly to have blood tests to see what my levels are. They are supposed to be under 6 throughout the pregnancy...last week it was 4.8. This is a high risk pregnancy-just as Abby Anne's was....but I got through that fine and I know we will make it through this one as well. It does stress me out sometimes to think that the well being of my baby depends on me controlling my level- but I can do it- "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me..." and I know it will be worth it when that healthy baby is here this spring. Our prayers have been so clearly answered....It amazes me when the Lord so clearly shows himself to us. I can not tell you how excited we are!! Please pray for the Carlisle family- all 4 of us- throughout the next months! God is so good!!!

Our Day at the Zoo!

On Labor Day, we decided to take advantage of Stephen having the day off of work! It isn't often that he gets to take off- so we decided to make the day all about Abby Anne. We are members of the Little Rock Zoo- so we go every chance we get. We went a lot throughout the spring and then that Arkansas summer hit- so we weren't able to go as much. Labor Day was the perfect day for the zoo- we went in the morning before the heat hit, and there was a nice little breeze. Stephen and I were amazed at how much more interested Abby Anne is in the animals NOW then she was just a few months ago! Abby Anne loves feeding the fish (or as she says (Bish.) It is definitely one of her favorite things to do at the zoo and something we just have to do each time we visit. In fact, on Labor Day, Abby Anne got to feed the fish a whopping 4 times- thanks to the 4 quarters in Daddy's pocket. Abby Anne also loves the elephants (or the Boom Booms.) She will just sit and stare at those huge animals forever. She is also fascinated with the huge turtles. On Labor Day, Abby Anne got to watch the turtle eat his breakfast. Abby Anne has made friends with the giraffe at the zoo. When the giraffe is in its house, he will come up to the window, and he and Abby Anne will have starting contests. The giraffe also tries to lick Abby Anne through the glass - which she just isn't so sure about! She doesn't like that long, black tounge. We also rode the train. We had a "wild" day at the zoo and enjoyed our family time! These are the times I will treasure for years to come!

Walkin' A Day in Momma's Shoes

I just love this picture. Abby Anne is definitely getting into some of the girly girl things- she enjoys wearing jewlrey, bracelets in particular, carrying a purse, and wearing my shoes. (Sometimes she even tries on Stephen's shoes.) Anything to play dress up! I must say...Abby Anne seems to be following in her Aunt Wendy's footsteps...loving fashion at such a young age. And I definitely think she has got an eye for it...I mean- just look at that outfit she put together!! HAHA!

Shoo Bug....Bye!

Abby Anne is quite the talker these days. She can repeat anything we say...which is kinda scary! Her vocabulary is growing daily. She is now starting to use a lot of sentences, too. It amazes me how she actually knows what words mean and when to use them and how to use them correctly. The other night, we were eating at Dixie Cafe, and Abby Anne had her very own cup of ice water. She took a drink and looked at me with those big blue eyes and said very enthusiastically-"IT'S COLD....MOMMA!" Stephen and I just laughed! She enjoys watching Elmo ALL OF THE TIME...much to our dismay. The first words out of her mouth in the morning are "MELMO...MELMO!" Then she very politely hands me the remote so I can turn it on. She also watches her favorite movie of all time in the car as we travel, Elmo's Potty Time! She has watched this movie so much that she can now sing the songs...the actual words! I will just say that being a "potty video" there are some...well...interesting new words that Abby Anne has picked up. Some of her most recent ones are of course the ever so popular "poo poo" and the not as common "doodie." Perhaps we need to change the video out! Another funny thing she said occurred yesterday at lunch. I had her in her high chair feeding her lunch and there was a fly flying around the table. She looked at it, waved her hand, and said, "Shoo Bug!....Bye!" And then waved! The fly must have known exactly what she was saying because it left!! Abby Anne gives me a new reason to smile and laugh each day!!

Dance! Dance!

Abby Anne will be two on October 16th....she amazes me at what she already knows and loves. She has such a strong personality (which MOST OF THE TIME is a blessing!) She has a new favorite place in our home. In our extra room, that we use as the office, Abby Anne has developed quite an attatchment to the chair and ottoman that sit in that room. If I can't find her- I know where to look. Many times she is sitting, very quietly, propped up in the chair, being quiet as a mouse. Many times, she enjoys watching movies on our computer while she sits in her comfy chair. Yesterday, I put in a Baby Einstein movie for her to watch- Baby Neptune-Discovering Water. Abby Anne watched with delight. Then the classical music came on, and Abby Anne very quickly squirmed off of the chair and reached her arms out to me. "Dance, Dance!!!" She said with a big grin and with a somewhat demanding tone. I reached my hands out to hers, grabbed them, and Abby Anne's smile got even bigger...then she began to dance...side to side...all around. She loved it!!! Abby Anne begins a dance class in September. I can't wait to watch Abby Anne continue to grow and blossom into such a beautiful young lady. I pray that she will always have such a love and excitement for life as she does as an almost two year old dancing to Baby Einstein!