Abby's reaction to the Berkshire Highlanders

Here is a cute little video from our bagpipe adventure on Mount Greylock.  Abby was a little leary of the bagpipers as they marched by but quickly warmed when they stayed in one place (though she needed to hug mama every time a new song started- the sudden jerk of music was a little startling.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTY69QmKVqo

Pictures from vacation!

We had a wonderful and relaxing vacation- we completely earned the down time too as Abby contracted pink eye days before the trip while both Leif and I were working crazy hours- we barely pulled it all together- but we did!   Here are some pics from our beautiful week at the lake in Western, MA.  Our vacation featured 95 degree weather for a couple of days (thankfully we had the lake to battle the lack of air conditioning in the cabin!) and a trip to the top of Mount Greylock to see the Berkshire Highlanders.  We took Abby strawberry picking for the first time ever- she was a natural- very picky with what she took and careful around the plants.  :)  My dad's childhood friend Rick visited for a day with his wife Paula.  We had not seen them since my baby shower!   On the last day of our vacation we even had a surprise visit from my mom's cousin Steve (who is expecting a new baby girl in a week and a half!) my great aunt Jean (who will NEVER cease to amaze me...) and my mom's cousin Susan (who is quite possibly one of the most interesting people in the world.)  Abby took well to all of the visitors although she is quite clingy for her mom these days.  We were able to soak up Abby- watch all of her developments uninterrupted.  While at the lake she learned how to say "stink" and hold her nose.  She learned that if she does this- she is almost immediately picked up because we think she needs a diaper change- she is using that knowledge to her advantage.  :)  She is also using everything as a phone- and I mean everything- from kernels of corn to pieces of paper, she picks them all up to her ear and says, "Hello?"  Abby worked a lot at saying "I love you" and can do a pretty good job of it now. :) Abby had her first experience with a bull frog thanks to her Auntie Mandy catching her one.  The frog actually jumped on her twice- quite startling for her at the time- but they made friends before the end of vacation.  Abby watched lots of ducks, salamanders, and fish on the beach.  She played in the sand and water tirelessly, took her first kayak ride around the cove, and took many a boat ride in Papa's motor boat.  We had a wonderful break.  Here are some pics of our adventures! :)

 On the top of Mount Greylock!

 Playing with Papa on the beach and fishing with Papa

 Trying Asian cuisine (it was a hit!)

 Mount Greylock- the hill was covered in beautiful yellow flowers, the sun was just starting to fall, and the bagpipes were BEAUTIFUL!

 Abby's new deck chair that Auntie got her :)

 enjoying a drink on the deck

 tuckered out!  This is Abby's onesie that daycare made for their Father's day show :)

 Life is good.

 Family on vacation!!!

 Our beautiful dock & raft

sleeping angel :)

The lake!

The Dugans are a little busy these days and that is a gross understatement.  Truthfully, we have too much going on.  We were, however, able to escape for a couple nights this past weekend and spent them in the serene woods of Western, MA at my family's cabin in Huntington.  Here is a pic and a couple videos from the weekend.  We will be heading down for a week's stay this weekend and cannot wait to be able to breath a bit and wind down and focus on some quality family time.

Abby meets an orange salamander!
Abby playing in the water

We moved!

Phew!  What a weekend!  Leif and I, with the immense amount of help from Leif's friend Patrick and Mandy, packed and moved our old apt on Thursday.  This task was no joke.  :)  It took us all day Thursday to pack the rented U-Haul, drive it to the new place, and bring everything in to the new house- I use the word "everything" loosely though as it took Leif and I the rest of the weekend to pack the remaining items and clean the old apartment up.  :)  We are exhausted- and a bit overwhelmed (I also use the term "a bit" loosely) and also so grateful for our new place.  We moved 2 houses down the street from our complex- pretty convenient location, eh?  :)  Our new place has 3 bedrooms, a kitchen, living room, and proper dining room, a basement, deck, and back yard.  It is an absolute dream.  We've met our very sweet neighbors Barry & Erin- they have a new baby Maggie and are very tired but happy- we can relate.  :)  Abby and Orion are adjusting to the new place- Abby had a tough day on Friday but was happy to be in her new home with her mom and dad for the weekend.  We had new living room furniture delivered on Friday- it is GORGEOUS- and bought a patio table for our deck on Saturday (as well as some soon-to-be yummy patio veggie plants...)  We still have a ton of unpacking to do but things have been relatively smooth so far.  We'll try to snap and post some pics of the new place once it is more assembled.  :)

pictures from mother's day

My wonderful Auntie E (Aunt Amy) took some beautiful pictures on mother's day- she is an excellent photographer.  Here are a couple to share- it was a beautiful day in my mom and dad's backyard- Leif and I felt so lucky to be able to spend the day with both of our moms (and my nanie!!! and of course, the men, my auntie e, cousin mikey- basically we were lucky to have such wonderful company)  :)

I swear, the men did not drink all of that wine.... ;)

Baby Carly is HOME!

Just a quick note for those who know about our friends Nikki & Francis.  Nikki had their daughter  Carly at 32 weeks- Carly picked her own birthday for sure.  She's been in the NICU since she was born on 4/20- strong and determined as can be.  Today little Miss Carly headed home!!! :)  She's beautiful and we're so happy for Nikki and Francis! :)

Leif and I in the midst of moving- we're slated to be in our new place next weekend!!  We promise to post pictures and more Abby stories and videos as soon as things have calmed down and we're settled. :)

Sending love to all!!!

A Mother's Day Promise

This mother's day I have a year of motherhood under my belt.  Motherhood has been such an amazing journey- the surprises (like just how many outfits an infant can require for a day), the triumphs (Abby's first night sleeping through the night), the highs (the peace and comfort of a sleeping baby on your chest), the lows (spit up all over the outfits of mama and baby on a morning where we're already running 10 minutes late)- I have experienced so much in my 13 months of motherhood.  For mother's day this year, I wanted to write some promises to my dear daughter.

As your mommy, Abby, I promise:

1) I will never stop loving you.  No matter how naughty you've been, how frustrating a situation can be, or how heart-broken I can feel, I promise to never, not even for a second, stop loving you with all of my heart.  There is nothing that you could do to change that.

2) I will always believe in you and everything that you do and want to be.  Please never mistake my questioning for not believing- I just want to know more.

3) You will always be my baby.

4) No matter how big you've grown, there will always be a spot on my lap for you.

5) I will at some point tell a story about you that will embarrass you.  Please know that I know not what I do- I just love you so much- and I think that everything you do is note-worthy.

6) I will fight for you.  The love of a mother is fierce and burning.  I will fight with every inch of my being for you.

7) I will always make time to smell the flowers.  Though parenthood is unbelievably hectic at times, I promise to always take time to smell the flowers with you, to go for an evening stroll, spend a little extra time on the beach, camp a little longer in the tent, and be accountable to you.

8) I will try to not give you the reason, "because I said so".

9) You are beautiful- inside and out- and I will remind you of this beauty all the time- especially when you're a teenager.

10) I will take you traveling.  There is so much to see in the world- and I want to experience it and expand with you and your daddy.  We'll be a group of traveling fools together.  ;)

11) I will try to instill in you the most precious values that I know- gratitude, acceptance, strength, confidence, love, good faith, and patience.

12) I will always tell you I love you- even in front of your friends.  This may embarrass you at times but in the end, love gets us through it all- and there is no sentence more beautiful and reassuring than "I love you".

13) I will teach you my life essentials- how to do your laundry, wash the dishes, cook spaghetti, grow a plant from seed, sew a button back on, start and maintain a campfire (and assemble a tent), and how to laugh at yourself.

14) I will try to let you own just about any pet that you want- we'll have to discuss guinea pigs though- I just don't get them.

15) I will be there when you experience your first heart break.  Your grammy rocked me through the tears of mine, and I'll do the same for you.

16) I will teach you how to give.  I will do everything in my power to show you how to care for your fellow being.  What you put in to the world is returned to you ten-fold.

17) I will listen to you.  I will put down what I'm doing and actively engage in your conversation- I will try with all of my might to do this every time you want to tell me something.  Your words are important.

You and your daddy are oh so precious to me and I couldn't be happier to be your mom, Abigail Ann.  Thank you for making me a mother.  :)

I would also like to wish all of the mothers in my life a very happy mother's day- especially Leif and my moms- we couldn't do this without the two of you and we don't tell you that enough.  We love you both dearly and can't wait to celebrate mother's day with you! :)  xoxoxox