Abby is Three!

Abby's birthday celebration has been spread out over several weeks this year, mostly because Ryan and I left town and went to Kansas during her and Randy's birthday week.

We started the celebration by going to Red Robin at the end of February. Randy had received his free meal coupon, and so we went there for dinner on a Friday night. Our kind waitress gave both Randy and Abby complimentary ice cream sundaes, and the RR employees sang Happy Birthday to them.


Randy and Abby standing as they are sung to.





Randy and Abby also went out for special birthday meals while Ryan and I were away.

Then this past Sunday, March 14th, we had a simple birthday party for Abby after church. I made a cake and brought ice cream, and we all sang Happy Birthday to her (she was shy and hid in Mommy's shoulder during the singing). Her birthday guests included G&G Small, U. Doug, A. Annette, and cousins Alyssa, Annika, and Annaliese, surrogate grandparents Gary and Mary Jennings, and of course Daddy, Mommy, and brother Ryan. Abby got to open some presents at this party. The silly girl did the same trick she did at Christmas when she was opening presents! She opened the first one, was very happy with it, so she showed it around and then was ready to settle in and be done opening presents. We had to convince her that she had MORE presents to open!



Cousins Annika and Alyssa on hand to help Abby open presents and celebrate.


Abby laying in Daddy's bed with her dollies and special blankie. This is a tradition that Daddy started with her. She doesn't last long, but the event always ends with lots of "Goodnight Sweetheart" and "I love you!" and kisses. They both love the ritual!


The next morning, we discovered that Abby had gotten out of bed sometime during the night and found her bag of treasures and brought it to bed with her. The funny thing is, she dumped her pillows on the floor to make room for the bag! (see the 2nd picture for the full effect). Silly girl!



Abby received lots of nice cards, money, and presents for her birthday, but the best present of all (in Mommy and Daddy's opinion) came from God Himself! Tonight we discovered that SHE'S GETTING ANOTHER TOOTH!!! One of the front incisor teeth (just to the left of her front center teeth) is coming in!!! Once this tooth is in, she will only be missing one tooth. Only God can do something like that! As I prayed with Abby tonight, I thanked God for the tooth and thanked Him for caring about little things like sparrows, the hairs on our head, and teeth.

We serve such a loving and awesome God!!!