Abigail's 18 Month Pictures

A Few Ocean City Pics

We are having a great vacation! We have been enjoying boardwalk fries, the beach, drinks, crabs, and fresh tuna (the boys went deep sea fishing and caught a 48 lb tuna which we are eating for dinner tonight)! We have had some amazing meals here!!! Abigail loves the beach more than we ever imagined! We are trying to download a great video we got of Abigail. She runs to the water and screams so loud...she really has the whole beach laughing at her! And she can't get enough of the sand...she even likes to eat it! :) We are leaving tomorrow and heading to Washington DC to have lunch at a Top Chef restaurant, do a memorial or two, and catch the Cubs game! Then on Sunday it's time to head home to Illinois...and start planning our next trip here!


Abigail and Grandma enjoying time at the beach together


A FIERCE game of mini golf!



Building a sand castle with mommy




Daddy carrying all our beach goodies..including the beach princess! Our condo is in the background (2nd floor).



She loves having her legs buried!

Daddy bought Abigail a present...a big stuffed crab! So cute!!!!

More pics to come!

Having a great time!!!!!

We are having a great time in Ocean City, Maryland! We have spent a lot of time at the beach...Abigail can't get enough of the sand and ocean! She pulls anyone's hand she sees towards the door so she can go the beach. We have eaten LOTS of crabs, enjoyed some great Thrasher fries on the Boardwalk, and are enjoying our time together!!!!

Wish you were here!

Red, White, Blue..Sun and a Little Rain too!

We had a great 4th of July weekend at Bass Lake. The weather was beautiful on Friday and Sunday...unfortunately it rained all day Saturday and we were stuck inside most of the day and night...but the rest of the weekend was beautiful and made up for the rainy day!

Family Picture


Loving all her toys at the lake


Daddy and Abigail driving the boat. Abigail sporting her bikini. (I would like to make a footnote that if you see Abigail on the boat without her life jacket, it's because we are just sitting on the boat at the pier. Whenever the boat is moving, she has her life jacket on!!!!)



Abigial's 4th of July outfit...too bad it was too cold so she had to wear a jacket and pants all day

Kodak Moment

Abigial's new toy...Thanks to friends at the lake!

Wow...loving the sand!

The boat is much more fun when we aren't moving!

Papa and Abigail

Kramer got a haircut. He looked very handsome!

Boat Time with Nana and Daddy (I think this is about the time Kramer tried to jump off the boat so we had to go back)

Anothe new toy...she LOVED her pool!!!!!

Making great memories!

Abigail had so much fun with Nana and Papa that she decided to stay another day! Mommy and Daddy miss her, but know she's having a GREAT time! I'm sure there will be LOTS of pictures from Nana and Papa of her sleepover at the lake...can't wait to see her tonight! Thanks Nana and Papa for the great weekend!!! Happy Birthday, America!!!

Holy Cow!!! 20 Weeks!!!!

We can't believe we are already 1/2 way through this pregnancy!!! This 2nd trimester is flying by! Here is my update...Abigail wanted to join the pictures this week and let's face it, she's the cute one of the family!


20 Weeks


20 Weeks

How far along? 20 Weeks

Total weight gain: 10 lbs

Maternity clothes? Yes.

Stretch marks? Nope
Sleep: Yes please!!!! Can't get enough-the progesterone makes me very tired!
Best moment this week: Making it 1/2 way!!!
Movement: Yep! I get some kicks every day...only when I'm sitting but I'll take them! They are still cute little bumps...
Food cravings: Not really craving anything this week
Gender: Surprise!!! (Rob feels girl, I feel boy...only one can be right)
Labor Signs: Unfortunately, yes. I was having some contractions yesterday...saw my dr...everything is looking good...he said just get some extra rest, stay hydrated, and be prepared because they could go on for 20 more weeks...today I don't have them so I'm just hoping yesterday was a fluke.
What I miss: Pop 'n' Wine at Bass Lake...it's the best drink on a hot day! But my Pop 'n' Koolaid will work!
What I am looking forward to: This week is our BIG ultrasound!! And no, we aren't finding out the gender.
Purchases: (I added this one cause I think it's fun) I got the cutest blue/brown blanket yesterday! I couldn't help it..it was on super sale and I want to take both blue and pink things with me to the hospital this time! I figure if I don't need it, I have plenty of friends who may! I also downloaded the Johnny Cash Lullaby CD! Abigail listened to the Bob Marley CD when I was pregnant with her (it was the CD my kindergarteners napped to) and in the NICU it really calmed her down, so we decided this baby needed his/her own CD. Johnny it is!! Love it! And for my dad, it even has A Boy Named Sue on it!
Weekly Wisdom: It's probably time to start thinking about the room arrangements, clothing, etc! :)
Milestones: 1/2 way there...a beautiful milestone!!!!

Baseball + Water + Parades=Great Weekend

Our weekend started on Friday with a water day! Abigail and Reese played outside for over 2 hours with every possible water device either we or the Staniaks own!


Snack break!


Snack break #2 (more like #100)...you can tell they are having lots of fun by the hair!

Friday night Abigail and Mommy went to a Flyers game with Grandma and Grandpa (Daddy was at the dog track).


Grandpa got Abigail a new chair. It's the cutest chair ever...Thank you, Grandpa!

Abigail wasn't sure about Grandpa's new scruff.

On Saturday we did something we never thought we'd do...we went looking at minivans. It was so fun! We are going to wait till the end of the summer to buy one, but we decided it was time to start the search!!!

On Sunday we took Abigail to the splash park in Geneva.

After the splashpark, we headed to the Swedish Festival in Geneva. We had a great lunch, enjoyed the fest, and then saw the parade!

Playing waiting for the parade to start

LOVE this picture!!!!

The "girls"

It was a busy weekend...but we are loving the summer weather!!!!

Also, I know I haven't posted a pregnancy picture/post in a few weeks...check back tomorrow!

18 Months

Abigail turned 18 months on Monday. The day started with her 18 month check up. Nope, she hasn't hit 20 lbs yet...she hasn't hit 19 lbs yet either...she's 18 lbs 15 oz! I accidently threw away the paper with her height so I'll have to remeasure her and let you know..but she's off the chart on her height..she shot up the past 3 months! So she's not on the charts yet for weight and off for height...she's gonna be just like her daddy! She also got 2 more vaccines..and because I am not having the MMR given until she is over 2 and because I am still debating the Chicken Pox Vaccine (shouldn't she just get it the old fashion way...go play with the kid with Chicken Pox..that's how we did it growing up) they made me sign this "Refusal of Vaccinations" form which made me sound like this big rebellion...and that signing came with one more lecture...ugh! Come on people, it's one vaccine and I said she could have it if they seperated the MMR into 3 shots, but they don't want to pay for it, so instead I get "talked to"...again!

It was then onto FUN! We headed to the St. Charles Splash Park with the NICU mommies/babies. The park was a GREAT place for toddlers because it's all different water sprinklers on a soft surface...and the day is always GREAT when we are with the NICU families...I can't believe 18 months ago I didn't know these families...they are amazing!





The 3 Amigos! (Oh, look at that happy Abigail!)




Luca...oh do I love this boy! He's so funny and cute!!!


Sweet Cally, doing AMAZING...and her amazing mama who just had another baby Catie 11 weeks ago...so brave to have 2 babies at the water park...


Starting to get into this sand thing...but still hates to get her hands dirty!



Less than 3 Weeks to Ocean City...so keep practicing with the sand!



Abigail LOVED the water and was so funny because she laughed so hard whenever she got her head wet.

After the splash park, we headed home for the 18 month celebration. We had 1/2 a cake for her 1/2 birthday, and then she got to open her 1/2 bday present!

A girl after her mommy's heart...just stick that fork into the cake!!!

Mmmm...yummy!

Abigail got her 1st dollhouse for her 1/2 birthday! We bought this like 8 months ago..and couldn't wait till she was old enough to get it. I'm so happy we waited because she loves it...and that was so fun to see. She actually sits and plays with the house...so fun!

Our little girl is getting old with her 1st dollhouse.

Tonight we went to Lou's with my parents to celebrate Father's Day (my dad was hiking the Appalachian Trail over the weekend...hense the "scruff"...he's really amazing with all he does) and Rob's Birthday. Before dinner, grandma took Abigail shopping and she got a new big ball and a pink shopping cart to play with at Grandma and Grandpa's house...my mom is watching her every Wednesday this summer while I work so she needed some new toys! Thanks Mom and Dad for dinner...it was great even though Abigail was a little "antsy"!

Grampa and Abigail

Lil W Update: I missed the 18 week post with all that was going on this weekend. The funny thing is I can't believe how I "popped" during the week..we were looking at pictures from the wedding 2 weekends ago and compared to now, I barely had a belly then...I'll have to update with a picture tomorrow! I am feeling Lil W every day now...so exciting...just a small kick here or there but I love it!!!! Tonight was my 3rd progesterone shot...that's going great! Also, another follow up the hospital has shown my cervix still closed so no stitches again! However, I do have a low-lying placenta which would require a c-section if it stays (basically the placenta is under the baby and you can't deliver the placenta before the baby-hense c section)..and could make my pregnancy a little more complicated..but the dr. said in 90% of women it corrects itself by 20 weeks so until that app't in 2 weeks, I'm not thinking or worrying about it. Anyways, we can't believe that we are only a week away from being half way through my pregnancy...it's flying by. We can't wait to meet Lil W, but we can wait 21 more weeks!!!