Yesterday while we were watching the Ravens game, Abbi decided that she wanted some paper so she could draw/write for a while. I thought she looked really cute hunkered over the paper working so intently on writing things down. Just prior to this I had traced around her hand to draw a turkey, so I think she was mimicking that behavior and making her own again.

Writing

I know I've said this before, but pictures like this make me glad that we have friends like Ange and Jake, and I hope that as the girls grow up they'll continue to be good friends a have a lot of fun together, just like they did last week on Halloween.

Friends

Last Thursday, a week ago today, Abbi had her "final" laser treatment to try and lighten/remove her port wine stain birthmark. I'd like to think that we've had really good success over the past 2 years with her treatments. She went a total of 11 times for treatment, plus our initial visit when she was just a few months old. Its crazy to me now to think about how long ago it was, and all the emotions that Jenn and I felt when we first took her into the see the doctor.

The doctor that we saw each time was amazing. She was always very caring and took time for both us and especially Abbi. There's not much you can do to calm down a 2 year old, but they did the best they could and they always made sure to help accommodate Jenn and I as well.

Abbi did about as well as usual this last trip. She's fine in the waiting room, but once she heads back to the actual treatment facility she realizes what's up and get upset and starts to cry. Then of course she absolutely hates being strapped down, which I know has always been the hardest part for Jenn to watch. We've clearly had success in removing the part of her birthmark that ran up the center of her forehead and there's been significant lightening on her cheek.

Moving forward, we just kinda keep a watch on it and if we think she needs to go back, take her back and let the doctors take a look at it. They recommended that we bring her back in before she starts school if we don't end up bringing her in before then. It has certainly been an emotional process over the past 2 years with Abbi, but I know I speak for both Jenn and I when I say that I'm glad we did it. I'm also very thankful to have such great doctors nearby and so readily accessible to us.

As for this picture, as you can see, with or without birthmarks, she's a smiler. She loves to smile and does so all the time. I can only hope that as she grows up she continues to have such a happy personality.

All Smiles

In addition to carving our family pumpkin, Abbi got to decorate her own little pumpkin. At a recent birthday party she got stickers to decorate the pumpkin and we put them to good use on hers this year. She really seemed to enjoy putting all the little stickers on the pumpkin and in her words, giving it a "scary face".

Her Pumpkin

Yesterday was Abbi's first foray into carving a pumpkin and the case of this picuture, her first experience with the inside of a pumpkin. As Jenn was cleaning it out so it could be carved she asked Abbi if she wanted to help pull the guts out. No interest from Abbi, and as you can see, she was actually quite disgusted by the thought of it.

Grossed Out

I took this picture specifically to highlight Abbi's little braided ponytails. I'm not sure if they are any kind of specific braiding, or just braided in general. Regardless of my understand of this, I do know she looked super cute. And I like this view of her with the pumpkin in her hands. She had fun looking for a pumpkin among all the choices. She understood clearly when we told her she needed to pick one that she could cary herself, which she did.

Braided Tails

I love this picture of Abbi. When we were cleaning up the trailer before heading home after vacation she was in the bedroom finding different things to play with, this was one of them. She on her own put it up to her nose and made this incredibly cute face. These day (and then too) Abbi has really started to develop quite a vivid imagination about things. I commented to Jenn on the way home Sunday that Abbi was talking up a storm, and it happened to be to herself. Just having her own little conversation.

Flashlight Nose