Visit to See Uncle Mike and Aunt Jamie

While in WA we were able to take a day trip and visit my brother Mike and his beautiful wife Jamie. I am so glad we could see them. They spoiled us with presents, and we had a great time catching up, and playing a game, and eating pizza. I was so very glad that they got to meet Abigail. She loved them, and enjoyed being held by them. I wished we lived closer and could see them more often. Thanks Mike and Jamie for a great time!

Cousin Love

Abi sure is lucky to have such loving, fun cousins! A couple of these pics are from October, but I have never put them up. She looks way smaller in those ones! It's amazing how fast she is growing. On our latest trip, Logan and Macey showed her alot of love. Especially Logan. He loved to hold her and squeeze her. When I was in Utah in October, Anna held her soo much. She was so good with her.

Happy Late Holidays!

So, big surprise.... we're late getting Christmas Cards out, and again we decided against the expense of sending real ones out. Maybe next year!

Whenever it comes to writing a Christmas Letter, or even a blog post, you run into the dillemma of  coming across as either superficial, braggy, or with too many details and boring. But each year, I feel like writing a Christmas letter should be done. We had a good year. It was not without its ups and downs, like any year, or any family experiences, but really nothing to write home about. We are so grateful to be healthy, happy and here in San Antonio. We love the warmer weather, and being in a bigger city makes leaving the big city that much sweeter when we do. We want our friends and family to know how much we cherish their love, support and friendship. We also want to share the joy and gratitude we have in our lives because of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. It gives our lives purpose and helps us to keep our heads up when we're feeling down. We hope you all had a peaceful Christmas and are looking forward to a great 2012.

Eleven Places We visited in 2011
1. Washington (Yakima, Spokane)
2. Austin
3. Fredericksburg
4. Lost Maples
5. Utah (Nichole)
6. The Redbox
7. Boerne
8. The San Antonio Temple
9. Raymund Rimkus Park
10. Hospital
11. AT&T Center (Spurs Game, Rodeo, Hockey Game)

Eleven Things We Loved in 2011:
1. Each Other
2. Abigail
3. Family Visiting
4. Swimming in the Pool during the hot summer
5. Thunderstorms
6. Visiting Family
7. Cupcakes
8. Friends
9. Volunteering at The Majestic (aka watching plays/shows for free)
10. Skyping
11. Playing Games (our favorites this year: Guillotine, Liars Dice, Roll through the Ages)

12 things we are looking forward to in 2012
1. Watching Abi grow, learn how to walk, and start saying some sounds/words.
2. Running
3. Jeff becoming gainfully employed
4. Going to the Kings vs Spurs game
5. Keeping in touch with family
6. Making new friends
7. Going to Rochester in September, with perhaps a tour of the Big Apple
8. Doing once a month cooking, aka mega freezer meal cooking. (I did it in December... hard work, but totally awesome not having to worry about cooking every day)
9. Becoming better, hopefully!
10. Going to the Beach
11.Playing the Piano
12.Establishing fun, simple traditions that make life fun.

Happy Late Holidays!!!

 Love,

The Blairs

World Traveler or Unaccompanied Minor?

While I was out of my seat, Jeff snapped this awesome pic. She looks like she knows what she is doing, huh?

We just got back from a nice trip to Washington to see Jeff's family. Abigail did awesome on the plane rides there and back, except for on the very last plane, when she was hungry, tired and we had lost her pacifier during the security checkpoint. On our last flight from Pheonix we sat next to an "unaccompanied minor." Jeff asked this 8 yr. old kid a couple questions and he did not stop talking until he passed out because it was way past his bed time. Jeff asked him what he got for Christmas and he pulled out like 6 action figures from his pockets. He then asked Jeff what his favorite toy was when he was a kid stating, "And I know you had toys back then. Toys have always been around." Then when the flight attendent handing out the drinks, she said to me, "give this to your son." Well, I guess we're getting old. Heck, next month Jeff will be 28!  

Sleep

Everyone is asleep in this house right now.... except for me. Can't sleep. I guess it's only 10 but both Abigail and Jeff zonked out shortly after 7. So I thought I'd put up a couple pics. Speaking of sleep, after Abi girl got sick with her UTI, she stopped sleeping so great, and finally we are back up to 8 hour stretches, most nights. But I'm not complaining, at all.

Here she is all wrapped up for the night! So peaceful... can't let go of that paci!



And her she is in the morning right before her morning medicine!



It is amazing how babies get used to schedules, or things that happen on a regular basis. We give her medicine at 7am, 3pm, and 11pm orally, every day, and we try really hard not to deviate by more than an hour, because it could cause her problems. At 11 pm she has gotten really good and taking her medicine in her sleep and staying asleep (isn't that amazing?). Every morning she wakes us up now right around 7. In the afternoons she is usually in middle of her afternoon nap at 3, but almost every day she will wake up in the middle (right around 3) and start crying. I'll go give her medicine, and she goes right back to sleep. She is such a champion!

Oh, and she is definitely ticklish! If I tickle her in her armpits and make funny noises, I can almost get a real laugh out of her! It's my favorite. I'm not sure if she actually likes it or not, becuase she also looks a bit shocked, but she is smiling so I guess I'm ok.

Keep on Rollin'

Nichole woke up in the middle of the night last night with an upset stomach. Turns out she has the flu, so I'm staying home today taking care of her and Abigail. I really hope Nichole feels better soon because I think feeling nauseous and throwing up is miserable. But, on the plus side-because I was home today I was lucky enough to witness Abi rolling over for the first time! It was awesome. She is really growing up into such a big girl. Good job Abi, just keep on rollin'!

Reenactment of her before rolling over: Gearing up for the exciting event by sucking on her fist covered in a sock and getting a pep talk from her monkey friend.

Reenactment of her after rolling over: Celebrating by sucking on her fist covered in a sock and partying with her monkey friend.