Two Weeks of Abigail = :)

Although Abby's two-week birthday was technically yesterday, a slight glitch in our internet service prevented me from posting in a timely fashion. To be honest, we're still caught up in the psychadelic time warp worm hole nexus known as new-parenthood, so we're generally not sure what day or time it is at any given moment anyway. Thankfully, neither does Abigail! "Time is but a stream I go a-fishin' in -" (HD Thoreau) and we're catching some wonderful memories that continue to sustain our joy in being blessed to be the parents of this beautiful new human being.

I believe it was Thursday morning when we finally let Abby test-drive her stroller. While the vehicle itself is solid, handling the rugged terrain known as the Walltown sidewalks is a bit like sledding down a ski-mountain...without snow. But Abigail loves the outdoors, and is definitely turning out to be an adventure junkie, so we think she'll do just fine. Apparently, Jeep has started making strollers, but I think she prefers the challenge of taking it to the mean streets of Durham without a souped-up off-roader!

On Thursday afternoon, Grandpa Keith and Grandma Lori flew down from Rochester to meet their very first granddaughter. This picture, which captures their reaction to their first encounter with her, pretty much says it all...they stayed through Saturday, and both Abigail and her parents benefitted immensely from their love, presence and support!

As she is the first granddaughter in the family, Grandma Lori felt completely justified in picking out some of the most beautiful new outfits to help expand Abby's wardrobe beyond her currrent choices, onesies and more onesies. This is her favorite new dress, which she wore when we all went out for breakfast Friday morning at the Guglhupf in Durham, where Leah is pictured holding her next to the fountain, a favorite playspot for other little girls and their mommies. While Leah is looking forward to the day when she and Abigail can explore all of life's joys together, she is quite content for the moment to continue to bask in the glow of new motherhood, at which she is doing marvelously.

On Friday night, Abby took her first visit downtown, where Durham was hopping with action after a long, humid summer day. After enjoying the sounds of a free bluegrass concert as we strolled down the newly rennovated American Tobacco Campus, we joined Aunt Karen and Andrew for pizza at the Mellow Mushroom, where we saw the most incredible magician perform amazing card and coin tricks that we are still puzzling to figure out. Grandpa and Daddy had hoped to take Abby to her first ever BASEBALL game across the street at the Durham Athletic Park, but tickets were sold out (much to Mommy' relief)...

...BUT, after dinner, we decided to walk past the ballpark, where, lo and behold, the gates were open as the game had progressed into the late innings! Much to our delight, Abigail proved herself to be a natural baseball fan, staring intently up into the bright lights, raising her hands as the wave swept around the stands, even cooing along with the drunken fans who were brazenly insulting the other team even as Grandma tried to cover her ears! Abby is definitely NOT crowd-shy, and we were glad to share in her first-ever attendance at the greatest game on earth.
As we were walking back to the car, all the day's excitement began to catch up with our little girl. However, the torrents of her tears were quickly replaced by wide-eyes of fascination as Daddy and Abby walked past a series of crashing illuminated waterfalls. Ever since her first rainfall, Abigail has loved the sound of water...perhaps the only thing she loves more than baseball (and her Mommy, of course!). Its moments like this that you know you were created to experience...what an amazing and powerful feeling to know that, when I was knit together in my mother's womb, part of the purpose of my own creation was to walk beside the waters with my daughter and be baptized anew by her tears and by her wonder...the only response that can be mustered is the purest and most overwhelming gratitude...and its only been two weeks!

We leave you with guest photographer Grandpa Keith's capturing of Abby's Silly Smile Part 2! Thanks as always for your prayers and support! Grace and peace.