The apple...

...doesn't fall far from the tree. Abby was helping me unload the groceries and became immediately interested in the brown sugar (one of my favorite things on earth). She worked at getting the bag open with her teeth for quite some time, until I was afraid she was going to be successful and took it away from her, under much protest.



The thing is, she has no idea what she's missing...some day she'll taste the goodness in Granma's blond brownies.

11 months old

Abby turned 11 months old when we were in Lakeland. Granma and Granpa enjoyed watching her take a few steps which turned into several and then many steps by the end of the week. She actually sat still long enough to listen to a few stories from Granma...who makes way better animal sounds than mom does.

Abby opened her birthday presents from Granma and Granpa early..and has enjoyed playing with them since we've been back. I'll post pictures of her cute little birthday dress soon as soon as I can chase her down.

I think I remember this routine from about a month ago...something about pulling the paper and finding a fun toy inside?!

A new toy for the favorite activity of the day...bathtime!

Abby likes putting everything in buckets, bags and cups...and then taking them out...and then putting them back in...and then taking them out. It's great fun!

Happy New Year

If you're in the Sligh family, New Year's day only means one thing. Football. And that's about it. After a long day flying back to Portland on New Year's Eve, arriving in time to welcome in 2008, we were glad to sit on the couch all day and watch the bowl games...and actually the next few nights as well.

After a disappointing loss for the Gators...Abby could sport her KU gear that Grandma and Grandpa gave her and celebrate a victory.

Aunt Lorna gave Abby an adorable bathrobe. She loves how it feels and always crawls over to it and lies down on it and rubs her face on it. It's a big hit!

Goodman Christmas-Part 2

In addition to family fun, we were able to see many friends during our visit. Highlights included our visit with the Vogels and Perkins. Jen and Lindsay and I have many fun memories from college days and it was so fun to be together again with our kiddos running/crawling around at our feet. Jen had some better pictures than these on her blog.

Jen, Jackson, Sarah and Abby--convenient how we hold them in front of us to hide the jelly bellies, huh?!


Abby felt free to take Shepherd's toys and put them in her mouth as if they were her own.


Jackson is a happy boy, all ready for bed...so cute!


All the cousins...Shepherd, Jackson and Eva playing together...what fun!


Speaking of cousins, in Kansas City we were able to play with James' cousins' children. This is Ashley and Abby, briefly together so I could snap a picture. It was very fun to meet all the new additions to the Goodman family since we were there last, and enjoy yummy a Goodman brunch.


Also while we were in Kansas City, the Farthing crew came over to Grandma and Grandpa Goodman's house for a play date. It was very fun to see them again and see how much they had grown, just since we saw them in October.


Joe and Henry...what you can't hear is Henry's adorable belly laugh about now.


Ian was walking like a champ and enjoying the freedom...Henry and Abby have lots to look forward to...they'll be there soon!



We loved seeing all of these friends and wish we could see them more often. We'll hope that our paths cross again soon, and will keep up with the blogs in the meantime.

Goodman Christmas - Part 1

Finally...finally...new posts of old pictures. Our St. Louis Christmas was lots of fun with family and many friends. Here is part one from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day...

Christopher pulled Abby around in Uncle Geoff's old wagon. She loved it!

James giving Abby a quick piano lesson...on the same piano he practiced on many years ago.

We don't have ceiling fans at our house...Abby was mesmerized by them at Grandma and Grandpa's house--kept pointing and moving her finger around in a circle as seen in the picture above, and many other pictures from the visit.


Christmas morning Abby, Christopher and Xaverie wore their new pajamas from Great-Grandma and Grandpa down to open their stockings...

Abby loved the puppet in her stocking...


After breakfast and a nap, Abby was happy with daddy and ready to open presents...and, once again, pointing at everything...


Geoff and his new "State of the Union Suit" or "Cat in the Hat" suit, whichever you prefer.


Xaverie in her pretty new dress that she will wear as the flower girl in Geoff and Emily's wedding.

Abby loves her new bear from Geoff and Emily...she has slept with it every night since she got it, and probably will for years to come.

Abby showing Geoff and Emily her new book that "croaks" like a frog.


Abby practicing her walking with her new toy from Grandma and Grandpa.


James and Christopher in an intense Christmas afternoon game of chess...but not just any game of chess...Transformers chess!