April News from the Mendezes

Abby Enjoying the Grass Today

As I type this, I'm sitting outside on our patio, enjoying the beautiful sun of a warm spring day. I'm so excited that it's finally beginning to be nice weather here!

Joel's Birthday Party

March was insanely busy for us. Joel's birthday party was last weekend (he's an old coot now at 28) and that consumed much of my brain. We had over 20 folks over, and made enough food for an army. Seriously. We ate leftovers for a full week.

I've also been chin deep in my Spanish class, which I'm very happy to report will be over soon. For all you Spanish speakers . . .
"Mi rutina del martes: Normalmente, me levanto cuándo mi hija se despierta a las 6:30am. Abigail toma tetero. Después ella ve el programa Seseme Street cuando yo me baño. Leo les mensajes, miro mi agenda y juego con mi hija. Después ella se duerme y yo limpio la casa. Por la tarde, vamos al parque y caminamos por mucho tiempo; o vamos al mercado. Por la noche, preparo la cena y como la cena con mi esposo. Llamo por teléfono a mi familia, y vo veo televisión. Me acuesto a las 10:00pm." (I had to write that for my Spanish homework last week. It's great having Joel around to "help" me!)

I'm also very happy to report that I've more or less finished scrapbooking our wedding album and our Christmas album. My next big project is Abby's baby album.

Add into that Joel's job, my job writing the Embassy newsletter, church and my Bible study, plus chasing around our squealing demon, and you get the idea of what our life is like here

Speaking of Abby (because I know that's what you guys really want to hear about anyway) . . .

Our dear darling daughter is already trying to give me heart attacks by crawling up the stairs on her own. No, we did not teach her that, she figured it out by herself. And yes, tomorrow I'm off to the store to buy baby gates. That's another thing that gave me a heart attack. I had no idea how expensive those suckers are. She's pushing up to stand on her legs though she can't quite figure out what to do when she's up there. Everyone tells me she will not only be walking before her 1st birthday, but soon. Sigh. I'm really not ready for that. (Abby found a new use for the Exersaucer, above left.)

Food is our new pastime. She really L-O-V-E-S Cheerios. She would eat them all day long if I would let here. (she fell asleep eating them once, right) However, we found out that too many Cheerios causes some serious gas, which is is not a good thing in our already gas-y baby. She rather feed herself, and loves strawberries, cantaloupe, peas, pasta, chicken and hamburger. This girl can chow down.

She loves to "love" on her toys now, and is really in to hugging - at least with me and Joel. She does a whole arm wave, and has found her inner girly squeal. Abby will get right in your face and squeal as loud as she possibly can. I mentioned to Joel how loud she "talks," and he looked at me and said, "Well, honey, she's Latin." Hahaha. Yeah, us Smiths can be pretty loud, too, so I guess I better get used to it.

Abby really is a little Latina - she understands Spanish much better than English. She really responds when you say "Ven aquí" (Come here) and loves to play "¿Dónde está Abby?" (Where's Abby?) No teeth yet, and no "Mama" either, but I am getting a "Mmmmmm" when she's really upset and wants me.

April is looking to be busy as well. This weekend we have the Easter Egg Hunt at the Embassy, as well as Easter, of course. Next weekend we do the dreaded run to Aviano for more formula and diapers, then I have a scrapbooking party at my home, and Joel has a business trip for a few days at the end of the month. Maybe we'll slow down in May, but somehow I doubt it!

So, happy April to all of you!

Love,
Julie, Joel, and Abby