Thank you for taking an interest in our family blog! It is a private blog, and I appreciate you not sharing your login information. I hope you can tell that we love Jesus and are living solely to raise our children to make much of His name and to stand out in a world of sin and conformers. I hope you find that what you read is genuine. Nothing is put on for show to make us look ideal. We are ANYTHING BUT the ideal family. We are real. We have problems. We trust Jesus in all we do.
We took him outside for the release. 
He landed on a tree in our backyard. Can you see him?
Daddy and Annabelle walked over so AB could get a closer look!
The release is always so bittersweet to me. I raised this little guy from a teeny tiny caterpillar. Every time I raise one, I expect them to not want to fly off and stay with me! It's silly, but their almost like a pet. It's good, though. He'll be migrating soon, but probably won't make it until next year. Many Monarchs don't live a full life. Oh well, maybe Carlos will be the exception to the rule. Goodbye, Carlos!
We had a great time with family over at Grandmother's. Here are a few family shots. 
Four generations of Shaws. 
Four generations of Hamlins.
His first gift, was a movie he had been wanting for a while - "The Fountain" with Hugh Jackman. So, AB and I put it in a bag for him to open, along with a sweet Father's Day card from AB. 
The next thing he opened was a note... 
...and it read.... 
Yup! VIP tickets to tour the Dallas Cowboys' Stadium in Arlington. His best friend Tony helped me out with the idea. So, after he saw the screen, there was another note to open.
So, Austin had two weekends in a row to be spoiled and celebrate Father's Day! Thank you, Babe, for being the amazing Daddy that you are! AB and I couldn't ask for more! You provide so much love and stability to this family. We are so lucky to have you!
First meal in a restaurant - a success! Here's one of many more to come!
Here you are with your first Teddy. There's no sitting next to him and smiling anymore. You are hands on, and have no interest in sitting still!
The next several pictures are from this shoot. They are H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S! I couldn't get you to cooperate for anything. Your Daddy was even behind the scenes trying to distract you, but you were just all over the place. I even tried two different bows to see if one would stay in better than the other - nope. They both were pulled out. Oh, you are a mess, Miss AB.
I'm tired just looking at those photos! You're a busy, busy girl. This month has brought a few challenges. You are miss independent. You know what you want, and when you want it! You can throw quite the fit if you don't get whatever it is you have your eyes on. I'm told I should just ignore these outbursts. Sometimes it's hard to. I want to let you know that kind of behavior is not ok. Other times, I try as hard as I can not to bust out with laughter. I've found myself reminiscing, lately, on your newborn days. I even put you in your baby swing the other night to see if you would stay there. You did, but only because you were really sleepy. Other times, you're fearless and will crawl and scoot your way out of it. Your Daddy and I got a little nostalgic when we turned on the music to the swing. We listen to those sweet tunes over and over and over again when you were teeny tiny. It brought back sweet memories. 
We've also seen, within the last month, you have taken after your father and myself. You are a night owl! Oooh, girl! We went to Christian and Erica's wedding a couple of weeks ago and you stayed out on that dance floor in someone's arms until 11:30. You eventually crashed on Grammy, but I think you could've stayed awake longer. It was a fun night, and we were able to see your sweet personality shine through with others. You were very gracious to go to different people and let them love on you. This makes Mommy so happy, AB. I love that other people get to enjoy you, and believe me, they did! However, about a week or two after this, you really started experiencing some separation anxiety. I'm just glad it held off until this night!
The last month you've pulled a few tricks out of your hat. One is giving high-fives. You love this! Anna, one of your most favorite people, spent an entire evening perfecting this trick with you. You've remembered it and kept it up. You've started mimicking different things that I do. If I blow on you, you will puff up your little cheeks and blow back. If I scrunch up my nose and make a sniffing sound while laughing, you'll do the same thing. If I put my hand over my mouth and move it back and forth to make an "Indian" call, you will, too. Here you are doing this with Jeannie. 
This has also been the first full month, since my maternity leave, that I've been home with you. I've been off for the summer and so we have had fun, non-stop girl time! I have to admit, you've been a little partial to Mommy, and poor Daddy is feeling a little left out. You are going through a "Mommy" phase and sometimes you make this very apparent to Daddy. He's a trooper, though. He still makes attempts everyday to love on you and scoop you up in his lap. You do enjoy it when you're with him. It's better if I'm not around, so I go get some things done. I'm told it's just a phase, and there will be a day you will act that same way towards me. Even though you're being a "Mama's Girl" right now, you sure do love Daddy, too. I can tell. 
This month has been fun, because I've really been able to see you interact with kids your age and actually play. You have lots of friends and enjoy our play dates and play groups we've had this summer. I love watching you play and see how you interact with your friends. I can tell you're going to be a little bit of a flirt already. Oh, boy. I have to say, you will come by that honestly. Cooper is your #1 man, and I'm not sure if that is a mutual thing, yet, but it will be one day. You two are so cute playing together. 
This has to be one of my absolute favorite pictures.
The words, "No, no" are a big part of Mommy's daily vocabulary now. You reach for everything, want to put everything in your mouth and seem to find the things you shouldn't play with a lot more fun and interesting than your hundreds of toys. Isn't that the way it always goes? Mommy and Daddy are constantly saying, "No", but I think you're really starting to understand that "no" means, "NO!" Most of the time you're not being naughty, you're just about to get into something that isn't safe for you. Don't get me wrong, you've had your fair share of naughty moments this last month. I know it's all developmental, but you are in quite the transition state right now. You're in between crawling/standing/walking and frustrated about not always getting what you want. You cant' effectively communicate with us what you want, so I think that's why you'll scream and hit whatever it is that's in front of you. Even with your "naughty" moments, you're still my precious little angel. You're still a baby and I need to remember that...
Month ten is the month you got your first tooth! Yep, your bottom, right tooth started showing through right around your ten month birthday. I can't wait for you to get these teeth, because then maybe Mommy would quite freaking out about you choking on every little thing you put in your mouth! I am going to miss those sweet, bare gums, I have to admit. I love those gummy smiles. You've been a little more attached to your paci these last two months, and I'm thinking it's due to teething. I love you with your paci, too. I've heard lots of "no, no's" about pacis, but as long as you have it, it reminds me you're a baby, so we're not anywhere close to giving it up yet.
Oh, how you're turning into such a big girl. You're pulling up on everything and will walk if someone is holding your hands. You've even attempted standing by yourself a few times. It's just so surreal to see my little baby attempting to do all of these "big girl" things! 
Oh, Miss AB. Mommy and Daddy love, love you so much. You keep us smiling, laughing and definitely on our toes. I love every sweet thing about you, even your "stinker" moments. I love how mumble, "Mama, mama, mama" to yourself, and say it even louder when you see me. I'm pretty sure you know what Mama means and I love hearing you say it. Ten months has been different, but has brought a new kind of fun to our house. Everyday is something new and I love sharing it with you. You are such a blessing. 
