17 Months!

~Little Miss Independent prefers to feed herself rather than be feed.  She does a pretty good job!  She'll repeat "Mommy!" when wanting help with scooping food, but then wants to do the rest herself.
~Her language skills continue to blossom.  She's added many words, including "wa-wal" (waffle), "cook-cook" (cookie), "dis" (this), "Hi", "Yeah", "Ni Ni"and "Daddy".  She consistently says "Hi!" when entering a room/someone enters a room, "Bise!" after exiting the bathroom post-shower and finding Mommy/Daddy, "Guppa guppa" when she sees Bubble Guppies books/characters, and "Daaa-da" when she sees a dog.  Several people on several occasions have commented that it sounds as though she is saying longer phrases at appropriate times.  She's definitely a talker!  Her receptive language is flourishing, too, as she seems to understand many things that are said to her.
~Abigail can jump and twirl.  She's found the joy in climbing, especially now that she can get herself down by crawling backwards.
~She loves to be out and about. She'll bring us her shoes if she hears that we are going somewhere or that someone is leaving.
~She's learning more noises of animals and objects.  While not always consistent, she'll "vroom" for cars/vehicles, "choo choo" for trains, smack her lips together for a fish, "baaa" for sheep, and make a throat gurgle for a bear.  She also has an adorable "Muah" for kisses.
~She's such a happy, giggly gal.  We occasionally refer to her as "Giggles" or "Abba-giggles".  The babysitter frequently comments on her personality, including telling us that she is the happiest baby she's had in 27 years of babysitting!
~She's a great sleeper!  She continues to take 2 naps a day.  She quietly puts herself to sleep and wakes up happy.  The babysitter has commented that when Abigail starts to get tired, she'll wrap a blanket around her shoulders, point to her pacifier on the counter, and after she gets her pacifier, she'll walk into the bedroom.
~When asked, she'll point to her belly, nose and mouth

Fabulous Four!

We're thrilled the announce the upcoming arrival of our latest addition!  Baby Swartz #4 will be joining our family in May, 2016!  We've nicknamed Baby #4 "Encore" -- as in one final, wonderful performance.

Encore at 8 weeks!

While news of Encore was a surprise, it's certainly a welcomed and exciting surprise!  We shared the news with Brennan, Gavin and Abigail as we carved pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns.  Instead of having three pumpkins, we had four -- one for each kid!  They are excited for the arrival of their new brother or sister!