Her First Year

When we moved to the mainland in the spring of 2005, Daniel went ahead to Charleston to find and purchase a house for us while Abigail and I stayed in Odessa with family for about six weeks. Just before we headed off to our new home in South Carolina, Abigail had her first birthday party. It was a few weeks shy of her actual birthday, but the only chance family would have to celebrate with her. 

Gran sat her in the highchair with her own cake and let her go to town. As you can see, I would not advise this. 

Once we returned to live on the mainland, the beginning of Abigail's admiration for Aunt Kelly Ann began. 

Shortly after we settled in South Carolina, Abigail and I traveled up the coast to Nags Head, NC, where Abigail attended her first wedding. Here she is at one of many lighthouses with Grandad. My cousin Tyler's wedding was a perfect chance for Grandad to see Abigail again.

After a year of mostly looking like a boy, Abigail finally started to grow a bit of hair and old men stopped mistaking her for a boy (most of the time).

And, my mommy genes began to relax just a bit and let her feed herself, even if it was spaghetti, which she loved.

She also loved being outside and she was finally walking and running everywhere. Any chance to play in fresh air was her favorite time. (That part of my baby hasn't changed to this day.)

And, if Aunt Kelly Ann was there with her, it was her favorite time outside. 

I won't leave out that I love dressing Abigail, and she has always had an enormous wardrobe. These adorable overalls made by my mom's cousin, Buffy, were a favorite of mine.

As you can see, she's just 1 but is making a tour of U.S. beaches. Hawaii is tops, but she didn't know the difference. She loved a day at the beach and always returned home an exhausted and dirty mess.

Again, she was a year older, but still a very happy little girl.

And, still traveling. Here she is with Daddy in the mountains of North Carolina. Not many one-year-olds are seasoned travelers such as our baby was.

It's completely taken over her now, but already at 1, we were seeing our little girl grow strong "girly" tendencies. Accessories and purses made outfits complete.

But, my favorite accessory she always had was and still is her smile!