Photo Book

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Fathers Day Pictures

Abigail's Tree

We sat Abigail up by her tree again. She didn't want to look at the camera. Sometimes I think she purposefully avoids looking at me when I get my camera out!

Her hands are in her mouth a lot lately. Last month she cut a tooth and I think another one might be on its way. Notice her right foot is up higher. She tries to hold one of her legs up when I set her in the grass or sand. 
Last year's photo is HERE.

Home At Last

My grandmother met Jesus on Saturday. 

I am so glad she was able to come to Abigail's birthday party last week. 

I grew up living right next to her on the dairy farm. We had cookies and hot chocolate after church every Sunday. I climbed the cherry tree in the backyard and ate until I had a tummy ache (or realized how many ants were in those cherries!). 

We picked pears from her trees every summer and would swing from the giant robe swing in her maple trees. I picked and prepared snap peas and green beans with her and washed her windows with ammonia water in the spring. She would read us stories from her old story books kept under the windowsill and play Chinese checkers and real checkers with us. She always let us win. 

She was a watchful eye for the 18 years I lived at home, always concerned for our safety. She taught my family about Jesus and showed us how to love him with all her heart.

She loved to quilt and made each one of her 11 grandchildren a quilt and hundreds of quilts for others in need. I stole my brother's quilt so I have two.

Here is her obituary:

Josephine Vander Zwaag, age 92, of South Olive, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Saturday, June 11, 2011, at Holland Hospital.

She was a member of the South Olive Christian Reformed Church, a member of the Loving Service and the quilting group and was preceded in death by her husband, Willis Vander Zwaag (1998).
She is survived by her children, Donald and Marcia Vander Zwaag of Holland, Melvin and Lois Vander Zwaag of Zeeland, Sylvia and Ken Vermeulen of Holland, James and Pamela Vander Zwaag of Holland; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; sister, Marian and Jay Folkert of Holland; sister-in-law, Betty Slag of Zeeland; several nephews and nieces and cousins.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 14, 2011, at the South Olive Christian Reformed Church at the corner of 120th Avenue and Port Sheldon Road. The Rev. Adam Barton will officiate. Burial will be in North Holland Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday, June 13, 2011, at Lakeshore Memorial Services, 11939 James Street, Holland. Memorial contributions may be made to South Olive Christian School or The Bible League.

Tulip Time

Abigail and her friend Sadie

 The dutch dancing moms, me and Jodi, with our girls. (Someday we'll get the guys to wear a costume, muhahah)

Me and my dancing partner, Emily

Some of our Life group made it out to watch

Derek drove some Tulip Time board members in Saturday's Muziekparade

Twelve Months Old

At Twelve Months Old Abigail... 

"Sooo big!"

"Where are your Piggy Toes?"

...sleeps from 9pm to 8 or 9am. Most days she takes two naps, but she's skipped the morning one a few times and then she goes down for a nap at 12:30 instead.

...eats mostly table food, but I try to shove in some pureed food to fill her up. Every meal is different because she wants what we eat and sometimes likes the texture of a food (like banana pieces) and sometimes spits it out. She has 8 teeth now! She cut her two bottom
"lateral incisors".

...does not nurse anymore.  I weaned her during this past month because I wasn't producing as much. She took some InfaGrow formula (I had some high value coupons that helped) and I slowly changed from breastmilk to formula and then slowly added Vitamin D cows milk. By her first birthday she was on all cows milk. I miss our time together but I have found some freedom in letting Derek do bedtime sometimes.

...is scooting. she scoots on her butt all over the place.

...wears 18 months clothes, size 3 shoes , and size 3 or 4 diapers (and cloth diapers).

Here is her eleven month post.

always on the move

I'm standing and now I'm stuck!

Twelve Month Review

Happy Birthday Abigail!