Abby: Week 4

Week 4

So for anybody who has picked up on the time that these last two blogs were written you will see that Week 3 and Week 4 were both written today.  Mommy got a little behind on the blogs.  It's amazing how feeding, burping, changing and remembering to eat can take up an entire day!  I started the Week 3 blog two days after Abby turned 3 weeks old (and by started, I mean I titled it and managed to get "Week 3" written at the top of the page) and didn't get it finished until today.  Oh well, at least it's there.  So with that confession out of the way I might as well go and explain that I may have added a couple of the Week 4 experiences in the Week 3 post....sigh....BUT....there was more to Week 4 we can talk about.  Most of the week we had Grampa Mark, Grammie Joan, Great Gram Mason and Uncle Trevor here.  Grampa, Grammie and Uncle Trevor took a day to go to the Aquarium while Great Gram Mason stayed at the house to hang out with Mommy and Abby.  I think she really like that quality time with the two of us.  I know we enjoyed her being here.  :)

One of the "firsts" that I didn't mention in the last post was Abby's first outing to a restaurant!!  Grampa and Grammie wanted to take Mommy and Daddy out to dinner (how nice of them!) so we packed up and headed to Olive Garden.  I'll admit, I was a bit nervous to be taking Abby not only out into public again, but also out to dinner.  I was dreading the thought of Abby having a complete meltdown at the restaurant and how I was going to be able to deal with it.  I clearly didn't have anything to worry about because she was great!!  I was hoping she would sleep the entire time as to avoid a breakdown, but instead she was awake and fairly happy.  She got a little fussy when she got hungry (as usual....when Mommy's food is ready, that is when she wakes up and is hungry too....never fails).  Luckily Mommy and Daddy were thinking ahead of time and brought some breast milk for her that Mommy had pumped earlier.  I fed her  right in her car seat and then got her out to burp her.  With a full belly she was happy to sit back down and let Mommy eat her dinner.  After a little bit she was getting slightly fussy (and by slightly I mean, Daddy couldn't even hear her and he was sitting right next to me) so she went to sit with Daddy, who was done eating, and fell asleep in his arms.  The trip couldn't have gone any better.  We are so lucky.  Let's hope it stays this way!  Although, I'm sure we'll get the meltdowns sooner or later.  I'm just happy it wasn't on her first time out to dinner. 

Abby would like to say a big Thank You to Grampa Mark for helping Daddy install a new garage door opener for Mommy's side of the garage.  Now Mommy can park in there if there is bad weather and not have to get Abby in and out of the truck outside when it's raining.  :)  

Thanks Grampa Mark!!

Abby got to spend some quality time with the family before they left for their long drive back to Maine.  Then, it was just Mommy, Daddy and Abby for the weekend.  It was so weird to have the house to ourselves with Abby and no plans.  It felt a little weird to be honest.  However, Mommy and Daddy took full advantage of our time with Abby.  

I want to mention Daddy for a minute.  I know he doesn't get a lot of recognition for all he does, but he has been one heck of a Daddy!!  It's been hard for him having to be at work and feeling like he is missing out on time with his little girl, but as I've begun to notice, Abby knows exactly who her Daddy is and loves spending time with him.   Nick has really stepped into the role of fatherhood like a natural.  I always knew he would be a good Dad, but seeing him with our little girl truly melts my heart.  He loves her so much and you can tell she loves him too.  The way she reacts to him is different from anybody else.  You can just see the look in her eyes when she sits and plays with him.  Not only has he been great with Abby, but he's really been picking up the slack for Mommy these past weeks.  I know I've said it before, but I didn't realize how much of my day would be taken up with attending to Abby's needs.  I thought for sure I would be able to get more done around the house.  By the time I'm done with the feedings, changes, burping, play time, feeding myself...I'm exhausted and just want to zone out or nap instead of doing the dishes or cleaning the house.  For now I'm choosing to rest instead of clean.  I know I'll have to learn how to do it all, but in the meantime, while I slack off a bit, Daddy has really stepped in and is making sure everything is taken care of and for that he deserves a huge THANK YOU!!  Abby and Mommy really appreciate and love him more than he knows. 

Here are some pictures of Daddy and Abby.  They truly are a pair!

 MOMMY STEALING KISSES....AGAIN! :)

We got a visit from Auntie Missy, Brayden and Miss Carrie this weekend!!  Auntie Missy brought over some lasagna for Mommy and Daddy.  Thanks Auntie!!  It was awesome having food ready and not having to figure out what was for dinner.  Miss Carrie was down visiting Auntie Missy for the weekend so it was a real treat to see her.  

 

Before our visit, Mommy, Daddy and Abby went on our first walk together.  Again, Abby slept through it, but it was nice to be able to get outside for a bit.  It finally stopped raining down here.  (well, at least long enough for us to get a walk in)  After our walk and visit Mommy and Daddy had fun taking pictures with our little girl.  Here are some of the ones Daddy took of Mommy and Abby.

This week was a mixture of hectic times with the family and quiet moments for just the three of us.  I enjoyed both and was grateful we had a little of each.  Thinking lately about the fact I have to return to work in just three short weeks and I'm dreading it.  Thinking more and more of ways to start my own business and work from home just so I can be around Abby more.  Realistically though, Mommy needs to get back to work.  Boo. :(  Maybe someday we'll win the lottery and be able to not have to work, but for now...it's reality.  Until then I'm going to enjoy the last few weeks we have together at home.  Later this week we have big things to look forward to!!  Daddy's side of the family will be here to meet Abby!!  Grampa Chris, Auntie Sherri and cousins Bailey and Maddie will be here!!!  Talk about exhausted, a 4 year old, 5 year old and 1 month old all at the same time.  We are going to be pooped!!  It's going to be so much fun though, we can't wait!!! And yes Maddie, we will go to Lego Land, we promise! :) (the poor girl has been waiting for months to get down here so she can go to Lego Land.)

Week 4 has been pretty good to us.  Can't believe that in just two short days our little girl will officially be a month old!  We're looking forward to new "firsts" and watching her grow throughout the next months of her life.   

Abby: Week 3

WEEK 3

Week three we got in some more "firsts"!  But before we talk about the "firsts" we have to talk about having fun with Papa John!  (and no, he still did not deliver us any pizza)  Abby got in a lot of good snuggle and play time with Papa John.  Papa John likes to get up early so Mommy took advantage of that a couple of mornings and let Papa John hang out with Abby so she could either A) sleep more or B) get in a shower.  Both of which are considered precious luxuries these days.  Abby actually went on her first walk with Mommy and Papa John.  She slept through the whole thing, but it's good to know she likes them!

Morning snuggles <3

laughing and playing with Papa

 pooped after all that playing

 more play time

One big "first" for Miss Abby was her first holiday!  Miss Abby dressed the part for her first 4th of July!  Mommy put her in a skirt Nana sent a few months back that is actually size 6-9 months, but hey, even though it was falling off her it was still cute. 

It rained all day on the 4th so we played inside which made for a tired little girl...

One of the other "firsts" this week was our first outing (not including going to the doctor's office, even though we did that too.  And hey, she's back up to her birth weight at 9 lbs 2 oz.)  Funny side story.... Mommy got a text message from a friend of hers back in Maine who had an adorable little boy about a month before Abby was born that said her little one had his one month check up and he weighed 9 lbs 2 oz.  LOL, It made Mommy laugh.  I mean really, my little chunky girl weighed at birth what her friend's boy weighed at a month old. Anyway....back to week three.  Mommy, Nana and Papa took Abby out into the world to go to the store....even thought it was to Walmart....sorry kid. :)

Another BIG first was meeting more family!!!  This week Abby met her Great Gram Mason, Grampa Mark, Grammie Joan and Uncle Trevor.  They all drove down from Maine to meet her.  

Grampa Mark just couldn't get enough of his first granddaughter...

 Great Gram Mason kisses are the best <3

 Since we had the whole family there we decided to do an impromptu photo shoot!

4 generations

Mommy, Daddy and Abby (not looking as tired as we have in other photos, yay!  Well, except for Abby.)

Love from Mommy with Pictures of Abby's Great Grandfather Herschel and Great Grandmother Joan McEwen as well as her Great Great Grandmother Parker in the background looking over her from heaven.

 Another Family photo with the Great Grandparents in the background.  This was Nana and Papa's last day here with Abby.

More kisses from Mommy....what can I say, I just can't help it!!

And finally, a whole family photo from Mommy's side of the family.

 Oh look, more Skyping! Great Gram Mason just loves to show her off!  This time it was to her sister, Glenna.

 Abby and her beautiful Great Gram Mason

Snuggle time with Grampa

Later in the week there was another impromptu photo shoot at the request of Great Gram Mason.  These sweaters were hand made for Abby by her Great Aunts and one of Great Gram Mason's friends from church who happens to be 90 years old!  (good for her for still being able to make these things!)  

 This sweater is from her Great Auntie Elaine

 This sweater is from her Great Auntie Glenna

And this sweater/dress is from the 90 year old lady.  Also, the quilt Abby is on was hand made by that same lady. 

So before Nana and Papa left we thought it would be cute to take Abby's 3 week photo with them, but Mommy decided if they wanted to do that they would also have to have signs showing how many weeks old they were too!  They were good sports about it.  :)

Nana, Papa and Abby....without the signs.

All in all it was a very busy week.  Between getting out and about on the town, saying goodbye to Nana and Papa (for now) and meeting four new family members, it was definitely a whirlwind of a week.  However, Mommy did manage to sneak in a day of just her and Abby.  :)  It was our first day just the two of us and I'm not going to lie, as much as I LOVE having the family around, it was awesome just spending some quality time with my baby girl.  We got in play time on the floor mat, snuggles, told some stories to one another....it was great.  It made me think about how fast she is growing up and how again, I want to slow down time to make this last longer.  I truly love being a mom, it's probably the best job I have ever had and the great thing is that I'll never stop being a mom.  I finally understand why I'm still, at 31 years old, "Mom's little girl" and "Dad's sweet pea".  Life is good. :)

And oh yeah....MORE KISSES!!! <3 <3 <3

Abby: Week 2

Abby Mae: Week 2

(Mom, I'm bored of these pictures with this bear already...)

WOW, Week 2!!!!  I can't believe how fast time is going.  Not only can't I believe it's already been two weeks, I also can't believe it's already 4:45 pm!!  Where do the days go?!?  I've been finding that I get up in the morning and feel like before I know it it's time to go to bed, but the kicker is I don't think I really did much of anything!!  Suppose I should just get used to it.  :)

This week we had our ups and downs with sleeping at night.  She is averaging about 2-3 hours between feedings which is good, but there have been a couple nights when Abby will eat and then stay up between feedings at night.  Nana says we should try flipping her.  And yes, literally flipping her is what she means.  It's an old wives tale that apparently helps to get babies that have their nights and days mixed up.  I'm still not sure I buy into it, but hey, as long as the "flipping" doesn't hurt her I'm fine if Nana wants to try it.  

Abby had a few "firsts" this week.  She had her first real bath!!  Her umbilical cord fell off so a few days later we decided to give her a real bath.  She had mixed emotions about it.  I think if anything she just didn't know what was going on and it probably didn't help that she felt cold.  She quieted right down when I took the warm wet wash cloth and put it over her.  

We put her in her Winnie the Pooh towel for Nana. Nana loves Winnie the Pooh. Once Abby was all wrapped up she managed to find her thumb again.  She's done this a few times now.  She is not big on pacifiers (which is awesome!), but occasionally she likes to suck on her thumb.  This doesn't surprise me since we got pictures of her doing this when she was still in Mommy. :)

Another "first" for Abby was taking her first trip out into the world (that was not a doctor's appointment).  My only apology to her is that it was to Walmart.  :(  Sorry about that kid, you'll learn to appreciate the ridiculousness of Walmart when you are older.  We would have taken you to Target, but Walmart was closer and had cheaper photo prints.  

We spent some quality time outside this week too.  The weather wasn't too bad and there was a breeze so we decided to eat dinner outside and then hang out for a while.  Mommy got in some good cuddle time on the patio.

A big "first" for Abby was meeting her Papa John (no, not the pizza guy...) for the first time.  Papa John arrived on Sunday and couldn't wait to meet his first granddaughter.  Daddy and Nana went to the airport to drop off Uncle Kevin and pick up Papa John while Abby stayed home with Mommy.  Mommy and Abby managed to time things perfect for Papa John's arrival.  Go us!  We managed to get in her feeding and change her diaper just in time for the three of them to walk through the door.  Abby was wide awake to meet her Papa for the first time. 

More time cuddling with Papa John

For only two weeks old Abby is very alert and likes "talking" with you.  She doesn't really talk, but more of making faces at you as you talk to her, but she manages to concentrate on looking at you during this time.  She is growing up so fast!  We had a lot of time to chat this past week.  I hope that continues as she gets older and she always has time to sit and chat with her mom. :)

Her brothers are getting used to her more and more each day.  I think they are beginning to understand that she is not going anywhere.  Willow has actually made contact with her now which is great.  Sawyer made an attempt this morning to sniff her while she was sleeping.  It's a huge accomplishment for him to be anywhere near her.  I'm proud of my boys.  :)  Now, if I can just get Sawyer to stop jumping in her pack n' play.  

Overall, it's been a good week.  We have her two week check up to go to tomorrow.  We'll find out if she has gained more weight.  My super scientific way of determining her weight gain (I stepped on the scale without her and then again with her in my arms...) told me she is back up to her birth weight of 9 lbs 2 oz (just in case you forgot....I surely didn't....oye) from where she was at her last visit, 8 lbs 5 oz.  It'll be interesting to see if my super scientific way is correct or not.  So here is to a great week and hoping they continue on this path.  I'm so amazed at how quickly she is growing.  I'm really enjoying every minute I have with her, but I still wish we could bottle this feeling up and freeze time to keep her this cute and little forever!!  Well, only if we could adjust just one little thing...she sleeps through the night, every night.  :)