Goodbye pump!

Yesterday I went to return the breastpump I have had the last two months. Though I haven't been using it for the past 3 weeks or so, actually returning it makes me feel as if we (me and the baby) have finally made it. Breastfeeding is going wonderfully now and we have come a long way from the day I went to pick it up two months ago. Then, I was close to tears pretty much all the time and worried constantly about Abby and all the feeding problems we were having. I will always be grateful to my lactation consultant, Annie, and the other consultants I met with, and the support group I have been going to. With their help, we were able to work through the different problems and make this happen. Diane, the support group lactation educator, said that I must also be very stubborn. Which is true... I was determined to make this work if it was at all possible.

I am not sorry at all to see that pump go. And I was quite happy to have it tucked away in the closet the last couple of weeks. That pump and I did not get along very well. I have a friend who prefers pumping and then feeding her baby bottles all the time. To each her own, I suppose. But that pump saved me. It brought me from a milk supply that had dropped seemingly overnight to nothing back up to enough. (Well, that combined with a few other things we did) Every time I feel that strange pins and needles sensation as the milk fills up, I feel so grateful.

And beautiful little Abby is growing so well!  As of yesterday she is 10lb 14oz at 11 weeks. And she is just the cutest thing.

This picture is about a month old, but it just needed a reason to be on the blog. She is just too cute. 

Abby's baby blessing

Abigail Joy- blessed by her daddy August 5th, 2012

Abby's proud parents

And the family who came. We were so happy to have so many of our family with us.

My family - my parents, brother Edward, sisters Lilly, Celestia, and Tamara (with her family)

Eric's family - parents, sister Brittany, and brother Neil

Some visitors

Eric and I love having visitors and we can't understand why everyone is not clamoring to come visit beautiful SD. We have been working on Eric's parents since we moved here, and it finally took a baby to get them out here. Texas isn't that far away, right? :)

We sure kept them busy the week they were here, taking them to all of our favorite places. Meaning we were out every day, which was definitely interesting with a new baby.  But we managed pretty good, I think.  It just meant that Abby and I often sat (since she would need to eat) while everyone else ran around.

Day 1: Visit to the temple and Mount Soledad

Eric and his sister Brittany on top of Mount Soledad

Day 2: Harbor, Seaport Village, Bird Rock Tide Pools

Like mother, like son.  If his grandma where there, they would all three be down there.

Isn't this cute? Eric's mom and dad.

Day 3: Abby's baby blessing and Mormon Battalion Visitor Center

Panning for gold at the visitor's center

Day 4: Beach Day (Coronado) and Balboa Park

First time to the beach! She ate and slept most of the time.

Day 5: La Jolla Cove and Old Town

Day 6: The Zoo

The small giraffe in the background was born the day before Abby! There was also a baby giraffe born the day we went to the zoo. So cute.

Day 7: Cabrillo

Abby finally touched the ocean water.  And hated it. 

So fun to have visitors!

Our little family

Eric's dad took some pictures of our family while they were here and I just wanted to share some of them. It's not often we get pictures with all three of us in them.

Abby with her Daddy. She is definitely a daddy's girl.

All of us

(I love this one!)

Abigail - 2 months

Dearest Abby,

My baby girl is 2 months old! And this second month has gone so much smoother than the first.

Your feeding has improved dramatically. Not only did we stop using formula a couple weeks ago, I am no longer pumping or using the tube or bottle. It's just you and me now, baby girl. I'd like to say each feeding is a pleasant experience, but you are still quite the fussy eater. At least once a day, you for some reason scream your way through a feeding. But every peaceful feeding makes up for it. You are more alert now while feeding. Sometimes you have your beautiful eyes open looking up at me.  I love those moments.

You are grasping objects now. You don't reach for things, but if you find something close to those little fingers, you grab on.  This might be my shirt or hair when you are eating, your own clothes, or even your ear. Daddy likes playing with you and putting you tummy side on his head, but he has found that you like to grab his hair too!


You are a strong little girl.  When we hold you, you usually don't want to be sitting down.  You want to be standing straight up on those little legs of yours. Your head control is so much better now also.

Even more exciting, you are smiling now!  Daddy got the very first real smile out of you a couple weeks ago, and now our goal every day is to get you to smile at us. Grandma Anderson proved to be very good at getting those smiles out of you while she was visiting.  You still smile as you fall asleep, which I just love.

Speaking of sleep, you have improved a little bit. We are now able to get you to stay in your own crib for the first half of every night.  After that it is up and down, you just won't stay asleep once I put you down.  Often your mamma falls asleep, exhausted, on her bed with you while waiting for you to fall back asleep. Your longest stretch has been about 3-4 hours.  Though, last night you slept 5 1/2 hours straight! That was amazing! During the day is a completely different story though...

We have found that you are quite the fussy baby. You just cry an awful lot throughout the entire day. Last week we hit a new record when you went over 1 hour (while awake) without crying more than a couple seconds. More often, you last about 20 minutes. Sure wish it was more!

This has been a very eventful month for you. We have gone more places on our own during the days, venturing out to the grocery store while Daddy is at work, going to play groups, going to the park... This last week you met your Grandma and Grandpa Anderson for the very first time!  With them, you went to the beach for the first time, and a whole lot of other places too. You also had your baby blessing this month.  Your Daddy blessed you and gave you the most beautiful blessing.

Oh, Abby, we love you so much. Every day is an adventure and I am so blessed to get to spend every one with you.

Love,
Your Mamma