Abby the roller

Abby over the past few weeks has once or twice rolled from her tummy to her back or the other way around.  But it seemed more an accident than anything else.  But over the past two days, she has really gotten the back to tummy down pretty good!  She caught me by surprise since she hadn't done it in so long and all of a sudden she did it a few times in a row.  Now today she's done it pretty much every time I put her down.

It's fun how all of these tiny things are so exciting for us.  We sure love watching her grow and learn new things.

Beach Trip

Abigail slept through most of her first beach trip about a month ago, and we have been meaning to get her back again ever since then to see how she would take to the beach. We were going to actually put her in the water, but she ended up not being too happy for most of our time there (due to poor timing on our part mostly - it is definitely hard to get a little baby to sleep anywhere but home who is usually swaddled and rocked to sleep). So we will have to go again soon to try that again. We think she will probably like it since she is liking her baths more and more.

We did get some very adorable pictures though, which deserved a post all of their own!

I love this one. :)

Abigail - 3 months

(Note:  This was written last week, when Abby actually turned 3 months on September 7th.)

Dearest Abby,

We made it to three months! Now, Abby, everywhere I read says that at three months the extra fussiness and colickiness disappears. So I expect only a very happy baby from here on out. Because, yes my dear, you have continued through this past month to be quite the high maintenance baby. Whenever we go to playgroup I have to remind myself constantly that every baby is different and that I am not a horrible mother because you are the only one crying.

However, you have gotten better. Much better. Ever since we resolved our breastfeeding problems, you have been much less fussy when feeding at least.  This month it finally dawned on us that sometimes you cry because you are tired. Who knew? Because of all the problems we had starting out I assumed every time you cried it was because you were starving. I figured little tiny babies just slept when they needed it. So now I have been working on putting you down for a nap every couple of hours.  You aren't able to soothe yourself to sleep yet, but these naps are helping so much.  And you take these naps in your crib! Amazing. Just a month ago, I was so afraid to set you down when you were sleeping, and if we did, it was in your little chair or swing. And the nights.  Oh what a welcome improvement. You now sleep for one long stretch, usually between 4-6 hours. After that it is hit and miss with how the rest of the night goes. 

You are smiling so much more now, which has been so fun. But it is so hard to capture them in a picture. You see that camera and you get oh so serious as you try to figure out what this strange thing is. I try to be sneaky but it doesn't work too well. 

About a month ago you started drooling like crazy.  And you are constantly making bubbles with it.  You and your Daddy like to make bubbles at each other - it's like a conversation going back and forth.  You aren't a big coo-er, but you sure talk with those bubbles!

(Update from 9/12/2012 -- a.k.a. today -- You are a professional coo-er now!  Starting a couple of days ago, you began catching us up on everything that has been happening the past three months.  And, oh how I love it!  After baths, after feeding, and when you're just feeling like talking, I love talking to you!)

You still love to stand up on your little feet - you are such a strong little girl!  You would much prefer to be standing than to be sitting. You've been like this since you were a little over a month old, but even more so now. You also love to hold your own fingers and clasp your hands together, which is absolutely adorable.

Another fun milestone for this month has been the improvement in bath-time.  Up til just a few weeks ago I dreaded bath-time. I felt like I was torturing you each time as you screamed yourself red in the face. I wouldn't say you are quite to the point of enjoying bath-time - definitely haven't given us any smiles at bath-time yet - but you are calm. And I will take calm over screaming any day. (Although, I must say, your favorite tummy time is in the bathtub looking at the water coming down.) A bath is now part of your bedtime routine and it sure helps in quieting you down for sleep time. 

I was so excited when your dad got me a glider rocking chair a couple weeks ago. But, unfortunately for your mamma's back, you will have none of that rocking chair when you are mad.  You only want your blue ball.  It is incredible how well bouncing on that birth ball will calm you down. Really though, baby girl, I wish you would like the rocking chair better! 

What a fun month this has been, Abby! You are getting bigger every day.  It is so sad to see some of your adorable little outfits getting snugger. When we weighed you last week you were 11lb 10oz.  

We are so blessed to have you in our lives. I love you and, as your Daddy reminds me every day as he leaves for work, I am so lucky to spend every day with you.

I love you baby girl.

Love,

Your Mamma

Daddy's Girl

Abby sure loves her Daddy. It is so fun to watch them together!  Eric is so good with her - I definitely think he is more of a natural with babies than I am. He plays with her, dances around the room with her, throws her around (makes me a little nervous sometimes), and sings to her.  And she loves it. He is great at calming her down, and usually can get her to sleep a lot faster than I can. 

I am sure glad when he comes home every day, and so is she! 

Taking a nap together. I think Eric just likes the excuse to take a nap sometimes. :)

Playing with Daddy after work. I wish I had a picture of her smiling at him.  But those are sure some elusive smiles!

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!