You weren't kidding!

      Before Abby was born, everyone warned me just how fast babies grow but I had no clue it would be THIS fast.  At Abby's one month check-up last week, she weighed 8 pounds 6 ounces.  The doctor said it was a healthy weight gain and she is average, right in the middle of the growth charts.  I just couldn't believe it... that's a long ways away from the little peanut of 5 pounds 10 ounces that we brought home from the hospital.  

      Tomorrow Abby will be 6 weeks old.  Unbelievable!  We are making progress with sleeping at night and getting up just twice.  Unlike before, she now realizes that it is nighttime and is able to go back to sleep, usually within a reasonable amount of time.  Abby is getting more on a "schedule" where she wakes up to play, eat and take a morning nap.  Then eats, plays, and takes a late afternoon nap before bath and bedtime.  This doesn't always happen, but it is happening more often than not.  It's great to have her awake longer and looking at everything... she is taking it all in!  

      Last week, I was a bit concerned that Abby was crying a lot when she was awake.  She would wake up from a nap and just scream... no play time, just wanted to EAT!  I talked to Dr. Nold and he thinks it could be reflux, so we are trying a new formula, maybe going to try Prevacid.... just to see if we notice any changes.  It seems that Mylicon drops worked best, so maybe Abby is just a gassy baby.  Who knows.... but for now we are taking it one day at a time to try to figure out what is causing her discomfort.  Today was a great day, not much crying at all and a lot more playtime! :)  

Abigail - 5 weeks old... getting so big!

      Here are a few new videos to show you what Abby has been up to lately.  

Now Featuring.....

      

"Playtime with Cousin Emily"

"Horse Noises"

"Playtime with Mommy"

Guess who?

      As soon as a baby is born, one of the first questions asked is always "who does she look like?"  When asked this question you are left thinking, does she have her Mom's lips or ears, Dad's eyes, and so on.  When Abby was first born, it was obvious that Abby had her Daddy's big feet and long fingers and a few people said she had my lips.  I'm not sure who she looks like more... me or Jim?  Certain days I see me and other days I can see Jim.  I do know one thing for sure... I see my Mom.  My sister Heather mentioned this a few weeks back and so the other night my Mom and I went through her old photo album.  Sure enough, Abby looks just like her Gramma, with all that dark hair, the same eyes, nose and lips.   So now when people ask "who does she look like?" I can easily respond .... "her Gramma!"

What do you think??

Say cheese!

      As I posted before, I have been anxiously waiting to see Abigail smile a "real" smile.  The smiles we usually get are when she is asleep, either from dreams or gas..... 

Typical.... smiling yet asleep...

      Gramma was the first one to steal a smile a few weeks back.  Gramma is always talking to Abby and showing her all the pretty colors around the house, and that's how she got the first real smile!  I didn't get to see that one, but it made her baby book as a first anyway.  

      Today, as if Abigail knew she had an audience, Grandad and I witnessed the real deal.  She was in her carseat sitting on the kitchen table waiting to go to Uncle Donnie and Aunt Kay's for a playdate with her cousins (yes, she napped through it all while the other kids played).  Grandad was talking to Abby and she was intently staring back into his eyes... and then all of a sudden, there it was... a big smile!  Not from a dream, not from gas... a true smile! :)  

      So now instead of anxiously waiting for a real smile... I'm waiting for a real smile at her Mommy! :)

Happy One Month Birthday Abigail!

      I simply cannot believe that our little girl is one month old already.  It is the strangest feeling because I feel like she has been a part of us forever, yet it seems to have passed so quickly.  Abby is doing great... still taking long naps during the day and wanting to be wide-eyed at night, but is getting better each day.  She is really starting to smile and laugh in her dreams which makes me so anxious for her to actually smile and laugh at us!!  When I talk or sing to her, I can see that it isn't too far off... she's getting so close! :)  

      I thank God everyday for this sweet blessing... I still just stare at her and say to myself over and over... "she really belongs to us!"  Happy One Month Birthday Abigail! 

Abby lovin' a bath from Daddy!

      Abby is starting to really enjoy her bath time with Daddy.  It's become a routine to give her a bath around 11am, right before her afternoon bottle and nap.  It wakes her up a bit (usually) and gives her some more "awake" time during the day.  Take a look at Daddy and his little girl....

What is Abby up to?

      With each day that passes (and they are passing quickly) Abby likes to try new things.  She started out not really liking her play mat and now she will spend up to 15 minutes on it at a time.  Doesn't sound like much time, but I've come to learn that 15 minutes for a baby is quite a chunk of time!

  

      I've also been putting Abby on her tummy for "tummy time" each day.  She is trying to hold that head up.  I should have probably started to video her at the beginning when she was actually doing better, but grabbed the camera halfway through.  Needless to say, what you will see is Abby getting tired! :)

      Abby also spends a lot of her time watching the people that hold her.  She loves to be talked to and enjoys listening to singing.  She spends a lot of time watching her Mommy.  Take a look!

Playing catch up....

      I have finally finished designing a new blog site to journal the joys of parenthood and to keep everyone updated on Abigail.  Of course it took me a few days since I was doing it in between feedings, naps, play time, and bath time.        

      Abigail has been doing great and is finally starting to stay awake for longer periods of time throughout the day.  She still naps A LOT, but at least we have some time to stimulate her with singing, toys, and her play mat.  Nights are getting better ... still losing sleep, but we are getting there.  Abby usually wakes up two to three times a night and it's getting easier to get her back to sleep once she is wide awake and ready to party!  Hopefully this trend continues and we can establish a routine at some point.        

      Daddy is in Boston and New York until Sunday, so we are enjoying our time with Gramma and Grandad once again.  Gramma is such a lifesaver and has been extremely helpful!  I owe her big time!  Gramma and I witnessed one of Abby's "firsts" today while playing with her on the Baby Einstein play mat.  I put Abby on her stomach for a little "tummy time" so she can work on strengthening her neck muscles.  After holding her head up and looking all around, she suddenly started to roll over..... it didn't take long and she was on her back.  I know it's harder for babies to roll over from back to stomach, but it's still considered one of Abby's "firsts" to me!        

      Here are some latest pictures of our sweet baby.  Tomorrow I will add some videos that I have taken of her!

I love that her hair already holds tiny bows!

First "real" bath with Daddy after cord came off.  Abby LOVED it!

The swaddle gown ... it's a must for bedtime!  

      Enjoying her swing...