AB's First Thanksgiving!

I'm disappointed and a little ashamed to say that I didn't photograph our first Thanksgiving with AB like I would've liked. I guess that's what happens when you are hosting Thanksgiving at your house. From the time we got up until it was time to eat, we were busy cooking, cleaning and, this year, tending to our sweet baby! It just seems there wasn't a lot of time for pictures...which makes me sad. However, we did so happen to take pictures of Annabelle and her new lovie on Thanksgiving day. The day before, Annabelle got a package in the mail from John and Robin, our insurance agents. They sent her an adorable blue elephant (very soft!!) lovie. AB had to spend a little bit more of her day in her bouncy because Daddy and I were preparing for our guests all day. So, we made sure to put football on the t.v., because just like her Daddy, AB can sit and watch football all day!! While she was watching her favorite sport, we gave her her new lovie. She immediately grabbed onto it and started rubbing her hands and face over the soft material. It was very sweet. When she got tired, she'd have her paci in her mouth, and then she'd hold onto her sweet lovie.

It made her very happy! Unfortunately, it didn't work too well later on that night. Thanksgiving is usually hectic when we host it, but I love the chaos. I love the rush of getting everything ready on time and cooking all day long, but on Thanskgiving night we experienced a new kind of hectic. After family had been there about an hour or so, AB started getting a little fussy. This "little fussy" turned into an all out "screaming bloody murder" fussy. Nothing would calm her down. She had been passed around from person to person and her routine was thrown off a little bit and she didn't nap and I think she went past the point of tired, straight to pure exhaustion. She let us know about it, too! Austin and I tried all we knew to do: swaddling, swinging, shushing, sucking/pacie (all tips from The Happiest Baby on the Block). Finally, after nothing worked, I nursed her and she went right to sleep, and I just let her sleep. I didn't bother waking her up for her 9:00 feeding...this kid needed the sleep. She slept from 7:00 pm - 3:30 am. Bless her heart, she was tired! Needless to say, we have LOTS to be thankful for this year!! Even though, Thanksgiving this year presented us with a new set of challenges, but I wouldn't trade them for ANYTHING in the world!

Three Months Old

Happy Three Months Little Love,


It seems like just yesterday I was writing your two month post! Where does the time go? I've seen much more growth this month than I have in the first two. You continue to amaze Mommy and Daddy everyday. It never fails, you are always doing something cute or funny and we just stare at you in amazement. Although I don't want you to grow up, I am looking forward to putting you in your adorable 3-6 months clothes. You, believe it or not, are still wearing newborn sizes!! Here I thought I was going to have this big 'ol baby, but you have managed to stay pretty petite. That is always the first comment that people make when they see you, "Oh, she's still so tiny!" Yes, you are a dainty little thing.

This month your smiles have doubled! You've been smiling for a couple of months now, but recently your smiles are a lot more frequent. You and I will just be sitting around, watching t.v. or snuggling and I will look down at you, and you will be giving me a huge smile without me trying to get one out of you! You have really started following Mommy and Daddy with your eyes! We will walk in and out of the room and you are watching every move we make. And oh, how big and beautiful those eyes are! I could stare into your eyes all day.

You hold your head up like a pro! It's getting more and more fun to carry you around because you are able to hold your head up and look around when I carry you. Last weekend your Daddy and I took you to Salado (your first out of town trip). Instead of dragging your carrier in and out of the little shops, we decided just to carry you around. How much fun that was. You were so alert and into all of the decorations and things you saw. You rarely need us to support your head anymore. You are holding it up yourself about 90% of the time!

You have just recently started reaching and grabbing things and becoming aware of your hands. A couple of weeks ago, you grabbed onto Mommy's hair and would not let go! Ouch. I couldn't help but think it was cute, though. You've started really focusing on your hands, particularly your right one for some reason. You will make a fist, and stare intently at your hand and then attempt to find your mouth with that hand. I love to sit and watch you concentrate so hard on it. Daddy and I were in amazement a couple of weeks ago when you grabbed your passie that was in your mouth, took it out a little ways and then put it back in your mouth!

Here are some choice phrases and questions that I hear all the time from people, "Is she always this content?", "Oh, look how alert she is!", "What a happy baby!", "Listen to her talk!", "Look how tiny she is!". I, of course, could listen to the wonderful things that people say about you all day long! You are a good baby, AB. You can sit in your bouncy and entertain yourself or watch t.v. Yes, you are still a t.v. watcher. You will be sitting in Daddy's lap and you two will be watching football, and I swear you'd stay there all day if you didn't need to eat or sleep! You are most definitely your Daddy's daughter! You are just very content most of the time.

Today, I was feeling particularly sentimental and watched the DVD of the day you were born that your Daddy made for me when you were about a week old. I've watched it about 100 times since you've been born, but tonight when I watched it, it really hit me that you are growing. You've lost that "newborn" look and are developing your own beautiful features. As much as I'm enjoying watching your growth, I will always miss that sweet newborn look that you had. You are growing, but how beautifully you're growing! Your smiles, your coos, your laughter...all of it is so amazing.

I can't even begin to tell you all the things I want to say. I can't begin to express how much love I have for you. It is an INSANE amount of love. You brighten my day and give my life a whole new purpose. You bring so much joy and have brought a whole new meaning to the word love. It's not only love for you, but love the love I have for your Daddy, too. I knew I loved him...a lot...but seeing how amazing he is with you, AB, Mommy loves your Daddy more and more everyday, and I'm not the only girl in this house who loves Daddy. You are absolutely crazy about him. When you smile at Daddy, it is definitely a very adoring and loving look. Daddy is also very crazy about his little girl. I've never seen his eyes light up so much then when he looks at you. He loves you so much! Who couldn't??

Oh, AB! The months are already going by so fast. I don't want you to grow up, I want you to stay a baby forever! BUT...I know that God has great things planned for you AB. You are such a blessing, and as we are quickly approaching our first Thanksgiving with you I have so, so much to be thankful for. God knows my heart and He knew just how bad I've always wanted to be a Mommy. He blessed me with such a beautiful baby girl and I love you so much! These last three months have been a blast! I love watching you grow and enjoy all the little things that you do. I can't wait to see what the next month brings! I love you, baby girl!

Love,

Mommy

Confessions of a Working Mom - Part III: The Dreaded Greeting

Well, it happened. For the first time since I've left AB, it happened. What I've always dreaded - I go to pick her up from Andrea and she cries when I went to scoop her up in my arms. I know she's a little young, and the reason she cried is most likely a reason different than what I think, but it still upset me. I usually don't even touch her until I get home and scrub down and change clothes. I'm so afraid of spreading "school germies" and getting her sick. I've found out that as time goes on, it's getting harder and harder to do. So, today I got my new school hoodie at the end of the day, so I quickly put that on before leaving work, scrubbed my hands and was all set to snatch my little AB up as soon as I got to her. So, when Andrea opened the door and was holding her, I took her into my arms (which is out of our routine because I usually just smile and talk to her and not touch her since I'm germ infested) and loved on her. I held her up to look at her face, and her little bottom lip quivered and she started to cry, but stopped herself before it turned into a full-blown sob. Ugh. If you were quiet enough, you could actually hear my heart break, I think. It was painful. My child, instead of smiles and squeals, gave me a lip quiver and a cry. I felt for the first time in her little two months of life, she wasn't happy to see me. Of course my husband tried to convince me that she is still too young to "not be happy to see me" and that of course she's always happy to see me. But as the guilty "working mother" was coming out in me, I felt that was the reason - because I leave her for seven hours of the day to go to work instead of be with her. I felt she was starting to not just like being at Andrea's, but love it and not want to leave. I felt for a little bit today that she was starting to view Andrea as mommy. Andrea (who is the sweetest thing, btw), was convinced she was tired because she barely slept today, and that was the reason for her unhappiness. I have to admit, the second we got in the car, she fell asleep. I guess that was it. When she woke up, I got a HUGE smile (with a little coaxing). She wasn't as smiley as she normally is on this day. The rest of the night, though, I saw those beautiful gums of hers from big smiles. I know she loves me and I know she knows I'm mommy. It was just hard to have my daughter's first reaction to see be a sad one. Oh, the guilt that plays into that is too much at times, but I pray myself through it and know that God has a plan.

Annabelle's First (non-family) Babysitters!

Last Saturday night was Austin's brother's 30th birthday party. We had planned on taking Annabelle because it was a family party, but Krista had requested to watch her. A little background, Krista has made a list entitled, "Thirty things to do before thirty." One of those things being babysitting a newborn - check! She had a little help, though. Tony (Austin's best friend) came over to help. And yes, in case you're wondering they are an item, and a darn cute item they make, too. Austin and I felt very good leaving our precious girl in such good hands. As a matter of fact, when we got home, AB had Tony holding her hand. It was very sweet. Here are some pictures we took of them when we got home.

Are you thinking what I'm thinking? What a cute family they'd have?!? Trying not to jump the gun here, but they make such a stinkin' cute couple! Thanks Krista and Tony for taking such good care of our sweet girl! We love you guys!

My BEEutiful Girl and Fun at the Pumpkin Patch

Halloween weekend was a busy one!! Halloween day was spent having lunch and then shopping with Nana. This was AB's first shopping spree. After that we stopped by our friend's house, The Penrose's, who were having a happenin' Halloween party that we weren't able to make. However, we wanted to stop by and show off AB in her pumpkin hat that Cori had made for her. I was so impressed with it and it fit AB perfectly.

The night got started off with a bang with the Red Power Ranger, Mario and Snake Eyes came over to go Trick or Treating with a cute little bumble bee (aka - Joey, Roman, Noah and Annabelle).

The very proud Red Ranger holding his little cousin, the bumble bee.

Cousins!!

My tuckered out ABee :0). And this was before trick or treating even began!

Mommy and ABee!

Daddy and his favorite flying bee!

My happy girl!

The next day we went to the pumpkin patch with cousin Stetson. We had so much fun walking around the arboretum and taking the baby's pictures! They were great!

We were tring to get them to look at eachother. They were more interested in the ground!

I think this is my fav!

Chana and I with our favorite little pumpkins!

AB did so good as we propped her up on the pumpkins and endured Mommy changing out her acessories from hat to bow.

Stetson, too, was such a good sport. Could you not just eat up those cheeks???

My fav of little man!!!!

And...she'd had enough!!

Stetson was so go with the flow!!!!

We had such a good weekend with family and some perfect photo-ops, too!!!!!!

Confessions of a Working Mom - Part II : Scheduling is the Key

I've never been good at the whole house-cleaning and laundry thing. I'd much rather spend my days doing something enjoyable. I am blessed with a husband who is wonderful at deep-cleaning and getting things looking spic and span - I know, what a blessing. However, we both err on the side of laziness so the house never gets as clean as I want it as often as I want it. So, I was thinking to myself the other day and wondering why I function so well at work and get everything done right on time and in an organized manner. Same with Annabelle. I never have a problem keeping things organized and doing things on time with her. But for some reason, my house always suffers. So, the longer I thought about it the more I discovered it's all about being on a schedule and doing everything in a timely manner. At work, I have a strict schedule to my day and have to follow it to a T. We have a certain number of hours designated to teach our science, math, ELA and social studies block. If we don't teach them when we're supposed to, we aren't meeting our goal. Same with Annabelle, I have her on a strict three hour schedule (thank you, Babywise). She eats, we have a little bit of waketime, and then she sleeps. I knew I had to do the same thing at home. Ever since Annabelle was born the whole cleaning and laundry thing has gotten worse! I just can't get it together. So, last week I put myself on a schedule at home. My goal: to clean one room of the house a night, one load of laundry and fix dinner. This way on the weekends, I will have all the laundry done and I won't be spending my whole day doing it, I have a clean house and I can enjoy my family. I have a late night at work one day a week to get all my planning done, so that is Austin's turn to cook dinner, do the laundry and cleaning for the week. This plan has only been put into action one week, but thus far it has been a success. I just came to the conclusion I am the type of person that needs to follow a schedule, or it won't get done. I have to hold myself accountable. When I was home with AB for maternity leave, I had no problem cleaning up after everyone and tidying up, but since I've gone back to work it gets overwhelming. I figure if I keep it up and I clean one room a night the cleaning will be minimal for the next week and easier to keep up. It's still hard not being home with my baby. Work has gotten much, much easier and I'm adjusting and back into my teacher groove. I still can't help but miss my baby during the day and wonder what things I am missing. Andrea is awesome about keeping me informed and sending me pictures. I love that. Even though the schedule thing has made my life easier at home, it still doesn't help me from missing my AB.

2 Month Check-Up

Last Monday was AB's two month check up. You know what that means?? Shots!! She handled it better than I did, but she was still pretty upset after she got them. I HATE that face and when she stops breathing because she's crying so hard...breaks my heart! I had to take a picture of her before all the trauma. She was so sweet and content in her seat before her appt. It made me sad really, because she was so peaceful and had no idea she was about to get four shots!!


In the room she was so good! I stripped her down to her diaper so she could be weighed and checked before Dr. Straughn came in. At this check up, she weighed 10 lbs 13 oz and was 22 1/2 inches long. She was pretty much in the 50th percential for everything, whereas at her 2 week check up she was in the 90th percentile for length, so she's evened out some!

She was in the best mood, and waited so patiently in my arms until the doctor got there. When I layed her down on the table she was all sprawled out and just kept looking at me like, "where am I, mommy?" When Dr. Straughn came in he answered all of my million questions that I always ask and he answered them all and was very patient with me. We LOVE Dr. Straughn. I asked to get a picture of him and AB. He's such a good pediatrician and so loving in his care to his patients. We're lucky to have found him.