Bumbo

Now that she has some neck control, she's ready for the Bumbo.

Onsie #3

Even though she isn't 3 months old yet, and isn't even 50th percentile in any of her measurements, Abby has grown out of most of her 0-3 month sized clothes. So I pulled out the next round of decorated onsies. Along with a bunch of new outfits I'm excited to start dressing her in.

Random Holiday Shots

Merry Christmas

The Incredible Sleeping (and Growing) Baby

After a very exciting Christmas party on Friday night, it took a long time for us to calm Abby down enough to go to sleep. However, once asleep she slept for nearly 7 hours straight. Then she went on to sleep, on and off with a few feedings, through the rest of the night, three long car rides, one family party, one babysitting and one more night (with another 6 hour stretch). On Sunday morning I felt like a new woman I was so rested and Abby suddenly didn't fit into some of her clothes.

Playing with Toys

Abby has started actively playing with her toys:


Just in time for Christmas.

Good bath time

Bath time has ranged from deeply traumatic to merely horrendously awful for Abby since we brought her home. However yesterday there was no crying during the bath and when I took her out into the cold air there was only a low grade whimper as if to keep reminding me that she was cold and I better get those clothes on fast.

Here is Abby completely worn out after a bath in October



Here is Abby after her bath yesterday

Crazy Red Eyes

Abby went to her first restaurant on Friday night, on the occasion of her aunt Natasha's birthday. Mom and Dad were expecting to end up leaving midway through the meal, but she did great. We even got to eat dessert!

2 months!!

Abby is 2 months old! At her official weigh-in last Wednesday she was 10 lbs, 3 oz and 22 inches long. (She also got her first round of immunizations which were traumatic.)

Smiles

Uncle Paul asked for more cute baby photos and she just happened to be smiling at the time. The smile is quite elusive (and completely unconnected to being happy). But it makes us happy!

Onsies #2

Second in the onsie series. I think this is all of them until she starts wearing the 3-6 month size.

Abby loves to hang out on her changing table and she has just started to spend good chunks of time looking at the white-on-black book in the background.

Christmas is coming...

Thank Goodness for the Bouncy Seat

The bouncy seat is the only place where Abby will be happy on her own for any length of time. Currently it usually lasts about 5 minutes, which is just long enough for me to take a very fast shower and get dressed again. She is just starting to notice the toys right in front of her face. She's not quite interested in them yet, but previously she was not even aware they were there. Big thanks to Anne, Snap, Amy and Andrew (Dan's aunt, uncle and cousins)!

Also, check out the super cute tiny pink shoes that her cousins (twice removed) Michael and Stephanie gave her. (You may have to click on the picture to see them clearly.)

I have to say that Abby looks really cute in the picture.

Onsies #1

This is the first in an occasional series of onsies decorated by friends and family. They are in various sizes up to 9 months so these postings may be quite spread out.

Football Hold

Look how big I am!

Here's Abby at one week old:






Here's Abby at six weeks old:

More Friends

Joe and Meg, friends from Western Mass, came to meet Abby this weekend.

How does she sleep like this?

I often find Abby sleeping with her hand up in the air. It usually lasts for about 5 minutes. In this picture her right hand is propped on the bed but her left hand is up in the air.

I love my babysitters

Abby had her first two babysitting times this past weekend (unless one counts the time when Nana watched her and mom and dad went to the hardware store.) Here's a picture of Abby with her first babysitter, Kelly. Her next babysitters were her uncle Paul and aunt Lara. All three babysitters reported that everything went well.

Dan and I have to work on our babysitter instructions. We forgot to mention that there were extra bottles of milk in the freezer. Abby really would have wanted one after she devoured the first one uncle Paul gave her. I wonder what we will forget to explain next time.

Technical Difficulties

I have a few things to post but I suddenly can't get the camera to connect properly with the computer.

Update: It was unplugged. I'm a genius. (In my defense, it is not easy to follow cables behind the desk with a baby strapped to you.)

Thanks for family and friends

We had a great Thanksgiving with Dan's family in Bourne. Abby slept through dinner which was a real blessing for her mom and dad. On Friday we visited with friends in Brewster but we forgot to bring our camera and theirs was out of batteries. We rounded out the weekend by introducing Abby to her Great-Grandfather Pearson (GGP).

This Bear Suit is Cute

and nice and warm for today's cold weather.

Bath Time!

We gave Abby her first actual bath. Up until now, we've only done sponge baths. She was upset initially, but then calmed down once she was fully in the warm water. Getting out of the bath was another story.

Priya and Amir

Priya (Becca's college roommate) and her husband Amir came to visit and meet Abby.

Fuzzi Bunz

How cute is Abby in her Fuzzi Bunz (new school cloth diapers)! Thanks to Heath and Kelly for loaning them to us.

Yes, we really need to cut her fingernails. Right after I took this picture I took off the mittens to change her shirt and she scratched me on the nose.

First Bottle

After reading about how hard it is for some babies to take the bottle, Abby took the bottle on the first attempt! She made a face that was very clearly "this nipple tastes bad" but then ravenously attacked it. So smart!

On a side note, I swear I don't just wear white T-shirts every day. I wear nicer shirts to work, which I find uncomfortable, so I shed them as soon as I get home. As a result, most pictures of Abby & Daddy feature me looking like this.

Champion Eater!

No picture for this post.

At her 1 month check-up, Abby had gained 2 pounds and almost an inch over the last three weeks and provided a first time spectacle for her doctor: sneeze-powered projectile poop. Luckily it doesn't smell and it all stayed on the examination table liner. (Abby, if you are grown-up and reading this, I hope you are not embarrassed.)

Papa's Video

Papa (Becca's Dad) returned to California yesterday, so we're on our own. Here's a video that Papa created when he wasn't doing laundry or making Cheese + Carb related meals.

Wake Up, Baby!

We learned, and then relearned, that for Abby to sleep well at night, she needs to be awake in the evening. Yesterday evening Paula and Uncle Matt tried to wake Abby for over an hour. Eventually, after two diaper changes, she finally decided to open her eyes. It was a success. Last night, she went back to sleep after each feeding.

Baby's First Piece of Mail

Abby received her first piece of mail yesterday. Even though they said it would take up to 2 months, the Social Security Administration issued her SSN in 10 days. Mom and Papa were amazed, but Abby didn't seem too impressed.

More Out of State Visitors

When Abby was 1 day old, her great aunt and great uncle visited from Maine. Her next long distance visitors (besides Nana and Papa) came to visit yesterday: Jane and Newton from NYC.

Boppy Time

For those of you who haven't been able to hang out with her yet: Here's a video of Abigail sitting in her nursing pillow while her Papa takes pictures of her. (This movie is not action packed.)

The Red Curtains

Abigail's favorite activity, other than eating, is staring at the curtains in our living room. If she is in the living room and awake, she spends 90% of her time looking at our curtains.

This is your brain on sleep deprivation

I (Becca) seem to have lost my command of English idioms as a result of sleep deprivation. When Abby was asleep on my lap and completely limp I declared that she was a "pile of pudding". I have no idea what idiom or image I was even trying to use. Nevertheless my parents and Dan have started using the new phrase whenever possible.

First Halloween

Abigail didn't have a costume but she was very popular with all the moms and dads bringing their children by for trick or treating. One mom said "I'll take one of those!"

Completely Exhausted

Abigail's third sponge bath was quite an ordeal for Abby, mom and nana. (The more upset she got, the more mess she made and the more we needed to clean up.) Afterwards, Abby was so exhausted she fell asleep instantly with no need for a swaddle.

Papa Arrives!

Papa (Becca's Dad) arrived last night. He delayed his arrival by a week so that he would be around longer to help Becca recover from her c-section. Yay Papa!!

First Big Milestone

Last night Abigail's yucky umbilical cord stub fell out. Don't worry, we won't post a picture.

Go Sox!

Tummy Time

Abby's doctor was impressed by her feats of strength during her 1 week visit and encouraged us to start tummy time at home. The first attempt wasn't so good. She started screaming after about 10 seconds.



Dad tried the next day and it worked out a little better. She was happy for about 3 minutes with dad laying down next to her.

More Visitors

Uncle Matt and Aunt Natasha


Martha (Becca's Cousin)

A Beautiful Day for a Walk

It was absolutely beautiful outside today. We went for a walk down to Isis Maternity to pick up some much needed baby supplies. It turned out that the hat we brought is still a little too big.

Best Invention Ever!

So last year we lived with a family from church. When we moved in, the 5 month old Elizabeth would only go to sleep for us if we put her in her car seat and then swung it for a LONG TIME. While doing this, Becca and I "invented" a swing you could put your car seat in. Turns out Graco (the make of everything baby) was listening in on our conversation and brought it to market before we could. Abby loves it!

So Popular

Alex and Erica (friends from church) stopped by to meet Abigail.


The Schmelzer family (friends from Church) stopped by as well but we forgot to take a picture.

Virtual Papa

Since Papa (Becca's Dad) won't be coming out for another week, we arranged a virtual introduction thanks to Skype and webcams. Papa is pretty anxious to get out here, but we really appreciate his sacrifice.