Abby's Baptism

Abby got baptized on Sunday, September 19th at Edgeboro Moravian Church in Bethlehem. 

We chose to have her baptized at the 11am service which was more contemporary.  She wore the beautiful eyelet dress and bonnett that I wore 30 years ago... she looked like a little doll!  Pastor Chris Geisler performed the service. 

Abby only cried a little when she got the water on her forehead.  Then she was paraded around the congregation for everyone to see and she did great!  

Chris and Jennifer came up for the event from Virginia and had a part in the ceremony as Abby's Godparents.  The rest of the family was there too!  

After getting some pictures outside of the church, we all headed over to Starters Riverport in Bethlehem for some lunch.  

It was a beautiful day and I thought a moving baptismal ceremony!

Pictorious

Formula Frenzy

As most of you are well aware, I am breastfeeding exclusively.  A few times here and there though in the past couple weeks, it seemed as though Abby was still hungry and not getting enough.  We thought maybe we should start supplementing a little bit with formula to hold her over.

Per the pediatrician's suggestion, we started with Similac Advance.  She got 3oz. after a regular feeding.  She took it from the bottle fine and then eventually she fell asleep in her crib.  About 3 hours later in the middle of the night, I heard her making noises so I went into her room, only to find puke everywhere - on her mouth, all over her outfit, down her back on the crib bedding, etc.  She was gagging a little and sputtering and threw up once or twice after that.  Poor thing!

The pediatrician then said to try Similac Soy but only about 2oz. after having breastmilk.  Peter tried to give it to her but she just kept turning her head away and didn't want anything to do with it.  There are some people against soy for a few reasons, but nothing is 100% proven or clinically proven - I'll spare the details and save it for some other time but I'm not against occasional soy formula use.  

The third shot at formula was Similac Sensitive.  Nana was watching Abby one day and gave her the formula after having some breastmilk.  So it was mixed in as breastmilk-formula-breastmilk.  She took it well but then about 2 hours later she threw it up.  What can I say, she prefers her mommy's milk!

I hate formula!!!

I'm not sure what to do now at this point.  We don't want to keep jumping from formula to formula but it'd be good to have her used to SOME kind of formula as a back-up just in case she is still hungry and I can't provide much else, or if I get sick and have to take meds that shouldn't be passed onto her.  We might try the soy again since she didn't actually digest any, just refused to take any.  

Actually, I don't blame her for not taking the formula - that stuff smells nasty!

Rolling On The River

Abby rolled over completely for the first time on Tuesday, September 14th!  Peter was home with her and she rolled both ways on her playmat; back to belly and belly to back.  Big girl! 

Later on in the middle of the night I heard her making some noise in her crib so I went to go check it out, thinking I was going to feed her.  I walked in to see her flipped over on her tummy!  It was kind of surreal to all of a sudden see her on her belly lifting herself up on her arms and hands when all she was able to do before was lay on her back.  I think she confused herself too and was like 'what the heck did I just do'? 

Ever since then she's been rolling all around, consciously rolling and playing.   

3 Month Check Up

Abby's 3 month check-up (which was September 8th) went well.  Her weight was 10lb., 5oz. so a bit smaller than I thought (5 %) and 24" (25%).  She got 2 shots. 

Peter took  her by herself this time since I was at work and all went well!

Days With Nana

Well I guess I'm kind of in the swing of things, being back at work and being a full-time working mommy.  The first week was hard but I'm slowly getting the hang of it.  I get sooo sleepy at work and it's hard to stay awake!  I think I mentioned it before but when I come home, the evenings go by so incredibly fast.

We are extremely lucky enough to have my mom (aka Nana) come down to watch Abby 2-3 days during the week while Peter and I are at work.  She has been retired but now she has this new baby-sitting gig!  Janet (aka Granma) was also able to come down a few days to help which was great - she will be going back to work as a teacher eventually.

Abby has been continuing to grasp objects pretty well, focus on her toys and stuffed animals, play on her back and tummy on the playmat and blankets, lift her head (when she feels like it), hold her head w/o support for the most part, sometimes suck her thumb, tons of smiles and cooing and "talking", starting to roll onto her side, listens to classical music and watches her Baby Einstein dvd, etc.

I'm so excited for the next 3 months for fall weather so that we can enjoy the outdoors more.  We like taking walks around the neighborhood and I can now function with pushing the stroller and walking Sophie at the same time.  

When Nana comes down to our place, she has a guestroom to sleep in and keep her things.  She is welcome to our food but insists on bringing her own lunch and eats maybe two bites of turkey and cheese and a Coke.  If it's nice she takes Abby on a walk and they have playtime and lots of reading.  She gets two bottles of milk a day while I'm at work.  Sometimes my Dad (aka Pop Pop) comes down too and keeps Nana and Abby company and helps out with the baby tasks - or sometimes he just holds her for an hour when she falls asleep.  On the nights Nana sleeps over, Peter and I cook dinner or figure out somewhere for us all to go eat.

   

Future GW-er

Two weekends ago, Abigail had the pleasure of meeting Amy, Suzie, and Kelly for the first time (technically second for Kelly).  The girls came up from MD and VA to meet Baby Abby (Abby is spelled "baby" when jumbled /tidbit) and to spend time with moi.

They arrived on Saturday at our house and they first met Abby and saw her room.  We promptly then went to Pudge's for some lunch and Abby behaved.  Woohoo - she hearts chicken cheesesteaks!  We continued on to Valley Forge where we saw Peter at the cabins but he was too busy with visitrons so we walked around for a bit.  We avoided bugs and Amy searched for a cot.  We came back to the house then and everyone got a turn holding Abby, then Kelly fed her a bottle.

They then went to check into their hotel and I met up with them a bit later (sans Abby) to head on down to Victory Brewery in Downingtown.  Daddy was watching Abby for the evening while Mommy got to have some downtime with the girls.  AND I got to have my first beer since August 2009 - a whole year!  I got a Whirlwind (similar to a Blue Moon) and it was amazing.  We had a good time hanging out and talking, then I had to get home (in which Abby, Sophie, Nacho, and Peter were ALL sleeping).  

The next morning we met up at Bob Evans (Abby included) for breakfast before they got on the road to head back home.  Abby kept pulling her pink headband down over her eyes.  :)  She was sad to see them go.  

I can't do GWs (girls weekends)  like I used to, but it was really good to see them.  Plus, Abby is a little GW-er in training!  Before I know it, she'll be coming along and we'll be painting her toenails and playing dress-up.  ;)  

Here I am with the girls (sadly no pic with Abby):