Loving my God, Husband, and Eaglets

Welcome Katherine Jane!

2010-09-22T09:42:00.000-07:00

Katherine Jane Eagle was born March 9, 2010 at 3:49 PM. She was 6lbs 15oz and 20in long. She was born three days after my due date and on her Uncle Brian's 30th birthday. Katherine is Greek and means pure. Jane is Hebrew in origin and means God's Grace. It is also the feminine form of Jon. We named her after my husband's wonderful best friend, Jonathan Glyer, who passed away in a tragic accident in January. We love the sound and meaning of her name. She has many nicknames. We call her Sister, Kate, Katie, Katie Jane, Katie Bear and Katherine. She was called a turtle for awhile because she used to do a funny thing with her neck.

My blood pressure was starting to climb and to be sure I had a vaginal birth, I had to be induced. I had my same wonderful ob/gyn I had with Abigail. What a blessing it was to have my doctor on call for both births! Praise God. I had back labor this time and once the medicine started working I progressed very quickly. I only had to push for like 10 minutes. (Please don't hate me ladies.) I cried right after I delivered her because I couldn't believe she was already here so soon. David was a great coach and had two huge cups of ice chips ready to go for me. I didn't even need very much, but a handful. I had an awesome nurse, Kathy, who was with me the whole time. She wanted to make sure I had the baby during her shift. After all that work, she said she wanted to be part of the finale. Her humor and bedside manner made the day so pleasant. She even made the little hat Katie is wearing in the photos. Doctors are great, but it's the nurses who do all the hard work. :)

Children under 18 were not allowed to come to the hospital because of the recent outbreak of the terrible flu virus. Abigail got to meet her sister the next day when we came home from the hospital. We were very anxious to get home and see Abby. I was so thankful my parents, Grammy and Papa, were able to watch her and make her feel comfortable in our absence. Abby loves her baby sister. She has learned to be gentle and very caring.

We are so happy Katie Jane has joined our family. Life has been quite busy since she arrived in March, as I haven't blogged for a little over 6 months. Ahh! I have so much to share. I will continue to update the blog since I want to record what has been going on as we have adjusted to being a family of 4. Thanks for your patience. :)

A visual look at the last few months

2010-03-07T20:34:00.000-08:00

Reading Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? Unhappy Girl
Loving library time
Party Girl
Taking Noah for a walk
First time in a bounce house at the Woodward's birthday party
Elmo underwear is worn this way, didn't you know?

Leaving Church
Christmas Bridge
Christmas dress
Looking in awe at Christmas lights

Purple Kitty
Flower Power
Sitting in the big recliner
Sleepy Girl

MIA

2010-02-25T20:28:00.000-08:00

Well, I have been missing for quite some time now. I think the last few months have been life changing and I have totally neglected my blog. I am sorry to family and friends who have missed updates on Abigail and our family. Our family is about to welcome a new addition any time now. I am 38 weeks 5 days pregnant. Wow! It still feels surreal even though I have a very active baby girl in my belly to prove it. I wanted to recap all that has happened in the last few months to serve as a reminder to me of God's faithfulness. Let's see, last time I updated was back in September. This was a hard time of trusting God with David's job search. I am pleased to say that by the end of October God blessed David with an amazing job with Pacific Life. He is in charge of special projects and he is working with their top engineers on new technology. His job is challenging and his gifts and talents are being utilized daily. The benefits for our family are wonderful and we thank God daily for this job he provided.

After David's job was secured, we moved the first week of December.What a crazy time! We are so thankful for our new place. We were blessed to move into my sister-in-law's grandmother's house. It is a larger house with a better layout for our growing family. We are saving money on rent and the location is closer to the freeway which helps with David's daily commute.

My brother and his wife were able to visit in December from CO. Brian had heart surgery on the 22nd of December. This was another huge event in our family. He has suffered from issues with atrial fibrillation since he was 18. He had a procedure called a catheter ablation. The surgery was a success and Brian has had no side effects from it. Again, we praise God for His faithfulness.

After a low key Christmas and New Years, we found ourselves in 2010. At the end of the month, we received the tragic news of our dear friend's death. Jonathan Glyer was killed instantly while working at his job in a machine shop. He was only 27. This has rocked our world. We ministered together at church to the youth for years. Jon was David's best friend and he left behind a wife, Sarah. We have hope because Jonathan was a believer and we know that he is in heaven. David flew up to the memorial in Seattle, WA and we both attended the service at Biola here for CA family and friends. David and I both lived with the Glyer family at different times before we were married. We are now trying to minister to Sarah and the family as we grieve together. David wrote about Jonathan and his journey to both memorials to honor his friend here.

All these major events have happened during this pregnancy. God has kept me healthy and has sustained me through it all. My doctor did take some extra precautions this pregnancy in regards to my 'chronic hypertension.' For the last two months until delivery, I have had multiple doctor appointments to monitor the baby's movement/heart rate, my bp, and level of amniotic fluid. Three times a week I have been getting ultrasounds, having non-stress tests, and regular ob doctor visits. Thankfully, my church friends and family have really helped me out with childcare for Abigail. Being monitored so much has been a bit inconvenient, but I am so pleased that I have had no problems with my blood pressure and the baby is growing well. I was sent to the hospital on February second because the baby's heart rate wasn't accelerating like they would have liked to see. After a few hours in labor in delivery, I was sent home. I realized I was probably dehydrated and hadn't eaten enough that day. I have learned my lesson and I make sure to drink my fluids and eat, even when I don't feel like it.

That is life in a nutshell. I will update with more pictures in my next blog post. I promise it won't take me 5 months to update. :)

Bearing fruit in a drought

2009-09-15T20:21:00.000-07:00

Jeremiah 17: 5-8
This is what the Lord says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like a bush in the wastelands; He will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not care when the heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

Wow! These verses have meant so much to me in the last few weeks. After David got laid off, I was shocked, upset, scared, worried, etc. After two days of absorbing the news and praying, I have had peace ever since. I am trusting the Lord to provide for our needs. He has for the last month and I am so thankful. Our rent was lowered. We've received unexpected checks in the mail. Small little jobs in photography and computers have provided for bills and I continue to tutor once a week which covers our groceries. God is so good.

Our roots are being supplied with nutrients and we are bearing fruit. We have enjoyed our 'vacation' as a family. David has been a huge help around the house and with Abigail when I wasn't feeling good in my first trimester. We look forward to learning what job God has for David. My husband has been very diligent to send out resumes and fill out applications. We know we aren't going to be stuck here forever. We have hope. This hope gives me joy. I am so thankful for God's provision and His plan. Right now I am trusting Him, enjoying the stream, cooling off in the shade, and rejoicing in the fruit He has and will create.

14 and 15 month stats

2009-08-23T21:28:00.000-07:00

I am yet again behind in my blogging. I have a good reason! I promise. Abigail is going to be a big sister. I am 12 weeks 2 days pregnant! I am due March 6. Needless to say, I haven't been feeling well. This pregnancy has been filled with fatigue, headaches, heartburn, waves of nauseousness, and food aversions. I am hoping the worst of it is over, since I have hit 12 weeks. Although, last night I was incredibly sick and needed all day today to recover. I kept my food plan simple today with bland snacks of toast, crackers, apple sauce, and cereal. It all seemed to sit well on my empty stomach. We had an ultrasound on our first doctor visit and we got to see the baby's heart beating. We have another ultrasound scheduled in the beginning of October and we hope to find out the baby's sex. This pregnancy feels totally different, but I am not guessing a boy or girl yet. I have been praying for a healthy baby. So far, my blood tests and blood pressure have been on target. Before I found out I was pregnant, I participated in a weight loss challenge with a friend. In ten weeks, I lost 12 pounds and 7 inches. I exercised a lot and learned so much about nutrition that I made much better choices for my meals and snacks. I am really thankful that God prepared me to carry this baby with a healthier body. I needed to lose the weight so I can chase after my ever moving toddler. Now, with two, I will need to be really in shape. They will keep me on my toes! Since the last two months have been a bit of a blur, I will combine some of Abigail's information. The pics aren't that great. Many were taken from my phone. Yeah, mommy didn't take many pictures in the last few months either.
*14 months: 17 lbs 7 oz
*15 months: 18 lbs 6 oz (Yay! She gained almost a pound.)
*wears 6-9 month clothes (more 9 month now)
*wears size 3 diapers
*wears 6-12 month shoes (size 3)
*loves her baby dolls
*her seventh tooth has emerged
*peed in her potty twice!
*took make-up out of my purse and put it in the bathroom drawer with my other cosmetics (so smart!)
*enjoys looking out the window and looking at herself in mirrors
*still nursing: morning and nap time (signs for this, instead of pulling at my shirt)
*words she says: momma, dada or daddy, hi, bye bye, ball, baby, please, thank you, nigh-nigh, I love you, uh oh, Elmo
*sings: Ho,Ho, Ho Hosanna; Wheels on the Bus; Row, Row, Row your boat
*loves to climb her little rocking chair and stand on it, rock, sit down, get off, and do it all over again
*bouncing the ball and chasing after it is great fun
*likes to play with cups and straws
*still takes baths in her little blow up tub
*loves music and dancing
*loves to read books especially animal books
*makes animal noises: roars= lion, moos=cow, hoots=owl, barks=dog, meows=cat, quacks=duck
*gives lots of kisses and hugs to her family and her babies
*likes to close the dishwasher
*has curly hair and it is getting long (I need to cut her bangs, but I am scared to do it!)
*carefully turns her body around to climb down from the couch (can't climb up it yet)
*sleeps 12 hours at night, and takes 2-3 hour nap during the day
*still not liking cow's milk (gets plenty of calcium from whole milk yogurt and cheese)
*discovered her nostrils (so attractive!)
*enjoys chasing the dogs
*knows where her head is, feet are, tongue is, nose is, and belly
*likes to get into the dogs' water bowls
*restless in the car (we sing and I give her toys to keep her occupied)
*recognizes momma and dada in pictures
*loves to open and close doors
*figured out how to remove the plug covers (She tried to plug in the vacuum the other day.)
*turns the volume up or down on the TV receiver knob
*enjoys taking the contents out of her drawers, diaper bag, my purse, and daddy's wallet
*took her diaper off in her crib and peed on her bedding and floor
*loves getting balloons from Trader Joe's
*gets into cracker boxes if they are in reach and starts munching (goldfish, cheez-its, and graham crackers)
*still takes her shoes off in the car (tries to put them back on by herself)
*enjoys taking wipes out of their package and unrolling toilet paper
*loves to put shoes on mommy and daddy

13 month stats

2009-07-10T20:30:00.000-07:00

Abigail is growing up so fast and I am falling behind in my documentation. :) I guess it is good that I am mothering and enjoying life. Blogs can wait. We made our monthly trek to the Wellness Center and our 13 month old weighs 17 lbs 4 oz. Her small stature has been a blessing on my back and my arms. She can stay tiny and petite as long as possible! She has been growing. I feel like suddenly she is leggy and fuller in the face. Here are some fun tidbits about her development:
*wears size 9 months clothes (surprisingly, some 6 month clothes still fit her)
*wears size 3 Pamper's Cruiser diapers
*wears size 3 shoes
*still nursing
*her hair is getting longer and she won't leave bows in it anymore (some rubber bands are left untouched)
*walking everywhere unassisted
*loves singing
*loves dogs
*enjoys playing with her yellow and orange bouncy balls
*points to your nose
*fascinated by her belly button
*wants to bite strange things (the couch, for example )
*puts sunglasses on/around her neck instead of her face
*loves opening and closing anything
*likes to put things in Noah's dog crate (even herself :)
*has gotten her legs caught in her crib when she is upset or sleeping
*still using her infant seat in the car (her Britax is waiting patiently in the corner of her room)
*loves laughing and falling backwards in our bed
*loves to hold and eat a banana all by herself
*loves ice water
*doesn't enjoy organic whole milk
*likes to push her mini stroller around and collect things to put in it throughout the house
*learned the sign for milk/nurse
*'talks' all the time
*likes to climb stairs on the playground
*getting more comfortable with strange ground textures (sand, grass, and woodchips aren't as scary)
*grunts and points for things she wants
*likes to take out the pots and pans in the kitchen cabinet
*likes to pick up our flip flops and walk around with them
*kisses her baby dolls and pictures of babies in books
*gives great hugs and kisses
*still wants to play when it is bedtime, so we have been letting her cry it out after our bedtime routine (this has been working)

12 month stats

2009-06-16T21:00:00.000-07:00

This is almost a month overdue, but I need to record her stats so I don't forget them. At Abigail's one year checkup she was 16 lbs 14 oz and 28 1/4 inches tall. Abby is still in the first percentile, but she is staying on her growth curve. The doctor suggested we give her vitamins, since she is a picky eater. We are always trying new food with her to see how she likes them. She has days when she eats a lot and other days when she doesn't want to do much with food. She would rather play. Abigail has discovered playing with her food is a lot of fun. Once she starts playing in it, rubbing it all over, and throwing it on the floor; we end meal time. :) Life has become more fun as we have a toddler in the house. Here are some facts about her development and daily life.

*wearing size 2-3 Swaddler diapers

*wearing size 6-9 month clothes. (Some 9 month clothes fit her now!)

*loves to walk, takes some steps on her own (Today she took 21 in a row, unassisted.)

*enjoys opening and closing drawers and doors (She has smashed her fingers several times.)

*still takes a bath in the little blow up bath inside the big bathtub

*organic waffles, cream cheese toast, and mushrooms are new favorites on her menu

*loves to play with mama's keys

*sings and baby talks all the time

*says: mama, dada, hi, bye, barks like a dog

*waves, shakes her head no, claps, loves to pick up tiny pieces of anything on the floor

*gives kisses

*doesn't like sand, grass, or bubbles very much

*likes eggs one day and not the next

*loves to read books

*enjoys her new toys from her birthday

*Jeffrey, her stuffed giraffe, has become her new lovey

*has six teeth (She doesn't enjoy us brushing them.)

*loves to push her stroller

*doesn't like whole milk (She lets it fall out of her mouth.)

*still nursing

*pulls bows out of her hair

*still sits facing the back of the car since she is not 20 lbs (She doesn't like car rides as much as she used to. I am ready to turn her around.)

*only sucks her thumb when she sleeps and she does

n't do it as much as she used to

*has completely mastered all sippy and straw cups

*loves to climb out of her highchair, exersaucer, and car seat when I unbuckle her

*loves tickles

*smiley all day long (even when we are out in public)

*takes one good nap a day and sleeps for 12 hours at night

*loves the dogs (learned how to unlatch Noah's crate)

*discovered toilet paper

*enjoys riding in the stroller while mommy exercises(walks) with her friends

*points and grunts when she wants things

*we continue to use sign language with her

Pushing her stroller in downtown Fullerton Jeffrey and I are waiting for dada to get home.

See my cute curly ponytail!

Smiley bath time! Look at all my teeth!! Eating ice cream for the first time!

Yummy Cold Stone!

Our Little Cupcake Turned One!

2009-06-02T23:22:00.000-07:00

What a fun few weeks it has been! Preparing for Abigail's first birthday was a blast, and a little stressful at times! :)I had fun being creative with invitations and decorations. I chose cupcakes for the theme in pinks and purples. I made the invitations after viewing many paper crafting ideas on-line. I took what I liked and made my own design. Another idea I adapted was making large cupcake centerpieces out of terra cotta pots. I bought six inch pots with eight inch water trays. After painting the pots purple and the trays white, I inverted the trays and hot-glued them on top. I painted and glued two spools to represent a candle on each pot. I shaped a gold sparkly pipe cleaner to look like the flame of the candle. The one I found on-line was just painted. I wanted puffy cupcakes, so I took square pieces of tissue paper and glued them in points to the top of the pots. This took forever! It reminded me of the pinata I made in eighth grade. I made a huge snowman for my Spanish class. It took me sixteen hours to glue all that tissue on! Thankfully, this did not take that long. My mom made all real edible cupcakes. They tasted as good as they looked! Before we ate our cupcakes, we enjoyed chicken salad sandwiches on croissants, veggies, potato salad, citrus fluff salad, chips and dip, string cheese, and goldfish crackers. We spent Abigail's birthday, May 21, at the LA Zoo and had her cupcake celebration on Saturday with family and friends at Tri-City Park. I can't believe my little girl is one. Time really does fly! I am so blessed to have a baby, who is now a toddler! God is so good to us. We are so blessed and thankful for her good health, sharp mind, and joyful spirit! :)

Growing up SO Fast

2009-05-18T13:02:00.000-07:00

It seems like Abigail has suddenly had a growth spurt physically and developmentally. She now has five teeth! My baby is already transitioning into toddlerhood. Her personality is emerging and it is so much fun to see the little girl she is becoming. Here are some pictures from the last few weeks. She has already taken a few steps on her own. We took her down to Laguna last weekend. She was not impressed with the sand. :( She started crying every time we tried to let her touch it. Other than the sand incident, we had a great day spending time as a family.

Catching up and 11 Month Stats

2009-04-30T22:09:00.000-07:00

I am finally getting around to writing again on my blog. Yay! The last month has been a bit crazy around here. David has been working insane hours, our refrigerator broke, a sink overflowed, and our dog, Macy, got another ear infection. Thankfully, David's work has slowed down a bit. He actually had dinner with the family a few nights this week. :) With a lot research on the internet and some prayer, I was able to fix our refrigerator. Wow, even I surprised myself. David fixed the sink and our dog just finished her round of antibiotics. Abigail and I have missed having David around, and it makes me even more thankful for the partnership and loving family we have. God has given us so much. I am extremely proud of my husband and his dedication to do an awesome job even though he was working countless hours with little to no sleep. What a great guy! I am so blessed!

Abigail has been growing up so fast. She is getting bigger and more independent.We made our monthly trip to the Wellness Center for her weight check and she is now 16 lbs 1 oz. This is still below the 3rd percentile, but after our last visit to the doctor, we were told not to worry, and to keep doing what we are doing. She will be checked out again at her one year checkup. As long as she continues to grow, we should not be concerned. We have been creative in the food department, offering her a variety of options for meal time to see what she favors. Our most recent additions to her menu are homemade smoothie pops, tofu, black beans, and garbanzo beans. I had never tried tofu before. The texture is interesting. It is a good source of protein and an easy finger food to prepare. I am so thankful for the incredible source the internet has been for helping me find good recipes and ideas for preparing healthy options for our little one. 95% of the food Abigail eats is organic. I have read so much about the importance of giving her the best food without all the chemicals and pesticides. Little bodies are so sensitive to these harmful elements. After learning about this, David and I are eating more organic food as well. About 50% of our refrigerator is filled with organic goodness. Organic food is more expensive, but I try to find it on sale. There are many frozen options as well. Trader Joes and Vons have quite a few organic foods that don't break the bank. I picked up a discounted book at Border's the other day and devoured it quickly. It is called Green Babies, Sage Moms:The Ultimate Guide to Raising Your Organic Baby. I learned so much reading this book. In an effort to be more green, I have also changed some of my cleaning supplies. I now use vinegar and baking soda to clean. A great website called vinegartips.com has over 1,000 ways to use vinegar in your home from cleaning to gardening. :)

Back to Abigail's development! Here are some size facts and fun, quirky things she is doing these days.
*wears 6 month clothes, some 6-9 month clothes fit, but pants/shorts must be six months
*wears size 2 diapers
*clicks her tongue (especially to music)
*bobs her head and moves her body and arms to music
*if you sing out one note she will copy you, if you change your tone or do a scale she breaks up her notes as well
*stands on her own
*so close to walking independently
*walks her stroller around
*cruises on furniture
*still sucks her thumb to sleep at night
*likes to climb
*still in love with our dogs, laughs and squeals when they are close to her
*eats avocado almost every day
*enjoys eating scrambled egg yokes for breakfast
*when she nurses during the day, she holds her foot and extends her leg in the air :) (strange child)
*laughs saying,"ha-ha" after other people laugh
*says,"mama" all the time
*says, "baba" for her big lamb
*got her second tooth on April 21
*waves when you say, "bye-bye"
*loves the park and enjoys watching other children
*likes the swing and to go down the slide with mommy
*puts her baby or her bear in her stroller before she takes them for a spin
*loves books
*likes to pull all of her books off of her bookshelf and then explore her favorites
*loves her book about colors, I have it memorized!
*started taking bows out of her hair
*shy in new situations
*goes to the nursery at church with no problems now
*plays with her door to her bedroom
*likes to play her homemade drums of tupperware with spatulas and wisks
*likes mirrors
*loves peek-a-boo
*good sleeper
* very ticklish
*bites when she is teething
*loves ice and ice water
I can't believe she is almost a year old. The time has flown! :)

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T12:24:00.000-07:00

Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
John 1:29

Tanaka Farms

2009-04-10T19:41:00.000-07:00

Abigail and I went to Tanaka Farms in Irvine last week with my MOPS group. The day was beautiful, perfect weather with blue skies and a nice breeze. It was so much fun. We went on a strawberry picking tour. A tractor pulling two open-air trailers took us around the farm. Our tour guide explained the history of the farm and the importance of eating certain fruits and vegetables. During our tour, the tractor would stop and the driver picked food that we all passed around to eat. The organic food was delicious. We tried romaine lettuce, cilantro, radishes, carrots, snap peas, and strawberries, of course. Abigail loved the carrot I gave her. She is working on her second bottom tooth and it was a great natural teething stick. When we arrived at the strawberry fields, everyone exited the trailers and received baskets to fill with plump, juicy strawberries. Abigail and I didn't pay extra to pick strawberries, but we had fun watching the older children pick some. Several children were eating as many as they were picking. Their smiles and hands were covered with red stains. We shared some baby wipes with our sticky friends. :) At the end of our tour, we stopped at the produce stand to buy a small basket of strawberries, a bundle of carrots, and salsa. Salsa? I had heard that the salsa they sold was awesome. So I asked which kind was the most popular and purchased that. We had chicken enchiladas for dinner that night and David is hooked. The salsa is amazing. I am glad the salsa worked out since I ate the chocolate covered strawberry I bought him on the way home. Whoops! Abigail did so well on the tour and we both had such a good time. I look forward to going back next year, when she will be able to pick the strawberries herself. :)

Abigail: Father's Joy

2009-04-01T20:24:00.000-07:00

Abigail's name is Hebrew for father's joy, father in rejoicing, or fountain of joy. I know she brings joy to her father and I, but I pray that she will bring and reflect God's joy to others. Here are some fun moments with our little peanut.

Playing with her music table from Grandma Trisha and Grandpa ScottDrinking and learning how a straw worksFamily pic at Griffin's 1st birthday partyShopping at Target Play date at the park with AmberSwinging at the parkWhere is Abigail?

Walking with her Stroll Along Walker (giving Dotty a ride)At lunch with Hannah in beautiful shades of purple

10 Month Stats

2009-03-24T15:43:00.000-07:00

Abigail, David, and I took a trip to the Wellness Center on Saturday to do a weight check. Abigail is now 15 lbs 3 oz. She only gained 5 oz. in the last month, which puts her in the first percentile. We go to the doctor in about 2 weeks to get her weight checked again. I think she didn't gain as much because she and I were both sick for a couple of weeks. Abigail has some family members on David's side that are very petite. She may always be tiny and I am perfectly fine with that. I am not trying to make her a little chunky baby. I just want to be reassured that she is healthy and that her body isn't having any problems absorbing nutrients. She hasn't been wanting to eat from a spoon much lately. She would rather have more control over her eating and feed herself with her fingers. So, I offer the spooned food first and then when she is done with that, I offer her finger foods. This seems to be working. It has been a little frustrating because one week she would love bananas and then the next week she would throw them all off of her highchair tray. I am trying to figure out what she likes. A few days later, I will offer her the food that she threw and many times she will try it again and like it. I have made some fun new recipes that she seems to love. Wholesome baby food is an awesome website that I have found to be really helpful in giving me good ideas for making my own recipes. I made banana pancakes for her the other day. You slice bananas and dip them in a whole wheat pancake mix and fry them up in organic butter. I also made mini turkey meatballs. I added cheese and garlic powder to the ground turkey and cooked them in some organic olive oil. She loved these. :) Abigail continues to amaze me by her progress as she gets older. She is so smart!!! Here's some more info about our little baby doll:
*wears 3-6 month clothes/more 6 month now
*wears size 2 diapers
*wears size 2 shoes
*walks if you hold her hands
*laughs in anticipation of tickling fingers
*still only has one tooth
*loves music and 'sings' with us
*bobs her head to music and waves her hands in the air
*crawls so quickly
*pulls herself up on everything and holds on with one hand
*has balanced a few seconds standing with no support
*waves her whole arm/hand to say good bye
*loves the dogs
*throws food off her highchair when she is finished eating or sometimes to play(she will laugh when she is playing)
*wiggly worm on the changing table
*still a stomach sleeper with her little bottom in the air
*pulls bibs off/eats mostly naked
*loves for us to crawl and chase her as she crawls around the house
*schedule was pretty consistent until the recent time change
*wakes up once a night to nurse (my favorite nursing session)
*still figuring out the sippy cup/ going to try a straw one
*loves Cherrios, frozen peas, bananas, cheese, avocado, & yogurt
*plays peek-a-boo by moving her own blanket on and off her face
*loves to climb all over mommy and daddy in bed
*more interested in books
*loves touch and feel stories
*enjoys musical toys
*still uses my purple maternity shirt as her lovey
*likes to drag toys when she crawls
*crawls to your location if you call her from another room
*crawls to Noah's crate, stands up, and puts her arm in to pet him
*likes to look out the window to watch the dogs play outside
*likes to stand up in the bathtub
*can take off her Velcro shoes
*loves to chew on a straw
*fascinated by ice water glasses and will put her whole hand in one
*loves to lay back and watch the ceiling fan rotateDavid and I are so in love with this little munchkin. She is pure joy!!!

32 feels old. :)

2009-03-21T00:54:00.000-07:00

So, my b-day was on Thursday. Now, I am really in my 30s. Gasp! Shocker. Is it weird that I feel old now? I have been really reflective about my life recently and it has been fun to relive great memories, sad to remember bad choices, and exciting to see God's faithfulness and grace woven through it all. God is good. I am such a blessed person. I thank Him for this life. :) Here are the beautiful flowers I received from my Uncle Steve and my in-laws, Scott and Trisha.

What a hard worker!

2009-03-13T11:11:00.000-07:00

My hubby has been working like crazy lately. He is coordinating a data server move from Irvine to Virginia. I don't understand it all, but it is seems pretty intense. The added project has extended his work day and he has been going to bed in the wee hours of the morning. Certain applications have to be tested and he has to wait until midnight to work on them. I am very impressed with his dedication to do a good job with little to no downtime. I am so thankful he is such a hard worker. I heard him on a conference call the other morning and it made my heart swell with pride. He is really good at what he does. He knows how to work with other people and troubleshoot problems. I just pray this will go through with little to no glitches and that he will be able to take some time to relax with his family in the near future. :)

Happy Birthday Brian!

2009-03-09T23:30:00.000-07:00

Today is my brother's 29th birthday. We had dinner tonight with the family at Tortilla Joe's in Downtown Disney. It was a fun time. I bought Brian a card that you could record a 10 second message. I recorded Abigail laughing for his card. I hope it will make him smile, especially when he moves to Colorado. I pray this year will be a great one full of wonderful health and new adventure for my bro. I love you, Brian! (I still like this picture, even though I cut off his head and a flash stripe is on his face.)

Smiles, sneezes, and coughs oh my!

2009-03-03T17:02:00.000-08:00

We have been sick for the past few days. I took Abigail to the doctor yesterday to make sure this was just a nasty cold and nothing more. Her ears and lungs were clear. Yay! We are doing everything right with a cool mist humidifier, saline drops, and a bulb syringe. Through many moments of coughing, Tylenol, and snotty noses we have had a little bit of fun. Here are some pictures of some silly and sweet moments. (The weather has been very warm, so Abby was able to wear some of her summery clothes. The cute pink dress is from Jon and Sarah. It is a 3-6 month dress and it fits her perfectly, at 9 months. What a little baby doll!)

9 month stats

2009-02-27T22:48:00.000-08:00

We went to the doctor on Monday for Abigail's nine month check up. Now that she is so active we have to bring toys and books to keep her busy, otherwise she crinkles the paper and tries to eat it. :) Abby is now 14 lbs 14 oz and 26.5 inches long. She is a tiny little doll. She is only in the 3rd percentile. The doctor was concerned because she fell below her normal growth curve. Our pediatrician doesn't think Abby has any digestive problems because she has never had any problems with vomiting or diarrhea. She thinks that Abby is just not eating enough calories. Abigail is not a picky eater, but she just doesn't like to eat very much. We are now making sure that we mix formula into her solid foods. I have started pumping again to increase my milk supply. I have also been creative with some new recipes using my breast milk. She has had a banana yogurt smoothie and mashed potatoes. Instead of using cow's milk for these, I used breast milk. She seemed to enjoy them! I was really upset on Monday after hearing Abigail is not growing as much as we would like. We have an appointment scheduled in six weeks to check her progress. If she is still not gaining appropriately, the doctor will order some blood tests. Abby is meeting all her developmental milestones and seems very healthy. She just may be very tiny. For now, I am offering her time to nurse more than often, and giving her yummy yogurt and avocados. Here are some other interesting tidbits about Abigail these days:
*loves to feed herself bananas and string cheese
*bobs up and down when listening to music
*still only has one tooth
*loves to play with her toys in the bath and splash, splash, splash
*still in size two diapers
*wears 6 month clothes/ some 6-9 month clothes fit her on top, but are way too big on the bottoms, she slides right out of them
*likes to play with other babies her age
*loves peek-a-boo
*loves to crawl after the dogs
*enjoys reading her Lovebug book, once it starts its musicbox tune she claps her hands up and down on the book with huge smiles
*still sucks her thumb
*her hair is growing so fast and is curly in the back
*looks really pretty in the color purple
*straws and spoons keep her entertained at restaurants
*scrunches up her nose and breathes in and out quickly with a funny smile
*has bedtime stories, prayers, and songs every night
*ticklish on her tummy, neck, and thighs
*gives great hugs in the morning when she wakes up
*crawls quickly everywhere
*pulls herself up to stand and balances with one hand holding on
*loves to touch our DVR, Wii, and alarm clock that are on our console below the TV (We are looking for an enclosed entertainment unit.)
*walks when we hold her hands in front of us
*talking with new sounds (loves to say babababa)

Love the curls!!!

14 Pictures of Love

2009-02-20T22:48:00.000-08:00

One of the ideas I had this February was to send 14 emails with a picture of Abigail to our family members leading up to Valentine's Day. I included fun little messages 'written' by Abby. It was a great inexpensive way to show family we loved them. Here are some of the pictures we sent.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T14:46:00.000-08:00

Here is a book that I love to read Abby. I received it from a lady at our church. During my baby shower, I read it aloud and cried though almost the whole thing. :)It plays a song while you turn the pages. Here is what it says:

You're my Little Love Bug
My Cuddly Kangaroo
My Funny Bunny
Sweet as Honey
All of this is true!

You're my Punkin Wunkin
My Peaches and my Pie
My Bread-and-Butter
Peanut Butter
Apple of my Eye.

You're my Wiggly Worm
My Busy Little Bee
My Silly Goose
My Moosey-Moose
My Monkey up a tree.

You're my Ice Cream Sandwich
My Watermelon Gum
My Soda Pop
My Lollipop
My Yummy Yummy Yum!

You're my Lovey Dovey
My Stinker Winker Bear
My Silly Willy
Piccadilly
Alligator Stare

You're my Bowl of Cherries
My Toast with Berry Jam
My Snickerdoodle
Chicken Noodle
What a Little Ham!

You're my Tootsie Wootsie
My Squishy Wishy Cheeks
My Tickle Toes
Button Nose
Giggles, Squeals and Squeaks.

You're everything that's wonderful
You're all the above!
But most of all
What you are
Is God's sweetest gift of love!

MOPS

2009-02-06T20:23:00.000-08:00

Lately, I have been praying about connecting with other young moms. I miss being with other women like I was when I was teaching. I love going to a small church, but there is only one other baby at our church besides Abby, and her mom works. I decided to look for moms' groups in the community. I found several places online. I wanted to be a part of a Christian group. I went on EvFree Fullerton's website and read about MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers:Infancy to age 5). I inquired, signed up, and will be starting with my first session next week! I've already been contacted by my table group leader, Susan. I will be sitting with the Bazooka Babes (my funny table group name). I am very excited that God is working this out. I am praying that Abigail will be okay in the nursery. She has had some seperation anxiety lately and wants to be with her mommy. :) Susan let me know I can bring her to our table or play with her in the back so I can still hear the speaker. We will be meeting twice a month at the church, with a once a month mom's night, and a playdate time. Yay! I am really looking forward to this new adventure.

8 Month Stats

2009-01-26T14:30:00.000-08:00

Our little baby doll

See my new tooth! It's so white and shiny!Don't you think I have the cutest profile! ;)

Abigail is eight months old!!! Wow! She turned 8 months last Wednesday, so we made yet another trip to the Wellness Center for a weight check. She weighs 14 lbs 2 oz. She is still very small, but healthy and that is all that matters! She is reaching all her milestones and continues to amaze us daily. Here are some interesting tidbits about Abigail's life these days.
*wears mostly 6 month clothes/some are still too big( I put a NB onesie on her that fit today, oh my.)
*wears size 2 diapers
*laughs a lot and squeals with delight/especially after being kissed or tickled
*likes books/especially her puppy book (It has different textures that you feel as you read it.)
*likes to bite down hard now that she has her first tooth
*still nursing (working on the biting part...haha)
*gives wet kisses
*still sucks her thumb to go to sleep
*enjoys eating 3 'solid' organic meals a day
*likes to eat frozen peas and whole grain puffs all by herself (Such a big girl!)
*learning to master the sippy cup
*sings with us when we sing to her
*'talks' herself to sleep before naptime
*blows raspberries and makes bubbles
*sticks her tongue out to touch her tooth
*moves her arms and legs when she is really excited about something
*crawling very quickly
*enjoys a splashy bath time, although she wants to stand up and crawl out of the bath
*standing/pulling herself up on everything (even on Noah, our dog)
*likes to grab at wires (ahh! These are from our computer power chords.We are constantly moving them away from her.)
*loves to watch lights and ceiling fans
*a toilet flushing holds her attention
*enjoys watching animals (A trip to Petsmart is awesome with all those fish and birds. Wow!)
*actually jumps up and down in her Sassy jumper
*still loves to look at the baby in the mirror (We do this in every store we go into.)
*watches Sesame Street (She loves Elmo's World and I can't get that silly song out of my head.)
*closes her eyes when Macy (our German shepherd) comes up to her
*squeals and put her arms up and down when Noah (sheltie) comes up to her
*loves to ride in the Baby Bjorn
*enjoys walks outside in her stroller
*takes a short nap in the morning and a longer one in the afternoon
*sleeps with mommy's shirt (She has done this since she was 3 months old. I take the shirt out of the crib when I go to bed. You can never be too careful.)

Here is my first ponytail!

Wordless Wednesday-Hug Me

2009-01-21T12:20:00.001-08:00

Check out more Wordless Wednesday fun at 5 minutes for Mom.

Having Fun and Growing Up

2009-01-14T23:14:00.000-08:00

It feels like Abigail is growing before my very eyes. She is getting such a cute little personality. She got her first tooth on Saturday! Yes! She had been a little fusser for a few days and that was the reason. She won't hold still to let me get a picture of it, so when I can, I will post it. It is breaking news!!!! (Literally, through her little tender gums. Poor thing.) Abigail is crawling and pulling herself up to stand on everything, the legs of her high chair, the Wii fit board, the table, my leg, you name it.We have had a few playdates with a new friend named Amber. She is 10 months old. Her auntie, who attends my church, watches her and we have been meeting at the park. It has been fun to take walks together through the neighborhood. We even sang some songs at the park the other day. It has been good to get outside and be active. :)Abigail loves to play. She has a musical table from her Grandma Trisha(David's mom) and a exersaucer from her Grammy (my mom). She loves music and these toys are just perfect. She has a ring stacker but she thinks it is a percussion instrument because she likes to bang the rings to make noise. Her Great Grandma Margert got her a cute doll that we named Dotty. She has lots of polka dots. Abby likes to kiss/lick her face. It cracks me up. Our friends, Jon and Jenn, got her a fun polar bear and penguin ball ramp for Christmas. It is so funny, because Abby doesn't use it for its intended purpose. She climbs the polar bear and knocks it over and then pushes the button to play the music. She does like to crawl after the balls and put them in her mouth.Abigail loves remote controls and our cell phones, so I bought her one with some Christmas money from her Schwartz Great Grandparents. It calls a dog, cat, and a mouse. It makes ringing noises and the buttons sound like they are dialing numbers. Of course, she would rather put it in her mouth The other day she rearranged her toys which were all spread out on the rug in such a cool design that I had to take a picture. I was impressed that she brought all the toys together in one area. Only her mom, would think Abby had a future in art design. :)

7 month stats

2009-01-05T22:04:00.000-08:00

I know I am a little late with this post, but I wanted to fill in my information about Abigail's progress before I forget. Abby turned 7 months old on December 21. Here's what she is doing these days. She is still on the light side, but she is a bundle of energy. She weighs 13lbs 10 oz.
*still loves bath time
*no teeth yet, still slobbers
*crawling (yay, I need to baby proof my house)
*pulls herself up and stands
*crawls to the end of her crib and stands up(crib mattress has been lowered twice now)
*wears size 2 diapers
*wears 3-6 month clothes (some 6 month clothing is still a little big)
*sits well unassisted
*laughs (you don't have to tickle her to get a laugh)
*loves to stand
*had her first snotty cold (doesn't like suction bulb)
*plays peek-a-boo
*jumps in her Sassy jumper now (bobs up and down)
*hair is coming in blonder ( has enough for a little ponytail in the back)
*climbs all over mommy and daddy when I bring her to bed in the morning
*easily distracted while nursing(she has to be in a quiet place/otherwise she thinks she is missing out on the fun)
*sleeps in funny positions (see picture below)
*good cuddler
*excellent hugger
*loves to play with her musical toys and blocks
*sucks her bottom lip
*much more 'talkative'
*eats in her white Ikea high chair
*good eater (loves her solids)
*loves being silly with Daddy (the diaper hat was his idea)

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T00:35:00.000-08:00

May 2009 bring you and your family health, love, and joy from above.

Merry Christmas from the Eagles!

2008-12-26T11:32:00.000-08:00

Joy to the World, the Lord is Come. Let earth receive her King!

This year, we have all been a little under the weather. We had a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner gathering with my side of the family at my Mom's house. Grandma and Grandpa Schwartz, Brian and Loriann, and mom and dad were there. We ate a delicious meal of swiss chicken, cheesy grated potatoes, broccoli, green salad with homemade poppy seed dressing, citrus salad fluff, and wheat dinner rolls. For dessert there was a choice of chocolate cream pie or french apple pie a la mode. We dressed Abigail in her new pajamas. Abby had fun opening her gifts. She really just wanted to eat the paper. =) I forgot all about opening my presents because I was having fun watching Abigail and everyone else open theirs. One of my favorite gifts was from my mom. She commissioned my Grandma Davis to make me an apron. I love that my grandma made this apron and I will treasure it always. After opening gifts, we ate dessert by the fire. I suggested we sing some carols, so I turned off the lights and we started with Silent Night. In four part harmony, the worshipful music filled the room. It was a wonderful way to end our evening. When we got home, David presented me with a gift of super soft purple pajamas. Abby had a runny nose most of the night and I was recovering from a cold I had since Monday. Abigail's congestion continued to get worse. She could barely nurse because she couldn't breathe well. David was starting to feel sick as well. He went to bed and I was up most of the night with Abby trying to comfort her and suction her nose with a bulb. She does not like that contraption. Poor baby. We walked around, cuddled in the rocking recliner, sat on the couch, layed down in bed, etc. She just had such a hard time getting comfortable enough to fall asleep. She finally slept for maybe an hour and a half. She was wide awake at 6 AM and I brought her out to the living room and turned on the Christmas tree lights. We played on the couch. My tiredness seemed to leave me. We shared some wonderful sweet moments that early Christmas morning. I will always remember our whispers of love and tiny special kisses and hugs. Abby had finished the small sample of infant Tylenol we had received from her pediatrician on Christmas Eve. I threw clothes over my pajamas, and went to Vons in the morning at eight, when they opened, to pick up some more. When I got home, I made our traditional Christmas treat, Monkey Bread, for breakfast. I put Abby in the Baby Bjorn and she 'helped' me for a little while and then I let David take care of her while I finished. They both went back to bed. David was feeling terrible and exhaustion had finally taken Abby to dreamland. The Monkey Bread was done and my baby and husband were both asleep. I decided to join them because I was starting to feel foggy and my head started to throb. David woke me up later with a delicious swiss, bacon, mushroom omelette he had made me. It was good to have some protein with our sugary breakfast dessert. We were all sick and David was constantly blowing his nose and was feverish. Our plans to go to David's side of the family were cancelled. Abby was still fussy and stuffy. We tried to make the best of it, and opened our stockings and a few other gifts. Later on in the afternoon, I read the story of Jesus' birth from Abigail's Storybook Bible. It was a day of sleeping, reading, blowing noses, taking Tylenol, and watching movies. The day was simple and we are still on the mend. I am thankful for Kleenex, Tylenol, family and most of all my Savior, Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas.

Christmas Dress

2008-12-21T15:14:00.000-08:00

Having a little girl is so much fun! One of the many perks, is dressing her in adorable outfits. I looked and looked for a Christmas dress for Abigail. I looked online and in stores for several months. I wanted something inexpensive and cute. Somehow, I ended up with three! Yes, three! The first one I bought from Wal-Mart ($14.99). It was red and cream plaid with a red ribbon and flower at the waist. It also had puffy sleeves(Anne of Green Gables) . The second dress my mom found at Kohl's ($10.00). It was red jumper with embellished gingerbread houses on the bottom. It came with a white turtleneck edged in red scallops at the neckline and on the sleeves. The third dress (the winner) was found at Ross ($10.00) and I am very pleased with the results. The other dresses were returned. I wanted a red velvety dress. This one fit the picture I had in my mind and it is super cute. Here are some pictures from Daddy's Christmas card photo shoot.If you haven't received a card yet, that's because they haven't been mailed. We ordered them late, and they should be here tomorrow. =)

Honor Choir

2008-12-18T14:58:00.000-08:00

Tonight will be our last program. We are singing seven songs with intros, choreography, and a solo. With matching scarves, tee-shirts, and jeans we will fill the Kwis cafeteria with Christmas cheer. Unfortunately, school budgets always cut the arts. It is so sad. I am thankful for the time we had together. I pray that these students will continue to model responsible citizenship in their school community. I know they will use their gift of song, to bring joy to others in the future.These are the peppermint sticks I am handing out at the end of our performance tonight. =)

Christmas Memories

2008-12-16T07:58:00.000-08:00

I love Christmas. I think my heart is filled with such joy during this time of year. I have such fond memories of celebrating Christmas with my family. I love to keep traditions alive. Here are some of my great memories.
*Singing carols as a family
*Picking out a Christmas tree and Dad cutting it down with a saw
*Decorating the tree while Dad was at work and then surprising him when he got home
*Making a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas Eve
*Opening one present on Christmas Eve (It was always pajamas.)
*Unwrapping each little gift in my Kimberly Stocking which says 78 even though I was born in 77, silly Great Aunts
*Making Monkey Bread on Christmas morning for breakfast
*Driving to Grandma's
*Decorating Sugar Cookies
*Opening a present from Honeybun (my grandparents' dog)
*Playing along with Grandpa's questions, even though we were never taught to believe in Santa Clause
*Singing in church programs
*Secretly picking a gift for Brian
*Never looking for hidden presents (We were told if we snooped, we wouldn't get anything. I was very obedient, because I didn't want to suffer the consequences.)

I am sure there are many more memories, but my parents always made sure we knew the true meaning of the holiday. Now I get to celebrate with Abigail. I am so excited to share some of the same traditions with her. Shhh! Don't tell her, she will be opening new pajamas on Christmas Eve.

Isn't my daddy wonderful?

2008-12-13T16:35:00.000-08:00

Abigail sure thinks so! Today her daddy gave her a bath and carried her around on a field trip to the grocery store. Mommy was happy about that. I haven't been very good with my menu planning lately, and getting to the store seems like another chore sometimes. Instead of making me feel bad about myself, David suggested we go the store together today. He encouraged me to make my menu and a list. We talked about the list and had fun today at the store. We just got home and the little peanut fell asleep in the car. Daddy carefully placed her in her crib and she is still sleeping. I realized that family time doesn't require much, but ea. ch other. We enjoy our Saturday morning bed time with cuddles, tickles, songs, and kisses and even a quick outing to the market was made special, because we were together, as a family. =)

Feeling Sassy!

2008-12-10T13:30:00.001-08:00

Abigail has really liked her Sassy Jumper lately. Thank you Stephanie! She looks like she is dancing in it. I hope she will enjoy tap dancing one day. I think I especially liked tap because of the sound associated with the dancing. Here are a few pictures of Abby enjoying her jumper.Her left sock is about to fall off. I adjusted it after the photo.

Bananas are delicious!

2008-12-07T20:54:00.000-08:00

Bananas are very good, apparently. They made me sick when I was a baby, so I have claimed to be allergic all my life. Thankfully Abby enjoys them very much. The smell normally nauseates me, but I have been able to prepare them for Abby in her cereal or in a mesh feeder.

Playing is fun!

2008-12-07T20:49:00.000-08:00

I love to play and I am almost crawling. If mommy leaves the room for a minute I am in a new position or across the room. I am a fast moving machine.

I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy...

2008-12-07T20:33:00.000-08:00

Down in my Heart!

Fasting and Prayer

2008-11-30T19:57:00.000-08:00

Sometimes God calls us to fast and pray for a purpose. My heart has been so broken for my brother, Brian. He is sick with ulcerative colitis. It is a disease that causes inflammation and sores, called ulcers, in the lining of the rectum and colon. Ulcers form where inflammation has killed the cells that usually line the colon, then bleed and produce pus. Inflammation in the colon also causes the colon to empty frequently, causing diarrhea. He was diagnosed last February. He has taken many different medications and has seen several doctors. He has found little to no relief and suffers daily. It has been a very hard journey. He met with his doctor on Oct. 30 and he wanted him to make a decision between two options (surgery vs. biological drug called remicade) by the end of year. He also went to Cedars Sinai last week to consult with another doctor. He took more blood tests and they are scheduling another colonoscopy. They are checking to see if he really has colitis or if he has Crohn's disease.

The situation seems hopeless at times. God called me to fast and pray for Brian for the month of November. I am still breastfeeding so a full fast was not a possibility. I fasted desserts/sweets because I have such a sweet tooth. Today my fast is coming to a close. I'm going to continue praying. When we feel hopeless and broken, God wants us to cry out to Him and pray. Not much has changed with Brian's health in the last month, but I know God is faithful and is in control. I feel like I have given my brother fully over to the Lord. I trust His hand is on his life and will heal him in His timing.

Resting on Mommy

2008-11-28T19:15:00.000-08:00

I loved being pregnant. I felt so alive and fresh. It was such a joy to be used by God as He performed a miracle in my womb. It was amazing and I am still in awe. I felt so close to my daughter during those few months. I miss the weight of her body inside me. The closest I get to this feeling is when Abigail sleeps in the Baby Bjorn on my chest. I feel so close to her and she seems to melt into me. Her breath is steady and her face so peaceful. I treasure these moments.

Climbing All Over

2008-11-28T18:57:00.000-08:00

Abigail has a pink bouncer that I like to keep in the bathroom. I put her in this while I do my hair and makeup, or when I need to use the facilities. ;) This keeps her occupied and safe. She sometimes gets upset if I leave the room these days. I thought I was so smart when I used this seat to my advantage. We call Abby, our little gymnast. She has always been very strong and active. She rolled over at 3 months old and today she actually had some real crawling action. Here are two photos from earlier this week. I think we may need to retire this little bouncer, until a new brother or sister comes along. =)

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T21:16:00.000-08:00

"I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving." Psalm 69:30

Today we spent Thanksgiving with family. Family is such a wonderful gift that the Lord gives us. I don't know what I would do without the love and support of mine. God has blessed us with so much. He is good. Here are some pictures from our day.

Here is my mom's beautiful tablescape
Mommy and Abby
David, Abigail, and Grandma Eagle
Great Grandpa Pearson, Abby, and Pam
Aunt Loriann is fun!
Hanging on the couch with Uncle B
Dad with a cast, poor guy

Do you see what I see?

2008-11-26T23:47:00.000-08:00

Abigail in 2008
Me in 1977

Abigail's 6 month stats

2008-11-26T20:55:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, we visited Abigail's pediatrician for her sixth month check up. Abby is now 13 lbs 4oz and 25 in long. I didn't write down her head circumference. My other doctor always gave me that information, so I didn't think to write it down. She is still in the seventh percentile, but growing proportionally. Our doctor would like me to feed her solid foods three times a day now. She said I can still add some formula to her food to add in some extra calories. I've been mixing it into her food for the last two weeks. Here are some updates on what Abigail has been doing lately.
*eating solid food
*has real people poo (haha)
*no more pacifiers
*had her first fever on November 5 after mommy was sick for a week (thankfully it only lasted a day)
*just started wearing size 2 pampers swaddlers
*wearing size 3-6 month clothes (some 6 month clothes are still too big)
*giggles and laughs when we kiss her neck and belly
*sucks her thumb
*almost crawling
*tries to sit up on the changing table
*loves bath time with splashes and likes to eat her washcloth
*enjoys eating bananas in a fresh mesh food eater
*talks/sings all the time
*when she nurses in the early morning in bed, looks at daddy sleeping and smiles while trying to touch him (so cute)
*sits up, but still needs some support
*puts everything in her mouth
*likes to take her socks off
*loves jewelry (necklaces and braclets facinate her)
*loves to look at the cute baby in the mirror
*loves to pet Noah and giggles when he comes over to lick her
*faces forward in the Baby Bjorn and helps mommy wash the dishes, cook, and do laundry ;)
*fascinated with faces and glasses (watch out, she will grab your nose)
*cries when you take away things she really wants
*migrates to the corners of her crib in the night
*Daddy has taken over bedtime and sings Abby to sleep every night
*sleeps on her belly curled up with her feet and arms tucked under her (she has done this since 3 months when she learned to roll over, everytime we put her on her back, she would roll right over to her belly)
*her hair curls up by her ears
*extra talkative in the early morning hours
*filled with smiles and joyful squeals when she wakes up

More fun awaits as Abigail continues to grow and develop her personality. She's a keeper. ;)

It's My Half Birthday!

2008-11-21T14:49:00.001-08:00

Yummy! Sweet Potatoes!

Can you believe Abigail is 6 months old today? I can't. Parents of all ages told me that time flies when you have children. I now believe it! I don't have her current stats. We will be going to the doctor on Tuesday for her checkup. I did take her to the Wellness Center on Monday and she weighs 12lbs 13oz. She is growing. We have just entered the fun stage of solid foods. Wow! What a new experience! I know there will be many new and exciting stages in Abby's life, but this one means I need to be prepared and think about what she is going to eat, besides breast milk. We started two weeks ago. My new pediatrician said I could start with rice cereal and get her used to the idea of eating solid foods. I had very low expectations, since my friend, Jennifer, said she may not like it. She has done very well. I haven't pushed it and Abby is enjoying it. It's fun to take the time to teach her something new. When we first started, I had her stripped down to her diaper and put her inside her Bumbo seat. I knew it would be messy and I didn't even bother with a bib. Bath time would ultimately follow. Now she does wear her clothes and I put a Bumkin's bib on her. I love this bib. It is so easy to wash and dry. Abigail has eaten rice cereal, oatmeal cereal, peas, and today sweet potatoes. It is so messy and fun. She loves to hold onto the spoon, and it is sometimes hard to release her strong grip. I have learned to hold her hand(s) while I direct the spoon to her mouth. When I first introduced peas, I put some on her tray and let her discover it with her hands. Her hands went into the green pureed mixture and into her mouth went three fingers. "Mmm, that's yummy," I said enthusiatically. She smiled and then put her hands behind her ears and into her hair. I had to smile. The next day I actually found some dried pea goo in her ear that I had missed during bath time. Whoops! My baby girl brings me such joy. I pray that when she makes messes in the future, as she is learning and discovering something new, I will smile again. ;)

Goal before 2009

2008-11-19T19:49:00.000-08:00

One of the things that has bothered me all my life is my terrible habit of holding onto everything and allowing clutter to rule my life. I know that this does not add to my life, but steal time and space away from me. I am looking to live life more simply and run a more efficient home for my family. Instead of starting my goal in 2009, I have started it now. I am cleaning things out, organizing, donating, and throwing things away. Slowly, but surely, I am hoping to remove the extra things to have more time to live my life more abundantly. ;)

Thankful Thursday

2008-11-13T23:15:00.000-08:00

His name is David and he is the love of my life. I am so thankful that he knows me. I have never been with anyone else that gets me. It is such an amazing thing to be known. He gets what makes me tick. He knows my moods. He knows what I like and dislike. I am so thankful for my husband, my baby's father, and my best friend.

Pumpkin Patch

2008-11-09T23:43:00.000-08:00

Here is our little pumpkin, Abigail Grace.

(Don't worry grandparents, I am sending you a print of this picture.)

Thankful Thursday

2008-11-06T20:37:00.000-08:00

This week was a bit of a stressful one for me. It started on Sunday when I woke up with a fever and a cold. This has lasted most of the week. I had my big Thinking Maps inservice I was co-leading with another teacher from 8 to 3 on Tuesday. I met with my co-presenter, Maureen, on Monday night to go over the slide presentation. She was feeling overwhelmed with just finishing report cards and preparing for parent conferences. I was praying my voice would hold up without coughing, and my nose wouldn't be a constant faucet. The Lord is so faithful and I want to give Him glory for His hand on this day. Maureen and I were 'randomly' paired together to be presenters for two elementary schools. After our first meeting, we realized we were both believers. We actually had a lot in common. When I got to her house Monday night we prayed together before we started. It was such a wonderful way to set the tone for our time. Here are some of the other things I am thankful for this week:

1. David took the day off to take care of Abby while I was 'working.'
2. I forgot to bring my cough drops, but found some in the middle console of my car.
3. The presentation went well and the participants were attentive and positive.
4. I didn't cough or go through a kleenex box.
5. I had a fever all day, but still had energy and enthusiasm.

God is good and I am thankful.

Sweet Fun

2008-10-31T21:55:00.000-07:00

I love a little Tootsie Roll named Abby.

Thankful Thursday

2008-10-30T15:47:00.000-07:00

I feel like my body has changed in so many ways in the last year and a half. I only gained 10 pounds during my pregnancy and in one week after giving birth, I lost 20. Not bad! I wish I had kept it off, but now I have gained back the original 10 lbs and I feel like I am hungry all the time. One of the advantages I had during pregnancy was my lack of a sweet tooth. For some reason, I didn't have my usual sugary cravings at all. Now, it is back and I need to make better choices in the food department. Finding clothes that make me feel comfortable has always been a challenge. I don't want to go buy any new clothes until I lose a little weight. Our budget is tight and I don't want to spend money frivolously. I have been wearing my pregnancy jeans, but without a big belly and the added elastic, they were hanging low and I was constantly pulling them up. Today I went through a drawer and tried on three pairs of jeans. The first two were too tight. The third pair fits beautifully. I feel so comfortable. They are not too tight, too loose, or too baggy. In Goldilock's words, "They are just right." Thank you God for providing a pair of jeans that make me feel good. ;)

Remember to Vote!

2008-10-30T11:51:00.000-07:00

My friend, Kristi, has really encouraged every one around her to vote this year. She wants pictures to prove that you voted, whether it's a pic with your absentee ballot or a pic with your 'I voted' sticker on Tuesday. I thought this was such a wonderful idea. It is such a privilege and freedom we need to exercise as citizens of the United States of America. So, please make sure you send in those absentees or go out and vote on Tuesday.

A different perspective

2008-10-29T20:39:00.000-07:00

I know that God made a family have a mommy and a daddy for a reason. There are so many wonderful qualities that drew me to love and marry my husband. We have a lot of the same likes and dislikes, which is part of what makes us compatible, but we also have differences that make life interesting. David likes to have fun. He doesn't stress out like I do and it takes a lot to make him mad. I am much harder on myself than he ever is on me. Now that we have a daughter, I feel like I am discovering my husband all over again. It has been a wonderful journey to see him develop into a father as I am learning to be a mother. As I tend to worry about little things, David tells me words of wisdom that help change my perspective. Abigail is so blessed to have David as her daddy. He will teach her how to laugh at her silly mistakes. He will show her a love for books, writing, and vocabulary. She'll be a wiz on the computer. Dogs will know she is their friend. Her heart will be compassionate for those in need, and she'll live out her love for Jesus by loving others. He may even teach her to wear her skirt on her head for fun. I am so thankful I am not a single parent. Abby will be guided by the both of us. I pray God will help us guide her as He molds her into the woman He wants her to be.

Check out the slobber drool in the first pic. :)

Abby is 5 months old

2008-10-22T10:20:00.000-07:00

Size:
Abigail is still a little peanut. Just look at these jeans. Where did her feet go? :) She is growing. Her current weight is 12lbs 1/2 oz. She has gained a whole pound from last month to this month. Yay! She still wears size 1 diapers. She is wearing 3 month clothes. Some 3 to 6 month clothes fit her, but are a little big. I tried some medium size pjs on her this week and they seem to be fine. Don't you just love footed pajamas?!

Movement:
David and I think she is going to be a little gymnast if she stays this petite. She is strong, flexible, and moves around so much. I always find her in a new position in her crib in the morning. Her playmat seems too small for her because she is always rolling and scooting off of it.
Playing:
She can't sit up on her own yet, but she sure does love her Bumbo seat. Her seat has a play tray. We put little toys on it and she slaps the table and knocks them off. David was watching her Monday night when I went to Bible study and he said she licked the table and then splashed her hands in her slobber. She enjoys playing with her ring links and bunny. She has a snail teether that she loves to bite on.Discovering her tongue:
She seems fasinated with putting her tongue on everything; your face, your hand, your leg, your hair, anything that is in reach. She still reaches out with her hands, but loves to 'point' with her tongue. Lately when I have been drinking a plastic cup of ice water she wants to put her tongue on it. I say, "Brrr, it's cold." She has dumped that water all down the front of me about three times now while she was nursing. I think she wants me to say, "Brrr, that's really cold," with more enthusiasm. ;)

'Talking':
Abigail is very vocal. She squeals, shrieks, laughs, and giggles. She especially likes kisses on her neck from Mommy and raspberries on her tummy from Daddy. She will laugh and giggle for quite awhile. I love it!! For the last week, she has been waking up about 5:30AM to talk in her crib. I am sure she has some great stories to tell, but I am still trying to sleep at this point. She talks for awhile and then goes back to sleep. I tell her to save her very best stories for 7 AM, then I am all ears. :)Singing Songs:
Abigail likes music. I sing to her all the time. She even helps me with worship at church. I put her in the Baby Bjorn. Her favorite songs these days are: Jesus Loves Me, Hosanna, Joy in My Heart, Good Morning Song, I'm in the Lord's Army, Jesus Loves the Little Children, Deep and Wide, and Has Anybody Told You I Love You Today.

Sleep Habits:
Abby is a good sleeper at night. We are still working on her naps during the day. Sometimes they only last 30 to 45 minutes. It's all about paying attention to her cues and providing her some time to wind down and relax. She takes a nap in the morning and two little ones in the afternoon. She goes to bed at night between 7 and 8. She is so much happier and alert when she has her naps. I try to make sure we are not out and about when she needs to sleep. She sleeps fine in the car, but I would rather have her in her crib. During the day, she will snooze in her swing. I sometimes resort to this when she won't go to sleep in her crib.

I look forward to seeing her grow and change into the little girl Jesus wants her to be. It's been an amazing journey so far.

My favorite people

2008-10-20T15:43:00.001-07:00

I love these two more every day. They are my family.

Abby's Furry Friend, Noah

2008-10-17T15:20:00.001-07:00

"It's nice to meet you!"

"Is your name, Lassie?"

"Can I pet you?"

Noah has been fascinated with Abby since day one. Now Abby loves to watch what Noah is doing. She is so curious. We really supervise any contact the dogs have with Abigail. You can never be too careful, but I think these two will be good friends. :)

Playing Dress Up

2008-10-17T15:04:00.000-07:00

Sitting pretty

It's fun to be outside!

Sunglasses, these are interesting.

The weather has been really warm this week, in the nineties. It gave me a chance to dress Abby in a adorable summer dress. It is still a little big for her. I had to safety pin the straps in the back. While we wait and long for Autumn coolness, enjoy this cute tribute to hot Southern California living.

Waking Up

2008-10-17T14:59:00.000-07:00

Don't you love a good stretch after a nap?

I like to stand up too, with Mommy's help, of course. :)

Thankful Thursday

2008-10-16T20:02:00.000-07:00

Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him. Tell of all his wonderful acts.
1 Chronicles 16:8-9

After being in training for two days, getting up at 5:30 AM and not returning home until 4:30 PM, I am so thankful that I am not working full time. I missed Abigail and I was exhausted after my day. God has provided for our family and given me the privilege of staying home to raise my baby girl. I am so blessed. It is such a gift and I pray that I will never take it for granted.

Be anxious for nothing

2008-10-14T21:23:00.000-07:00

I am learning how to live life with less stress. I have sadly come to the realization that my stress/anxiety did not come from my teaching job. I always blamed it on my job, projects, etc. I now know that I am a person who is and can be anxious about many things. I think it has been magnified with hormonal wackiness from recently giving birth. I know this is not how God wants me to live. I get so overwhelmed by little things I need to accomplish. God is so faithful to point this weakness out in me, so that He can fill the gap and give me peace when I need it most. I am learning to take all my thoughts captive (2 Cor. 10:5). I am also trying to dwell on the things of the Lord that are true and lovely (Phil 4:6-8). My mind can get into a whirlwind of thoughts that are not from the Lord and they can rule my mind. I know when I am anxious and overwhelmed that I can not be the mommy or wife that God wants me to be. God is so good. He is on this journey with me to calm my heart and renew my mind. The practical solution of making lists has helped me take the jumbled thoughts out of my head. My heart has also turned to prayer and thankfulness when I feel my mind start to spin. Today this song came on the radio and it touched my heart. The line that stuck out to me was : You're committed to the process that makes me like You. What an amazing truth! God has not and will not give up on me. I rejoice in His great love and it makes me want to dance.

Delicious Things

2008-10-08T17:50:00.000-07:00

Abigail likes to put everything in her mouth these days. Maybe teeth will be coming soon. Lately her favorites have been her thumb, feet, and icy washcloths. I run little cloths under some water, ring them out, and then store them in a plastic bag in the freezer. On really hot days, after I feed her, I give her one to chew on. The first time I gave her a icy cloth I forgot to put a bib on her. Whoops! She was a wet mess. Here are some pictures of her enjoying these tasty treats. :)

Reading With Daddy

2008-10-08T16:59:00.000-07:00

One of things we really want to instill in our daughter is a love for learning and reading. I read little books to her all the time. As a former elementary school teacher, I think it is so important to introduce children to books right away. It helps them develop vocabulary, communication skills, and gives them information about the world around them. I thought it was so cute on Sunday to see David reading the newspaper out loud to Abby. She seemed very interested in everything he was saying. She's so smart. :)

Abby's Weight

2008-10-08T13:10:00.000-07:00

I took Abby to the Wellness Center on Monday and she has gained 11 ounces in 2 weeks. Yay! I have been so blessed to have a nurse from the Wellness Center give me personal advice. The Lord has been so faithful in providing prayer and advice from friends and family.

Abigail is doing great. She is smiling, giggling, squealing, rolling, scooting, drooling, hugging, and loving life. Motherhood continues to get better every day. Sometimes, I get overwhelmed, but the Lord is faithful and provides me strength and wisdom. I am learning how to be a good mother and wife. It is a challenge, but it is completely worth it to serve your family in love. When I am weak, He is strong. Praise be to the Lord!

Starting a New Blog

2008-10-05T22:42:00.000-07:00

I wanted to start a new blog because I didn't like the inappropriate advertisements that were listed on the bottom of my vox blog. I didn't realize those were there. I am hoping to transfer my old info to this blog. We will see how it goes.