Our Weekend with Nan and other things

Ryan's mom AKA 'Nan' came to visit this weekend.  She lives in Pennsylvania and has been able to see Abigail at least once a month so far.  She came down on Friday evening, and stayed until Sunday afternoon. 

She really enjoyed her time with Abigail.  They sang together, played together, 'talked' to each other, cuddled each other, smiled at each other and many other things!  

It was a nice weekend.  I had to work Saturday morning a few hours, and then we just hung out that afternoon. Ryan had to work (boo) so Barb and Abigail and I went out to dinner that evening to Bob Evans and then of course we had to make a trip to babies r us.

Saturday night Abigail didn't want to sleep for some reason.  Not quite sure what that was about.  I have a feeling she was just overtired, and she was fighting sleep.  She was very very fussy most of the night.  She is rarely fussy anymore, so I was not used to this!  Ryan didn't feel good, so I let him rest and I was up and down with her.  Noone got any sleep in this house that night.  We stayed home from church Sunday because it was such a lousy night. She slept a lot better Sunday night, thank goodness.

I really can't complain because not many people have babies who have slept through the night since around 7 weeks old!  I am telling you that Abigail is DEFINITELY my baby!

Sunday after Nan left, I decided to try out the cloth diaper trial pack.  Ryan went to work and missed the action.  Abigail decided to pee and/or poop about every hour so we went through 5 diapers before bedtime!  I got to try them all, except for the prefolds. I can't realy figure those out yet.  She is too fidgety and gets too irritated when I Take that long during a diaper change. 

I even had time to wash the dirty dipes before bedtime, so I could re use  them today.  The poop stains all came out.  I was very pleased about that :)   (lovely conversation, huh?)

I have had a few of them on her today.  Some are easier to adjust the snaps then others.  Some fit better around the legs- she has some chunky legs, and some leave red marks. But I have to remember that so do disposables. She seems to be comfortable so it doesn't both me too much. 

I have to get u sed to how much more bulkier (most) of them are then disposables. Not all of them are.  But they are definitely cute! Well, I am not sure why we get excited about "cute" things that contain poop!! 

I have to play around with some of them to get on the right setting for her.  Which can be difficult because Abigail is very very fidgety, especially when being changed!!  

She had a messy poop earlier, and the diaper she was wearing at the time totally contained everything without any leakage.  So far I like the fuzzibunz and the smartipants the best- they fit her the best I think.  The bumgenius are good too. 

I have to wonder who comes up with these names!! Clever people.

Ryan hasn't used them yet.  I am hoping Tuesday evening (since he got the day off, yay!) that I can show him how to use them and maybe he can start using during the mornings when I am at work.  I like them so far, well, I have only used 2 days now, but I want him to like them too.

all in all, a good weekend :)

I'll Give it a Try.

My cloth diaper trial pack came in the mail today.  I ordered it from Jillian's Drawers.  I got quite a few different brands/styles/types of diapers. 

Abigail checked them out as I took them out of the box. I think she thought they were cute too!

Whatever I don't like, I can send back after 21 days. Or I can keep it all and receive $10.00 back. Or I can send it ALL back and get my money back minus $10.00 (for shipping costs). Sounds good to me. I hope I like them. At least some of them.

They all look so cute and I "tried" on some of them on Abigail over her disposable diaper  to see how they work and how some of them fit...  so cute!! I guess they won't be so cute when they are filled with poop haha. 

I am in the middle of the "pre washing" routine.  Some of them need to be washed and dried numerous times before use, to increase how well they saturate.

I will probably wait to start using them until beginning of next week. We are having company this weekend so it might be a little hectic while trying to figure them out.

I will keep you posted!

Play Time with... glasses?

I think Abigail already likes playtime. She's such a silly girl sometimes.

I wear my glasses in the mornings, and sometimes I wear them when I am just lounging around the house on my days off. 

Abigail is starting to pull at things.  She pulls at her blankets when in her carseat or in her bouncer.  When holding her, she pulls at my or Ryan's shirts.  She also likes to grab things. Sometimes when my face is close to hers, and I am wearing my glasses, she pulls my glasses right off my face!

She did it for the first time over Thanksgiving at my Mother In Law's house, when I was nursing her. She threw them on the floor both times!!  She hadn't done it before. Ryan was inthe room when it happened and we both laughed. It was so funny. She smiled and cooed like it was a game.

Yesterday I was off work and we were hanging out just me and her. She pulled them off, and I put them back on. I think she likes to play games- She pulls them off, I put them back on and she pulls them off again.  And so on and so forth. She likes it so I let her.

She is 3 1/2 months already playing with me :) I can't wait for more!

I just hope she doesn't take after my side of the family and need glasses when she is older.  My mom, grandmother, and I am pretty sure that my great grand mother MaMa all have/had glaucoma. I do NOT Wish that on my daughter. Or myself.  We will see what the future holds, I guess.

One of these days I will dig out my elementary school pictures so you all can see my big behind glasses I used to wear.  I am sooo glad I wear contacts now.

That is my post for today :)

PS- Abigail is still sleeping in her crib at night now, for over 2 weeks now, and is doing great!!! We put her down and don't hear a peep from her until morning :)

No pacifer for my girl

Abigail has always loved sucking on her fingers. At first it was to let us know she is hungry, but now she does it moreso to pacify herself, not necessarily because she is hungry. 

When we first brought her home from the hospital, she was VERY fussy at night time. She had her days/nights mixed up.  She wasn't fussy at all during the day, just after nursing at night she had trouble going back to sleep. My mother in law went out and bought a few different kinds of pacfiers that first week to see if that would help Abigail fall back asleep.

It did not. She spit those things out sooner then you could put them in.  She did not want anything to do with them. We tried silicone and latex.  I honestly didn't mind, because since I am breastfeeding, I did not want anything to interfere with her latch when she was just starting out. 

Since then, we tried a few other times, when she got really fussy a few times, but she really just doesn't like them.  Ryan's sister bought her some at Thanksgiving when we were visiting up in PA, and I tried to tell her she wouldn't like them.  I was right- she spit them right back out.

Sometimes when I can tell she is getting tired and she is chilling out in her bouncer, she will start sucking her fingers, and sometimes but not all of the time  she will suck her thumb only, and eventually I will glance over at her, and she is passed right out.  with her hands in her mouth :)

Hey, that's one less thing we have to buy!!!

Abigail's Birth Story!!!

I have been meaning to type up Abigail's birth story for a LONNGGG time, but just haven't  gotten around to it. Let's face it, life with a 3 month old, being married, and working (even if it's part time) can be very busy!!!

I will try to sum up the story the best I can- honestly, some of it is very fuzzy, but I will do my best, especially with the timeline of everything.  I wish some of it was clearer!! I wish we had a video camera, honestly. Maybe for the next one :)

Since being pregnant, I was always fascinated by listening to others' "birth stories".  Like each and every person is different, each and every baby's birth is different!! I was so anxious about mine- I was hoping that I wouldn't have to be induced, hoping that I wouldn't need an epidural- terrified if I were to need a C-section... and anxious about so much more!!  I Don't like "not knowing". 

That night/morning was definitely a blessing from God up above. Everything went SOO VERY WELL.

Let me back up to a few weeks before my due date.  I had been experiencing what felt like period cramps on and off a few weeks before (my due date was Wed 10/13).  At one time, it was so uncomfortable and was an on-going cramp I thought maybe something was gonna start happening.... but it went away when I went to sleep.  It would happen on and off throughout those weeks.  I went to the doctor on Friday before my due date, and the dr. decided to "strip" my membranes to see if anything got started.  Well..... Friday night came and went.... and nothing happened.  Up until that point, I totally thought she was going to be coming that weekend.  Well, that weekend came...and went. No baby yet.  I was almost starting to get discouraged, because I was just so ready to be a mommy!

My due date came...and went.  No baby yet!! I worked that week, but didn't work my full hours. I went home early most days, because I was yet again having that cramping but it would come and go. Didn't really think it was much of anything.

Thursday I went to work, and I ended up leaving at noon.  I had started having that darn cramping again, and it was uncomfortable. I am BLESSED to have a wonderful understanding boss, and she let me go home to rest.  I was supposed to have a dr appt Friday morning.  The cramping was on and off that Thursday afternoon after I went home. Nothing painful, just kind of annoying.  I can't really explain it, but just like a steady period cramp. talk about annoying! I figured if anything it was the fake contractions.

We have choir practice Thursday nights.  That particular night we were practicing for a special performance for Sunday, which was our "Homecoming" Sunday. I was sooo excited for this and really loved what we were singing. I wanted the baby to come so badly, but I was torn because I really wanted to be at Homecoming sunday!! I figured if she came after Church on Sunday, that would be okay :)

 We were standing in the sanctuary practicing thursday evening, and I could feel those darn cramps again. Sometimes it would make me wince. I just figured it was what I had been having all along- which by this time, I figured were "braxton hicks".  I remember one of the other choir members, Sharon, said to me "oh it's probably just your body getting ready". 

So we went home... I honestly didn't think anything was going on.  It was time for Grey's Anatomy.  Ryan went to bed because he was tired from work that day and I stayed downstairs to watch my shows.  I remember at that point, the "cramps" were to the point where I couldn't really focus on the show... it was again, just a constant ache.  Eventaully I stopped watching the show and went to Ryan upstairs and discussed what I was feeling.  The "cramps" were somewhat coming and going, but were not lasting very long.  I was debating back and forth "are they real contractions or not?"  Ryan really thought they were the real thing...but I didn't.  I didn't know what to do. Ryan just wanted to go to sleep, haha.

I went to bathroom, and realized I had passed my "mucious plug" I know it sounds gross, it was.  I realized that something might be happening... But I knew that didn't necessarily mean that I was in labor at that time. (little did I know, i was!)

Anywho, Ryan went back to sleep and I paced around our room, and around upstairs. And downstairs. Camden didn't know what was going on.  The "cramps" got to the point where it was very uncomfortable and I would grab onto the side of the bed until it passed. However, they were never a full minute long, and never every 5 minutes, they were scattered. At least to my knowledge. But then again, I was in denial and didn't think I was having contractions.

Eventually I woke Ryan up again and asked him what to do.  We discussed going to the hospital but I didn't want to, because I didn't want to be told to go back home and come back when contractions are further along. I still thought they were teh fake ones, because they felt nothing like what people had said they feel like, and what  I had read.  Everyone had said "you will know when you are having the real thing".  Well, I didnt know. I decided to try and sleep.  Every time I had these cramps before, they went away when I went to bed.

Well, that didni't work. I ended up getting back out of bed and walking around, because I couldn't stand to lay down.  Eventually it got to be 1:00 am and i realized that maybe I should call the dr.  I called the answering service and the dr called me back within just a few minutes.  I explained a few things and he told me to come on in to the hospital and they would check me out to see what was going on.  I did NOT expect him to say that!!

I had to wake Ryan up- this was harder then expected! He must have been in a deep sleep bc it took him FOREVER to get out of bed!! I don't think he realized that I could be in labor!! I had a bag packed, and we just added a few last minute things, It was rainy, so we grabbed our jackets and hit the road.  We are just 5 mintues down the highway to PRMC.

We got there, had to wait in the waiting room a few minutes.  I couldn't sit, was so uncomfortable.  I could definitely tell when a contraction was coming at that point. I would grab onto the chair where Ryan was sitting and breath through each one.

Breathing.   That is what got me through this labor.  That and Ryan helping me with breathing.  Couldn't have done it without him. Especially wtihout his hand/arm to squeeze!

So they brought us back to a room where the nurse (Jennifer) hooked  me up and I was in fact having contractions- the real thing, yippee!  She checked me and I was dilated to a 6cm!!  I had been walking around for a few weeks at 3 cm.  I believe I was fully effaced at that time as well.  She told us "we will be admitting you".  I told Ryan- CALL YOUR MOTHER NOW.  So he did. :) She hit the road from PA.  I wanted to make sure she got a start early so she could be there.

They admitted me to a room... it was all so "surreal". I couldn't believe it was actually happening.  It took them 3 tries to get an IV going.  The nurse told me something I had never been told before, that I was "valvey".... whatever the heck that means!! It took them forever, but they finally got me Iv'd up.  After sticking me a gazillion times and getting another nurse to do it.

The nurse had asked me whether I wanted an epidural. I told her I Was open to it, if necessary, but wanted to try to get as far as I could without it.  After they gave me the IV, they told me they could give me a medication to "take the edge off" the contractions. I agreed to that. I think it was called Nubain (not sure how to spell).  I don't think it did much, honestly.  Once they FINALY got my IV in, they gave me that. 

We called my Mom then- it seemed to take her forever to get there even though she is closer to hospital then we are!  When she did, she came into the room, and it was just mom ryan and myself.  We just hung out, talking and whatnot.  By that time, it was around 2:00 I believe.  The doctor checked me shortly after I was admitted, and I was 7 cm dilated.  I was quickly coming along!! At that point, the dr decided to break my water, since it had never broke on it's on., I had been told before, that would be a relief, it certainly was!!!!  I couldn't believe all that water coming out of me. What a weird feeling!!

The nurse was telling me that I was doing well.  I ate ice chips like there was no tomorrow. The contractions were continuing to come, and I would breath deep and slow through them. That was what I focused on, just breathing.  Ryan really really helped me. That and his hand. I think I squeezed the life out of his hand! At one point he made me switch to his other hand :) 

But it was never to the point where I thought I needed an epidural. Honestly, the thought NEVER crossed my mind.  I just breathed thorough each contraction.  If Ryan got up to go somewhere, and I could feel one coming, I would holler for him to come back.  I need him there with me. Mom was there so I squeezed her hand too.  Ryan was my rock, though.

At one point the nurse asked if I Wanted another dose of nubain- I thought I had been getting a drip of it the entire time!!! That was definitely not the case. We agreed I Was  doing great and didn't need it.  I was fine with that :) 


Ryan's mom got to the hospital before Abigail was born- Probably between 5:30 and 6:00 am.  We were glad she was able to get there in time. 

Eventually Jennifer checked me and I Was dilated to 10 cm and fully effaced!! She told me the next step would be to let her know "when i felt the urge to push".  I didn't have a clue what that meant!!

I certainly found out.  I got a contraction and just felt like I had to push or I didn't know what else to do!!! So we started pushing.  That was the most difficult part.  I think this was where Ryan's mom and my mom went around the corner near the door- we didn't want them there for the pushing- it was a decision we had made previously.  I didn't want them seeing all that!!!  I Had my rock-Ryan, with me.

So I pushed. And pushed...it was so difficult. Just the strangest weirdest feeleing ever.  I had to push like I was going to poop, honestly. If you have had a child you know what I mean. You have to use your "poop" muscles. When a contraction came on, we would push for 10 seconds, I would break and then another 10, then break, then another 10, then a long break.  I got very discouraged because the nurse told me at one point that I was "taking 2 steps forward, then a step back". She said she didn't know what I Was doing, but the baby's head would come forward, but then go backward a little. I got discouraged and thought she was never gonna come out.  Then I got really determined.

Abigail never "dropped" down when I Was pregnant. I was pushing her down at this point.

So we pushed.  It wasn't very long. I remember thinking "okay, this is tough, but I Am going to give this all I have"  so I did... I remeber bearing myself down and just pushing the full 10 seconds as HARD as I could...and all of a sudden, I pushed until I couldn't push anymore, and then had this terrible pain and the nurse is on the phone getting the doctor, and they are breaking the bed down, and doing all this stuff, and I say what is going on?? Everyone was hustling around, I hear "you are crowning! you are about to have this baby!"
 The nurse didn't want me to push again until the dr comes in.  He is taking forever!!! I have the baby's head crowning, and just this huge urge to push, and it's hurting!! Ryan was trying to get me to concentrate, and breath through it... I breathed all right, then I just wanted to push! FInally dr comes in. He is sure taking his sweet time!  Finally, he is in place.  I pushed maybe twice more, big pushes, and then out she comes!!! at 6:38 am on Friday October 15th, Abigail Evelyn Clopper was born.  SUCH A relief :) What an easy delivery!!!

I couldn't believe it. My precious baby girl, was finally here. I remember asking "she is a girl, right?" haha.  Just wanted to make sure!! They placed her on me right away, but I was so out of it, I don't remember clearly.   Ryan cut the cord. What a wonderful daddy right off the bat.  Then she was crying. They were cleaning her up.  I had 3 tears, so the dr had to stitch me up. Took forever!!!! literally, felt like forever.  They weighed her, she was 7 lb 9 ounces..19 inches long. Perfect size. Perfect little girl.

I remember being in shock. I couldn't believe that I just had a quick labor, and I was a mommy!!  and Ryan was a daddy.  Crazyness. 

I wanted to breastfeed, so after she was cleaned up and everything, They gave her to me and I breastfed her for the first time.  I don't think it was for very long, but she did well. Latched on well.  I was happy.  I was in quite a daze.  I was so tired!

I was so woozy and out of it, but I remember eventually being wheeled to Mommy/Baby Unit and got to push the button that plays the lullaby over the loudspeaker, letting the area know that a new baby was born :) I loved my little girl already :)

The fun part was just beginning :)

I might not remember all of the details as clearly as I would have liked, but it was definitely a day I will never forget. 

I love my little girl! :)

Three Months Old!!

On Saturday, Abigail turned 3 months old. 


I could not believe 3 months has gone by already.  Time sure does fly. Everyone says it will fly by even faster.


I cannot imagine not having my little girl. I love her more and more each and every day :)

P.S. I am still thinking about whether to cloth diaper or not.  I really do want to try it!! I might check out a local "green" baby store in the near future that apparently setlls them and see if they have any tips/advice that might help out.  I will keep you all posted (whoever reads this anyway).

Cloth Diapers- Are They For Our Family?

Lately I have been researching and reading up on cloth diapers on the internet.  I was first "introduced" to cloth diapers from one of Ryan's high school friends who has a 1 year old.  I started reading her blog around the time her little boy was born and I have been hooked ever since :)  She started out cloth diapering her little guy when he was 4 months and I have been reading about it ever since! 

When I Was pregnant, I honestly didn't really give diapers much thought. I was just planning on using Pampers or Huggies... But lately, as I have started my blog and have been perusing other blogs, cloth diapering is a topic that keeps reappearing.  I have been trying to learn as much as I can- there is so much to learn about them!!

I have been discussing cloth diapering on and off with Ryan, as well as going through the "pros" and "cons" in my head.

One of the major "pros" to cloth diapering are that it will save money in the long run.  Some websites have estimated that it could eventually save $1000's of dollars.  Investing in the diapers now, I would not have to keep buying disposable diapers. Many of the cloth diapers come in one size, so they adjust as baby gets bigger!!    It seems like a huge expense up front...but keeping in mind that I won't have to continue putting out major bucks for disposables.

Another pro is that reusing diapers will be better for the environment. Less trash in the landfills.  The "Green" way to go.  Most are made with natural fabrics.  So we Know what we are putting on our babies. They are better for our baby's hineys.  Apparently babies don't get diaper rash as often as they may with disposable diapers. Who knows what the disposable companies put in these diapers that touch my baby's cute little hiney every day??  A lot of the cloth diapers have microfiber or fleece insides, which is so very soft!!!

The only cons that I can see to cloth diapering is all of the laundry!!! And dealing with the poo...I am working part time, so not at home all of the time, and I want to be sure I have the time to invest in doing the laundry every couple days.  It requires a rinse before the wash for every load... it will definitely take awhile to wash and dry!! So that along with the cost of the diapers... Some of the cloth diapers on the markey are pricey!!! But some are also very cute!!!  Something I could see getting hooked on, if I do end up liking them.

I guess the major thing for me is, I am not sure how I will handle the poopy diapers, (because Abigail sure has alot of those!!)  and the stains as well.  As far as the poopy diapers, I have read about spraying the diapers before washing. I don't know how Ryan will feel about this as he stays home with Abigail during the day too!   I definitely would want something easy for him to use as well. He likes the convenience of the disposables...but he is willing to try to cloth I believe.

I have also been reading up on how to handle the stained diapers. Apparently there are different soaking methods for this, various types of soaking detergents for diapers, and drying in the sun can help with this. I just have to wonder- won't they stink after awhile? I am almost afraid of investing my money into cloth, concerned that I won't like it. 

I have to admit, I did not know a THING when it comes to the "new age" cloth diapers, as I call them. They certainly are not what our grandma's used to use on our moms!!  There are many different types- pocket diapers, all in ones, hybrid, fitted, and many others!!! There are soooo many different companies that sell them!

One thing that was suggested to me by Ryan's friend was to do a trial of the diapers. Some of the companies offer a trial where they send you various diapers for a certain amount of time (21-30 days, most of them) and you pay a deposit.  You try the diapers out.  If you decide you like them, they keep your money.  If you decide you don't like any of htem you mail them back and they refund you  your money, minus for shipping costs. Or,  if you decide you like a few but not all, you return what you don't like, and they will refund you the cost of those in particular.

I am thinking about doing the trial, but I am really nervous about it!!! I don't know of anyone here locally who does cloth diapers, and I just am afraid I will do something wrong!!

Anyone have any opinions on the matter??   I am still debating on whether to do a trial and see. What would it harm?? I could always send them back if I don't like it!! Or just maybe, I will fall in love with it. I won't know until I try!

Crib Time!

The very first night we had Abigail home from the hospital, we could not get her to go to sleep.  Anywhere. It was a miserable time.  We first tried the bassinet that my mom had given us,  then we tried her crib,  but eventually that night (actually it was early the next morning) we laid her down in bed with us because we were just so tired and frustrated.  Since that night, the only place she has been able to sleep well is in her "newborn napper" which is a part of the pack n play that we bought.  It has been such a Godsend, I don't know what we would have done without it.  It has been where Abigail naps during the day, and where she sleeps at night.   We have a pack n play with this "napper" on it both downstairs and upstairs, thanks to my mother in law.

Abigail "napping" in the napper, her very first day at home :) She is certainly a lot bigger than that now!!

The napper is on the left.  I wish I had something like that to sleep in myself!!

Lately, we have noticed that she is getting just a bit too long for the "napper" and I knew that we would have to "introduce" Abigail to her crib. We knew this was coming, but both of us have been avoiding it, in a way.  I started laying Abigail in her crib while I am putzing around her nursery, putting clothes away, etc, and she absolutely loves to listen to the mobile and watch the winnie the pooh animals go around in circles above her. She coos and giggles and tries to talk like mommy.  She has taken just a couple short naps (about 5 mins each) in her crib while mommy is cleaning or straightening up the upstairs.  Ryan and myself have known that she needs to get used to her crib, but neither of us really wanted to try and put her down in the crib at night, for fear that she wouldn't sleep! 

Last night, on a whim when I Was getting Abigail ready for bed, I decided I was going to try to put her to bed in her crib.  So I swaddled her as usual, and I laid her down. Kissed her of course :)  I turned her mobile on, which she loves.  She was drowsy, and I usually let her fall asleep on her own, so I closed the door halfway, turned lights off and she seemed content.  For a little bit.  I heard some crying a few minutes later... by the time I got to her room, she stopped and had fallen asleep. Never heard another peep. I couldn't believe it!! The entire night I was on edge because I thought she would wake up crying in the middle of the night, because she's no longer sleeping in her comfy fleece napper. But she didn't.  I couldn't wait until hubby got home to tell him about it!!

She did end up crying once early early in the morning, but only for a minute, then she stopped on her own before we could even get into the nursery to see what was going on!  She was lying in her crib when I went in this morning just sucking on her fingers, content with the world:)

I hope tonight goes as smoothly. She's been extremetly fussy this evening, so we will see...

All Dressed Up

When we found out we were having a girl, I wasn't sure how I was going to handle it, with me not being a "girly girl" and all.  I always thought I wanted boys as children, because I was such a tomboy growing up.  Except for when I was really small, I was never really one to wear pink or purple,  let alone frilly dresses and bows, everything a little girl should love!

However, that has now changed. Now that we have our little angel girl here with us, I absolutely LOVE looking at dresses and bows (for the hair she doesn't have yet!) for Abigail to wear. Ryan is always waiting for me at every store we go in, because I always have to check out the baby section to see what cute dresses and clothes they have. 

When we were buying clothes for Abigail before she was born, we didn't really buy or get many dresses in the 0-3 size, so she hasn't really been able to "Dress up" for church yet...but I Have been stocking up on dresses for the next sizes up!  Her tiny toes are still so small that none of her little shoes have been able to fit her either.  I know it will come soon!!

Last night I decided that she is finally big enough to wear one of her size 3-6 dresses,  so I got it washed  and decided no matter what, that would be what she wears to church today.  It must have been meant to be, because fit perfectly and looked adorable!!! We put her white tights on, and then I realized that her little feetsies were actually big enough to wear her little white dress shoes!!  I was so excited :)

I was so excited because she was finally wearing a dress complete with dress shoes to church!!! Pop Pop is the one who introduced my sister and I to Grace Church (where I still attend) when we were VERY small (maybe 6 and 7 yrs old?). I remembered getting all dressed up to go to church with Pop Pop back then.  Now that he walked me down that aisle at Grace Church, and I now have my own daughter, I am excited for her to get all dressed up for church!!  I told Ryan this morning that I simply cannot wait until Easter this year so I can deck her out in her Easter dress, hat and shoes like our Mom did when we were growing up.... I will scan in a picture later for example of this :o)

Ryan thought she looked adorable as well (she's SUCH a daddy's girl already!  She did look very cute and is just so precious!!!!

MomMom Jackson's Chocolate Fudge

One thing that I absolutely love about Christmas is the fudge.  I don't usually eat fudge any other time of the year... unless I happen to buy some from Boscovs (yum yum!).  

My mom has always made fudge at Christmastime ever since I was a child.  I remember watching her make it, and then licking the pot and spoon afterward! Chocolate has always been my favorite, of course.

The recipe my mom uses came from my Mom Mom, my dad's mom.  She has been gone for many years now, but her chocolate fudge lives on! 

I tried my hand at making it at Christmas in 2009, as well as this past Christmas.

I still had enough ingredients to make one more batch, so I finally found some time tonight to make it.  I will share the recipe with you all (whoever reads this blog!)

To make Mom Mom Jackson's chocolate fudge, you will need:

1 jar of marshmellow creme
1 1/2 cup sugar
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1/4 cup of margarine
1/4 tsp salt
12 oz. semisweet chocolate chips (yum!)
1/2 cup nuts (optional, i don't usualy put nuts in though)
1 tsp vanilla

1.)  First, mix the marshmellow creme, sugar, milk, margarine and salt over moderate heat.
(It is always tricky for me to get the marshmellow creme out of the jar- does anyone have any tips on that?? )



2.)   After mixing above mentioned ingredients, stir constantly and bring to a full boil.  Boil for 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring often, continuing to stir.

3.)  Remove from heat after 5 minutes of boiling.  Add chocolate chips, nuts(if using) and vanilla, stirring until the chocolate is melted.


4.) Pour into a greased pan. Cut when cool.


5.)  Sit back and enjoy the delicious fudgey fudge!!!


If any of you decide to make, let me know how it turns out!!   :)  

Naptimes in the bouncer

I am fortunate that I can work part time and I am able to spend a lot of time with Abigail in the afternoons and evenings, especially when Ryan has to go to work.  He usually leaves for work at 2:00 and then it's just Abbie and myself until 11:30 at night when Ryan gets home.

Since she was about 6 weeks, she enjoys taking naps in her bouncer.  We absolutely love this bouncer because it has a vibrating option, which she has always seemed to like.  She loves the bouncing part too!!  Sometimes she gets cranky and I can tell she needs a nap, and we can usually get her to fall asleep for a little while in her bouncer.  I can always tell when she is getting sleepy once she is in her bouncer, because she will turn her head to her right, (every single time!) and that always means she is about to fall asleep!!

Sometimes Camden will curl up beside the bouncer and Ryan has caught her a few times with her head resting on it. I guess it is the perfect height for a headrest for Camden!!

Naptimes are nice because that is time I can get the house straightened up a bit. Everyone days to sleep when the baby sleeps, but I don't really have to take naps, since Abigail is sleeping so well at night now!  I am soooo blessed to have such a wonderful baby! :)

Getting back into the swing of...scrapbooking.

Something I have always, always, enjoyed doing is scrapbooking.  I am not quite sure what got me "into" it, a long time ago, but it has always been something special I have always shared with my special  Auntie Deb, who lives down in North Carolina.  She has always been so talented and able to create the best scrapbook memory pages ever!! She has always been my inspiration. 

Sad to say that since Ryan and I have been married, I have let scrapbooking go by the wayside. A lot of the problem is lack of space.  We bought scrapbooking storage cubes, but the closet that was designated as the "Scrapbooking closet" has become the "everything closet" and there is no room to do anything!!!

Now that we have Abigail, I really, really really want to find the time to start up again.  A lot of the problem besides lack of space, was lack of motivation. And now, with a baby, how am I ever going to find time??  I am hoping to get that closet straigtened up once the Christmas decoration boxes go back up to the attic, and get things organized and get at it. I figure that I could spend a few afternoon/evenings while Abigail naps and go at it... I just need to get motivated!!

I really want to work on our wedding album, and I also want to start an album for Abigail.  I would love to do a pregnancy scrapbook as well, since I absolutely loved every single minute of my pregnancy- except the heartburn!! Soooo glad not to have heart burn any longer...   :)

I will let you guys know how things come along!!