Week In Review

Well I let the past week get away from me without posting again.  Some nights I just don't feel like thinking of something to write.  Other nights it comes right to me.  Most nights this week I just didn't feel quite like it.  This week was somewhat more difficult than others, mainly because I wasn't able to talk to Ryan at all this week.  I got a few emails here and there, but he didn't have time to call me at night like I get used to.  I know it's a privelige for them to call, and not a guarantee but I still get used to  talking to him at least 4 times a week.  Then, it's difficult when I DO get to speak with him because I always have so many things to tell him and just not enough time!!  I email him a lot throughout the week letting him know what is  going on.  He doesn't always get to respond, but at least he can read them and know things are okay here. 

I don't want to whine and complain this post (I hope I don't sound like that is all I am doing!) but on a more positive note-  He only has EIGHT more weeks!  Woo Hoo!

I am now starting to worry (just a teeny bit) about where he will be placed.  He thinks he will probably find out in a few weeks... in the back of my mind, I just have that nagging thought about "what if" he gets stationed across the bridge.... I don't really want to have to sell our house, plus we have Pop Pop's house, and just.... it would be a lot.  I am just praying for God to give me peace over this.  Whatever happens, I know it's God's path for us.  I just don't like not knowing!!

Anyway.  Abigail is doing great!!  The weeks fly by.  It's rediculous.  She's already 9 1/2 months, she will be 10 months soon!!

We had lunch with an old friend of mine on Thursday, and then she came over to take a look at Abigail's newborn clothes, to borrow some.  I couldn't believe how small Abigail's little patootie was!  Then it got me thinking about when she was born.... just how much I fell in love with her that day.... gosh, it goes by so fast... but I will never forget it.  Makes me want another one!! I love having my dear little daughter, and this might sound strange, but I miss being pregnant, in a way.  I definitely want a few more, but just not so soon!!  We will love on just Abigail for awhile more :)

Abigail loves to follow me around the house.  If I am cooking in the kitchen, I look down and she is pulling herself up on my legs. 

She has been carrying around this little book lately.  It's really cute to see her crawl with that in her hands.  Something about that particular book- she will dig it out of the basket, when there are plenty others that are in reach.

She has also "discovered" doors.  When I am sitting here in the computer/guest room, she plays with the door.  Next thing I know, the door is closed.  Then she opens it.  It's fascinating to her!  If I leave her on the living room floor and run outside (usually to load the car in the morning or when getting stuff from the car in the evening) she usually closes the door on me! Of course then I have to sloowwwllly open it so I don't bump her in the head because she's usually sitting right there! 

She is a crazy little girl. But I love her to pieces.  Ryan couldn't come home this weekend  but Abigail and I have gotten some great quality time.  She enjoys hanging out on the couch with me, just crawling all over the place.  She is quite an active little girl.  If she sees something she wants, she finds a way to get it!!  Lately, she has become ticklish.  I love tickling her, and hearing her true giggle and laugh.  It just makes me want to hug and kiss allll over her, when I hear that giggle.  I wish I could get a recording of it.  I have tried but then she doesn't really do it!! Someday I will so I can post on here.

She has been eating "big people" food really well lately also!  Of course, she still gets her baby (jarred) food, usually stage 2 or 3, depending.  But she LOVES shredded cheese!  I have been trying to expand to other things.  Last night I gave her little bits of my chicken, and green beans and some rice,  she actually ate it!  She has had egg, toast, crackers, potatoes, and other things I can't really think of.  She LOVES these little puff things that look like mini cheese puffs but are vegetable flavored.  Not the star puffs (she loves those too) but these are puffed out like cheese puffs are.  She is doing REALLY great at feeding herself.  We have also started her on a sippy cup, she has one at daycare and one at home.  I don't think she drinks MUCH from it,  but she knows how to.  She takes a few sips here or there but she loves to just suck on the nozzle more than actually suck to drink.  I think she would still rather breastfeed, which is fine with me :)  She hasn't really slowed down much with that... which again, is fine with me. 

I think that is all of the updates in my world.  This week will be rough at work... my boss is leaving, moving to Florida.  Dawn has been the greatest supervisor... I have been blessed having great supervisors, at all places I have worked.... I am nervous about who they will get to replace her eventually.. Dawn has been great as far as working with my schedule if I need a different day off then my designated day.  I will really really miss her.  I am praying that things will work out in the clinic, since there is no replacement yet.  It's a difficult job to find someone for, so I hope God has someone in mind....

Well, as (Porky Pig?) says at the end of Looney Tunes.... "that's all, folks!"

My Little Helper.... or not.

Abigail already wants to help Mommy!!

...or maybe she's just nosy and wants to see what Mommy is doing.   Maybe both :)

9 Month Letter

My Dearest Abigail,

This letter is a little overdue... last week you turned 9 months old.... NINE months old!!! You are such a biggie girl now!!  It's difficult to think about you being this old already... I still remember the day you were born... I often think back to that day, and our first few days together as a family... what sweet memories.  One day we will get to tell you all about it!

You are a growing girl.  This past week we headed to the doctor for your 9 month well check.... you weigh just a tad over 19 lbs now, and you are 28 inches long!! You are growing and developing great, and the doctor thinked you looked the picture of good health! You showed off a little and showed her how you can pull up now!!  She didn't hear your heart murmor anymore, which is a good sign :)

Each month I think to myself that I can't possibly love you more, but every single day I look at you and realize that I do love you more than I did yesterday.  I didn't realize it was possible...but it is.  You make it so easy to love you though!!

I love coming home from a long day at work and just hugging and kissing all over you... even if you are trying to wiggle out of my arms the entire time.   It makes the worries and stress of my day float on away.

You are such a happy baby.  I just LOVE to hear you laugh and giggle! You smile a lot, and laugh, but sometimes you get this giggle/belly laugh which I just LOVE to hear!  It's usually when Daddy or Mommy is ticking you or kissing you around your neck you laugh and giggle and it puts a smile on both of our faces-  you are certainly a ticklish little girl!!

You are such a daddy's girl... and you are the apple of his eye..  I love the look you get when you look up at him, in adoration.  I hope that you stay best buds with him for life.

Now that you are crawling and pulling up like crazy, you continue to get into everything... I have had to clear off the tables in the living room because you just love to pull the magazines down and rip into them... and then Camden has to help you out as well.  You have pulled drawers open here and there, but mostly it's just things in the living room.   And boy, you can sure motor right along!! You are a quick crawler.

Now you can patty cake!! You figured out how to clap your hands, and it's SO darling when you do so!

You are just getting so big, I don't know what to do! I cannot believe that in less than 3 short months, you will be one year old.... they say time flies.  Yes, it certainly does. 

You have been eating table/baby food really well now, but you still love your mommy's milk.  I still nurse you as often as you want when we are together, and you still get bottles of mommy's milk at daycare... I am hoping it continues until at least you are one year old! 

In the past month we celebrated Father's Day, and then your Daddy's Birthday.  You love your daddy oh so much.  I know you don't really know or understand why he isn't here during the week, but you love seeing him when he walks in that door Friday evening, or Saturday morning when you wake up.  I am glad he is doing this now, and not when you are older.  Soon he will be done and we can watch him walk across that stage at graduation!

You have finally been sleeping well again.  For awhile there you were waking up every 3 hours... mommy didn't like that too well, but she dealt with it!!  Now you are back to sleeping a straight 10-11 hours, maybe 12, depending on the day.  It's so nice... you spoil me.

I can't wait to see what you will get into or accomplish this next month!!  I love you so much little girl... in a way, I want you to be small forever... I love this "stage" that you are in.  However, I also cannot wait to see what you will grow up to be and what God has in store for you !!  (Not that I want you to grow up anytime soon- I am not ready for that yet!!)

Love Always,

Mommy

A Few Words..

For once, I really don't have much to say.  Things have been about the same around here lately.  Abigail has finally been sleeping straight through the night again recently... for awhile there it was every few hours she woke up.  Growth spurt possibly?  Not really sure.

After this week, Ryan only has 10 weeks left in the state police academy... in one way it's gone by fast, and in another slow.  It will definitely be wonderful to have him home during the week so he can help out with Abigail and around the house again.  However, I was trying to explain to him it will be difficult adjusting to him being home again.  He hasn't been home during the week when Abigail has gone to daycare... he doesn't know the routine we have since he has been gone.  I know he will pick it up and help out, but it will be adjustment, for sure.  Hey, maybe some days he can take her to daycare and I can sleep in! Woo hoo! Definitely looking forward to that.

I am hoping that maybe the way his schedule works, we might be able to reduce the days of daycare to maybe 3 instead of 4...but I guess we won't know that until we know what his schedule will be. 

Abigail is doing well though... Friday she will be 9 months.  Where on earth is the time going?  She is a delight though.  I think the most popular comment we get is that she is a "happy " or "smiley" baby.  She loves new people- she doesn't fuss when handed off to a stranger, that is for sure.  She is pulling up on everything now.  Crawling everywhere.  I wonder if she will be walking before a year.

Next week we head to doctor for her 9 month well check.  I always look forward to seeing her weight and how much she has grown.  She is definitely getting bigger!!  She's been getting much better with eating baby food lately, but I want to talk about what is next and what table foods she can start to eat soon.

My husband and my sister's birthday is coming up.  It's on the same day.  Isn't that interesting? I have my sister's package ready to mail but can't figure out anything for my husband.  Maybe this Saturday, if he doesn't have much studying to do, we will just spend the day in Ocean City or something.  Who knows what he willw ant to do.  Sunday evening we have dinner planned at PF Changs in Annapolis... we are meeting his family there for an early dinner before Ryan heads back to the academy.

Work has been crazy the past weeks, but this week seems to have slowed down a little bit... when I say slowed down I mean I still have a huge list of things I am working on/to do list, but the daily demands of the patients isn't as much as it was for awhile.  It has waves where for awhile, they are doing okay, with a few bumps here and there, and then all of a sudden, it seems EVERYONE needs assistance with something.  I enjoy my job, but not the crazybusy days where I feel I can't think straight!

That's all I have for now.  I have been so tired, I haven't even taken any pictures lately!! I will definitley have some up soon!

But for a certain mommy who writes over at Modern Cloth Mama who made headbands (and the onesie in the picture below) for Abigail, I promised I would show a few pictures showing them off- sorry it's taken so long!!

You can find her etsy shop by clicking here

Content Camden

After not seeing "daddy" for just about 2 weeks, Camden is finally content.  She has really been acting up the past week, and I know it's because she hadn't seen her daddy in awhile since she didn't come along to Nan's this time. 

Weekend Away

This week has gotten away from me.  I feel like all week I have been playing catch up since we went away last weekend.  We headed up to Waynesboro (PA) and spent time with Ryan's mom and his family.  His brother and our sister in law came up Saturday and spent the night at my mother in laws house as well, so it was good time together.

Saturday evening we had a cookout at Ryans sisters house.   I had never been to her house, and it was a good time.  We ate hamburgers and hot dogs, had some goooood food.  and great desserts, courtesy of my sister in law Anjuli!! 
After we ate, the boys played West Virginia Horseshoes, as Ryan calls it.  He loves that game.  I didn't play, I was keeping an eye on my little girl... Emilee hung out with Abigail in the yard while the boys played...everyone just relaxed.. it was just a good time.  Then we got to sit on the back porch while it stormed... Kelly swore it was going to miss us, but we got a pretty nasty storm.

Alyson and Abigail- cousins

 Emilee and Abigail- cousins

 Feeding Abigail dinner- I don't know why, but i love this one.  I had no idea Jen was taking a picture!!

Jason and Ryan playing West Virginia Horseshoes...

Everyone just hanging out, relaxing..

Nan with her girl

Blowing raspberries... I love this one!!

We were able to get some great family photos!!

Everyone minus Kelly, Jen's husband.

Sunday we spent time at Barbs house and then Ryan, Abigail and I headed back to his academy later that afternoon.  As always, I hate driving away without him to head home... he's about 2 1/2 hours away from home.  But as of today, we only have 11 weeks to go until his graduation!!  11 out of 26 isn't too darn bad... I know it will be here before I know it!

Monday was July 4th.  I had the day off from work, since daycare was closed.  Abigail and I spent the day at our house.  My mom was at the beach and I didn't really feel like driving down to Assateague , so we stayed home allll day.  I didn't even take a shower until 4:30, when I realized I should shower if I was going to a cookout at 5 that evening!!  We went over to the Murfrees and had a great time as always.  Great food, good fellowship.  God has blessed me tremendouly over the years with a great family like the Murfrees.  They are not just "friends" but truly my family.

All in all a great weekend.... it was an "okay" week- work is just been busy and I can't keep up.  I am exhausted from trying to keep up with everything between work and home this week!! I am ready to sleep in on Saturday, and spend an unplanned weekend with my hubby.

Love my little girl!!