Abby is 3 Weeks Old

Today Abby is 3 weeks old!!  She is growing so fast and getting so big!  She is changing each and every day.  Abby loves to eat and still want to eat and eat each time her eyes are open.  She has started to make the cutest little faces and frowns. We just changed Abby’s formula to Similac for fussy and gassy babies so we are hoping this formula is a better fit for Miss Abbygale!  

The hardest part to date is the lack of sleep for Mommy.  Mommy is still just plain exhausted at three weeks.  We are waking up about four times a night for anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half.  Since I am so use to sleeping quite a few hours at night this has been a killer for me.  Everything else has gone very smoothly and is very enjoyable.  The day when I can sleep at least 5 hours straight will be heaven to me!!

Daddy went back to work part-time this week.  He is working Monday, Wednesday, and Friday’s now for a few weeks before going back full-time.  MawMaw has been helping me on Tuesday and Thursday’s still so I still have some help.  In the next week or so Abby and I will be on our own.  I think we will be just fine but will just take a little adjusting.  Adjusting is the new story of our lives but it is absolutely okay!

Abby loves to be held.  She is one spoiled little girl because when you try and lay her down she wakes up screaming because she wants to be held (or eat or both)!!  We all love to hold her and cuddle with her too (but we never get any chores done)!  Do I even need to say my house is messier than it has ever been!?!

We took our first outing today on her three week birthday!  Mommy, Daddy, and Abby went to Bastrop to run a few errands.  We ran to Wal-Mart (great first outing, right) and to DoubleDave’s Pizza for lunch.  Abby did so good and looked so cute.  I think it was a little hard on Mommy and Daddy though since it was our first outing.  We definitely have to get use to getting out more and how it all works with a little baby!  It is all so very new to us.

Having Abby has been a huge change for us but she is the love of our lives for sure!  Abby is so sweet and precious!  She is such a good baby and I love being able to spend so much time with her.  It is hard for me (I’m not going to lie) because of the new ‘no-sleep’ life but worth every minute of it.  The past three weeks have been great and we are trying to cherish every moment because we know life moves so, so fast!  Abby is such a blessing for us and we love her more than any words can say!

So to sum up the first three weeks with Miss Abby besides being exhausted it has been the greatest, most fun time in our lives.  Abby is so special to us and we just can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives with her.  She is a little stinker; I call her my little turkey.  She is just perfect; absolutely perfect!!
Here are some 3 week photos of Miss Abby:

I'm a little Texas Longhorn fan!!

Pretty in Pink

I'm an angel when I'm sleeping :)

Mmmm....Milk is so, so good!

Mommy and Me

About to go on our first family outing (Mommy looks tired)!

So cute in my carseat to Bastrop!

Milk does the body good!

 Home from our first family outing....exhausted!

Just hanging out at home!

A funny picture that Daddy took of me!

Daddy and Me

Abby is 2 Weeks Old

On September 6, 2011 Abby turned two weeks old. If she was born on her due date of September 5^th than she would just be one day old. That is crazy to think about since in two weeks so much has changed. 

Abby has such a strong head and already tries to lift her head (she actually does) and look around. She has such a strong grip with her hands and likes to fight you away. Her hands and feet are always moving (especially when she is mad). Abby wants to eat constantly. She is one hungry little girl. She is like a little bird – if she is awake her mouth is open looking for food. She went from drinking about 10 ml or less in NICU to drinking up to 4 ounces now. That is crazy to me! Abby’s umbilical cord fell off right around the two week mark. Abby has very strong lungs – she screams louder than any baby I know. When she is mad everyone will know it! Abby still has lots of dry skin but it seems to be getting better each day.

Abby likes her swing. She doesn’t last too long but does enjoy it for a moment. Abby also like her bouncer too. She sleeps pretty well in the bouncy. Abby also seems to like music. It calms her down. Abby is a good car rider. We have only been out to doctor appointments in Austin for the most part but she does fairly well. We have been impressed! In the next few weeks I am sure we will be getting out more and more.

Currently, Abby eats as much as she can and we will let her. During the day she wants to eat if she is awake. I am hoping this will improve soon. However, at night Abbygale is doing pretty good. She has gone 4 hours between feedings but can get up every hour too. It all depends. I think we are probably up 3-4 times each night. Overall I have been pretty impressed with Abby at night. We still need to slowly work on stretching our hours between each feeding but she doesn’t cry too much at night, which is good.

Abby is a little stinker. She is pretty gassy but at this point it doesn’t seem to bother her too much. She burps and toots like a grown man. It is hilarious! She is just like her daddy (hee, hee)!!!

Abby is really starting to get a little personality. Since I spend every second with her I am really starting to notice her cute personality. She makes the funniest faces and is just so cute! She’s adorable what else can I say!

Abby has outgrown her newborn clothes and is now in 0-3 month clothing. She is one growing little girl.

Bryan and I have both fell head over heels in two weeks. Life is definitely about Abby at the moment. We have no set schedule whatsoever. We have loved every moment being home and being with Abby. We are tired and our house is a wreck but we are really trying to enjoy this time together. Abby is precious and we love her to pieces!

Abby had her two week checkup on Tuesday, September 6^th. She gained four ounces since last week and now weighs 8 pounds and 2 ounces. Her height is 20 ½ inches and her head circumference is 36 ½ centimeters. She had her newborn screening and it broke our hearts to hear her cry once they pricked her little foot. It was just awful! Abby doesn’t have to go back to Doctor Hughes until she is 2 months old but she will have to get shots next time. Not fun!

What’s going on around us?

On Sunday, September 3, 2011 wildfires broke out in Bastrop County. Sunday night around 11 pm a Sheriff came to our door and told us this area was being evacuated due to the fires. Abby and I loaded up some stuff in the car and went and stayed the night at Bryan’s parent’s house in Red Rock. Bryan opted to stay at the house and watch our place and try to put out any fires, if any came our way. Do you know how stressful and hard it is to try and pack stuff from your house with a newborn and in the back of your head wondering if you will have a home to come home too when it is all said and done? Monday around lunch Abby and I returned home and thankfully have been home ever since. We have been very, very lucky because lots of people in Bastrop County have lost their homes. We have just had smoke real bad and embers all around the house. The fire has burn 35,000 acres and 1,300 homes so far. The fire is still burning and only 30% contained at this point.  The damage is just devastating!

Abby Swinging

Daddy and Abby

Abby 2 Weeks Old

Abbygale Sure Knows How to Cry!

Abby In Her Bouncer

My Sweet Girl is Already Two Weeks Old!