Photo Shoot

A wonderful friend made this beautiful blanket for Abigail. She originally made it for her son, Adan, who has not arrived yet, but she decided to give it to me since we were having such a hard time. I cannot even express what this beautiful piece of art did for my heart the day it arrived! I love how it brings out the beautiful blue in Abby's eyes. Thanks Melissa! You are one of my heroes!!! :) Can't wait to see Adan! I put Abby in as little pink as I could just for you! LOL!

Whatcha doing Mom?


I think you've taken enough pictures now!


Um, how many are you going to take?


The back of my head? Seriously? Mom, feed me now, please!

Pajama Week

It's been a week to not do anything at all except get used to the new life we have now with three children. All of our help went back to their homes this week. We really miss them! There is no way we could have done this without them! There are not enough words to express our gratitude for Mimi, Papa, Nan and Grandaddy, over the past few months as we all came together to get Abby here safely.

Aiden and Anthony's preschool have been having Pajama Week. The boys only attend two days a week, but we've made it into a week long event in our house! We've enjoyed it too!

We did get dressed on Tuesday, because everyone had to go see the doctor! The results?

Me - respiratory infection
Abby - sinus congestion, but not in the lungs and not RSV
Aiden - ear infection, fever, and stomach virus
Anthony - "healthy for now, but one ear is red, so I'm prescribing antibiotics just in case"

Patrick, well, he's just exhausted, he had inventory this week at work. Today alone he worked 16 hours.

So, we've watched movies, played with new toys, changed diapers, sterilized bottles, worked hard on nursing, done laundry, cleaned house, and taken medicine!

Today everyone was feeling much better. Well, except for Patrick and I. We're tired! The new-baby-up-all-night kind of tired. It's awesome and worth it!!! We've waited a long time to be this tired!

Aiden had his birthday party this weekend. I'll post about that later! He got two Lego sets from Mema. He loves them! He and his Daddy put the first set together, a helicopter. Today, he started working on the truck by himself. He sat at the kitchen table for two hours straight working on it. He follows the directions so well! I'm amazed at how enthralled he is by these toys!





Anthony has been the best helper with Abby. He loves to give her a pacifier, hold her bottle, get a diaper for her, and tell me how much he "wuvs baby Abby!" It is so weird for him to not be my "baby" anymore. I love to watch him with his little sister. He spent the day "posing" for the camera and saying "take my picture Mommy!"





Abby will be four weeks old tomorrow. I just cannot believe that! It doesn't seem possible! She weighed five pounds and four ounces at the doctor visit on Tuesday and she was 18 inches long! She is eating like a champ, a little too much sometimes. She is getting better and better at nursing, but still gets very tired, very easily on that front. She has grown out of her doll clothes in the length. Her eyes are turning to the most beautiful shade of blue. She has the funniest facial expressions. I love it when she smiles at me. I've always given the boys "Eskimo kisses" where we rub noses. She always smiles when I rub noses with her. I know most people would say it's gas, but I have never had a gas pain that has made me smile! She does Not like it when she uses the bathroom. This is such a foreign concept to me, because both of my boys could have cared less if they had dirty pants. But not Little Miss! She gets positively Angry if you do not change her immediately! Falling more and more in love with my daughter has been my favorite activity this week!!!

Pictures

There has been a public outcry for more pictures! I am trying to oblige! However, I do have to say, between Nan and Mimi, I never get to hold my daughter! Not that I expected anything less. LOL!

Nan feeding Abby


Mimi holding a sleepy girl


Our first bow, courtesy of Grandma Sherrill!


My three beautiful children!


The doctors are in!


A cute dress from our cousin C.J.!


The best biggest brother!


The best big brother!


Our precious little Valentine!


This dress was actually made for an American Girl Bitty Baby. Mimi bought her the most beautiful doll clothes and they fit her perfectly.


I think it is so neat that someday she will play dolls with the clothes she wore.


Our precious bright eyes! She is so alert.


This year, as we celebrated Valentine's Day we were reminded of our Savior's precious love for us and our family. Each time I look at our precious Abigail I am reminded of His miraculous love for us!

Hershey is Home!

We brought Abby home late Friday afternoon. She is one week old and had gained enough weight to be one ounce above her birth weight, 3 pounds 6 ounces. She looks so tiny in her carseat! Can you find the baby??



You've never seen two boys as excited as Aiden and Anthony were. Aiden just kept saying, "I love her feet. It's baby Abby!" or "I love her (insert a body part)." He was so excited he couldn't stand still. He's still that way, two days later. Anthony was more subdued, but definitely in awe.



I love this picture, Aiden was literally jumping up and down while clapping his hands and saying, "I love baby Abby!"


My three boys feeding our sweetheart. You can tell by the blur that Aiden was having a very hard time staying still.


We're finally all home where we belong!


Abby has the Best big brothers! They love helping with her!


And one very giddy "big sister!"


Whew! What a day! It's nice to be home in our own beds!!!

We are bringing Abby home

We are bringing Abby home today!!!

A Very Quick Update!

I'm on my way out the door to the hospital. It's 3:30 in the morning and nearly time for Abby's next feeding. The grandparents, Patrick and I are taking turns, so there is someone always there for her feeding times, which are every four hours right now. Abby is continuing to amaze nurses, doctors, and Us! She is only being monitored right now. Nothing is "helping" her at all. She is working on holding her own temperature and eating. That is all she has left to do! The doctors and nurses are saying she will probably be coming home early next week. I'm very sorry for the lack of pictures lately. We've just been so busy and I've been SO exhausted. I cannot tell you what your prayers have meant to us! Please continue to pray that Abby gains weight, so we can bring our little one home with us! To settle a few questions as quickly as I can:

Hair is dark blonde with light blonde highlights in it, it is not red. :)
Eyes are currently brown, but getting lighter and lighter every day.
She was 16.5 inches long at birth.
She was 3 pounds 5 ounces at birth.
She lost to 3 pounds 1 ounce.
She has gained back to 3 pounds 2 ounces.
She loves to eat, but nursing is not going very well. So, I am pumping milk for her and still trying to nurse her when I can. This is a prayer request.
Her newest nickname is Mighty Mouse. Because she is so tiny and so strong.
All of her nurses call her "feisty" and "little firecracker."
She is the most beautiful little girl I've ever seen in my life!

I know you aren't here for my update though, so Here's the pictures!

Abby is doing great. She

Abby is doing great. She is next in line for a window seat!!