Why must they grow up so fast??

My sweet little Abby is 15 months old now. She's a tiny 20 lbs 10 oz and 29 inches. She is so beautiful it just takes my breath away sometimes! She is looking and acting more and more like a little girl and less like a baby. It's bitter sweet. I love seeing her learn and develop, but I am sad that her baby days are rapidly dissolving. She is speaking in sentences (both verbally and in sign) and to this point I have lost count of all of her words. She LOVES to color and of course, read. She sometimes like to play with her blocks and build, but mostly she likes mommy to build and she plays Abbyzilla. She thinks it is hilarious.

Here we go again!

After ending up with a chemical pregnancy from our FET in April  I have been nervous about our latest IVF cycle. I had my first appointment since starting the stims 5 days ago. Things are right on track and I add a third shot tomorrow. I am expecting egg retrieval to be around Sunday. That means I need to get my butt in gear and get Memorial Flowers cleaned and ready to go out to the graves on Saturday. I am tying to keep my normally positive attitude about all of this, but the truth is I am scared this time! When we did our first IVF cycle it was unfamiliar and I had no idea what to expect, and never thought, not once, that it wouldn't work. Coming away from a failed FET changes everything. What do we do if this doesn't work? Do we attempt to save the money and try one more time, or do we just leave it alone and spoil our little princess? We really want her to have a sibling that is closer to her age than her big brothers.
I go back for another follicle check on Thursday, so lets pray they are growing and developing just right!

Holy Signing babby Batman!

We have been signing to Abby since she was 4 months old. She began signing "milk" at around 5-6 months old. She is now 14 months and she is picking signs up at an amazing rate! She currently has a 20 word sign vocabulary and a 20 word vocal vocabulary. That's even more than her genius brother!! She is showing some early reading skills emerging also! Because Signing Time shows the printed word as well, it's teaching her to read! I am so amazed at her ability to learn so rapidly.


Her current sign list is:
Eat
milk
more
play
water
flower
mom
dad
baby
ball
dog
bye
all done
fish
bath
bird
sign
time
shoes
sleepy

Life as the Easter Bunny

After spending about an hour putting together three Easter baskets I stopped to ponder the purpose of the Easter Bunny. Who started this silly tradition? What does it have to do with the REAL meaning of Easter? The boys were happy to have candy, but they are a little old for Easter Eggs and such. Abby wasn't impressed either. She liked opening the eggs and finding a small snack of Cheerios, Fruit Loops or Animal Crackers. Then she thought they were balls and wanted to throw them. She did like the book and hairbows from her grandma.

She isn't a baby anymore!

We picked up Abby's one year portraits today. It's official, she isn't a baby any more. She is a little girl. I only blinked for a second. She is currently sitting beside me doing the hand gestures to twinkle twinkle while it is being sung in french.....a baby couldn't do that!

Remembering Granny

My Granny was the most honest, spare-no-feelings, Godly woman I have ever known. She lived her life with only one purpose,and that was to serve God and get to heaven some day. Job well done, Granny. My Granny and Poppy were like parents to me. They took me when no one else would. They cared for me, taught me, and loved me. There will never be two dearer people in this world than the two of them. They spent the last ten years apart since Poppy passed in October of 1999. Together again at last!!! I know that Granny had missed him terribly, especially after her stroke. She still needed his strength and encouragement....much like I still need hers. I love the fact that she is with him now. That makes it a little less painful. I actually envisioned Poppy waiting for her at the entrance to heaven with his arms outstretched and saying "I've missed you, Wanda." Gosh I miss them both terribly!

My Granny didn't think much about material possessions, with exception to shoes. She gave Imelda Marcos a run for her money! She had an unwavering faith that was simply astounding. Even in her darkest hour she had faith that God would deliver her. Ultimately, he did. She loved all of her great grand children, but Abigail came at a time that she needed a little one the most. She had lost her ability to work in the daycare that she so loved because of her stroke. She watched Abigail grow from the time she was in my belly. She adored Abby, and Abby adored her. It was heart breaking to see Abigail wave at her Granny for the last time, saying "up, up!" because she wanted her to wake up and play. I will tell Abby about her amazing great grandmother, and I will aspire to replicate the way she lived her life the best that I can.

Abigail's First Birthday!

On February 20, 2010 Abigail Faith turned one year old!! She is healthy, happy, and as sweet as sweet can be! She is so different than her brothers!! She is very laid back, calm, and she loves to snuggle and read books. She waves at everything and hugs whatever she can get her hands on. She has an amazing vocabulary of 14 spoken words and 6 signs at 13 months old. She takes my breath away and makes my heart smile every time I look at her. She is still nursing about 4 times a day. I went a little over board, maybe, on her birthday. but oh was it worth it! I have such wonderful memories of her party, even if I was a little neurotic. ha! It was perfect and she was such a doll!

What a year!!!

oops! Who would have thought having a baby would be so time consuming? Our sweet little IVF miracle is now 13 months old!!! I guess I need to get some photos uploaded, huh? We are now on the journey for a Frozen Embryo Transfer. I have been on the drugs for a week, and we will know at the end of April if we have been successful.

I lost my sweet Granny on March 20th. I miss her so much. I am so blessed that she was able to know Abby. She loved her so much! I am sad that Abby won't remember her.

Abigail Faith is HERE!!

I was induced on February 20, 2009 at 37 weeks and 1 day due to pre-eclampsia. She was born at 2:16 pm weighing a mere 5 lbs 4 oz and 18.5 inches long. Tiny but perfect in every way! She lost only a little bit of weight and was 5 lbs 1.5 oz Friday at the doctors. She has a little bit of jaundice.

She is now 9 days old and is breastfeeding like a champ. She is a very happy little baby.......as long as she is being held.

34 weeks and counting!!

We are amazed at how well things are going with this pregnancy!! The doctor says that Abigail is about 5 1/2 pounds already! He says if I don't have her at 36 weeks he will induce at 37 weeks. My baby shower is this Saturday...so just in time!! I will update with pics after the shower.

Abby's nursery is just about complete...just a few finishing touches needed!! We are all so anxious to meet little Abigail and hold her in our arms!

Well, we have made it to 30 weeks!!! Hopefully at least 6 more weeks before we meet our beautiful Abigail Faith!! I went to the doctor yesterday and I am measuring 3 weeks ahead! We go in on Tuesday for a growth scan to see just how big she is right now. We had a second 3D u/s at 28 weeks and got some better pics of her. I can't believe it's just right around the corner now!! I am starting to feel a little nervous about delivery now.....oh well, with an epidural I am sure it will be fine. I know I do NOT want another drug free delivery! LOL

She already stole our hearts

From the very first flicker of the heartbeat on the screen she captured our hearts. We are anxiously awaiting her arrival and cannot wait to hold her in our arms!!