Help!

I cannot count the times that I have put Abby down only to hear a cry for help moments later. When I rush into the room I find that the little one has either an arm or a leg caught in her crib. Lately though I think she learned to adapt. One afternoon when I checked on her I found her like this:

Her thigh was really wedged in there, so I carefully but forcefully removed it without waking her up. Only to get her up later like this:

Oh well....

Play time

"Shhhh" Abby needs complete concentration.

Abby's new best friend is a stuffed duck.

She sits and talks to him. I wonder what they talk about...

Who knew?

Apparently the cheapest toy at Target can be the best. Since Abby is going to be six months next month (hard to believe I know), I am trying to stray from the stuffed animals and go more for the interactive educational ones, so that Abby can work on her gross/fine motor skills and what not. After 20 minutes in the baby toy aisle, I decided to get the basic "Rock and Stack" toy that we all had as children. It is the cheapest because it doesn't light up, play music, talk, or move. Nope it is basic rings. I wasn't too excited with our purchase until I brought it home. I don't know why I decided to videotape the debut of the toy, but I did. Am I ever glad! I was SHOCKED at her reaction. I guess through the eyes of a babe colorful rings are hilarious.

"Baffy Time"

Now that Abby can sit up, almost everything she does looks different including bath time.

Right before bath time. Excuse the mess, but I was folding laundry (something Abby helps me do by chewing on the clothes).

"Splish splash" is an understatement. Abby gets the entire bathroom wet during her bath!

"Mommy, please! This is a personal time!"

Solid Update

I wish that I could say that I have been giving Abby solid food everyday to help her transition, but I have not. However, we are both trying to improve. I am trying to be more consistent, and Abby is eating more and spitting out less. I went back to the rice cereal, and today she really did an awesome job.

I have noticed that Abby studies my reactions to different things she does. If I like something she tends to as well. Therefore, when that cereal hits her lips I cheer like the dickens. She really does a better job because of it. Hopefully I won't have to continue that for too long because we will look really odd in public if I am cheering on my child's every bite.

Here are some more pictures of the sweet potatoes. Abby did an encore so her daddy could see her eat her first veggie.



"Uh oh, what is this?"

"Sick! Why do you keep putting this in my mouth?"

"I guess they aren't so bad."

5 month pictures

Once again it is picture time. It is getting harder each month to select the perfect photo because Abby is getting more photogenic with age. This month I earned a trilogy package that included the frame and three photos for free! I chose the first three. The the 1st and 3rd are 5x7s on the side and the second picture is an 8x10 in the middle.

1. Abby is deep in thought. What could possibly be on her mind?


2


3



The rest are still very cute, but I had to pass them up.

Hello Grammy and Pa!

Abby made her second trip out to PA a couple of weeks ago. Once again she was a dream during the 10 hour drive. Hopefully she will always be a good traveler for us! While she was out she went to a Reading's Phillies game, shopping at the outlets, petting zoo, Pa's work, family camp, and her Aunt Missy and Uncle Bobby's house. She had a lot of fun in three short days.

Abs and her Grammy


Only Pa would offer Abby a giant pretzel...

Surprise!

Baby burrito! The blanket was spread out on the floor and she grabbed one end and rolled with it.

Abby and Her Cousins

It is amazing how much Abby's cousins interact with her. During our last visit she got to play with five of her seven cousins. Here are some pictures of her with a few of them.

David and Noah playing with Abby on the floor. At one point they all laid down with her.


Aubree asked me numerous times, "Can I hold baby Abby?" It was sweet.

Abby and David at the Phillies game. Later Abs got to see her second firework show. She LOVED it!

Abby and Noah are a year apart. They really hit it off.

First Veggie!

I don't know if I can technically say that Abby ate her first veggie today, but I can say that I introduced it to her. For lunch Abs sampled sweet potatoes. Most of the orange puree ended up on her face, so I decided to seal it up for later and try another technique. I found what looked similar to the types of food she'll eat (chocolate pudding) to model for her. While I said, "Ahh" eating each bite showing her the spoon before and after it went into my mouth, she got to hold her spoon, too. After I devoured the pudding before her very eyes, I had her practice art of eating with nothing on the spoon. I think it helped. She at least opens her mouth really wide allowing the spoon in. Maybe tonight when I reintroduce it with Adam home she will swallow some potatoes. At least we are making progress though. I want eating to be fun and enjoyable for her, not a chore. We'll take our sweet potato time until then.

Development update

Yesterday Abby had her 6 month check up (she won't be six months until 9/11). During this appointment we met with Betty, a nurse who appeared to be in her 70s. Betty couldn't have been sweeter! She was so patient and loving toward Abs. Abby was going crazy playing with the paper lining the bed and rolling all over. By the end of her check up it was completely torn to pieces.

Little miss was having so much fun at the beginning of the visit, and had no idea that two more shots were on their way. While we waited for the nurses to prepare her vaccinations we heard numerous children screaming in other rooms. I dreaded what was about to come. However, when Abby's moment came, she cried for about 30 seconds and moved on. While we were checking out she was back to her old self talking away to the receptionist. She's so good.

Okay so here are her growth updates. Our favorite part of the visits.

Weight 18 lbs 12 oz Percentile: 97%
Length: 25 1/4 in. Percentile: 50%
Head: 42 3/4 cm Percentile: 73%

I wish I had a picture of her and the fun paper, but I forgot my camera. Sad.

She can SIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Starting yesterday Abby really started to sit independently! She can sit by herself for about a minute without slipping slowly to the ground. I am enjoying the last few days (hopefully weeks) I have left before the little girl is ALWAYS on the move. She can already roll her way across the living room in a minute. Therefore, I have started to baby proof our house. Yikes.

"Let go, Mommy, I can do it!"

Notice Abby's shorter locks? She had her second haircut on Monday. I wonder how many babies have had two haircuts before they are six months old?

Cool girl

When Adam put his hat on Abby she started jumping with excitement. She knew that she looked cool.

Sunday morning paper

I think these pictures speak for themselves.