Family Living: Abbott Style

Last night I tucked in my 3-year-old.  As I shut the door, she squealed for extra hugs.  Usually a manipulations to squeeze any moment of not going to bed she can.  But when she asked me to hold her tighter....all I could remember was the first night in the hospital. A rude awakening.  Looking back, the hospital stay taught me a few things.  Nothing is going to go according to plan.  Nothing is easy.  And I knew nothing about parenting.  It took me three years to learn what I could have learned from the picture above---love first.  Frustrated in tears, hours after my daughter was born--I felt helpless. I had no idea what she needed.  I had no idea how to get her to stop crying.  Nurses came and went with a sympathetic smile.  Helpless.  Three years later, not much has changed.  I still have no idea what I am doing---but love comes first.   How can I learn so much about the world and myself from a three...

Owen's 6th Month Owen is still EBF (exclusively breast fed).  In June, we will have a checkup and discuss how the pediatrician would like us to proceed with solids.  My goal is to make it a year.  Half way there! Owen got moved into his own room! Owen wakes up once a night to eat, except last night when hes slept through the night! (not getting my hopes up because I know a growth spurt is somewhere on the horizon) He is still super laid back and smiles SO much.. He naps 2-3 times a day  He has both his bottom teeth He is in 18 month clothing He likes the jumperoo and sitting in the highchair He is rolling around like crazy.  Front to back, back to front.  I suspect he will be modify crawling soon. How the rest of us are doing Haley warms up to him more and more Behavior wise, we have seen a small improvement with Haley.  Todderlood, a strong temperament, and a new baby was a tough combination.   Haley is potty trained! As ...

Today, I broke down the bassinet--and put it into storage. It is too soon to say this is permanent.  But Owen got booted from the bedroom.  Every child is different.  So I dislike comparing.  But Haley was sleeping through the night--in her own crib by 6 weeks.  There were a lot of different circumstances surrounding that. But with Owen waking up often.  I was not in a real hurry to get him in his crib. It is a long walk to his bedroom when you are half asleep.  Also, I didn't want him waking Haley. Now, he is waking up"only" once a night--and is basically the length of the bassinet.  So it was time.  I feel okay with it.  I feel like I am starting to reclaim some of my "alone" evening time.  Perks of the schedule at hand.  So the kids are off to bed and I get my extra long shower and a glass of wine.  Maybe some Netflix.   Time is flying and we are entering a month of May madness.  Starting with May ...

  Owen's 5th Month 5 months strong with EBF!  Next month we will likely start baby food.  I'm holding out until after his 6 month checkup so I can get instructions.  So much information is out there now about how your suppose to start solids, that I prefer to just go with what our pediatrician suggests.  Owen does not sleep through the night. Waaa, waaa.  We have had a few rough nights, but mostly he is waking up around 3ish and then again 5ish. He laughs a lot and LOVES playing with Haley.  He smiles biggest for her.   His evening fussiness is decreasing. I have not imposed a parent led schedule yet.  Generally I have been following his cues (hunger and sleep) and it has worked well for us.  But as he starts solids, I will start transitioning into a more traditional schedule.   His first tooth popped through (bottom left!) We had to buy a larger swaddle sack because boy loves to be swa...

..........send wine.

                              Owen's 4th Month Another month EBF!  I really really wish breastfeeding would have worked out longer with Haley. At this point, I was exclusively pumping for her, so she was still getting breastmilk exclusively (Aside from the Kero Syrup crap...but don't get me started on that).  I don't know exactly what he weighs because his appointment isn't until Monday, but he is over 17 lbs at this point....andddd has yet to take a bottle.   Owen regressed as far as sleeping goes.  He no longer makes it through the night. I can't pinpoint why, but I have chalked it up to growth spurting mostly.  The plus side is that it has helped my supply (I noticed my supply majorly dipped when he was sleeping through the night).  It is what it is, but a perk of being a SAHM is I take the day at my pace. He is SUCH a happy boy.  Smiles a lot.  Giggles so...

How old are you? I two. How old is mommy? Two How old is daddy? Two            What is mommy's name?  Bre-Na What is daddy's name?  Ian What is grandpa's name? John What is grandma's name?  Mom What does daddy do for work?  He works in his police car at McDonalds.         What does mommy do for work?  Cleans up What is your favorite food? Skettis What do you like to do with mommy? Help mommy with dinner Where is your favorite place to go? Church What does mommy do when you are not around? Run around What does daddy do when you are not around? Nap I had more questions, but like most two-year-olds her attention span is brief.  Haley never stops amazing me.  She is at that age where you never know what she is going to say.  During this time of terrible twos I want to take a moment now and then and remember the things I don't hate about this age...