Little buddies

We took Abby over to visit Cooper today. It's so cute watching them interact. They just aren't quite sure what to think about each other. Usually Abby starts squealing and that makes Cooper cry. It's going to be so fun watching them grow up together!

My month of single motherhood...

Once Grammie left, Abby and I were a team of 2 while Rian was at training camp. We took a couple trips to Rochester to see him. She wasn't too interested in watching practice:


But, she loved seeing Daddy after practice!



Abby got to try her new "Lindell" jersey once the preseason started. It's a bit too big right now but doesn't she look cute?




Here are some of my other favorites from August...





So, as you can see, we survived training camp and enjoyed our "girl time"...

The traveling baby...

We had a fun and busy month June/July! It was Abby's first trip "home" to WA. What a trooper she was during the 14 hr trip. She did great on the flights and we were so relieved once we got there. We started out visiting Rian's family in Vancouver, WA. Here is Abby with Grandma and rocking her 4th of July romper:



As I post this, I am realizing I don't have a single photo of Abby with Grandpa Dennis or any others from the Vancouver trip...oops! I always thought I took too many pictures. I guess now that Abby's here, I'd better step it up! She hit a big milestone while visiting Grandma Karla...she rolled over from her tummy to her back!! And, I was able to get it on film.

Next up on the trip, we drove to Ephrata, WA to visit my family. It was a 5 hr drive and we weren't sure how Abby would do. So, we set off at noon, not knowing how long it would take us. As we pulled into my parent's driveway at 5pm, Abby made her first peep. Yep, she slept the ENTIRE trip! It was like a mini-vacation for Mom and Dad...ha ha Here's Abby with Papa (whom she had just finally met!):



We spent the week at the lake and Abby got lots of snuggles from Grammie, Aunt Jennifer and cousin McCall...and, of course, Mommy and Daddy!



While in Ephrata, we went to Basin Summer Sounds, which is a really fun music festival. We spent all day downtown Saturday and Abby enjoyed lounging with Daddy in the grass and listening to the music.



Next up, Seattle. We decided to take Abby to Seattle to see our friends, who now live in Alaska, who were in town. I love this city! The weather was absolutely perfect and we enjoyed 3 days of walking around and enjoying this beautiful city. Abby got to see Pike Place Market:



Take her first trip (of many!) to the Seattle Aquarium:



And, Gasworks Park:



We had a wonderful side trip and it was great to see our friends. Abby and Kaden aren't quite sure what to think of each other just yet...



We dropped Rian off at the airport and went back to Ephrata for one more week. Here are a couple more of my favorite pictures from our time in WA:




Grammie came back to Buffalo with us for a week since Rian was at training camp. Once again, Abby did great on our LONG trip home!




It was so fun to see everyone but a VERY busy month! Looking forward to the day we get to move back to the beautiful Pacific NW...

Time is really flying by!

Abby is now 3 1/2 months old! Wow! The past 3 1/2 months is pretty much a blur. Not quite as much of a blur as the first month or so (where I was getting VERY little sleep and pretty much existing on what little reserves I had). She is bringing so much joy to our lives! We've been blessed with a very happy and healthy little angel. She's a great sleeper and has been since birth. At one month, she was only getting up once during the night (around 3-3:30a). By 2 months, she'd sleep 9:30p-5:30a, get up and eat and then go back to sleep until 9-9:30a. Now, she goes to bed about 8:00p and wakes up anywhere from 6:30-8:00a. I am actually starting to feel like a well rested human being again. I don't think I've gotten this much sleep since before I got pregnant!

Here are some cute pics from the past 3 1/2 months:

Abby hates her socks as much as I do. Her little feet are always clammy and it makes me laugh because I have always had "hot" feet (and would prefer to wear flip flops all year if I could). I had her bundled up in her car seat while I was showering and she fell asleep. I went into my closet to get dressed and when I got back, this is what I found:



Her little socks were nicely laid out in front of her car seat and she was still fast asleep! The blanket was still perfectly in place. Not sure how she snuck those off!

Abby loved snuggling and playing with her cousin McCall when they came to visit in June. McCall kept her very entertained with puppet shows and storytime. Abby's eyes would just light up when McCall was around!




Here is Abby's first trip to Niagara Falls...she wasn't very impressed!



She started smiling about 7wks and here was the first big one I caught on camera...



Rian's first Father's Day was extra special this year because our good friends also had their first baby just 2 weeks before Abby. Rian and Brian got together with the kids and showed off their "colors"



I bought this hat for Rian for Father's Day because of an SNL skit we love with Will Ferrell. Rian is now "#1 Dad"...



Am I the only mom out there that loves to look at their little one in the video monitor? It cracks me up when she hasn't quite put herself to sleep yet at night and just stares into the monitor. I wonder how long it will be before she knows I'm at the other end?



Here's one of my favorite pics of Abby during a bath. On our trip to WA last month, she got used to just lying in the actual tub so she no longer uses the chair. She loves kicking her her feet and splashing around...looks like she will be a water baby just like her mommy!



Abby is up from her nap so I guess my blog updating is over. I will return when I can to post some pics from our trip to WA to visit friends and family last month!

Maternity pics are here!

My maternity pics are finally ready! I can't believe how big my belly is! And, how much more comfortable I am now that Abby is here... :-)

These were taken at 37 wks, 8 days before Abby decided to make her arrival. I love how they turned out and am so glad I have beautiful artwork to remember that very special time...

Memories to cherish forever...

I'd better backtrack a little and post some of my favorite photos from the past 3 weeks. Grammie and Grandma flew in the morning after she was born and Grandma Karla stayed 5 days and Grammie stayed 2 weeks. It was really great having them both here! I wasn't too sure about having all the company at the same time but I wouldn't change it for the world. Every day, we spent several hours in the nursery visiting and staring at Abby. I'm not sure if I will ever get that much quality time with either of them again now that we'll have a little distraction from here on out...ha ha

Here are some pics from our time in the hospital...

Abby meets Grammie for the first time!


Abby meets Grandma for the first time!


Daddy's first diaper change:


Daddy loves his little girl!


When we brought Abby home, the dogs were VERY curious! Moses really wanted to get in there and give her a good sniff. Samson gave her a quick sniff but that was about it. Moses still loves to see what she's up to when he's around but Samson will just lie quietly nearby. Charlie the cat has been a dream and he pretty much just minds his own business. I was worried about him as he's very territorial but he loves to hang out with us whenever we are upstairs in the nursery. Thankfully, he's not tried once to jump in the crib.

Going home!


Moses meets Abby:


Samson meets Abby:



On Friday, April 30, Abby got to meet her future boyfriend, Cooper. She was happy with her full tummy and didn't even open her eyes. I guess they'll have to hang out again when she's actually awake!



We gave Abby her first bath on May 1st. She loved getting her hair washed (just like her Mommy & Daddy!)




Abby had her first visit to the Pediatrician on Mon, May 3rd. She weighed 6lbs 2oz (left the hospital at 6lbs 3oz). The doctor felt she probably dipped down into the high 5's after going home and was now on her way up since my milk was finally in and she was eating well. We brought her in on Fri, May 7th and she weighed 6lb 8oz so was finally growing!




My first Mother's Day was a special day! My mom made a nice breakfast and we even had a bottle of champagne in the fridge (from I don't know when! ha ha) so we each had a mimosa...yum!





We've made a lot of great memories to cherish forever and are looking forward to many more!