Abigail's First Thanksgiving

We have so much to be thankful for this year, our healthy baby girl, our families, and for each day we have to love and cherish one another. This year has been the best year of our lives. With the addition of our AbiLou, life is just complete. We now understand the joys of parenthood.

For Thanksgiving this year, we traveled to Georgia to see both sides of the family. We took every antibiotic that she has ever taken with us, just in case we had another illness arrive while we were away from home. No worries though, she did great! Even traveling, she was a trooper. Thanks in part to our dog, Lacey. She is now 6 months, almost 7 months and so much fun. It was absolutely wonderful visiting everyone and sharing our bundle of joy. Thanks to our parents for being so accommodating and we can't wait to see ya'll for Christmas! I have attached photos below. Enjoy.

Our Healthy Baby Girl!

On Monday, October 26th, AbiLou underwent an outpatient procedure to correct her kidneys. My parents, Staten's parents, and a very special family friend was there to support us at the hospital. The doctor called two days later to deliver great news, Abigail no longer had a urinary tract infection. She has been sick with UTI's since she was 8 weeks old and now we have a healthy baby girl! Abigail has been a happy, sweet baby all along, even while sick, but she is even more of a pleasure to be around. She sleeps through the night!!! This occurred within days after her procedure. I say all of this because if it wasn't for all the prayers from so many people, I hate to think where she would be now. Thanks to all our family and friends for their prayers and support! Thank you again!

5 months old!!

Abigail now weighs 17 lbs and is such a happy baby! She is reaching for anything and everything and babbling non-stop. She has mastered rolling over and now has two teeth cutting through. She hasn't said Mama yet, but we practice every day. AbiLou is loving the foods that she is now eating! So far, sweet potatoes and peas aren't her favorite, but we will try them later to see if her taste buds change. Sleeping is an issue. She is waking up at lease twice a night, but this two shall pass! (or I'm going to go nuts) She has overcome the swine flu and an ear infection this week, but still has the urinary tract infection. We are praying her outpatient procedure, scheduled for Monday, ends the UTIs. Stay tuned for updates!

Nana's First Visit

Staten's mother came to visit us this past weekend from Georgia. Oh yea, he's going to post his comments in parentheses in line with mine. Anyway, not only was she coming to Northern Louisiana for the first time, but this was her first time meeting Abigail. Remember our trip to Georgia in July was cut short due to Abilou's (S.O. : that's abigail) illness (S.O. : one of our worst visits to GA ever) therefore delaying Abigail's introduction to Staten's family (S.O. : we had a fish fry planned and everything dang it!). Nana made Abilou (S.O. : that's abigail) chuckle so loud (S.O. : i was in shock the first two times that i heard her laugh. i've been trying to make her laugh for weeks. all she would ever do is look at me like i was crazy.)! We had tears from laughing so hard! Ms. Linda spoiled us with home cooked meals (S.O. : it was some of that slap ya mama cooking, but of course, i didn't do any slapping. Yea, because she was cooking; i didn't want to distract her, and i didn't want to get body slamed.) and much loving (S.O. : nobody shows love quite like mama does.). We visited a pumpkin patch (S.O. : walked for miles just to see a field full of 2 oz pumpkins), watched movies (S.O. : the soloist sucks; hollywood does not know how to make a happy movie!) and ate like pigs (S.O. : oink, oink)! Staten especially loved spending time with his mother (S.O. : yea, took her to the shop and showed her my chicken s?#t burning machine. if you're in the family, you know what that is if you are not: well ... can't tell you; it's clasified). Thanks for coming to visit us and for all the extra pounds we have gained (S.O. : oink, oink)!!

(S.O. : Mama, we really had fun, and can't wait until we see you again. We love you very much!)

She's got the Spirit!

We are members of Calvary Baptist Church and Abigail is enrolled in the church daycare. There is also Calvary Baptist Academy on campus and their mascot is the Cavalier. This week was homecoming for the school and all the kids participated. I thought about how this is the school where Abigail will be attending and why not go ahead and dress her up for her first homecoming week. Friday was spirit day, so I had a friend make a bow band with Calvary's green and yellow colors. And below was the end product. The daycare ladies loved her and paraded her around the academy so proud. She won for having the most spirit on Spirit Day!!!

Photoshoot with Lacey

I purchased a pretty fall dress and bow band for our precious Abigail. SO... we had to have a photo shoot and Lacey joined in! Too much fun as you can see!

GiGi and PawPaw's Visit

My parents came to visit and spend some much needed time with their AbiLou! We were very glad to have them visit and of course there is nothing like mama's cooking and daddy's loving! Here are a few great photos of them with Abigail. We already miss them and can't wait to see them again! Thanks for driving such a long way to see us GiGi and PawPaw!

First Taste of Cereal!

Abigail does not like cereal!! We tried to feed it to her and each time she confirmed by the looks she gave us, that she prefers her bottle for now!!

4 Months Old & a Chunky Monkey!

Sweet AbiLou is 4 months old and so much fun! We are enjoying every minute of her smiles, laughs, and coos. She has said her first word: DA-Dee! No surprise there! She loves her Daddy! She is now 16lbs! Yes, she is a chunky monkey and I love every roll there is on her body. The quite evenings are now filled with baby talk and we love it! She is almost sitting up alone and reaching for everything! The greatest thing is watching her explore everything for the first time. She is very curious and observant. AbiLou is still having trouble with her kidneys, but we are remaining positive. I find myself wondering what life was like before Abigail. She has been so much fun for Staten and I. We always have had laughter in our marriage, but it has increased since the arrive of our little blessing. Our life is more fulfilling because of her.

AbiLou is 3 months old!!!

In the left corner of the recliner, we have Abigail weighing in at 14 pounds! In the right corner, we have Pinkie, who is light as feather!! Yes people, our AbiLou is 14 pounds and we are loving it!! She is a very healthy and happy baby! We have found that she has VUR, which is reflux of the kidneys. With prayer and medication, hopefully she will grow out of it. She is smiling and cooing so much now. It is the sweetest sound I have ever heard. Her hair is finally growing in a little, but she still looks like an old man from the back! She is sleeping in her bouncy set as I'm typing this post. She has a death grip on her rattle and looks so peacful and sweet. These days are passing quickly and I am trying to capture every minute of it!

There is something to be said about being a Daddy's Girl!!

I am the perfect example of a Daddy's Girl! Now my own little girl has become one too! It doesn't get old watching Abby Lou and her Daddy together. Each night, the two of them sit together and watch TV or chat, he sometimes feeds her, and most of the time he rocks her to sleep. I love it and thank God each night that Staten is the father of my child.

The day Abigail was born, she was screaming as they put her on the scales. Staten walked over to her and called her name and she immediately stopped crying and turned her head directly toward him and their connection was made. I know the love of a father and the comfort of being rocked and hugged by strong arms and I am so thankful our child has that too! She has two fathers that love her unconditionally: Staten and our heavenly father, God.

Just an update: Abby Lou is growing each day! Mostly in length. She is standing really well with help balancing. I sometimes think she is going to walk before she crawls! Thanks to Aunt Wendy, we have an activity center to sit her in to play and she really enjoys it! She is cooing and trying to mock our facial expressions. She is now sleeping in her crib, in her room and majority of the time sleeping through the night. Her wake time is somewhere between 4:30-6:30am. More to come!!

Fat Cheeks!!

I love that my child is healthy!!! I mean well fed!! Her double chin and fat cheeks make me so happy and smile each time I look at her!! I can't imagine what our life would be like without her!!

First Day for Abigail and Mama!

I started back to work on Monday and Abigail had her first day of "school" the same day. I was afraid of being like other moms on their first day back to work: crying, sad, and filled with anxiety of leaving my baby with strangers. So, last week Abby Lou and I went to her daycare and met with the sweet ladies who would be keeping her in the nursery. Ms. Pat and Ms. Earlene were sooo sweet and Abigail seemed to really like them. This made me feel much better about leaving her!

Monday morning came and I have to say I was ready! Ready to see if I could handle leaving her and working full-time! Positive energy surround me okay!! No negative thoughts!!! I prayed the night before - "Lord, I gave her to you the day I found out I was pregnant and I'm not going to worry because after all the daycare is at our church, which is Your house, so what better place to leave her each day!!"

Abigail slept through that night and I had to wake her the next morning to get her ready, which is unusual. She did not smile all morning! I figured she was mad at me for going back to work. Below is the photo I took before we left that morning. She wasn't happy! I remained positive. I could do this!

We arrive at school and as I am handing over our little sweet pea, she projectile vomits all over me three times!! All over my work clothes, carpet, and all over herself. Great!!! Still remaining positive!!! I went home and changed and then finally made my way to work. No tears! Positive, positive, positive!

4 o'clock could not come fast enough!! The first words out of Ms. Pat's mouth were, "She has slept all day!!!" I knew right away she wasn't describing my nosey child who stays awake to make sure she doesn't miss anything! My first thought, fever! Yep! 101.3! Okay, ready for breakdown. I called the her doctor's office and they wanted to see her the next morning. She had an ear infection! I thought to myself, what kind of mother am I? My child is 10 weeks old and now has had two infections! What am I doing wrong?? The doctor let me know her immune system was just low from the UTI and couldn't fight the bacteria that invaded her little ear!!

Abigail is better now and when I picked her up from school yesterday, Ms. Pat said "She has stayed awake all day visiting with us!" Okay, thank you Lord, this is my child she is describing! We are back in business!!

2 Months Old! Oh My!

Our darling child has had an eventful 2 month birthday! Staten, Abigail, and I left for Georgia to visit our families on July 3. We had planned to see my family first, visit a couple days, and then travel to see his family, and spend the remainder of the time visiting them.

On Monday night, Abigail had a fever of 101.0 - we didn't panic. This was the first time she has ever had fever. We gave her Tylenol and stayed up with her most of the night, because the fever would not go down. As of the next morning, her temperature was 102.6! Freak out time!! Not just because she is running a high fever, but because we are 800 miles from her pediatrician, our home, and comfort zone. After making a call to her doctor, we visited the nearby Urgent Care Center, where our sweet baby was poked 5 times with a needle. The doctor gave us two options: 1) put her in the hospital immediately. 2) give her a shot and leave for Louisiana so Abigail's pediatrician can see her the next morning. We chose option two and drove through the night - 14 hrs - finally to see her doctor to find out she had a UTI. Everyone was thinking meningitis due to her high white blood cell count. Thank the Lord no spinal tap was done!!! She is getting better now, but that was the most horrible experience! I felt like I had failed my baby!! Her pediatrician stated that this happens a lot with baby girls and that this probably will not be her last UTI. Please Lord let it be!

We did get to visit my family, but not Staten's family. We really, really wanted his family to met her. Hopefully soon!!! Below are a few photos before she became sick.

This is my cousin Teddy and I with our girls, Abigail and Lois! They were born 4 weeks apart.

Our little sweet pea with her Aunt Gina and Great Grandmother, Maw-Maw!

Abigail getting a taste of an orange pop sickle from her GiGi! She loved it, but later I think she got brain freeze! This is what Grandmas are for: giving you things Mama will not!

Abigail, Paw-Paw, and I going to check on the cows!!! Her first of many trips on the farm.

And last - Abby Lou with her Uncle Tift! These two were inseparable!! So sweet!!

Like Father, Like Daughter!

I do not have an interesting story to go with this photograph, but I wanted to share it. I think it is too cute. Father and daughter watching television.

Granny Pat's Visit

A couple years ago, I met this absolutely wonderful, thoughtful, sweet, creative, and loving lady. She and I made fast friends and share a treasured friendship. Ms. Pat is a talented quilter and can do most anything she sets her mind to! Every other Monday, I, along with many other women, drive to her home for our Sewing Circle. She has always been Ms. Pat to me, but now she is Granny Pat to Abigail. Granny Pat surprised us with a visit! Aren't they cute together!!!

Staten First Father's Day

I asked Staten what he would like for Father's Day and he suggested another fishing reel. Okay, easy enough. So, Abigail and I met a friend down at the boardwalk on Saturday for lunch. I decided to be brave and face the 95 degree weather and head for Bass Pro Shop afterwards by myself with Abby Lou of course. By the time I had made it into the store, she was fussy. Understandbly since she was covered in sweat and hungry. After choosing the gift, I found a corner with a bench and fed her and rocked her back to sleep. I was very nervous about this. I feel like each time we are in a store, she is going to have this major breakdown that I am not going to be able to handle. But that day, we made it through together. We listened to a lecture on saltwater and freshwater fish. This was Abigail's first of many, many times going to Bass Pro.

Abigail has started smiling at us when we talk to her. It is the most beautiful site I have ever seen. I didn't think I could love her any more than I did the day she was born, but now that she is smiling and chooing-there are no words to describe how much I love her! She is our little blessing! Oh yeah, someone asked Staten on Father's Day what did he get, he replied "A big smile from Abigail!" It goes to show that material things aren't important, it is the little things that matter most.

1 Month Old!

As of June 8, Abigail is one month old. I can't believe it. Everyone is right when they say that time passes so quickly! Her one month check up went well. She is now 10 lbs and 21 1/2" long! The pediatrician said she was right on track and doing great! She does have sensitive skin and we just have to watch that. No problems though. I am including a photo of Abby with her pink elephant that her Aunt Gina gave her. Each month, I plan to take a photo of her with the elephant to record who big she is getting.
We had a good week. Abigail and I went to Wal-Mart all by ourselves. I was very nervous, but we did good. Jennifer is right. It is all about the time of day and her napping schedule. We also went to see Staten at work. She got to see him type on a typewriter. I didn't know those were still around.
It was a good week. She is very fussy still and the evening time is the worst! But hopefully her tummy is adjusting. It is so stressful to not be able to do anything to help make her feel better. We try everything. Whatever works one night usually doesn't work the next. She does enjoy bath time and we are told that helps. One day at a time!!

Our Wonderful Suprise! Aunt Brit

Friday at noon, I was feeding Abigail in the pj's still. Staten, I thought, was still at work. No. Out of the blue, he came in the house and said "I have someone who wanted to see you." I was totally confused. First, he is suppose to be at work. Second, who wants to see me this time of day. Everyone I know are at work. In walks my best friend from Georgia, Brittany, aka Aunt Brit. I can not tell you how excited and surprised I was to see her! She and Staten had been planning to surprise me since Abigail was born. I went to bed Friday night thanking God for such a great friend and for a husband who always knows how to make me smile! They are both awesome!

We had a great weekend and Aunt Brit and Abby Lou spent lots of quality time together. Below are a few snapshots from the weekend!!

Staten's 1st time alone with Abigail

I love to go to the movies. Since the birth of Abigail, I haven't gone to the theater. I have two girls that I usually go to the movies with other than Staten. We decided to go today at 3pm. Staten said he didn't mind watching Abigail. I would go straight there and straight back. No problem!

On my way home, I called Staten to find out how they were getting along. He said really good. He had already fed her and she was asleep again. Then he said - "Oh, she had another blowout. Really big blowout." He said it went almost all the way up to her armpits, through her onesie and blanket. The funny part is once he had her cleaned up, she got really quiet and then in Staten's words "She peed, and peed, and peed, and peed!" I laughed so hard. Bless her heart! I know she felt much better.

I am so blessed to have a husband that doesn't mind the poop, spit up, crying, and waking up at any hour to help me.

Oh-I am posting a few photos of Abigail I took yesterday. We have a sweet, pretty girl. Can you tell I am a proud Mama???

Diaper Changing Lesson Learned!

Abigail - 3weeks old

This week has been an adventurous one for Abigail and Staten and I!

We now understand why it is a good idea to change babies diapers on the changing table EVERY TIME there is a diaper change. I had been changing Abigail's diaper on my bed at night and early in the morning. I was very careful. I placed a blanket each time underneath her just in case she might have an accident. I did not however account for what to do if I am wiping her sweet behind and it is placed up in the air for perfect aim toward me. Yes-me! And I am not talking about urine ladies and gentlemen, I am talking milky, breastfed poop shot straight onto my shirt, legs, sheets, and the so-called protective blanket. I yelled out another word for poop, so Staten came in the bedroom to see what was wrong. He picked Abigail up by the blanket and carried her and half of the poop with him. Great husband right!! Yes, I think so. He cleaned her up while I changed clothes and the sheets on the bed.

Staten's sister, Jennifer, also known as Jelo, came to visit this week! I was very weary about taking Abigail to Wal-Mart by myself, so I asked her to come with me to give me pointers and keep us company. Poor Abigail had to endure the Wally World of Germs. She did very good. Slept through the whole thing.