Cute pics to make sure you see...

Abigail is 9 months and 1 week, 2-year anniversary tomorrow!

Hey Abigail,

Hope this post finds you well. I'm just sitting here trying to figure out what to do first... clean up the kitchen, my office, bedroom, or make a card for your daddy for our anniversary. I can't believe that we'll be married 2 years tomorrow, and we have done so much already!! Your daddy and I met at Michele and Jason's wedding back in October 2001, so we've known each other a long time, but to be married only 2 years and already have YOU, and a beautiful home, and to be doing so well -- just makes me know how fortunate I am.

We brought you down to Florida last week to visit Grandpa Steve, which was a lot of fun! We got to visit with Peter and Marianne and little Aiden, and celebrated my 36th birthday with a dinner at Hooters (my choice - I hate to say!) and a cake at home after. You didn't seem to like the candles... but we did have a great day. We went to Tarpon Springs, where you went on a boat, then we found a playground for you to have some fun. I'm sure we'll be spending a lot of time down there as we can... you'll probably spend Spring Break down there with your friends if the house is still around! LOL!

Today I had a slow work day, so I spent some time reading books with you, dancing around the kitchen, and playing with your toys. I wish every day was like this. It's so fun to dance with you cause you just smile that perfect little smile, holding on like it's your favorite time of day... I spin around with you and you just laugh and light up. It's so fun. I sometimes wish I could video tape it for you... We watch ourselves in the mirror and you just look so cute.

We had your 9 month well-visit with the doctor this week. They say you're doing well, but we have to get you to gain a little more weight! You eat so well, so I have no idea why you're staying so slender, but it might be because I was never a very big person... You now weight 15 lbs 7 oz, and are 27.5" long. You seem heavier to me, but maybe that's cause I carry you around all day... :-) I enrolled you in a music class, which you seem to really love! We go once a week, and we do rhythm and music, clap hands (which you do very well already!) and a little dancing around the room with about 7 other kids and their mommys. I get to hold you and dance around which you love, where the other kids bop around by themselves since they can now walk and run all over... It's so much fun!! Miss Ina is your teacher. She's great with all the little ones, and even teaches the moms something. I think we will make some playdates out of it too, which you'll be happy about! You're getting big enough now to enjoy playing with others, and the separation anxiety seems to be fading already so that's good. You love playing with your cousins Peyton and Courtney. And I just found out this past weekend that you LOVE to play with Jake, grandma and grandpa's kitty! He's actually quite an old cat, he was a kitten when Uncle BJ brought him home back in 1992 or so... so I grew up with him. You just kick and smile and get so excited when he walks in the room! Then you try to pet him and get even more excited. Daddy and I say we aren't going to have pets, but I know someday you'll win us over when you want a pet of your own...

Grandma Debbie and I went to get your Christmas dress this weekend. I ended up finding this sweet red overalls which are just adorable, I thought you'd like better than a dress because it'll be warmer, and if you're crawling by then, you'll want to be on your knees getting around and I don't want you to scruff up your little knees! I can't wait to take pics of you for your Christmas card. It's going to be so adorable.

I can't believe I didn't mention this -- we had an awesome first Halloween with you!! I made your costume over a couple late nights -- you were a little flower. Everyone thought you looked adorable! I couldn't believe how sweet you were to let me put it on you a few times so we could show everyone how you looked. We went down to the parade on Main Street and met up with your little friend Sienna and her mommy Nanci. We figured you'll grow up together being in either the same class or 1 year apart. You guys looked so cute together. I hope that you end up being friends... it'll be fun to look back to the pictures when you get older.


Well I better get going if I want to make Daddy's anniversary card. I love you to pieces my little baby!! Soon you won't be so little, but you'll always be my baby.

xox
Mommy

Where has mommy been??

Hello Abigail! Oh my goodness where has the time gone? You are now 8 months and 1 day old, and I can't believe how many months went by that I didn't write here. I'm terrible... so sorry sweetie. I guess all I can say is that you're keeping me busy, and when I do have some free time I either have been spending it with your daddy, or else getting a little sleep! Or working, which is truly the case most often.

Anyway, you have been so amazing to watch over the last 8 months. I can't even believe that you're now 27 inches long, not sure of your weight but you feel much bigger than you did at 6 months, when you were like 14lbs 9oz. Now that you're eating solids you'll probably pack on some chubb... last time we got a checkup, you were in the 75th percentile in length, and 10th in weight. Doc says that is good, that you'll be a small framed child and you're growing which is all that matters!

Food had been a challenge at first. We found you had "sensitivities" to rice cereal and milk-based formula which I was mixing into your cereal. Double whammy! So, we've had you on oatmeal which you love, with some crazy expensive formula just for the cereal (we're still nursing!! Mommy made it past 6 months, and I figure I'm half way there so I may as well keep letting daddy call me "The Milk Lady" to you, cause we're almost to 1 year when you can switch to a bottle... I'm really proud of this accomplishment with you. It's got to be one of the hardest things because of the lack of sleep and lack of help I get with nursing you. However it is the best thing health-wise for you. So I'm really glad I was able to come through for you on that one. It's a great bonding time, and has gotten to be something we both enjoy.

Now that you're eating solids well, I am having even more fun with food... you started out enjoying peas, sweet potatos, and carrots. Then this sensitivity came around the 6 month point and I had to stop everything... so we're back on track and you're favorite is still without question my roasted sweet potatoes. You can eat a whole small one all by yourself! Aunt Stav made some carrots, beans, and zucchini for you, which you liked all but the green stuff for a while, and you're finally enjoying greens, although you give a funny Yucky face when you first taste it every time! I can't say I blame you, cause I don't like green beans either, your grandma will tell you it is impossible for me to eat one single green bean without complaining. :-) Another neat trick we have is to put carrot juice into your oatmeal, which you will then gobble up your cereal too! It is so cute to watch how excited you get when you eat. I have this song I sing to you, which goes "Abby likes to eat, eat, what a treat! Eat, eat... (enter whatever you're eating) sweet potatoes! with carrots! and peaches! and oatmeal! Wash it down, you're all done now, with your favorite drink - MILK!" -- it is cute. You get so excited when I sing to you. You're by far the only person who ever enjoyed my out of tune voice... I love you for making me feel like I can do no wrong.... it's nice to be so loved.

Anyway, other exciting stuff aside from eating.... You can now fully sit up on your own without assistance. I guess that started when you were about 6.5 months, but you weren't so stable. We'd count the seconds you could sit up. And I think we got to 45 once and were so proud. Now you just never fall over! We still have pillows there just in case. You have been rocking back and forth - getting some rhythm at an early age! You and I are starting music classes in a week. I am hoping you'll meet some babies we can have playdates with, and I can meet some mommys to chit chat with... it'll be fun. Your cousin Maya is also in a music class, so maybe someday the 2 of you will have a band together... or have fun entertaining all of us with your talents.

I'm now trying to figure out what to dress you up for this Halloween... I want to make your costume but we'll see if I find the time. I can't tell if you're a little monkey (seems too popular), a pumpkin (kinda already done), a ladybug (cute but too chilly for exposed legs...).... a sweet pea would be so cute but you're TOO big for that! Sad... you're so small yet getting so big!!

Hey did I tell you back in August you went with us to San Francisco, to Lynn and Sean's wedding? It was so fun. You were a great traveller. You sat on the plane and really didn't fuss the whole time. We got to visit with all mommy's old friends from Boston, even the ones who now live there. You met Jasmine, who is Tanya's baby girl. Jim Davies who is mom's oldest friend next to Michele... and of course we saw Erin and Kendra who were at the wedding too. And Grandmumsie and Grandpa Harold were there, but you didn't see them much. We had a full itiernary of stuff to do. Daddy even got to go to Giants Stadium, which was the ver first ballpark you ever got to visit the inside of. (We only got to the gates at Fenway in July in Boston while Daddy went to a game... meany for leaving us behind!!)

Anyway, it's getting late so I'm going to sign off. I will hopefully sign back on asap to upload a few pics of your year.... I feel so bad I haven't kept up with this, but I will keep trying to as I can! I love you sweetie pie!! xoxoxoxoxoxox... goes on and on! Let's see if you sleep through the night tonight.... it's almost 11pm and you went to bed at 8pm. That's a story for another blog...

Love you always,
Mommy...

Moments with you

Hello Abigail. Today I decided I better check in since I am shooting out photos and videos of you... http://www.youtube.com/user/jbmoments is where I keep all the videos. Maybe it'll still be around when you get to see this someday.

I still haven't decided how I want to use this site. Sometimes I think it'd be easier as a photo post, cause I take so many pics of you... but then I think it'd be fun to tell you stories too... anyway, I don't have much time now that I'm back to work. Work with you as a 10 week old baby has been ok, better than I can imagine if you weren't here anyway. I am now finding that I love spending time with you so much, it makes me less interested in my day job... I used to "love" my job. I really did. I've been in graphics for over 13 years now. But now that I have you I find I'd much rather spend my time learning about parenting and being there for you. If I ever decide to leave my profession as a designer, it will be to care for you... right now I have to keep it up. But maybe someday I'll get to do something else. At least I work from home now so it's not like I have to take you to day care... just juggling you and a fulltime job is like 2 jobs in 1! Hopefully daddy will get to work on days soon and we will have an easier time of it all. Not that you're hard, cause you're what makes me happy all day. It's just tiring when I am still nursing you, and not sleeping... I should be sleeping now since you are sleeping!! Oh well. I gotta write to you when I can. Hee hee!

Daddy is at the Red Sox game with Uncle Steve tonight in Boston so its just us. He is so excited to be there and is buying you your first Red Sox onesie to wear to the Jersey family reunion this summer. He adores you, and I posted the picture here even though he will not be happy about it. I just think it is the more adorable photo of you and him. You're both so peaceful and cute. I wish I could snuggle up with you both too.... You have been growing so much lately, and I really notice it in these pictures. You're now smiling and trying to laugh, and cooing, and just so cute!! You love your swing -- you could sit in it all day I think, but somebody's gotta change those poopy diapers :-) You make me laugh so much... there is a mirror above your swing seat which you can see yourself in. Just a couple days ago you must have realized this. You may or may not know it's you in the mirror. I like to think you see yourself but you think it's a friend... so when you get up from the swing I always tell you that your friend will be there again when you get back in the swing. We sometimes say we wish we had a swing in every room of the house for you, you like it that much!! Anyway, you are such a good baby... we're so lucky to have you.

Your christening is next week, April 20th. A few people are coming, about 40 family members and their kids, your cousins. Grandpa Bernie will be here mid-week to see you a few extra days, and so will Grandpa Steve. I can't wait for it to happen. We take you to church now and you always sleep through it. It's really nice. I'm wondering how it will be when you start to stay awake through services. Will you be a loud baby or a sweet quiet baby... we shall see!

Well I'll be back in touch soon my sweet little one. Love you very much, Mommy

Way past due...

Hello Abigail! I'm not very good at keeping up with this blog for you. But I'm doing so much now that I'm also back at work so we'll see how I get to this... You're now 9 weeks old, and are just growing by leaps and bounds. You weighed in at 10 lbs 2 oz, and were 23 inches long last week. I'm sure when you look back on this you won't believe you were ever this small. But I love you at this size - you're now able to hold up your head really well, and soon you'll sit up and then crawl... only a matter of time. Right now you have this funny thing you do, you suck on your paci so much that you spit it right out of your mouth and of course begin to frantically breath in the hopes that someone (aka me or daddy) will be near by to put it back in. It's so cute... You also love your swing, and are starting to sleep a little better at night, which is a good thing since I have to work again and need a little sleep myself!

Easter with you was so fun. Everyone loved your Easter dress which was given to you by Uncle Leo at the hospital when you were born. Grandma Loretta got you the little flower hat you wore to church then for a few pictures after... You looked adorable! I'll be sure to post a picture of you here from your first Easter. It was so sweet. Daddy had to work that day, so you saw him at night at Loretta's for dinner. Unfortunately we didn't get a family picture, but your Christening is coming up so I am sure we'll get one then.

I've been posting a few videos on YouTube for everyone to see... that's a lot of fun. You are such a cutie that I want to show you off to everyone. The thought crossed my mind to get you into baby modeling so you would have money for college, but I have mixed feelings on it, plus I don't know where we'd find the time. But it sure would be fun.

Last week I took you to Kaler's Pond with our friends Laurie and baby Elisabeth. Eli played with the swans and swang on the swings, while you slept in the stroller. Good thing you like your car seat so much cause you've been travelling all over Eastern Long Island!

You are a popular one with the little girls across the street. Vicker's girls came over and Daddy answered the door when they said "Can we come see Abigail?" He was surprised, it was actually funny that a 9-week old baby would have girfriends come to visit! That must show you how special everyone thinks you are.

I better go fix dinner before you wake up. You're sitting right here with me, sleeping for a few minutes... so peaceful I just love to watch you. Love hugs and kisses...

Mommy

Before and After

Today was finally nice enough for a walk with the stroller. Its amazing what some fresh air can do for your mind! Abigail has since konked out, and I was about to do the same but I checked email and now I'm back up... so I thought we'd add something here.

Stav showed me this picture of myself and Maya less than 24 hours before Abigail was born. I thought it was pretty cool to see how big I was, and then there's Abby in my arms... it's a miracle. I hardly can remember how it felt to be so huge, and I know when it was that time, I was so ready for Abby to arrive cause it was so uncomfortable. You forget how that felt when you see such a beautiful thing comes of it all.

The 2 of us have seen a lot of people. I can't explain how happy she makes everyone she meets. It makes me so happy to be able to bring joy to others through her. She lights up everyone she meets. Today we went to see Aunt Lucy, (Dana's aunt) and she was so thrilled to see Abby. It's amazing how giddy and excited a little baby can make people. All the sudden people have cute baby voices and talk with little voices to the baby...

Well it is time for this mommy to get to sleep before another late night snack time arrives... more soon, I hope!

Big hugs and kisses, Abigail.
xxoo,
Mommy

Abigail Rose Bigora turns 1 month old today!

Hello! So it took me a month to get around to posting for my little baby Abigail. I have to apologize to her, cause I meant to get back online for the whole last month but the time flew by each day between the feedings, recouperating, and just trying to keep up with her! Anyway, I am so pleased to finally get a chance to write and let her and anyone who happens to read this someday know how much I love her. She's such a perfect little angel. And we really are blessed to have her in our lives. She's is a real charmer.

Abigail was born on January 28, 2008, at 11:04am, at Southampton Hospital. She weighed 7 lbs 5 oz, and was 20 inches. One month later she is already 8 lbs 13 oz and 21.5 inches. It is really amazing to see the growth and development after just 1 month, and to see how much she has changed. I would say the same is true for us as parents - to learn so quickly how to care for a baby is amazing. Insticts really took over for us and luckily we seem to have good intuition as to what steps to take to give our all to her. I must say this is the biggest life changing event I think anyone could ever go through. And now that I'm a mommy, I feel like nothing is more important than my little baby Abby. Our new purpose in life is to raise her as best we can...

More will come soon... she's calling to be fed so duty calls! It is such an amazing feeling to be so important to such a sweet little one. I love love love our little girl, and will enjoy the time I get to post a few things here and there about her and our new family.

xxooxx, Mommy Bigora

37-week sonogram

We had a great doctor's appointment yesterday -- our little one is measuring out to weight somewhere around 7.5 pounds! I was so surprised when he said that. But that's good so she'll be more than OK when she arrives... whenever that may be! She looks so cramped in there compared to the 21-week sono picture. And I can sure feel it when she moves now. So the doc says I am 1cm dilated and 80% effaced. Doesn't mean much, just that it's all progressing well. She can come anywhere from now till 3 weeks from now. So it's just a waiting game, and who knows when she'll decide to make an appearance! I can't wait, is all I know. Her little Janie & Jack outfit came in and it is just perfect so I hope she'll get to wear that home... who knows what I'll wear but it's not about me anymore! L0L... anyway I have to get more rest... so till next time, we'll be thinking of you little one!! xxoo, mommy!

Baby's latest doctor visit

On Wednesday I went to see how our little one is doing in there, and the doctor says that I'm 80% effaced, and the baby is about 6.5 pounds! Exciting news. She's officially "at term" so she could come any day and be fine, which is awesome. No mention of being dialated so that's also good... I think if I were dialated it'd make my head spin at the thought that she might really come early. But you never know! She sounded really neat in there... I love hearing her heartbeat. Just a nice reassurance that she's doing well, and that my belly is moving for 1 reason alone, that she's getting comfy in her confined quarters. Peyton likes to say that "the baby is packing her bags!" when I tell her she's moving around. It's so cute. The kids speak their minds, and I really don't know where she got that from but it's cute.

So these pictures are quite funny... our friend Kerry, a Yankee fan, gave me this shirt at the beginning of my pregnancy and I thought, "this will look really cool when I'm really showing!" Now I look at it and just have to laugh at myself. I look HUGE (and crazy tired!!!) Well, "all belly" as they say. As Peyton also says, "this baby will have to grow up a Red Sox fan! No gettin' around that!" She's right....

Anyway, I feel really good. We have a sonogram next week so Ken will come with me so we can see the baby and get one good last look at her before she arrives on the screen. That is going to be just amazing to me. I don't even know how to describe it but I am so excited to meet my little baby. It's just a matter of a few weeks now.

I did a lot in the nursery this week - finished washing all the baby bedding so when the crib gets here we can get that all put together. And Kenny built the bookcase which is a perfect fit with her little books she's already gotten. I am learning how to use the new camera Ken got me so I will be all set to take lots of shots once she's here. We're just so happy that she will be with us soon. And then I can call her by her name instead of Baby Bigora! But she'll probably always be Baby Kenny to her daddy... who is still not convinced it's a girl we're having... we'll see!

More to come in the next week... stay tuned!