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...