.10.months.

My baby girl is QUICKLY getting out of that “baby” phase!! I nearly see “toddler” all over her! She is SUCH a big girl these days. It makes me so incredibly sad because I miss my little newborn baby girl.

We are venturing into table foods!! This is by FAR one of the most difficult transitions yet! I am terrified she is going to choke to death! I have been putting it off, but mainly because her doctor has told me to. He is very “by the book” when it comes to this transition, which I am thankful for! She has had some carrots, peas, grits, oatmeal, and a tad bit of mashed potatoes. She is also eating the Gerber puffs! The texture in most of these foods has made her gag a little, which makes me think she is choking. It’s a sight to see when I am feeding her! I’m on edge with every bite!! I feel like I am totally like my mama when it comes to this. She use to cut up all my food into bites until I was a teenager seems like! :)

We are also working more with the sippy cup. She doesn’t want to hold it like she does her bottle, but we are working on it. I don’t think this will take long to catch on to.

She is, of course, crawling ALL over the place! She has learned just this past week to pull up pretty good. Her balance is still very unsteady, but she’s got the hang of it nonetheless. Last night at my sister’s house she pulled up on the doggy gate. As she was standing there she started hiking her leg as though she was going to climb over it (it was impossible, but she tried). At that moment I realized how quickly she was catching onto things! I mean she just started “really” pulling up this week and already she wants to climb on something?!?! So last night we lowered her crib to its FINAL position. I was very sad – to say the least!

She is also cutting MORE teeth! The two on the bottom have been in for a few weeks, but we now have sight of the two top teeth! This has made her extremely fussy!! The past week she has not wanted to go down for a nap – or even go to sleep in her bed. She simply wants to be rocked or held while she sleeps. She can be sound asleep and as soon as I walk to the crib she screams! I sometimes feel that this is God’s way of telling me I need to hold her more. There are days that go by where I get in such a hurry I don’t hold her as long as I could. I feel I will regret these days forever if I do not slow down and enjoy them! So as she is going through this phase, I am loving rocking her more and holding on to her more. Last night, as I rocked her, I had tears streaming down my face while I watched her sleep. She is just growing faster than I could have EVER imagined! It just seems like yesterday I was preparing for her arrival!! Now I am planning for her very first birthday party!!

Not only are we preparing for her party, we are also getting ready for Abby’s second trip to the beach! I am beyond excited about this because I think she will really enjoy it this time! She will get to play in the pool and even the sand!! :) We are also starting swimming lessons this summer. Mainly a fun experience for me, but want her to not be scared of the water. And of course we will be doing all of this with cousin Emily.
As we move into the 11th month of life for my Abby Grace, I think more and more about the preparations I was going through this time last year. . . .Preparing for her arrival! I also think about the day I found out I was pregnant. I think about how this miracle saved my family!! There is just SOMETHING special about this baby girl (not b/c she is mine … ha ha), but because she helped pull my family out of the most difficult time of our lives. She is truly my blessing from God and I firmly believe with everything I have that God blessed me with her to give me a part of my mama here with me. Every time I look in her eyes I see my mama. I think about how my mama must have felt when she had me. It’s a total connection that I cannot explain and I don’t think ANYONE fully understands until they become a mother.

Photoshoot by Aunt Jenn:

Enjoying her new swing from the Easter Bunny:
We FINALLY got to babysit cousin Emily:
Abby showing Emmie how to jump:
Like father like daughter:
So into her toys:


First dress I made for Abby:
Family pic at a wedding shower:
Again..... like father, like daughter:
Will she be a tomboy?:

.9.months.

Where in the world is the time going?!?!?! Can we please stop time - for just a few hours?!?! My baby girl is growing way too fast. It is SO bittersweet! I LOVE watching her grow and experiencing so many new things, but I miss my little newborn baby girl. I love her more and more with every second of each day. She is truly my life!!

She is really turning into a big girl these days. She is crawling all over the place. If I leave the room, she is following right behind me. Still a little slow, but following me nonetheless. She keeps me extremely busy, which I am so grateful for. I have to watch her every second or she will be into something. It's so funny to watch her see something new. For example, I opened the refrigerator (as she was sitting on the kitchen floor) and she watched like it was a miracle that the big door she bangs on actually opens. She got excited! :) She has figured out the drawers open (kitchen drawers and her dresser drawers). She has yet to figure out the kitchen cabinets open yet - thank goodness. She pulls up to her knees VERY easily. She wants to pull up to her feet, but hasn't quiet figured it out yet. She is more vocal than ever - it's the best! She makes this little "huh" sounds that melts my heart. They are so soft and somewhat under her breath when she is really concentrating on something. SO CUTE! She is rather loud when she is excited! She loves to kick her legs like CRAZY and bounce on you when you hold her. Since she was about 4 months old she has her little hands opening and closing when she touches things - I LOVE THIS!! She has pretty much mastered the "bye-bye" wave, but only does it when SHE wants to.

We are SLOWLY getting a little healthier in the Luckey house. Abby did have to go to the doc last week due to a fever and being pretty lethargic one night. Turns out the ear infection from the previous week had not cleared up and had gotten worse. Also had another infection in the opposite ear. These infections where probably caused from the bad cold she (and everyone else) has had. Bo is on the mend from fighting a really bad cold, as I am too. My cold has apparently caused me to get pleurisy in my lungs. I found this out when I had MAJOR pain under my ribs when I would take deep breaths in, cough, sneeze, and even put pressure on my ribs. I was pretty terrified that I had lung cancer, but that's just me being me. In my heart I felt it was pleurisy or pneumonia. I am on some meds and hope to be better in a few days. If not, will go back for a chest xray. Abby goes back to the doc next week for her 9 month check-up. No shots at this appointment - YAY! But she does get blood work done, which I have heard is nearly worse than the shots. Egh! I am pretty nervous about the blood work considering she hasn't had blood work done since she was born. I pray that everything comes back normal.

We've been staying pretty busy. I am trying to learn to sew (when I have time). I have the last of my sewing classes this weekend. I hope to make Abby lots of nice outfits. Abby went to her 1st St. Paddy's Day parade; however, we missed the parade. She wasn't feeling well and it was pretty cold so we walked around for about 30 minutes and went home. She went down her first slide (with mommy of course) at a birthday party at Pump It Up (an inflatable party place). She seemed to like it. She had her first taste of a pickle and lemon this past month too. We are still on 2nd foods, but up to 2 jars a feeding. We hope to move towards 3rd foods and more big girl foods in the coming weeks.

We are getting ready for Easter next weekend and have started planning for her 1st Birthday Party! I just cannot get over how time has flown by over these last 9 months. I NEVER imagined motherhood would be so rewarding. You hear it all the time, but never understand it until you are a mom. I just wish with EVERYTHING I had that my mama was here to enjoy this with me. My life is SO perfect, yet SO imperfect at the same time. I am truly blessed to have this miracle in my life. God knows what he is doing. :)

She has her daddy's baby blanket in this pic:

My baby girl LOVES to play:

She messed up all her clothes at daycare so I picked her up in some of their clothes. She had an ear infection and didn't feel good at all:

This was they day she started crawling:

Loves to play in the kitchen:

Taking her friend, Elmo, for a ride:

This is how she likes to sleep - booty in the air:

Me and my girl at the St. Paddy's Day Parade:

.8.months.and.crawling.

Okay so I am still only doing monthly posts. It's so hard to make time to get on here and blog. Most of you probably keep up with us on Facebook, which is where I update pics most often.

Anyway my baby girl is 8 months old now, can you believe it?? Time just seems to fly by faster every single day. We have been staying extra busy this month! Abby experienced her first MAJOR snow! We got over 4 or 5 inches in MISSISSIPPI! Crazy! Abby was not too fond of it. We only went out long enough to get a few pictures. I was afraid she would get sick because she had JUST gotten over RSV.

Abby also had her very first Valentine's day! We got her a few little things, as did her Nana (Bo's mom), her Pawpaw (my dad), and Aunt Jenn & baby Emily. :) She truly knew that she was loved! She got lots of balloons too, which she LOVED!

We also had baby dedication at church this month. It was this past week at Pinelake. She did AMAZING! I am just so proud of her!! My baby girl is such a happy girl! She usually only fusses when she is really tired and sleepy. She fights that sleep pretty bad too.

Some other BIG accomplishments where teething and crawling! Yes, we've finally done both! She got her first tooth this past week and boy is it sharp!! I can't imagine how bad that must hurt her. She also started "really" crawling this past week. She's been scooting around the house by rolling, sliding, half crawling, etc. This past Friday I brought her up to my work to see everyone and she just started crawling when my boss was playing with her! I was so excited and sad at the same time. One of her many firsts has now come and gone. Just another sign that she is getting to be such a big girl!

Abby is still on an AMAZING schedule. She sleeps through the night pretty much all the time. If she wakes up she puts her own paci back in her mouth and goes back to sleep. Mommy and Daddy rarely have to go in there anymore. She has started to somewhat pull-up on her crib, so we have lowered it. She hasn't made it to a standing position yet, but she will pull-up to her knees. She is still on baby-food and formula. We will probably be moving up to the 3rd foods any day now, as well as some baby snacks. We hope to be on whole milk by the first of April, which will be SO GREAT! We go to the doc at the end of March to check this.

She babbles a lot these days. Seems like she does it more and more each day. It sounds like she says "mama" when she cries and gets upset, but I don't think she realizes what she is saying. I like to think she does though. :) She also says "da da" when she plays, but again, she is just babbling.

Bo and I are doing GREAT now! Bo had the flu and strep throat last week, which was VERY difficult. He was so sick - I felt bad. But so far Abby and I have stayed well. I was very paranoid about us getting sick so I sanitized EVERYTHING!! He is doing well with school. A little over half way done.

We are all ready for spring and warmer weather. I am anxious to get outside with my baby girl and PLAY! I can't wait to get a jogging stroller and get some exercise outside.

Here are just a few pics from the last few weeks. . . .

My baby girl on Valentine's morning:

Major Mississippi Snow:

Abby LOVES to play:

Been holding her bottle like a big girl:

Picture I used for Baby Dedication:

Sweater and hat where made for me when I was little by my aunt:

.7.months.

Well, it's hard to keep updated on my blog with things getting so busy around here, but I'm trying. :)

Abby is over 7 months now and changing EVERY day!! She is getting so big and it's very bittersweet. She's actually been a little under the weather the last week or so. It all started with a slight cold a month or so ago. Well she never got rid of the cough, which I didn't think was a big deal since I keep a cough forever after I've been sick. Well the weekend before last I noticed the cough just kept getting worse. Thought to myself - I better take her in to the doc just to be safe. Don't want her to get pneumonia or anything. So last Monday afternoon I took her to the doc. His first guess was RSV, but wanted to do the test to make sure. 20 minutes later - it's RSV!!! I thought "Oh No!" I've heard it is terrible! But he assured me that she would eventually get this b/c nearly all babies have it at least once in their life. So I felt a little better. Especially after he told me she was probably on the "up" side of it since she had been coughing for so long. Basically, she wouldn't get any worse than she was that day - only better. However, he did tell us to keep her out of daycare for the week because it was highly contagious! My FIRST thought was baby EMILY! We had been around her that whole weekend! He told me to let Jenn know she just needed to keep a close eye on her. And as of today, Em has still not gotten sick - PRAISE THE LORD!! Bo and I both enjoyed a few days off work last week with Abby (we rotated taking off work). She is all better this week and no more breathing treatments!!

Other than the RSV, Miss Abby seems to do something new everyday. She now holds her bottle all the time, which makes feeding times easier on us. She is talking more and more. She says "ba, ba, ba, ba" nearly ALL day long. She still isn't crawling yet, but it's coming soon. No teeth yet either - thank goodness! :) She laughs hysterically nearly everynight. She LOVES to laugh. Laughs at herself most times, but loves to laugh at her daddy.

Here are a few recent pics. . . .

First Breathing Treatment:

Not too sure about it:

Okay, she hated it the first time, but it wasn't so bad after that:

Tried to have a mini photoshoot - she wasn't having it:

Managed to get ONE pic of her in one of my dresses I use to wear:

My baby girl:

Abby and Emily "playing:"

Abby is so ready for Emily to play:

Just love this pic of Emily's face. She is listening to what Abby is "saying:"

6.months.

Ok, so it's been FOREVER since I have posted. I've actually had this blog saved in my "drafts" for like a month now. Just haven't gotten around to writing yet.

Anyway, Abby had a WONDERFUL 6th month!!! She is nearly 7 months now, but I'm posting a few pics from her 6th month, including a few Christmas pics. (Sorry if the pics are out of order).

She is sitting up COMPLETELY on her own - not even really wobbly anymore. Our next big step will be crawling. I am expecting this ANY day now. She is on her tummy about to push up. So within the month I expect her to be mobile - oh no! ;) She is eating LOTS more! We eat "solid" food at nearly every feeding now. She is in the "2nd" foods and is actually eating at the table like a big girl (she has her own seat). She is talking up a storm - baby talk that is. I am trying to teach her things such as "bye, bye" and "no." Don't think she has got on yet though. We are getting baths in the big bath tub now. No more baby baths in the kitchen sink. She LOVES bath time!! She splashes in the water and plays with all her toys. Such a big girl!! She also LOVES to play with all her toys! Santa was truly good to her. We've gotten on a pretty good schedule lately. We have our nighttime routine that has really helped with her getting to sleep. We got our 6th month shots on New Year's Eve. She did great! She weights nearly 17 lbs (about average for her age). Getting so big!!

My girl in her "Rock & Roll" hoodie. . . .

Me and my girl in our "suits". . .

Big girl in the bath tub . . .

Part of our night-time routine. . . .

Playing with the piano. . . .

Bout to get her shots. . . .

One of my new favs. . . .

Played way too hard. . . .

Santa came. . . .

Christmas morning . . . .

Our family. . . .

Abby's Ornament. . .

Abby and Emily. . . .

First time on the Carousal. . . .

Abby meets Santa for the first time. . . .

Just learning to sit up in this pic. . . .

Learning to hold her own bottle. . .

How she likes to sleep now (booty in the air). . .

Abby's 1st snow. . . .

Cousin Emily (getting so big). . . .