Six Months Old!

Check out my little sweet pea sitting up all by herself!  Abigail Elizabeth is 6 months old today and I feel like so much has changed in just a few short weeks.  She started sitting up about 2 weeks ago and she seems so happy to be able to reach and play while she is sitting now.

Things that Miss Abigail is doing at 6 months old: 


* Sitting up on her own
* She has learned to fake cough and fake cry... oh my!
* She has tried sweet potatoes
* She cut her first 2 teeth!  
* She turns to watch Mike every time he walks in the room or she hears his voice...so adorable! 


One thing that hasn't changed is that this girl loves to sleep!  She naps 2 hours in the morning, 2 hours in the afternoon, and then sleeps 11 hours at night!  I wake up every morning to the sound of her cooing and laughing to herself.  This is the sweet smile that greets me!

But don't let those sweet blue eyes fool you!  She can also give 
you the stink eye!  This is the look I get on Sunday mornings when I have to wake her up early to head to church.  Not so happy...






We were able to get a few pictures of Abigail trying sweet potatoes for the first time!  She seemed to really like them and didn't make silly faces.  































First night of sweet potatoes was a success!  However, her second taste of sweet potatoes involved a wrinkled nose and a few shivers...

My little girl keeps changing!!

I am amazed at how much babies change each week.  I am trying to take as many pictures of my sweet girl as I possibly can so that I can capture each phase she goes through.  If she only knew about her hair...


Abigail was born with a head FULL of hair!  She was rockin the "old man" hair do for a few months!  Check this out!

I tried to help her out as much as I could with pretty bows.  Most of the time she tolerated me pretty well, but occasionally she would give me looks like this when I would put a bow on her head!

Around four to five months, her original hair finally started to fall out.  But just on top, which means her hair was still pretty thick on the sides and in the back.  She was rocking the baby mullet there for a while!  

Now she is growing new hair and it's much lighter!  She still has her curly little "wings" on the side! So cute!  

Here is a picture of her handsome daddy with his blonde curls!  Yeah...she might favor him a bit!

Yea...she favors her daddy alright!

5 Months Old!

Oh the adventures I have taking Abigail's picture!  She is five months old now which means she does NOT sit still in the chair for me anymore! A few birds had her attention outside the window when I took this first picture, but then she figured out she could rock the chair...

I had great intentions of getting a few pictures where she looked up at me and I could see her 5 month sticker, but instead I laughed with her til I was in tears and decided this was more of a blog of " bloopers"!  So if you haven't laughed much today, here is your chance!

Next, I tried to prop her by the ottoman and stabilize her trunk with my feet.  Yeah right! 

So then I thought I would get a little smarter.  I'll just put her in the Bumbo where I can still see her 5 month sticker and hopefully get her to look up at me.  Check out this face...

Right after this, she tried to climb over the side of the Bumbo and get in the floor.   So that's where we ended up!  

Here is what Abigail is doing at 5 months: 

* Insists that she sleep on her stomach which makes for very paranoid parents 

* She doesn't like to recline in her bathtub anymore but thinks it's more fun to sit up and try to stick her hands in the water and splash!

*  She is eating a little rice cereal and getting ready for vegetables soon!

*  Her favorite thing to do is pull my hair and stick her hands in my mouth...true story. 

*  She laughs when you kiss her belly 

*  When she is really excited she smiles and her whole body shakes...cutest thing EVER

*  She finally noticed our dogs and sticks her hands out so they can lick her

*  Her hair FINALLY started to fall out

*  AND She still has the most beautiful blue eyes - like her Daddy!

  

5 Months!

First Father's Day

Sweet Abigail Elizabeth, 

You are too little right now to know what an incredible father you have so I'm going to write this down and save these pictures so you'll see it for yourself one day!  You are so loved little girl and you can see it in your daddy's eyes.  

When we brought you home from the hospital, your daddy jumped right in to help!  He changed the smelliest diapers and swaddled you better than anyone!  He fed you late at night and listened while you slept to make sure you were breathing okay.  He swaddled and rocked and walked you til you were happy as could be! 

And when it's time for your bath, he helps make sure you don't get too cold and that you aren't scared.  

And when you see things for the first time, he holds you close and lets you explore!  

His eyes light up when he talks to you!  He likes to read to you with silly voices that make you laugh and at night when you are asleep, he tells me he wants to go wake you up so he can give you one more kiss.  

Yes, your daddy absolutely adores you and he will tell anyone who stops to listen how awesome his baby girl is!  

Happy Father's Day to the most amazing husband and partner I could hope for!  Thank you for all that you do for our family.  We love you bunches Mike Harder!

Beach trip part II

Abigail is going to be just like her mommy!  This girl LOVES the beach!  We were able to go to gulf shores a few months back but Abigail was so little she slept most of the day in her swing or in a little beach tent, but this trip she really took it all in.  

It was so fun to watch her look at the seagulls and stare out at the ocean.  And just like me...she had to have a variety of swim suits!

Dee Dee and my brother were able to tag along with us and they were such a blessing.  Dee Dee played in the floor with Abigail and hung out in the room so Mike and I could run on the beach every morning.  John was also super flexible on the drive down and throughout the trip with Abigail's schedule.  We realized after the first two days that when the baby's schedule is the one you are one, you relax a little more! 

Til next year Gulf Shores!

No Vaccinations in Heaven...

Having a baby has taught me so much about God's love for His children.  I think I am learning more about God's character and heart for me now more than ever before.  


Scripture refers to our God as Abba Father, which means " Daddy".   It's a term of endearment that makes me visualise being held close and comforted.  I was reminded of that this morning as I prayed for Abigail during my quiet time.  I am taking her to the doctor for her 4 month check up today which means 4 shots in her little legs and lots of tears.  Her 2 month check up did not go well... for me!  She did fine of course, but I cried my eyes out watching her shriek in fear and pain.  I held her as close as I could and wiped her tears until she had forgotten those awful sticks!  


I plan to do the same thing today since I anticipate the pain she will feel and the fear that may take her by surprise.  I will be right there with my cheek next to hers when the nice lady gives her those shots.  I will hold her close and console her until she is calm.  I'll be right there to get her through it.  


This morning after praying about my silly anxiety and later after talking to a dear friend that is going through an unimaginable loss, I got it.  God is there with us through every circumstance and painful situation.  He knows what we are about to go through, even when we don't see it coming.  It hurts his heart.  And like a good Daddy, he holds us close and wipes our tears until the fear is gone.  


So if your heart is hurting today and you are feeling the sting of pain, lean in to Jesus and let him comfort you.  He is right there to hold you close and get you through it!  And He promises that one day there will be no more tears...


"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”  Revelation 21:4

4 Months!

Abigail is 4 months old this week.  She has really hit a growth spurt this month!  I just hope she doesn't grow out of these sweet cheeks!

She is growing so fast and her personality is really starting to come out.  Here are a few things she is doing now: 

* She is starting to squeal and make high pitched noises.  Then she laughs at herself!

* She continues to love her bath and now she splashes her feet and gets water EVERYWHERE!

* She is sitting up in her Bumbo 

* She found her feet!  

* She does the motorboat sound with her mouth

* She rolls from her back to her side
* She can lift her head up when she is in tummy time and smile at me!

The physical therapist in me is so fascinated with every milestone that she makes!  Here she is lifting her head during tummy time!

Miller is still following Abigail around the house. Sometimes she'll bring her toys and lay right beside Abigail's play mat. My other baby...

We still love you Miller!