Twelve Weeks: A Busy Social Schedule

The newest development: Abby has a crib! We have "owned" the crib for almost four months now (thank you, Sarah!), but we had been using a Pack 'n Play for the sake of space. Two weeks ago, though, it became apparent that it just wasn't quite roomy enough for a sleeper who throws her arms back over her head to dream. Since we want nothing to interfere with those zzzz's (and I mean NOTHING!), we asked Nana and Papa to bring the crib up to Grand Forks. They obliged.

Abby has also spent two afternoons with Danyell - our childcare provider - and three two-year-old boys! Danyell said her eyes were huge for most of the first afternoon. It seems that Eric and I rarely drop Tonka trucks, pound on one-foot-high keyboards, duel with baseball bats, or splatter grape juice on the walls - while Abby is around, anyway!

Chumming with Carissa

Charming Papa

Chatting with Tara

Celebrating Dad's Birthday

Life From a Different Angle

I'm not sure when or how it first happened, but I looked down the other day and realized I was holding Abby upright in one arm, her bottom resting on my forearm, her torso unsupported with her little hands voluntarily grasping my shoulder. This, I said to myself, is not how you hold a newborn, which either means (A) I am an unfit mother or (B) Abby is no longer a newborn! Thankfully, all evidence points to B! Abby demands to be held so she is sitting or "standing" now; realizing she is about to be put down on her back is cause for noisy and immediate protest. If I can arrange enough blankets just right around her boppy to feign sitting, she's happy.

This week's agenda includes helping with VBS, getting my classroom ready at the high school, taking care of a few last childcare details, and seeing Abby and Eric off to Daddy Boot Camp where Eric is going to help out as an instructor! He attended the class, sponsored by Altru, right before Abby was born, and now he's back as the veteran. Apparently Abby will serve as a classroom prop so other dads-to-be can practice changing diapers! Hey, I'm all for it! :)

A Day at the Zoo

This weekend Abby and I met Grandma Sandra in Bismarck. We took in the zoo, shopped, visited Meghan and Justin in their new apartment, ate at the Great American Steak Buffet (Abby opted for milk only), and enjoyed watching Abby splish splash in her little blue tub, Radisson-style. What is one to do when there are four grandmas and four mommies helping with your bath?

Errands

Abby is usually a pretty good sport in her carseat!


This week Abby and I raced up and down the streets of Grand Forks keeping appointments: the chiropractor (three times!), the eye doctor, the pediatrician ...


And amidst all the doctors in the world, I am an English teacher! I met two others from the English department who I'll be teaching with this fall at East Grand Forks High. One is about my age, and the other is the department chair, so she carried Abby around while she gave me a tour of the school. When she handed Abby back to me at the end, there was a big white patch of spit-up on her black blouse. So much for making a first impression!


School starts after Labor Day in Minnesota, so there are still a few weeks of summer left for us!

To Sleep, Perchance to Stay Asleep

10:15 p.m. to 4:45 a.m. last night equals 6 1/2 hours of uninterrupted sleep! We celebrated with a bottle of formula at 5 a.m.

Tummy Time

While Abby's enjoying a few minutes of her recommended 20 minutes of tummy time per day, I thought I'd snatch a few minutes to post. I keep looking over at her, waiting for her to roll over again, but I really think those two times she rolled earlier were flukes. She's just kind of swimming like a fish that's hung up on a yellow-and-white-checked blanket right now, and she sounds exasperated. Let me roll her over.

That's better.

Much to our delight, we were able to enjoy a family walk last night without any one of us crying or sleeping! Abby sat in her stroller and peered through the mosquito netting at the big wide world around her, except once in awhile she'd grab the mesh fabric and brush it over her face, which she hated. Right now her hands work just as much against her as for her; the one thing they do for her is swat the paci out on command!

Although this recommendation will only apply to a select few readers, I have to say that I highly recommend The Girlfriend's Guide to Surviving the First Year of Motherhood! It is the kind of funny that makes me laugh out loud - real, surprised kinds of laughter, not drummed up for convention. I liked the corresponding guide to pregnancy, so I ordered this one, too (thanks to Andrea who showered me with a B&N giftcard - I have already used every red cent!).