Abigail's 2 month checkup

Abigail turned 2 months on July 1st, but since we were in Destin on vacation at that time we had to schedule her appointment for later that month, on July 19th. I remember when we were making the appointment, I stood there at the desk and entered the appointment into my phone when we agreed on it. The week of her appointment I was of course nervous about it, because I knew she was going to be getting her 2 month shots. I was scared of the unknown. Would she be ok, would she run a fever, should I give her medicine before, should I give her medicine after, how would she handle it, how much pain would she be in, would she sleep a lot, a little? I mainly felt guilt. I was going to take her there knowing full well that I was going to cause my baby pain, ON PURPOSE! I hated that feeling. I talked with Bryan about it and my wonderful husband told me that he would rather cause her a little bit of pain now, that would only be temporary, than cause her greater pain that would have repercussions when she was older. We talked about how Jesus does the same thing with His children, because He loves us. That made me feel a little better!

Thursday arrived and we arrived at our appointment and signed in. Long story short, they told us that they didn't have Abigail scheduled for the day and they didn't have time for her. I was SO mad! I KNEW that her appointment was that day and time, and I didn't mess it up. I was about to go Mama Bear on that receptionist so Bryan took over, but they didn't do anything to help. They scheduled us for a WEEK later because that was the earliest they could get her in. So now, basically Abigail would be getting her 2 month shots the week before she turns 3 months old! Ugh! I was so mad. I was just thankful that I hadn't given her any Tylenol before the appointment! didn't have the appointment card either to prove that we had one that day. Lesson learned, ALWAYS get an appointment card, even if you know you'll remember. Also, make sure that you receive a confirmation call from the Dr.'s office before your appointment. I didn't get one that week. Another lesson learned!

Thursday came and went and she did great at her appointment! She measured 22 and 3/4 inches and weighed a whopping 8lbs and 15.5 oz, aka 9lbs! Did I mention that she turns 3 months old on Wednesday! Obviously, I was shocked that she weighed so little. She was in the 10th percentile in weight, but 70/75th percentile for length and head. Basically she's just long and skinny! The dr. said that she was a little worried about her weight, but it wasn't anything that we needed to be too concerned with right now. She said I didn't need to start supplementing with formula or anything like that. Abigail just needs to double her birth weight by the time she's 6 months old. I'm trying not to over worry about it or my milk or how much I'm producing, but I'll admit it's hard. I do have peace right now knowing that she is healthy and happy, so she's fine. Heck, she's been sleeping through the night since forever, so obviously she's not starving!

After Dr. Pascoe left, we knew what was coming. THE SHOTS! OH NO! Bryan and I were both nervous. Daddy played with Abigail while we waited on the nurse to come in.

Daddy is soooo funny!

Oh Dad! Enough with the kisses!

I love you Daddy!

The nurse finally came in and gave her the oral one first, then asked us to hold her hands. I just wanted it to be over with already! I couldn't watch so I just looked at Abigail's face, which maybe wasn't the best idea either. The shots were over super fast, but right after the first one, she went completely stiff and started screaming. I've never heard that scream before and when I heard that I instantly started crying with her. I picked her up when it was over and she was still completely stiff. I just wanted to soothe her as fast as I could so I immediately started nursing her. It didn't take too long for her to start nursing, but she was so pitiful. She would be nursing and then stop and start crying again, like she just remembered she was in pain. We were all pitiful! I was crying, she was crying, Bryan was crying. We just sat there holding her, telling her it was ok.

Thankfully, after she ate, she was fine so we packed up and went to the car. I took this picture in the car on the way home and she just looked a little sad, not traumatized for life, so that was reassuring! I love her so much!

She really didn't have any side effects from the shots. Her legs weren't really tender and didn't get red, she didn't run a fever (we gave her Tylenol after her shots), and she slept normally. I was so glad! I'm just glad it's over! :)

Morgan and Chris' Wedding!

Last weekend we celebrated the wedding of our best friends Morgan Smith and Chris McMullen! Our story is so cool and I love to tell it!

Morgan and Bryan both grew up in Shreveport and have known each other since 1st grade. The story Morgan likes to tell is that in 1st grade, Bryan tried to kiss her by the water fountain and she slapped him! They've been best friends ever since! Morgan went to college at Baylor in Waco and Bryan went to college at ETBU in Marshall.

In high school, I met Chris McMullen when we joined Harris Creek Baptist Church and we were in the youth group together. We became friends and I secretly had a little crush on Chris! I thought he was cute and knew he was an amazing Christian guy so I asked him to go to prom with me my junior year (we went to different schools). Unfortunately, prom didn't go exactly as I planned.

At this time, Chris was a year/grade younger than me and wasn't as mature as he is now! :) Chris showed up late to pick me up prom night, was super silly, and my favorite part was when we went bowling after prom, he wore this tiny top hat that he had randomly in his car. Later, my friend Carrie accidentally bowled a ball and it went down the gutter and got stuck. What does Chris do? He goes down the bowling lane, tries to get the ball, and slips and slides all the way back up the lane. TRUE STORY! I was mortified. I can just remember thinking I had to get home and away from him as fast as I could! After that, I was so embarrassed that I didn't really talk to him. We didn't talk for probably a few months. Later though he apologized and we became friends again.

Fast forward to my senior year. Chris and I were friends again and when prom rolled around, I didn't have anyone from my school that I wanted to go with, so what did I do? Well, since I'm a glutton for punishment, I asked Chris to prom again! I figured, he's definitely grown up and way more mature this year, so we'll have a great time!

Well, poor Chris was a little nervous, considering his track record the year before! When he picked me up for prom he was acting almost too mature. We got to prom and he spent most of the time dancing with other people he knew from my school and not much with me. We left and went to an after party at a friends house. He spent most of that time talking to other people and I really didn't see him much. I was ready to go home and noticed that Chris had disappeared. I finally found him and what did I see? He was ASLEEP on the couch! Unbeknownst to me, that day before/day of he worked really hard doing yard work or something and hadn't gotten much sleep. So yes, he fell asleep at the after party! He was so asleep that I couldn't really get him to wake up so I ended up having to drive us home, in HIS truck! I'm pretty sure that I was so mad at him then that I didn't really talk to him for several more months, but I eventually forgave him and we became friends again! I went off to college at ASU in San Angelo and the next year Chris went to Texas Tech in Lubbock.

The summer after Chris's first year at Tech, he came back to Waco and took a summer school class at MCC. It was in that class that Chris met Morgan, who was also taking the same class. They soon began dating and Chris introduced me to Morgan when I came to Waco. We instantly became best friends!

Fast forward a year or two, and I went to visit Morgan one weekend in Waco where she was going to grad school at Baylor. I began complaining that I hadn't been on a date in forever, she told me about her best friend Bryan, and said she would set up a blind date for us. Well, you all know how that story ended! :)

Bryan and I got married June 27, 2009 and Morgan and Chris were a bridesmaid/groomsmen in our wedding. Ironic thing was, they were broken up at the time! Good news though, God brought them back together again and Chris proposed last December.

They asked Bryan and I to be in their wedding and we were so excited to celebrate with them! They got married at Ashton Gardens in Denton, TX and it was so beautiful!

My mom was awesome and tagged along with us so she could watch Abigail while we fulfilled our wedding duties! We had so much fun and are so incredibly happy for our best friends as they begin their lives together!

Breast feeding woes!

Be forwarned that this post is all about breastfeeding, so if that's not your cup of tea, I don't suggest reading on! ;)


I was so excited to begin breastfeeding Abigail! This was something Bryan and I discussed and knew that we wanted to do with our children.


I had this grand idea about how breastfeeding was going to be in my mind. I prepared myself for some pain, cracked nipples, etc. It was like my initiation into motherhood and I couldn’t wait!


I signed up and took a breastfeeding class through the hospital that we were going to deliver at. I thought it was really good and learned a bunch of information that I knew would be helpful when the time came. I’ll admit that I did worry a little in the beginning on when my milk would come in, would it be painful, would I do everything right, etc. I tried to do my homework so I would be prepared and ready to go!

When Abigail was born, I had chest to chest time with her and then immediately tried to feed. She did not seem very enthusiastic though and seemed like she didn’t care about eating. They took her away to the nursery to clean her up and I went to my room. It ended up that because her blood sugar and temperature dropped several times after she was born, they ended up having to give her a bottle of formula. I wasn’t thrilled about this, but knew it was the best thing for her. During the rest of the time in the hospital I practiced nursing first and then we gave her the bottle. I think that because my milk hadn’t come in yet she really didn’t care to nurse when she could immediately get milk from the bottle! I think all of this resulted in nipple confusion or she just really didn’t care about nursing. I’ll admit that I was a little hurt by this, but was sure that once my milk came in she would latch right on and be good to go! At the hospital I had several nurses try to help and show me how to nurse and the lactation consultant also came by to help. We tried various latches, a nipple shield, feeding milk through a small tube into her mouth by my breast, etc. Sometimes she seemed to get it and other times it was a fail. I still kept trying though.

We left the hospital and once we got home we just waited for my milk to come in. I still tried nursing and we fed her the bottle because she still wasn’t nursing. My milk finally came in on that Friday, 4 days after she was born and I was so excited! I knew that now that my milk was in surely Abigail would nurse and everything was great! Well, not exactly.

I could not get her to latch on and nurse. She fought me every time. I was so frustrated. Also, I was having my days of baby blues so this was NOT helping. I cried and cried. I called my lactation consultant and asked for help and she told me things to try.  I tried the nipple shield, the milk through the tube, the positions, EVERYTHING they told me I tried, but it didn’t work. I was able to pump and at least feed her my milk through a bottle, so that helped a little, but I wanted to nurse so bad. I kept reading all this information and that made me feel like such a bad mother because I hadn’t pumped so many ounces and I had already introduced a bottle to her and they said I shouldn’t have. I felt like such a failure and that I had broken all of the rules already. Not by choice, but because I had to. That still didn’t make me feel any better. I can remember reading nursing books and crying because I thought I wasn’t doing it right and Bryan made me stop reading. Haha. I just wanted to nurse so bad and it felt like this dream of mine was slipping away. At the time, I was probably just super hormonal but I finally broke down  and called the lactation consultant and told her I needed to make an appointment to come see her because I needed HELP!

I went to see her the next day and she weighed Abigail and we found out that she had already passed her birth weight! When she was born she was 6.7, that Fri we went to the Dr she was 6.2, and the Tues we went to the lactation consultant she was 6.9! I was happy that at least she was eating well and healthy even if she wasn’t nursing. We ended up trying a small nipple shield on her and she latched right on and has been nursing strong ever since! We found out that even though I tried a nipple shield already, I was using a large and it was too big for her little mouth. When she latched on I was SO relieved! I was so happy I almost cried!

I’m so glad that I was able to admit that I needed help and went and got it! I was determined not to give up! The lactation consultant told me that I might have to use the nipple shield for a while, but I honestly don’t mind if that’s what it takes. I might try to wean Abigail off of it eventually, but for now we’re doing great!

Since then we’ve been doing great. I learned my lesson though when I got my first plugged milk duct! Man those things hurt! I got it when Abigail started sleeping through the night. I know that I should get up and pump during the night, but honestly I knew I needed to sleep more! We decided that Bryan would give her the night bottle before she went to sleep so I could pump and make sure to get as much as I could out. I then immediately pump when I get up in the morning and feed her at the same time. I can then save what I pump and build up my stock. Well, that works great if I do that. However, sometimes because I sleep on my left side, I always am engorged more on that side when I wake up in the morning. That’s where I got my first one. I knew something was wrong when I was pumping on that side and only got 1 oz (when I normally get 3)! I also was in a lot of pain and felt a little lump that felt like a rock. I searched online, Facebook, talked to my mom and the recommendations said massage, heat (hot showers), nurse (pump), and ibuprofen so that’s what I did! Thankfully that’s what I did and it worked. I was able to get rid of it that day and was so glad. I’ve gotten one more since then, but I just make sure to not let myself get too engorged.

We’ve definitely had highs and lows during breastfeeding, but I wouldn’t change a thing!

Destin 2012

We took our first family vacation the last week in June/first week of July with my side of the family! Bryan and I originally had planned on flying to Destin, but waited too long to get tickets so we ended up driving. We had my mom and sister Chalen ride with us to help out and I am SO glad that we did! Best decision ever!

We left on a Thursday after Bryan was done with summer school and drove 6 hrs to Clinton, MS. Abigail did WONDERFUL! We just took our time and had fun! We stayed at a hotel in Clinton and spent the night. Unfortunately, Abigail decided that she didn't want to sleep that night, so I spent most of the night up with her until I finally put her in the queen sized bed with us. Needless to say, Mommy didn't get much sleep!

The next morning we got up and drove the rest of the way to Destin! We arrived late afternoon and got checked into our condo and met the rest of my family who had already arrived.

That night Abigail was up again and ended up sleeping in bed with us again, but thank goodness slept through the night the rest of our trip! I think it just takes her a night to get adjusted to the new place we're at!

The next day we took our first trip to the beach! Abigail put her toes in the ocean/sand for the first time and had fun sleeping on Mommy and Nana!

The rest of the week was spent relaxing at the beach! We were in Destin on the 4th of July so we went out to dinner and watched fireworks on the beach! It was really cool. Nana also took some family pictures of us on the beach and they turned out great!

We left the next day and drove back to Clinton, spent the night in the same hotel and drove back home the next day. We stopped in Shreveport and had lunch with Grams, Pops, and Uncle Colby. It was great to see them! We were glad to be home though. We were so grateful that Abigail was such a wonderful traveler! We had a wonderful first family road trip! :)

Abigail by the Month! (2)

Abigail turned 2 months old on July 1, 2012!

 Abigail, this is what you are currently doing:

• You still are wearing newborn and some 0-3 clothes
• You moved up to size 1 diapers
• I'm not sure on weight or height but we'll find out on Thursday when we visit the dr for your 2 month shots. Mommy's not looking forward to that! :(
• You're eating every 2-2.5 hrs
• You're taking about a 30 min- 1 hr nap. Gone are the days of our 3 hr naps!
• You still sleep all though the night, PTL! Sleeps from 10-11 p.m until normally 6-7 a.m
• You play more during the day.
• You began focusing more and noticing things. Your favorite thing to do now is watch the fan!
• You love playing on your play mat and talk to your flower all the time.
• You talk all the time. You and Mommy have conversations all the time! :)
• Your hair began to grow back in the front and you have a cute little cowlick in the front right side of your hairline.
• You went to your Aunt Morgan's wedding shower and were the star of the show!
• You still love your bath time!
• You love riding in the car seat and are a total pro!
• You had your first blowout at Olive Garden. It leaked out of your diaper into the carseat and all over Mommy! :) Thank goodness I was prepared though!
• You made your first long road trip to Destin, FL! You were AMAZING and we couldn't have asked for a better baby! Nana and Aunt Chalen rode with us and they were lifesavers!
• You put your toes into the ocean for the first time!
• You went to your first wedding! Uncle Chris and Aunt Morgan got married! You were good, but definitely stayed up too late and we payed for it later!

Cutie patootie!

You had no problem telling Mommy that picture time was OVER!

Abigail, you have brought such joy to us this month! I love spending every day with you and seeing you grow and change. Every day brings something new and your Daddy and I love you more than life!

Precious!

Doesn't get any cuter than baby feet with sand on them!