Social Butterfly

Miss Abby has been a social butterfly lately and does such a great job with friends old and new. :)  Yesterday I took Abby up north to Plymouth, NH for my best friend, C-mom's (Christin) 30th birthday party.  Mandy, Matt, Danielle, and I all made the trip up (unfortunately poor Leif had to work.)  We stopped and mulled around Plymouth State University's campus first (I had applied to Plymouth State, and visited once so it was neat to be back up there).  Abby dipped her feet in the river- a welcome treat in the hot temperatures that we have been enduring as of late.  We stopped at Sweet Kathy's and had an ice cream as well.  Abby had a wonderful visit with C-mom and all of C-mom's wonderful friends.  We spent the day out in the backyard among a beautiful vegetable garden and had a BBQ.  Abby is truly such an easy baby- she hardly fusses and has no problem being passed from person to person.  Here are some pics from her adventure yesterday, including a picture of the beautiful quilt that c-mom made for Abby.  Abby really loves looking at the colors of the quilt during her tummy time sessions. :)

Abby and Danielle

Abby and her Auntie Mandy

Abby and C-mom

Abby dipping her toes in the river

Abby's insanely gorgeous quilt that c-mom made!

Abby the Entertainer

Well I've been back to work for a week now.  Last week was horribly tough on me and I still miss Abby dearly, but you all deserve an Abby update!  :)  Abby has been spending her days with her Grammy (Cindy), Grandma (Carol), and Auntie (Mandy).  She is just full of life and love and entertains all of her audiences.  She is now giving the raspberry and thinks that it is so funny when people give it back to her.  The other night I held her in my lap and said the word, "Kitty" and she laughed a good belly laugh.  That word continued to amuse her for another 10 minutes or so.  She is full of smiles and is definitely testing out her voice.  She visited with her second cousin once removed Susannah (yeah, we just call her cousin Susannah...)  ;)  down at the lake recently.  Susannah taught Abby how to scream and Abby has definitely been testing out her lungs from time to time.  Abby continues to be such an easy baby.  She only fusses when she's hungry or over tired and her fussing is always so tolerable.  She loves to stand (with the help of someone, of course) and spends so much time exercising.  She is just in love with her mobile too.  I'm including a couple videos of our dear Abby entertaining. :)  She spent this past weekend out at the lake and went swimming again.  She now loves to swim and doesn't mind cold water (Leif and I dipped her toes in the cold Boston Harbor and she didn't even frown)  :)  We've been trying to enjoy every second of free time with Abby.  Our time has become so precious.  :)  Abby sends love to everyone (as do we)  :)

Abby the Entertainer

Abby and her mobile

The Party's Over

Well I am reporting from my desk at work this morning.  Today is my first day back and I was an hour early for work, having woke up at 4:30 worrying about how today will go.  I had the most wonderful maternity leave ever.  It was hard to leave Abby this morning but I know that she will be in good hands while I work.  Walking across campus this morning, I thought about how many times I've made this walk across campus and about how different my life is now.  I am so blessed and in love with my daughter and I couldn't imagine life without her.  This will be a short entry as I have over 1,000 emails to sift through this morning.  Will blog soon about our wonderful visit from the Sands.

This morning I arrived to find a beautiful bracelet on my desk as well as a box of tissues.  These two gifts instantly reminded me of my wonderful coworkers and of how much I love my job.  Excellent timing. ;)

Sending love to all and wishing everyone a happy Monday. :)

Lake Pemaquid Adventure!

Well, before I forget the details of Memorial Day weekend, I better write them down!  We took Abigail to Lake Pemaquid Campground for Memorial Day weekend.  http://www.lakepemaquid.com/  I have been going to this campground for 25 years now.  My mom and dad used to take us camping for 2 weeks every summer in August.  We want Miss Abby to have the same wonderful Maine camping experience.

Because Abby was still so young, we decided to rent a cabin instead of venturing out in our tent.  It was a good thing too since it rained quite heavily on the last night of our trip and all of our gear would have been soaked!  :)  Abby took quite well to the campground though felt a bit overstimulated when the hayride came around.  She was not a huge fan of the loud shrieks of "Hayride!"

The weather was a bit cold so we spent an evening in our cabin with the fireplace roaring and a game of trivial pursuit going.  Abby was her papa's partner and was able to con an extra chip from her auntie with her good looks. ;)

On Sunday afternoon we all traveled further down the lake to the cabin of my childhood reverend, Dave Myers.  It had been so many years since we had seen him, his wife, and kids.  The Myers moved down to Maryland.  Abby was held by the reverend who baptised me.  It was a magical moment and Dave has not lost his touch with children!  He calmed Abby right down.  My family grew up with the Myers- Dave's kids were in the same grades as Mandy and I, and we really really loved them all.  It was so neat to spend an afternoon with all of them!

Abby enjoyed looking at the water.  The water was absolutely frigid (Leif, Mandy and I went swimming and experienced the cold temperatures first hand!)  Abby's favorite activity was being strolled around the campground in her all terrain stroller (it handled quite well over the rocks and stumps of the campground grounds!).  It was so magical to bring our infant to the campground where we will have so many family memories down the road.  I lost my two front teeth at Pemaquid, camped with my best friends for years, and even had my bachelorette party there- and now I get to share this place with my daughter!  It is a magical little place.  :)

Leif caught some beautiful fish while camping with my dad too.  I think my dad was a bit jealous and declared that Leif wasn't allowed to fish with him and Mandy's boyfriend Matt anymore.  ;) :)

On Monday we stopped in Boothbay Harbor on the way home and had lunch on the Ocean.  It was a beautiful but very hot day so we headed for home after lunch.  :)

Here are some pics of Abby's first camping adventure!!

Mandy and Abby

Abby hanging out in a camp chair :)

Abby, a bit overstimulated ;)

Trivial Pursuit!

Abby and Papa!

We have many more adventures to write about and will do so soon!  Little Miss Abby has been a busy bee!!! :)

Sending love to all!!!!!

2 Months Old Today!!!

Little Miss Abby turns two months old today!  We're having a hard time believing that she could be this old! :)  We just returned from her 2 month doctor's appointment.  Abby now weighs 12 lb 6 oz (in the 75th percentile) and is 23.5 inches long (in the 90th percentile).  She is one long baby!  She did very well at her appointment and even suffered through a slew of shots without too much of a scene. :)

Abby is starting to experience the beginning of teething.  The doctor was amazed that she can feel her teeth starting to develop so early!  She has been drooling a great deal and putting her fists in her mouth, as well as fussing.  This is just the beginning of teething though.  She won't have her first tooth for quite some time still.

Abby is so much more alert now and can focus quite well.  Just this week she was able to focus on the television and watched her first Sox game with her mummy (the Sox won of course!)  ;)  Her legs are so strong and it really feels like she can almost stand.  She enjoys "standing" most of all right now.  She is talking so much lately and we feel like she'll be saying real words soon.  :)

We found out that Abby has been accepted in to our first choice daycare center.  Though we hate to part, Leif is back to work next week and I only have a month left of my leave.  Abby is lucky enough to be spending some time with her grandmas in July before starting daycare in August.  She will be going three days a week and we really love the place.  They even teach the infants sign language so Abby will be able to communicate her needs before being able to do so with speech!

We apologize for not updating this blog more often!  We have been a busy traveling family as of late.  Abby has been down to our family's cabin in Western MA a number of times now and went on her first camping adventure in Maine!  We stayed in a cabin at the campground and were able to share Lake Pemaquid Campground with Abby.  Lake Pemaquid Campground is a special place where I have camped for the past 25 consecutive years.  I'll post a separate blog about our trip as it was extra special with a visit to my childhood minister!

We are all off to our cabin in Western MA for 3 nights now.  Will update with more specifics of our adventures when we return!  Abby has been so wonderful about all of our traveling and truly enjoys being outside most of all.  We are feeling so blessed!

Here is an updated photo of our Red Sox fan. :)  We will post more pics with our upcoming blog posts!  :)  Sending love to all!!!

OH!  PS Minnesota family- Abby officially has her first Vikings jersey now. :)  We found one on sale at Old Navy and couldn't resist. :)

The girl is growing quickly!

Abby had her one month doctor's appointment this morning.  She now weighs 11 lbs and measures 22 inches long.  She is definitely eating (and growing!)  :)  The doctor said that Abby is doing really well.  He also said that it was refreshing to have a baby who is eating well- evidently most of his babies are experiencing gas and colic right now.  Not our Abby though- she eats about every 2 hours during the day and usually every 3 hours during the night.  We received the good news that she'll be eating less often during the night by 2 months of age.  We can't wait for the additional sleep!

We also learned that Abby can see about 2-3 feet in front of her now.  We've noticed a big difference in her ability to focus and she absolutely loves looking at bright lights (we learned in our baby book that babies absolutely love light at this age).

Here is a picture from Saturday- Abby's one month birthday!


Abby hopes that all of the moms in her life had a wonderful mother's day!  She and Leif got Terry a beautiful yellow butterfly magnolia tree for mother's day this year.  We can't wait to watch it grow!! :)

The Dugans are gettin' more sleep!

Well after 3 weeks of complete and utter sleep deprivation, we're finally getting a bit of rest!  Abby is able to sleep for 4 hours at a time during the night (after her obligatory 2 AM feeding.)  Leif and I have both been so tired and feel relieved to be catching up on sleep a bit.  We think Abby feels the same way! :)  Abby has been out for many walks and visits in the first 3 weeks of her life.  She absolutely loves car rides and being on the go.

Abby is such a cuddly baby and really enjoys her tummy time- sleeping on her tummy on the chest of mummy or daddy. :)  She is holding her head up by herself most of the time and seems to be able to focus her eyes more.  She loves to stare right in to your eyes during feedings (she's drinking expressed breast milk from bottles so everyone has had a chance to feed her- including her great grandma, Nanie)  :)

Abby also thoroughly enjoys tubby time.  We're hoping this translates to a total love of the water- we're pretty sure that it will. :)

The doctor is very pleased with Abby and has called her "a fine addition to the practice."  Abby did pee on the doctor at her last visit so hopefully he still feels the same way about her. ;)  Abby is seeing my old pediatrician.  I was so excited to see that he is still in practice and we are totally in love with him- he is wonderful with children and so sweet and gentle.

Now that we're getting more sleep and things are calming down, we should be able to update this blog more often! :)

Sending love to all of you!  Here's an updated picture of little miss Abby. :)  This is from Tuesday of this week before we took her out for a nice long walk in Winchester center. :)