January Pictures

Abby's six-month birthday meant solid foods!  She loved rice cereal!  She has like almost every food that she has tried, although this week (beginning of March) she has had a bad ear infection/cold and has been refusing any solid foods.  Only Mommy's milk has been good enough for her.  Not fun for me! We will have to get her back on track...

Jared got a ultra-cool chemistry set for Christmas from Grandpa and Grandma Smith.  Here they are doing a few experiments!

 I LOVE this girl!  I love her ballerina outfit.

Maggie dressed up as a 100-year-old woman for the 100th day of school, a tradition for just the 1st graders.

Evelyn has been enjoying Joy School.  One day when it was at our house, Evy's cousin Lily showed up in a matching outfit (they were Christmas presents from their grandma!)

Matchy matchy!

Lily, Evy, Sarah, and Kate, a few other Joy School friends

Evelyn is super tall for her age.  She is almost a full head taller than all of the other sunbeams in her Primary class at church!

Abigail's Blessing Day

We recently invited our families to our church for Alan to give Abigail her baby blessing.  He did a beautiful job, and it was fun to visit with our families afterwards.

 Abigail's blessing dress was also worn by Evelyn and Maggie.  It was crocheted by my dear friend Jennie, who also taught me how to crochet before Jared was born.  The booties were made by my Great-grandma Derrick (so Abby's great-great-grandmother) and have been worn by all of my other children as well as me and all my siblings when we were babies.

So excited for her big day!

 Failed attempt at a good family picture before church:  Evelyn was not in a happy mood and Maggie has a hard time looking right at the camera.  Still.

Grandma Curtis

Grandma and Grandpa Stout

Abigail in August

Babies change soooooooo much in their first few weeks of life.  Here is Abigail looking very teensy in her car seat at 2 weeks old.  

Then here is a picture of Abigail in her bath at about 3 weeks (above) and then at 9 weeks (below).  

The next few pictures are between 3 weeks old and 6 weeks old.  

We call this blanket Abby's "fluffy, pink cloud." It is so soft.

 These were some of Abby's first smiles at about 5 1/2 weeks.  I love looking at the picture progression.

This one is my favorite!

First Days at Home

The first few weeks of a new baby's life are a blur.  She is so cute and cuddly, but honestly, it is so hard to be in survival mode.  I recently told Alan that since I've been in such a fog, I feel a bit ripped off and would like my summer back, please.  Ha ha.  

I love to look at these pictures.  I can already tell that she has gotten quite a bit bigger already.  

Our little burrito

I love putting Abigail in outfits that Maggie and Evy also wore.

LOVE this picture!

Jared is such a great big brother

A visit from Aunt Emma

A nighttime cuddle 

Abigail in the Hospital

Here are some of the pictures from our stay in the hospital.  I have omitted most of the unflattering pictures of me, which are unfortunately from the first few minutes of Abigial's life.  She was so beautiful!  The hospital has recently changed things so that the moms get to hold their babies even longer before the hospital takes them away for shots and things.  I got to hold Abigail for hours and hours before they first took her away from me! It was wonderful.  

Last preggy picture!

A few minutes old

The kids came to visit with both Grandma Stout and Grandma Curtis that first afternoon.  They all doted on Abigail.

First visit from Jared, Maggie, and Evelyn

Grandma Curtis

Grandma Stout 

Grandpa Stout came to visit on Day 2

First family picture

Perky and alert!