Nine Months Photo Shoot

We had TONS of fun taking pictures of Abigail this week -- Here is just a few.... I think they turned out quite cute. Micaela does a Fabulous job!! Her boys were also doing a great job of getting Abigail to laugh. We had lots of fun. We were also finally able to get pictures of our girls in the matching outfits we bought a few months back -- but trying to get two babies in "picture mode" can be a challenge.... Let's hope these girls are as good of friends as their moms.

Check out her photography: www.yourphotosbyme.blogspot.com

PIANO LESSONS!

PIANO LESSONS
30 minute lessons once a week
$12.50/lesson = $50/month
Monday afternoons and possibly Wednesday afternoons

MY QUALIFICATIONS:
20+ years piano playing experience
AA in Music, piano emphasis
BAE in Elementary Education
5+ years teaching piano lessons - before becoming a general classroom teacher
2+ years classroom teacher (2nd grade)
Accompanist for Phoenix Children's Chorus Prep Choir since Fall 2003

I have had some requests for piano lessons, but was not able to when I was working full-time teaching cute little second graders. I was then waiting for Abigail to get a little older and more stable (from her little early start on life).... Abigail is now getting a little older.

Anyone interested? Let me know.... Thanks!!

Nine Month Check-Up

Abigail had her nine month check-up today.
Here are her latest measurements:
Weight - 17.5 lbs, 25th percentile
Height - 26 in, 10th percentile
Head - 17 in, 25th percentile

The doctor said she is making really good catch-up growth -- She was not even on "the charts" until we had a visit in May or June -- you should see her growth plot line with the growing charts.... Other good news is that we get to start using "regular" formula -- hoping this saves a little bit of money.

Abigail was full of smiles and did a good job.... I just feel so blessed and am grateful for the many miracles in the life of our little girl. Also, thank you to so many for your continued love, prayers, and support! Hard to believe how tiny and delicate this beautiful baby was nine months ago.

Happy Nine Months Old!!

My sweet baby is nine months old today.... Oh, how I love you my little Abigail. Daddy and I love it when you first wake up and we come to get you out of bed -- You look so excited to see us and start another day. Your increasing laughter is contagious!!! Those two little teeth are adorable. You are discovering things more and more. You are getting better at rolling over and getting closer to crawling.

We are so very grateful that you are a part of our family. You have added so much to it.


"Hey Mom!! Give me the camera!"

This is what Abigail wanted to do instead of pose for pictures for her mommy!!

Piano Baby

I am working on a practice CD for the group I play for-- and decided to have some fun with Abigail.... Who knows? I am hoping that at least one of my kids enjoys the piano like I do.


The other night John got Abigail laughing quite a bit. This picture sort of captures it -- and no worries -- it is captured on video.... I love how much more she is responding to things. We just love her laugh!!

We often sit Abigail at the table with us. Last night, John took the tray off so she could be sitting closer to the table.... What a cutie!!


And lastly -- Abigail was not thrilled about last night's breathing treatment.... However, she eventually just fell asleep.... I am guessing she was just too tired to try and sit still for it.

Any Opinions??

Does anyone have any opinions on Cox or Qwest when it comes to phone, internet, and cable?

Updates

Last week was a busy week and I am now getting a chance to blog about it....

Pulmonologist Appointment
Tuesday was one of our busiest days: We had another pulmonologist appointment, and I had my annual PCC Camp meeting to attend. I took Abigail with me to the meeting so people could see her -- and it was a meeting where I didn't play the piano. It made it so I could keep her with me. It ended being a rather long day by the end, but Abigail did great and had lots of people smiling. She did so well sitting through the Camp Orientations.

At the pulmonologist Abigail weighed in at a little over 17lbs. The doctor says that she is still doing well. It was sad and funny how Abigail started crying when she was checking her mouth with the tongue compressor - before she would just try and eat it. The doctor said her good cry was another sign of good lungs.

We do have to continue to be careful with her lung development, and now we have one of these:



I figured we would end up with a breathing treatment machine before long. The doctor thought we already had one as we talked about giving Abigail Albuterol(sp?).... It is just for an "as needed" basis, and we actually did our first treatment this morning. Abigail did pretty well for having to sit there for awhile and have something on her face.

A Trip Away from Abigail
Every year the choir group I play for kicks off their season with a weekend camp for the kids to get a head start on music and also to get to know each other.

This camp was the first time I was away from John a couple of years ago, and this year it made the first time I was away from Abigail since she came home from the hospital. However, even in the hospital I still saw her everyday.

We left on Friday and returned home Sunday evening. I only teared up Friday night as I thought about bed time. Most of the trip I was busy, which made it easier not to be too sad to be away from Abigail.... I was very happy to be back!!

While I was gone John took Abigail to Jeepers (or Jungle Jim's -- whatever it is called now) with some other Merrill cousins. He said she had a fun time -- and it looks like it from the pictures I have seen. Here is one of her hanging out in the stroller.


Here is Abigail enjoying her play mat. She loves being able to sit up, and she is getting better at doing it longer.

Another Tooth

It's here.... I was laughing and talking with Abigail as we walked through a store yesterday, and during one of her big smiles I saw it.... We were wondering if it was coming by the way she was eating on Saturday.... So, Abigail now has two cute little bottom teeth.

Reading Time

Abigail seems to be already loving books. She seems to really like the ones with lift-up flaps. This is a book that Abigail gets really excited about. My friend gave it to me when I was in the hospital just before Abigail was born.




Here is Mrs. Smiley with the measuring bear

P.S. -- Can anyone tell me where the month of July has gone?

"Cute as a Button"

*I wish I had these pictures cropped and looking better, but I am still getting things back in order on my computer after it crashed -- Thanks to a wonderful sister-in-law and father-in-law I have a working computer again....

This is a dress from Nonna (John's Grandma -- Italian for Grandma).... We had fun taking pictures and sending Nonna a Thank You letter with pictures of the dress.




We have found our feet....

One of the new fun things to see is Abigail playing with Daddy even more. He will be close to her face playing with her and making her laugh and she is now grabbing his face and laughing.... This morning was also really cute: John was kissing her good-bye as he was leaving for work -- and Abigail reached out and so very cutely touched his face.... I LOVE IT!!! (and know John loves it, too)

HOME NURSE VISIT
Monday we had a second visit from an in home nurse that is keeping track of Abigail after the NICU. Abigail was weighed and came out at 16lbs 1oz. An evaluation of her development found that she is functioning as a six month old.... FABULOUS!!! Abigail is developing right on track -- maybe even a little ahead of schedule. Had she been born on my due date, she would be five months on Sunday.

I just continue to feel so grateful for such a precious little girl and the many, many miracles that we have seen and continue to see in her sweet little life!