21 Months!

Our sweet Abba-giggles is 21 months old!

~Her language explosion continues.  Abigail is using new words, repeating words with improved intelligibility and shows understanding of what we are saying to her.  She occasionally combines words into 2 word phrases.
~We're starting to see glimpses of Toddler Abigail.  She gives a few "looks" and, while it's said in a cute voice, says "no" often.  She's still a go-with-the-flow kind of gal, but will make her opinion known.
~We've started introducing colors.  When it's not labeled for her, she'll typically call objects purple or blue.  Purple seems to be her current favorite.
~She loves to be a helper!  She'll retrieve and deliver objects.  Abigail will also find small pieces of objects on the floor, bring them to us, declare them to be "yucky" and will throw them away in the trashcan.
~Abigail enjoys coloring and playing with stickers....and doing whatever her brothers are doing!
~Abby loves her babies!  She's going to be a great big sister!
~She has quite a sweet tooth.  She loves anything sweet.  When Brennan or Gavin inquire about the possibility of dessert after dinner, she proclaims "Cookies!" almost immediately!
~She is trying to wink, but it is more of an exaggerated I-Dream-of-Genie-style blink.

20 Months!

Little Miss Abigail is 20 months old!

~Abigail continues to learn new words and her receptive language is very impressive!  She frequently repeats words that we say and is very proud of herself.  While she still omits some sounds, her pronunciation is improving.
~Abigail is now pacifier-free!  She only got her "ginky" (binky) at bedtime, but we decided to take the plunge over a long weekend.  We started by cutting off the tip.  She noticed it immediately and began to giggle after looking at it.  On the second day, we cut off more, making it too short to keep in her mouth.  After laughing at it again, she showed it to Mommy.  However, she wanted to hold it rather than having Mommy keep it.  On the third day, the pacifier disappeared.  She calmly asked for it a few times, but accepted "No more paci".  The process was much easier than we anticipated!
~She is going to be a great big sister!  She enjoys playing with her baby dolls. She also loves to give Mommy's belly a kiss (complete with a "muah!")
~Abby is very expressive!  She makes hilarious faces!
~She loves to wear dresses!  She'll get excited when we put one on her and occasionally sways side to side after she is dressed.  She's not a huge fan of not being able to remove her tights that she's wearing with her dresses.
~Continuing her love of dogs, a new favorite toy is figurines from Paw Patrol, a cartoon featuring dogs.  Each figurine has a separate shield that matches the color of the dog's clothing.  While playing with her "Pa Poll" toys, Abigail enjoys matching the dogs with their corresponding shield.  She does  a great job matching them!

Another Sneak Peek

Mommy had another ultrasound today to check the placenta placement due to it being low at the last ultrasound.  Consequently, we were also able to check on Encore's growth and get a few more pictures!

While it seemed to move even during the 30-40 minute ultrasound, it was determined that the placenta is higher and in a better location.  

Encore is growing quickly!  She went from being in the 66th percentile at the last ultrasound to the 86th percentile and is an estimated 2 lbs 6 oz.  Despite her larger size, I'm measuring on track.  She also has an "impressive" amount of hair for 26 weeks!  She was laying sideways and seemed to be shy, but the ultrasonographer was able to get a few good shots of her beautiful face!  Encore was active for part of the ultrasound, but then appeared to fall asleep.  She even gave us a bit of a smile!

19 Months!

Little Miss Abigail is 19 months old!  

~She's quickly transforming into a "toddler" and desperately wants to do what her brothers are doing.

~We've eliminating her morning nap and now take one longer nap in the afternoon.  We decided to make the change after it took her quite some time to fall asleep in the morning, leading to a late wake up.  Shortly after, it was time for her afternoon nap and she would, again, take a while to fall asleep.  She would stay content in her bed, but we felt she was missing too much play and interactive time while playing alone in her bed.  She's transitioned well with a few tired evenings.

~Her vocabulary is blossoming!  She's imitating many words and saying new words nearly every day.  Abigail is also starting to put words together into 2 word phrases, such as "Daddy bye bye" and "Uh oh _____" after an object falls.  She omits some beginning sounds, but they will come with time ("ink" for drink, "ack" for snack, "all -on" for all gone).  Her receptive language is also growing!  

~In addition to her love of babies and dogs, she's quite fond of Minnie Mouse ("Mimi")

~She can identify several body parts, including her nose, mouth, eyes, hair, belly and feet.

~When asked about something she wants or is excited about, she responds with an enthusiastic "Yeah!" and a head/upper body nod

~Abigail likes to turn objects into purses by putting them onto her arm or shoulder.  She recently did this with one of her brother's lunch bags and a newspaper bag.

~Abby loves to help!  She likes to throw things away, will put her brother's clothes into their laundry basket, bring us items she finds and help to pick up toys

~She's great at predicting routines!  For example, when asked if she wants to get dressed or change her diaper, she immediately goes to her room and she calls out the names of one of the friends at the babysitter's house as soon as she hears the bus stopping.  

~Abigail is such a lover!  She enjoys sitting on our laps and snuggling before bedtime.  She recently started initiating giving her brothers a kiss before going to bed.

Happy 6th Birthday, Brennan!

Happy 6th Birthday, Brennan!

Our not-so-little guy is growing up fast!  Brennan has been looking forward to turning 6 for quite some time.  He's such a kind, funny, intelligent, inquisitive young man and we're so proud of him!

To celebrate his birthday, Brennan had his first friends and family party.  In addition to family and family friends, he chose to invite his entire kindergarten class!  Several of his school buddies were able to attend and he had a great time celebrating his big day.  We had his party at Chet and Matt's Pizza for a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle themed party--a theme he chose shortly after his 5th birthday! 

Current interests and favorites:

-Super heroes and super villains

-Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

-Books and reading -- he's able to read several of his stories to us!

-Legos

-Crafts and art

~School!  He loves kindergarten and is doing great!

It's a GIRL!

We had Encore's big ultrasound today and learned that Encore is a GIRL! We're very excited!  Since we're "old pros", the technician assisted us in discovering the gender by pointing out the correct area on the ultrasound screen and letting us determine if it was a boy or a girl! 

Encore looks perfect and healthy.  She's quite the contortionist/acrobat, including having one leg curled while another leg was by her head, and flexing her arm above her head.  We were able to watch her yawn and almost suck her thumb.  While the OB listened to her heartbeat following the ultrasound, she commented that she's very active.  I'm feeling some movement, but not everything.

It was discovered during the ultrasound that my placenta is low, so we'll have another ultrasound in 4 weeks to make sure it's resolving itself.

Here's our beautiful little lady!

18 Month Stats

Abigail had her 18 month well check today.  The doctor noted that she looks "perfect" and was pleased with her development. 

The pediatrician gave us the go-ahead to give her Miralax regularly due to some occasional issues.  He also suggested that we wean her from her pacifier within the next few months.  She only gets a pacifier when she's sleeping and we had already discussed weaning her from it soon. 

Current Stats:
24lb 1 oz
32.5 inches