15 Month Check-Up

Last week my baby girl turned 15 months.  Yes, I am one of those people who will always refer to her daughter in months in hope that it makes her seem younger.  Alright, maybe I will only refer her to months until she turns 2.  Because let's face it, once you start saying that your child is 30 months, it takes some math to figure out how many years that computes.  Okay, maybe just me since I am an accountant and I rely on a ten key to compute just about everything.

Anyway, back to the visit.  This would probably be the last visit that I take Abbie with just me and her.  It was like someone secretly put coffee in her milk that morning.  She was EVERYWHERE!!  She kept opening the door of our exam room so she could go run the hallways in her diaper.  I have no clue how my friend, Brandy, does it when she takes both of her kids to the doctor alone.  I was ready to cry right along with Abbie when she got her shots.  I was so exhausted after her appointment that I took her to daycare and then took the rest of the morning off from work so I could re coop from the whole experience.  I called my mother on the way home from the doctor and informed her of her next appointment so she could plan her next trip during that time.  About the only pleasurable part of the visit was seeing Dr. McDreamy.  No, I'm not talking about Patrick Demsey either.  I'm talking about Abbie's super sweet and attractive pediatrician.

And as always, my daughter was growing exponentially well...

15 month stats:

*Length: 33 1/4 inches (greater than 97th percentile)

*Weight: 23 lbs, 4 oz (57th percentile)

*Head Circumference: 49 cm (97th percentile)

I really wish they would tell me exactly how much greater than 97% she is in.  It's so vague.  I mean, is she 105% or 130%?? Although I did call my stepbrother to wish him a Happy Birthday and was telling him about her visit.  He told me that her cousin who is about 10 months older than her is only about an inch and a half taller.  So either Cael is pretty short or Abbie is really tall.  I just hope that she is more physically inclined than her father and I.  I hate meeting someone for the first time and they see my 5'11" statue and automatically ask if I'm good at Basketball.  No, I am not good at that sport b/c it takes some hand/eye coordination and you have to be aggressive.  Those are two attributes that I was not gifted with.  And Charlie...well he is a little bit better in sports but not enough to play any in high school besides golf.  Maybe Abbie will just be a brainiac and will one day find the cure for cancer and will support her poor ole parents in their 70's.  You never know, it could happen.  Although, after watching this video...I know that she definitely is going to be a clutz (or is it klutz?) at whatever she does!!

Interested in reading up on her other Doctor's Visits??  Here are the links.

12 Month Check Up
9 Month Check Up
6 Month Check Up

A year of tears, laughs, milestones & memories...

Dear Abbie,

It’s so hard to put into words what I’m feeling today. I think back to a year ago and how my life changed forever the moment I heard your tiny little cry. You were a long time in the making. Daddy & I went back and forth on whether or not we wanted to have a baby. I just couldn’t see living a life alone without a child. You have blessed both me and your daddy in so many ways. Yes it was hard at first. The late night feedings, the adjustment to being a full time working mother. It was really tough. And at times I thought to myself, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’ Motherhood is probably THE MOST challenging job I have ever had. There are days when I have my A game and some days I just want to throw in the towel. But then you crack me one of those smiles. The kind that melts my heart and gives me the reason to carry on.

The other night when I laid you to sleep, I thought back to when you were a newborn and you were so tiny and helpless in my arms. I would bundle you up in your blanket and rock you to sleep. Now you have outgrown my arms and your legs are no longer confined to a blanket but instead sprawled out on my lap. It hurts me to know that you aren’t a baby anymore but becoming Momma’s big girl. I hope you will let me rock you until your feet hit the ground like your Grandma Raine did for me when I was younger.

This morning your daddy went in late into work so we were both able to wake you up on your birthday. Your daddy picked you up and you laid your little head on his shoulder and didn’t move. I just wanted to cry. You are definitely Daddy’s little girl. You have changed your daddy into a completely different man. He has never been one that liked babies. He was completely fine with living a life without children. And then you came along and he did a complete 180. His face lights up when he sees you. It just tugs at my heartstrings when I listen to you giggle as your daddy gives you a bath. He does everything in his power to protect you. You definitely have your daddy wrapped around that tiny little finger, Abbie. Keep up the good work.

It’s been quite the year for us. So many tears. So many laughs. So many milestones. So many memories. I wish I could put life on hold to soak it all in. But I have a lifetime to spend with you and make many more memories. I love you Abbie and hope your 2nd, 10th, and 60th year of life will be as joyful as this past year has been.

                                                                  All my love,

                                                                  Mommy

Happy Birthday My Sweet Little Girl!!



Photo taken by Stephanie Phillips



Abbie & I’s favorite lullaby.

The same lullaby that her Grandma sung to me.



You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away.

The other night dear, as I lay sleeping

 I dreamed I held you in my arms

But when I awoke, dear, I was mistaken

So I hung my head and I cried.



You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know dear, how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away.

Please don't take my sunshine away.

Please don't take my sunshine away.

For the audio version, click here.



Not a way to start a Tuesday

MONDAY:
9:36 pm:  Climbed into bed.  Excited that I was going to get 8 1/2 hrs of glorious sleep.

11:50 pm:  Woke up wide awake.  Hot.  Uncomfortable.  Arm throbbing.  Need to open window.  Need water.

TUESDAY:
12:30 am: House alarm gives us warning that it's about to go off.  Somehow the door leading out to the garage was not latched and it opened.  Thank goodness we turned it off before the siren went off.

1:00 am:  After tossing and turning, I finally drift off to sleep. 

6:00 am:  Alarm goes off.

6:30 am:  Finally got out of bed.  30 minutes to get ready before I needed to wake up Abbie.  Why didn't I just get out of bed when my alarm went off?

7:00 am:  Frank wanted to go outside but that isn't part of the morning routine.  Dogs go out at 7:15.

7:06 am:  Frank peed on floor near the back door.  Really?  You couldn't wait 9 more minutes?  Note to self: when Frank is whining by the door...LET HIM OUT!! 

7:06 am:  Let both dogs outside.

7:07 am:  Sopped up dog pee off of floor.

7:08 am:  Wishing that I didn't adopt a beagle.  Odie is going to wake the neighbors with his howling this early in the morning. 

7:10 am:  Broke Abbie's highchair tray trying to pull her over to me to feed her.

7:17 am:  Let Frank in.  Called for Odie to come in. No response.

7:20 am:  While getting packing everything up for the day, I noticed that Abbie had puked on her self and is playing with it.

7:24 am:  Changed Abbie into another outfit.

7:27 am:  Called for Odie to come in again.  Still no response.  Slammed the back door and really wish I had a dog that listened.

7:35 am:  Packed makeup to put on at work.  Halloween is still 5 days away and I don't want to scare any of my co-workers.

7:38 am:  Went outside with the doggie treat jar to lure Odie inside.  Success!! 

7:46 am:  Loaded Abbie up in the car and realized that most of my Halloween decorations are strewn throughout the yard.  UGH!!  Dang wind!!

7:48 am:  Walked Abbie up to daycare and heard her grind her teeth.  Stuck my finger in her mouth to make her stop and she BIT ME!! 

8:10 am:  Arrived at work.  One of these days I will learn how to manage my time in the morning and arrive to work on time.

Please tell me that this is the end to my horrible day.  I don't need to break down crying at work.  Although if it's going to happen, please do it before I put on my makeup.

My Favorite Lullaby

On the nights that I rock Abbie to sleep, I sing her this lullaby.  It was the same lullaby that my mother sung to me when I was little.  And some nights (like tonight) I cry as I sing it to her.  Listen to it and tell me if you get a little teary eyed too...

Video of the Week

Wow, what a weekend!!  I was busy doing my matriarchal duties.  Cleaning house, laundry, cooking, playing with my daughter.  I did lay down this afternoon and took a nap with Abbie for about an hour.  Now begins another week at work, a full 5 day week at that.  :(

It's after midnight and I'm up watching Big Brother online.  That is the one thing that sucks about not having cable.  I have to wait until shows posts online before I can watch them.

Well Big Brother is over and it's time for this tired Mama to go to bed.  But before I go, I leave you with this cute & adorable video of my girl.


Silly Girl from Megan Vogt on Vimeo.

My most favorite time of the day

Life has become so hectic since becoming a mom. Once I get home from an eight hour day at work, I am on the go non stop. After feeding the babe, making dinner, bathing the babe, putting the babe to sleep, washing bottles, etc, it's 10 pm before I can finally sit and relax. Charlie is usually asleep by then so I have the house all to myself. I love this time of the day, it's me time. I usually get on the computer & multitask. I blog or check my Facebook while catching up on my soap on Hulu. Sometimes I lose track of time chatting with family & friends back home and next thing I know it's midnight and I finally head to bed to enjoy a glorious night of sleep before waking up at 5:45 to begin the whole process again. It is said that a person should get eight hours of sleep a night but I think once you become a mother, you are lucky to get six. But yet you still have it in you to make it through the day. Motherhood can be so exhausting at times but the reward in the end is so worth it.

Before I Was a Mom

Before I was a Mom, I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom, I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom, I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom, I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom, I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom, I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.