Sleeping Beauty

So Abby was such a good girl last night!! She went to sleep at 8:45pm and woke up at Midnight to eat. We had an hour of eating, burping, potty time (lots of potty time) then she went back to sleep. She woke up at 3:15am but wasn't interested in eating. All she wanted as a good snuggle and she went right back to sleep so I was only up for 5 minutes. Then she decided she was hungry at 4:45am so I fed her and was back to bed in 20 minutes. She then woke up at 8:30am to eat and do some more of her business. I am grateful for the best nights sleep I've had since she was born but I'm afraid it was only a one time event so I will keep you posted! Here are some sleeping pictures of my little angel.

Night Owl

Lately, Abby has been staying awake for long periods in the night. Last night Abby decided to be up for 4 hours straight. She woke up for me to feed her then she was awake until her next feeding and then some. The first little bit she was happy and just wide awake. Then she started to get fussy. This entire time I have been entertaining her (she wants attention and interaction now). I thought well once I feed her again she will fall asleep. Nope. After feeding her she was just as fussy and wouldn't stop crying and demanding to be held. She didn't want her binkie or her swing. Finally John put her in her car seat and started swinging it. She loved it! She fell asleep in 1 minute and John left her in her car seat in her room. Abby was just so exhausted and couldn't fall asleep. She's decided that her new awake time is nighttime. I try to keep her up more during the day but she's just not that interested. How long does the night time struggle last?

2 Week Check up

For all you who have babies, how much weight did they gain from their first pediatrician visit to their two week check up? Abby was born at 8 lbs. 5 oz. and 4 days later she was still a solid 8 lbs. 4 oz. at her first visit with her doctor. So yesterday I took her to her 2 week check up. I knew she had gained some weight because she loves to eat and has spit up only a few times total. Not to mention she has bulked up and seems a lot bigger than when she was born. Her new official weight as of yesterday is . . . . . 9 lbs. 13.5 oz.! She gained 12.5 oz. a week! That's almost 2 oz. a day. So I'm thinking by tonight she will be 10 lbs. She is growing like a weed and hardly looks like a newborn anymore. Some of her clothes no longer fit and we have graduated into size 1 diapers. Watch out Quiggle cousins, when we come to visit Utah she will be bigger than half of you! Here are a few fun pictures of that last couple weeks.

The Day Abigail was Born

Going Home from the Hospital

Her Second Bath

Nap Time with Dad

Grandma dressed Abby up for Picture Time!

Yesterday after her Doctors Appt. (Sleeping Beauty)

The doctor also pricked her foot for the blood screening. She was so sad and tired after so she slept all day until 4pm! Then she had awake time at Midnight and 4am. Fun for mom!

Blessing Day

Abigail received her baby blessing in church yesterday. She was an angel the whole time and didn't wake up until after Sacrament. John gave a beautiful blessing and even choked up at the end. After the blessing we all came to the house, ate yummy food and enjoyed some good company. Abigail's blessing dress has been used on Nielson girls (John's moms side of the family) for the last 27 years. Here are some pictures from the blessing.

Dad, Mom and Abby

Grandpa and Grandma VanDerwerken, Dad, Mom, Abby, Grandma and Grandpa Quiggle

The group that came for the blessing (minus the Olmos)

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

My 17 day old baby rolled over yesterday! Abigail went to sleep in her crib on her back angled a little on her side and I went in to check on her and she was on her tummy! She was even positioned between the Sassy body positioner that keeps babies secure. Her blanket was still wrapped around her perfectly and she was lifting her head making noises. I couldn't believe it. She is so strong. Abby lifts her head and pushes with her legs all the time. She even stands with her behind in the air when she's nursing. She has developed her own personality. I can tell she will be an independent little girl and wants to be involved in all the action. She is constantly making the cutest little noises and hardly ever fusses. She loves her changing table and sleeps in her crib at night. I'm so glad we were blessed with such a good little girl!

Abigail Rachel VanDerwerken

She's here!!! Abigail finally made her appearance on Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 3:14pm. She weighed 8 lbs. 5 oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long! I couldn't believe her size! I went into pre-labor Wednesday morning at 9:30am. I worked until 3pm and decided to go home and have John take me to the hospital. We got to the hospital at 5pm and they monitored me for 2 hours. I was dilated 3cm and 100% effaced but no progress was made. So John and I went to Pei Wei and walked around for a bit. We went back to the hospital at 9pm but still no change! I was given an Ambien and told to come back when the contractions got more intense or closer together. After tossing and turning for 5 hours I told John "We are going back to the hospital now!" So at 3:30am on Thursday morning I was finally admitted because active labor had finally started! I was 5cm dilated so they hooked me up to an IV and I promptly fell asleep. At 6am I got my epidural and fell back asleep. Poor John never really went back to sleep so I was in and out of consciousness until about 11am. In the meantime the doctor broke my water and started me on Pitocin. By 2pm I felt ready to push so the doctor came in and said "Yepp, let's get ready." I started pushing at 2:30pm and had her at 3:14pm. Everything went smoothly and John was an active participant. He was so excited and instantly fell in love. John cut the umbilical cord and stayed with her throughout everything taking pictures. Abigail is beautiful and has the cutest cry I have ever heard. She's a good eater and knows her mommy and daddy. Pictures to come!

Hiking!

So a week ago on February 7th we went hiking! I thought, "This might get the little sucker out" but obviously a week later it didn't work. Here are some pictures at Wild Basin Preserve.

Here is one of the girls! Stephanie Olmo, Me, Jennifer Dial, Nikka Dial

The group hiking!

A nice fat pregnancy one of me and John.

It is now to the point where I roll out of bed and think, "What's the biggest thing I can put on to be comfortable?" I finally converted to maternity pants on January 22nd. They are the most hideous things I have ever seen. You just feel like a beached whale with the belly band and they are just big everywhere. Same with the shirts. You can't feel attractive or presentable in maternity clothes when you are this far along I have decided.

So now I am 39 weeks along and nothing I have tried works. I've massaged pressure points, hiked, curb walked, jumping jacks, jumping off the curb, teas, sex, been sick and coughed my brains out (that only caused more contractions), massage, pedicure, coached an all day lacrosse tournament, the list goes on. The only thing left to try is castor oil and I refuse to do that method. The doctor even stripped my membranes last Tuesday and nothing happened! I'm doomed to be pregnant FOREVER! On a lighter note, I will be induced on February 24th if I haven't had her by then. That's 2 days after my due date. Let's hope baby girl VanDerwerken decides to be nice and pops out on her own early this week! Next post will be about the baby!