Trendy dinner

We had a triple date on Friday, February 1st with our friends Eric and Amanda and their baby Isabella. We went to Bluefish and ate sushi.  

Trip to San Francisco

On Friday, January 25th, we took our first family vacation to San Francisco to visit Grandma and Grandpa Duffy.  

Daddy holding Abby at the airport

Aunt Bridgie and Abby chilling on the couch 

Sporting her new sunhat 

Uncle Matt and Abby 

We had such a great trip and we can't wait to go back and visit again!

 

6 Months

Our little princess 

6 Month Stats

Weight: 20.6 lbs
Length: 27 in
Head: 16.9

Eating:  Nursing about 4-5 times a day.  I've noticed a significant cutback on both the amount of time Abby nurses and nursing sessions.  Abby used to nurse about 17-20 min per session and now its about 12-15 min--guess she is becoming a more efficient little eater.  Eating 2 solid foods meals a day!  For breakfast we'll do a little Organic Whole Wheat Oatmeal mixed with some expressed milk and some iron drops--does not smell great but Abby doesn't seem to mind.  We'll start with an oatmeal course and then we'll have a fruit course of either apple or pear.  Next week we are trying bananas!  For dinner we usually do a vegetable then a little fruit.  So far we have tried Sweet Potatoes (Abby LOVES) and zucchini squash.  Next week we are trying carrots, I'm really excited to take some pictures of Abby with sweet little pureed carrots on her face.
Bedtime: 8:00 pm
Awake: between 7 and 8 am
Naps:  We are still working on a more established nap schedule.  There are still 3 naps a day. One 1-hour morning nap from about 10-11, an afternoon cat nap from about 12:30-1 or 1-1:30, then a late afternoon nap from 4-5:30pm.  Trying to get rid of the late afternoon nap but Abby really loves it.
Diapers:  Size 3, Pampers Sensitive (LOVE this brand, fits great)
Clothes:  12 Months in most brands
Favorites: Loves to sit on her blankets and activity mat and play with her toys.  LOVES toys--dolls, linkables, sophie the giraffe, teething rings and toys.  Loves putting toys in her mouth and chew on them.
Latest Tricks: Sitting up all by herself.   Transitioned from the Bumbo chair to the highchair for meals. Showing more of a personality, will start 'talking' or crying when she wants Mommies attention or when she wants to be picked up.  NIGHT OWL--loves to stay up late (just like her Daddy) and she sleeps 8 hour stretch and likes to sleep in the morning. Teething like crazy, sometimes the pain gets discomforting and I give her some Children's tylenol and put oragel on her gums.  This month we faced our first cold.  Poor baby girl had major congestion and a cough.  Nasal aspirator and baby vicks helped a lot.

4 Months

I know this post is super late but I forgot to post it in November, better late than never =)

Posing for her 4 month picture

Loving her giraffe print outfit--thank you Godmama Michelle 

Abby's Thanksgiving outfit--she's modeling it for everyone to see

Wearing her baby Gap dress from Grandma Kathy 

Love my bows!

4 Month Stats

Weight: 18 lbs, 8 oz
Length: 24.8 in
Head: 16.2 in

Eating: Nursing 5-6 times a day.  Sleeping through the night, no more night time feedings--I know I'm a freak for saying this but I miss my nighttime feedings with baby.  She pretty much gave those up around 2.5 months. 

Bedtime: Around 10 pm--Abby is quite the little night owl

Awake: She is awake a good part of the day now, still naps frequently. 

Naps: About 3-4, one mid-morning, early afternoon, late afternoon, sometimes evening around 5pm

Diapers: Pampers Swaddlers Size 2 (Size 2 is 12-18 lbs, we will be switching to 3 soon!)

Clothes: 9 months 

Favorites: Loves laying on her mat and looking up.  Getting better with tummy time, LOVES her Disney train that Grandma Gigi got her.  

Latest Tricks: Grabbing toys with both hands, very good at following sounds.  

Abby's First Christmas!

Abby is 5 months and one week old for her first Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve at my Aunt Michelle's house where we had some great food and opened presents.  Abby got lots of great gifts including some adorable outfits from her Aunt Martha and Aunt Eva, a big comfy chair from PBK from her Godmother Michelle, and some goodies from her Grandparents, Maria and Miguel--including feeding gear, books, clothes, and a baby doll.  Ed's parents, Kathy and Pat got Abby an activity saucer--she absolutely loves it!  Ed and I got Abby some toys including a fairy tale little expandable book and her first doll.  Looking forward to many tea parties with her dolls.  We have really enjoyed playing with Abby and all her new stuff.
Ed gave me some gift cards,  a neck massager, and a new I-pad!  I got Ed a custom made shirt from Thomas Pink for the office, some clothes and a new outdoor cooking grill.  Looking forward to making dinners outside in our backyard.  Charlie had a great Christmas too! He got a new bed from Grandma Maria and Grandpa Miguel, toys, and doggie treats.   

Cousin picture 

Abby in her new chair and Charlie checking out Dad

Cutie Patootie 

Abby loves her new doll from Mommy and Daddy 

Playing in her Marine-themed activity center 

Thank you everybody!

Chicago, IL

On Friday, 12/21 we got on a plane and headed for Chicago to visit the rest of the Duffy gang.  Ed's cousin Jim picked us up from the airport, it was very cold when we arrived but Jim was nice enough to have the heat on full blast for us.  Jim drove us to Grandma Jeanne Duffy's house where Grandma Kathy, Grandpa Pat, and Aunt Bridget as well as some other Duffys were all there.  Abby got to meet her little Cousin Camden Peters--3 months old.  It was great visiting with Grandma and everyone.

On Saturday we attended the 40th DFCP (Duffy Family Christmas Party) this is a longstanding tradition that even the newest Duffy kids have kept strong.  Every year all the Duffys get together at someone's house--this year the party was at Brian Duffy's house--there is lots of great food, singing and sometimes Santa Claus makes an appearance. 

Here is a poem that Second Cousin Brian Duffy wrote summarizing the night:

I know I said the previous poem would be my last,

But lately they're spewing out of me oh so fast.

The DFCP was a great success again this year,

It's easy when you're with people you hold so dear.

We had plenty of spirits and food for the hearty,

We even had a Hollywood actress at the party!

There were cousins from Iowa, Texas and Frisco by the Bay

Jack Duffy came the furthest, from Armenia by the way.

Everyone had a great time, right from the get-go

But it was Abigail and Camden that were the stars of the show.

Attached to this email is a file of great pics

Break them out from time to time if you ever need a family fix

So Brian and Jeanne are wishing you all a Happy New Year

We do it again in 12 months, only we're not doing it HERE.

Abby posing in front of the Christmas tree at Grandma Jeanne's house

Family picture at DFCP 

Abby meet her Great Grandma Jeanne 

The two newest little Duffys--Camden and Abby 

Four Generations: Great Grandma Jeanne, Aunt Maureen (Mo), Ed, and Abby 

Can't visit Chicago without a breakfast at Ashford house.  Love us some Gaelic breakfast 

Ed, Bridget, Eileen, Jim, Mo and Abby 

First Plane Ride!

Louisville, KY

This week we packed up all of our bags and went on our first trip just the 3 of us to Louisville and Chicago to visit Ed's family.  I spent most of the week packing up Abby's belongings and making endless lists of things I needed to bring (mainly stylish outfits for Abby).  On the day of our trip I was SO nervous because I wasn't sure how Abby was going to be on the plane.  Not a surprise at all--Abby loved the plane.  I nursed her when the plane took off and as soon as we were airborne she fell asleep on me and the travel boppy.  She woke up when we landed in Atlanta--quick stop--followed by a quick diaper change, we ascended again for Louisville and Abby nursed again then fell asleep in my arms.  I could not have asked for a more perfect flying experience with baby.  When we landed in Louisville it was quite cold but I bundled up little Abby so that she would not get cold, in fact I think I overdid it, by the time we got in the rent-a-car she was sweating.  We drove to Jeffersonville where Ed's Maternal Grandparents live--when we got there we were greeted by Grandma Maureen Gale, Grandpa Bill Gale, Grandma Kathy, Grandpa Pat, Aunt Bridget, Cousin Eileen Duffy, and Twin cousins Ellie and Carly.  Abby really enjoyed visiting with her family.  

Daddy and Abby on our Southwest flight to Louisville 

Four Generations: Great Grandma Maureen, Grandma Kathy, Daddy and Abby

Abby meeting her Great Grandma Maureen

Abby snuggled in her carseat--

I know, I know I overdid it but I wanted to make sure my baby was warm

A little peak at the baby in there