Crawling Coming Soon?

Intended Post Date: 4/28/2008

Around the time Abby was dining on her delectable lower digits, she somehow figured out how to roll on to her belly. It was as if something clicked...because for weeks I was beginning to think she was an owl. She got her head almost all the way around, but her body wasn't following. Then all of the sudden in between bites of her feet, she flipped right on to her belly. We'd turn her back over and she would quickly repeat.

After our first doctor visit, we were warned about not giving her enough belly time. So we became Belly Time Nazis. She took to it quite well. And now that she can get there on her own, she enjoys it.

Only problem is, I think she forgot how to roll back over on to her back.

Now when she's on her belly, Abby's been getting her legs underneath her and pushing. We're not crawling yet by any means...but I think she's trying to figure it out. Don't know if we're ready for it - but I imagine Abby could be getting self-conscious and trying to exercise - her thighs are enormous. At doctor visits they give you the stats, "...95th percentile weight, 85th height, 80th head size...". I would be more interested in her cheek and thigh measurements - because some of her pants are a bear to get over the gigantic thighs.

The cheeks we already knew about. Her head isn't terribly big as I thought it might be. But onesies are still a challenge. Were the cheeks not so soft (and cute), all her shirt necks would be too stretched out to wear.

Daddy Always Puts His Foot In His Mouth - Why Not Me?

Intended Post Date: 4/25/2008

Its the little things we look forward to in watching Abigail grow. We eagerly anticipated the day she would start sucking her toes. For weeks she had been getting closer and closer to grabbing her feet. Then around April 15th, she finally got a hold of it and feasted upon the taste explosion that is her feet.

Side Note: Speaking of famous Vogel feet...in the past few weeks, Abby has been introduced to the freak show that is her Dad's left foot. To date, she is not bothered by its appearance. Time will tell if she will have a different feeling about Dad - or will it help her to accept different kinds of people based on the content of their character and not based on their appearance?

Abby Enjoys Dad in Small Doses

On Tuesday, April 8, during the latter part of my busy time at work - I was fortunate to get to sneak out of work and spend some time with Abby. Probably more therapeutic than anything, she really changes my mood entirely when I have a lot of stress...it just melts away when I get to play and spend time with her.

This video was my attempt to catch her doing things she normally won't do once the camera is rolling. I set it on the floor and ignored it - she seemed to "act normal". One thing I edited out was her fascination with TV. I had a Baby Einstein video on which fascinated her to the point she kept on trying to watch.

I was able to get her attention and get some giggles out of her. I just think its cute...the little things.



People at work think I am entertaining to have around, and sometimes ponder that Steph must laugh all day long. I try to explain that I am only good in small doses. Seems Abby may be catching on to that notion...

Breaking News - Abby Rolls Over!

I say breaking news...this video is almost two weeks old. I've been stuck at work for some ridiculous hours lately, forcing Steph to do many of the baby things on her own. She's been absolutely great about it...I'm a lucky guy.

Its been crazy around here. Before kicking off an seven day, 80 hour work week, Steph and I almost bid on a new house. Thankfully, someone saved us from ourselves and got a bid in first. We might have been moving a bit too fast. It did kick up the "we need to get our house on the market push.."

Which brings us to Abby...we haven't updated the blog because we haven't had time. On March 28, Steph and I were delighted to see Abby roll from her belly to her back. I quickly got the camera and started recording. As always with our little Abigail, she would not repeat. A few days later, she was more willing...



What has caused even more joy (and fear) is her next accomplishment which happened Friday, April 4th. Before leaving for work, I checked in on a babbling baby to find she was on her belly! At some point in the night, she managed to go from her back to her belly. I woke Steph and had her take a look. We didn't have the camera, so we'll have to catch her in action at a later time.

I think she is using the spindles of the crib to get leverage for the final push, because she doesn't seem to be able to get over outside of the crib. We decided to (gulp) put her crib bumpers back in. Last night it worked...she stayed on her back. We'll see how it plays out. We're both a bit leery.

Another video update should will follow in the next few days. These things take forever to load!

First Week at School

One week down at school and many more to go. Abby had a good time at school. She read books, played on her belly, pooped enough to have her clothes changed a couple of times, made bunny ears with her painted feet, listed to a musician sing songs, and held hands and stared at Cayden, (her new classmate, and boyfriend evidently, but Dad doesn't like the boyfriend title at all). Her teachers tell us that she throws the best fits too. The two other little boy babies have nothing on Abby - she just drowns them out with her well developed vocal cords and "I already know what I like and don't like attitude".



Bob and I did okay with Abby being at daycare too. I try to go at lunch to feed her as many days as possible, so that helps to be able to see her during the day. It's certainly not easy and a lot of work when you get home in the evening trying to eat dinner, spend time with Abby and keep the house in somewhat of an order, get ready for the next day, and then get to bed at a decent hour. Hopefully it gets easier as we get into the swing of things.

First Day at School

St. Patrick's Day was Abby's first day at school. Abby wasn't scared,
"No sweat...I can do this thing in my sleep..."


Steph got her loaded up and had the heart wrenching task of dropping her off. The drop-off went well, as did lunch feeding with Steph. Early afternoon, however, was another story.

Side story: many of you probably know, if you should go to prison, the first thing you must do is find the toughest person there and start a fight...shows others you're no punk. If carried out properly, no one will mess with you...even if you lose the fight. Otherwise, you will be tormented for the duration of your stay.

Abby did the Day Care equivalent. The teachers didn't tell me details when I picked her up, so I would have to assume one of the other two infants was talking trash about poopy diapers. Abby let her actions do the talking (Exhibit A)...

I must also mention...I spared many of you from seeing the picture of her one-sie, which looked like someone used it to clean up a 55-gallon drum of Grey-Poupon. She even had some poop on the elbow of her long sleeve pink tee - that has even me wondering what the heck happened?

Needless to say, her roommates were impressed, her teachers were put on alert, and (most of all) her Daddy was proud!

Now, I'm not saying every day when I pick up my little precious from Day Care I want to get a bag of clothes that got dirtied....let's just say I won't ever worry about cleaning up this mess. Show 'em who's boss, Abby!!!