2 month shots

I'll get to the trauma of vaccinations in a minute, but yesterday was Abby's two month check up. Although she is actually 9 weeks old? I have been wondering why we begin by counting weeks and then switch to counting months. It is kind of like being pregnant for 9 months, but really it is 40 weeks (which is 10 months)?

So about our visit... Abby has grown a full inch (22.5 inches long) and more than three pounds (12 pounds). This puts her a little on the chubby side, but a little baby fat is always OK especially when her only exercise is kicking the Baby Einstein to make music play.

The shots, on the other hand, were not so easy to live with.

Before giving her the vaccinations, the doctor handed me Infant's Tylenol and explained the dosage. Abby had the standard IPV, DTaP, Hib, Rotavirus, and Pnuemococcal; this equals one dose of oral medicine and FOUR shots (two in each thigh). She screamed for the shots, of course, and after a little fussing went to sleep as Rob and I took the chance to get some supplies at Babies R Us. She slept through dinner until she got hungry and realized she needed a diaper change.

Unfortunately, I did not immediately give her a dose of Tylenol, but thought she would be OK. Not so much. She did not eat very well and began crying. Despite all our usual soothing techniques, Abby cried for nearly half an hour before she fell into an exhausted sleep. I gave her the Tylenol when she began crying, but I will know better next time and give her a dose before she realizes she's still sore.

Despite our feelings, Rob and I both know that Abby doesn't remember who was holding her during the shots. And even though I try, she does not understand our explanation of how vaccinations will keep her healthy in the future. We can only hope that this gets easier as she grows older; at least the vaccinations are less frequent.

Rob Here - I'm piggy backing on Anny's post to as you to take a moment to participate in a poll. It might mean the return of the weekly poll, but not necessarily.

So - the question - do you want us to post the story of Abby's birth day. We will spare the truly gross stuff, never fear me sharing that. It's burned into my head, no need for you to share in that part. We began a post about it over a month ago but have never sat down to finish it. If you're interested, we'll finish it. If you're not, we'll delete it. You all, my friends, are the deciderers.

Update on the Progress

Went to the doctors office yesterday and found out that things are progressing nicely. So nicely, in fact, that we have assurance that Abby will be born in the next FIVE DAYS!!!

Because everything is in order as far as both Anny and Abby are concerned, if contractions start, we're heading over to the hospital.

If contractions don't start, though, we have scheduled to have an induction on Tuesday morning. Abby is full term, already weighing in at between 7 1/2 and 8 pounds. Anny is ready.

So - one way or another, by next week at this time, I'll be a real father! "Raising a critter on the outside" as Natalie puts it!

Any last-minute advice?

**Updated Baby Pool is available. Click the LARGE Yellow box on the right with the teddy bear on it!**

When will Abby be Here?

We've put up a Baby Pool!!

No registration is required and the winner takes all. (It's free, so there's nothing to take! Maybe we'll get you a Starbucks giftcard.)

You get to guess at the date, time, gender (duh), weight and height.

Here's how:

1. Click on this link: http://www.expectnet.com/games/Abby-Birth-Pool
2. Click on "Enter A Guess"
3. Follow the directions.
4. WIN?

There is a pop-up on the other site, but that's what makes it free.

In talking to my sister last night she mentioned that she might want to comment specifically on her guess. Please, everyone, feel free to do that on this site in the Comments section.

Good luck to all!

*This will take the place of the weekly poll until Abby has arrived!

New Poll: How Much is Too Much?

We've gotten many gifts, and we're thankful for all of them! We are, though, having a debate in our house.

How much pink is too much pink?

As the pictures would show, we have taken an intentional approach to not painting Abby's room pink. We knew she was a girl really early on in the planning stages, and chose to go with the neutral blue and green. Strollers, car seats, pack-n-play and such are not pink on the registry. We want a girl and are more-than-excited to be having a girl join our little slice of the world.

But.

There's always a But, right?

We're both feeling a little like we're drowning in a pink ocean. We have gotten several of everything in pink. We also have made an effort to not buy too many things on our own, knowing that we would receive gifts. (Which I restate, we are apreciative of!) What we have purchased has mostly been white.

So, the new poll is: How much pink is too much pink? Vote on the right side ~~>>

Weekly Poll 3: The Daddle

I stumbled onto one of the more interesting things that we have found so far during this pregnancy.

At work we talk about the things that we will have as parents that the generation before did not have. (We also talk about the things that they had that their elders did not have, like seat belts.) Often it's things that have helped along the way, but others are just silly.

I give you........The Daddle.

Yes, the Daddle. It's a saddle for dad to wear while playing horsey for their small child. Read more about it on their website: www.daddle.com.

So, the poll for this week:
Is the Daddle the weirdest/craziest/most useless parenting product you have heard of?

If you answer no, please let me know what else you've heard about!

Blog Poll Number 2 - Communication

Okay okay - I get it. Based on the results of the Mothers Day Poll, I have already purchased a gift, and it is already on Anny's hand. With the heat and such, her hands have swollen a little bit, so I got her an interim-wedding-band. Yes, it's only a seven week gift, but it's what she wanted.

Yes, I can be too practical sometimes.

Now, onto our next Poll: How do you want to be notified that Abby has arrived?

We have a dear friend who has moved to Texas that has prompted this particular poll. Her mother, bless her heart, called us at 2:30 am to let us know that their daughter was born. While we apreciated that we were included, it was an announcement that could wait until morning.

I have several choices for you this time, since I know that some people prefer to hear in different ways. You will notice that "a phone call" is not on that list. It's nothing personal aimed in your direction, but we want to be practical about how many people we will want to be on the phone with after a hopefully-simple birth.

So - your choices, in no particular order:
An e-mail would be nice - You'll simply get an email when we know all of the good details!
A test message for me - I'm cool. I'm hip. I can send a text message out to folks too!
A good, old-fashioned card in the mail - I don't want to take away from the traditionalists out there!
I'll just wait for pictures to be posted here - Trust me, it won't take very long!
Other - I'm open to creativity. I will draw the line at "get on the news by doing something crazy to let me know that she's arrived" but would be open to suggestions!

Your mission - 1) answer the poll over on the right; 2) send us an email with your current contact info. We've already set up an email address for the little one, so send info to abigailmonroe@gmail.com. I can check that from anywhere and can send out announcements from anywhere!

As always - please feel free to comment below for the world to see. Please do not include any of your personal information, as this IS a public site!

Our First Blog Poll (see Right~~~>)

I've decided to have a little more fun with the online experience, so I added a poll to the blog this morning! I hope to change it once a week, and hope that it's relevant.

I have been asked if I am going to do something for Anny for Mothers Day, May 13th. I am not sure where I fall on this issue:

YES -
She's almost a mama, and deserves to be riddled with gifts anyway.
Any excuse to buy her chocolate is a good one.

NO -
She's not quite there yet. Close, but the fat lady has not sung yet....
I like my money and should be able to spend it on me just this one last time.

So, alas, I am at a place where I need input from you! Please register your opinion on the right with our Weekly Poll. Feel free to comment here as well, but your vote does not count unless you click on "VOTE" on the right.