Self-soothing

The past three mornings when I've gone to get Abby up and nurse I've found her sucking her right thumb quite vigorously. We've all had an inkling that she would suck her thumb since she was born - she's tried to get her hands to her mouth almost immediately. Now she is starting to really find her hands, and it's only a matter of time until she actually "discovers" what they can really do! Plus, if genetics is any predictor, then she'll definitely be a thumb-sucker! My mom and her twin sucked their thumbs, so did my sister and me, and Nate's brother also sucked his thumb.

Abby has been soothed by the pacifier, her "passie", since she was about three weeks old. This past week, however, she was having none of it. She would cry and shriek when we tried to put it in her mouth. All she wanted were her fists. She sucks on them so loudly - it's hilarious! Nate calls her Maggie Simpson. But, that is how she is self-soothing herself to sleep, so that makes me a happy mama. (In fact, I can hear her through the monitor, sucking away. She still has an hour or more of her nap, so I'll let her go at it.) We've tried to capture her sucking her thumb on camera. But so far, we are either too slow or it's at night before she falls asleep and this mom will let no one interrupt that - even if it is for a cute picture. We'll get a picture soon, and when we do, I'll post it. I think this thumb-sucking thing is here to stay.

Other fun Abby moments of the past few days:

• rolling on to her side while playing on her activity mat with Grandma and Auntie Jamie


• smiling HUGE for Daddy every morning while he gels his hair or shaves


• being a general happy morning baby


• sleeping a good 7-8 hours every night for two weeks


• enjoying her bath and looking at herself in the bathroom mirror


• developing a small bald spot on the back of her head - she moves around and wiggles so much that the hair has just "worn" off!


• smiling and kicking on the guest bed, calming mommy down right after a huge storm and tornado sirens (we hung out in the master closet for about 15 minutes before the all-clear)


• tracking Mommy and Daddy's movements with her eyes


• proving she is her father's child - being fascinated with our plasma tv while having "floor time" in the living room


• being startled by Riley's loud bark at the mailman, but not waking up from her nap in the swing


• smiling HUGE for Daddy when he gets home, melting away his stress


• snuggling on my shoulder while we rock to sleep