Huntsville & Birmingham

Friday night, Paul, Addie, and I traveled to Huntsville. I spoke at an Alabama Family Ties conference, Saturday morning. With no help from Google maps***, we had a great dinner at PF Chang's (although not until about 9:30pm) with our favorite dessert at Red Robin. I told Paul since it was his birthday month (June 29th) that he should let himself eat 2 desserts this month!
The conference went well, and we headed back home Saturday morning. We stopped in Birmingham and met Jeff, Lauren and Ryan for lunch at CPK. It's so good to see our sweet college friends again!

***this is nothing against Google maps...but it told us PF Chang's was on bridge street nw. there happens to be 2 bridge street nw in Huntsville (one in a neighborhood we weren't quite sure the status of and the other in a brand new outdoor shopping center (like Eastchase and the Summit)) and another in Michigan...it took us a while to find PF Chang's!

the Daddies with their babies:
Paul and Addie (who happened to decide at that very moment to cry because it was time to eat...notice Paul's "Anna, hurry and take the picture" face!)
& Jeff and Ryan

Lauren and Anna
(we were sorority sisters at Samford and in each other's weddings a "few" years back)

3 Months Old!!!

our family
(notice the dogs managed to jump in the picture too)

in 3 months, we've:

• changed approximately 750 diapers
• washed more loads of laundry than i think we washed in the past year
• changed our sheets and clothes more than usual due to spit up, etc
• not changed our clothes even with spit up on them
• rocked Addie in the rocking chair a few hundred thousand times
• spent hours trying to get Addie to smile and getting a blank stare in return until now!
• administered 3 bottles of Mylicon (approx, and started our 4th...but not all at the same time!)
• replaced the paci in Addie's mouth at least 150 times
• watched the Praise Baby DVDs over and over and over until I can sing the songs in my sleep
• learned how to calculate exactly when she'll want to eat but attempting to balance it with when we need her to eat
• rescued at least 3 paci's and 2 baby toys from being chewed by a dog (...but we remember the fallen few that could not be rescued)
• cleaned up a minimum of 15 shredded diapers, courtesy of Abbey
• laid in the bed at night holding our breath and listening to see if she: 1) has spit up, 2) has dropped her paci, 3) is breathing, or 4) is finally asleep
• never been so tired, and...

in 3 months, Addie has:

• met over 100 people (well...that's when we stopped counting)
• held her head up
• slept with her bottom in the air
• smiled
• gone through an average of 3 outfits each day (not counting pjs)
• batted her toys around with her hands and feet
• enjoyed music
• read Good Night Moon
• acquired clothes up to 4T
• bazooka barfed
• taken a bottle
• cried
• had a spend the night party at Uncle Jay and Aunt Millie's house
• gone to the beach
• had her picture taken no less than a 1,000 times
• smiled some more
• walked/been strolled in the Walk of Life
• been licked by every animal in our house (hey...they're clean!)
• taken 5 road trips
• rolled over
• cried some more
• walked (or ridden in her stroller) approx. 75 miles or so
• smiled some more

getting some loving from her Rie Rie

a few face...cutting those eyes!

there's that smile...almost a wink!

kicking those legs!

in her Landmark VBS shirt...a little big. we'll have to wait until the NEXT diaper derby to participate...since we couldnt even sit up for this one :)

but most importantly...

• we've learned it takes very little for Addie to make US smile,
• she is a happy baby,
• we love her more than we've ever loved anyone before,
• we've become a family,
• she has captured our hearts, and
• she is an amazing blessing from God.

Happy 3 Months Little Bit!

An Afternoon at the Park

It was gorgeous in Montgomery yesterday...probably the same temperature as last week but without the humidity! Diane and I decided to take the kids to the Old Alabama Town Park. We had so much fun catching up. Di loved holding Addie, and I loved getting to play with and take pictures of Tyler and Ellie.

Tyler is SO sweet with Addie (they both are!)

Swinging Ellie and with Tyler

Tyler and Ellie "sleeping" on the swing. Click on the pictures and check out their faces...too cute!

We are so fortunate to have such sweet friends who love Addie so much!

My 1st Beach Trip

the sunset on the way down to Gulf Shores

I have a totally new perspective on "going to the beach" now...

We managed to get out of the house only an hour after we'd hoped (which is pretty typical for us). The car was packed full...for a two day trip! We had 1 suitcase, 1 backpack, 2 diaper bags, a beach bag, a camera bag, a pack-n-play, jogging stroller, cooler, cat, and litter box. (and mommy, daddy, and a baby) I thought that was pretty good.

So...then the realization hits me that no trip will EVER be the same! I start out in the backseat (a place I try to avoid so i dont get sick feeling) with Addie and the bottle. We're all of a sudden driving down the road listening to the "Praise Baby" CD (because Addie likes it), trying to ignore Addie's keys jingling in the background, the cat starts meowing, and then we hear it...Addie's holding her breath and then theres the grunt. We know what that means...she's a ticking time bomb (somewhat literally!) and we're risking a blow out!

At one point, I looked back and Addie was looking over her car seat at me like..."where are we going and what are you thinking dragging me 3 hours to the beach?!?!?" Fortunately she has no idea that our next two trips will consist of being in the car over 6 hours...just one way!

My dad and Pat live at the beach now...in a condo only yards away from the water! It's beautiful and relaxing. They were kind enough to let us come stay for a few days even though their weekend was totally packed! We enjoyed a yummy Father's Day dinner with my dad at a local seafood restaurant called the Fish Camp. While the weather wasn't completely cooperative, we did spend some fun time on the beach and at the pool...and bottom line, it was totally stress free!

Instead of heading to the beach with just a cooler, sunscreen, and a few towels...we ventured down to the beach with...
a jogging stroller containing Addie,
a camera,
two umbrellas,
two chairs,
a beach bag
(with numerous towels, blankets, diapers, wipes, and burp clothes), and
her play mat.

Paul got the umbrellas up while I soaked Addie in sun screen. I thought I burned easily...After a few tears, we headed down to the water in which we promptly got splashed and Addie gave me her pouty lip "saying: seriously mom..."

Addie watching the water from a safe distance!

checking out the water

oh that sun is so bright!

um...mom, look behind you!

So we went back up, changed her diaper, and she promptly fell asleep :)

Then we headed to the pool to try out Addie's new life jacket. It is the tiniest, cutest thing! She didn't much like it "on land" but once she got in the water, she was a happy, floating baby!

enough swimming for today...zonked out! i think i see a few curls here...might just be the humidity, but we're hopeful!

sweet sweet sleep! she's just started putting her hand on her face when she's tired or asleep. she usually prefers to have her "lovey" in her hand next to her face.

a Gulf Shore sunset...after a storm

Happy Father's Day!

I never knew how wonderful it would be to see a new Daddy with his baby girl. Paul is an amazing daddy. I have to admit, I was a little worried when he expected to hold her "like the minister does" (head in one hand, bottom in the other, out toward the congregation) and we had to watch "A Baby Story" a few times so he could see how to properly hold Addie when she came (i think we used Fuzz as an example too)...and i was a little worried when he was afraid to change her diaper before her umbilical cord fell off and only wanted to hold her with his right arm. But then again the diaper champ was always emptied, we always had dinner, I always knew her bath would be run and he would have the towel ready (and he'll even pull her out of the tub and hand her to me now!), and the litter box was always clean (well...usually clean).

After a mere 3 months, he is not afraid to hold her with his left arm (and has actually held her on his shoulder!), has decided that he's actually benefiting when she refuses to stop crying unless he stands up (because it provides even more exercise for him), has lost almost 25 pounds since she was born (working out almost every day and eating only 1 dessert a month...and sticking with it!), can't stop his heart from breaking when she cries, and has actually dressed her a few times! It's awesome how such a little one can totally alter your life.

I've witnessed first hand that...he has lots of patience, give lots of support, changes lots of diapers, wakes up a lot with me and Addie (even on week nights), can immediately talk in a sweet little voice when Addie starts talking to him, melts when she smiles at him, and has lots more patience with me even when I don't with him...and he is officially the best daddy in the world! Happy 1st Father's Day!

March 19, 2008

June 15, 2008

Reading!!!

About 6 weeks ago, I attempted to read the Belly Button Book to Addie. Either it was bad timing or she was just too young, but for whatever reason, I was quite unsuccessful! Knowing the value of reading to children at a very young age and not being one to give up easily, I tried again about a week ago. Addie loved it! She already has a favorite book and a favorite page. I like her favorite page because the opposite page has a mirror on it...so I get to see every expression she makes as she takes in the pictures! We've had a lot of fun reading, and Paul got some fun shots of it one night.

Mommy's New Toy

Whoever dReAmEd that a jogging stroller would be my new toy?!?!? My mom is training for the 3-Day Komen in October (a 3-day 20 miles a day walk!). So I am attempting to help her train by walking with her in the morning (not that she needs any help and not that it's not doing me good too!), and I realized we were putting some serious miles on our regular stroller, to the point where it was starting to squeak! Some days it just a mile or so...other days it's 4 miles and growing! So, as President Bush requested, I used a portion of our rebate check to purchase a "new toy" for Addie (and me!) We have really enjoyed it, and I would highly recommend it for those who love to walk! (no...we don't jog).

She's still a little small for it, so we've used her car seat head support and started puting a rolled up burp cloth between her little legs to keep her from sliding down too far!

this is how hUMiD it was the morning we walked...it totally fogged up the camera by the time I'd finished taking a few pictures!


Just waking up...my mom says my brother used to sleep with his hands like this...so relaxed!!!

Swimming!!!

I'm way behind!!! A week or so ago, I met Diane and her kids at the pool for a little while. It was the first time Addie had EVER been to the pool (or in a swimsuit for that matter).

hmmm...this is the life!

We kept the sunglasses on for approximately 5 seconds...but they were cute!

Ellie, Tyler, and Addie

so relaxed!!!

Di, Addie, and Ellie