What Fun!

This post is way overdue!

Our outing to the zoo was way overdue!

You see, Kelly and I had been trying to get together for 4 weeks. I kid you not, F.O.U.R. weeks!

Week 1: Addie gets sick

Week 2: Anna Beth gets sick

Week 3: Montgomery/Wetumpka floods

Week 4: We both hold our breath when we get the girls up from their naps. No one is allowed to wake up with a fever. It's not allowed to rain, let alone flood!

Success!

We had a fabulous time with Kelly and Anna Beth. You see, Addie and Anna Beth are 2 days apart. Kelly and I both love to sew (although she's much more diligent with it than I am!). We're both 1st time moms, and we're far more like-minded than I ever imagined. It's been so much fun getting to know her!

The girls were so cute together. They even shared their toys again, like they did here {click}. (They were so tiny then!)

I'm learning a lot about Photoshop Elements. I just recently learned how to merge photos.
Since it's so hard to get two babies to: 1.) look at the camera at the same time and 2.) smile at the same time...

I just merged two photos together to get a good one of both girls!

Impressed? Me too...with Photoshop!!!

And as in past zoo visits, the peacock is always up for having his photo taken!

We're looking forward to many more playdates with Anna Beth and Kelly!

Augusta: Part Dos

After Addie's nap on Saturday, we headed over to her Grandpa's house for the night and some of Gail's yummy homemade lasagna. Addie could not get enough of it!

I did a terrible job of getting a great picture of the 3 of them. I did manage to merge two pictures to get Mike's eyes open but didn't have one I could merge for Gail's. So here's the best I got. No matter the quality of my photo taking skills, Addie had a blast with Grandpa and Gail!

After walking across the room to Grandpa (the most steps ever...still!), they had a refrigerator moment! You see, Mike has a very organized, to say the least, refrigerator. Pictures in a perfect collage, several comics and tiny magnets, all at perfect one year old eye level! This wasn't a problem...until Addie discovered it! So, Grandpa, with great yoga style, sat down on the floor with her to play. In classic Grandpa fashion, he took it all with stride...until Addie started pulling things off the refrigerator! Do note that 2nd picture ;)

But all it takes is a sweet baby smile to make everything ok; comic up on the counter, tiny glass magnets confiscated by Mommy...and a perfect Grandpa/Addie moment!

As I posted here, Addie's Grandpa has a beautiful yard! Paul and Addie were outside with me, and I took what I think is my all time favorite picture of them! I love it how their expressions are practically identical!

We had a great time at Addie's Gramma's and then Grandpa's. We also inherited an excellent TV to replace the one that just went out at our house and the comfiest sofa ever! I can't wait to take a nap on sit quietly on enjoy our new couch!

Augusta: Part Uno

Paul, Addie, and I traveled to Augusta over Memorial Day weekend to see his parents/Addie's grandparents. We spent Friday night with Addie's Gramma and her husband. We got up early (sort of) Saturday morning to eat breakfast at a new restaurant in North Augusta (which happens to be in South Carolina, unlike the rest of Augusta which is in Georgia...huh?!?)

Anyway, after eating a great breakfast, we headed to an outdoor market by the Savannah River in downtown Augusta (which happens to actually be in Georgia!). I was just sick that I left my camera at the house. There were old brick buildings, some brightly painted, a huge fountain with kids playing in it, and a beautiful garden and path near the river. Besides that, my baby girl was having fun walking and I wanted pictures! Needless to say, I will not be forgetting my camera again!

When we got back, it had started to rain {again}; but the porch had great lighting, so I started snapping away! I thought this first picture was so pretty with both Addie and her Gramma looking off.

That quiet moment didn't last for long though!

Addie decided she wanted to stand up on the swing. I decided that it was worth it to stand in the sprinkles to get these...

My favorites...the 1st and the last ones:

As you saw here {click}, Addie was ready to get walking some more!

Not This Monday...

No "Not Me!" for this blogger on this Monday. Nope, not me!

Just this: click here and here

More pictures from our weekend to come.

Two Words...

s.h.e.'s. w.a.l.k.i.n.g.

Ok, so a few more words than two. I've never been able to post only two words!

We spent over 5 hours in the car Friday afternoon driving to Augusta. Apparently being confined for that long triggered something in Addie. When I got her out at her Gramma's, I put her down so she could hold my hands and walk up the front walkway. Instead, she took hold of only one hand, and with incredible balance, took off walking dragging me behind her!

After dinner, we let her play around for a while even though it was late. She would pull herself up on one thing and walk to the next. We were all counting...

First it was two steps, then three at home.

Next it was five steps, then six at Gramma's.

But then it was clear across the room walking from Mommy to Grandpa...at least 15 steps.

Clearly...she's proud of herself! (and so are we!)

Whoohoo!

Bumpin' Up & Down In My Little Red Wagon

I sort of drug my feet getting Addie a wagon. There were too many choices and too many reviews to read. This one was more likely to tip over. This one didn't have seat belts. She was too little. It was the wrong season. We had other needs. And where on the earth in the house was I going to store a wagon (with a jogging stroller, umbrella stroller, kangaroo climber, not to mention the activity table and other toys)?

But it's (well, it was) spring, beautiful outside, and we were headed to the beach. My mom came by after the Walk of Life and told me she'd talked with another mother about the wagon they had, how much they liked it, and that she wanted to get Addie one. Who's going to object to that? So off I went to Walmart where they have everything for sale but nothing you can find. Thankfully, they have really straightened up our store. More options. More organization. And the exact wagon I had finally decided on for $40 less than anywhere else I had seen it. I took it as a sign.

So when Addie woke up from her nap, we proceeded to put the thing together:

We finally made it outside and boy was she ready to go!

Thankfully, it has some great (much needed) seat belts!

There are a million (slight exaggeration) ways to configure the seats for one or two, create storage areas, lay the seats down so it's like an old school wagon, and in addition to the seat belts, there are kid and adult cup holders! I mean wow! Oh...and did I mention the UV protection canopy?

It has a really long handle (for us tall folks) that you can actually click into place instead of letting it fall to the ground when you let go of it!

**side note: I remember climbing in the wooden radio flyer that my grandparents had at their house and getting pulled around their yard by my Paw Paw. I remember the beautiful hydrangeas lining the fence and the huge magnolia trees that we used to climb. There was no other climbing tree than a magnolia in my book! They didn't make extra long handles then, so my Paw Paw tied the rubber tubing found inside a bike tire to the handle so it'd be long enough for him. Then again, he was 6'5'', so I think he'd have to tie something to this one too! I know we have pictures of this, so I'll see what I can dig up for a future Flashback Friday! ...ending side note**

I wanted to snap a quick picture of Addie riding in the wagon; but as you can see, she had other plans. Look at that exasperated expression she's wearing!

Here she is on another day wearing the visor her MMO teachers gave her. I couldn't believe she kept it on, but she really liked it!

But one of the best uses we've found for Addie's new wagon is to lug all of our stuff, kid included, to the beach! You'll have to make sure to read what Paul thought about that though!

Needless to say, we are all enjoying Addie's wagon in this beautiful weather! Thanks Rie Rie!

14 Months!

I can't believe our baby girl is 14 months old. I know every parent says this, but where does the time go? We are truly cherishing every moment with her. Every age is so perfect. Sometimes I say, "I can't wait until..." for things like her having enough hair for a bow to stay put in or maybe a few times for walking or for her being able to tell me what she wants. Then again, I may eat my words on a few of those. But honestly, it's so much fun!

I haven't done an update recently on what she does/likes/etc. So here goes:

Words:
Mama, Dada, Rie Rie (WeeWee), Bye bye, dog (yells it!), cat, fish, tree, ball, what's that, no, yeah, uh oh (for everything, including things she throws on the ground herself!), and pure and simple jibber jabber all the time!

She waves, will sometimes blow kisses, and points like there's no tomorrow! Loves to clap her hands. Her basic signs continue to be: more, please (her own version), no (shakes her head), hot (finger in mouth and blows out a little), food, and drink. I just ordered Baby Signing Time (from half.com) at my friend Kelly's recommendation and can't wait for it to get here!

(check out that red, curly hair!)

Knows that the dog says "woof woof" (if you say woof woof, she screams dog!)

Favorite songs: Where is Thumbkin?, Bumping Up and Down in My Little Red Wagon, Aikendrum (Raffi), Going to the Zoo, Itsy Bitsy Spider, If You're Happy and You Know It, anything (everything) from Praise Baby. If you ask her what song she wants to sing, she'll shake her head no until you say the one she wants and then signs please!

Walking?
Nope, not yet! She's taking several steps more frequently moving from one thing to the other. But why walk when you can crawl so fast!?!

Teeth: 4 bottom front, 4 top front, bottom left molar, and possibly the top left molar is finally breaking through.

Sleeps on her tummy with her legs and arms tucked up underneath her with her little bottom in the air and head in the corner of her crib from about 7:30pm-5/5:30am. (whoohoo!)

Things she does:

• Gives sweet (slobbery) kisses but just to Mommy and Daddy!
• Reads books (the same books over and over and if you don't pick the book she wants, she shakes her head no and kicks her legs!)
• Helps me load/unload the dishwasher and dryer
• Dumps toys out from/puts toys back in boxes or her wagon
• Snaps her large blocks together (and takes them apart)
• Climbs up her slide going the wrong direction to stand on the top and attempt to swing her leg over the side (dare devil!). She'll also sit down, turn around and either go down the slide head first on her tummy or throw her legs over the edge of the shelf and get down!
  
• Climbs up steps, anywhere and everywhere (scary!)
  
• Drags her lady bug (that her Daddy calls a beetle) all over the house
  
• "Loves on" things (post to come)
• Look at herself (and dances) in the mirror
  
• Brushes her own teeth (after we brush them 1st of course!)
  
• Eats, eats, eats anything and everything (except cottage cheese)
• Grabs hold of my pants (or legs), pulls up, and begs to be held!

Things she likes:

• Socks!
• Bath time!
• Raffi!!! (post to come)
• Sand and beach
  
• Grass
  
• Zoo and the park
  
• Balls and blocks
• Baby doll and new purse from Nana
  
• Buttons that do something (tv on/off or front of the computer that light up)

Here are a few words that we think describe our baby girl: happy, joyful, sweet, gentle, active, mover, climber, daring, creative, silly, dramatic, serious, intense, demanding, communicative, talker, musical, curly headed, growing, teething, cuddler, loving, and the biggest blessing that we could have ever imagined!

{Almost} Wordless Wednesday

My Little Champion

Ok, so she's technically not a champion. She really didn't win anything. And in all actuality, her obedience test went worse than I could have ever imagined! Yes, I'm referring to our dog Abbey, not our child, Addie! :) In case you haven't met her, meet our 7 year old Golden Retriever. Spoiled. Rotten. Golden Retriever.

The evaluation requirements:
Heel (walking on a loose leash, fast, slow, right turn, left turn, about turn, halt and sit)
Stand for exam (without moving feet)
Recall (dog comes from across room off leash to a sit position right in front of you)
Finish (dog returns to "place" or "heel" position)
Sit/Stay (for 1 minute)
Down/Stay (for 3 minutes)

You have to understand, our dog is a runner. If she gets loose, she's gone. And boy can she run! She also has this thing with her tail. Apparently it's been accidentally stepped on a few too many times (or pulled on by a loving one year old). So, she sits crooked in hopes it won't get stepped on and pops up to make sure you don't step on it if you try to walk around her! All of these present significant challenges when you're trying to meet all of the above requirements.

But...she met all the requirements and passed Novice I. Whoohoo! So, therefore, she is my little champion! Oh, and a pretty well behaved dog too thank.you.very.much! We're going to try to get her Canine Good Citizenship Certification next Thursday.

"Not Me!"

It's Monday again! Make sure to check out MckMama's blog and join in on the "Not Me!" blog carnival!

I did not walk outside the other day and find this on our deck:

I am not tired of walking outside and being completely surprised to find only the head and extremities of a dead animal left by this stalking creature:

But I mean, look at those eyes! They are really hers! Isn't this what the bells on cat collars are supposed to prevent? I am not shocked to realize that our cat is the culprit after we used to blame our 2nd dog for her hunting instinct. I am, however, not overfeeding this cat inside in hopes that she will quit hunting food only half her size outside!

I did not have an anonymous comment left on my last Not Me! post that was completely unfounded and unreasonable. I did not publish it anyway just so I could respond to it. It did not make me mad that someone would anonymously be so judgmental without even knowing our family. I did not decide finally that I had to consider the source, you know, given that the source didn't have enough guts whatever to sign their name. I did in fact respond to this ridiculous comment, and I was in fact quite proud of my response. Greedy? Proud? Ahhh...it's all relative! I mean it's all not relative!

I am not seriously contemplating making this blog private.

I did not let Addie play with my cell phone while sitting next to me. I was not half asleep and abruptly (and fully) woken by being whacked in the lip by my cell phone. I did not only later realize that Addie had the same dark pink lip as she'd given me, thus making me think she had hit her own self in the lip with my cell phone before slinging it in my direction! I am sure that I will not let Addie play with my cell phone again. Ahem, yeah right!

I did not leave my camera charger and extra battery at my dads two weekends ago. I had not plugged it in next to Paul's phone charger knowing he'd see it and grab it before we left. I'd certainly never forget to mention this to him though. I did not realize this when my battery died as I was trying to download fun pictures from the zoo and a mini-shoot in our front yard with the beautiful setting sun! My dad did not (he really did) volunteer to mail the charger and battery to me on Friday. I did not finally give in because I knew that I could not be without my camera for that long! I am not anxiously awaiting the arrival of my charger today!

My child is not experiencing separation anxiety. She has not gone 13 long months with only mild separation anxiety. She is not to the point where she often refuses to let me put her down, let alone out of her sight. This does not make it difficult to accomplish anything around the house. I do not secretly love and appreciate the sweet bond I have with my baby girl though! But it certainly does not make me mildly dread upcoming unfamiliar and changing situations.

I did not spend two and a half hours on the phone Thursday discussing the option of refinancing our home at a significantly lower interest rate. The process was not ridiculously complex. My Bl@ckberry certainly did not start to die because it was not made to be used for 2.5 hrs straight after already being used all day! I was not exhausted by the time I got off the phone, but I certainly did not want to jump for joy that we might in fact be able to lower our mortgage payment! Whoohoo!

Now, what did you not do this past week! I always appreciate your supportive and encouraging comments! So...for my anonymous commenter that doesnt sign a name: "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all!"

Happy Monday!

One Sock, Two Sock...

pink sock, blue sock.

Purple sock, green sock
old sock, new sock!

We've noticed that Addie has started doing some pretty funny stuff lately. No, she's not saying funny kidisms or anything yet; but she's certainly done her fair share of things that have really cracked us up. As you might remember, we found her sitting in the backseat with her lovie over her face waiting for us to notice.

But this is different.

This one has a little star.
This one has a little car.
Say! What a lot of socks there are.

Yes. Some are pink.
And some are blue!
Some are old and some are new!

I can't ever seem to find a matching pair of socks for Addie. I thought it was tough to keep up with Paul's and my socks, but those itty, bitty, tiny baby socks are purely impossible to hold onto! For a while, I couldn't figure out where they were going. But I think I've discovered the culprit of the missing socks, and it's not the dryer, the dog, or my disorganization!

Some are fun.
And some are drab.
And some are very, very rad!

Why are they fun, drab, and rad?
I don't know. Go ask your Dad!

From there to here.
From here to there.
Funny socks are everywhere!

Every time I turn around there is a stray sock on the floor, in a toy box, or in somebody's hand!

Some have been on two feet
and some have been on four.
Some have been on six feet
and others have seen more!

Where do they go? I can not say!
But I bet they have gone a long, long way!

They've also been known to show up in her jewelry box or in the dogs water bowl...because what's more fun than putting socks in water?

We see them come.
We see them go

They disappear fast
And show up slow.
We search up high.
And search down low!

So what's so interesting about a sock?

Who knows, but today I found her dusting the kitchen cabinet with one. A clean one, of course!

Not one of them is like another.
Don't ask us why. Go ask your mother!
(adapted from Dr. Seuss' One Fish, Two Fish)

Just Couldn't Stay Awake

Over the past several weeks, Abbey (our dog) and I have left Paul and Addie for a little over an hour each Monday night while we attended a Novice 1 obedience class. Why? After we lost Mollie in December, I was determine 1.) not to let Abbey get depressed and 2.) not to let her become a couch potato. I can't say that I've achieved #2, but she sure isn't depressed!

Abbey turned 7 in February. Being a larger dog, each year increases her risk for weight gain, hip dysplasia, and health problems. So, off we went to obedience classes to challenge her mind and attempt to keep her active. I'll make sure to report next week whether or not she passes her test.

All that being said, I walked in a little after 8 expecting to hear, "Mamamamamama..." (because that's what I've heard for the past 6 weeks every Monday night)! She loves her Daddy, but she's become a bit of a Mama's girl here lately.

Instead, I found this:

What's so unusual about a sleeping baby?

Well who could fall asleep and stay asleep like this except a baby!

So I scooped her up, changed her diaper and clothes and even got some sweet snuggle time before she fell back asleep.

I ♥ Faces

The theme for I ♥ Faces this week is {Laughter}.

Our baby girl loves to laugh, especially at with her Daddy. When I want really good pictures, I always make sure he's right there behind me (or next to me, or grabbing up a baby who's crawling away, or dancing so hysterically that I only wish I could watch but am afraid to take my eye away from the camera for fear of missing...that picture!)

When Addie is truly laughing, she tends to almost always have an open mouth, happy eyes, and a scrunched up nose! Only sometimes her eyes are closed. And other times her mouth looks like she's catching flies. Still other times I completely miss the laugh and get that priceless after-laugh grin!

But here, she was laughing at who knows what...

...and it was priceless!

Make sure to check out all the other beautiful faces at the I ♥ Faces website and join in on the fun!

Wheeeeeere's Addie?

One of Addie's newest games/tricks is to play peek-a-boo. She's been doing this with us for a long time, but she'll now initiate it!

After picking Paul up from work the other day, he and I were riding along talking away. I glanced in the rear view mirror because things were so quiet in the backseat (very unusual now a days I might add). And this is what I found:

She was just sitting there with her lovie over her face and had been for who knows how long! Of course we immediately said, "Wheeeeere's Addie?!?!?" And this is what she did!

(sorry for the blur. i had to use my purse camera, and i think it's just about on it's last leg. i figured capturing the moment was more important than quality, although it just about drove me crazy to post the blur! oh well!)

She gets more animated and more interactive everyday! What a joy!

"Not, me!" Monday

Alrighty, "Not, me!" Monday it is!

I'll attempt not to sound so air headed (forgetful, ditzy, etc) in this post!

Abbey, our endearing pup, did not start the day last Tuesday by eating Addie's waffle while my mom stepped out of the room to ask me a question. That night, she did not manage to get not one, not two, but THREE organic hamburgers and consume them in one gulp each! I did not put her in the bathroom (where she stays when we're not home) and leave her there for 30 minutes like she was in time out! I did not then ignore her for another 30 minutes to show my displeasure in her ridiculousness! Then, we did not not (that's complicated) give her dinner that night because she was most assuredly full! Our precious dog would never be so greedy!

I did not hear Addie making what I thought were sweet noises in the backseat one day while we were driving (I mean I was driving, she was riding). I did not turn around at the light only to discover that she had milk from her nose to her neck because she was drinking the milk from the sippy cup and then promptly blowing it back out of her mouth. She'd never do something that silly (and messy)!

I did not throw away two $5 off coupons for Pub!ix. I did not go get the trash bag out of the trashcan outside to find them. Had I recycled the paper like I should have, it would have been inside waiting for Friday (when we did not forget to put the recycling out anyway!). I did not have to tear the plastic bag open and go through each section of the paper to find them. My husband did not think I was losing it and did not remark that it was just $5. He was not promptly corrected that it was in face $10 because there were two of them! He did not end up helping me dig through the papers in order to get the somewhat smelly trash back outside. (side note: these coupons were in a bag that only contained paper, no kitchen trash!)

I did not enter the grocery store and pick up two organic coupon books. As I was shopping, I did not realize that they were good until August and contained great deals for our family. After paying for our groceries...

(spent $28, saved $23 on things we did in fact need...see why I'm obsessed with digging through the trash for coupons thankyouverymuch)...

ahem! back from slight tangent...

After paying for our groceries, I did not swing back by the coupon stand and grab a total of 16 more coupon books. I mean, they'd been there since April 22nd. So if people had wanted them, they would have gotten them, right? I mean, I'm surely not trying to justify my coupon obsession or anything.

sigh...

Make sure to check out MckMama's blog and see what she's not been up to this week!

So, what have you not done this week! Do share and happy Monday!