Football

I don't understand WHY there has been so much football on our tv for the past week...especially the entire past weekend. College football, pro football, football commentators, football news. Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, UCLA, Tennessee, Clemson, East Carolina, Florida, Miami, Indianapolis, Chicago, Dallas, Cleveland, Green Bay, Minnesota. I suppose it has something to do with the fact that football season is in full swing!

We realized that Addie's "first" football game was with her Grandpa in Augusta. That was exciting...but unfortunately it wasn't an Auburn game (where our best friend played and our sweet friend Kathryn attends), and it wasn't a Georgia game (where Addie's uncle went and who her Daddy pulls for). It was an ALABAMA game! I suppose her Papa Ray's (my dad's) wife Pat would be very proud of her but as for the rest of us...Go Dawgs (or at least War Eagle!)!

(you can barely see the game in the background)
Despite it being an Alabama game, she sure did have fun with her Grandpa!

Overwhelmed...

So I'm finding myself a little overwhelmed in attempting to catch up on my blog READING. So I'm taking a break from long posts in hopes that I won't overwhelm others! :) Don't worry; I'm sure it won't last long!

Our dogs (Abbey and Mollie) discovered Addie almost 6 months ago. In the past 6 (ish) days, Addie has discovered them! We're already working on the concept of "gentle."

"ohhhhhh!" Addie says.

"Maybe 2 is a little more than I can handle," she observes.

I know she looks "fearful" here, but I can assure you everyone knows who's boss!

"I've got you now!" she screeches.

do note how Abbey's head is turned slightly...that would be due to the iron grip Addie has on her ear hair! Thank goodness we have "gentle" dogs!
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On a totally different subject matter:
Prunes don't just work for "older" people...they work wonders for babies too! I won't share pictures of what occurred less than an hour later...but I can assure you prunes are stronger than green beans and rice cereal! whew!

I do love how she sucks in her bottom lip...I think they are a little tart!

"yummy...?"

Baby Food

Well, as you know, Addie has started eating "solid food." "Solid food" isn't exactly what I would consider it; but since she's been on a strictly liquid diet most of her little life, this is solid to her! After buying some stage 1 organic food (and realizing how expensive all of it is, not just the organic; as well as realizing how many tiny little plastic containers we would be consuming & discarding), I decided that I'd better at least look into making my own baby food.

No, I promise I'm not bored (see previous post) and looking for things to do...but the budget and the world in which I WANT my child to grow up and the world in which I FEAR my child will grow up in were the driving factors!

For those of you that know me though, you know that I DON'T cook. It isn't that I can't cook; it's just that 1.) I don't enjoy it and 2.) my husband is a FABULOUS cook...so why bother! :) (I did cook dinner 2 of the past 3 nights though, so I'm getting better!). Anyway...so me choosing to make baby food is a much bigger deal than it is for most mothers, I think.

Everything I read kept saying how "easy" it was and how "anyone could do it." I found a great website call Wholesome Baby Food that had everything you could ever want to know about buying, pureeing, and freezing food for your baby. I got a lot of encouragement from two women who make their youngest child's baby food...their youngest of three!!! (Megan and McMama). If they could do it with 3 kids...I sure better try it with just one!

So I gave it a try, starting with some vegetables that I didn't have: green beans and carrots. Apparently steaming keeps the most nutrients in the vegetables, so I steamed the fresh carrots (it removes most of the natural nitrates that aren't good for babies this young) and boiled/heated the frozen green beans (frozen is ok, canned is not).

Then I got brave today and tried a butternut squash, sweet potatoes, peaches, plums, and the rest of the carrots. I got a little puree happy! I baked the squash, sweet potatoes, peaches, and plums. Needless to say, our house smelled pretty yummy!

So...after I pureed them, everything went into ice trays.

...and then into the freezer.

I popped them out of the ice trays so they wouldn't stay in that harder plastic and put them in freezer bags all labeled and everything where they'll last 3-4 months!

And the final product turned out pretty yummy...at least yummy in baby terms!

Addie had her 1st homemade baby food a few nights ago and really seemed to enjoy it. I'll let you be the judge though!

Tires, Teeth, Tylenol, Tablets, Toes, and Tests

so what do these things have in common? Tuesday

Tires: Paul got a flat tire while I was in Kentucky. It didn't much matter then because he could drive my car (and with all the rain, it was good that he didn't have to change a tire). So on "labor" day, he got out in the heat and changed his tire, realizing that the belt was showing (meaning to us who don't change tires: he needs a new one). That means at least 2 tires (because they don't usually just replace one). WELL...given that Paul drives a 1998 Buick Regal (bought 5 years ago to put miles on going back and forth to Auburn when we were in grad school), we decided we'd better get it checked out to see if it was even WORTH putting new tires on. (more about this later)

Teeth: Addie is definitely getting teeth. They are outlined on her gums, she's drooling more than usual, chewing on her tongue, fingers, and lovey (and anything else she can get in her mouth) more than usual, pulling at her ears, refusing to eat, and being cranky as all get out! It's the pulling at the ears that worried me (and the refusing to eat), having been on a plane and wanting to avoid the huge number of ear infections that I had as a child. So we head to visit the pediatrician. Clear ears and a clear throat! Yeah...but the pediatrician said she would have made me come in anyway given Addie's symptoms, so it wasn't a wasted trip. Bottom line, she's more attune to her surroundings (the nursing strike (test #1) and she's getting teeth (test #2). Ahhh...thank goodness for Tylenol and Teething Tablets

Toes: Not our toes, my mom's dog's toes. Really their toenails. They needed clipping. So after dropping Paul off at the doctor (remember, we're down to one car because his is being checked out), I go to my mom's to get her dogs. Long, long story short...they are running around the neighbors yard. They had broken out of the fence and were having the time of their lives! After wrangling them into the car (test #3), I take them to the vet (test #4). As I'm attempting to tell my mom what all is going on, I'm carrying on a conversation with the dogs: "sit", "no", "off", "sydney root", "no ma'am", "austen wamsted root", "i told you no", "quit slobbering on me", "you're in big trouble!" ...you have to understand, these dogs like to stand with their front two feet on the center console of the car panting and throwing slobber all over you (part of test #4). We get to the vet, and I cant figure out how to hold both dogs and get Addie out (without them ripping my arm off), so I put them BACK in the car, get Addie out, get them back out, and Sydney pulls her leash out of my hand. So I'm carrying Addie and the diaper bag, Austen is dragging me, and I'm trying desperately to step on Sydney's leash to stop her (because I can't lean down to grab it!) Thank goodness the vet tech saw me coming and came to my rescue. Successful nail clippings (no pottying on the floor). We head back to my moms to this:

So instead of getting to stay outside, they were banned to their crate!

the partners in crime!

Tires (part 2): As I'm checking out at the grocery store (in between Addie and Paul's doctor appointments), I get the call. It's about Paul's car. The list: the engine and transmission need to be flushed out (to the tune of $300), there's a crack in something (the engine block, I think), the windows no longer roll up/down, the breaks are bad...and to top it off, it doesn't just need 2 new tires, it needs FOUR! Ummmm...I don't think so. (test #5)

So...in order not to pick up another car payment, we're considering sticking with one car for a while. We did it once before (yes, without a baby), so we're giving it a trial run. Paul's even considering riding the bus or getting a bike (we'll see about that!).

Anyway...since this blog IS about Addie...
I thought this was a cute picture of her (after her doctors visit, grocery store, and vet run as I'm banning the dogs to their crate!):

Augusta

After leaving Kentucky, Addie and I flew back into Atlanta where Paul picked us up (along with our sweet Nana also!). We headed over to Augusta for a few days (we were already half way there) to spend some time with Paul's mom and dad.

i LOVE this picture. Addie's cutting her eyes over at me like..."he's all mine!"
Addie certainly missed her Daddy, and I think he missed her too!
I love seeing them together! Too sweet!

Grandma

We stayed with Paul's mom on Friday night. Addie had fun sitting in the swing with her Saturday morning right before she took a really long nap! Some pictures above: Ginger (their puppy) and Snook (who's chasing the light reflected on the wall while Addie watches!)

We also went to visit some of Addie's Grandma's closest friends: Helen, Linda, Shirley, and Rosie...some of the sweetest women I know! We always enjoy getting to spend time with them. They are pictured above with us: Addie's Grandma, Rosie, Linda, Shirley, and Helen. Addie was a little unsure of the big group though, something that surprised both Paul and me. It was the 1st time we've really ever seen her get upset or show much separation anxiety. Although she's very well socialized, I think mom and dad provide that much needed comfort!

This is Sadie (or maybe it's Sally) who lives with Linda and Helen. She enjoys riding around on the raft in the swimming pool. We all decided that we'd like to be a dog and live with Linda and Helen...because all 3 (now it's 4) of their dogs have the greatest, longest, happiest lives! Their 4th addition was just picked up running around in the middle of a busy road! We'll see if Harry ended up going home with Rosie that day!

Grandpa

We stayed with Paul's dad on Saturday night. Addie loved snuggling with him (something she doesn't do with many people!) And they had a great time playing as Addie sat in her exersaucer after her dinner. We even talked Addie's Grandpa into visiting Baby's R Us (we dont have one here) with us on Sunday. I'm not sure if her Grandpa or I were more overwhelmed with the size and contents of the store! :)

She still LOVES sticking out her tongue...pretty funny!

We were all glad to be back home Sunday night in our own beds after a long, fun week away from home! I think our pets (Miles, Winston, Abbey, Fuzz, and Mollie) were a tad glad to see us also, as well as Addie's Rie Rie!

Kentucky

As I mentioned in the previous post, Addie and I flew to Kentucky to see our sweet friends Julie, John, and their almost 2 year old daughter, Savannah. We were so excited to get to play, visit, and catch up! We played, shopped, slept, and had an all around good time! Here are some pictures from our week:

Playing

John was so sweet to not only install Savannah's infant car seat in their car for us (and reinstall hers), but he also brought up one of Savannah's baby toys from the basement...a sort of exersaucer/jumpy jump combo! Quite the setup...very cool. Needless to say, Addie had a blast in it; and Savannah loved "helping" her play by showing her new things or jumping right along with her!

Addie Jumping
(you can click on this link to see a quick video of her)

Just a few randoms: Addie grabbing both (not just one) feet and working really hard on getting those legs up underneath her (um...pre-crawling...slow down!). Addie had so much fun playing with Julie and Savannah; and John was so sweet with her! I think Daddy's with daughters have a way with little girls :)

The Park

Julie, John, and Savannah live in a beautiful neighborhood that has a community pool and park. We strolled down to the park one day and Addie got to swing for the very 1st time on a "big girl" baby swing! As you can see, she really enjoyed it! Savannah was such a sweet helper, pushing her so gently!

Our Matching Outfits

My mom and I made Savannah and Addie matching outfits. I smocked a snail on them and she made the tops and pants. It was great fun for us, sewing for two; and I think they turned out pretty cute also :)

Savannah was so sweet here with Addie. What shocked me the most was watching Addie sit herself up (with a little leaning on Savannah) as we took pictures! Wow!

A Few Randoms

this is proof we were actually in Kentucky

(like you doubted that anyway!)
it was the only sign we could think of that wasn't on the side of the interstate or required us to put our life in danger to stand by it!

Addie sleeping on the blanket my mom made for Savannah when she was little :)

Goodbye hugs! Sweet Savannah loved giving Addie hugs and holding her hand or foot. We worked really hard to help Savannah be gentle with Addie (being the baby she is); and what was so funny about this picture is right after i took it, Savannah sat up and gave Addie a quick (with a little more force than usual) pat on the tummy. It didn't phase Addie at all, but i think it caught Julie and me off guard. I just look at it as a sweet "love pat!"

We already miss our sweet friends and hope to get to see them when they visit family in Atlanta for Thanksgiving!