Baby Center geniuses

When I was pregnant I signed up for weekly email updates from babycenter.com and they would email once a week to say how big my baby was and what symptoms I could expect and how she was growing, etc.  Now that she is here, they still send once a week emails to tell you how she is growing and learning and some common things of babies her age... and Courtney and I always laugh about how right on time they are.  For instance, today we went to the cupcake place at Midtown and it was Addy's naptime so I knew I was pushing it but I REALLY wanted to try out these cupcakes so I thought it was worth it.  Well, she didn't want to have a cupcake picnic on the grass like I intended... instead she wanted to walk all the way to the other end of the mall and harass other families and no matter how I tried to bribe her with cupcakes, etc. she was NOT going back to our spot near our car.  So, I carried her all the way back across the grass past all the other people having quiet little cupcake picnics kicking and screaming, literally.  And then I got home and I had an email from babycenter.com about your 15 month old throwing tantrums in public!  Gotta love the irony of that!

With our cupcake... this was before the tantrum!

Here are a few pictures of what we have been doing lately... the quality may not be that great because these were all on my phone!



She saw something she wanted in the fridge!



At the playground enjoying this beautiful day!

Trying out the grocery cart to see if she could fit!

Yummy!!

If you didn't know already, Gigi's cupcakes is open in Midtown next to Iguana Grill. I highly recommend it!! Addy shared a "Miss Princess" cupcake with me just now and it was DElicious! It was so good that I feel like it's my obligation to tell you to check it out for yourself...it's what any good friend would do!

C.H.O.M.

We visited the children's hands on museum (CHOM) on Saturday for the first time.  There were so many things for Addy to do - we stayed for almost 2 hours!  I was shocked because it was lunch time and she didn't seem to mind because she was such a busy little bee!  The farm downstairs was my favorite part.  They could pick vegetables from the garden and put them in the bins, "feed" the animals, pet the horse, drive the tractor, walk over the bridge, and slide down the slide from the silo.  It's funny to see how short their attention span is at this age because although we were there for a while, we probably didn't stay in one spot longer than 2 minutes, except for the slide and we did that for a while after Addy figured how to climb up by herself!

Here are a few pictures from our adventures at CHOM!  I think we will be going back!

She had to climb up by herself because it was too little for us to fit!  I was afraid she would get stuck but once she realized she could do it, she wanted to do it over and over...and over and over!

Sitting in a desk in the "one room school"

Courtney had to get in the wind tunnel with her!  Her shirt is blowing up in the picture!

Driving the old truck to the farmer's market

He's Still Working on Me...

Last week, I started on two new Bible studies and I am excited about them both!  Our church has Midweek on Wednesday nights and they offer a variety of classes you can pick from.  The class I am attending is called "for women only: what you need to know about the inner lives of men" and I have learned a lot already!  The big thing for this first week is about R-E-S-P-E-C-T and how men need respect and women need love, based on Ephesians 5:33... this is the way God made us!  Something I have learned is that showing respect to our husband is a choice we make in obedience to God.  This is something that I struggle with because I find myself being negative and critical so often when I need to be thankful, encouraging and well, respectful!  I already know I have a lot to work on and I am hopeful that I each week, I will learn about how God wants me to be as a wife and work on the areas I need to improve. 

Our other Bible study is on Friday mornings and we are reading a book called "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" and it is based on the story in the Bible where Jesus visits Mary & Martha and while Martha is making all the preparations, Mary is listening to Jesus teach.  Martha gets upset with her sister and tries to call her out in front of Jesus, but Jesus tells her that Mary has chosen the better thing and it will not be taken away from her.  I think I have a tendency to be a Martha sometimes and get too caught up in all the preparations and miss the point.  And I am finding out I'm not the only one that is like that!  The Friday morning Bible study is a small group of women and it is so refreshing to get together and discuss the Bible and hear insight from other ladies and build relationships.  If anyone lives in the Tuscaloosa area and would like to join in, we would love to have you!  Our church provides free childcare and we meet for about an hour each Friday at 9:00. 

I was just so uplifted last week by both of the Bible studies that I had to share!  And honestly, I am a little afraid that with all the work responsibilities and home responsibilities that I will have this spring that I will not be able to stick with it and keep up with the homework for my Wednesday class and read the chapter for the Friday class... so I thought if I put it out there, it would motivate me to stick with it even more!  Accountability anyone?

Where did January go?

You can tell tax season has arrived... I have not updated much at all this month!  I have been super busy the past two weeks on a project at work and have been trying to squeeze in extra hours from home so that has left no time for blogging! 

Addy loves her babies!  MawMaw and Addy named Bitty Baby "Julie" last week.  Sounds like "Jewy" when Addy says it though!

We have had a good January!  First off, Addy's 15 month doctor appointment was a few weeks ago.  She was in the 40th percentile for weight (22 lbs, 5 oz) and 75th for height (31.25") and since her weight had dropped a little the doctor said we wanted to make sure that wasn't going to be a trend!  I think it has to do with the fact that she was teething and had ear infections in December and didn't each much for a whole week because now she is eating like mad!  She has started holding her own cup (yay!) and I think (hope!) she is drinking more milk now that she can get it whenever she wants it. 

Practicing her monkey face in the car... thanks to Courtney :)

What is the obsession with the vacuum?  Here she is trying to give it a bottle.

Today, we started Kindermusik at UA.  It was raining this morning (yuck!) so it wasn't fun having to park and walk in the rain but the class was so much fun and all the other kids are about her age so I think it will be a good experience!  Mrs. Erin is our teacher and she is so sweet and good with the kids.  We sang some new songs and played with balls, scarves and bubbles.  Addy wasn't shy at all and had fun interacting with the other boys and girls.  They are all so cute!  Here she was before we left this morning... she got to try out her rain coat for the first time today!  Normally when it's raining we don't venture out unless we have to so she hasn't gotten to wear it very much but it is so cute I hope she will be able to wear it on into the spring!

  

Not too sure!

Reading her books!

So Long, Farewell...

Last Tuesday, Courtney's mom cooked dinner for us to come and eat with them.  We wanted to see Kyle one last time before he left on Wednesday to go back to school.  We won't see him again until this summer and we will miss him so much! 

Addy really likes her Aunt KK and Uncle Kyle and it makes Courtney and I so happy for our siblings to love on her!  Here she is giving Kyle a goodbye hug.

Happy New Year!

Mom & Dad came over and kept Addy so Courtney & I could have dinner with a few of our friends to celebrate on New Years Eve.  We had a wonderful time at DePalma's and it was nice to get dressed up and go out on a date!  New Years used to be one of my least favorite holidays because there was all of this expectation to do something REALLY fun and stay up all night and it seemed like my plans always fell short of my expectations but this year was nice - I guess my expectations weren't as high since I knew we had no intention of staying up until midnight! 

15 Months!!!

Has it already been another month?! Addy is keeping us busy these days! She got a pink car for Christmas that is supposed to be an outside toy but since it's too cold, we have been keeping it indoors until the weather warms up. She sits down in her car and points to the handle and says "Push! Push!" so we have driven miles around the house with her!

I hope she didn't learn this from my driving habits... reading a book while driving her car!

She goes to the doctor for her 15 month checkup next week so I will have to post her weight/height, etc. Addy has a little pretend laptop at Mia & Pop's house and we were joking that she uses it to update her blog about us... Mommy weighs ___ and she eats 3 meals a day. Daddy likes to make funny faces and read lots of books. I guess it isn't fair to post a girl's weight for all the world to see but maybe she won't hold it against me just yet!


Working on her blog!



Addy has not been the best sleeper this month.  We are trying to get into a good sleep routine again.  She wakes up in the night and is awake for at least an hour and she is having trouble falling asleep on her own at night!  Ugh!

Sweet smile!

She has branched out on the foods she will eat.  For the longest, the only veggies she ate were potatoes and green beans but now she will eat carrots, corn, and rice & broccoli.  She has started using a fork and doesn't care as much what she is eating because it takes all her concentration to use the fork and she's so proud when she gets her own bite that she doesn't care so much what it is! 

She has really taken off with talking this month.  It seems like she has new words every day!  I am amazed at the things she picks up on...  we have to remember that she is listening all the time!   She calls us Mama and Daddy/Dada and that is SO sweet to hear - definitely my favorite words that she says! 



Uh oh!  She pulled the egg carton off the counter while "helping" Daddy with breakfast!



She still loves books and has enjoyed the new books and toys she got for Christmas.  She likes pushing the stroller & shopping cart around the house and has fun taking care of her dolls and even reading to them on occasion! 



Taking care of baby is hard work!

 

Reading another book!

 She has a weird obsession with the vacuum cleaner!  When I tell her I'm going to vacuum, she gets excited and runs to the closet.  She even gave it a hug this afternoon! 


Showing love for the vacuum cleaner!

Something that I need help on... she refuses to hold her own sippy cup!  I know it is totally my fault because I never made her and so now she just thinks we will always do it for her and gets mad if you try to get her to hold it herself!  I have to offer her milk all day long or she just wouldn't drink it so I can't say if she won't hold it then she doesn't get any because I think she'd be okay with that.  I tried a cup with a straw instead of a cup you have to turn up but she doesn't know how to suck out of a straw (and how do you teach someone to do that?!)  I even tried giving her water out of a regular cup today but she sticks her tongue inside the cup.  I don't want to be holding her cup for her when she starts kindergarten!  Experienced moms, any advice??

Still loves her bath!  And the toy that Jennifer, Wes & Cooper got her for Christmas has been a big hit!

Video of Addy

We took this video of Addy repeating the family names the other night.  The quality isn't great because it's on a phone instead of a video camera.  We love how she says "Daddy Jim" (My mom calls my dad Jimmy all the time so we think she picked up "Jibby" from that!).  I love the smile after she says my name and the little pat she gives Courtney when she says his name.  I bet we have watched this video 50 times in the past couple of days! 

Happy New Year!

Did you make any New Years Resolutions??  I only have one.  I am not big on New Years Resolutions but I like to think of them as "goals" that I want to accomplish.  Is it bad that this year I only have one goal?  I guess I am putting all my eggs in one basket but I am just not motivated to make a big long list of things to work on!  I'd like to think I am being realistic!

Christmas Recap

We had an interesting Christmas week this year!  Addy started off last week waking up in the night (not unusual!) and we thought she was teething.  I took her to the doctor Tuesday morning to rule out an ear infection and she had an infection in both ears and the doctor said she was cutting several teeth.  Long story short, two antibiotics later and after 4 nights in a row of throwing up in the night, she started to get better!    She was kinda dizzy and off balance so we aren't sure if she was having inner ear/vertigo problems or if the medicine didn't agree with her?  She is finally acting more like herself so hopefully this new antibiotic is kicking that ear infection to the curb! 

Here's our Christmas recap... warning - it's REALLY long!

Two weekends ago, we drove to Gadsden to celebrate Christmas with my Grannie (Dad's mom) and his brother and family.  Our cousin Perri & her little boy Liam (who is 4 months older than Addy) were there and it was fun to see them "play" together.



Addy, Me, Grannie, Sis



Addy & Liam running around



Our family + Grannie



Thursday, the 23rd, my mom's side of the family came to her house which was a big change this year - we have gone to Grandmother & Granddaddy's every year since I can remember.  But it doesn't matter where the family gets together... as long as we are together!  We had a delicious lunch and tons of yummy desserts, and we brought the 'kids table' back!   Addy cut our visit short when she lost her lunch all over her smocked Santa dress and all over Courtney's shirt (yuck!).  After we left, Courtney declared that we were "that family."

Jordan & Addy reading a book

Lisa & I

Me & KK

Addy was trying on Lisa's bracelet & watch

Grandmother & Granddaddy

Slate & Mackenzie had fun with Addy's tea set!



Kayla & Jordan



Cousins (we missed you Erin!)

Addy & Lynne

We had planned to have brunch with Mia, Pop & Kyle on Christmas Eve and then head to my parents for dinner so that we would have all day on Christmas Day at home... but with Addy still feeling under the weather, we decided to split it up and do one house each day.  We still spent time with Mia, Pop & Kyle on Christmas Eve and we saw JJ, Daddy Jim & KK on Christmas Day.  Addy had fun opening presents and has enjoyed playing with the toys and books she got from her grandparents and from Santa Claus. 

  

Our family of three!

Kyle, Addy, Mia & Pop

Kyle with a new book

I got a pink casserole caddy - does it mean I'm old if I got really excited about it?



Kyle & Addy reading the Peter Rabbit book he got her for Christmas!



Everyone had fun with the ball popper!

Kyle & Mia looking at the book we made for Mia

What a great Christmas present!  Our old trash can lid squeaked SO loudly when you opened it... now Addy's sleep won't be disturbed when we have to throw something away!

Gotta love her!

Christmas Day

Did Santa come??

Getting used to her new wheels

It's frustrating that the wagon is only big enough for the baby doll...

Most exciting thing Santa brought - BUBBLES!

Penelope came back from New York with Mommy & Daddy



Checking out the snow in the back yard



Sister Pic



Reading a book with Daddy Jim



She started getting the hang of unwrapping gifts...

Sis with her houndstooth robe

Addy was a little confused when JJ's book had her picture all throughout!

Girls only please!

And if you are still reading....

We were supposed to go to Centreville on Sunday to see all of Courtney's extended family but with Addy feeling yucky, we thought it would be best for her to rest up. We really hated missing Christmas with the family... it felt incomplete! Mia, Pop & Kyle came over last night to bring Addy a few presents that she missed opening in Centreville... she loves the books, clothes and toys!

Addy & Kyle

Checking out the bus from  Nanny & Babby

Reading a book from Grandmother & Granddaddy

What's in this one?

Reading a book with Mia before bed