Trip to the Park

We have been trying to find a park that had baby swings ever since Carly posted the pictures of little Miss Avery swinging and Mom remembered that a park behind the school that had them, so the other day we walked down there and let Addie play.

She was all about the swings until I think she got nauseous, because she stopped laughing and started looking ill, so we tackled the slides. She really enjoyed those! I even went through one of those kids ones with her where you have to climb through all of these tubes to get there and I thought I'd never get to the top of the tube. I had to finally sit Addie down and push her a ways then haul my big booty up the tube and keep doing that because it was impossible to crawl in those stupid things while holding Addie. I seriously need to exercise more!

Anyways it started to get dark and Addie was exhausted so we headed home. Addie fell asleep before we could even get home.

Addie on the Go

Addie's scooting turned into this sort of step-pull crawl a few weeks ago, but I keep leaving my diaper bag in the car since it is so big and so the camera stays in the car... She is in the crawling position with the exception of one foot that is in the crouch position. She steps with that foot and pulls the other leg... It is so silly, but it works. Last week I set her in the living room in front of the tv and went into the bathroom to dry my hair and a few seconds later Addie is in the hall outside the door looking at me. Now she follows me all over the house and as I type she is coming into the kitchen from the living room where I had her playing with her toys.

Here is a video from Mom's house last Wednesday. She got pretty frustrated with us because we kept moving the game she wanted to play with so that she'd crawl further so she tells us what she thinks during the video... haha.

Crumbs crumbs everywhere!

I never imagined the massive messes that could be created by such a little thing... I give Addie an eighth of a roll, a mere little eighth.... what do I find 20 seconds later??? Almost microscopic crumbs everywhere, covering the couch cushions, in between the cushions, on the rug, in her clothes... everything has been dusted in these tiny bread crumbs.... And somehow she still has a mouthful of bread! How does this happen??? Unfortunately the OCD side of me immediately started cleaning it up before I thought to take a picture of it.

Happy Birthday Papa!!!

We want to wish Papa a very Happy Birthday!!! We are so sad that we won't get to celebrate with you, but we are celebrating here for you! :) (We ate at a new German restaurant that you will have to try next time you are here!) Papa has always been SUPER sweet to me. I remember when I came up to the Madison Ward for Jarom's homecoming talk, I had only met the family once prior and he gave me a huge bear hug and made me feel so welcome to be there. He always has the best ideas, tells great stories, and loves his family so very much! There is nothing I enjoy more when he visits than to go out to Longhorn with him and the family and sit and enjoy great food and lots of great conversation. We love you Papa and hope you have a fabulous birthday!!! We miss you!

So not Law & Order...

About 2 weeks ago I mailed out some of Addie's 8 month pictures, one being to my mom's friend who I call "Aunt" C. I thought it'd be cute to put Addie on the return address and sent it addressed to "Aunt C"...

Well about 2 days after I sent them I saw this lady drive slowly by then turn around and park in front of my house. She comes up to the door so when I answered she asked for Addie. Confused I told her that it was my daughter and she was asleep. She started questioning me and asked how to get in touch with Aunt C.'s mom. She said she was from Medicare and congress had passed a bill stating they people on it had to fill out this survey and she was trying to get in touch with C's mom but that she wouldn't come to the door.

Aunt C. was living with her mom so that is where I sent the mail. I started getting suspicious... I have NEVER even talked with C's mom, so I knew she was lying when she said they had me down as next of kin. Well I called the lady out on it and said "you must have gone through her mail, otherwise you would have no way to find me, etc". And the lady denied denied denied but hurried and left. I remembered the name on her badge and called Aunt C. at work and told her what happened. I knew it was a federal offense to go through someone's mail! I tried to get the lady's tag number but she drove off too fast and my pathetic mommy brain couldn't get it all.

Well today I get a call from the Huntsville Police Dept. asking if they can meet with me to show me some pictures. I had Addie in the sink, I was in my Pjs with no makeup, hair up, etc. but he said he really needed to then, so he arrived a few minutes later. He showed me 6 grainy pictures of women that all looked exactly the same and asked me to pick out the woman that showed up at my door, so I did my best, but definitely wasn't sure. He asked me if her nametag said anything other than her name but I couldn't quite remember, and that was it. He said she definitely didn't work for Medicaid and that she was probably trying to steal C's mom's identity... He told me to not answer my door and call the police if she shows up again and then he left.... that was it. It was totally not like Law & Order or the other tv shows you see...

I don't know, but I think that woman was going to drastic measures if she was only trying to steal C's mom's identity...

Life in 6 Words

Joyous

Blessed

Sweet

Fun

Ever Changing

You've been tagged. Describe your life in six words.

Ouch!

Addie gets way too excited with her toys and often bonks me wth them. Tonight she hit me in the face with my cell so I pretended to cry and she looked at me first with surprise and then laid her head on my shoulder and loved on me and gave me sugars. She's my little sweetie!

Earlier Addie scooted to the back of the TV stand and was pulling some of the surround sound wires so Jarom for the first time (I normally do the correcting) sternly told her "No No Addie". Her little face crumpled and she burst into tears hearing Daddy get onto her. Its no fun when Daddy says no! So of course he immediately scoops her up and loves on her while she gives him an earful of gibberish mixed with cries. Oh dear!

Busy Ball Popper

Jarom got this toy for Addie and it is played with constantly. Addie loves the darn thing! At first she wasn't so sure about it, then went through a screaming phase every time it was on, and now she loves it. She grabs the balls as they come out, puts the balls back in it, and presses the button to get it going. Jarom tells her "hit the button" and she'll reach and hit it. The only negative (which is also a positive) is that it is waaaay to powerful sometimes and the balls end up flying all over the room, but then Addie spends the next 30 minutes or more scooting around the room collecting the balls.

Addie when she used to scream at it

Another week!

Addie really enjoys unraveling ribbon! Jarom has had the pukes the last few days. We thought we had escaped the horrible virus that was going around, but then Jarom caught it from the cabinet guy from work. Poor Jarom has had to work the whole week too. I have banished him to the guest bedroom so he can keep his germs in there! Just so you don't think I'm a horribly insensitive wife, I did stock our home with chicken noodle soup, jello, sprite, Gatorade, applesauce, Charmin Ultra soft tp, and soothing bum wipes... haha!

Addie is so proud of herself when she learns a new word and we recognize it and repeat it back to her. She started saying hi and yes last week and has said "bum" a few times today. She always half whispers yes, it is too cute! Addie also is pulling up on everything! The coffee table, her bed, the TV stand, and us. I can't keep her down! Addie gets into everything Jarom started letting Addie "play" the piano and she loves it! He lets her play with her bum and she gets really excited and starts bouncing up and down. I'm so glad to have a fun daddy because I would never think of letting her play with her bum. Addie really loves music too and starts dancing and bouncing when it comes on.

Addie hates her baby food now and only wants to eat big girl food. I have a cabinet full of baby food, so I am making her eat a bite of it before each bite of our food, but she gets so frustrated when I do that its almost not worth it!

Finally after 3 years of clothes avalanches when trying to grab something to wear from my closet, I purchased a new dresser off of craigslist! I have put up with clothes falling out of the top of my closet nonstop for 3 years now and finally had enough!

Today I ate lunch with my friend Kristi at Phil Sandovals (the old Rosies building on 72) and let me tell you, it was AMAZING!!! I was kind of over Rosies because it seems like it all has the same taste to it and this place has so many new flavors and things you wouldn't expect! One of Rosies chefs started it is what I heard. The queso dip has asparagus in it, YUM! We also got some nachos that had chicken, cheese, peppers, pineapple, and raspberry sauce on them, vegetarian quesadillas that had potatoes, peppers, squash, zucchini, cheese, and asparagus, and sopapillas that were so soft and good. Everything was excellent. They also have free soft serve ice cream, so Addie got some of that. It is definitely my new favorite Mexican restaurant. And an added plus is that it wasn't all greasy and didn't leave you feeling gross and heavy afterwards from eating so much (and we definitely stuffed ourselves)!

A 5 Star Horse

So I thought it would be fun to go horseback riding... Tuesday Jarom, Skyler, Ashley, & I went to 3H stables. We were waiting on the guide to get back with another group so we started reading the white board with all of the rules on it. Well at the bottom of the board it listed each horse's name and had stars by it, some had 0 stars, and 1 had 5! Well the stars equalled how many times the horse has thrown someone off... Oreo was the 5 star horse. When the lady got back I said "We DEFINITELY DO NOT want to ride Oreo!" and the gruff woman responds "well, one of you WILL be riding her, and it will be one of you two" pointing to me and Ashley.... gulp. So it being my bright idea to go in the first place, I decided to ride Oreo.

So the lady gets us all on our horses, tells us how to get them to go, stop, turn, etc. So I kick the dumb horse and click like she demonstrated and the horse just sits there. So I do it over and over and over again and the horse doesn't move. Well when I had asked the lady what not to do to agitate the horse she says "don't spank it". So then everyone is on their way down the trail and my stupid horse is just standing there despite my furious kicks and clicks. So the lady yells back to me "spank her!".... uh.... isn't that what she told me NOT to do?!?! So in desperation I spank Oreo... and the stupid horse takes off really fast! I grab the reins and get her to stop and then after some stops and starts we finally catch up to the others. Ashley let me get in front of her so Oreo wouldn't lag behind anymore and we had a pretty good ride after all. No one fell off after all, so it was a success I suppose.

Oreo was actually somewhat of a famous horse... Mel Gibson's horse (which is down at 3H now) gave birth to Oreo, so that was kind of cool... Ashley and I were both REALLY sore the next day. I don't know that we'll be riding again any time soon, but it was fun for a change! Oh and I was a complete loser and forgot my camera. :(

9 month check up

Addie had her 9 month check up today and Addie is in the whopping 1st percentile in weight, 20th percentile in height and 34th percentile head.  I guess she has a huge metabolism and a big brain! :)  She weighs 14.13 and is 26 3/4 inches.  She is a tad anemic so she has to have iron everyday for 3 months... UG (it smells disgusting and she already doesn't want it) and I have to start my prenates again per doctor so Addie gets iron that way too.  The doctor said its no big deal, but she just wants her iron levels up a little.  Addie had her eyes tested too and she has perfect vision.  They pricked her toe for the anemia test and Addie didn't cry at all!  I was all prepared for tears, but none came! 

Addie is cleared for peanut butter, and the doctor said to start giving her more table food gradually.  I had already started feeding Addie pastas, beans, fresh diced fruit and veggies, so transitioning shouldn't be too hard.  The only shot today was the flu shot and we have to have a second one at the beginning of December, but I talked the doctor into postponing Addie's 12 month check up and shots until mid-January because the last round of shots were so bad on her.  I also didn't want Addie to be sick all through the holidays and her birthday.  

Addie also has started "blowing kisses" at Jarom.  He does it to her all the time and so she will either put her hand up to her mouth and then towards Jarom or will make the kissing noise at him.  She's our little sweetie!  

What luck!!!

Monday was a very lucky day for me! When I was preggers Jarom and I went to Posh Mommy & Baby out in Madison to buy a chair for her room. Well after an hour of browsing fabrics and chair styles Jarom was completely over it and "wanted a big chair for him to fit in" and "wanted to LEAVE!". So I made a quick decision on a huge recliner and did it in chocolate brown to try to do the brown/blue theme in Addie's room. Well fast forward to 6 weeks later when the chair comes in... I HATE IT! It is super comfy and the fabric is great, but the chair looked HORRIBLE in Addie's room. I figured I'd just deal with it since it was $600. Well lately that chair has become a bad itch for me. Everytime I passed it I groaned and no matter what I bought to go in her room it didn't make it look any better. So I listed it on Craigs list and one lady wanted to give me $325 for it but geez, that wasn't enough for me to go get a new chair, not even close!

So Monday I dropped Sam off in Madison so he and Dad could get going and decided to stop by Posh Mommy to dream about what kind of chair I'd eventually get for Addie's room and started talking to the owner and told her my dilemma. Well she said she would trade me any of the chairs in her store on her floor for my chair, with no extra charge. So I enlisted the help of my Uncle Bob since Jarom and Dad were working and traded chairs with her. Isn't the new one cute?? It is the same green as the letters on Addie's wall and the stems of the flowers in the pictures and has the minky dot upholstery (Addie's bedding and changing cover are minky dot) and is so much cuter! I couldn't be more pleased! I love Posh Mommy and Baby! Where else would they do that for you???

Before: the ugly brown comfy chair

After: Cute green girly chair!

Uh Oh....

Addie's new word today is Uh oh... I always say it to her when she topples over or if she or I drop something, etc. and she finally got the hang of it. All I hear today is "uh ohhhhh" over and over. Kind of a nice break from "boowwwww, Ohhh bowwwww" hehe.

My little chatterbox!

Addie turned 9 months this past Saturday. Over the last week she has become so into moving around and "talking". She loves to walk up and down the hall with our help and loves to hold on to things and stand. She still isn't crawling, but scoots around on her bottom or pulls around with her arms. She has pulled up to standing in her bassinet part of the pack in play but when she does that, she could easily topple out so I have kind of kept her out of it lately, worried that she'll fall and hit her head on the hardwood floors.

Jarom and I both don't like cats. Addie LOVES them! I have never seen her get more excited than she did at Uncle Bob's house Saturday night over a stinking cat! She was just jabbering away, squealing, and trying to walk over to his cat Bama the whole time the cat was in view. She was SO excited!

Addie said her first word last week. Her molars are trying to break through and she was chewing on everything. She chewed on her finger until she cried from biting it, then on her teething rings, then my arm, then leaned over and was chewing on her pack and play. I felt sorry for her so told Jarom to bring her the binky that she hasn't had for 3 weeks now... She immediately went to chewing on it and Jarom said "is that your binky?" and she looked up at him and said "bin-key". Of course she wouldn't repeat it. But when she was done chewing on the binky she didn't want it anymore, woohoo! Then Saturday night I made Addie an Auburn, Alabama, and a BYU bow and Addie started saying "bow". It sounds so country... "booow". Adorable! She says bow over and over until I pull out the video camera and then she refuses. She also says "hey", "oooohh", "bye bye", "mama" "dada" "dagee" and "no". Its so funny how verbal she has become. I wiped Addie's mouth and it always makes her cry so Katie asked her "Addie you don't like getting your mouth wiped do you?" and Addie looks at her and says "No!".

Addie has also become huge on waving now. She waves whenever she sees her reflection (the mirror, a window, whatever) and will wave at me whenever I am across the room from her or will wave when we say bye bye. She doesn't always do it right away but if you keep waving she'll finally break down and do it for you. Yesterday at Krogers a lady waved at her and Addie waved back and said "bye bye".

Addie enjoys watching TV and will cuddle up to me and watch cartoons. We LOVE Noggin!!! Miss Spider, Sponge Bob, Sesame Street, Its a big big world, backyardigans, word world, and a few others are Addie's favorites.

Addie cracks herself up all the time. She will chatter for a few minutes, laugh, and then start chattering again. It keeps me smiling and she entertains herself for a little while before she gets sick of that game.

Addie loves to feed herself and prefers our food to hers. She will eat our food like crazy and gives me a hard time when it comes to hers, so I have to alternate bites of our food and hers to get her to eat now. She has had pretty much every kind of food now, even peanut butter and scrambled eggs. She ate some of Jarom's turkey roll up wrap sandwich this morning and will bite off whatever you put near her mouth. I started buying the graduates diced fruits and veggies and Addie loves them and loves to eat them by herself. We have her 9 month appointment next week, so I am going to have to ask the doctor about switching Addie over to more real food. She really doesn't enjoy eating it all mushed up and loves to chew her food up herself.

Addie is growing so fast, I can't wait to see how much she has grown since her 6 month appointment!