I Can't Get Enough of You, Baby

Yes, it's true! Ha ha ha!  I crack myself up.

Just some more pics of our Addison.  She is really changing and developing!  She's is definitely not a newborn anymore. *tear* But she is getting big, more alert and it's so fun! Yay!

{Perfect little Pea}

{Hollywood...as Papa says}

{How her thumbs are typically tucked in her fists...this should stop around 3 months, doctor says}

{Miss Serious}

{Us!}

I am trying hard to get more pictures of us together.  And, of course, with Daddy too.  I have tons of pictures of them sleeping together, but very few with them awake.  It's tough, I guess.  Goal from here on out: more pictures of us with Addison.

Toilet Seat Cleaner

Is this a new thing?

{It says, "Toilet Seat Cleaner"}

And the directions tell you to grab a wad of toilet paper, spray this stuff on it, and wipe the seat down! Interesting idea they've got going on here.  I saw this in our local Dick's Sporting Goods store and again at a restaurant in Wisconsin.  Strange.  

Memorial Day 2011

For the weekend we went 'up North' to Kim and Ron's lake house.  They have a house in Elkhorn, Wisconsin on the Lauderdale Lakes.  It's wonderful!  We spent most of the weekend indoors because the weather was crappy.  Lots of rain and storms kept us away from the lake/boat.  At one point, there were 13 people and 2 dogs in this house.  I was told the house was roughly 900 square feet.  It was packed full and made for a good time.  We were never bored!  Gracie did fairly well.  She freaked out when there were 'too many people' for her liking and stayed close to me the whole day.  However, Monday was beautiful.  Sadly, it was our last day there and only had a few hours on the lake.  I did get a few pictures of Miss Addison on her first Memorial Day.

{Pre lake trip in her first swimsuit and shades}

{Not so sure what Mom is doing}

{Momma and Addison}

{First boat ride...she fell asleep the first 30 min or so!}

{Love}

{Just chillin, blowin bubbles}

{Our first experience with the life vest- poor thing}

{G hanging out...yes, she came too}

{My little sleepin buddy}

{So yummy}

Welcome to the Good Life

I truly live a dream.  Currently, I spend every waking moment with my family.  Seven days a week, I wake up and go to sleep with my precious Addison.  We spend the day with Michael for the most part.  We plan dinner and fix it or go together, we take walks, clean the house, do the laundry, watch baseball, and lounge together.  Tuesday through Friday I wake up with both the hubby and my baby girl.  It's heaven.  We lay in bed and stare, play, and talk with our Addie.  We read her books.  She smiles and laughs and I can tell she loves life.  She's SO happy.  Don't get me wrong, we are not perfect.  Rather, we're just perfect for each other.  Arguments and frustrating moments happen on a daily basis.  Addison cries (and even screams) and drives us nuts.  But that's all a part of life.  And this life is good.

I have a hard time Friday evening through Monday morning.  I am spoiled with having SO much time with the hubs around.  His company, love, and extra set of hands 72 hours straight is beyond OUTSTANDING!  It's more than perfect.  We've had more family time together than I could have ever dreamed of.  I love it.  It just makes the hours when he's gone lonely and sssssoooooo slooooow.

I worry about when I start back at work.  Monday through Friday I will be gone from 9 am to 5 pm (roughly).  That's a long time to be away from my husband and baby.  And we still won't get our weekends together.  Double ugh!  I know it's going to be fine, once I get used to the change.  I know this job is going to be wonderful.  Once again, we have truly been blessed to have all these puzzle pieces fit into place.  I've never been one 'afraid' of change.  It's just always been a part of my life (moving every 2-3 years, attending 3 high schools in three years of high school, college, parent's divorce, moving to AZ, different schedules with Mike), but this time there's this little 11 pound, blue eyed, bundle of joy dependent filled with unconditional love in our life.  It makes 'Daddy' going to work much more difficult than it's ever been for him(and he truly, without a doubt loves his job- for that I am grateful).  Gosh darn...it just sucks.

Who, in a million years, would ever leave this?

She's beyond perfect.  Growing too fast.  And I don't want to miss anything!

Too Many Cameras

There really isn't such a thing, but I wasn't sure what to title this post.  I LOVE my cameras, but have found that when it comes to downloading the pictures off them...I forget one.  Darn it!

So here are some more of the Cubs game...via my little Canon:

A Moment

Dear Addie,

Mommy took a shower super late today.  I spent the morning with you.  We went for a walk with Gracie.  And she did really well.  She didn't ever pull the stroller and scare you.  You took a nap in the house while I blogged earlier and then we took a small 'hike' to Kohls b/c Mommy had a return.  You were a trooper.  Mommy's little trooper.

While I was in the shower you laid in your cradle and talked.  I got out, got dress and laid with you propped up on my legs on my bed.  We were talking.  You burped a chunky burp and threw up all over me.  I was clean...just out of the shower, but I didn't care.  I love your spit up.  I love everything about you.

I started crying.  And this is why:

I don't ever want you to think I left you.  I have to go to work so Daddy and I can provide a better life for you.  I hope you never think I am absentminded when I am physically present in your life.  I don't want to seem aloof or focused on something else when I am around you.  I am worried work will take more than just 8 hours a day away from us.  I love us.  I love our little family.  I am going to miss hanging out with you all day.  I want to be there for you, not only physically but mentally...emotionally.  I am human and I am bound to mess up, but I hope to build a wonderful relationship w/you.  I hope going to work right now does not hinder our bond.  I am scared, little one.

I am forever grateful that your Daddy took it upon himself to continue to work weekends.  I know that stinks for him and he misses out on a lot of family things.  It's hard for the both of us you see.  We are going to push through these less than perfect times in hopes of a brighter future for us all.  I am thankful that Daddy gets to spend lots of one-on-one time with you.  Your bond can grow.  I know I have a special little place in your heart.  We have a special bond...and I know this.  I just don't want it to ever fade or falter.

Tears from your Momma now...but even as I cry and tell you all these things, you give me your big, full-face smile.  And it makes everything better.

Addison, never forget Mommy loves you more than anything in the world.  I'd do anything for you.

As of Late

Whew! It's a relaxing Sunday morning.  G and I are chilling on our patio.

Why must I be out here you ask?  Oh that's because our old hag of a neighbor wrote a letter to our association about Gracie being outside unattended for hours on end.  Hummm...for the lack of a better word, the woman is an old, bitter, witchly, hag.  Ugh.  Making my life more difficult.  So, yes, Gracie goes outside for hours on end and lays out.  We have always laughed about how our Husky, who is an Arctic breed, enjoys sitting in the sun catching her rays (panting like there's no tomorrow).  She likes the shade too.  I've never been one too overly enjoy the outdoors.  Therefore, no I do not sit outside with my dog no matter the climate/weather.  And you will most certainly never seen me sitting out next to her when it's raining, sleeting, snowing, thunder storming, blizzarding, tornadoing, hailing, or when it's scorching hot (you get the picture).  Nor will you see me next to her when my two month old baby is crying, if I am cleaning the house, showering (b/c we all know I get a small window of opportunity for that these days), or peeing.  This woman is CRA-ZAY!  In order to abide by the association rules, I am doing my duty.

{G causing trouble, being mischievous as I type} 

{Tough to get the old hag's back door with G's face in the picture...it's the door on the right}

Pretty threatening, huh?  She told Mike, when he tried to have a few words with this woman, that Gracie stares at her while she's in her yard.  Ha ha ha.  Poor G.

Honestly, I'm just waiting for the witch to come out so I can have a few kind words with her.  (Attempt #2 on our part to resolve the issue.)  Hopefully, we can work something out.  For now, I will plop my bum in the garage sale lawn chairs I picked up (3 for $10...oh yeah!) and eat, nurse, and blog my heart out with my pup.  Take that, old hag!

I also got a job!  Whoa!  I will be the lead teacher in the four year old classroom at Primrose starting at the beginning of June.  Breathe...in and out.  Yes, I have to go back to work.  Yes, a tiny part of me wants to go back to work.  It's not really going back though...blah.  It's a brand new school (fun), the first one in Illinois (fun), and I will finally be a classroom teacher (double fun).  I am worried, nervous, sad, and even depressed.  I love my stay-at-home lifestyle.  I absolutely LOVE staying at home with Addison...especially Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday when Michael is home too.  I LOVE when our family is all together.  So, I will treasure this last week and I will learn to cherish the few times we get that with the new schedule.  Thank the Lord above Daddy gets to stay home with Ads.  It's almost like he's the stay-at-home Dad.  I am excited for them.  And jealous.  Leaving her gives me anxiety.

{Her smile lights up the world}

{Pretty girl}

 {My Mother's Day delight}

{Sleeping in her cradle (typical), unswaddled (rarely happens)}

{Pink tutu and big flower headband...110% girl}

{Yes, they're a tad boy-ish, but w/ruffle socks and a skirt, I think we can pull 'em off}

{I swear, if those cheeks get any bigger, Ads, you aren't ever going to lift your head!}

{Treasuring these moments...she's even smiling!}

{Sick! I'm gone for five days and this is what I sweep up after my return}

{2nd and 3rd Band-Aids of her life...stinkin shots!}

{Little cheeser}

{LOVE the huge open-mouth grin}

{such a happy baby}

{yes, baby girl, he does}

{our new binky and a new dress- sleepy girl}

{ha ha ha- she has a tuft of super long hairs, here's proof}

Who Is Two Months?

It's YOU, Miss Addison!

Where has the time gone?  We've been to two states and back.  Met extended family (your Great Grandparents), saw your Aunt Caitlin graduate, felt sunshine on our skin, danced, hugged and kissed.  We have done so much, but I didn't want time to slip between our fingers in the meantime.  At the doctor, you were A. Perfect B. 10 pounds 8 ounces and C. 22 inches long...my how you've grown!  You also got 5 vaccinations...one was given orally, which means you got four shots.  Two in each leg and Mommy left the room.  Addie, I had my ears plugged and was tapping on my fingers to drowned out your scream...it failed, I could still hear you.  Imagine how my tears were falling then...and yours were just horrid.  We wouldn't do this to you if only, at this age, you understood how important these are for your health.

You wear a size 1 diaper.  Size 0-3 month clothes.  We love your bows...and you truly don't seem to mind them.  Well, that is until you pull them over your eyes and are unable to see the world around you!  You smile, coo, and mimic.  We have video of you doing your best to laugh.  If only we could know what was going on in that little head.  You love your swing and bouncy seats.  Momma knows just the right position to put you in to calm you down and put you fast asleep in minutes.  I even showed the "secret position" to a few family members over the weekend.  As always, Auntie Caitlin could knock you right out.  There must be something about her :)

You usually sleep 6-7 hours straight at night.  We need to move you into your cradle permanently...BUT you like sleeping slightly upright, so we have to break that habit first.  I promise we will do this so you can fully enjoy your cradle built by Papa.  We still swaddle you tight...and you still seem to get your hands out!  However, we know you sleep best this way.  (And that was learned the hard way- we are not ready to be unswaddled yet!)  You've attended your first Cubs game...and your Daddy was on cloud 9, my little girl.  I hope our pictures capture the way he was beaming.

{The only smile we caught all day- so unlike you}

{Proof of those terrible shots that made this day phooey!}

{Are you really trying to take my picture right now?}

{SO serious, lil Miss}

{chubby cheeks...and a double chin?!?}

{Yup- sadly, how your day was spent...upset and in pain}

Needless to say, we introduced you to Tylenol today.  Poor girl.  You have been very out of sorts and unlike your 'happy go lucky' self.  Baby Girl, Daddy and I are sorry you hurt so much.  We'd take away all your pain and the fever and even give it to ourselves <3

You are the light of our lives.  You have changed us forever.  We are parents. And wouldn't change it for the world.  Thank you, Addie pants, for being who you already are.  We cannot wait to watch you grow.  I fear the next 10 months will fly just as quickly past us and you will be a year old.  *tear*

Can you stop growing up now?  We love you Princess!