Happy! Daddy!

Addie and I flew up to Cleveland Friday night to visit John Michael for his birthday weekend. We had so much fun! He left last Sunday for a two-week-long business trip, so we were all ready to see each other! I bought this thing so I was very excited about having Addie's car seat on the flight (after learning last summer that a toddler on a plane does not equal fun). No such luck. Unfortunately, it was a little bit too much to handle for one person so I ended up gate-checking the whole thing and having Addie just sit in the regular seat. She did pretty well and luckily, the man sitting next to us was super nice and helped me keep her entertained. She was very excited to see her daddy when we got there! Although, she quickly fell asleep in the car once we were on the way to the hotel :)

Saturday was John Michael's birthday - the big 3-0! It was so nice to be able to be with him (thanks again, Nana and Papa!!!!). We had a great day. Lynn taught Addie how to say "Happy Birthday, Daddy" (which comes out as "Happy! Daddy!" :)) and JM really loved that. We spent the day out and went to the Cleveland Children's Museum where Addie had a blast playing at their Splish-Splash area. Then we went to the Great Lakes Science Center (Addie slept on John Michael's shoulder the WHOLE time). Afterward, it was time for our dinner!

Nana and Papa were SO generous to book (and pay for!) a wonderful dinner for us for John Michael's birthday. It was at a very nice restaurant called Johnny's. They had told us about it and that they wanted to send us there for the birthday dinner. Cindy even called to make sure it was okay to bring kids, and they said it would be okay. ANYWAY - so we walked into the restaurant, and immediately I knew we were those people. You know - the ones with kids in a restaurant where kids aren't really supposed to be :) I'll start by saying that there were no high chairs available. None. As in, the restaurant didn't have any. I was mortified because I was just wondering how this was all going to go. Addie sat in JM's lap for a little while and then remembered that she's almost two years old and wanted to get down. Our server brought us bread and butter, and Addie was immediately interested in eating the "cheese" (which was triangles of butter). I was flipping out but JM kept saying, "Just go with it - who cares? It's fine!" (This is why we get along so well - a balance). I kept suggesting to him that we ask them to bring out our food in boxes and he kept telling me to relax. A few people were looking at us, so I was trying to keep Addie quiet. She then decided she wanted to climb up in the chair and get down from the chair, over and over. Again, I was flipping out but JM said - "At least she's being quiet!" She then got down from the chair and looked at me and said (rather loudly), "MOMMY! MOMMY - POOPY! MOMMY - POTTY!" I was trying to shhhh her and reach down and grab the diaper bag. Just as I reached down, I saw her stepping away from the table towards the center of the restaurant and then, SHE PULLED HER PANTS DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RESTAURANT!!!!!!!! She was so proud of herself and I started laughing so hard I was crying. I could barely breathe. It was hilarious. It was at that moment that I calmed down. :) I guess needed that reminder that she is only (almost) 2 and that maybe I was expecting a little much for her to sit still, regardless of how nice the restaurant is. When I told Lynn the story, she said it was if Addie was saying "See? THIS is what I think of your fancy restaurant!" Ha ha ha ha ha...

JM and I made a pact to tell this story at the rehearsal dinner for her wedding. That's our girl :) Oh, and in case you're wondering, her diaper stayed on the whole time, thank goodness :)

On Sunday, we went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and back to the Science Center so Addie could run off some energy (in theory, so she'd sleep on the plane). She stayed wide awake for the rest of the day, even on the plane. I had to bribe her a couple of times to be good by telling her she'd get to see Nana and Papa soon and it worked for the most part. Unfortunately, she fell SOUND asleep as soon as we got off the plane and missed seeing them. All that being good for nothin'! :)

Anyway, we really did have an AWESOME time. Addie and I are definitely ready for John Michael to hurry up and come home! I knew we'd miss him, but I wasn't sure quite how much! We're really so blessed to have him as our husband and father. He's pretty great at both :) We love you!

Thanks once more to Nana and Papa for our mini-vacation and for John Michael's birthday present! We love you both, too!

Addie entertained herself by throwing her markers in the nightstand in the hotel. That's her birthday card to her Daddy at her feet :)

Addie at lunch on Saturday after her first taste of root beer - just like her mommy, she knows it's yucky stuff! ;)

Addie and Daddy outside the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (it was SOOOO cold!)

Addie driving at the Science Center - she had a blast!

23 months (a day early!)

I can't believe Addison will be 2 years old in one month. Ridiculous! She just gets cuter and smarter all the time - and also more stubborn and hard-headed. I guess I should call it "independent" to put a positive spin on it :)

Over this past month, her vocabulary has really taken off. She often speaks in short sentences now (usually about 3-4 words each) and she's definitely aware of what's hers. She's constantly saying, "Addie's _____(whatever the object is)." But in fairness, she also makes sure we know what's ours by pointing to our stuff and saying "Mommy's _____" and "Daddy's _____"! I guess she's afraid we'll forget :) She also has definite names for everyone now, even if they're not quite right. For example, Aunt Lynn and Uncle Kris are "An Nats" and "Un Cheese" - teehee. Holland is "Ha-Ha" and she loves to always ask to see him or go to "Ha-Ha's house." My parents are still Mimi and PawPaw, but John Michael's parents are now "Nana" and "Papa." Oh, and I'm officially "Mommy" - no more "Mama!"

Addie has also gotten to where she can tell us almost all of her letters by sight (the capitals, at least) and some of her numbers. She sometimes mixes up D and O and Q (they're all O's to her :)) but I'm very impressed. It is so much fun to teach her! Nothing gets past her anymore - ha ha ha.

About potty training - not so much. :) I decided last week that we were going to bite the bullet and just start, and her first 3 potty trips were successful! Then I think she got stage fright. She didn't go again the rest of the weekend. I've decided to lay off for another few weeks and give it another shot. That is one area I really don't want to rush, and I'm pretty sure she won't go to kindergarten in a diaper. At least I hope not :) But there is a funny story in that area - Lynn, Kris and Holland came over this weekend and we put both of the kiddos on their potties. Holland pee-peed every time, like a pro! I was trying not to say things like "Holland's going, you should go," but I did anyway. I guess it just came out. :( So now, whenever we ask her if she has pee-peed or pooped, she says, "No. Addie no poop. Ha-ha poop." I can't help but crack up because I think she's thinking if she puts the blame on Holland, she won't have to stop playing for a diaper change :) What a stinker.

This week it's just us girls. John Michael is out of town for TWO WEEKS to Cleveland. We miss him like CRAZY and every morning Addie asks "Daddy home?" But, we're flying up to see him this weekend because it's his birthday. We're excited!

I've got pictures to upload, but of course they're at home. More tomorrow!!!