Mountain time is fun time!

We took a long Memorial Day weekend up to Wears Valley with Nana, Papa and Aunt Carol and (overall) had a good time! We went up there Wednesday afternoon and stayed in an awesome cabin. Thursday, we went to the Pancake Pantry and Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg and also took a short hike in Elkmont. On the way back to the cabin, poor Addie got sick in the car. We thought it was just what she had eaten that day (one word: SUGAR) and just figured she'd be fine after that. But my poor baby was sick off and on the whole evening, then some more Friday evening, then some MORE Saturday afternoon. To top it off, she came down with pinkeye on Friday along with a bad cold! It was so pitiful. Needless to say, we took it very easy on Friday. Saturday, I actually came home early to see my friends graduate from law school (the class I started with - a little sad, but I'll get there!!!). Addie and JM got back on Sunday and by then, I was sick to my stomach, too, so Addie and I spent the day on the couch. I can't say that I hated it (besides the being sick part, of course :)). Anyway, we really did have a great time. It was so nice to get away and the weather was absolutely PERFECT! We really enjoyed hiking and I was happy that we didn't see any snakes. :) Seriously, though, sometimes I forget to take time to really enjoy how beautiful it is outside, especially in the rare areas that aren't developed! I can't wait to go back there again. Hopefully we'll make it this fall for a football game! And hopefully we'll stay well!

Ready for the Aquarium!



The traffic was stopped on the way to Gatlinburg (there was a tree in the road) so we got out and stretched our legs. Doesn't Addie look thrilled?! :)


Addie really wanted Daddy to have his hat!



Our little family on Friday - we didn't get many smiles out of Addie this day :(



Papa took a turn carrying Addie in the backpack because JM sprained his right shoulder last weekend. Addie INSISTED on holding her Daddy's hand





This one isn't from the cabin weekend, but I thought it was cute (disregard whatever face I'm making - who knows...). Addie likes to sit with me in the mornings and "help" me get ready (a/k/a put on my jewelry, headbands and whatever makeup I'll let her play with) - WHAT A STINKER!

Stats

Addie's two-year checkup was yesterday (no shots - woohoo!) and she's still teeny!

Weight: 24.8 lbs (20th percentile)
Height: 32 1/4 inches (15th percentile)

Dr. Hood said she looks perfect! We think so, too :)

We have a TWO-YEAR-OLD!?!?!

Wow! Addie's birthday was Saturday and I'm still having a hard time believing that she is two years old. Time flies way too quickly. It's funny because before she came along, I didn't feel like I was missing anything in my life, but now that she is here, John Michael and I wonder what we did without her...

Addie is even cuter than ever and is even more of a mess! She is speaking in sentences almost all the time now (and they all end in the name of whoever she's speaking to). She says the funniest things and it is really making me realize how much kids absorb! The other day she was spinning around and when I asked her what she was doing, she said, "I spin around, Mommy!" - with a little attitude that showed me she was thinking "DUH!" That attitude goes along with pretty much everything she says. :-) Her favorite thing is to boss us around at bedtime. I usually sit with her and rock and sing the ABCs to her, and whenever I start carrying over to her bed, she'll say "SIT DOWN, MOMMY!" Ha ha ha. Gets me every time!

Anyway, she started off her birthday with a perfect terrible-twos tantrum (I really think it was worse than any she had before Saturday - hehehe) but then she was her sweet self for the rest of the day. We had a really low-key celebration this year (honestly, I think I'm still exhausted from last year's party!) with Mimi & PawPaw, Nana & Papa, and Cici and Uncle Jason (my brother!). We had a great time. Addie acted just like she did at Christmas and ran around giggling the whole time. She did very well for no nap (have I mentioned she's decided naps aren't for cool kids anymore?)! She had a good time with the cake, too - she was almost as messy as last year, which I thought was funny because she's normally pretty neat when she eats. Oh, but the best was last weekend when Lynn, Kris & Holland came over to celebrate - she REALLY got messy with that cake. I'll have to get the pictures from Kris. :-)

Overall, I think she had a great day! She was a lot more into opening presents this year, of course, and she got lots of fun things including an art desk, a gardening set, and a bubble mower (and Fran, I'll never see her playing with it that I don't think of the boys fighting over theirs :-)). The funny thing was that she was more interested in her cards than she was her presents - she's definitely my daughter :-)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ADDIE! We love you! We are so blessed to be your mommy and daddy and we look forward to many, many more fun years!

Notice her fork sitting on the table :)







Addie intently checking out her new gardening gloves :)




"I'm TWO, Mommy!"

Quick picture catchup

Okay, since I was MIA for the past month (oops!) I thought I'd do a quick picture run. I am DONE with final exams as of 8:00 tonight (woohoo!) and after a very rough week last week, I am feeling back to my old self. I feel like so much has gone on, but now of course I can't think of it. This is why I need to blog more often :)

Soooo...here goes!

A few weeks ago, we had a great visit from our friends Jacquelyn & Christian and their little boy Ephraim (who is 9 months older than Addie). We went to the zoo and had a blast. And we were so happy to find out that they are moving to Nashville! Hooray!

Addie and Ephraim in E's wagon, ready for zoo time!

Can you believe she still had her sunglasses on?