Teehee...

Addie was telling me about her day at school today and she told me that she painted. The conversation went like this:

Me: "What did you do at school today, baby?"

Addie: "I painted!"

Me: "You painted? That's fun!"

Addie: "Yeah, with paintbrush on the table."

Me: "Your paintbrush was on the table?"

Addie: "Uh oh! Now paintbrush on the floor."

[Me laughing]
Me: "What colors did you paint with?"

Addie: "Ummm...blue and red."

[I'm thinking, I have seen my kiddo paint and there is no way her colors stayed separate - what a great opportunity to talk about colors!]
Me: "Oh! Blue and red! That's great! Did you see that blue and red make purple when they mix?"

Addie: "Purple? No, Mommy. I said I just paint with blue and red. Not purple."


She may as well have said, "DUH, MOM!" I'm just thankful I didn't get an eye-roll...hopefully I can put that off for a few more years at least! :)

Have no fear!

Okay, because I became a tiny bit concerned about the cheese I bought the other day (I know, I know), I had to look it up. On this site, it says that cheese can last for 3-12 months, refrigerated and unopened. Granted, that's for Wisconsin cheese, but I'm going to give my cheese the benefit of the doubt. So it looks like Kroger cheeses will keep getting my business. I'm sure they were worried ;)

By the way, am I the only one who wants to buy ONE OF EVERYTHING on the site I linked above?!? I LOVE CHEESE!

Due date cheese

One more post...last night, I was making dinner for JM and Addie to have while I was in class tonight. I got the cheese out of the fridge and noticed that its expiration date is March 9, 2009 (the new baby's due date). It made me think two things...

1) Baby #2 is going to be here a LOT sooner than it feels like!
2) Kroger brand cheese may have a few too many preservatives for my liking ;)

CRAZY, huh?!

Just us girls!

John Michael had to go out of town last week (from Sunday to Sunday), so Addie and I flew solo. It was a little exhausting, to say the least! Not to mention that we really missed Daddy :) We were definitely ready for him to come home. But from the sound of his week, not half as ready as he was to be home!

On the bright side, we had a great week and Addie was so good for me and was not fussy in the mornings at all! That was a huge plus as I've still been having weakness in the morning a little. I also had an exciting day on Thursday when my mom and I got to go to the Eagles concert. It was AMAZING! I might have to explain that I have loved the Eagles since I was a little girl. We listened to their tapes every year on our drive to the beach. I seriously can't get over how awesome they were live. I'm so glad we got to go (although JM was sad he missed it!). A huge THANK YOU to Lynn & Kris who kept Addie so I could still go to the concert after a change in plans when JM got called out of town. We appreciate it so very much and love you guys! Addie & Holland had a good time. I have to get the pics from Kris, but at bed time, Lynn and Kris decided to try putting the kiddos in bed together (since Addie has been having trouble sleeping anywhere but her crib lately and we were all worried that she would still be up whenever I got back from the concert!) and it worked like a charm! Addie snuggled right up to Holland and they were both sleeping soundly when I went to pick her up 3 hours later. TOO CUTE!

Addie and I also had a great weekend. We had a good visit from Aunt Katie (although it was way too short) and Addie was crazy about her (and about the Mrs. Potato Head and cute clothes she brought)! We went to the mall and I realized I had forgotten the stroller, so we had to rent one of the huge ones from the mall. Addie was so excited about it! As Katie said, it was the best $5 investment ever. I agree, since Katie pushed her around the whole time :) The only downfall of the weekend was the HORRIBLE UT game. So so bad. Better luck next season, I'm afraid! Oh well...we still love our Vols!

Addie in the Princess Stroller - it had a functioning horn and she was a maniac with it! HA!



Katie and me, taken at 1am (so disregard my crooked hair!)


A cute bath pic, because it's been a while :)

Yikes!

Okay, so it's been over a month, and my loyal blog readers (Hi, Mom!) are in an uproar ;) So, here we are! It's been a good (but busy) month, so I'll just touch on the highlights:

* I started back to school, and that's been pretty emotionally draining. I'm going three nights a week and every Saturday morning, which is exhausting and getting old quickly. But I'm closing in on being done! And it'll be worth it when I get there...

* We took an awesome trip over Labor Day weekend with Lynn, Kris and Holland and Leslie and Skye! It was very relaxing. We did a whole lot of nothing, which was awesome! The girls took a shopping trip (babyless!) and the guys took the babies hiking. While they were hiking, they came across a rattlesnake. EEK! I am SO glad I wasn't there. They guys said that the kiddos thought it was pretty cool. I'm so glad that everyone (including the "wattlesnake") remained calm!

* Addie moved up a class in school and is doing AWESOME! She has always been a "star student" but the past month (before the transition) we weren't getting the best reports. I think she must have been bored, because since she has moved up, she has been doing great! She has a perfect report every day (knock on wood) and is back to being teacher's pet ;)

* Potty training - she has been doing great for a while, with only a few accidents, but is on potty strike this week. I'm not concerned at all. She's very quick to congratulate us when we potty though! She'll even bring us an M&M - but after she's made sure we've washed our hands. Hilarious.

* Big girl bed - we've been trying to make the transition to the big girl bed (twin bed). She was super excited about it for a few nights but is now more content in her crib. Again, not concerned about this. She has never tried to climb out of her crib, and Dr. Hood said to not even attempt a transition until she did so. Of course, we'd like to not have to buy another crib when the next baby comes along, but that is still six months away (plus around 8-10 weeks when he/she will sleep in our room).

* Speaking of the new baby, everything seems to be going great so far! We have gotten to see the baby four times by ultrasound (I LOVE MY DOCTOR!) and the two times that they measured the heartbeat it was 162 and 151. We should find out what we're having in about 4 to 5 weeks. Hooray! I've also been feeling a few flutters which is super exciting. And I'm only having mild "Oh my gosh, we're going to have two children!" moments :) I've only had a couple episodes of morning sickness but am having lots of morning (ahem, all day...) lightheadedness and dizziness. Ugh. I'll be glad when that passes!

I think that just about covers the bases. I went to Staples today and bought a little notebook so I can start writing down the cute things Addie says (and which I'll be sure to post on here!). She is just hilarious. One funny thing I can easily remember - we were in the car on the way to Boomsday and all eight of us were packed in pretty tightly. I was in the middle row by the window with Holland next to me and Addie by the other window. I am not quite sure if someone kicked the seat or made a noise or what, but Addie just asked, "Mommy? Did you fall down?" Me: "Um, no baby, I didn't..." Addie: "You okay, Mommy?" Me: "Yeah, baby, I'm fine." Addie: "Mommy, what happened?" Me: "I don't know, baby." Addie: "Mommy, you okay?" Hehe. Cracked me up. She is becoming very aware and both empathetic and sympathetic when things happen to others. So sweet. Anyway, here's a few pics!

Actually, first, a movie!

Addie at Great Aunt Patsy's 60th Birthday

Free labor (kidding! :))

Addie still loving her slide!

Addie picking her first pumpkin of 2008 at Nana & Papa's

Where I've been...

Okay, so I didn't fall off the face of the earth. I'm just a really bad secret-keeper, so instead of having to have willpower to not share our big secret, I decided to not blog for the past few weeks. But now we're ready to spill the beans, so...

We're having another baby!

I'm almost ten weeks right now and have had two good ultrasounds with a very strong heartbeat both times! We're so excited. The estimated due date is March 9, 2009. We've kept the news pretty quiet but are excited to have as many prayers coming our way as possible! Please be thinking of us as we're excited but a little cautious (I had an early miscarriage in May). We can't wait to add another precious baby to our family!

Here's a quick video of Addie's thoughts about the whole thing:


(She loves the "raise your hand" routine for anything ;) - oh, and she has changed her mind weekly about whether she wants a brother or a sister)

FINALLY!

My little ham has decided she likes being a "movie star," so I finally got her singing "Twinkle, Twinkle"! Never mind the fact that half the words are missing. Oh, and the same with the "Teapot" song. I think I count 3 words total to that song. HA HA HA!

What have you done?

I got this from plastic please. Love it! You highlight what you have done. Now you guys do it! Leave a blog comment so I can come read yours.

1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hotel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter

St. Augustine 2008

We had a great week at the beach and, truthfully, were not quite ready to come home! It was just perfect. Addie did great on the plane rides (I really think her being in the car seat helped tremendously) and was overall really good. Granted, there were a couple of times where I was trying to figure out if she had been switched at birth because really, could a kid of MINE act that terrible?! Ha ha ha. I think she's just trying to remind us that she is two, after all. ;)

Anyway, we had a great relaxing week. We spent the mornings at the beach (and I actually got a little tan - woohoo!) and then spent the afternoons in different ways: at the park, at the Alligator Farm, and JM and I actually got to go on TWO dates (one to the movies - we do NOT recommend Indiana Jones, and one to the Conch House - a very cool restaurant with little tiki huts over the water). Thanks so much Mom & Dad for watching Addie! We love you!!!

Addie had such a great time being able to see her Mimi and PawPaw all the time, and we had a good time having them so close, too! We also got to see two of my uncles and one of my aunts which was really great. I have such a wonderful family. So, really, to sum it up, it was an AWESOME week. I am looking forward to going back (although with the bar exam next year, I'm not sure if it'll happen...but we'll figure something out!)! Again, I have to thank my mom & dad for everything this past week. We had such a good time and were so sad to see it end!

OH - a funny thing. We caught Addie singing "Twinkle, Twinkle" one day in the car. It was the cutest thing EVER! I am trying to catch it on video and I will be sure to post it as soon as I'm lucky enough :)

Silly goose.

Addie with her "subbel" (even though PawPaw tried to convince her it was a fork - hehe)

That is definitely Addie in the hole.

Some of the alligators and turtles we saw! These were the itty-bitty gators, but we saw some HUGE crocodiles!

Addie riding the tortoise

...and this would be one of, oh, about 3 naps Addie actually took last week! And her newest prized possession, her stuffed white alligator!

Addie was very proud of her "Do-wah" sunglasses and was proud to put them on. She was very upset about her tummy showing in her bathing suit, though. :) Look closely and you can see what she didn't realize would be showing instead! Hehehe.
(I know, she'll kill me when she reads this in 10 years!)

We could see the Anastasia lighthouse from our tiki table at the Conch House!!! I am slightly obsessed with this lighthouse and think it is the most beautiful in the country. I have climbed to the top twice!

The "real" view from our tiki hut table at the Conch House. I took a picture of our yacht so you could see it. Isn't it pretty?

Hehehehe...

JM re-remembered how to turn on the black & white setting on the camera so he was playing :)

I love this guy!!!!!!

Happy Fadder's Day, Daddy!

Just wanted to post quickly to wish John Michael a Happy Father's Day! I can't believe it's the third one (and I think we'd both agree they just keep getting better!). I love you so much. You are an amazing father and husband. Who could've guessed 12 (!!!) years ago that we'd be where we are today?! I am having so much fun with you and am LOVING watching how much Addie adores you. Thanks for being you!

(I also want to wish Happy Father's Day to my Daddy, because without him, how would I truly know what an amazing father should be like? You're the best, Daddy! I love you SO much!)



And now, from Addie:

It's been a while!

I am such a slacker! We've had a good few weeks, although they've been very busy. Summer school started up, but my class seems pretty interesting. It's pretty much learning about my job, which is funny considering I've been working there for 9 months. HA!

Last week Addie and I had fun visiting with our friends Amber and Jacks! Amber and I went to college together and lived right down the hall from each other. She and Jacks were here visiting family and made some time to visit! We were so glad! We had a gourmet dinner of Chick-Fil-A (hehe) and then ended up going to the mall to let the babies play at the play place! I "borrowed" some of Amber's pictures of Jacks and Addie! Jacks is SO very cute and smart. Thanks again, guys, for playing! We can't wait to do it again. But next time, Amber, we have to get a picture of all four of us!!!

This past weekend I drove to Greenville, SC for my college best friend's bachelorette party. Although it was so much fun, I really wasn't prepared for how much I'd miss JM and Addie! I kind of felt like the first time I spent the night away from home in kindergarten. In fact, I was very proud of myself for not having to have Kendall's mommy call JM to come pick me up - HA!!! Seriously, though, it was so great to see Kendall, but I think having a baby might make you officially too old to thoroughly enjoy a bachelorette party. Oh well. ;)

On a fun note, Addie got her playset last Friday and she LOVES it! She's a little skittish of the slide, but she's fine to go down it if she sends something down first (usually, her sunglasses!). It's hilarious. She ADORES the swings though and is always saying "Higher, Mommy! Push higher, Mommy!" Wonder how long that'll take to get old? ;)

On a not so fun note, OH MY GOODNESS could the tantrums get any worse!? I lovingly call Addie "Mommy's Little Monster" now. She loves it and is pretty proud of the title :) She's a mess, but luckily, a cute one! She continues to crack me up with her sentences - especially the ones that make no sense! I love it. I'll try to get some video soon.

Also - we're going to the beach soon - YAY!

Can you believe I only took TWO pictures since my last post? What a bum!
Addie prefers the "big girl" swings, but...

we taught her that if she sits in the "baby" swing she can go much higher!

Thanks so much, Nana and Papa, for the AMAZING playset! We ALL love it.

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?

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!!!

I got tagged

Plastic Please tagged me, so I'm doing this because I'm in Estate Planning and it's boring :)

Here are the rules:

1. Link to the person that tagged you.

2. Post the rules on your blog.

3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.

4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.

5. Let each random person know they have been tagged.

Six Things About Me:

1. I have worn something orange for 3 out of the last 6 days. GO VOLS!

2. I have become an insomniac on school nights.

3. It just took me like 5 minutes to remember the word "insomniac" - I have a terrible memory lately.

4. I got my butt kicked last weekend in the 29th annual Corn Family Easter Egg Hunt.

5. I made fruit tea last weekend and forgot to add the water so it was SUPER sweet.

6. I have been to the gym twice this week already - look at me go!

I tag anyone who wants to play :) Happy Wednesday!

Happy Easter!

A day late, but it's something that always needs celebrating :)

We had a great Easter weekend! It was very busy, but lots of fun. After 4 Easter Egg hunts, Addie is officially a pro. She had one at school on Friday, then we had her friends Olivia and Holland (and Olivia's parents Amy & Randy, and of course Aunt "Din" and Uncle "Cheese") over for dinner and an egg hunt Saturday, then we had two on Sunday - one at Nana and Grampa's, and one at Gran and Pop's! Phew! Needless to say, we are not giving her all of the candy she found.

Another big thing this weekend is that Addie gave up her pacifiers! We started last week by telling her that we were going to give them to the Easter Bunny so that he could deliver them to the babies out there who need them. She nodded her head each morning that she understood, but we were still unsure of how it would go when the weekend finally got here. It went GREAT! We kind of cheated a little bit because she was already asleep when we put her to bed on Friday (she had fallen asleep in the car). The same thing happened for her nap on Saturday. But Saturday evening, I put her to bed and she only fussed for about 5 minutes or so! We were so proud! She fussed even less Sunday night, and tonight when I put her down she didn't even whimper. I think I have been more reluctant to give up her pacis for my sake - my baby is becoming a big girl! Time goes by too quickly.

We hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!

Addie and Olivia helping each other :)

Holland playing it cool...

Addie at Nana and Grampa's
(We had to put jeans on under her Easter dress because it was SO COLD!)

That's my girl!

I wasn't feeling so great on Sunday so JM took Addie to see Nana and Grampa on the farm so I could rest. JM said when he and Addie arrived, he showed her how to carefully walk around the puddles in the driveway. He later caught up with Addie to see what Nana and Grampa had taught her while he was doing some work on the greenhouse:


Hehehe.