Washington DC

Last week Addi and I went to DC to see Scott. Addi traveled well although she has to be entertained on the plane. Luckily the people sitting around us enjoyed entertaining her. The first couple of days were cold, rainy, and windy which kept us inside more than we wanted but we still tried to get out. We had beautiful weather the rest of the week. We stayed right by George Washington University at the Doubletree Suites. It was also the week of the Cherry Blossom Festival and spring break so it was insanely crazy - we waited to get into everything! Although we had a wonderful trip walking around town and visiting all of the sites (we rode the metro train and walked everywhere! - we didn't even bring the car seat.) seeing Scott every day was the highlight of our trip. Plus, it was nice to see where he stays and have a better understanding of where he is. Addi didn't sleep while we were there -she was cutting teeth and all of the city noise kept her up. Often she fell asleep while we were out and about. I was able to visit with Tracy and her son Declan and Catey while I was in town. We all went to the International Spy Museum and then to lunch at Gordon Biersh. Scott and I ate at a ton of wonderful places including my favorite Thai place (ThaiTanic) of all times that I've been talking about for the last couple of years. It was better than I remember! We also had the best Chinese food at One Fish Two Fish - Scott said he will never eat "regular" Chinese again. Addi and I went to Georgetown and shopped and visited the Museum of Natural History and the Holocaust Museum. We walked around the National Mall area all week and of course walked by the White House many times. Scott, Addi, and I went to Chinatown/Verizon Center, the Cherry Blossom Festival by the Tidal Basin, Georgetown, Waterfront, and the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden just to name a few. Here are some pictures.

 

Addi loved playing on the king size bed - she just laughed and laughed!

   

waiting by the Metro train with Daddy who is heading to work

Addi finally met Catey!

Addi is crawling!

Addi has been crawling for about a week! Here is a video of her and I playing "where's momma" - a game that her and Scott usually play, but we decided to try it out today - so much fun! :) Basically, we hide behind the couch, and she get's really excited when we pop-out from behind the couch. The second half of the video is her crawling after the remote. Please ignore my obnoxious laugh and voice - they make her laugh so...



She tried toast today and this past weekend cheese. She liked both, although I think she likes toast more than cheese. I can't get her to eat potatoes. I whipped them with cheese and plain yogurt (both of which she loves) and still nothing.

Addi is getting tubes this Thursday. Please say a prayer for her. It's a simple outpatient surgery so we aren't worried but they still have to use anesthesia.

Her and I fly out on Saturday to see Scott in D.C. We can't wait!

EDIT: Pictures from getting her tubes - Before - right after - right before we left. I only had my phone so they didn't turn out that great. Her gown had tigers on it!

St Mark's Florida

Scott and I went bike riding out at St. Mark, Florida for his birthday. After we biked several of the trails near the lighthouse, we grabbed lunch at the Riverside Cafe. Yum! Addison had a playdate with her friend Ella and her parents. Thanks Rebekah and Joe!

We had a great time, and I realized how out of shape I am especially bike riding! I haven't been riding since before I was pregnant so it wasn't surprising. The weather was nice - windy and cool enough that we didn't get hot but not cold.

Brandy, Dan, Kristen, and Colin had a birthday cookout for Scott and I yesterday. Scott and Addi went without me as I was in bed with a stomach bug all day. I am feeling better today but am still exhausted although I slept most of yesterday. Scott said they had a great time and he came home with yellow tulips (my favorite!!!) and birthday presents from the girls. Of course I was upset that I had to miss it but I couldn't even get out of bed. It brought back the feelings I had when I couldn't go on my first overnight trip to Lindsey's in 3rd grade because I had pneumonia (I think it was pneumonia - high fever - exhaustion - I don't really remember the exact illness). I fought hard to stay in school so I could go home with her, but my teacher told my mom on me. I was so upset that she told and that I couldn't go.

I am also including a picture of Addison playing her drum. We got a lot of new toys at the One Week Boutique consignment sale last week.

Pictures from SC/NC Trip

This glass is going to be used all year!

 Addison and her Grandmamma and Sitti

 

Sitting on the swing at Grandpa and Sitti's house

 

Addison and Mary Elizabeth playing

Addison's first snow - Belmont, NC

This picture was taken before we left for SC - Addison swinging at the playground. She enjoyed it but was holding on tight!

I'm 30!

I have a ton of great pictures to post, but my computer hard drive died yesterday so I won't be able to get them until it gets fixed. I had just backed-up all of my files so hopefully I didn't lose anything. I also had purchased the 3-year warranty, which runs out in August, so I am really lucky! Brandy and Dan are letting me use their computer for a couple of days so I can do some of my work - A lot of it is on my computer and back-up system that the techie folks have so I can only do some of it.

I had an amazing birthday week. 30 has been wonderful so far. Scott is truly an amazing husband - he had a surprise party for me with oysters and hotdogs (my favorites!) plus lots of my close friends and family. Even Laura came in from Savannah! (she brought the Jager :)) It was wonderful! Pat and Libbi had the party at their house - they rock!!! I also went to Belmont to visit with Sr. Michel and Aunt Libby and our other friends. It snowed while we were there so Addison got to see the snow. It didn't stick but was coming down like crazy. The snow cut our trip short but we were able to have lunch at the convent and visit for a couple of hours. We then headed to Monica's apartment and spent a couple of days with her and Spencer. I also got to meet her boyfriend who is supercute and really nice. I wish we could have hung out more. Monica came down to SC for the weekend as well. Addison and I headed to Kannapolis (about 20 minutes from Monica's place in Charlotte) and visited with my dear friend Carrie and her sweet little one Mary Elizabeth. Of course Marty was there and I was able to see Linda and Reed. We went by my old school and said hello to everyone and let them meet Addison. We also had lunch at Macadoos and went shopping! I love shopping in Charlotte/Concord area. There is never enough time to do all of the shopping :) But I got Scott a couple of things for his birthday and some summer clothes for Addison and a couple of tops for myself . Then Addison and I headed back to SC to hang out with the family, see Scott (he flew in there), and of course the party. Every time we go home, I want to move back there. I miss everyone so much. Maybe one day. I realized that Addison has a threshold for riding in the car of about 3 hours. It took us almost 9 hours to get home with her and Dylan. She screamed for a good 4-5 hours of that trip on the way there. She was not happy and wanted to get out and play or at least see me. When we finally arrived in SC she wouldn't go to anyone but me - not any of her grandparents! Mom had a birthday dinner for me that night and Addison finally calmed down. She was still sketchy the next day in Belmont but eventually she warmed up to everyone and was okay. She was fine on the trip to Belmont (2.5hrs). We left at 7pm to come back to FL from SC and she slept the entire way. I only stopped for gas - it took us under 6 hours to get home.

Addison turned 8 months old last week and is about to crawl. She has crawled a couple of steps then she drops down into the army crawl. She has moved from the infant room to the crawler room at daycare, and I think she is going to LOVE it!. They have all kinds of new toys including some push toys. They do art twice a week so I saw Addison's artwork from yesterday. They have circle time on the floor and they read, sing, and play. It was so great! Mrs. Wanda already knows Addison which is a plus - she helps in the infant room sometimes. She told me that all of the kids in the crawler room eat the lunch provided by the daycare (e.g. spaghetti, mac and cheese, potatoes) but that she was waiting for the go ahead from us before feeding them that so she eats in the infant room still. The crawlers sit at the table and eat. I told her to go ahead with the potatoes but am hestant about the rest. I've tried pieces of food and aside from Mum-mums and puffs she isn't interested. We will try potatoes this week and maybe pasta this weekend? I'm not really sure what to do. I am taking her sippy cup in - I told her that she has been "using" it for a couple of months but that she is still learning. Oh my - she is really growing up! She's just a little baby and they want to feed her spaghetti!?!?! It's probably just me...

Scott turns 29 this week!!!!

Another Ear Infection Take 2 Plus some...

That's right...Addison's third ear infection. We went into the doctor Friday for a check-up and although Addison's right ear looks better she now has an infection in her left ear. They are setting up a consult with an ear nose throat doctor but we don't know when yet. Her ears must really be hurting because she is up several times in the night upset and holding them. Luckily she is eating still and we introduced yogurt this weekend to offset some of the side effects of the medicine.

We also had a check-up with her hip doctor and everything is right on schedule! Her hips are aligned but one isn't as calcified as the other. Dr. Stanton said this was right on track and that it would take the other one a little longer because it was so loose. We have another check-up in 7 months.

We had a nice visit with Aunt Michelle even though she didn't get much sleep. We miss her already! Here is a picture of Addison after waking up from snuggle time with Aunt Michelle this morning.

Addison is starting to scoot across the floor...just a little at a time right now. 

Addison did her first sign last weekend (February 12th). She signed "milk." I wasn't sure she was doing the sign because it is really early but she definitely is! She actually did it for her Sitti the first time! We didn't realize it until I signed "milk" to Addison and Mom goes, "that's what Addison was doing earlier when I thought she was waving." She does it in her highchair when she is thirsty and has started to eat a lot more food. She has started doing it at other times but won't do it if we ask her too. This is pretty normal according to some of our friends in our baby signs group. It's really exciting knowing that she can ask us for something! We were able to share the news with our Baby Signs group. Addison's teacher said although it was really early she wasn't surprised because Addison is so engaged and observant during class. She just watches and takes it all in. She loves Bebo the Bear and watches him sign while we sing and play. Here are a couple of pictures of our group...kind of funny trying to get a group of moms and babies to take a picture! The other picture is Addison, her teacher Mrs. Carol, and Bebo. She is really tired.

Here is a picture of the roses Scott got me for Valentine's Day. They were beautiful!

Peaches & Cream

Today I am going to give Addison peaches. I guess if I add a bit of breastmilk it will be a peaches and cream treat :)

Today is day 3 of Scott being in DC. We miss him so much and he is sick so I know he isn't having a great time up there. But he is liking the work part of it. I am trying to remember to send him a text picture of Addison everyday...I forgot yesterday and he was very sad. So note to self - do not forget to send cute pictures of Addi to Scott.

So far Addison has had a variety of foods: rice cereal, butternut squash, peas, applesauce, avocado, green beans, sweet potatoes, carrots, bananas, and pumpkin. I make everything but the cereal, applesauce and pumpkin. I just buy all natural nothing added 100% applesauce and pumpkin. I want to make the applesauce, I just haven't had the time yet. She is really digging the pumpkin. It may be her new favorite behind applesauce. She did the sign for "milk" this past weekend. She isn't doing it consistently but she did it a few times for mom and I. Actually she did it for mom first! Mom thought she was waving. It wasn't until later that she realized it and told me. Then Addi did the sign for me. She doesn't do it when asked and really only does it when she is in her high chair.

Elise's birthday present came in and Addison really likes it. I've been wanting to get her one...so I may be picking one up for her 8month birthday :)