Catch Up Post

We took advantage of restaurant week and went to Capital Grille last Sunday with some friends.  I was nervous taking Addison to a fancy restaurant, but she was wonderful!  The waiter complimented her over and over again!  They surprised us with a birthday ice cream for Addison!  Her first taste of ice cream ever, she preferred vanilla. 

Addison has become quite the big eater these days!  She eats three meals, two snacks, and still nurses two times per day.  Not only does she eat many times throughout the day, she eats a lot at each sitting.  Sometimes I feel like she eats more than me!  For example, sometimes for lunch we do grilled cheese and avocado.  She eats half of the avocado in addition to the grilled cheese, but only because I want the other half.  She would eat the entire avocado if I let her!  Tonight she ate an entire sweet potato and some shredded chicken.  She is not very picky with food either which I am so happy about (I know this could change any day!).  I love watching her eat!  We eat together every day at every meal and snack.  Lately, she has been trying to use the fork or spoon with my help.  She doesn't know how to get it on the utensil, but she sure does know how to get it into her mouth!  

Last weekend we also got to spend some time with Stephen which was nice.  Addison loves her uncle!  She played with him all day, sharing her toys, taking his bracelet, laying in his lap...she loves him.  I couldn't even get her to share her toys with me!  

Addi was having a hard time napping for about a week.  She would see me leave the room, start crying, and finally fall asleep after 30 or more minutes.  Usually I would have to rock her a little bit to get her to calm down.  So I decided to try to introduce a "lovey".  Something she can have in the crib with her.  Up till now she  has never had anything in her crib.  She still uses a wearable blanket, which I really love because she moves a lot in her sleep, yet still stays nice and cozy.  So I gave her a little pink elephant blanket (the Dear Angel kind) and I think it's helping.  She is not crying as much and I watch her snuggle with it as she tries to fall asleep.

Addison loves finding our belly buttons! She will lift up our shirts and stick her finger in it.  She has a hard time finding her own though, probably because it's covered by her diaper.

She tries to brush her hair, holds the phone to her ear, hugs her dolls, tries to put her socks and shoes on, and hardly crawls anymore.  

Tried both whole cows milk and unsweetened almond milk, but she doesn't like it.  Keep trying a little each day.     

We go to Addison's 12 month visit on Friday!  3 days until her birthday, 8 days until we go to FL.

Too many words, not enough pictures.  I know. 

Valentine's Day

I know I'm a little late for this, but Happy Valentine's Day!  Andrew made us dinner which I have to say, at this stage in our lives, is worth far more than a thousand diamonds or red roses!  Addison was spoiled, of course.  Here are the pictures to prove it:

 Andrew and I got her a fridge magnet toy...hoping it helps entertain her while I cook dinner!

Grammy and PoppyTart got us chocolate and a teddy bear.

She really enjoyed taking everything out and examining each box!  And no, we did not let her eat the candy!

Grandpa and Grandma got her a singing monkey, that she has been carrying around for the past two days now, and a cat that runs away as you chase it!  Too fun : )

For the past week Addison has started to cuddle with things.  Me, her blanket, her soft toys, the dogs.  It is the cutest thing!  When I put her blanket on the floor before naptime, she lays on it and rubs her head in it!  Sometimes she will come over to me and lay her head in my lap. 

We are getting things ready for Addison's birthday party and I am excited for our family to see how big she is now! 

Post-Grad Plans

Andrew and I have spent months deciding what to do post graduation as we wait for his start date at White & Case.  We won't know his exact start date until the summertime, but we think it will be in November.  June and July he will be taking a course in preparation for the Bar exam which he takes at the end of July, so we don't want to move or pack during that time.  Our lease here is up the end of March.  

Our parents generously offered for us to stay in their homes for the summer.  We really appreciate their offer and hope to help Addison one day when she needs us.  Although we would save a lot of money, would we have to move three times in this situation.  We would also have a lot of dogs in this situation--five at the Ranke's and four at the Ritter's!  We thought about moving straight to Miami beginning of June.  We were a little worried about finding a place to live and a car six months in advance of Andrew's start date.  We also thought about staying here until Andrew finishes with the bar exam, but were not sure how comfortable we were about going month-month.  

We found out this week that we can extend our lease rather than go month-to-month.  So we decided to extend our lease through August.  Chicago is absolutely beautiful in the summer and I am excited about our decision.

11 months old!

Today Addison is 11 months old!  I know I said this a few months ago, but I think this is my favorite age so far!  She is so fun and I love her.

I love ...

• the way she likes to be chased.  She crawls away and we crawl after her patting her bottom or grabbing her feet.  It makes her crack up.  Want an even bigger laugh, do it in the tunnel!
• how she sticks out her belly to help her balance as she walks.  She is quite the walker these days.  She is starting to prefer walking over crawling.
• when she "purrs" as she nurses.  Only one more month of nursing.  So glad we made it this long, she still really enjoys it.
• that she carries things around with her.  Last week we could not find her pink cup.  We searched the whole house for two days.  On Monday Andrew was headed to school and found the cup in his backpack!
• when she hugs her dolls.  I can't wait to have tea parties and doll houses!
• how excited she gets when Daddy walks in the door from school.  She recognizes the sound of the key and door now. 
• that she loves the dogs.  She pesters them and I am glad they put up with it for the most part because she really finds them interesting!
• that she starts chewing before the food enters her mouth.  I also love that she is a pretty good eater right now!
• how serious she is during swim class.  Yes, she is generally a serious baby, but in swim class she is extra observant and serious.  She is a good student!
• how she constantly looks like she has bed head.  I have tried everything to tame her hair, but it's unruly!  She pulls out her bows and headbands now too. 

she stared chewing on the rails so we had to get protectors

her new stride-rites that she HATES to walk in

said good-bye to Erin and Molli before they headed to Alaska, may be a long time before we get to see them again.