Our Beloved Barnacle Baby

Just a week ago I posted about tooth #9 ... well a few days ago two more molars started cutting through.  She now has 11 teeth so far, but these last 3 molars are slowly and (apparently) painfully making their entrance.  This is where the name Barnacle Baby comes in.  Addison has been my barnacle today.  A cute barnacle, until you scrape her off!  Then she melts down to the ground and cries.  It was a rough day! 

Addison also threw her first legit temper tantrum today.  It lasted for an hour.  Andrew and I couldn't believe it as our sweet baby pushed herself out of our arms and rolled on the floor crying and throwing things out of her way.  We finally had to leave her in her room and ignore it.  So hard to do.  It all started when I went to blow dry my hair.  I let her in the bathroom with me, but when she kept trying to go into the trash can, I took her out of the bathroom.  We have a dog gate in the bathroom doorway, so we could still see each other, but she was NOT happy.  I already have to pick up the dog food bowls, water bowl, step stool (she can climb it now), and drying rack (cloth diapers) before she comes into the bathroom and it takes me 3 minutes to dry my hair.  I usually shower and get ready for the day during her first nap, but lately she has been doing only one nap in the afternoon.  The second half of the day went better.  We went for a long walk (in the rain, but she was in her bubble) while Drew took an exam. 

PS, it's exhausting having your very own 19 lb barnacle, but I love her so much!

Chairs and Crayons

Addison likes to sit on things lately.  My lap, the dogs, her drum, her car, books...anything really.  So we got her a tiny little chair.  The seat is only 6 inches off the ground.  She likes to sit and look at her books in it. 

She also likes to climb on it. 

 We are experimenting with crayons, fat crayons :)  She still mostly wants to eat them but we have fun trying.

Andrew has one more exam and one more paper due before the 3rd.  Thirteen more days until graduation!  He has also gone nearly two weeks without soda!

I am going crazy with Addison's naps.  If she had a bedroom door, I don't think this would be so hard.  She would take her 1.5 hour nap and be a happy camper.  Today we put her down after lunch for a nap (planning on only doing one nap today), but 30 minutes into it the dogs bark at someone in the hall and she woke up.  I am trying another nap right now, but don't think she will sleep.  She is ready for only one nap, but our living arrangements make it too difficult.  Four more months.

Mastering the Spoon

We are trying to let Addison feed herself now.  It's a messy, long process but she is getting better each meal!

Here is a video from this morning:

Tooth number 9

Addison cut another one-year molar today, upper left.  It's not completely cut yet though and she is pretty mad about it!  She's had a rough day.

We played with some dried black beans, mixing bowl, spoon, cup, and a funnel the other day and she enjoyed it.  She only tried to eat one!  This activity would not have been possible even a month ago because she would only want to eat them.  She's growing up : )

The past two weeks we have been back and forth between 1 and 2 naps, but not by our choice!  She gets very tired with only one, but some days she just doesn't sleep during her second.  She just talks and rolls.  So we are just going to slowly move her morning nap down just in case she doesn't take her second. 

Made my first flan today!  Hoping it turns out well and that I can flip it without destroying it!  Andrew is working on his bar application, he got fingerprints today.  It's a pretty intense application.  I feel like they need every detail of his life. 

Coke

I used to LOVE Coke.  We are a Coke family, meaning that if there is soda in the house it is Coke and NEVER Pepsi!  There is just something about the first sip of Coke from a can ... ahhhh.  I preferred to order a Coke with lime when eating out.  There was a point in life when I would drink one Coke per day.  When I found out I was pregnant with Addison I stopped drinking Coke and all soda really.  I have found that I don't miss it and when I taste one of Drew's, I actually don't like it anymore.  So it's almost been two years without soda.  If I feel the need for a soda-like drink I mix lime La Croix and a splash of cranberry juice.  That's my "special drink" now.  Six days ago, Drew decided to stop drinking soda and other drinks packed with artificial sugar.  YAY!!!!  I have been waiting for this for two years.  Let's hope he sticks with it!

Coca-Cola Nutrition


Drew wasn't drinking gallons of Coke each day, but she was: 
New Zealand Woman's Coca-Cola Habit Cited in Death

Her Majesty Rose

This post is for Rosie, my first dog.

Steve got Rosie when I was in 9th grade.  She was the cutest, fluffiest puppy!  She loves being outside and in the pool.  She thinks she is a good swimmer, because Steve always tells her so.  Really she is just a good soaker and sun bather.  In dog terms, she really has had the perfect life.  She is well traveled, to the mountains and beaches.  She has the perfect yard and pool accessible to her most of the day.  Rosie loves playing with a ball, midnight walks with Steve, exploring the neighborhood, panting, ripping up wrapping paper (or any paper really), following Steve everywhere he goes, taking trips to see "Mr. Mailman" with Mom, begging for popcorn, peanut butter and mayo, and napping.  Dozer became her nickname because she pushes her way to get close to you, then she backs her butt up for a good scratch.  She is also the most stubborn dog I have ever known, but I blame that on how much Steve spoils her.  Rosie takes herself for walks and she will lay out in the grass as long as possible.  Until Steve comes by with her leash and says "click click Rosie", then she hops up and pants all the way home. 

Unfortunately she is very sick and has another tumor.  She is in a lot of pain.  Mom made sure that she had a full, wonderful day today as it will have to be her last.  Mom calls the dogs our "hairy sisters" and we really feel that way about them...they are part of our family.  We are heartbroken to lose her. 

Dogs really can be mans best friend.  I see that in Steve and Rosie.  Rosie's life was full mostly because of how much Mom and Steve love her. 

"Good Girl Rosie"

22 more days

No more classes for Drew!  He is on his way to a mock trial.  After that he only has two papers and two exams left!  Yay!

Twenty-two more days until graduation!

One-Year Molar

Addison cut her bottom right one-year molar!  She now has 8 teeth!

Fun with straws!  First challenge was to get them out of the box.

Next challenge was to put them in bottles.  Improving fine motor skills and concentration!

Andrew got a Dexa Scan today.  It's really neat!  It shows bone, muscle, and fat composition in the body and individual parts (like right arm, trunk).  Lots of good information. 

Another "I love" list

I love ...

• that she likes to "throw a fit" in the kitchen.  If she is near the kitchen and she is not getting her way with something, she will walk into kitchen and melt down to the floor crying.
• that she smiles at me when she toots.  I smile back at her unless we are in the bathtub, then I get worried!
• when she shares her toys with the dogs and expects them to grab them, but when they obviously don't, she just lays them on top of them.
• how she can wave "hi" and "bye-bye" now.  She is still selective about it and won't wave to people at the grocery store, but she at least smiles at them now.
• that she understands so many things I say to her now.  She knows clap, splash, belly button, hug, necklace, baby, dog, daddy, nose, diaper, smile, eat, I'm going to get you (chase), blankie, water...I say where is ____? And she looks around to find it.  
• how busy she is.  She loves to just walk around our house carrying something.  She finds places to put things like shelves and drawers.  This is how her cup goes missing several times per day.
• watching her get on and off and on and off of her "car".  She just learned how to do this on her own a few days ago and now it is her favorite thing.  She likes to sit on it backwards and push herself backwards with her feet.  Why backwards with everything, I don't know, but she loves it.  She also likes to push her baby dolls and books in it.  
• our snuggle times.  Lately we have had more snuggle time because she has been sick.  She lays her head on my shoulder when I carry her and sit with her in the rocker.
• how curious she is about my face, earrings, hair, nose, lips, the mole on my neck (gross, I know).  She just loves to explore my face.
• listening to her babble herself to sleep.  She doesn't really cry too much when I put her down, but she does babble a lot.

I just love this girl.

Sick-o

I've been known to claim that I never get sick.  But the truth is, I do get sick just not very often. I got Andrew's cold.  The last cold I had was in May 2010...almost 2 years ago.  My throat is dry and tender, I'm sneezing a lot, and my nose is runny.  Yesterday Addison's nose was a little runny and today it was too.  Have no idea if her throat feels like mine...I hope not!  She has been very clingy and cuddly today.  Here she is with her daddy, who is starting to feel better.  I love these pictures.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!  We've had a good day so far.  We gave Addison her Easter basket this morning.  She got a board book Bible and book of prayers, a slinky, a harmonica, hair clips, and some shaker eggs that I crocheted.  Stephen came into town today and we went to church and lunch together. 

It is a beautiful day outside today:

 Thank you Grammy and PoppyTart for the new spring clothes!  Thank you Nana and Papa for the flowers, cookies, and teddy bear!

Easter Bunny Pic

Today we took Addison to meet the Easter Bunny at Navy Pier

she loves her new baby doll from Dawn, Richie and Madison

 Daddy teasing her with it

Sick

Andrew is sick.  He has a cough, runny nose, plugged ears, and a sinus headache.  He is miserable.  Please pray from him to get better...fast!

As if it's not hard enough as it is to be quiet while Addison sleeps and naps, his sickness is making naptime almost impossible.  Remember, we live in a studio apartment with no doors! 

Couldn't be more excited for August to come!

Sorry for the negative post.

13 months old

Mommy at 13 months old

Addison at 13 months old

10/18/2012

Andrew got an e-mail today confirming that his start date will be October 18th, 2012.  A few days later he will go to New York for orientation and will return to the Miami office October 29th to start work.  Yay!  So good to have more details!  Now we just need to find a place to live : ) Oh and Drew needs to graduate and take the bar course!

More birthday party pics

Dad Barber and Dad Ritter passed along their pictures from Addison's birthday party!  Here are some good ones:

Tiffy and Rob

Scotty and Tommy

Madison

Mom and friends

Tommy, Heidi, and Dad

Tommy, Rob, Parker, and Tiffy

cupcakes and smash cake

Tiffy, Rob, Andrew, me and Addison

teething Addison

Nana and Addi (she loves her jewls!)

Madison, Ashley, and Parker

James, Rob, and Tiffy

David and Carolina

Addison