Pool Time

The weather has been warm and the pool in our building is finally warm enough to play in!  Today she went in with Daddy!

Another "I Love" list

I love...

• watching her try to lick peanut butter off her hands
• when she tries to blow me a kiss in return
• that she coughs when I'm talking about my "coffee" (so amelia bedelia)
• the moustache she gets from eating ice cream (my homemade ice cream!)
• her love of zippers
• watching her climb the stairs and bridges at the park. She was cautious about it at first, now she is fearless.
• watching her spin in a circle ... just once around makes her dizzy
• her one and only dance move--fast, repetitive squats
• that she is finally signing "please"
• how many words she can understand now: here is a list of almost 50 that I am 100% sure she knows (not says)
• Addison
  baby
  ball
  bath
  belly
  belly button
  blankie
  book
  button
  bye bye
  chair
  clap
  dada
  dance
  diaper
  dog
  drum
  ear
  eat
  eye
  fingers
  fish
  hair
  hair brush
  hi
  key
  kick
  mama
  monkey
  necklace
  nose
  phone
  please
  purse
  sit
  smile
  snack
  soap
  spin
  splash
  squeeze
  stand
  toes
  tongue
  water
  wave
  window

playing with colored ice cubes and dried beans

Update on my thumb/wrist injury

Went to the hand doctor today for my wrist/thumb injury (De Quervain's).  He wants me to wear braces on my hands all day and night for 4 weeks first, then try the steroid injections if I am still having pain and if I am 100% sure that I am not pregnant.  So the occupational therapist made these for me:

Pretty huh?  I really wanted black on both arms but he wanted me to have a different color on each.  I've only worn them for a few hours, but they are doing their job -- I cannot bend my thumbs or wrists.  I've also had two meltdowns out of frustration.  Once when I was trying to cut a tomato and the other I was trying to unbuckle the high chair strap.  I've got to be positive about this and patient or I'll end up teaching Addi how to really throw a fit : )  The doctor said braces alone may not work, but that it's the best starting place.

New moms out there: hormonal changes that cause your body to retain water and stretching of the thumb (which causes friction and swelling of the tendons) during nursing and handling your baby make new moms susceptible to this injury.  So much so, that it is nicknamed "mommy's thumb". To prevent this injury you should scoop your baby/toddler up under his/her bottom rather than under the arms to pick him/her up.  You should also find comfortable ways to nurse, such as laying in a bed. 

Celebrations

Andrew and I had an awesome week celebrating with some of our family.  First, we celebrated my birthday, my twenty-seventh birthday!  Same age as Andrew for about 3 months.  Andrew spoiled me with a new watch, mom and Steve with money to shop, and the Ritter's with an ice cream maker (by the way, I love birthdays).

On Friday, Andrew graduated from Northwestern Law School!  Thank you to my family for helping me keep Addison entertained during the ceremony!  Addison actually got to walk across the stage with her daddy as part of the school's tradition.  We are so proud of him! 

the ceremony was held at the historic Chicago Theater

the girls

 daddy getting his hood and Addi

 it was chaos outside the theater, but Papa got a few pictures of Andrew in his cap and gown

dinner

Nana teaching Addi about lipstick : )

spending time with Aunt Donna

a special day for our family

On Saturday, Addison had many supporters at her swim lesson!  Nana, Grammy, and Aunt Donna came to watch.  It was a rainy day, but we spent time with the Ritter's and then had an amazing dinner together.  We celebrated mother's day a little early for Nana.  We cherish the times when the whole Ritter family can be together!

On Sunday, the Ritter's flew home in the morning.  The weather was much nicer so Mom, Steve, Stephen, Andrew, Addi and I went up to Lincoln Park.  We went to the Lincoln Park Conservatory, then the Lincoln Park Zoo, then lunch, and then dinner.  (We did A LOT of eating this week!) 

conservatory

Grammy and PoppyTart

Uncle Stephen

Addi's favorite toy, her baby

daddy and Addi

walking through the zoo

seal

huge birds nest and babies

running free

Thank you, family, for visiting and celebrating with us!  We love you!

 

Dum ditty dum, with a drum!

We call this book an Addison classic because we've been reading it to her since day one.  There is a video of it called "Addison's Experiences" on our YouTube channel: therittertube.  Drew and I have it memorized and sometimes race to see who can read it to her fastest. Well, Addison got a drum for Christmas so this is a video of the "advanced" version!  PS, Drew did not want to video this today, but mama got her way!

De Quervain's Stenosing Tenosynovitis

I finally saw a doctor today about the wrist/thumb pain that I have had for 14 months (since Addi was born).  I have De Quervain's Stenosing Tenosynovitis, which is basically swelling in the tendons.   The doctor said its very common for a new mom to get it.  I have an appointment on May 21st with a hand specialist to possibly get a steroid injection.  Wish I had taken care of this sooner!

14 months old

Happy 14 months to Addi! 

YAY!

Congratulations to Andrew Clement Ritter who turned in his last paper of law school (and just school in general) today!  What a relief!  So proud of him.  There are a lot of festivities lined up and then family comes in 7 days for graduation.  

After graduation he starts his 2 month bar course.  He thinks that will be about 6 hours of work each day.  Here are the printed materials: