The Ritter Family: October 2013

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Halloween

Today we met some friends at the Fairchild Garden. They allowed dogs in costumes in the garden today, which Addison loved.

My beautiful baby. Love her in soft pink.

We came home from the garden hot, tired, and discouraged. Addison had two accidents while we were there. We were there for a two hour time span and we were in the bathroom 3 times. The past two weeks have been like this and I'm very discouraged. I hope when we move, get unpacked and settle back down to our normal routine things get better with this. Up till now she has spoiled me by being so extremely good with the potty. We came home and we all napped! Ahhhh.

Okay, the pictures you've all been waiting for:

Tonight was Addison's first time going Trick or Treating and she did great. She was a little shy at first, but then caught on quickly! Trick or Treating in a high rise is a little different! We only did floors 5-20, but her pumpkin bucket was plenty full. We took the stairs each floor too...whew. Should have done floors 35 down to 20!

A pumpkin sign meant they were participating...some people just set their candy out in a bowl.

Monday, October 28, 2013

Pictures from the weekend

the girls

This look suits him well!

sampling some colors

she is starting to try to sit upright now

It's so easy to get a smile out of her!

Excited to see some family soon! The Ritter's on Saturday, the Ranke's on Sunday, and then the Barber's next Wednesday!

Sunday, October 27, 2013

The wrong kind of busy.

I generally like to be "busy". I like to plan crafts and fun outings with the girls. I like to do something special as a family on the weekend. That's my kind of busy. A very simple, routine busy. Lately, we've been the wrong kind of busy. I put the girls to bed tonight and then had to go grocery shopping and pick up a prescription. Sunday nights are not meant for errands. All day Saturday we spent out at the house. ADT installed the alarm, Truly Nolen sprayed the house, Lowes measured the windows, we bought some fans and switches, cleaned a little more of the floor, and looked at some paint colors on the wall. I packed all week, but I only managed to pack 15 more boxes. Addison has been a good helper for the most part. Today we uncovered more baby toys in the storage closet and she took them all out. Audrey and Addison had fun playing with them. Meanwhile the house is a disaster! The clothes are all clean, the dishes are clean, but there is clutter everywhere. I know it's temporary and that when packing things always look worse before they look better, but it's making me anxious! All the extra busy work with packing and the house stuff is getting to Addi too. She has been having accidents, misbehaving more than usual, and just off. Tomorrow we are putting our 30 day notice in and I couldn't be happier. We should also sign the contract with the contractor. Let's get this rolling! The thing that really upset me today was that we didn't carve a pumpkin or even buy a pumpkin. I know this sounds extremely silly and it's just Halloween, but I like family traditions and our busyness has taken the fun out of fall! I can't seem to find a "pumpkin patch" anywhere and I should have just bought a pumpkin from Lowes. I'm hoping to find one on Tuesday when I have the car. Sorry for such a negative post.

With all that said, I am also feeling very blessed. I love our new home. I love my girls. I love my husband and I love the way he loves on the girls. Life is good, very good. I just don't want to be too busy to enjoy it.

I have two garbage bags full of baby clothing items that Audrey has outgrown already. I just want to freeze time for a while.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

5 Months Old

Happy 5 months to my sweet Audrey Diane!

Addi was not a fan!

Monday, October 21, 2013

Busy days

It's amazing how quickly things change with the girls and just in life.

Audrey went from having no interest at all in rolling to a rolling pro (well at least back to belly!). You can't stop her. I lay her on her back and she rolls. For a while she is content on her belly, but then she gets upset because she can't roll back. She does this all day long. She also likes to chew on her thumb now. She is drooling like crazy too...won't be long before we see some teeth! We tried feeding her solids a few times last week, but she didn't seem ready. She is turning her head away from the spoon and spitting it out. We'll try again next week. Just a few more days until she is 5 months old. I love my baby.

she "lost" her toy

got some Grammy time at Shanna's shower

Notice Addison's shoes...Minnie Mouse high heels for her Halloween costume. She wears them all the time. Audrey doesn't really care for the jumper yet. Her throat hits right at the top of the seat and I don't care for it either!

Here is a video of Audrey trying solids for the first time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2t0KwS0IYk&feature=share&list=UUd012YgN3es7pdgp3QTwk5Q

Addison is a talking machine (well, compared to just a few months ago!). She knows all her letters and even tries to sing the ABC song! She also can count to ten! Every day she surprises me with something new that she has learned. She is really starting to enjoy Audrey now too.

playing with ice in the water table

she LOVES her new playground

going to miss our view

a fun trip to Jungle Island

Addison painted the faces on these pumpkins!

Not much new with Lou Lou and Stella. Stella went to the doggie dentist and now her teeth are incredibly clean. Lou Lou is still nervous nelly. Can't wait to move and give her the yard and quiet neighborhood she deserves.

Andrew has been pretty busy between work, house stuff, and being daddy.

I've started packing. I have ten boxes done! Ha, a long way to go.

Our weekends have been consumed with house stuff and they are equally exciting and exhausting. We are hoping to meet with the contractor this week to look at samples and get things moving. We are only doing the bedroom floors, kitchen, and few other small things. It's incredibly hard to work on anything in the house with the girls, but this past weekend we did get some things accomplished. We've changed the locks, scrubbed some of the living area floors, met with a lawn maintenance company, Truly Nolen, swept the garage, washed the car, and bought new appliances (Columbus Day Sale!). This upcoming weekend we get ADT installed, the windows measured for new blinds, look at some paint samples on the walls, and hopefully finish scrubbing the floors. We don't want to paint until the renovations are done, but I'm so excited to have a new paint color on the walls! It will make such a huge difference.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Roxy Ranke

Today we had to say goodbye to Roxy. She was very sick with thyroid cancer.

Mom and Steve got Roxy when I was about to start my first year of college. They were empty nesters and wanted Rosie to have a friend. They had their hands full with Roxy! She was extremely loving, playful, and energetic. Even puppy school couldn't tame her! She was fun. She loved people, lizards, sunbathing in the grass, tennis balls, pools, footballs, beaches, naps, popcorn, hiding socks and shoes under the dining table, greeting people at the door, and stealing toys from Addison and then Madilynn. She never really stopped acting like a puppy! When you walked in the door, she would walk over to you, lower her head, and cry for you to stop what you were doing and love on her. If you walked past her she would jump on you. Dogs all over the world should be envious of the life Mom and Steve provided her!

She was a beautiful dog and I have many pictures of her, but here are some favorites:

Mom got Steve this custom painting of Roxy and Rosie one Christmas. At the time, we all thought it was a hilarious, silly gift and now it seems so perfect (good job Mom!). Roxy will be missed terribly. Her spunky and mischievous ways will never be forgotten!