Addison's 1st Birthday Party

We went home March 9-14th to celebrate Addison's 1st birthday with family.  It was a fast trip, but so good to see family!  We saw a lot of family too.  So sad that I didn't take more pictures...so please share if you did!

Friday night we got in so late that we put Addison right to bed.  We picked up Tiffany and Rob even later...our first time meeting Rob!

Saturday we ate lunch with the Ritter's and spent the rest of they day at Grammy's.  Addison loved walking around Grammy's house.  Andrew and I spent the evening blowing up 50 balloons in preparation!

Sunday morning we all helped to hang decorations and get food prepared for the party.  We got to see almost all of our immediate and extended family!  I think Addison enjoyed her party up to the point when everyone was watching her eat her cake.  Then she was done!  Everyone spoiled her with love and presents.  Thank you!  That evening Andrew and I went out with Tiffany and Rob.

Monday morning we played with Addison's new toys.  We said goodbye to Tiffany and Rob.  In the afternoon we took Addi to a little water park with Grammy and PoppyTart.  She didn't care for the water too much, but did enjoy the swing and slides.  That night we had dinner with Uncle Joe and Parker.

Tuesday morning we packed up our bags and headed to visit with Nana and Papa for the day.  That night we celebrated Kim's birthday over dinner.  Addison wasn't up for it though!  Sorry Grandma and Grandpa!

Wednesday morning we flew home to the most amazing weather ever!  I think we have a few more days of it left too!  Lou Lou got hurt at the kennel so our vet came out to look at her.  She doesn't need stitches, but she does have to take an antibiotic.  Poor girl. 

Mom and Steve's "jam-up" kebabs

Addison enjoying the grass and warm weather during her party

Grandma, Lacey, and Carolina

making Michael sick in the tire swing

Tommy, Parker, Rob, and Tiffy alligator hunting : )

Daddy and Addi at the water park

sliding at the park

swinging at the park

funny lips

Ritter totem

birthday bubbles

sliding at Nana and Papa's

Here are a few videos from our trip:

Tummy Tickle

Growing up my dad used to tickle us on the belly with his foot.  It was torture it tickled so much!  In fact I recall being "tortured" a lot by tickles growing up from my dad and siblings.  The only way I could stop them was to cry (I was and am the baby).  So why not do the same to my daughter!?

Here is a video of it:

Today I am packing for our trip to Florida and Andrew is writing a 20 page paper and going to class.  Tomorrow night we will be in FL!

364 days ago...

... I was 37 weeks and 5 days pregnant, HUGE, and so achy. 

In fact, here I am that day:

I cleaned the whole house, which is something I did every few days in anticipation!  The whole day I was so achy.  My hips and back were hurting so bad, but I just thought this was part of the last few weeks of pregnancy.  (Now I know what it really means!)  I took several warm baths to relieve some of the pressure.  I was dreading going to sleep because it hurt too much.  Drew went to the gym that night, so we recorded Survivor.  We watched it around 11pm.  At midnight I finally decided that I should try to sleep.  As soon as I laid down, my water broke!  I went straight to the bathroom and brushed my teeth!  I left messages with everyone, put a little powder on my face, ate a banana, and drank a glass of water (So glad I did too!  Ice chips are not enough!).  I was exhausted and as many of you know there are only a few times in my life that I have been able to stay awake all night, sad to say that most of them revolve around college and Chick-fil-a openings.  This was the best all-nighter thus far!  We got to the hospital around 1 am and Addison was born at 7:41 am. 

Birth

6 lbs 4 oz

19.5 inches long

Today

17 lbs 6 oz

28.5 inches long

Doctor said she is doing great!  She is in the 5th percentile for weight and 25th percentile for height.

I've been trying to teach Addison to smile when asked.  The problem is when I smile my squinty eyes get even more squinty.  So now this is what I see when I ask Addison to smile:

OH MAN! 

Here is a video of it: PS Drew ruined it : )



Addison and her new car seat! 

HUGE thank you to Grandma and Grandpa Barber!

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.