Dancer ???

Last weekend, we went to a (little) friend of our's dance recital. I was VERY nervous about taking Addison. Neil and I even talked about getting a babysitter, but we forgot until last minute and so off we went! I could already see it...chasing Addison down the aisles or spending the whole time in the lobby. I underestimated my little girl by far. She sat on my lap for an hour and fifteen minutes staring, giggling, laughing, and clapping at all the girls dancing! I was so impressed! We went in the lobby to let her run around for ten minutes. Then we went back for the last hour and she slept through the rest of the show. I told Neil...I think we might have a future dancer...we'll see!

By the way....Great Job Rileigh! We loved watching you dance your little heart out!

Photo Shoot

We had our last Olan Mills special (1 year photos...only 2 months late) 3 weeks ago. Addison was not feeling well at all. Infact, we took her to the doctor the next day and she had a double ear infection (poor baby...and I was trying to make her smile). This is what we got. I think pretty good for a sick baby!!!

I'm Still Alive

I haven't posted in awhile and wanted to update everyone on life's adventures and maybe you'll understand the break in my post. First, we signed all the papers and we bought a house!!! We moved in on April 1st! We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! Addison and I just run around and chase each other with all our spare room! We didn't have the internet hooked up for 3 WEEKS! I had major withdrawls from my online "social" life. We celebrated our new house by passing the stomach bug around (starting with Addison, myself, and then Neil)! I hate sick babies the most. Next, Neil's dad turned 75 and his mom threw a huge surprise party! We had so much fun. My students took their end of the year test and they all did AMAZING...I can't help that I have such smart students! My sister had a baby girl...Kali Marie Farnsworth, May 7. We share middle names (it also helps that her other aunt and grandma have the same middle name too). She is absolutely adorable. We spent the weekend together and I've been home two days and miss her like crazy. It was also nice to get to spend some time with my Ryan and Kyla (Kali's brother and sister). Now, Neil and I have 12 nieces and nephews, plus 1 on the way, due in July!

Addison has grown so much. She says Ma all the time. It means mom. She says it in many ways. There's the angry way, the tired way, the scared way, the needy way, the whiny way, the look right now way, and the I'm being cute way! I love it every time she says it. We turned her carseat around so now she is facing forward...she loves it, we love it! She can ride on her car now. She eats pretty well and loves bananas! She will throw a fit to eat a banana if she sees it. She is becoming opinionated about foods she likes and dislikes. She loves riding with her daddy on his new riding lawn mower. She's very cautious about new situations and people. Once she gets comfortable...she's ready to play and you can't stop her. She loves daycare. She walks into daycare every morning on her own and hugs the 3 ladies in there. They eat her up everyday! She turns to me and waves and says bye-bye! You might think this is hard...but I love it. I know she is well taken care of and loved on. She loves the other kids in her class and hugs on them. I fix her hair in pigtails and everyone always comments on how cute she is. I think she is the cutest baby ever (I'm bias though)! She loves to show off at church. I think she knows that we want her to be quiet and so she gets away with things she normally wouldn't (I try to avoid tantrums during church). She likes to go from person to person to see who will give her the most attention or who offers the most fun! Also, she has a fan club everywhere she goes (especially church). As soon as everyone says Amen...she has several little kids and the young women there to say hi and get hugs. She's spoiled...what can I say. We are trying to get her to enjoy the grass, but I think she's a little girlie. She doesn't like to get dirty or to touch things that might get her dirty. She LOVES Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and dances away when it comes on. She also likes Elmo...they watch it at daycare. She knows where her nose and eyes are, we are working on her ears and mouth. Her favorite toy is a monkey that sings "Don't you wish your boyfriend was hot like me, don't you wish your boyfriend was sexy like me, Go bananas". I know what you're thinking...why would we let her have a toy like that, well a student gave me it for Valentine's day (that's another sotry all on it's own) and she danced all around. It has stopped several meltdowns and has been my lifesaver, so we'll keep the monkey. We'll explain hot and sexy to her later when she starts using those terms! Everyone keeps telling me that she's not looking like a baby anymore and I get quite sad, she'll always be my baby. She has brought more joy and happiness into my life than I could have ever imagine. I never knew how much I could love until she came into my life! I love Neil (don't worry), but a Mom's love is completely different. Everyday I look forward to all the new things she'll say or do.

I'll try to post pictures soon. Especially of Addison and our new house!

Can A Mom Get A Break?

It started at the beginning of November when Addison started running fever. A few days later, Neil started running a fever. I missed 2 days of work to take care of them. In December, I came down with strep throat. I had a allergic reaction to the penicillin and missed a grand total of 4 days of work. Then Neil and I have shared a cold, congestion, and cough back and forth for the past 3 months! Addison was treated for RSV at the beginning of March (just in time for her 1st birthday). I missed another 2 days of work. Neil was sick last weekend with a fever and cold. I broke down and cried last weekend because I was tired of everyone being sick! Neil started feeling better this week (minus a persistent cough). However, yesterday the daycare came to my classroom carrying my sweet little girl who looked pitiful! Yes, she was running a fever. I wasn't feeling well myself and so the two of us went home to spend the day together and we took the day off today too because she still wasn't "fever free". I have a cough and congestion, which makes nothing taste good. Addison just wants to be held and of course tylenol is a necessity!

I have been thinking to myself...why can't we stay well??? I came up with a list:
-I work in a profession where I am surrounded by 18 germ infested (yet adorable) children
-Neil stays extremely busy with PA school
-Addison goes to daycare with 8 other germ infested (yet cutie patootie) children
-The 1 inch layer of pollen might contribute
-The weather is warm one day and freezing the next
-We are trying to pack to move into our new house
-The CRCT (state mandated test) is coming in 1 one weak for my above 18 students
-I'm going 80 mph hoping my body will keep up!

I have to mention the things I do to try to keep healthy:
-Of course I take medicine when I'm sick...I even take a multi-vitamin everyday!
-I wash my hands constantly
-I refuse to touch and/or use any student's pencil (I must use my own)
-I keep Addison home when sick (and not infect everyone else) I try to stay away from others who are sick
-I drink lots of water
-I get around 7 hours of sleep most nights
-I exercise by keeping up with Addison

I just don't get it. So, I'm very interested in finding 3 air tight bubbles to put Neil, Addison, and myself in. Back to my question, Can This Mom Get a Break?

PS. No pictures for this blog...it would be scary!

A Cookie Thief

Neil was keeping an eye on Addison while I was on the computer. Neil said, "Come look at Addison". I peeked around the corner and saw our cookie thief!!! I had to laugh because she always wants me to share with her when I get out the cookies, but I haven't given her any and would slip her some of her snacks. Today, she figured out how to pull the package back and get one out herself. I guess I need to move the cookies up.

By the way...Can you believe my baby will be one on Friday! I'm having a hard time believing it!!! Happy early birthday sweet girl!

January Update

Our new house

Can you pick out what is real in the picture?

It's true...Neil started PA school! He is commuting back and forth to Savannah (about an hour and 15 minutes one way) to school each day. He says he doesn't mind the drive. We have had to adjust our way of living to include study time for him. It has been a transition, but the rewards are paying off...he made a 90 on his first test! I'm so proud!

Addison started daycare at the school where I teach. It was a rough first two weeks for the both of us, but now she jumps for the sweet ladies at daycare. I struggled with the idea of daycare and still have my days where I want to ditch daycare and work and go to the nearest park and play, but I concentrate on all the positives...lots of social interaction, she's spoiled by the daycare ladies, she's learning lots of new things (songs, throwing tantrums, crawling up, over, and around things, that its okay when other babies cry, etc.). I just started working on getting things started for her 1st birthday. Yes, believe it or not...she'll be one March 5th. It's hard for me to figure out how time passes so fast! She's learned a few new tricks...she loves to feed herself, comb her own hair, brush her own teeth, and dance to her leap frog table. Can we see that she is screaming to be a little independent? She also has started to pick favorite toys...she loves dolls. Today she fell into the laundry basket that holds all her toys. I thought she would get upset...turns out she didn't mind. She is not walking yet, but will stand on her own for several seconds. She never ceases to amaze me at the new things she learns.

Oh...did I mention...WE'RE BUYING A HOUSE??? We are hoping to move in towards the middle of March. It has about 2 more weeks of construction and then we're closing. I am exstatic! We are doubling in size from where we are renting. Addison and I are just going to run circles in the new house and enjoy the space!

Goodbye 2009...Hello 2010

Addison (Christmas)

Cameron

Neil's Graduation

Addison (a couple weeks old)

We had an exciting 2009! We started off the year celebrating our 3rd wedding anniversary. Our niece, Elena, turned 1 in January! We had a couple of wonderful baby showers. In March, we had Addison. We've enjoyed all her "firsts" so far. Kaylen (our niece) was baptised in April. Neil graduated from Georgia Southern in May. I graduated with my masters in June. In July we had a new nephew, Cameron. We also bought a new car and sold the ol' pathfinder (my first car that I paid for). In August I went back to work starting my fourth year of teaching. In November Neil was accepted into physician assistant school. We had a fabulous Thanksgiving and Christmas with our little girl and both families!

A look into 2010....Neil starts PA school (and commuting). Addison starts daycare where I work. We are looking for a house! Addison will turn 1 (March 5th). We will have a niece (name-not yet decided) in May! All of Addison's new adventures...walking, talking, etc. In February, I start paying back student loans :( I have a whole summer off to spend with Addison!

We have had lots of ups and downs this past year. I try to focus on all the ups and learn from the downs. We can't help but be excited about 2010!!!