I don't have time to Blog!

What fun it was to have a child this Easter. Not quite like Christmas, but boy, did her face light up when she saw the living room scattered with eggs and her very own Easter Basket!

Then began the egg “hunt”…
She ran from Egg to Egg picking them up and moving them all around. None really made it into her basket, but she had a great time. I’m just glad we used plastic eggs as one of her favorite things to do with the eggs was STOMP them.

After a fun morning, we headed off to Easter Brunch with my family at Marie Callenders.

From Easter 2010

(I was bending down because I thought my brother was directly behind me…oh well!)

Later that day we were all supposed to head over to Ryan and Melissa’s house for Easter Dinner. Unfortunately, illness caught up with Jess and I that afternoon. Jess was running on only about 3 hours of sleep, and I (after a visit to the doctor) had a sinus infection, ear infection, and pinkeye…YIKES! We couldn’t risk getting little baby Zoe sick.

Fortunately, Steph saved us some yummy leftovers and we were able to have Easter Dinner on Monday.

The Saturday before Easter Jess, Gaummie and I took Addie to an Easter egg hunt at Farsnworth Farms. We were a bit worried about te cold, and if Addie would even understand what to do. The hunt proceeds went to Muscular Dystrophy so even if she didn’t, we could leave feeling good about it.

Fortunately, Addie did AMAZING! She was fascinated by the idea of it and was thrilled that her little basket held 3 eggs. The most fantastic part was that each time she bent over to pick up a new egg, the eggs already in her basket fell out… so there were always more eggs to pick up!

Despite the cold she was a trooper! She laughed and giggled at the Easter Bunny and high fived Grizby the Grizzlies Bear.

As the morning went on, she began to get a little tired.

So we headed for home so we could all take a nap, but not before one last picture and a big “Cheeeeeeesssssse” for the Camera!

I was very disappointed to wake up to 8-10 inches of snow. However, my little monkey was thrilled. She got up and looked out the window with me and started screaming “SNOW!! SNOWW! SNOOOOWWWWW! snOWing!!!” When I took her out to the car, she would put her hand into a pile of snow and pick up a bit and say Brrrr!

I knew at this point in time, it was a “snow day,” So back inside we went to get her snow boots and gear to take to Gaummie and Gumps house. We weren’t there more than 2 minutes before she was whining at the back door about playing in the snow.

When I left for work, she was still playing in the backyard…

From 20 Months

From 20 Months

From 20 Months

From 20 Months

From 20 Months

What a fun day this was! Addie had so many firsts. She learned the word “safe” and we introduced her to police officers, firemen, and EMT’s. Everyone that had a badge on, Addie would High-Five! By the end of the day, she police by sight!

Here are some highlights from the Sheriffs Office and Police Department demos.

Once again, this kid and Helicopters:

From 20 Months

After visiting with the Sheriff, she was allowed to sit on the four-wheeler. She knew what to do…

From 20 Months

She instantly became friends with Sparky the Firedog:

From 20 Months

From 20 Months

And Even became and honorary Fireman!

From 20 Months

She also had her first Bike Ride! Pink Helmet included. She did awesome and had so much fun. (I guess I know what we will be getting her for her second birthday)

From 20 Months

From 20 Months

I am hoping to not curse myself by writing this post…

Addie and Jess have been sick now for 2+ weeks, and there seems to be no end in sight. Fortunately, it’s not the gross kind of sick where there is a lot of *ahem* ”clean up” involved, but more the “we-have-been-through-eight-boxes-of-kleenex-in-the-last-2-weeks” kind of sick.

Poor Addie started to really get snotty (in both senses of the word) about 2 weeks ago, just in time to miss our good friends Steve and Mindy’s sons birthday party. He was turning two, and the party was a Classic Roller Skating. They have bouncy slides and all sorts of fun things for kids to do. Addie would have loved it, and I am so sad we missed it! But Happy Birthday to Zander!!

Addie got a pretty deep cough last week, and fortunately it really died down by Friday night. So she should be on the up-and-up. Jess on the other hand, is still sick and doesn’t seem to be getting much better. He is stuffy and runny all at the same time, overworked, stressed out from school, and not getting enough sleep. All in all, not a good combo for someone who is trying to get over a cold.

Last weekend, Addie and I went to another friends birthday party. Caden, Lisa and Nate’s son, turns 1 today! Happy Birthday little guy! He is such a cutie and we were very lucky to be well enough to attend that party. Addie was still a little sniffley, but hopefully my excessive tissue and Purell supply was enough to not get anyone else sick!

Please, everyone send well wishes toward our house, especially Jess’ way!

Many of you thought I was crazy trying to potty train a 14 month old. Maybe so, but it is paying off! Addie is doing so well, tonight she proved to me a little too well.

Let me start by saying I know I have much back blogging to do, WinterPalooza, more early morning car rides, a few kidisms etc… I will, someday. Tonight, she made me laugh so hard, and yet feel so bad, I had to post almost immediately.

I was doing homework and Addie had been in bed about an hour when I heard her start to stir. This is nothing out of the ordinary, and she usually puts herself right back out. Tonight however, I head her start to sob. She repeatedly said “oh, nooooo…. OH Nooooo….. OH NOOOO!!!!….” So eventually got up to see what was going on. I walked in the door and she immediately started crying and saying “too LATE, TO late, toooo LATE, TO LATE!” and sobbed. “Mommmyyyy, tooooo laaaate!” she said. I had no idea what she was talking about, I went over and picked her up to calm her.

What am I too late for? What is she talking about? How can I fix this? All went through my head. Then…

She cried on my shoulder for a minute more, picked her head up, put her tiny hand on my cheek and said “Potty… Tooo Late” in a VERY calm voice all while slowly shaking her head no.

Fears? Gone. Concern? Gone. Laughter…. starting up. I smiled and told her it was ok and we would fix it. Next time we would be faster. I put her on the floor to change her expecting to see poop. Nope, pee. a VERY small amount of pee. I really hope this is not a sign of things to come. If that child wakes up and flips out every time she pees… we are in for some Looooong nights.

As of now, it is 10:00 pm. If she gets me up again my dear readers, there will be another post to inform you. I do like where this is going though. At 20 months she is concerned about peeing in diapers. Now if I can only get her to be that concerned mid-day when she is running around like mad and distracted by invisible butterflys and things that jingle…

*edit: It was pointed out to me, no where in this post did I explain “neighborgood”. That is how Addie says it. It’s not a typo.. but thanks for keeping tabs on me, most days I need it!*

This isn’t really about the people in our neighborhood, but Addie does mention my parents neighbors when prompted.

Another conversation in the wee morning hours from anout 2 months ago. I got recording a little late, as I had to wait for a stoplight to find my phone. Addie remembers everyone, she will most likely grow up to be one of those people that never forgets your name, and you are struggling to remember theirs. Ack! I hate when that happens. Good thing she will be around to remind me of everyones name!

Addie and I have some of our best conversations in the wee morning hours when we are driving to one of the Grandmas houses for a fun day. On this particular day, Addie sat in the back seat singing “one, two… one, two.” So I grabbed my phone and started recording. It is dark, very dark, so there is no image.
(This was actually taken about 2 months ago, but of course I am just around to posting it. She can count much better now. I guess I should record again, but for now, this will give you a good idea of her counting skills!)

Addie’s first Kidism. What a milestone! The other day as Addie and i were driving home, we were chit-chatting about this and that. The conversation went something like this:

Me: What does Daddy Say?

Addie: Bee-Bum (as in Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum)

Me: What does Mommy Say?

Addie: I-Uvvv-Ooooo

Me: What does Ali Say?

Addie: Hand?! (As in Hand Hand Fingers Thumb)

Me: What does Grandma Steph Say?

Addie: Well Duh!

Clear as day it was. I am not quite sure if I was just supposed to know what Grandma Steph says so the “Duh” was for me or if that is actually what Grandma Steph says… Kids. Better yet, My Kid.

Addie,

What a fun little person you have become, and so much has happened since my last love letter to you.

18 months have passed since you welcomed your Daddy and I into your world. I remember looking at you in my arms for the first time and thinking to myself, “How did this happen? How did we create a life?” I stopped asking questions I would never know the answer to and just watched you. Watched your body rest, watched your fingers curl and your toes wiggle. At that moment, I never thought of you as a Toddler.

This stage seemed so far away, and yet here we are. Here you are! And oh! How you amaze me! Lets ramble off a few recent accomplishments so I can stick I time stamp on them later. In the last few weeks your verbal skills have come so far, you know everyone’s name in our extended family and get such a kick out of saying “Tow-eea” (Victora) and “Show-ee” (Zoe). Daddy is one of your favorite people, and you are constantly running around looking for him saying “Daadddyyyy, Coming??”

The other day, when walking into the grocery store, you saw a silver van, you immediately started shouting Gaummie! Gaummie! Gaummie! (Grams Bobbi). I thought to myself, did you just recognize Grandma Bobbi’s Car?? Additionally, every Wednesday when I drive you to Grandma Stephs, we turn onto her street and you sing “Teff, Teff, Teff” to yourself in the backseat.

I still  have a hard time picturing you in the future, and yet, I’m ok with that. The last 18 months have gone by so very quickly. I think for now, I won’t try to picture you at age 2 or 5… but simply my independent little 18 month old girl.

Love,

Mommy