Birthday Presents

This will be the last post for 2010.  If you have not checked the blog in awhile, there are four new posts.  Be sure to check them out, they all deal with Addyson's birthday.  Once the new year comes we promise to put more pictures of Carly on the blog.


Here are some pictures and videos of Addyson playing with her gifts from family and friends.  Thank you everyone who came to the party and to visit during Addy's birthday.

Mommy and Daddy got Addyson this cool kitchen with a phone, coffee pot, and food.

Papa and "Gi" got Addy the Dora ball pit.  Bear and phone not included.

"Em" got Addy these awesome slippers with Dora on them.

Actually, these were not a birthday present...they are Carly's sunglasses!

Here is the Happy Feet card that Gi and Papa got me for my birthday.

The video above has Jeff playing with Addyson.  Jeff is wearing a horse puppet from Wayne and Kim (birthday present for Addy).  Addyson loves when Jeff chases her around the house with the horse and cow puppet.  Addy also likes to fall asleep with Jeff.


Below are three videos of Addy riding her new scooter from Kelley, Joe, and Harry.  It is amazing to watch her ride the scooter.  We can't wait until the weather warms up so she can ride it outside.

CAKE

The next day after Addyson's birthday party we let Addy have her birthday cake.  She loved every minute of the experience of being sang too along with eating the cake and/or icing.  I hope you enjoy the videos as much as we did watching her eat her cake.

In this video Addy starts eating the cake before we sang to her.

Now we are ready to sing to Addy.

Here are some funny videos of Addy eating the entire cake.

After all the icing and cake, Addy had a sugar high.  Watch these videos and you will understand.

Here are five pictures of Addy eating cake.

Finally . . . videos of Addy's birthday party!

Here are some videos of Addyson's birthday party.  From watching the videos you can see how much fun Addyson and her friends had at the party.  There was a bounce house, slide, balls, tunnels, and bubbles for all the little kids to play with at the party. 

Here is a video of Addyson, Addison, and Grace jumping in the bounce house.  Jill and I took our birthing class with Addison and Grace's parents before all three girls where born. 

The video below shows Addy and Grace going down the slide together holding hands.

The last video from Addy's party is the bubbles.  All kids love bubbles, so what better way to end a party.

Here are some pictures of Addy's birthday party.

A.A.A.

The weekend of Addyson's birthday her second cousins came to visit and attended the party.  The videos below show how much fun they have together.  We wish they lived closer because Addy plays and shares very well with Audrey and Avery.

 The video below shows Addy playing with Audrey in her tent and tunnel.

The next video shows all three girls playing London Bridge with Mim and Iain.  Audrey and Avery trick Addyson, watch and see.

Here is a picture of Allison and all the girls (A.A.A.A).

More Addyson funnies

Addyson continues to amuse us with the little things she picks up on and repeats.  Here are a few examples of what she's learned this week...

Usually, thanks to Nick Jr (and DVR), when Addy watches TV, she rarely watches commercials.  However, at some point this week, she was watching a show on a different channel where they did, in fact, have commercials.  She sat patiently while the commercials played, one after another, and finally, I guess she'd seen enough, because when the next one came on, she said "come on".  Now, I have to admit, she has definitely learned this from me, as that is one of my token phrases I use to express my disappointment (like when a green light turns yellow at the last moment).  But, I guess I should be impressed that she even used it in the correct context =)

Addyson likes to 'help' us give Carly baths, so we pull a step stool up so she can observe and play with the soap bottle and tickle Carly's toes.  So we were giving Carly a bath earlier this week and during that process, Addyson climbs up on her step stool with her blanket draped around her neck like a cape and she says "super girl"!!!  How adorable!!!  I know she's played with her blanket this way before, but that is the first time we've heard super girl come from her...once again, in context.

When I am feeding Carly, Addy will many times climb up beside us with a couple of books to read.  She is very careful when she turns pages to make sure she doesn't miss one.  She was having trouble turning the pages in one of her board books the other day, so as I was watching her, she stuck her finger in her mouth and then turned the page of the book...  Now mind you, she stuck a finger from her left hand in her mouth and turned the page with her right hand!  I wasn't sure if she had done this intentionally, so I continued to watch her and sure enough, each time she turned the page, she stuck her (left) finger in her mouth and then turned a page in the book...  I'm really not sure who she learned this from, but I could not believe she'd picked up on it!!!  I started to laugh after a few times and then it became very intentional...

Okay...last thing (for now)!  Yesterday, we were coming up the stairs in our house and as always, I followed Addy up the stairs.  When she reached the top of the stairs, she went through the gate, turned around and closed it, closing me out.  Playing along, I said, what is the password to get through the gate, and then I started guessing...  I said, is it Carly?  She said no...  I said, is it mommy?  She said "no, it's abres", which, I think (I'm no expert) is the Spanish word for open!!!  Needless to say, I was very impressed.  However, I cannot take the credit...I think we have Dora to thank for this!

How Addyson entertains herself

Here are three videos of Addyson playing with her friends and by herself.  Ever since Carlean has been born, Addyson has had to finds ways to keep herself busy while mom and dad took care of Carly.  Addyson is very creative in what she does, whether it is putting make up on, playing with her kitchen, or reading books by herself, she finds something to keep herself occupied.  Every now and then Addy will lose her patience with her parents and come over to us and ask us to "Hold ME!!" or "Getcha Daddy!!"  Overall we could not ask for a better daughter, who is understanding what is like to be a big sister and how to share.

The video above is Addyson spinning is circles.  For some reason she likes to make herself dizzy.


The next video is Addyson putting make-up on (Jill taught her this), she really likes to put on lipstick.  Make sure you watch the whole video, the part when she looks in the mirror is "cute."  If you don't believe me, Addyson will let you know.

If you have seen Addyson recently you know that her vocabulary as grown tremendously in the past two months.  At the house she is talking non-stop to her parents, Carly, and herself.  She is singing songs and saying new words everyday.  In the video below here is a sample of what I am talking about.

Happy Birthday Addyson

It's hard to believe it, but Addyson turned 2 years old last Saturday.  We would like to sincerely thank everyone who was here to help Addyson have the happiest birthday a girl could ask for, especially those who traveled a long way to get here!  We really had a fun weekend and hope you did too.  Addyson, who, we've mentioned before, loves to be the center of attention, had a particularly good time.  She had fun playing with her friends and family, all the while entertaining us.  The idea of this birthday celebration started out before Carly was born...I was thinking that it would be hard on Addy to have to share her entire universe with a sibling and that having a day all about her (her birthday) would be important.  Once Carly arrived, I began to think I was crazy for trying to plan all of this with a newborn!  Sooo, I must thank everyone for helping out, as I could not have done it alone!!!  Pictures of the weekend will follow soon...

I also wanted to share a few more Addy moments, as they just keep getting better...

Addyson has enjoyed her birthday gifts, one of which was her "chicken", which properly translates into "kitchen".  She makes coffee each morning and shares a cup with me.  We were also VERY surprised when, after she had cooked something, she opened the oven door, grabbed a hand towel and used it to remove the pot from the oven, so she wouldn't get burned.  It's just great. 

Also, I asked her one morning, like I always do, what she wanted for breakfast and she adorably tapped her finger to her cheek and said "see" (meaning "let's see") and then she answered.  She does this repeatedly, when we ask her a question, and it makes us smile each time. 

One last thing, Addyson is gradually learning to play hide and seek.  So the other day, she was hiding in the curtains behind where I was sitting.  Knowing she was hiding, I acted like I was looking for her and I said out loud, is Addy in the hiding in the kitchen?  Then I hear this sweet "no" coming from behind the curtains.  Trying to keep from laughing I then said, is Addy hiding in the bedroom?  Once again "no" from behind the curtains.  We continued this until I snuck up and "found" her...  It was just so sweet!

We are just so blessed to have such wonderful little girls!!!

Just Carly

Below are pictures of Carlean without her big sister.  It is very, very tough to take pictures of Carly when Addy is around because she wants to do whatever her parents are doing.

Here are some great pictures of Jill and Carly.

  A great pictures of Papa Dave and Carly

Picture of Carly and her cousin, Harry.

Two pictures of Carly.

Playing with my sister.

Addyson has been amazing with Carlean.  She enjoys kissing and hugging her sister along with singing to her.   But like any older sister, Addy likes to be the center of attention.  Sometimes when you are giving Carly to much attention, Addy will let out this ear piercing scream that leaves your ears ringing for three minutes.   Below are two videos of Addy playing with Carly and some pictures of them together.

Ponies, Phones,and Songs

Here is a video of Addyson on her rocking horse that she got for her birthday last year.  I realized that we have never taken video of her riding it.  So here she is...

Here is a video of Addyson talking on the phone, which she loves to do.  This phone is the only land line that we have and we cannot keep it plugged in, because Addyson loves to play with it.  And for those of you who remember land lines, there is no turning the phone on, or hitting talk or send...you just pick it up and dial, which has done on occasion.  So, like I said, we just plug it in if we need to. 

Addyson recently took a music class and this song quickly went to the top of her list of all time favorites, along with The Wheels on the Bus (it's even topped the Itsy Bitsy Spider).  However, for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of watching Addyson sing songs in person, she must ensure that everyone (everyone) in the room is singing along (and doing hand motions), even if you're the one holding the camera.  Otherwise, she'll call you out!!!

Addy is growing up

Addy's vocabulary and speaking abilities continue to grow.  We are amazed at how much she learns, even daily.  Perhaps what amazes us the most at this point is her retention abilities.  A few weeks ago, she couldn't tell you what she did the day before, but now, all that has changed (no more saying 'we'll do that later, thinking she'll forget =).

Over the weekend, we were discussing her birthday and going over the list of family that will be coming to visit her.  As we went through the list, she looked at me and said 'Papa Dave'?  And I delightedly said 'yes, Papa Dave's coming to see you for your birthday!'.  It was just too cute.

Also for those of you familiar with Dora...  In many, many of the episodes, as Dora and Boots travel to their destination, they are faced with the challenge of choosing the correct path (often the least dangerous, as alligators and snakes often frequent the other paths).  So Dora usually asks "Which path should we take, path 1, path 2, or path 3" and the viewers are supposed to let them know which path is safest.  Sooooo, all that to say this.  When Addy goes to bed at night now, when we get to the entrance to her bedroom, which is next to the entrance to the guest bedroom and a bathroom, she will stop, point, and say "path take? 1 (her bedroom), 2 (guest bedroom), 3 (bathroom)..."  Then she says "path 1- Addy's room" and runs into her room.  I was surprised the first time she did it, but it has become some what of a ritual now.  Once again, it's just so sweet!  You can see her do a version of that is this video...
I should also mention that the other girl in the video is super sweet and cute also!!!

Life is good

From sweet and calm...

 To wild and crazy!  Addyson loves to use her blanket to play hide and seek.

 Although life as a Gator fan has not been great this year, we've been there to pull for them every step of the way!!!

 

 Here are pics from our Thanksgiving weekend. 

 I hate that this picture is blurry...I'm not too sure why???  But as you can see, Addyson was hard at work on her laptop, but was able to take a break to say cheese for the photo!

This is a pretty common occurrence in our house now.  When I change Addyson's diaper, she wants to lay next to Carly and have me change both of their diapers together...it's super sweet!  Here are two instances of that happening.

One last photo...the snow has arrived!  Check out Addyson's winter playland.  (Yes, I took the picture from in the house...)  For those of you coming to visit this weekend, I hope it's still here when you arrive!!!

Saying Goodbye

We were faced with a difficult decision recently...
About a month ago, on Nov. 9, we decided to say goodbye to Hershey.  It was honestly one of the toughest decisions I've ever had to make.  He was the BEST dog a person (family) could ask for.  I often tell Jeff, Hershey was before you were, as I had Hershey for two years before I met Jeff.  As my sister pointed out...he was the family dog.  She lived with Jeff and I for a year and she felt as if he was hers also.  He was 13 1/2 years old and I had him for 11 1/2 of those years.  He moved into my first house with me.  Since then, he's been with us through two moves, through several other animals and now two children.  However, in the last couple of years, we've watched his health deteriorate.  He had trouble breathing, had developed a cough, and his hips were failing, as he had trouble going up and down the stairs in our house.  He just didn't seem happy anymore. 
Hershey was my best bud, but even more so, he was Addyson's best friend.  She loved him so much...the first time she ever laughed...really laughed, was at Hershey.  The day we came home without him, she said, "Hershey, oh no Hershey", as if she knew he something was wrong.  It broke our hearts. 
I know it might seem crazy to go on and on about a dog, but he was a member of our family.  We have only the fondest memories of our old pal.  I wanted to share some pics (we have hundreds) of him over the recent years (most of the old ones are not digital).
Goodbye Hershey...we love you.

Hershey's first time in the snow...

 Addy and Hershey getting to know one another...

Cheerios...and more

Addyson loves to eat Cheerios, either with milk at breakfast, or in a cup as a snack.  And, she just recently learned to say 'Cheerios', and it's just so cute to hear her say it =)

Here's Addy having some Cheerios as a snack with some of her friends.  Notice that she has given one to each of them...

This is how Addy and Jeff communicate!

Here are a few shots of Addyson wearing her dad's backpack.  She thought she was hot stuff!

Here are Jeff and Addyson pretending to be asleep.  She loves to do that...much more than the real thing!

I thought this was such a cute picture.  She is looking at that ball saying 'wow, that sure is a big ball'. 

 More cute pictures of Carly...