Ruffle Bum

Here's my little sweetie today. I had to put her in this outfit even though it is kinda "springy" because she is growing out of this size. I put a yellow cardigan on her since it's freezing today and I wore a yellow sweater set so we were matchy matchy. I used to make fun of people that did this, but now I'm seeing how fun it can be. She's turning into quite the accessory! I got this childrens' clothing catalog this week that was full of matching family outfits. Then Anthony had to listen to me dream of dressing children we don't have in matching dresses and suits for an Easter photograph. He's so nice about humoring me.

I had to post the picture of her ruffle bum cause it's just so stinking cute. Today Anthony was holding Addie in church and I just glanced over at them. I seriously couldn't believe this kid's thighs. They are so big!

Celebrities Look Like ME

Okay, so I saw this on Chris' blog and IMMEDIATELY had to copy. Anthony says I'm a dork. I don't care...this is way cooler than that website (can't remember the name) that Randi and I use to frequent in college to find out what kind of dogs we were! :)

Shopping 101

Today was Addie's first official shoe shopping experience! It was pretty exciting. I didn't plan correctly though, because just as the sales clerk was measuring her little foot I realized that I should have brought my camera!! What a cute picture it would have made. So sad. She was very good as they tried different shoes on her little wiggly foot. Every now and then she'd just look over at me like "what is this person doing??"

In the interest of showing her how proper shoe shopping is conducted, when the lady asked which pair we wanted I said, "Hmmmm, we'll take them both." Then, to make sure she's really getting trained up right, we left the evidence in the car instead of parading it all in front of Anthony. I think she'll pick up on this in no time. I can see we are going to have a lot of fun in the future. Plus...shopping sprees for her are much cheaper than shopping sprees for me so there's not much guilt!

Sweet Success

The pacifier provides almost endless entertainment lately...no matter how it is used! A few weeks ago she was acting like she didn't want to take it (not good!), so I started handing it to her like it was a toy to play with instead of directly sticking it in her mouth. Eventually it makes it into her mouth. Sometimes it's even right side up. :)

Love Bug

Happy Valentine's Day! I'm hanging out with Adeline the "love bug" today. We're going downtown to the University of Iowa psychology department to participate in some kind of baby study. It's something to do, what can I say? Actually, I feel it is my duty to make sure that my highly intelligent child participates in such studies to make sure that her segment of the population is accurately represented. Otherwise, they might conclude that babies today are just not very bright. :)

Brrrrrrrr

It's been snowing all day and we are hanging out inside sick so I thought I'd post the latest changes going on here in an effort to preserve sanity! I actually had something fun and social planned for tonight that I had to cancel because I'm sick! :( So sad. Everyone can feel sorry for me now...

- Addie reached for me for the first time yesterday. It was really sweet. Unfortunately, it was right as Anthony picked her up, but we both still thought it was cool.

- Also, when I pick her up from a long night's sleep or even a long nap and she's really hungry she wraps her arms around my face and bites my cheek. It's pretty cute.

- She's also starting to sit by herself these days, which is fun to see. She has a play piano that she likes to sit and bang on. Most other "large motor skills" (as What to Expect the First Year calls them) are on hold. She has no interest in rolling over and still hates to be on her stomach. If my stomach was that round (and it was about 7 months ago) I wouldn't want to lay on it either!

Shots and Swaddling

This week I've been stressing about the fact that I still swaddle Addie for sleeping. The only real problem is that she is getting so big, I don't have a blanket that will do it well anymore. I'm going to have to find someone who can help me make one bigger. The blankets being too small got me worried that maybe it's a bad thing that I still swaddle her, so I asked around to other people that I know did it for a long time and they all said that they only swaddle their kids at first but that they come out while they are sleeping. Addie wakes up the minute she comes out and starts scratching her face. Then she cries. It's a vicious cycle!

So I set out to test things this week and tried a nap without it. I watched her on the video monitor while we successfully ruined one nap. She spent the entire time taking her pacifier out of her mouth and then putting it back in. Then she'd scratch at her face a bit. Then she'd bat at the animals on her mobile. She absolutely didn't associate being in her bed, lights out, and a pacifier with time to sleep. So I decided that we will just do this until she quits by herself or she's old enough for me to bribe her into stopping. I ran it past the pediatrician today and she said that it will not stunt her ability to use her arms and if it helps her sleep it's cool.

Speaking of the pediatrician, today was the six month shot day. Adeline is off (WAY off) the charts on weight at a nice 22 lbs. She is now 27 inches long which is 90th percentile so at least she is not short and chubby. She's had a cold for a week and now it looks like she's got an ear infection. Anthony claims he is "about" to go to Walgreens to get Addie some baby Tylenol, however, he just curled up on the couch in his slippers with a blanket. It's sooo cold!! I hope he is really going. Stats on the cold: at 10 a.m. this morning the radio said the temperature was -3 and that with the wind chill it was -20.

Save a Buck

In the interest of saving a few dollars (like $10/month) Anthony decided to give dog grooming a try this weekend. I asked him to trim around Simon's eyes to buy me some time to get him to the groomer. It seemed like things had been unusually quiet in the bathroom for a while so I popped my head in and there was poor Simon, leashed to the shower head with Anthony sitting in the tub with the scissors. Hair was everywhere. I just walked away. So here is a picture of Simon with his new do. Before this incident, he was a pretty cute yorkshire terrier. After, well...he somewhat resembles the homeless dogs we saw running through the streets of Mexico (minus the lactation.) It will grow back and when it does, I'll be better about prioritizing and getting him to the groomer!

Idiosyncracies

Okay, so Emily tagged me over a week ago to write out my idiosyncracies so here goes. First things first, I had to look up the official definition. Per Wikipedia, an idiosyncracy is a behavioral characteristic peculiar to a particular individual or group. So...what is peculiar about me? Let me count the ways...

1. Hair. I have issues with my hair. When it is curly, I flip it. It doesn't matter how important the presentation is, I just can't stop flipping that darn hair so I have to tie it back for public speaking. When it is straight, I have this odd habit of putting it in a pony tail and taking it out all day. Last night I was at a friends house and I did this like 5 times. I'm sure people think I'm nuts. If it feels like it's falling or even one hair is getting pulled, I redo it.

2. Sleep. I cannot stand to be touched while I'm sleeping. It's a burden my husband must bear I suppose. If he so much as touches my arm while I'm asleep I wake up and roll the other way.

3. Food. I like to eat one thing at a time on my plate and really don't like it when things touch.

4. Temperature. I think this is a WILSON idiosyncracy. We like it cold. Anthony is in heaven these days because I keep the house warmer for Addie, but for the first four years of our marriage he froze to death. Maybe living in Iowa for four years will cure me of this.

5. Timing. I hear this may also be a WILSON thing, but I tend to be fashionable late more often than not. When I was younger I didn't mind being late all the time, however now I realize this is extremely rude and it implies that I think my time is more valuable than others'. I can't say I have completely cured myself of this yet, but I'm coming along. All of my clocks are set at least 5 minutes ahead, although the fact that I am aware of that kind of negates the point.

6. Ears. Last one, I love cleaning my ears. All of our ENT associates here say it is bad and that earwax is my friend, but I really enjoy a good pack of Q-tips.

So there ya go Emily!!

Happy Half Birthday

I almost forgot that today marks the six month mark for Adeline! Here she is on the day she was born. We thought she was the prettiest thing we'd ever seen. I'm pretty sure I called half of the list on my cell phone to tell them so, but I was so drugged up I really don't remember. Anthony must have taken at least 100 pictures just that day. August 1, 2006 was definitely one of the best days of my life. It will take a lot to top that one.

Snot-Nosed Kid

I am having my first experience of hanging out with a snot-nosed kid that I totally adore this week. Addie has a cold and for the first time I get to be the parent wiping snot off of my kid's face and hopefully not letting any go unnoticed in public. Even though she is sick, she's still pretty happy. Wow, if only I could be that way. I you'd never see me sneezing so hard that snot blew out of my nose and then smiling through it!

Catch Up Video

Hopefully this works. I've been trying to upload this video all day in an effort to redeem myself for not posting. It's pretty cute so I'm crossing my fingers!

Remote Understanding

Today while I was playing with Adeline on our bed she started reaching for something. She was sitting up and since she can't crawl yet, she just threw all of her weight over in one general direction with arms stretched out. I didn't know what she could want because all of her toys were right in front of her so I lifted her up and helped her get to where she wanted. We landed directly over the remote control. I thought this was kinda strange because all her cool toys are bright wonderful colors and the remote is all gray aside from three very exciting green buttons.

I figured it out just now as we have been in the living room playing with Baby Einstein on. There are parts of this one video that she doesn't like, so I usually just hit the "forward" button when she's squalking. I noticed that as I picked up the remote to do just that, she stared at it with great anticipation. As soon as I hit the button, she glanced back at the TV to see if I had fixed her show for her. Wow. That's all I can say.

Forget Barbie

 
 
We're all about good body image here in our house. Addie's traded in her bath duck for a lovely set of three bath hippos and she loves them! Maybe American Ferrera's speach last night at the Golden Globes inspired her?

Day of Rest

 
 
Today was anything but a relaxing Sunday, however, we still managed to take a minute for some pictures before church. I love Sundays because I get to put Addie in dresses. It's like playing dress up with my doll. :) Things are so different with her around. Yesterday afternoon I got a call asking if I could substitute the New Testament class at church today. Of course I said yes, but wow...it was a little different pulling it all together so quickly now that Addie is here. I don't know if it's just residual sleeping troubles from all of our travelling last month, but Addie is just not napping for me and it is killing my days. It's like clockwork, I put her down and 45 minutes later I hear her talking to her mobile. Either way, I am so tired today but just had to post my FABULOUS photos for all the world (or all 5 of my readers) to view. :) Oh, and happy MLK to all...Anthony wants me to take him out for KFC to celebrate. Only if there's a sale.

Eat Eat Eat

So maybe the whole "learn how to sit in a high chair" thing wasn't such a big deal! She took to this like a champ and kept her food down so much better...wow, if I'd only known! The TV in the background has been replaced with being able to look out the window and see the cars go by.

Crock Pot = Chic

So while I am ellipticizing downstairs or sitting on the couch eating bon bons, a fabulous feast is preparing itself in my crock pot. I use to think that using this appliance was so hum drum of me, however, there is new information to the contrary. The Food Forecast for 2007 says that crock pots are an up and coming culinary trend for this year. I am so impressed with myself. I'm such a chic housewife.
On a completely different note, I have a new focus with Addie these days. The person we borrowed our bouncy seat from wants it back to give to her sister, so Addie needs to hurry her little self up and sit in her high chair. It's not so much that I don't want to spring for the twenty or so dollars it would cost to buy our own, but she'll be out of it any day now and then I'd have to store it which I hate. I'm not sure how the high chair thing is going to work out since right now she eats her cereal in the bouncy seat watching TV. Talk about confessions of a bad parent. I'm not sure how this got started...but it's gonna be fun putting it to an end. "What to Expect the First Year" says this is a real no no. I'm truly ashamed.

All In a Day's Work

 

You'd never know by looking at Miss Priss here that yesterday was full of drooling and crying. That's the beauty of teething I guess...it comes and goes! She's having another tough day today, but there are still some laughs here and there. It seems like I walk around the house on eggshells on days like these because naps are hard to get. Even right now, she's sleeping and there is spilled dishwasher detergent on the kitchen floor, but since the kitchen is right below her bedroom there is no way I'm turning on the vacuum to get it up. I guess I'll just have to sit on the couch quietly and eat bon bons. :)

Fun in the Megasaucer

My New Toy

 

In keeping with the theme of how life has changed since having a baby, my record breaking lapse in working out will now be coming to an end. Thanks to Anthony for overcoming his fear of large purchases and Brent who kindly helped him get this elliptical put together in our basement, I will now be able to work out here in the comfort of my own home.
This is soooo great. For starters, the Pilates video was just getting plain boring and the stability ball is just becoming something I really hate dusting. Seriously...the dust just clings to the rubber in a very annoying fashion. Further, I just believe in good old fashioned sweat. My sister says I'm disgusting, but I really feel the need to be completely drenched in sweat after working out in order to feel like I've accomplished something. For at least the 9 years prior to having Addie, I have diligently exercised and it all fell to pieces this past year. The prize was worth it, but it's time to get back on the train. Maybe I can charged admission for use of this bad boy and support my habit! :)

Smiles

It took some hard work to get these smiles today, but I was happy to finally find them. I think Addie must like the camera or something. Of course I was singing the "Doe a Deer" ( I don't know the real name to this song but oddly I can remember the words) song from the Sound of Music while I took these...that generates smiles too. I don't think she smiles cause she likes the song. I think she's laughing at me. Either way, these turned out great and I thought I should share them. The rest of my day has been whining & crying because her face and eyes itch. I finally caved a few hours ago and gave her some medicine which will unfortunately make her sleepy and grumpy, so goodbye smiles for me as well as itch for her.

Funny Adults

Not much to add on these...just my family members being their crazy selves.

Christmas Day Kiddos

Here are a few cute niece and nephew shots. Cutie Emma was quietly trying to sneak away with the baby monitor. She was pretty chill during the craziness. Katie and JD are both enjoying JD's new car here. Probably the best laugh of the day was when Matthew came out strutting his stuff in the Power Rangers costume that Nana bought him. He was so proud of himself. So cute.

Christmas Day

Here we have Addie and Anthony hanging out after we opened our family gifts. Then there is this awesome shot of Amber. I think she was doing a quick hair commercial shot here. The last shot is just the general mayhem of the day.

Christmas Pictures

Here are a few photos from Christmas. The first is Addie playing with Serena. The second is just a silly shot Anthony took with her tongue hanging out. The third is me showing Melissa the sloppy job I did on my Mystic Tan. Emma looks impressed as well. We had a big family photo taken and all the girls got Mystic Tan beforehand. I don't think I ever would have tried it w/o some pushing and it was pretty funny. If we are all orange in the photos it will really make for a funny memory.

Look Mom, No Hands!

Addie and I were so happy to be back at home today! Our travels went as well as possible, but it was still travelling either way. Memorable things of the day:

1) There was a man 2 rows ahead of me who seriously sounded like he was going to die from a cold or something. He was hacking and coughing in the worst way. It was really disgusting. I couldn't help but think about all the germs floating around on the plane.

2) Speaking of germs, Addie created quite a few of her own on the ride from DFW to Cedar Rapids. I won't go into too many details, but I'll give 3 words...poo, turbulence, and new outfit. Okay, that was 4 words. You get my drift. I'm sure the guy in front of the seat I used to clean Addie up had a lot of other "words" for me.

3) For the first time ever, security actually unpacked my entire suitcase and repacked it. Not in front of me, but behind the scenes. Usually there's just a piece of paper that says they checked it, however, this time the entire suitcase had been rearranged. My nice skirts were just wadded up and shoved back in. If anything is missing, I can't tell right now. I'll have a different approach the next time I pack!

Now that I'm back and have access to the photos from Christmas I'll post some good ones. I had to take my work computer, which doesn't have the capability to do photos very well (the ol' IBM Thinkpad is doing well just to run sorry Lotus Notes.)

Trying Again

I thought I'd get smart and make some edits to my previous post and then I lost the video! So, here it is again. :)

Bathtime at Nana's

We are still in Texas so I haven't been blogging in a long time, but my mom took this video of Addie today during her bath and I thought I'd post it for fun. I've never posted a video, so we'll see if the Google -YouTube streamline is any good! This girl has grown out of 1/2 of what I brought for her to wear while we were here...I can't keep up!