Mall Torture

So apparently my daughter doesn't really like Santa Claus. Auntie Kimmy (Addison's "fairy" godmother) & I took Addie to the mall this past Saturday where we were one of the first ones in line to see Santa. Kim coached me while we were waiting, "Just drop her and go". That's what we did. I plopped my trusting daughter in Santa Claus's lap, gave her dress a fluff, and backed up to let the cameras fly. The moment I stepped away, Addie went nuts. My heart is breaking. Kim is doing just fine in the corner yelling, "Keep going!! Keep taking the pictures!!". It was mayhem and it was hilarious. Great picture, isn't it?!?! : ) As if that torture wasn't enough, I decided it was time to get my sweet girls ears pierced. I'm not going to go into great detail, but let's just say that Kim was absolutely adorable and had a harder time than I did with Addie's ear piercing. Addie did great and she looks adorable. I don't know that she'll ever want to go to the mall again, but she looks good. Sometimes you have to sacrifice for fashion, right?!?! At least she enjoyed the singing bears display... Anyway, we're looking forward to Christmas and being able to watch Addison enjoy the holiday season with more understanding than she did last year. She's growing so fast and we just watch her in amazement. She's an amazing girl.

Puppy Dogs & Candy Canes

Cousins

Addie loves her cousins. Cole & Kyleigh are so good with Addie-they are so patient and they include her in so much. She loves to see them come off the bus from school. We've taken some pretty cute pictures in the last few weeks that I just had to share. I love my niece & nephew and am so glad that Addison gets to grow up around them!

After a long day of playing with her cousins, Addie is ready to cuddle up with her Uncle Justin.

Time flies so fast!

I was watching/listening to the presidential debate tonight and decided it was a good time to scroll through some old pictures I have of Addison. I am amazed at how different she looked from when she was an infant. I loved taking a look back and thought I would post a few of my favorites so anyone who happens to stop by could enjoy them too.

Hamburger Heaven

My girl is getting so big. It used to be that I had to cut everything up into small pieces so she could swallow without choking. No longer. Addie loves whole hamburgers. I love watching her eat them. She shakes when she tries to fit her mouth around them...it's hilarious how determined she is to get the thing in her mouth. So, here's to hamburgers and the joy they bring to my Addie (and me too!)

Here's one for you, Amee.

Just wanted to post something new so that Amee Newsome wouldn't give me a hard time on Sunday. : ) We've had lots going on, actually, but no pictures to prove it. Brandon's parents were here this past weekend and we had a great time. We all went down to my parents' house in Roanoke to spend the day on Saturday and thoroughly enjoyed relaxing by the pool. It was nice to spend a day with both my parents and Brandon's. I am so thankful that they all get along so well. I always wanted that...

I am going to stick a picture up here, just because I feel like I should. It's not new, but it's oh so cute. Addie got into her diaper bag and ended up with her hat on and diapers all over. Adorable.

Just Because I Can

I don't know that Justin will love me after I post this, but I simply had to. Justin loves his niece...he is excited to see Addie after work everyday and plays with her as much as his crazy schedule allows. There are times when he gets home from work at 10pm and his first question is "Addie in bed already?" Yes, Uncle Justin...she's been in bed since 7:30pm. She's almost always in bed by 7:30pm. He always so hopeful, like maybe we decided to treat him and have her hiding behind the couch waiting for him to come home. It really is so sweet. SO...I caught one of the cutest things on video the other day and had to share it. Justin had Addie laying on his chest for a good five minutes reading a book (The Belly Button Book, to be specific). I didn't catch most of it, but I'm pretty sure I got the best part. Justin thought I was just taking a picture...sorry, Uncle Justin!

Where did July go?

July was a crazy month...started out with a trip to DC for my friend Ruth's wedding, a two week trip to Georgia without Brandon, and then volleyball camp. Addison has been at grandma's house all month long (two weeks with Grandma Netzel & two weeks with momma at Grandma Lacey's). We have had a great time traveling all over although Brandon missed us terribly. Addie has grown up so much. She says all kinds of stuff now including "Thank You", "Addie", "No Way", and "Good Girl". She is definitely growing a mullet...it curls under at the back of her neck, so I think we're getting away with it. Someone tell me if we're not. : ) Pigtails are always a good option, however, she shrieks like a banshee when I put them in. Oh well...sometimes you have to sacrifice for fashion, right?!

Here are some pics from the month...Addie's first ride on the lawnmower (she wasn't a big fan), went on her first boat rides (she fell asleep the first two times and was enthralled with the wake on the third trip), spent some quality time with Brandon's parents, and played with cousin Brenna and the rest of Brandon's family too. Here's to more fun in August!!!

My Girl and Her Music!

Two posts in one day! I'm impressed with myself!

One-Year Old Pictures

I should have done this a few weeks ago. Addison had her one-year old pictures taken recently (thank you Christy Brenning!) and I love how they turned out! Addison is so beautiful (biased as I am) and her presence in our lives remind me of just how blessed we are. Brandon tells me every night after he checks on Addison just how beautiful our daughter is. I am reminded every day to be thankful for such an amazing gift!

Happy Birthday, Addison!!!

My little girl is one year old...no longer a baby, she is a toddler with a world waiting for her to explore. She has transformed our lives completely and we will never be the same. Addison has brought so much joy to Brandon and I. Neither of us can get over just how much she looks like her daddy or how quickly she became the center of our lives. She is beautiful in every sense of the word. Her laughter lights up a room and her chubby little thighs make us want to hold her and squeeze her forever. Her endless chatter makes us wonder what thoughts are going on inside her little head. She claps for herself after blowing a kiss, she dances with her little behind sticking out, she "sings" in her own little way. She is absolutely amazing. She loves music. She loves books. She loves to eat. She fights sleep. She entertains herself...I often hear her "talking" to her toys in her crib. She loves her daddy. Brandon gets all her attention when he walks in the door from work. She giggles and belly-laughs and runs away from him in an attempt to get him to chase her. She has the most beautiful blue eyes and a hairline I hope she grows out of. :) She has the cutest lips that often cover the little gap in her front two teeth. I love her smile. I love her laugh. I love the little strawberries on her arm and back...I'm almost disappointed that they will go away. I'm sure she won't be. She is such an amazing gift and I am so thankful that God has entrusted her to Brandon and I. We pray for her salvation every day. We pray that God fills her with His Spirit. We pray that God would make us into the parents that she needs and that He's called us to be. We are so grateful for her. We're grateful for those of you who were able to come and celebrate her life with us. Thank you for being a part of her life and coming alongside us as we raise her. Thank You, God, for such a precious gift!!!

The First of The Blowouts

I thought I would make it through the first year without any diaper blowouts. I really was so close. Only one week to go...and then...the inevitable happened. More than once I might add. I don't know what I fed Addison that made her digestive system goes crazy, but apparently I fed her quite a bit of it. It began yesterday afternoon while Cheryl and Kyleigh were over. I was so glad other people were there to witness the event. Addison toddled over to Kyleigh who immediately noticed the smell. I picked Addie up only to notice a foreign substance on her leg...and her foot...and her clothes. DISGUSTING!!! She had even overflowed onto the floor! I think I stared at my sister Cheryl for a moment like the situation would remedy itself. She took the situation in stride and directed me to take Addie upstairs and put her right into the tub. Good directions. I have since followed it a few more times. Fortunately, none of the subsequent occurrences were as bad as the first. We have changed crib sheets and outfits a few times, but Addie has been feeling a bit better over the past two days. I'm thinking maybe it was the eggs I fed her...Eggs for breakfast tomorrow??? Not for a good long while.

Fallen Hero

I'm heading to Colorado on Monday to attend the funeral of Mark Rosenberg...a fallen hero who served with the United States Army. Please keep his wife (Julie) and his two sons (Joshua age 3 & Maxwell age 2) in your prayers. This event reminds me of just how many of our men are in harm's way as they fight to ensure our freedom. We must never forget to keep them in our prayers. I am so grateful for the battle they fight. Let's not forget the families they leave behind...all are heroes. God bless you, Julie. You have made such a sacrifice, my friend, and I don't know how to express the sorrow I feel for your loss. I love you.

Finally!

I am so excited to be able to say that we finally have some really
good pictures of Addison! Her three month pictures were a
disaster and her six months never materialized, so I made her
nine month pictures a priority. I'm so glad I did! My little girl
is so beautiful and I am so thankful for her. She is such a happy
baby...smiling all the time. I am so blessed. I can't believe she's
10 months old already...only two more months and she'll be
a year old!

Visit from Grandma and Grandpa Lacey

We had a wonderful time with Grandma and Grandpa Lacey this past week. We hadn't seen Grandma since Christmas and she was quite impressed with Addison's growth and development. Grandpa Lacey came up two weeks ago and just had to bring Grandma up so she could see their little girl. Addison absolutely loved having them here and she definitely ate up all the extra attention! We even got an extra surprise when Brandon's cousin, Jenny, and her family made a last minute stop to see us! It was a packed weekend, but it was wonderful. We are thankful for our family!!!

So THAT'S why she's miserable!

After visiting the doctor yesterday, we were told that Addison's nose and lungs are fine, but she has a double ear infection! I didn't see that one coming at all! I thought baby's were supposed to pull on their ears when they hurt...nope, not my baby. We went to the doctor's for a stuffy nose and a bad cough and came home with medicine for her ears. Just when I thought I had this little girl pretty well figured out...

Stuffy Noses and Sore Gums

Addie is definitely teething! She's got three more teeth coming in right now (add those to the two she already has) and she is absolutely miserable. We've spent quite a few wakeful nights together telling those teeth to hurry up. : ) It looks like she should have four bottom teeth and one of her top teeth by the time all this is over. To make matters worse, she has a horrible cough that we're getting checked out at the doctor's today. So, my little sweet pea is getting lots of extra love and attention this week as we try to get through this ordeal.

What a Mess!

Last night I made ziti for the family. Addie got her first meal with spaghetti sauce...enough said!

Addison's First Christmas

I'm in trouble already

So my good friend Leigh Carroll emailed me and gave me trouble for only having one picture on my blog. SO...I put a few more pictures up of our recent trip to Colorado to see my friend Elizabeth and her husband Kevin. So, Leigh, I hope you're happy!

Just for Grandma Lacey

Mom,
This is the video we took last weekend when Dad was here. We love you!

Life in Lynchburg

I've been wanting to do this for awhile and here I am!!! This is my attempt to keep family and friends updated on our family. The last nine months have been a wild ride. At this point in our lives, we are living back in Lynchburg (VA), working on the purchase of a local business, and watching our little girl grow up much too quickly. Addison is now nine months old, has 2.5 teeth, and is working on walking. She has taken her first steps, and is working on putting all of her new skills together. She took five steps toward her Uncle Justin on Wednesday and both Brandon and I were there to see it.

Life in Lynchburg is pretty hectic right now. Brandon is working hard every day and we are negotiating for the purchase of a business and the beginning of a new life for us. It has been an emotional ordeal so far and we're nowhere near the end of the buy-out process, but we have made progress. Please keep us in your prayers as we follow what we believe is God's will for our lives. I'll try to keep the blog updated as things develop.

I've got to go pick my niece up from school, so I'm going to run with one final thought: I am so thankful for our family and friends. I am looking forward to using this blog as another way to be involved in each other's lives. God bless.