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.