The Rest of Christmas Day

After our house, we spent the day at Mom & Dad's. Nathan made everyone breakfast for lunch--he makes some delicious pancakes! That evening, we had dinner with my Aunt, Uncle & cousin.
This was the first year in MANY years that we were able to open presents on Christmas Day at Mom & Dad's house. The only thing missing was Trent...


Trent couldn't come home from NYC this year, so we did Christmas with him via Skype. Don't you love technology!

Toy piano from Uncle Lucas & Uncle Trent...

"Cars" pillow made by Grams...

Isn't she cute?!

A rare picture of Nathan & I

Our family, minus Trent, Dylan & Addison. Yes, it is Christmas Day... Yes, Nathan is wearing shorts. Gotta LOVE Atlanta weather! (:

Christmas Morning

The day started at our house...

Stockings...

Addison with Minnie Mouse--from Uncle Tim & Aunt Carrie...

Drums and other musical instruments from Mommy & Daddy. Uncle Lucas would be proud!

Happy girl in her cute Christmas dress and tights...

Kickin' back in his new Cars chair from Aunt Cindy & Uncle Doug...

Playing with his new "Mack" toy...

A matching game for Dylan, with Big 12 stuff for Daddy (: -- from Aunt Martha & Uncle Jim...

A quilt made my Dylan's very talented Aunt Carrie.

A blanket/bunny from Aunt Martha & Uncle Jim, and a rattle from Grandmama & Grandpa Jim.

Christmas Eve

After having dinner with Grams, Grandpa Mick, and Uncle Lucas, we spent the rest of the evening at our house. We started a tradition of opening a gift of new pj's on Christmas Eve, to be worn to bed that night. Then we read the Christmas story from the new kids Bible we bought Addison & Dylan. And finally, Nathan & Dylan made snacks for Santa and his reindeer. For some reason, Dylan's favorite reindeer is Dasher.


Of course, Dylan's pj's are from the Cars movie.


Little Miss has been sick with a cold... she doesn't look too hot here.


Reading the Christmas Story.


Getting food ready for Santa

Already on the Move

Since Addison was 5-6 weeks old, I feel like we've been so busy keeping her from crying or trying to get her to sleep, that we've had very little time to just enjoy her. Well, the time is finally here.

She has a really strong neck and doesn't mind tummy time at all anymore. In fact, the other day, I laid her down for tummy time, looked away for a minute, and when I looked back, she was on her back. Pretty certain it was an accident, but technically, she rolled over for the first time! (: She really might be getting close to doing it on purpose though. If she just figures out how to tuck her arm, she'll be doing it. Hard to believe.


She's drawing her legs up under her and figuring out how to scoot around. She turned a full 90 degrees last night! I'm starting to remember that when Dylan reached 3 mos., every stage became more and more fun. Let the fun begin!!


She can hold her neck by herself when you lift her by her hands from laying down to sitting up.

At last!!!!!

After surviving many loooooong days, some long nights, and many tears, I finally have a baby that will sleep during the day without any fuss!!! I owe it all to "Babywise." Although, I've known about Babywise for a few years, I thought she was too young, especially with all that she'd been through with reflux and colic. However, I finally reached the point where the normal ways to soothe her to sleep weren't even working anymore. She just cried and didn't sleep no matter what. It was pretty horrible, honestly.

So, on Tuesday night, I decided to give Babywise a try, seeing as I'd tried EVERYTHING else anyway. Wednesday was a very long day. Except for eating and play times, she cried for the majority of the day. Yesterday was much improved! Her first nap, she cried for only 5 min.; second nap for 20 min.; third nap for 5 min; and since then, NO CRYING AT ALL!!!! I can literally put her down with no rocking or anything, and she'll fall asleep on her own. Literally, a miracle! Plus, yesterday she still wouldn't sleep for longer than 40-50 minutes--I think she kept waking up hungry (my supply must have been down after all the stress). This morning however, she slept for 2 1/2 hours--hello!!! (:

I can't tell you how ecstatic and relieved I am. We both have a LOT of sleep to catch up on! She's been over tired her entire life. (: Poor girl.

I attempted to wake her last night for one last feeding, but she wouldn't rouse. So, I took the opportunity to show you proof of my sleeping sweetheart. Isn't she so cute?! (She definitely still likes to be swaddled!)

3 Months Old

Addison turned 3 months old yesterday! She weighs 14 lbs now!!! A full 2 pounds gained in only 1 month. Wow!! She's very healthy and developing right on schedule. Hopefully in one more month, she'll be much better at daytime napping. But for now, I'll enjoy her nights--she sleeps anywhere from 5 hours between feedings, up to 11.5 hours. I got two 11 hour nights in a row this week! We're on our way!

Oh and my cousin gave me a tip for putting bows in her hair--Tacky Glue! I was a little skeptical at first, but it works! It doesn't irritate her head and it stays in well. Now she really looks like a girl!


Hanging out with big brother Dylan. Anytime she sees Dylan, she smiles really big! The feeling is mutual; they definitely enjoy each other.


They really do get along well, but this picture makes it look like Addison is punching him. (:


A rare occurrence... sleeping during the day!


She's so chunky that her tummy time pictures make her cheeks look especially big.



She can now hold onto her toys and shake them a bit. As you can see, she's very happy about it!


Her first time in the high chair. Now, when we're eating, she can join in.


She does nap well when she's laying in someone's arms. I love how her belly is hanging out in this picture.

Her 3 month green chair picture. She'd been smiling a lot right before I brought out the camera. I guess I missed my opportunity; but it does look like she's waving.

No interrupting

I'm working with Dylan on learning that you have to wait your turn to talk, and when Mommy and Daddy are talking, you can't interrupt. (Not an easy thing for a kid to learn who LOVES to talk--and of course, every kid his age believes the world revolves around them).

So, tonight we had my parents over for dinner, and I was answering a question someone asked. Dylan, of course, wanted to talk too. So, I asked him not to interrupt and said he needed to wait his turn to talk. Dylan then turned to Nathan and said, "Ok. I'll just talk to you."

Classic Dylan.

What does a 2 1/2 year old do, you ask?...

Pick up leaves from the yard and make a beautiful leaf bouquet...


Browse the internet on a laptop...


Find an empty bird nest, put a cricket in it, and feed the cricket "lettuce"...

Take very good care of the cricket in the nest; keep him warm with a leaf blanket...

Paint your entire body after using the water colors on the paper...

Find even more intricate and interesting ways to line up your car collection...

Sport a very cute sweater that mommy's friend gave you...

Sit and suck your thumb while Mommy takes your 2 1/2 year green chair picture...

Figure out a way to get what you want...

(This is Dylan's "disappointed face." He can do it on command. He didn't get something once and started making this face--trying to evoke some compassion from me. I just started smiling, & laughing a little, and he knew that I had him figured out. So, he then started laughing really hard, after having been "found out." It was very funny!)

Pose with your little sister for pictures...

And more pictures...

Help your Daddy blow out his birthday candles...

Help decorate the Christmas tree...

Crawl under the Christmas tree...

Write out your Christmas list to Santa Clause...

Get your list ready to be mailed to Santa Clause...

Two and a half... what a life!

Where is the time going...

I don't know what exactly we've been doing (besides generally keeping up with a baby and a 2 year old), but I have not had any time online lately. I'll try to post some pics soon.

We had a great time over Thanksgiving. Nearly my entire family (brothers, grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins, their kids) all came to visit us and my parents. It was insane sometimes (which is typical of my family anyway) but a lot of fun! Lots of shopping, lots of games, and lots of eating. A perfect Thanksgiving, right? Plus, my family thought Dylan was a riot, which he is, of course. They couldn't believe that such adult things were coming from a sweet little boy's voice.

Both the kids have colds--it's that time of year again. And today, Dylan woke up early from his nap crying. When I checked on him I could tell he didn't look well. So I said, "You don't feel well, do you, buddy?" He said no. Then I asked him what hurts; he said his ear. So, headed to the doctor this afternoon and he has a pretty bad double ear infection. Poor guy! It is GREAT that he's to the age where he can tell you what's wrong. What a trooper!

And one more funny Dylan story:
On the way home from the doctor, he had apparently just told me something (which I was too distracted to listen to the answer). So, later when I asked him the same question, he patiently gave me the answer and then said, "I just told you that, Mommy." Gotta love getting called out by your two-year old. (:

Little Miss Blue Eyes

Addison has so many cute outfits, I feel like I need to change her twice a day, so she can wear them before outgrowing them! I'm already loving having a girl!!

Not sure why this pic keeps loading sideways, but I'm posting it anyway. Her smile is so cute... hope you can tell with your head tilted. (:

What a little chunker! She's been wearing 3-6 mo. clothing for the past 2-3 weeks!

This was Addison's 2 month green chair picture. Not the best pic, but gives you an idea of her size compared to the chair. At her 2 month appointment last week, she was 12 lbs, 4 oz (90th percentile) and 22.5 inches (50th percentile).

Ready to go for a ride!

Well, it looks like Addison is going to have blue eyes... unlike Dylan, Nathan or I. Her eyes are still a really dark blue, but definitely blue. I think her hair will be light too, but it's hard to tell yet how light.

This is a video of her in a very good mood! Except for a few occassions, she's a much happier baby right now. We increased her medicine and her naps... much better so far! It should only keep getting better as she gets older.