On the Move!!! :-) A couple new firsts........

Addison at her first Twins game, wearing her May hat!
Addison in her summer clothes!
Addison playing with Riloh
"Look where I ended up mommy!" A perfect hiding spot!
I spoon feed myself!!!
Thank you Emily for the adorable summer skirt!
No shirt and jeans....just like my daddy!

It is definitely time to update the blog.......as the last week and a half have been full of new "firsts" for Addison!

Addison started crawling in the evening on May 25th. I had just met a friend for a play date, and was telling her how Addie was "so close" to crawling....when she suddenly transitioned to four point, and the next thing I knew she was slowly moving across the floor towards her cell phone! We couldn't believe it! The next two days she would very slowly crawl for short distances to retrieve toys that were nearby..... Now, just a few days later, she is moving much more quickly and really getting the hang of it! She is so proud!!! (and of course we are too!)

Addison pulled to stand for the first time on May 28th! She crawled across the floor, as daddy and I cheered for her.......she reached her music table, pulled up on to her knees, and the next thing we knew she was standing on her own playing! So cute and so exciting! The problem was she had no idea how to get down....so "plop"....she landed on her bottom! Oops! I guess she'll eventually figure out this part too!

We took Addison to her first baseball game on May 28th. Daddy and I decided to walk down and scalp tickets about ten minutes before the game started. Addie was the good luck charm and cheered the Twins on to a 1-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels! She was a popular fan in her "May hat." (see picture!)

Other highlights of the last week and a half were a bbq at our place with our friends, Jessie/Brett, Jesse/Kristin and Riloh; several playdates with Stacy/William, Ali/Levi, Kristin/Riloh; a couple runs with mommy and a couple of her friends; a trip with Annie to her preschool for a graduation and story time; Addison "feeding herself" yogurt with a spoon for dinner one night (she has started to protest being spoon fed-and wants to use her hands for everything!); and lots of time playing outside!

Unfortunately, we lost a very close family friend, Lucille, over the last couple weeks. We will be traveling home to Indy for the funeral in mid-June. Luckily Addie was able to meet her over Christmas when were home, and we took some beautiful photos of the two of them. Although Addie will not have the memories of her that we will cherish forever, Addison will learn to love her and "remember" her through all of the stories we share with her throughout the years ahead.

This week Addison and mommy are traveling to NC for a few days to hang out at the beach with mommy's best friends from college and their little ones! We will also get to visit with Nana and Papa at the end of the trip. Looking forward to it! Mommy got a new cell phone...so daddy will get to see lots of fun clips and pics from the beach! :-)

More activity, Less sleep!

(pic: playtime after bath time)
(pic: "hi mom!")
(pic: four point-i can move backwards and in circles...but not yet forward!)
(pic: standing at our music table-we love standing!)
(pic: all clean after bath time!)

It has been a fun couple of weeks in the Twin Cities! Beautiful weather and lots of time to enjoy the sunshine!

Addie's highlights of the last week and a half include: a couple play dates with Stacy and William (including a several hour trek to Lake of the Isles....lunch outside, playtime, a walk and a nap while mommy got to sunbathe!), a play date with Stacy/William, Ali/Levi outside one afternoon, a get together with mommy's friend Jen-lunch in the park and a long walk, a dinner/play date with Ana, Chris and Benjamin (Benjamin loved the playground and feeding Wally his dinner!), a few hours spent with our new nanny Molly (who starts with us mid-July for a couple months)!

The crib is officially lowered and Addison is getting up on her hands/knees and rocking, transitioning between sitting/four point often, scooting backwards across the floor, enjoying standing at the ottoman or music table (one or two handed for brief periods), pushing up in to plank position (hands and feet). She is not officially crawling....but finding her way to move around much more each day.

Addison has been experimenting quite a bit with finger foods, and doing a great job feeding herself! The problem is that the boring puree blends aren't so exciting anymore...so mommy/daddy have to find ways to fit in a few bites for additional nutrition between the self-feedings. I am in the process of researching more soft finger foods to continue adding additional things to her diet in this new form!

The difficult thing lately has been SLEEP! (or lack thereof).... Addison is still a fantastic napper-goes down when she is put down awake in her crib, and sleeps two times a day for 1-1 and a 1/2 hours. She also goes down great at night. The problem is that she has begun to awaken each night 1-2 times and is pretty much inconsolable without being nursed! Ugh! I can't tell if she is just hungrier with all of this new movement or what! Hopefully we can get this straightened out sooner rather than later. I have tried letting her cry a little, but after 30 minutes or so, I'd rather just feed her.....then she goes down again great! Hmmmm......

We are excited to have found a new nanny for mid-July through September, Molly! She is a friend's sister, and seemed to enjoy Addie quite a bit on Sunday afternoon when she watched her! Addison did great....seems like the stranger anxiety might be improving! We are still on the search for a new nanny for the Fall...but have had a couple good leads....thank goodness!

Daddy returns tonight from a four day trip to Boston for fellowship interviews....looking forward to seeing him again....he sure misses his little girl! :-) Mommy is back to work tomorrow for four days....another fun daddy weekend for Addie!

Enjoy the couple pics from the last week! And a video (late post from our Indy trip!)

Trip to Indy!! :-)

We just returned to Minneapolis after a wonderful week in Indy visiting family! Addison's highlights of the trip include: flying on an airplane for her 3rd round trip; treking to southern Indiana to shop the outlets and have lunch with Courtney and her two girls, Molly and Gabby; visiting the Indianapolis Children's Museum with mommy and daddy; spending lots of fun playtime with Opa and Jojo (giggling, playing boo!, patting Opa's head); harassing Lager just like Wally (he was a trooper and took it well); playing at Nanny's house with her dancing chicken and bunny; sitting outside and feeling the grass; eating out at restaurants with the entire family-dinners and brunch; bathing in a "pioneer tub"-silver bathtub; attending the Decorator's Show House with mommy, Jojo and Nanny; enjoying brunch out with mommy, grandma, and great-grandma (and daddy and Opa) for Mother's Day; having dinner at Nanny's with the extended family for Mother's Day; enjoying some nice walks/runs with the family!

Addison is now 8 months old! She has two teeth...both on the bottom; although the upper teeth appear to be approaching the surface as well). She is still not crawling, but gets in to four point regularly and rocks back and forth, and backwards. She also scoots all over the floor and in circles reaching for toys from her belly. Just a couple days ago she started exploring the thought of pulling to stand...she has been reaching up to ottomans and tables, but isn't quite able to complete this task on her own. She is very pleased when we help her though! Today she lifted herself up on her feet leaning over her music table and lunged forward on to her belly....poor girl! Each day is full of exploration and learning! Addison is wearing all 9 month clothes now.....and feeling heavier each day (quite a load now!) We have started some additional finger foods (in addition to her long-time favorite now, the mum-mum teething biscuits)! We have tried scrambled egg yolk, banana and melon pieces! With a little help, she is enjoying this new form of eating in addition to her boring puree blends.

Daddy, Addie and my parents treated me to a wonderful 1st mother's day.......and two amazing gifts!! My parents are paying for a professional house clean and Noah is signing Addie and I up for music class this summer!! So excited about both!

What a great trip to Indy......we loved it!!! :-)

Enjoy pics from the last week!