Addie 8 months- Christmas

Addie opening up one of her big gifts from mommy and daddy. She loves it. she loves to get the letters out of the second train car!

Playing with her new toy

Daddy and Addie on Christmas

Yeah a Colts cheer leading outfit from Uncle Mitch, Aunt Lorissa and Matty!

with her aunt and uncle

With Grammie and Matty!

Yeah! A present from Aunt Joan and Uncle Joe... she loves it! (she stood herself up on the box all by herself)

Christmas morning with mommy and daddy....she just woke up!

With Great Grandpa on Christmas Eve... she was so tired.

After visiting Santa

With Mama...waiting for Santa to come.

With Santa (aka Uncle Tony)

Harrison and Addie showing off they can crawl!

With Santa (aka Grandpa) she loves those bells

Harrison and Addie with Santa

waiting for Santa to come out. They are such good babies.

Addie stole Harrison's toy.

Addie trying to stand up on a present.

With Grandma

with grandpa

December 20th- Today we celebrated Christmas with Aunt Joan, Uncle Joe, Grammie and Gramps. We had lots of fun and Addie started to show off her crawling skills, but didn't get to far as she just wanted to be held alot.

When we got home, she crawled forward for the first real time (stomach off the ground and moving all four limbs correctly)!!! It was a huge accomplishment. We are so proud of her!!!

December 21st and 22nd- I worked half days in the office and Jeremy was home and Addison and daddy got to have father daughter time. It's funny because when its just me and Addie, we are usually showered no later than 9am. Now with daddy watching Addie, she was still in her PJ"s on Monday and Tuesday, Addie was dressed, but not daddy. It cracks me up on the difference in routines.

December 23rd- Today we had our Christmas celebration with Grandma, Grandpa, Adam, Elizabeth and Harrison. Addie showed off her crawling skills and got to meet Santa (aka Grandpa). She did so good and isn't afraid at all of Santa. She just wanted Santa's bells, again! Addie enjoyed all of her gifts and we can't wait to open up all of her toys and wash all of her clothes!

December 24th- We had Jeremy's family big Christmas today. Addie was such a trooper being out of her routine and not on her nap schedule. I am so proud of her. She did great waiting for Santa and she was spoiled again from the aunts and uncles.

December 25th- Today we had Christmas at our house with my side of the family. Mitch, Lorissa, Matty and my parents were here to celebrate with us. Again, Addie was spoiled. She showed off her crawling moves and got lots and lots of kisses from everyone.

December 29th- We celebrated Jeremy's mom's bday today. We started by going out to lunch with her and Addison did so good in the restaurant. She can feed herself really good and I've been trying to give her foods that are finger friendly for her. I did try and give her banana's pieces the other day but they were too slippery for her. After lunch, Jeremy, me and Addie went to the mall and did a little shopping. Again, Addie did so good in the mall. She is just so patient and content. We got home and then it was time to head over to Jeremy's parents house to have pizza and cake. Addie ate really good there and she also had lots of smiles and was playing with Grandma and Grandpa. However it was getting past her bedtime and she let us know that she wasn't having anymore of it and we left. I've tried to keep her on her schedule, but its been hard over the holidays.

December 31st- Today we went up to my parents house and my parents cooked dinner for us. Addie did really good until it came time for a nap and she just wanted to stay up and she fought it.

January 1- Well Jeremy and I broke the cardinal rule.... Addie was up alot last night (thanks to the fireworks in the neighborhood) and then she was just not sleeping good. We think she is teething. So at 1 in the morning I brought her into bed with us... I know I know. Horrible of me to do this, but we just needed some sleep. She slept good then with being close to me and I actually got a little bit of sleep.

We all stayed in our PJ's today. It was a lazy day in the house. We were visited by Grandma, Grammie and Gramps today! What a day to spend New Year's!!!

So we are starting to get a snow storm. Jeremy and I went out at 9:30 at night and shoveled the driveway... we probably have about 12-14 inches now.

January 2- Addie did alot better tonight with sleeping. She only got up twice, which was a major improvement from the previous night.

So Addie is all over crawling and pulling herself up on everything. She isn't walking yet, but she loves to pull herself up on things. She is constantly sticking out her tongue and feeling her bottom gums... we think there is a tooth. Her gums are bumpy and swollen, but no tooth that you can see yet.

January 3rd- So at 2:30 in the morning her monitor went off and I was letting her talk it out, but then I heard some giggles out of her (which is unusual) so after 15 minutes, I went into her room and to my surprise she was standing in her crib and looking at me. It scared the crap out of me. She was ready to play and wide awake. Needless to say I was awake but no playing time allowed when its night time. I was with her for about 30 minutes and then she finally went back to sleep and slept until 8:15 in the morning... that was a shocker for us. I couldn't believe it.

Our usual day/night routine consists of-

6:30 wake up- nurse and then a nap until 7:45-8ish.

8:15 ish- time for cereal

9:45-10:00- 30 minute nap

11:00- lunch time

12:00- 30-45 minute nap

2:30-3:00- snack time then nap

5:00-5:15- dinner time

6:00-6:30 night night

Today was taking down the Christmas tree and me finally breaking down and realizing that the front room of the house is going to be Addie's toy room. She got lots of toys at Christmas and since she is crawling and all over the place might as well let her have fun with all of her toys too!

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Addie is now in 3rd foods. She really likes Chicken Noodle, Mac & Cheese, and Chicken & rice. She loves her fruits and yogurt melts. She can go to town with her pincer fingers and prefers the yogart melts to her puffs.

She now says Mama and Bob!

Since Jeremy and I have been on vacation we have wanted to sleep in. So when she gets up at 6:30. I've been bringing her to our bedroom and putting her in bed and letting her play. Well she eventually falls asleep but not without talking to daddy and slapping his face and grabbing him. It's hilarious when he wants to sleep. I have the TV on, just want to stay in bed and relax a bit before we get up. I thinks its funny, but Jeremy not so much since he still wants to sleep.

She likes to pretend she is in jail. We have now put up baby gates and she immediately crawls towards them and she shakes them like she wants out, but she is just having fun.

When I have her in the kitchen with me (it's tile) and she bounces/scoots across the floor. It's hilarious to watch. She also likes to surf too on the floor along with crawling.

She likes the blue light on the DVDR player. She likes the carbon monoxide detectors in the hallway. She gets distracted when she crawls from her bedroom to ours.

Addie 6.5- 7.5 months

November 9th- Addie and I visited Grandpa Swartz and Uncle Jim today. We met Grandma over there and it was a great visit. I forgot the camera though so I have to take it next time. Uncle Jim gave Addison her first China Tea Set. It is just so adorable. I can't wait for her to try out when she is old enough to handle glass.

November 10th- Addie got her first set of school pics back and they are so awesome. They were worth every penny! I will have to scan in the pic and post on here. Tonight for dinner, we let Addison choose peas or green beans and she chose green beans. I don't think she liked them that much. I also gave her some banana with it and she downed the banana but wasn't too thrilled on the green beans. I think she is going to be a fruit girl just like her mommy. At least she is consistent with how she was when she was in my tummy. I loved all the fruits during pregnancy.

Grammie came over and brought us dinner tonight! Addie just gives her the biggest smile and starts kicking those legs when she sees Grammie. I just love it!

November 11th- Today we went over to Grandpa's again and took her school pics to him. Adam, Elizabeth, Harrison and Jeremy's mom met us there. We were able to get pics of Addison and Harrison with great grandpa.

November 14th- So we met up with Dr. Molly today. I am so happy that Addie got to meet one of her Saint Mary's aunts. Dr. Molly is going to be a pediatrician and can't wait for that because Addie will have her own personal doctor! It was cute when we were at lunch, Molly checked out her head and made sure was nice and healthy. It was nice to know that we have our own personal doc for Addison.

November 15th- Today Addie went shopping and she picked out her Christmas tree with the help from mommy and daddy. I wanted to bring her up with my tradition of a real tree but Jeremy and I both dislike putting lights on the tree so I buckled and said ok... time for the artificial tree.

November 18th- I had to work today on one of my days that I am not in the office and Grandma watched Addie. We got a good report that Addison did really good for her. Grandma loves to sing to her and Addie just loves it.

November 19th- I also had to work today too and Grammie watched Addie. We are very lucky that both grandma's were able to watch Addison and take time off from work.

November 20th- Tonight we went out Polito's for dinner with Charlie, Rebecca, Matt and Melissa. It was Addie's first time sitting in a high chair in a restaurant. she did really good but as it got close to bedtime she was fading, which thank goodness it was towards the end of dinner.

November 21st- Grandpa saw Addie - I picked him up for going to the game with Jeremy.

November 22nd- Grammie and Gramps came over and visited with us.



November 26th - We celebrated Thanksgiving at Grammie and Gramps house. Addie's first big holiday and Grammie was so excited. She wanted everything to be perfect for Addie. She has her own room at Grammies, own high chair, own clothes and toys and bed too! Addie tried white potatoes for the first time and she wasn't too thrilled about it. She seems to have daddy's taste and she loves sweet potatoes, but doesn't like white potatoes.....yet anyway! We celebrated Gramps birthday too on Thanksgiving too. After we were done at Grammie and Gramps' house, we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house. It was late and we wanted to see everyone, but now have learned that Addison's schedule doesn't allow for that. She wasn't very happy as it was getting close to bedtime and I don't want to take her out of her routine. She was so tired. TO me, routines are very very important and I want it stay that way! In the future, we will only do one house for visiting.



December 6th- Today we went to see Santa (aka Gramps) he played Santa for the church and Grammie was Mrs. Claus. It was so cute. Addie went straight to Santa and all she wanted to do was ring those bells. It was her first pic with Santa and I am so happy it was with a Santa and Mrs. Claus that she knew!



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Ok funny story... Addie has this little piano toy and Grammie calls it "Addie play us a concert time" so it has now turned into Grammie wanting to buy Addie a baby grand piano. I said NO. We shall see what happens in the future.



Addison crawls backwards!!! She has mastered this in the bathroom when I am taking a bath. She is all over the floor. She even loves the door stopper thing! She has even managed to get it loose.



She now has started to pull herself up on things and we have lowered her mattress. She pulls herself up to her knees and just looks at you like "look what I did". I just love that look on her.





Her new sleeping positions are in the corner of the crib and also she manages to get herself perpendicular in her crib. She doesn't like that one too much so we have to move her.



She doesn't like peas or green beans and who can blame her. I am not forcing them down her. If she doesn't like it she doesn't like it. I've tried a few times and the only way I get them down her is if I sneak them in while I am feeding her something else, but then I get the look and she spits it back out. So it's ok.




She has learned to clap her hands now!!




She also knows how to use her pincer finger. She is better with her right hand than her left, but she works at both! She loves the sweet potato star puffs. It is just so cute to watch her feed herself! Such a big girl!!!

Addie turns 6 months

Harrison and Addison
Grandpa and Grandma with Addie
momma with Addie
Addie strikin a pose
BOO!
Addie is always happy to be with daddy!
Grammie me and Addie celebrating my 31st
Addie passed out on Grammie during the ND vs BC game
Addie playing with Gramps on the floor
Gramps and Grammie playing with Addie
Addie outside playing in the leaves
Russeau and Addie--- she put her hand on him
Bob checking out Addie and the blanket
Riley giving Addie kisses... she always does
Addie- 6 month pic
Grandpa and Addie
Grandma and Addie
Addie fed herself carrots..... she didn't do to bad with the spoon and her mouth.




Hayden and Addie at her first volleyball game

Debbie, Nancy and Addie. We are teaching Addie all about volleyball

October 17th- This morning, Addie had carrots for the first time. She is still getting used to the spoon and everything. She likes to grab for the bowl and I let her. She had more carrots on her face, hands and bib than I think she got in her mouth!

Today was the USC ND game... Jeremy's mom came over and watched Addison while Jeremy, Adam, my dad and me went to the game. Grandma said Addie did really good with her cereal.

October 18th- Today my mom and I did a shopping spree for my birthday and also one for Addie! Jeremy stayed home with Addie and they had a fun father/daughter afternoon. These are so important as I have my mother/daughter time with my mom and daughter so it is nice for him to spend time with his baby girl. I hope he carries on this tradition throughout their lives and I can only hope that they will have that special bond as I do with my dad. I am sure this will be tested when she is said "no" to for the first time, when she wants to use that credit card and gets in trouble (we all know she is my daughter for that one) and then the first time she needs advice...

So on our shopping spree, Addie got lots more clothes (she got some Christmas dresses that we couldn't pass up) she got some learning toys from exploration toys too.

October 19th- Today we celebrated Elizabeth's birthday. We left early because Addie's bedtime is at 7:00 now and she was getting tired. We didn't get home until 7:30 and she was ready for bed. She slept until 7:30 in the morning. She seems to sleep in on the days I have to work!

October 20th- Today was Addie's 6 month birthday. She had a great day at daycare as the past few weeks have been tough for her and me. I was struggling and ready to hire a nanny or just quit work because she was just crying at daycare and I wasn't having a good feeling about the director as she said some very hurtful things to me. That doesn't settle well with a new mom and of course I think I am doing my best as a mom. I know daycare has pros and cons but I look at it that she is only there for 17 hours a week out of 168 hours. Not bad. However it only takes a second to change your life forever.

Anyway... Addie had her first school pictures taken today. I can't wait to see what they turn out like. I am so excited. I sent her in a cute poodle dress!!!

So when we got home I fed her some carrots and she went to town on them. I had to open up a second container! Thank goodness its bathtime tomorrow because she got some in her hair today! Addie fell asleep at 5:45pm woke up at 6:30.. then out again until 8:20 and then out until 4 in the morning. I got up nursed her and then she was out until 7:10 this morning. What a little sleeper!

Addie is now wearing size 3 diapers

I think she is left hand dominate right now. She grabs for her spoon and bowl more with her left hand then her right. She plays with her toys with both hands so it will be interesting to see in the next few months which one it will be!

October 21st- On our scale she weighed in at 19.5 pounds.... we shall see what she is on the 28th when we go to the doc for shots. We had a shopping trip today as we went to Target and Martin's. I picked up lots of stuff at Target for her and she already started to play with her new toy. We also did a photo shoot out in the back yard since it was so nice outside today. She was more interested in following the dogs then posing for me today, but we still had fun!

October 22nd- Today Addie and I went to the mall.... Mommy had an agenda. I decided to check out Picture People to see if they had an opening. They did so we went for it. I called Jeremy to see if he could join us and he did. Addie was all smiles and did so good. The photographer had lots of compliments for Addie and just said she had the best smile and was just so cute (hey it worked for sales....) Jeremy had to leave and go back to work and I was left to pick out the pictures.... big mistake. I am a sucker and I ended up getting the CD with the pics on it. I only wanted to spend $100 but spent triple and plus I need to order the pics now because I only have the CD with pics on it. With my first time I didn't know how many pics to get and I liked all the poses so I just went for it. Jeremy was very understanding and let me do it.

We will be using one of the pics as our Christmas card so for those of you who follow the blog will see the pic again!

October 23rd- Addie went to bed at 6:08pm tonight and didn't wake up until 7:25 in the morning. I am thinking a growth spurt right now, but not sure.

October 24th- We gave Addie banana's for the first time today. She did pretty good with them. She likes to feed herself and I let her. It's messy but she likes it!

Today my parents came over to watch the ND Boston College game with me. It is great to have company on the weekends when Jeremy is at the games and its great too that Addie gets to be with my parents and have some fun and be spoiled!

Tonight, Addie went to bed at 6:00 again and slept until 6:45 in the morning. After the game and when Jeremy got home, I went to CJ's to have dinner with Pam and her parents. Pam then spent the night and got to spend time with Addie too! We are super excited and can't wait to meet little German! If its a boy, Addie will be allowed to marry him! It's funny that we are already planning their lives.

October 25th- Today I celebrated my birthday with my parents. We went out to eat and then went and did some shopping for Addie. She got a pack a play and a leap frog toy and also a high chair for my parents house. We are doing Thanksgiving at my parents to celebrate my dads birthday and my mom is super excited to host this year. It will be like the old days of me growing up and can't wait! We are starting out Addie with the traditions that I grew up with and I love it.

October 27th- my bday!! It was awesome... my first one as a mom. I got my first mommy card and it was the best ever! Addie slept from 6:00 at night to 6:15 in the morning and then she went back to sleep at 7:15, and woke up at 8:00 and Jeremy took her to daycare. She had an ok day at daycare. She has good days and bad days. I am not sure what is going on, but I wish we could get a nanny or for me to just be home with her all the time.

October 28th- Addie had her 6 month shots today. She weighed 19 pounds and 13 ounces and she was 26 and 3/4 inches. As for her shots, the first one was a piece of cake... she didn't even flinch. The second shot came and she thought about it and started to cry and then the third shot was what did it... she screamed, but only for like 5 seconds. We then asked about the flu shot and the H1N1 shot. Our doctor didn't have any H1N1 vaccinations so she didn't get that, but she did get the flu shot. We asked lots of questions and felt very comfortable getting the shot for her.

October 29th- Addie had sweet potatoes for the first time today and she ate them so good! She downed a whole serving at lunch time today. I even let her pick her next food to try. I put out peas, sweet potatoes and green beans. It was time for a veggie to try and she picked the sweet potatoes. Jeremy loves them too so she is taking after her daddy on this one!

Today she also came down with her first cold...she had a runny nose, but other than that she has been fine. She's been playing, smiling and eating really good so it doesn't seem to bother her that much.

October 31st- Addie was a cow for Halloween and she got lots of visitors. Grandma and Grandpa came over along with Adam, Elizabeth and Harrison. Addie and I still had a cold so we didn't get too close to anyone but the kids were so cute dressed up!

Tonight was the first night that Addie tested out sleeping on her tummy. She flipped over at 5 in the morning and whined alittle bit but per herself back to sleep. She slept until 7:30.

November 2nd- Addie has been sleeping so good for us. She ranges from 11 to 13 hours a night. I am the one who struggles because I check on her several times throughout the night to make sure she is breathing and doing ok. I also contemplate when she wakes up from flipping over or just wakes up for a little and then let her soothe herself back to sleep that her diaper hasn't been changed. It really really bothers me. I guess until diaper rash comes I am ok??? at least that is what I tell myself...

Addie loves to play with her toys that Grammie got her. She loves her new leap frog toy and she already knows how to make it do ABC's and also down and lights out. She just loves it. She even started to almost stand and lift herself up on it to get to a part of the toy that she wanted to play with. I wonder if these are the first movements towards crawling?!

Grammie has been over pretty much everyday. We just loves when she visits us! Addie gives her the biggest smile when she sees her walk through the door. It is just so awesome. Addie also knows how to give kisses and hugs. She loves open mouth kisses. It's the cutest ever! She loves to suck on Jeremy's nose too. She grabs it and goes in for the kiss on daddy. My dad told me that "one day you are going to miss those wet kisses" I can totally understand that.

Daddy definitely is the fun parent. Since Addie had a cold, I was the one using the nasal thing and she hates it... Jeremy won't even touch it. He will only do it when I am not home, which is rare so he is lucky.

Addie had squash for the first time tonight and she did pretty good with it. So she likes her carrots, sweet potatoes, bananas and applesauce so far. I think the jury is still out if she likes squash or not.

Addie loves to be tickled... its the funniest thing ever too. Even her thighs are ticklish. She lets out this adorable laugh and its just so funny that Jeremy, me and Addie are all cracking up and laughing. It's funny how a baby's smile or laugh changes everything!