18 months- TIme for a change!

We did Zoo Boo with Adam, Elizabeth, Harrison (aka Dumbo), Lucy (aka a pumpkin), Grandma and Grandpa. Addie had a decent time trick or treating at the zoo. We took a train ride at the zoo and Addie was so good. She sat with me and Grandpa. It was definelty a benefit to be a zoo member, but it was sure crowded when finally got in. Next time we will "skip" those first few booths and go around. It just took forever to get everyone down to "one lane". We skipped alot of the booths as we weren't really into the candy, it was just about going and something for Addie to be apart of and experience. We did do the butterfly exhibit that had a musical intrument petting zoo. Addie really could have cared less about it. She is going to take after both parents and probably not care too much about playing an instrument. If she wants to, then we will support her, but its not our cup of tea. We were there for about 2 hours and when it was time to leave, we got ditched by everyone. Jeremy turned around from a booth and we both said to each other "where did everyone go". Our party that we came with was nowhere in sight. By the time we had caught up to everyone, we were at the end of the park, almost to our cars. I was very disappointed and felt Addie was treated very poorly and felt she wasn't important at all and other people were.







October 30th- I signed up Addie for swimming and dance lessons. This week Anne and I went shopping at the Ballot Store and got her the dance outfit (thanks to Grammie for buying it)! It's so cute!! It's peach/pink with rhinestones on it. So we did swimming class first and she did fine for the first 15-20 minutes of class and then it was time to play with the toys and then put them back and then it was all over... she didn't want to put her toy back or paricipate in class. My little Diva today.... then dance class was 30 minutes later. We are all dressed and ready to go and she was doing ring around the rosey with other kids before class started (knowing that she is the youngest and shortest) when class started, she still wanted to do ring around the rosey and fussed so we left class and I have decided that 2 classes back to back is a bit much and dropped her dance class. We will try it another session.















October 31st- Grammie came over since Gramps had to work and watched her do her first trick or treat in the neighborhood. Grammie started to go around with us and then daddy joined us and Grammie handed out candy at our house for little bit. We only did our little section of the subdivision. Addie had a blast going around with Tommy, Logan, and William (her big brothers). We later joined Jeremy's family at Aunt Julie's house. It was later by the time we went over there since we finished up handing out candy in our neighborhood. I feel that since we will be getting candy from our neighbors, that we should hand out. it's the right thing to do.
















November 4th- We went over to Grandma and Grandpa's house to have pizza with them and Adam, Elizabeth, Harrison and Lucy. Addie enjoyed doing a dance party with Harrison too.

November 5th- We went to the Shedd Acquarium today with Gramps. Addie had a blast going from exhibit to exhibit and pointing to the fish, turtle, frogs, etc that she saw. She was so good and lasted about 2 hours. We went to the live performance, but then left in the middle of it as Addie didn't want to sit still and she was tired and hungry. It was then time to leave and she passed out as soon as we were in the car and she slept for about 1.5 hours!

November 24th- We celebrated Gramp's birthday by going out to dinner and having Albano's pizza in Laporte. Addie sat on Gramp's lap and helped him open up his presents. She really enjoys it. When we sang happy birthday, she thought we were singing for her and she had the biggest smile on her face. She also can say Happy Birthday!!! Addie went home with daddy and I stayed and enjoyed an "adult" birthday celebration with my parents by going to casino with them. We had a blast and got home around midnight.... late night out.

November 25th- Thanksgiving. We started out at my parents house and had dinner there. We then went ot Jeremy's parents house later that night. Addie got to put a decoration on the already decorated downstairs Christmas tree. It is good that she got to participate, eventhough it was already done. Maybe next year they can wait for her to show up since others are waited on.

December 6th- We celebrated St. Nick's day at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Addie received a recorded book by them of the Night before Christmas. A great gift for her to have the rest of her life!

December 20th- this afternoon, Jeremy and I took Addie downtown SB to visit Santa. She sat on Santa's lap with no issues or anything. She wasn't scared at all. However, I was the one holding her and letting her know that it was ok.

December 23rd- We celebrated the smaller Miller Christmas today at Jeremy's parents house. The kiddos were spoiled with lots of love. the pictures explain it all! We are very lucky that we are able to afford gifts and to celebrate the way we do. One day we might not be able to, but I am so happy that we can. Santa also made an appearnece and Harrison freaked out which made Addie freak out when Grandma went to put them on Santa's lap. I knew I should have taken Addie myself to do it and she would have been fine since she was just a few days ago. Bummer that she is probably now afraid.

December 24th- We celebrated Christmas with Jeremy's mom side of the family today. Santa came and Addie freaked out. crap...not the vision I had planned for her. I don't want her to be scared and now she is... bummer. Addie wasn't having anything to do with the nice sit-down meal. There was so much going on for her and she just wanted to be away from all the comotion. Jeremy ended up being on daddy duty while I helped in the kitchen with some of the aunts. I know alot of work goes into preparing all the food and clean-up that you need to help out. Alot of people are raised with not having this etiquette... my mom would have been so disappointed for not helping out. I can't wait to teach Addie all of this too. She already helps me with the dishes and the laundry!! I love my little girl and she is growing up and becoming a good helper!!!

December 25th- Finally a day with MY family! It seems that my family always gets forgotten or pushed aside for the holidays when they do so much for us. I think its time for a change in tradition and to make it equal. I don't think it matters the size of the family, but now that Addie is in the picture, I think it's time for her to go with some new traiditions. I want her to be raised how I was raised and I struggle with sharing with other ideas. My thought is that we would have Christmas Eve at our house with both sets of families over and then open up all the gifts (except for Santa's). I would like for her to leave milk and cookies out and then on Christmas morning come downstairs and have her Santa present. What I envisioned this year didn't happen like that...needless to say, I had preping, cooking, setting the table, opening up presents, getting ready for my family to come over to our house and it just didn't go down how I wanted it to for Addie. We did her Santa gift first and then the rest of the presents.... time to revise the plan! Jeremy promised me in 2-3 years when we have our next house built that we will be doing the big Christmas. I like the fact that we will be spending next year at my parents house for Christmas Eve. That is what my mom wants and she is going to get that. I don't care if anyone else has issues with that. My mom is my mom and she does EVERYTHING for us and if that is what she wants, then she is going to get it. I've had to share the past 9 years and its time for a change for people to feel the way I feel and to realize that being taken away from tradition and family does hurt. I think 1 year of out 10 years isn't a bad request at all..... now I just need to stick to my guns and do it for ADDIE!

December 27th- Jeremy and I had a date today while Addie went to my parents. She had so much fun going all around my parents house and she was spoiled that Grammie held her for 2 hours while she slept in her arms. My mom said its the best feeling ever and she would do it all the time! We had a great dinner when Jeremy and I got back from shopping, lunch and a movie!

December 29th- Today Jeremy, Addie and I went to visit grandpa during his chemo treatment. She was all smiles and made some of the patients, nurses and Grandpa all smile. It's amazing what a child can make you feel when you aren't in the best of conditions. Later that evening, we went over to Grandma and Grandpa's and Uncle Adam made everyone dinner while Addie and I supplied homemade cupcakes for Grandma's birthday! It was a great birthday celebration for everyone. We even were able to capture a picture of all the grandkids with Jeremy's parents!!

16 months- 18 months

Well Addie finally has her pre-molars now. And she finally cut another tooth on the bottom to make it 6 on the top and 5 on the bottom now! I will be glad when this teething thing is done though and can go back to a full nights rest.

On August 20th- we celebrated Grandpa's birthday. We took Addie over to Grandpa and Grandma's house like we have been doing all summer. We took Addie's Jeep Over there and her and Harrison had fun riding it in the driveway. They even switched so they could ride each other's jeeps!

August 22nd- we took Addie to the Heston Steam Museum for her to enjoy her first train ride. It has been since I was a little kid there and loved taking Addie there. Jeremy wasn't too happy to do the 2.5 mile walk behind the large train since Addie lost a shoe, but we found it!!

August 28th- Addie and I spent the night at my parents house. Her first time spending the night and she had a blast. She was spoiled as usual and had a whole big bed to herself (with mommy of course) we even had 2 dogs with us, Riley and Russeau.

August 29th- We celebrated JEremy's birthday today at the house with his parents, my parents, Adam, Elizabeth and Harrision.

September 2nd- we took Addie to the Curious Kids Museum. She loved it. She got to explore so much stuff. We will definitely be taking her back her. It was great for her age and also will be better when she is older too. We were in the toddler farm and it took her no time to figure out how to climb up the silo and go down the slide. She loved it!

September 4th- Addie spent the day with Grandma while Jeremy and I went to the ND vs Purdue game. She had lots of fun playing at Grandma's house and I loved getting the updates!

September 5th- We took Addie to Deer Forest. She got to feed a goat, horse, deer, and birds. She got to see a fox, and pet a llama for the first time. I think her favorite part was the goat trying to eat her shoe... she giggled and giggled. She had more giggles when the deer were eating from her hands. It tickled her!

September 7th- Today was a special day in the family as Lucy arrived!!! Addie has a new cousin!!! She also got to spend time with Harrison as he spent the night. They had so much fun playing, sharing food, taking a bath together and just running all over the house.

September 10th- we took Addie to the trumpets under the dome. She rocked her head back and forth and enjoyed the trumpets. She loves music and she loves to dance. we even went to the stadium to see the painting of the helmets and also got to walk through the tunnel.

September 11th- We celebrated Grammie's birthday by having a tailgate. It was rainy so we didn't have Addie out there and she was at Grandma and Grandpa's house.









September 15th- Grammie came over and we had cake with her after work to celebrate her birthday. We need to go out to dinner and celebrate though!









September 18th- We had Josh and Stacey's wedding today and it was a beautiful outside wedding that made us change our location of our family pictures to the Center for History gardens for next weekend. Addie enjoyed dancing and running around at thereception.



September 19th- 24th- Jeremy was out of town so it was just me and Addie. My mom stopped over everyday checking in on us and since I had to be out of town on the 21st in Oak Brook for work, my mom picked her up from daycare. Grammie was so excited to get her from school and bring her home and have a night of just the two of them. TUrns out that I actually made it back into town for us 3 to go to dinner. Addie, Grammie and I went to China Garden for dinner and it was YUMMY!

September 26th- I wanted to get family pictures done and waited for the arrival of Lucy for this happen (how nice and considerate of me to wait for others to get this done). It turned out to be a great fall day and we finally got the family picture that I have been wanting. My friend Amy did a great job with the photos and can't wait to share them!




October 2nd- Today we had an away tailgate party and Beth, Lauren, Larry, Pam, Mike and Claire all came down and we watched the IRISH win against BC. Addie enjoyed her first meeting with her future roommate at Saint Mary's, Claire. I can't believe my little girl will have childhood friendship that will carry throughout life! I can only dream that this friendship will grow and grow through0ut the years and one day they will be roomies at Saint Mary's! Not that we are pressuring Addie to go to Saint Mary's or anything, but it would be awesome!

October 4th- My parents spent a good part of the day with me and Addie. they came back from their vacation to Mackinaw island and had stuff for Addie. My parents couldn't wait to get back and see her! SHe was just beaming when she saw Grammie and Gramps.



October 6th- Grandma came over after work today and had dinner with Addie and me. Jeremy got home from work so he joined us. It was so nice of Grandma to come over and visit at it had been almost 2 weeks since we had seen her.


October 7th-22nd- Jeremy and I have decided that we are going to take Addie to Disney next year. We figured why wait when tmr isn't a guarantee. Plus I am way too excited to take her and really wanted to go. I figured I am not prego right now and we are safe to make those plans and go to Disney!!! So far I have done research and have booked the rental car and 2 character breakfasts!! I am such the planner and need to be the organizer. I want this is be a great trip for Addie and she is my number 1 concern and just want this to be special for her. I am sure that we will be going every year for awhile, unless I am prego or just had a baby...otherwise Addie will be there every April with grandma and grandpa at their timeshare. Eventually, I envision that we will get one down there too as our family grows and grows so we can have our privacy too.



So I have to say that Addie has learned to get into my make up and put it on herself. She loves to help with the laundry and also helps unload the dishwasher. She throws trash away, even the littlest thing that she can find. She loves to climb the couch and is all over the place.



Oh- we had her 18 month check-up at the doctor and she weighed 25 pounds and 5 oz. She was 31.25 inches long *which she was kicking at this point so the measurement was probably alittle off, but oh well. I think she is a little taller when we measure her on the wall. She loves to be measured and will go up to her board in her room and just stand their for you to measure her! It's so cute.



We have her saying "juice please" and trying to formulate 2 word sentences. We are still working on her vocabulary. She says about 20 words good and working on others that we know what she is saying or meaning, but someone who isn't around her might not know. I guess those are the bonuses of being the parent! She is very good with understanding what you are saying and she will do it. It amazes me that it is something I do and she does it and I didn't realize that she could and she proves me wrong!





October 23rd - We went to Grammie and Gramps house and Grandma and Grandpa joined us too for a haunted train ride at Hesston Steam Museum. Addie enjoys the trains and did very good on the big train. We only had time for the one train, but next year, we will hit up all 3 if the weather is nice again.



October 24th- today we did Zoo Boo with Grandma, Grandpa, Adam, Elizabeth, Lucy and Harrison. Addie was a giraffe! She was so cute and did very good with walking around the zoo and also being carried since it was very busy and packed with people. She had her first real trick or treat and carried her pumpkin for goodies! I couldn't believe the weather... it was in the 70's!

14 months & 15 months

Memorial Day weekend, we went to the zoo with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Lisa, Adam, Elizabeth and Harrison. Addie made it pretty much all the way to the end and then she crashed out. She was ready for naptime!

SMC Reunion June 4-6^th… Addie crashed the party for a few minutes and got to see her SMC aunties!!! Also before I left for reunion, Addie decided to put her brain to a test. I had a wipes box sitting in the middle of the hallway with our bedroom door shut. She was so smart to move the box, stand on it, and try to open the door… I couldn’t believe it! I snapped some pictures before she realized I was there watching her!!!

June 21^st- Father’s day. We started the day out by celebrating at our house with my dad. Then we went over to Jeremy’s parent’s house to celebrate with his dad and swim in the pool. (I think that was the last time we were in the pool all summer….it was a busy one)

June 30^th- play dates with Harrison and Auntie Elizabeth. They came over for a few and the kiddos enjoyed playing and coloring with chalk. They were the highlight of the neighborhood as most of the neighborhood kids came over and played with them for a bit. After our play date, we had another one with Annika and Xavier. Addie did really good around Xavier. She was right by my side as I was feeding him. She played really good with Annika and even learned how to play the piano!

July 11^th- she had some fun with daddy in the laundry basket… she thought it was hilarious! She also stacked my Pepsi cans! Look how high she got them!!! I was so proud of her!!!

We also took Addie to feed the ducks and she loved it. She had more fun chasing the squirrels and getting her hair caught in the tree than anything. She did manage to chase one duck back to the water.

She also inherited a rocking chair that was my moms, then mine and now it is hers. She loves it!!! She loves to rock and rock!

July 18^th- celebrating Uncle Adam’s birthday. Daddy also figured out that she loves pickles. We can hand her a whole pickle spear and she will down it. She is a lot like daddy as I won’t even touch the things.

July 24^th- Christmas in July. Grammie, me and Addie went shopping and got her an ATV. She got on it with no problem at all…then she pressed the button. Ut oh…. She kinda didn’t like the noise. She also didn’t know how to steer (and still doesn’t). Now, a month later in August, she loves to ride it and loves to drive into the wall, chairs, the dog beds.

Grammie also purchased her a shopping cart, which she likes to drive around and play store in the house. She has learned to go through the kitchen cabinets and put stuff in her cart.

Grammie also purchased her a desk. She loves to color and has made several masterpieces!

We also took some time to visit her Memaw and Papaw… they are our neighbors next door. They are the “grandparents” of the neighborhood! Addie has so much fun with them and also the other kiddo’s too. She enjoyed playing in the pool with Megan, Marek, Coen, and Maddox.

July 30^th=We took Addie to Bendix woods to a playground there. She had so much fun…but I really think daddy had the most fun of all!

August 4^th- We took Addie back to the playground, but we were joined by Grammie and Gramps! Mama forgot the camera so we don’t have any pictures….

August 7^th- Melinda visited with her dogs, Cole and Spencer and we also went to Thistleberry farms. Addie was a little gymnast on the jumping pillow. She loved it!! She also felt sand for the very first time. She enjoyed petting the horse and chasing the chickens on top of doing duck races with mommy and daddy! Mommy also took her on the cow train. She loved the train ride!! To finish the activies she enjoyed an awesome piece of corn on the cob!

August 8^th- we enjoyed spending some family time with Jeremy’s side of the family and we went to Notre Dame to feed the ducks with Aunt Elizabeth, Uncle Adam, Harrison, Grandma and Grandpa. Afterwards we went to Coldstone Creamery and enjoyed some ice cream.

August 13^th- We went to the playground with Grandma. Grandpa stayed behind at home.

August 16^th- we celebrated my parents 35^th wedding anniversary today. It was alittle late as they were out of town and finally could get together with all of our schedules. Addie enjoyed playing with Grammie and Gramps outside with her ATV. She enjoyed running into everything and Grammie was helping her steer clear of everything!

At Thistleberry farms with Mama!! Peek-a-boo
with Auntie Melinda and her dogs, Cole and Spencer.


























playing with her neighborhood grandparents and the kiddos!!









coloring on her desk for the first time
she knows where her crayons go.

showing daddy where her frogs are






Harrison and Addie playing on Grandpa's chair together.
proud daddy and Uncle on his birthday!
me wrangling the kiddos on Adam's birthday from going up the stairs!

Play date with Tommy. He pretends that she is his sister....how cute!
She loved her pickle!

Her new rocking chair


walking on campus with daddy
with me at the Grotto.
and a squirrel to chase too.... look how close she got!
She found one to chase!
watching her daddy feed the duckies
and comfy on daddy!

3 cans... going for 4...can she do it...
having some fun doing laundry with daddy
eating Patrick's corn on the cob for the first time!!!
I'll help you Addie!
Addie and Annika playing kickball!
Addie making sure I was feeding Xavier to her standards!
learning to play the piano
See Addie this is how you play.... Annika was already an expert at the piano!
with her Auntie E!
let's color!
my little model!
Here Gramps... a present for you...it's a square to my puzzle.
3 generations!
Gramps and Addie


Daddy's mini-me!

she found the doggie door again....
Father's Day with Grammie
usual look i get when I know she is playing and is trying to show me something...
Aunt Pam, Aunt Molly, Addie, me, Aunt Laur and Aunt Beth!!! all SMCers!!!
Addie with Aunt Pam and Auntie Laur!
She was so proud of herself that she started to clap!
I GOT YA~
Catching her in the act!


Addie was all smiles for Uncle Adam!
Grandpa with his favorite boy, Harrison and me with Addie!
Grandma teaching Addie about an animal.
looking at the tigers with Grandpa.
Getting ready to go to the zoo with Aunt LIsa, and Grandma.

With Grammie at Dzie Dzie's courtyard. It is so pretty out there.
Family pic! Happy Birthday Dzie Dzie!
at the pool with Grandma.
Fun in the pool with daddy!!!

Fun in the pool with mommy!

This summer has been busy. Between going to the zoo several times, having play dates, going to Bendix Woods to play on the playground, Thisleberry farms, visiting Dzie Dzie in the nursing home, visiting Aunt Joan and Uncle JOe, spending time with the grandparents.... I haven't been writing that much, but attached are a few photos that capture a majoirty of the fun that we have had this summer!

June 4th-- this was the last time I nursed Addie. She has been only nursing for like 2-5 minutes for the past few weeks and it's been at about 5:00 in the morning and then she goes back to bed. Well since it was my 10 year college reunion, I knew that this would be prime for me to offically stop since I was going to be gone Friday, Saturday and back home on Sunday.... so 3 days and done! So she was 13 and 1/2 months for me to nurse.... I personally think it was harder on me than it was on Addie.

June 10th- Addie is offically done with the bottle and we are 100% sippy cup!!! Go Addie!!! so she was 13 months old when we stopped!

August 22- we went to the Heston Steam musum today and it was fun for Addie. Daddy got his exercise since we lost one of Addie's shoes on the first train ride. It is 2.5 miles long and for about 2.3 miles of it, she was either sitting in between us or on daddy. Well she came to me towards the end and that is when we noticed she didn't have a shoe on. After talking to the conductor (which they were super nice) they let Jeremy walk the track looking for it after they searched. We finally found it about 2.4 miles into Jeremy's walk along the tracks! Daddy to the rescue!

August 27th-

As to date, Addie can say the following words and associate what they mean with an object. So instead of saying a word and not know what the meaning is, she knows!!

Juice

Dog

Mama

Dada

Duck

She can point to the following body parts and she knows them:

Head

Nose

Ears

Belly

Knees

Toes

Mouth

Eyes

If you ask her if she has somethng in her mouth she says "AHH" like if you were at a doctor's office.

If you ask her to do touchdown, she throws both arms up in the air!

If you ask her to say her prayers, she knows to fold her hands... sometimes after the prayer, she claps!

She knows how to give hugs and kisses.

She knows how to open and lock the gate in the kitchen

She stacks cans... 4-5 times high.

She empties the cereral bags and likes to feed the dogs!