Addison: Pure Sweetness

I'm sure most parents with children around three get this same response when asked to take a picture.

Addison is not one to ham up the camera.  She has a shy, reserved personality for the most part.  She has the kindest heart and is pure sweetness.  When she gets alone time with Jordan or me, she is on cloud nine and such a joy.  I cannot believe how fast she is growing up and acting.  She makes my heart smile.

Finally!!!!  Success!!!!

Daddy's Girls

Melts my heart

Landry 18 Month Checkup

I got to take Miss Landry to her 18 month checkup with Dr. Lanman.  It's so cute to watch her little personality and reaction when she gets to go somewhere with either Jordan or me without anyone else (Addison in particular).  You can tell she feels really important and special.  Like it's her time to shine and get all the attention.  

Well, her report came out great.  We had Landry at the doctor a few weeks ago for strep and double ear infection, so I was anxious to see if everything had cleared up.  Clear bill of health and no shots.  Yipee!!!  A sucker and sticker later was all Landry needed to make that a successful trip.

18 Month checkup stats:

Weight: 25.4 lbs (50-75%)

Length: 32" (50-75%)

Head: 47" (50-75%)

 Favorite Food: any, but really like white powdered donuts
No fear of climbing, jumping
Love to dance, read books
Sleep with blankie, bear, and puppy
Listen very well to commands - started sleeping on your nap map at MDO
Watch everything Addison does
Head strong, but sweet as can be
Win everyone over with your smile
Get your feelings hurt easily when you get in trouble
Independent - as much as you can be
Jump and land stomach first from the ottoman to couch
Fascinated with opening/closing doors

Very interested in Addison's potty and have gone multiple times - hope you're quick to potty train

Swimming Lessons

This 3 year old started her first swim lessons last week.  Our community pool is run by the YMCA, and the YMCA offered the residents swimming lessons.  Jordan and I jumped at the opportunity for our little girl to learn how to swim.  We can't wait for both of them to know how to swim and enjoy the "BIG" pool.  If you can't tell from the picture she was so excited.  

She did really well, but she has a problem with wanting to sit still and listen to her teacher, Katy.  She saw a few of the neighborhood kids and wanted to go play with them.  The cutest thing is that when it's her turn to do something she always makes sure that her daddy is paying attention.  If he's not, she yells across the pool.

Griffin House Karoke

I know the picture doesn't look like much, but it's a snapshot of what you might catch us doing in the evenings.  We got a new Bose speaker system and have put it to good use.  There's nothing like a little bit of karaoke to lighten the mood.  The girls and I have the best time and Jordan loves being the #1 fan for our little band.  Our course we have to make sure and use our "microphones" for the performance.  I need to get this on video for sure.  

I challenge you to try something similar in your household.  You don't have to be the best singers or dancers to other people, but that's your time to give it all you've got and get down.

Evening Walks

A few times a week we take the girls on a walk/ride.  We have a different strategy depending on how long the walks are.  If the girls want to go and Buddy gets to tag along then we just walk a block.  One girl walks Buddy on the leash and the other pushes the baby in the stroller.   It's the cutest thing.  They change out responsibilities once we turn around to go back home.  Surprisingly they exchange without a fight, even though they would both love to walk Buddy.

Short Walks

If I want to get some exercise in and I know they aren't in the mood for a lot of walking because it's so hot then they get to scoot along in the Barbie Jeep while I walk.  Addison drives the Jeep down to the playground and we play for a bit and head back home.  Runners and walkers on the trail think it's the cutest thing.

VBS...YES

Thanks to Aunt Katie, Addison went to her first Vacation Bible School last week.  She had a blast.  We heard about it every day and continue to hear about it.  Fortunately and unfortunately, Aunt Katie got the cd of songs for her so we get to watch and listen to Addison every day sing and dance to the songs. It's hilarious and darn cute at the same time.  I will try and get some video of her performing "on stage."

Addison's First Peticure

When my parents were in town, my mom and I decided we needed pedicures.  Well little Miss Addison did not want to take a nap, so she was invited to partake in some big girl time getting pedicures.  It's so hard for me to think that she's old enough to get a pedicure.  Believe me, we are not making this a normal routine.  I sent Jordan pictures while we were there and he said that we were creating a monster.  He can already see $$$$ when it comes to hair, nails, makeup, etc. for the girls  Don't worry Dad, we've got a few more years until that all begins.  

We had the best time.  It was so neat to watch her eyes glow as she got to experience a pedicure.  She felt on top of the world.  She knew that she was getting to do something special, and MeeMaw and Mommy were making it that much more special.  

She started off just soaking her feet in the water and then a little bit later they starting painting her toes (she picked out blue).  She did very well at sitting still, but really wanted to put her feet back in the water.  After some convincing that she would get to put her feet back in the water after her toes were dry she was okay.  The highlight of the trip - putting her feet in the water while sitting in her own chair.

It's moments like these that I look forward to sharing those memories with my girls together and individually.  I write these posts for our family to remember those moments, but there are some moments that will always be in your heart.  Those moments could be just a smile from your child or you watching your child engage in some type of activity and them not knowing that you're watching.  It's that mental snapshots that I will always hold dear to my heart.

Our Ballerina

From the time Addison could walk, she's been walking on her tippy toes majority of the time.  About a year ago, we mentioned it the pediatrician.  We weren't too worried about it at the time, but now that it's been a year and she's still doing it we all agreed that it's worth getting looked at by a physical therapist just to make sure we're doing what we can to prevent anything major when she gets older.

So Addison is scheduled to go to her first physical therapy evaluation tomorrow.  I'm hoping that it's nothing big.  Also if there is anything we can do to help her grow out of doing it as often.

Bathtub Class

About half of our bath times are non education and the others are.  One thing that I do with Addison is put a letter on the wall and she has to name it.  So far, she's about 95% at naming them.  She gets Y and V mixed up sometimes, but will get it if it comes around again.  I think we're going to move on to small words like cat and dog.

Daddy & Me

I wish I could explain how much this little girl loves her Dada.  She really does think he hung the moon.  It brings tears to my eyes knowing that she has a love for him so deep and vice versa.  She would hang out with him all day.  He makes her feel so special.  It's amazing to me how he is the most strict on her, but she will do anything for him.  I guess it's called earning respect.  She has the best daddy that you could ask for.  What a blessing both of these two are to each other.

Little Dirt Here and There

A few weeks ago, my mom came in town to watch the girls.  I asked her if she would bring in some dirt so we could fill in some holes around the yard.  Our fence really needed it with all of the dry weather over the past 7 years (yes, we've been at our house for 7 years).  Thanks to a good family friend for the dirt and my brother's truck, we were able to get some dirt.

My parents bought the girls their own shovel, rack, etc.

Not quite sure what to think

This little girl loved every minute of it.

Not sure how much help she was.

The used their Mickey cart for the wheelbarrow

 "No.  Don't' take my picture."

Nothin MeeMaw can't fix

Wordless Wednesday

Buddy 11 Years Old

Sweet Buddy (BudBud) is now 11 years old.  It's so hard to believe.  The girls absolutely love him.  Some days he drives us crazy barking all the time, but for the most part he's a good ole dog.  We can definitely tell he's slowing down a bit though.  He likes to sleep a lot more.  However, he does still have a lot of spunk to him.  We love you BudBud

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day Weekend started off with every kids request for breakfast - chocolate spindle donut.  Normally Jordan goes to the donut store on Saturday morning before the girls get up, but us girls let him sleep in.  I loaded them up and off we went.  Addison was in ah of all the donuts.  I told her she could pick up whichever donut she wanted.  Below is her choice.

She told the lady at the counter - "I can't wait to show my dad.  He loves Spiderman."

Ha.  He doesn't watch Spiderman at all but they have this inside story with the two of them and Uncle Gray.

This is what happens to your dinner when you take the other one to go potty.  Landry is known for making messes.

Addison got her bed from Pottery Barn and then we found this cute comforter set at Dillards.  It's so hard to match the blue wall paint, but we got pretty dang close.  I'll call it a win.  More decor and final touches to come.

Last Day of MDO 2011-2012

What a difference a year makes.  Really.  I cannot believe how much our girls have grown.  The girls had their last day of MDO on May 28th.  The attended MDO at First Baptist Garland and will continue there through the summer.  Once Fall 2012 starts, they'll be attending PDO at Murphy Road Baptist Church.  It's closer to the house, and we have heard really great things.

First Day of MDO

Last Day

Gotta get that hair on top of the head and out of those eyes

She looks so tall here

Had to get an action shot, because she wouldn't stand still.  She had her teachers' thank you gifts in her hand.  I gave them to her as soon as she woke up and she would't set them down until she gave them to her teachers.  I bought some little note cards and Sonic gifts cards and wrote a little note on them "A little NOTE to say thanks."

Landry's 1st Year

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Pergola

After 6 years of being tortured by the sun every summer on our back porch, Jordan and I decided we needed some protection for us and the girls.  The girls have all these toys in the backyard, but we didn't want to go back there because it was too dang hot.  The solution would be to build a pergola.  

Before

We are so fortunate to have a neighbor that is very handy and is very patient.  He and Jordan spent many a hours together gathering pictures, drawings, wood, screws, etc.  I stopped keeping count of how many times they went to either Lowes or Home Depot.  Luckily Lowes is about 2 miles from the house.  The process started on a Thursday and they were finished with the pergola by Sunday.  There was a lot of blood and sweat put into this thing.  What a blessing Evans (in picture below) was to our family.  Along with Evans, one of his friends Tim helped and Keith McKethan.  Great friends are priceless.

After

I will try and get some better pictures once we get flowers, furniture, etc. there.  It's a work in progress. We absolutely love it.  We are out there every day and most evenings.  Why we didn't do it years ago, I don't know.

Time to Slow Down

Do you every feel you just need to slow down?  Don't get me wrong, I love living in the city but there's just something about the country life.  Maybe it's because we don't live there that we can relax and not worry about things.  Whatever it is, I'll take it.  I love going back home and my little family does too.  We see a lot of people and get a lot of things done, but there is a lot of down time.  

We went home not too long ago, and the girls stayed with their MeeMaw and Grandaddy and Jordan and I stayed over at my MeeMee's.  MeeMee and Papa were in Arizona, so we got the house to ourselves and enjoyed the quite at night time.  Friday night we just sat on the back porch and listened to the country sounds and drank a glass of wine.  Life doesn't get much better (a beach maybe).  

Cousin Time

 William Quinn - He start Kindergaren in the fall

 Addison picking out Grandaddy's next tractor

" I sure wish I could get this cap off"