a new thing

So I've decided I'm going to try to blog once a day. I know that I will never be able to keep this up (for many reasons, some being that my life is way too boring to have anything substantial to blog about and also I tend to lack motivation). My goal is to do this for at least a week and see where it goes. So, we'll see.

I think that I should start making a meal schedule. There are several recipes that I've printed out (mostly some off of Kelly's Korner Recipe Blog: http://kellyskornerrecipes.blogspot.com/) that I want to try. I also have built up a (very) small archive of things that I've made in the past and turned out to be quite tasty. The problem comes in play when I take into account that I have a baby that consumes all of time between 6 when I get home from work and 8:30/9 when she goes to sleep (and I wouldn't have it any other way, unless I got even more time with my precious little baby. Who cares if the laundry doesn't get done and there is dog hair all over the floors because they haven't been swept in who knows when?? I don't! Not if I have my sweetie pie in my arms.), my husband has a different schedule every day and I don't always know when he'll be home and we are pretty spontaneous people who have a hard time planning small things in advance, such as what to eat for dinner. (I think that was the longest sentence ever :)!!) Maybe I'll try it.

Just not now. I'm starting enough new things right now (or just one...the daily blogging will probably kill me, or at least make me brain dead).

I have another goal that I am determined to reach and that is to stay in the office for lunch at least 4 out of 5 days. I used to eat out with one of my co-workers almost every day (especially when I could use pregnancy as my excuse...). But now that I'm pumping on my lunch break, I have to go to lunch at a different time than anyone else in the office and I only have 40 minutes of time that isn't consumed by pumping. I did really good when I first came back to work after my maternity leave, but now I've been eating out all the time. I've got to get back into bringing my lunch!!

I guess that's all for now. Hopefully I'll find more interesting topics for my daily blogs. I know no one really cares about if I'm meal planning or not... I'm totally not. :)

Ah, the sweet sound of laughter

I am so excited about what I am about to say. We had such a good long Labor Day weekend. We got spend time with family and friends and just hang out around the house. Good times! On Friday, my friend LeeAnn called to see if we would like to come over for dinner, so we had dinner with her and Chuck and their baby girl (and Addison's (future) BFF), Salem. We had yummy baked spaghetti and played Rook, a game in which the girls did some serious whipping up on the boys! We also went for a walk and just talked in the living room. Jordan was holding Salem and LeeAnn had my Addison while we were sitting around. Here's the good part: LeeAnn was holding Addison so that she was facing me and I was talking to her and smiling and tickling her and she was soo happy and sweet and all of a sudden came out this beautiful little giggle. That was the first real time that she had laughed and it was such a special moment (Earlier in the week, she almost laughed at Macy and Tripp playing with each other, but she couldn't quite get it out as anything more than a grunt/squeal). Given that Jordan was the first recipient of the Addison smile, I love the fact that she laughed at me first. She was really into it. she would lean forward and I would come in toward her and she would lean back and throw her little head back and laugh. It just melted my heart. I love that little baby so much that sometimes I think my heart might just burst.

On Saturday we went to Bethabara Park in Winston with Chuck, LeeAnn and Salem. We had a nice picnic lunch and then played Bocce Ball in the shade, while the girls slept in their strollers. That night we went back to the Cline residence and watched Push (slightly strange movie, but pretty good). Addison passed out at 8 and slept for 11 straight hours. She, apparently, had a great time at the park. It wore her plum out. For some pictures and retelling of the weekend "adventure" go to LeeAnn's blog post.

Sunday was a sleepy day. Jordan had to work, so Addison and I went to church and to a fellowship meal at my parents church and stayed for signing service afterward. Then we went home and I think we took naps (I don't really remember). When Jordan got home, we all went and visited Jordan's uncle Greg who is in the hospital battling lung cancer (please pray for him, it's not looking too good right now...) and we ate at one of the best places ever...COOKOUT!!! Yum! The we went home and watched The Sound of Music while my beautiful girl slept on my chest. I could have stayed that way forever.

Monday Jordan and I (and of course Little Miss Pris) went to Home Depot and attempted to go to Chick-fil-a and get a free sandwich but when we saw the line wrapped completely around the building and out of the parking lot, we decided it would be well worth the extra money to go to a different place for lunch. Addison was just a doll and did so go the whole time (really she does good most all the time. She's an easy baby most of the time, just so sweet and huggable and adorable) We watched 17 Again with Matthew Perry and Zach Efron. It was a cute little movie. So all and all it was a great weekend. But anytime I get to spend with my girl is a great time!!

3 Months old...

Addison turned 3 months old a few days ago (more like a week ago) on August 17th. She is such a sweet little baby. She smiles a lot and "talks" all the time. I think we are going to have a talker on our hands in a few years/months. My Addie Kate is now about 14.5 lbs!! She is growing soo much and just getting cuter by the hour. She is sitting so good in her bumbo seat and it's not going to be long before she's sitting on her own. She has started really interacting with her toys and people and just grabbing and clutching onto things. She likes to look at herself in the mirror and she'll just coo and smile and do her almost laugh (she's not quite laughing but it's coming very soon). Addison is doing so good with her tummy time. She "swims" and does her little mini push-up. She'll be crawling before I know it. I've started noticing that she looks for me when she hears my voice and I'm not right in front of her face. It's the greatest feeling in the world, knowing that she recognizes me and wants to find me. She knows just how to melt my heart and it's going to be so hard to say no to her when she's older. I can't believe all of the things she has started to do. Where has the time gone!! She's going to be going to Kindergarten in no time!! I wish I could keep her little and sweet forever!! I can't imagine a better baby than Addison!

Mom and I went shopping this weekend for all things baby. Actually it was more for all things that are cute and girly for my little Chunky Monkey. We got her all kinds of clothes in bigger sizes (to accommodate her ever growing little self) off the clearance racks and a little bathing suit (for $2.99, might I add!!) for our beach trip next month. I also couldn't resist getting her 2 little pairs of jeans. They are still a little too big for her, but by the time it gets cooler, she'll be in them. I didn't get a picture of Addison in her bathing suit, but I promise I will take tons of pictures at the beach. We also got her a mirror so she can talk to herself during tummy time or in the car if she's with GranDee (mom got a car mirror so she can keep an eye on her). And for my birthday, my mom bought Addison (Yes, I realize that is how it's going to be from now on and I did ask for them) some Baby Einstein DVDs. I've been wanting to get some educational baby DVDs because Addison likes to watch TV (I know, I feel like an awful parent...). We picked out Baby's first sounds and See and Sign. I think we are going to try the sign language with her and see how it goes. I know nothing about it, so any suggestions or concerns are welcomed! I'll get pictures up soon of my beautiful girl!!

Goodbye Keli!

Friday was a sad day for me. I had to say goodbye to one of my really good friends (also my co-worker) Keli. I've worked with her for the past two years, during which we were able to develop a close bond as friends. Keli is such a friendly, fun, out-spoken, sweet person, whom you just can't help but love. Jordan calls her my "sister from another mother" and lot of people at work got us mixed up and said we looked like sisters. haha. The reason that she left, was because her husband got a great job back in their home town and they are moving into a house only half a mile from her parents. This will be so wonderful for their three year old daughter to be around both sets of grandparents! It's a great move and I am so happy for her. I love you, Keli, and you will be missed!! Ashlea (see the tiny, little, cute baby bump?!? :) Love you girl!!), Lori ( I love you too!!), Keli, and me.Robin, Keli and Barbara. We are all going to miss her!!*********************************************************

On another note (and because I know her aunt Keli won't mind me interupting a post for her to post pictures of this little cutey) here are some new pictures of Addison, 12 weeks old:

"You looking at me?"

These are from after her bath. She smelled so good and clean! I LOVE this little robe!!A nice Sunday afternoon nap. I love it!! Look at those little lips!***********************************************************

Addie Daddy Days

Jordan normally gets one day off during the week that he stays with Addison and gives my mom the day off. I've started calling these times "Addie Daddy Days". He is such a great father and I don't know many dads that would offer to keep an 8 week old baby all by themselves for 8 to 10 hours at a time. These are the picture Jordan Showed me from Tuesday when he had Addison:So cute, right? And you want to know what exactly has her full attention?

The TV! She loves to just stare at it for about 2 or 3 minutes at a time. I feel like a horrible parent for letting her get so absorbed so early in TV but I am working on at least getting her some Baby Einstien vidoes to watch. She was just chillin out! She thinks its just so hard being a baby. *sigh*

Proud GGF.jpg

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This is an album that my Grandaddy put together with more pictures from Reno. I love this one with him and Addison. She is just so darn cute!! And I love my Grandaddy's glasses; so modern!!

Reno

Back at the end of July, Jordan and I were able to take Addison all the way across the country to Reno, Nevada to see her Great Granny and Great Grandaddy for the 50th Wedding Anniversary.

We had two 12+ hour travel days which included 3 1/2 hours in the car to and from the various airports and about 8 hours of flying/airport time. It was exhausting to say the least, but well worth it. Addison was sooo ready to get out of the car by the time we got to Reno on Friday night. She looks so irritated! So cute!

She was all ready to party on Saturday. We had so much fun interacting with family that we rarely get to see.

Here are my cousins Zach and Evan showing off their almost matching shirts.

These are the girl grandkids. Kyla, Ayrea and me.

Grandaddy and Zach wearing Grandaddy's hat. They look so much alike.

Jordan and Granny deep in conversation. Addison was a little tuckered out. With the time change, it was well past her badtime. Both of the parties we had for them were in the evening so Addison was mostly either fussy, eating or asleep, but she was completely cool and happy girl during the day time. We just couldn't have asked for her to do any better than she did.

Granny, Addison (still passed out) and me. We were codinating in our pinks. Granny just looks so beautiful!

My mom, D'Lea, and aunts Lydia, Cheri and Danni (in order from left to right. Birth order: mom, Danni, Lydia and Cheri; only 3 1/2 years from oldest to youngest!! Yikes!) picked some of Granny and Grandaddy's favorite songs and sang 4 part harmony for the whole crowd. It was so neat and meant to much to Granny and Grandaddy.

I love my grandparents so much and I feel so blessed that we were able to take Addison to be a part of their special celebration weekend (their actual anniversary is on Saturday, August 15th, I think). It was so awesome to hear their church family celebrate their love for my grandparents. They are such loving and caring and generous people and I hate that I'm not able to be around them more. That just means that when we are together, it makes it that much more special. Happy Anniversary! You are such and inspiriation to me! I love you!After the party on Saturday, we went to down-town Reno and did some sight seeing. Addison decided to wake uup and was super excited about it!!

One of Jordan's touristy pictures of one of the casinos. The closest we got to gambling was sticking the camra out of the moving car to take this picture. :)

I hate that this picture is out of focus, but I had to put it on here. This was Addison during our layover in Chicago on the way home. We were very glad that we took that carrier, since we didn't have her carseat or stroller. She was just so tired. She did amazingly well!!!

I just don't know...

Ok, so I just got home from work a little bit ago and I spent about 5 minutes figuring out what to do. I was just at a loss. Why was I so confused you may ask. Well, for the first time in 2 and a half months I am in my house with no baby (I guess really that would be like a year if you count while I was pregnant). Yes, I am without Addison all day at work or the very few times (once or twice, MAYBE) that Jordan and I have gone somewhere and left her with grandparents, but never have I been at home completely by myself (except for Tripp and Macy...they are ALWAYS here). It is strange to not need to expect a baby to cry at any moment or to be holding a baby or changing a diaper or just watching my beautiful girl while she sleeps (and snores). And you may ask how this phenomenon had occurred? Addison is at her Grandee's and Grandpa's house and they are taking her to camp to show her off. I will meet them there later this evening but for now it's just me and the computer. So with this free time I decided to blog. The only problem was what to blog about??

I stopped by Woodforest on the way home form work to see Jordan at his work. Every day the branch employees have a different color, extremely bright shirt they wear as their uniform. Friday's color is red. At least red was the color for all of the employees but Jordan. I walked up to the teller counter and see two bright red shirted employees and one bright yellow clad dark haired guy. Ah, my wonderful husband. He had the day off yesterday and therefore got completely confused on the shirt color schedule and wore Thursday's flamingly bright yellow shirt instead. He stuck out like a sore thumb. no, that is a dumb saying... he stuck out like a... I don't even know what, but it was so funny. I really wish I had had my camera with me to take a picture. haha!!

I came home after leaving the bank and realized just how rednecked up my house looks from the outside at the moment. There is a hot tub sitting in the middle of my yard without the side pieces on it, so all of its plumbing parts on the inside are in full view. There is a go-cart sitting on the other side of the fence from the hot tub. It is equally as horrible looking especially with the weeds growing up under the wheels. And half of my once clean garage has empty boxes that need to be thrown away, a grill, some chairs, and the sides that go on the hot tub all strewn about. My beautiful house just looks so sloppy and redneck. We really need to get on that. I would take a picture to post on here, but it's just too embarrassing and I don't think I could take it.

I don't have much other news to report. Addison's nursery is nearly complete. Yes, I realize that she is nearly three months old and I should have had it done long ago, but I didn't. It's been perfectly usable and pretty but I've been waiting for some finishing touches and they are here!! I am sooo super excited about it and I will have pictures soon to post and show you just how cute and adorable it is!!! (Wow, I just made up hearing baby sounds. I even jerked my head over to look in the pack n play to make sure she was sleeping still and not waking up. She is not even in the house... I totally miss her so much!!)

I am so ready for the fall to come so there are good shows on TV again. There is just nothin gon during in summer. I DVR old Gilmore Girls episodes that come on ABC Family. It's my new TV show rerun obsession. It used to be FRIENDS but after seeing every episode about 2 to 3 times, it just got old. We watch Wipeout, anything on the food network (love Good Eats) or HGTV, LA Ink, 16 and Pregnant, I didn't know I was Pregnant, The Little Couple, 18 Kids and Counting, Jon and Kate, Ace of Cakes, Kendra, the list goes on and on. There are obviously lots of "I have no idea why I watch this show, but I'm completely hooked on it" in the list.

Well, that was about enough randomness I think, so I'm off to eat supper. Now the question is what? I just don't know...