Tuesday, August 30, 2011

More Summer Fun

We are back from our annual summer trip to Sequim. Each year we some how manage to get great weather. We spent lots of time outside in the sun, playing in the water and at the beach. Adalyn turned on her vacation sleeping for us (which means she didn't sleep great). As well, as teething yet again. As usual here are our Sequim adventure through pictures:

Mmmmm....yellow watermelon. If you can't tell, Adalyn liked it. She couldn't get it in her mouth fast enough.

 Ask and you shall receive. "Spray me with the hose, Papa!"
 Picking "Papa's Berries".


 Heck why not just have lunch outside? Along with some yogurt "finger painting".
 Beach time. See Mt. Baker way in the background on the right. It was clearer in person. We took Addie to the beach with us twice and regretted it both times. Rocks, sand and seaweed make for a grouchy Mommy and Baby. All she wanted to do was put EVERYTHING into her mouth. And she was VERY mad when I wouldn't let her.

 She just loved watching as her Big Brother took a bath. You ask, Why isn't she in the bath? Trust me, she got a both or two, but she is a tricky slippery bath taker right now. Shane needed some soaking time with out slippery Adalyn around.
Our summer is coming to an end. Preschool starts soon....yah!!! But of course, we still have Hawaii. Just 28 days away!

Studio J Scrapbooking

I finished some Studio J pages last week. I was able to complete months 4-8 of Adalyn's baby book. Making me current again! I just love how Studio J keeps me on top of my scrapbooking!!

Here are my pages (click on the images to make them bigger).

4 Months
 5 Months
 6 Months
 7 Months
 More 7 Months
8 Months

If you are interested in trying Studio J out click here or let me know!

Monday, August 22, 2011

I Am Blessed....

I am blessed...to have two happy and healthy children. Yes, that seems like a cliche blessing. But really it isn't. I am not planning a funeral for my 9 month old baby like this family is. It is a blessing that can get missed during the busy days of life. But one that is so very important to remember.

I am blessed...that Shane has such good friends like Lucas and Ellie. They made our camping trip full of so much fun and joy for Shane.

I am blessed....to have a good friend like Julie. We may not see each other or talk frequently. But we can come together for 24 hours and get right back into the groove of our friendship. We can be in a situation and so very smoothly make things happen.

I am blessed...to have a Husband that is happy to stay home with the Baby while Shane and I go off on our own adventures.

I am blessed...to have Parents that are willing to take Adalyn for parts of 10 days while Kenny and I get a much needed vacation in Hawaii. Along with special one-on-one time with Shane. They will lose some sleep for sure while they have her, but I am sure it will be a fun time for all of them to be together. Thirty-seven days and counting until the BIG trip!!

I am blessed...to be able to stay home with Shane and Adalyn. Though there are days that I would love to run off to work outside of the house, to just have a few minutes to think clearly or work on one thing at a time. I know this time together for all of us is priceless.

There are just so many blessings in our lives. Some days go without a moment to even think about them. Join me and others over at He Sows, She Sews and count your blessings.

A Little Boy's Dream Weekend

I think that if Shane had the ability to rate his weekends over his life span, this last one would rank up there in the top 5 for sure! May even #1. This is what Mr. Shane was up to for the last 3 days.

The weekend fun started out Friday afternoon with a Pool Party at Dahlia's house. The weather was beautiful (it actually felt like summer!) He tried out a slip and slide for the 1st time and was in and out of a couple different swimming pools. (This all took place after all the other guests left, but I still think he had fun).

Saturday arrived with lots of excitement from the Little Man. Shane and I were going camping with our friends Julie, Lucas and Ellie. He was boiling over with anticipation when he woke up. All morning long I heard when are they going to be here? When are we leaving?

We drove south past Olympia to Millersylvania State Park. Before we were able to check in we swung by the Mima Mounds. Which are "mysterious" mounds that are only found in Thurston County, China and Alaska. We took a little walk around the fields. Then head over to the camp ground.
Lucas, Ellie and Shane on a mound.
Bike riding was a huge hit. Shane even left twice with just Lucas and Ellie to go on a bike ride around the camp ground. That is HUGE for him. Lucas and Ellie were super patient with him. They played with him and made sure he was safe and happy. Thanks guys for being such great friends!
Building pools of water also was a fun activity for the kiddos. They would play in the sand then jump in the water for a swim then back to the sand. They spend a couple hours both days at the lake between the water and the sand, happy as can be.
Sunday morning before we left they hit the lake. Not a person in site for most of the time we were there.
Lots of soccer, hockey and Frisbee playing. Lucas made them hockey sticks from branches to play with.
Warming up after swimming.
Saturday afternoon there were people every where at the lake. Here they are stepping foot in the water for the first time.
Shane was so brave and went all the way out to the rope with Lucas and Ellie. He couldn't touch the ground, so he was "swimming". He has come a long way this summer in so many things. I was so proud of him this weekend.
When we woke up Sunday morning in the tent, Shane was just a ball of energy. He certainly loved the camping experience again this year. I told him before we left that Daddy had a surprise for him when we got home. After a quick 45 minutes at home to wash him up and get a splinter out of his foot that had him in tears. He was all ready to head to an Everett Aqua Sox's baseball game. It was a good think he took a nap in the car on the way home (which usually NEVER happens). He had a good time at the baseball game, but was very upset that he didn't come home with a foul ball. After a call to Papa (who has quite the stash of baseballs), who promised Shane his very own baseball. All was right again.

One pretty sweet weekend for a 4 year old boy!!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

A Day In The Life

Adalyn turned 9 months today. I can't believe that puts us just 3 shorts months from her first birthday. Crazy!
Here is what a day in the life of Addie looks like at this point in her life.

6am: Wake up (this was super late for her. usually she is up between 5-5:45am). Daddy gets the morning shift for an hour or so while she plays. A top favorite still is the kitchen in Shane's room.
 7am: Breakfast. She LOVES her water. Last week I thought for sure she was even saying "wa-wa".
 For breakfast this morning she had a scrambled egg, kix, and applesauce.
7:30-9am Out of PJ's and into clothes for morning play time. Mommy thought she would give a dress another try. Nope. She can't crawl and move in them. As you can see she is super pissed off because she couldn't stand up quickly in the dress.
 Off with the dress. Ah, so much happier while she takes in some book time before her nap.
 9:15-10:30am: After we got the clothing situation figured out she was off to her morning nap. She slept for her typical 1 hour 10 minute morning nap. Today things were slightly later then normal since she "slept-in". Shane likes to be the first one to greet her when she wakes up. Addie just beams when she sees him.
 10:30am: Off to her 9 month well-baby appointment. Here she is sitting in the waiting room, checking everything out. She made it through her one shot and heel poke for an iron check. Addie is weighing in at 18lbs (25-50%) and 27 (50-75%)  inches long. Healthy and on track.
 12:15pm: Home for lunch. On the menu today was: garbanzo beans, rice noodles with butter and cheese, and warm apples with cinnamon on them. She is in the process of getting teeth #5 and #6. When she gets teeth she devours food.
 12:45pm: Play time after lunch before she heads into her 2nd nap of the day. Some water table fun. I just realized this week that she would be able to stand up and reach the water. She loves it!
 1:30-2:40pm: Nap #2. She normally sleeps a total of 2-3 hours of naps during the day. I just don't think she will ever be my sleeper.
 Visiting with Big Brother after nap time. She totally was trying to bite his hand here.

 1:45pm: Play time downstairs.
One of the many diaper/clothing changes during the day. About 75% of the time she HATES being changed right now. It is full on war with her to get her to lay still and get the diaper or clothes on or off of her. This shot was taken by Shane.
3:30pm: Off for a walk. I have yet to attempt two dogs and two kids. I rotate which dog I take with me. Today was Sadie's lucky day.
4pm: Back home for more play time before Daddy gets home. This is what the living room looks like by the end of the day.
4:15pm: Quick bottle check. Normally she takes a bottle most of the time before naps and bedtime. Sometimes though she just needs a quick drink here and there. Another shot by Mr. Shane.
5pm: Daddy is home!!! Best part of the day. Again, thanks Shane for your new found love of picture taking.
5pm: Dinner time for Adalyn (Today the boys were off at swimming lessons). This evening she had turkey, cheese and orange cherry tomatoes. She LOVED the tomatoes. When she is done eating generally she'll rub her eyes and head so much she gets food every where.
5:30pm: Naked Time! Her FAVORITE part of the day. Man, she loves being naked. It just makes her giggle and clap.
6pm: Bed time. All cuddled up with blanket and bunny. She didn't fall asleep tonight until 6:30pm. Which is late for her right now. We'll see how late she sleeps in, if at all?! With her teething and general poor sleeping she'll be up 5 times tonight most likely. Most will be just a "fix" where I have to give her bunny back and at least one will require food. Some day she'll sleep through the night, right!?!?!?!

UPDATE: She slept super well. Up at 8pm for a "fix". Up at 9:30pm for a poopy diaper (very weird) and a little bit of food. Up again at 2:40am for food. Then awake at 6am. That is amazing for this girl!!