Addison: 11 months

Addison Leigh, you are 11 months old sweet girl. 

{pictures taken 4.5.2012}

At 11 months you:

• have taken up to 4 steps in a row all by yourself!  You walk a little bit better without your shoes on and are going to take off any day on your own.  We cannot keep up with you when you hold on to our fingers.  You are fast!
• still have 6 teeth, 4 on top and 2 on bottom.  We see those teeth now when you show us that precious little smile.
• can stand and squat and stand back up without holding on to anything.

• have started going to bed a little bit later.  You now sleep from 8 pm to at least 7:30 am.
• will "read" with a book for a little bit in your crib before you actually go to sleep.
• have had your fair share of boo-boos now that you are that much more mobile.
• love to look out the front door.
• have the sweetest giggles that we cannot get enough of.
• are waving more and more and it is still pretty random except you always wave at pictures, especially of Mommy and Daddy.
• have a thing for greeting cards that make music.
• are starting to fight the water on your head a little bit in the bathtub which is not like you
• are learning "no" and don't like to hear it.
• have 3-4 bottles a day of Enfamil, 18 ounces total; we are going to start working on getting rid of your bottle this month and introducing Whole Milk
• can clap your hands and click your tongue
• are starting to copy what others do like smile, clap, wave and click your tongue

• love cold water in your cup and are getting so good at the straw.
• LOVE macaroni and cheese, turkey and ham
• are starting to know who is a "stranger" and take a minute to warm up to family and friends you don't see very often
• are discovering new things everyday around the house and recently discovered the dishwasher

• wearing 12-18 month clothes 
• wear size 4 diapers both during the day and at night
• are in infant size 4 shoes

{We finally had success with your number sticker on your back where you couldn't find it!}

Addison, words cannot describe the love we have for you. Those baby blues melt our hearts.  One month from today you will be 1 year old.  These have been the best 11 months of our lives!

We love you to the moon and back.

Happy 11 months Addison Leigh!

Easter Fun

This past weekend our neighborhood hosted their annual Easter Egg Hunt so we headed out for some spring time fun Saturday morning.  Addison was more interested in the grass than the eggs but we had fun nonetheless.

After the "hunt" it was time to meet the Easter Bunny.  Oh lordy... definitely different than meeting Santa Claus.  Here is take 1...

And 2 through 5.

Needless to say, time with the bunny was short lived and we moved on to bigger and better things like the petting zoo.  I am very thankful for Josh in moments like this.  I am not an animal person.  Just didn't get the "animal lover" gene.  We don't have any pets.  So Josh must be present for our kids to enjoy petting zoo memories even if we stay on the outside looking in.

We will save face painting, balloon animals, bounce houses and train rides for another year.

We made a great memory with our little lady and after an hour of fun, this little one found her Daddy's shoulder and was ready to head home. 

We cannot wait for more Easter fun this weekend!

Grace Turns 2

"Up, Up and Away... It's Grace's Big Day!"

This past weekend we celebrated our cousin Grace's 2nd birthday.   The weather could not have been more perfect and we all had a great time getting together to celebrate a special day for the 22nd grandchild of the family.

No party is complete at the Howard house without baseball of course and a little soccer too!

a delicious dinner...

Some more outside fun...

Opening presents called for an immediate wardrobe change and fashion show...

 Thank you hugs...

And cake!!

Happy, Happy Birthday Grace Elizabeth!

Thank you for inviting us to celebrate you!

SPRING

Or should I say summer?  I have a feeling Spring is going to be pretty short this year. Needless to say, awesome weather means as much time outside as we can.

{Sunday afternoon fun}

{She really was having fun although it looks like she was on a thrilling roller coaster ride with her expressions.}

{after pajama day at school}

{making sure her curves are swim-suit ready}

We have so much to look forward to this summer with our little one... ice cream, first swims...we are so ready for more outside adventures!.

More Spring Breakin'

This past week Addison's Mimi and GiGi (Great Grandma) rode the train down from Oklahoma City for some Spring Break fun.  Oklahoma's Spring Break fell the week after Texas' so Addison got to enjoy more time off school and some extra lovin'.  

Addison was all about showing off everything new she has learned.

This little lady will be walking in no time!

Thank you to Mimi and Gigi for coming to spend your Spring Break with Miss A.  She loved every second of it!

Spring Break

For several months, I had been looking forward to SPRING BREAK as if I was in grade school again.  I took a few days of vacation from work, kept Addison home from school, and headed West to spend some quality time with my mom and my sister.   The first official "Girl Staycation" and I loved every second of it.  I cannot wait until the next one.  Here are some highlights of our fun!

Wednesday afternoon I met my sister in Grapevine for Painting With a Twist.  So fun but boy that was some pressure for the Creed girls.  A finished masterpiece in only 2 hours!? Whoa.  And, I forgot my camera at home. Boo.

Thursday morning Mom and I headed towards Denton to meet Ash for lunch.  We stopped at Small Fry where Addison picked out two new smocked dresses for the fall.  Addison told Daddy she had to have them!  Then it was off to lunch and some more shopping on our way out West to Ashley's house.

Before we knew it, it was dinner time and us "city girls" were up for something knew. 

Friday morning we hung around the Ritz (aka the Smith's house) and moved slow.  It was wonderful!

Sweet Landon headed home at lunch for the 3 of us to escape for an hour and get pedicures.  I don't think I had a pedicure since before Addison was born so this was a very nice treat!

Addison loves her Uncle Landon and was a big flirt with him.

We let Landon get back to work and the girls then headed out to a winery not too far from the house.

It was so charming, relaxing and fun!

Addison got some lovin' from Nana while Aunt Ashley and Mommy enjoyed a glass of divine wine before we left.

It was back to the house for the nighttime routine with Addison, dinner and bath time, and then the ladies headed out again for a movie while Uncle Landon enjoyed a little bit more QT with Miss A.  Another treat since we definitely don't frequent the theater and it is always fun to see a girly movie that Josh is totally not into like The Vow.

Addison and I had a great time away with some of our favorite girls.  Of course, we did miss Daddy and Addison was all smiles when she saw him Saturday. Mom and Ash are so special to me and I am so thankful Addison can be one of "the girls" now.

I cannot wait to get our next staycation on the calendar!

Ready for Spring

We are ready for Spring in this house; although, I am a little sad Addison didn't see any snow this year.  We will be patient and wait for some next year.

The weather has been so on and off the past few weeks.  We found ourselves inside more than we like but it didn't stop Addison one bit.  She always finds something to entertain her.

Like her closet...

She is everywhere these days.

Always something new to discover in the kitchen....cookie cutters anyone?

But ... I agree, we have been on the inside looking out for too long and are ready for some wonderful weather again!