Birthday Friday.

We are happy it is Friday AND Uncle Christopher's birthday!  In fact, it called for some pigtails.

Happy Birthday Uncle Christopher!  We love you and hope to see you soon.

Thirty.

My sister had an extra special birthday this year...the big 3-0.  Yes, it was almost 3 months months ago but I consider this post a success since it is going up in the same year.

There is something so special about the bond between sisters.  My siblings and I are all very close, especially since we are so close in age (4 kids in 6 years), but Ash and I have something extra special, a bond I think only sisters know.  I feel so blessed to have walked through 28 years of life with her.  We were buddies growing up and remain best friends today.  I loved being called "little Creed" or "Ashley's Little Sister".  I would hold my head up so high and just smile.  She makes me very proud.   I was always following close behind wanting to do everything my sister was doing.   We shared a room, shared clothes, celebrated our birthdays together growing up.  Now we may not see each other every day but we can always catch up right where we left off, we still have a way of knowing what each other is thinking, a way of understanding each other that no one else seems to get, and can laugh uncontrollably at something others don't think is the slightest bit funny.

Because of Ash, my life is that much sweeter.

Because of Ash, I was a gymnast and later a cheerleader.

Because of Ash, I am a Sooner.  Lubbock wasn't for me but did make for some great memories.

Because of Ash, I had the best Maid of Honor, sister, and best friend to stand by my side 5 years ago.  I was honored to stand by her side a couple years later. 

And because I was blessed with an amazing sister, Addison has the best aunt in the world.

We love you, Ash!  It is going to be a great year!

Fall.

We are loving the cooler temperatures and everything this time of year brings ... football, holidays, family, outside activites, etc.  As I am working on some posts from the past couple weeks, I will leave you with this snapshot for today from our impromptu photoshoot last night in our backyard. 

I am loving our camera and this little munchkin. Addison is 10 days shy of 5 months old and has been sitting up all by herself. Where did our little infant go!?

Blue.

Is it possible to take too many pictures!?  This was before school today and Addison was in the best mood.  Her eyes pop when she wears blue.  We can't wait to see if her eyes will stay blue or change in the coming months but we sure do love our brown hair, blue-eyed girl!

 

 

I cherish my time with Addison in the morning before I take her to school and start my day. 

There just isnt anything like it.

Cereal.

This little lady seems to love her cereal.  We got the go-ahead from Dr. G at Addison's 4-month checkup to start rice cereal and this cutie was more than ready. 

It took a few servings to get it down but now she is ready and waiting for her spoonful of mush yumminess.  She is quite the clean eater too...I anticipated a lot more mess, hence why she was only in her diaper for our first attempt.

We give Addison her cereal mixed with breastmilk about 6:30 in the evening, just before bath time, every other night. After bath, she gets her full bottle and is down for the night.  Absolutely no reason why we chose the cereal we did.  Maybe it was the first choice we saw.  Somehow we ended up with Plums Organic Whole Grain Brown Rice Cereal.  Sounds tasty huh!?  She loves it so that is all that matters.

She took 1 tablespoon of rice cereal night before last like a pro.  I think we are just about ready for her to get it every night but I am going to give it another week or so as we adjust in the diaper department...they have been pretty ugly. 

Not the most exciting post but a milestone nonetheless!  We can't wait for fruits and veggies.

Red.

I love this little girl in red and her crazy hair in the mornings.

Freedom.

Addison has been sleeping without her swaddle for just about a month now and she LOVES her freedom.  We get a kick out of how we find her each morning.  She prefers laying across the shortest part of her crib.  Here are a few of our favorite moments.

She looks like she got caught doing something she shouldn't be doing. 

She always gets in some morning stretching.

She is getting too big to fit this way but she is determined it is the most comfortable way to sleep.

Try legs propped up on the side... no big deal.

Every once and a while we will find her still sound asleep but it never fails, she always wakes up so alert and with a smile. 

Sunday Best

Just a quick snapshot before church this past Sunday.  Thanks for my new shoes, Nana!  I love them!

Labor Day

We had a great Labor Day weekend complete with some golf for the boys, Sooner football, and a family cookout.  The weather was so beautiful.  We enjoyed dinner on our patio... yes, patio, as in outside.  We couldn't believe it either!   We set up a little pool for the little ones and put Addison in her bathing suit for the first time. 

She didn't love her first dip in the pool near as much as I thought. She loves her bath so I thought she would love the pool too. I think it was a bit too chilly for her but she was swimming in style.

We also celebrated having these two boys and my brother, Brandon, back in Big D. We are so excited to have him and his little boys back this way for good. They were not too far before but they are so close now!

Addison getting some lovin' from my sister after a change of clothes. She LOVES her Aunt Ashley.

We had so much fun, Addison fell asleep in Nana's hand...literally.

phew.... what a fun weekend!

O.K.L.A.H.O.M.A....

Football is back and we are ready!

Boomer Sooner!

This little Sooner is trying so hard to sit up on her own.  She is going to have it down before we know it!   

Checkup with Dr. G: 4 Months

15 lbs 6 oz (90%)

25 1/2 in (95%)

Addison: 4 Months

Addison Leigh, what a fun month it has been!   You are moving around and really getting into your toys, reaching and grabbing onto things. We have loved hearing your belly laughs and seeing more and more of that precious smile. You hit a growth spurt earlier this month and were eating every couple hours for a couple days.  You just couldn't get enough!  You are getting so big and strong.

At 4 months you:

• really know who Mommy and Daddy are and it warms our hearts, especially when we pick you up from school
• are sleeping through the night!  This is a recent thing and we are loving it.  You are in bed by 8 and up at 6:30, sometimes we even have to wake you.  You seem so rested in the mornings and we feel like new parents. 
• are not swaddled anymore and prefer to sleep on your side
• are rocked to sleep
• have transitioned to 5 feedings a day (instead of 6), eat 6.5 ounces each feeding, breast milk only
• really enjoy tummy time
• are talking more and more and love to hear your voice/screams
• are loving your Sophie (the giraffe) and teething like crazy
• started school this month and are in the Cottontails class!  You go Monday - Friday;  Mommy drops you off around 8 am and we try to pick you up as close to 5 pm as we can.
• try to hold your bottle yourself, it is pretty precious. 
• have found that thumb again but not on a regular basis, still prefer your Wubbanub
• put anything and everything into your mouth
• are napping less during the day
• are rolling over from your back to your tummy!  This is another recent thing.  Daddy went in to get you after your nap just the other day and you were peeking out from your tummy.  You get a lot of cheers when you roll over from your two biggest fans.
• are wearing size 2 shoes, size 2 diapers, and 6 months clothes.  You have one or two 0-3 outfits that fit and are even wearing some of your 9 month clothes. Seriously baby girl, slow down.

 

Here are some more pictures from your 4-Month Day! 

 

 

 We love you beyond measure, sweet girl.  You are the most amazing blessing and we cannot wait to see what your next month brings. 

Giggles.

One of my favorite times of the day is hearing Addison's giggles, something I can count on almost every night before her bath.  Just ignore my silly voice in the background and enjoy!