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!

Peek-a-Boo

Smile.

I just cannot get enough of this smile.  I cherish the moments I get with Addison in the morning before I take her to school more than I think she will ever know.  

This smile makes every day a better day.... especially when you wake up thinking it is Thursday and it is only Wednesday.  This house is already ready for the weekend!

PS - I think she should model.  Check out that pose.

Addison: 10 months

Addison Leigh, we are on the countdown to your first birthday and I cannot believe it.  You are 10-months old today and just the squishiest, curious, sweetest little thing on the planet.

At 10 months you:

• have more teeth!  You now have 6 teeth, four on the top and two on the bottom.  Yes, that is 3 more teeth just this month.
• love to be standing and are getting so brave with letting go of things to stand all by yourself; you wiggle your little toes to get your balance... it is adorable.
• continue to love your bath; we are very thankful for your bath seat because without it, you would be everywhere in the tub
• are sleeping 12 hours at night and are starting to sleep with some "friends" (Angel doll and stuffed lamb rattle)
• put yourself to sleep most nights and at nap once it is "night-night time"
• had your first bruise this month; you were at school, tumbled over and hit your head on a chair in the library
• can dance!  Every now and again we catch you bopping around to the beat when you hear music.
• would live outside if you could
• make the cutest face by squishing your nose and giving the biggest smile

You ...

• are 100% on formula now (Enfamil); 4 bottles a day, 18 ounces total
• are getting better and better with your straw cup and love cold water!  We started you on a straw cup instead of the regular sippy cup after several recommendations and you love it whether you are wanting a drink or just to chew on it.
• got the okay from the pediatrician to start regular yogurt and cheese; we are working to be on 100% table food by your first birthday
• are starting to eat more and more table foods: blueberry waffles, regular yogurt, apple bits, pineapple, cheese, and your favorite possibly - PICKLES

{standing all by yourself!}

• love books and they always get you talking
• like to listen to your music in the car... Itsy Bitsy Spider, If Your Happy and You Know It, Wheels on the Bus
• always look for your rubber ducky in the bath tub and love to hear "quack-quack"
• are in love with Aunt Ashley puppy dog, Kirby
• are developing some separation anxiety, especially at school in the mornings.  I give you to Mrs. Brittney and sneak out as best I can.  We get tears a couple mornings a week but you are doing much better.
• are forward-facing in your car-seat!  Yes, we are a little bit early but Daddy had school duty one day last week and put you forward-facing just for fun and well, you love it too much that I don't have the heart to turn you around.  You are over 20 lbs so we meet the requirement in weight.
• crawl SO fast and pull up on anything and everything  
• still have those pretty blue eyes and all that hair
• wearing mainly 12 months clothes; wearing some 18 month tops and can still wear a few 9 month bottoms 
• wear size 3 diapers, size 4 night timers
• are in size 3-4 shoes; you got your first pair of Nikes this past weekend (size 4) and they are the cutest thing ever (besides you of course)

Sweet girl, you are the light of our lives.  We have grown in faith through your eyes and thank the lord everyday for the miracle that you are.   We cannot believe you are just a couple months from being 1 year old... where did our baby go!?  These 10 months have been a blast and we cannot wait to see what your next month brings. 

We love you to the moon and back.

Happy 10 months Addison Leigh!

Go Pumas!

The past couple Saturday mornings we have started off our weekend with a great date outside with the Pumas.  Logan has started soccer and he LOVES it.  I mean, Daddy is his coach and he has the coolest uniforms on the planet.... doesn't get any better than that!

{post-game pic}

Watching Logan play totally takes me back to soccer days with by brothers.  This guy has some skills!

We love our #11.

Goooo Pumas!!

And brother is right there... waiting for snacks :)

We cannot wait for the next game!  We have our shades on and are ready to go!