Catching up... July

The busier we are, the longer it is between posts, and then the more I have to write about.  If I ever have tons of time on my hands to write, that means I have nothing to write about!  Since I returned back to work on July 16th (Addison's 6 month birthday), it's been a whirlwind of travel, new routines, birthday fun, and visitors! I'll be breaking up everything that's happened over the past month into future posts... but wanted to start by getting a hodge-podge of pictures up from July.  Hope you enjoy!

4th of July!
We went to the local parade (which was pretty lame this year) and then headed to Central Park with our neighbors to enjoy the fountains and a picnic.  We had wanted to go to fireworks, but decided against it... and for the life of me, I can't remember why!  Poor Andrew still asks every now and then when we're going to go see the fireworks.

Andrew with the neighbors - Pyper and Sebastian, aka Bash.

All tuckered out after a hot day!

A Visit from Friends:
Mike's friend Kaagen and his new wife Melody made a visit to San Francisco to see some of her family. They were kind enough to squeeze us into their very busy schedule and brave rush hour traffic to meet us for a few drinks. I cannot even begin to tell you how nice it was to have friends come and visit.  We took them to Bent Creek (because that's where we take everyone), and then to Altamont Brew Works.  The night was not long enough, and the kids were well behaved (turns out Andrew actually was sick and had a fever the next day)... we can't wait for a visit from the Russels in September!

Addison Update:

Mike finally broke her from nursing... Andrew and I disappeared for the day, and by the time we got back, Addison was officially on bottles - both formula and breastmilk.  The whole experience was really awful. From her refusing the bottle to the decision to go cold turkey to quit nursing (which I would never, ever recommend to anyone).  Luckily, it's all a memory now and Addison has been in daycare for over a month and loves it.  She has had no problems adjusting and the teachers say she is an angel.  She is eager to crawl, but just hasn't quite figured it out yet.

Either Mike has big thumbs or she's got itty bitty feet.

Standing!

Finally taking bottles!

Ugh. My heart.

Well, at least now I can do this! :)

My arsenal to ease the pain of quitting cold turkey. Yes, cabbage leaves work!!
I also bough peppermint tea after a couple weeks and that seemed to help too.

6 Month Photo Shoot:
Our daughter has a fascination with paper, so this month's shoot was next to impossible... note to self: 7 month shot must be done with Mike's help!

My Last Day of Maternity Leave:

Sitting on the porch waiting for the garbage trucks to come.

I couldn't have been happier that this was where she napped!

One last mid-morning walk.

We got dressed up and went out to lunch together too!

A Quick Trip to PA for Work:
My team had a Team Building Day planned for a week after I came back to work, so Addison and I made the trip back to PA for free.  Addison was lucky enough to hang out with her Aunt Amanda on Monday and her Grammy on Tuesday and Wednesday.  It was nice quality time, and of course, I tried to fit in as many visits as I could outside of work.  And as usual, outside of the one picture of Karen and Juliet below, I didn't get a single shot from my visits with Kim and her new baby Rome, Jen and her kiddos, or dinner at Grammy's with all the cousins.  Luckily, Grammy got a couple of Addison with her guests.

Girls trip!

Finally reunited!  We miss the Tizers terribly, so this visit with Karen and Juliet was such a great treat!

Painting with a Twist Team Building Day!

My work of Art!

Addison at Grammys

Addison with Marie

Addison and Mom Mom

Amanda's going to kill me for this shot...
but the poor thing got food poisoning while we were visiting and it was such an ordeal,
so this has to be documented.

Below - hanging out waiting for our plane.

 

Sleeping baby on the plane... best thing ever.  

Happy Anniversary to us!
The Friday after our Anniversary just happened to be Parent's Night Out at daycare.  Basically, you bring the kids back and for $50 they entertain both of them from 6:30-9:00.  So, Mike signed them up and surprised me with reservations to Wente.  We had a really nice time celebrating 5 years together.

On 5 Years Together...

When I think of Michael, the word that pops into my mind most is “lucky”.   No, Mike doesn’t have the winning lottery numbers… the word lucky applies to me.  I am beyond grateful that the boy with the ponytail and intense stare grew to be such an amazing man, and that the amazing man picked me.  He is the yin to my yang, the calm to my storm. My perfect balance.  I cannot imagine my life without him at the center of it.

Our story goes like this:  For 25 years, we grew up 5 minutes down the road from each other.  Our lives crossed paths at high school parties and Doylestown bars, but neither of us were quite ready for the other yet.  Then, finally… we just were.  During the next 5 years we dated, moved into an apartment in Jenkintown, bought a house in Hatboro, adopted two cats and got engaged.  Over the last 5 years we got married, had a baby boy, moved across country and had a baby girl.  We have laughed, cried, argued, made up, worried, rejoiced, dreamed and come through it all, together. 

Mike can pick me up when I’m down, he can feed me when I’m hungry (don’t underestimate the importance of this), and he is all my children could ever want and need in a father. 

Mike, as the pillow on our couch reads, “I feel lucky every day I’m with you.”   Love you Babe.

A walk down memory lane:

 



Punta Cana

The Tizer wedding

Six Flags!



Nova Scotia

Hilton Head

The Russel's Wedding

 

The Collopy's Wedding!

We're Engaged!

Shenandoah... take me home country roads...

Greece!

 

The Villages!

 

Mike gets his PhD!

Baby #1

Baby #2!

 

2014

 

 

Growing fast and furious!

Over the past month, so much has happened with Andrew and Addison developmentally, that a year ago I would have broken into several different posts.  But now, with 2 children, finding the time to write has gotten harder, and with returning to work looming in the near future, time is precious.  For the moment, Addison is napping, so who knows how long I'll have before this post will get saved for another day.  (Side note - this was finished while waiting for a doctor's appointment, 4 days after it was started!)

Since June 1st, Andrew has learned how to ride a bike and spell his name! Have I mentioned Andrew isn't even 3 yet?  We are just about the proudest parents around... except, he has also completely regressed with "#2"s, and we've gone back to a sticker chart and bribes for using the potty.  I'd take a potty trained kid over one who can ride a bike ANY DAY.  Focusing on the positives, I think Andrew's accomplishments show a good balance between Mike and I... he's a dare devil and all energy, like his father was growing up... but he loves reading, learning his letters and speaks very clearly for his age, like me. Unlike either of his parents ever were (wink wink), Andrew is a complete hand full right now.  I can't believe I ever called him a maniac before... at least before he wasn't the Tasmanian Devil with an attitude.  Now, he is full blown terrible two and I'm constantly perusing toddler behavior books and we frequently mutter about how lucky he is that he's just so darn cute.  It is amazing how a parent can find the two good minutes in a day and let the child survive on that memory for the other 1,438 minutes of the day.  Ok, that's a little exaggerated, but you get the idea.

Mike was super patient, and it paid off!  This was how the morning started.
Unfortunately, I only have video of Andrew riding successfully

 

 

 

 Andrew loves reading... especially to his sister. 

This is Andrew reading "The Happiest Toddler on the Block".  HA.

This was post-attempt to open the baby gate from the step side... he succeeded, but fell out,
gashing the corner of his eye on the gate as he crashed to the ground.

 

Notice the lovely ink-work?

Beginning of dinner at a restaurant...

...and 20 minutes later.

Also since June 1st, Addison has learned how to sit up, had her first (trial) day of daycare, and has caused mommy much anxiety due to her refusing bottles of formula.  Months ago, I decided I would wean at 6 months, and around 3 months when she was a very difficult nurser, I almost gave up then... but after a rough couple weeks, she became the most efficient nurser ever and I got lazy with offering the bottle.  Well, now I'm going back to work next week... and we are hit or miss with whether she will take a bottle... mostly miss.  I've successfully had her take formula 3 times in the past 2 days and was feeling on top of the world.  Until today, she balked at the idea of a rubber nipple being anywhere near her face and I'm not sure which of us cried more.  Who said Parenting was easy? Oh right, no one... ever.  Bottle tantrums aside, Addison is a laid back, happy baby and definitely a Mommy's girl.  Going back to work next week is not going to be easy. I mean, look at this cutie pie!