Addison Is One! Wait, What?

How did this happen?  My baby is one?!  I literally feel like she's still a BABY.  It's that contradicting feeling of not believing it's been a year already, and also feeling like she's been with us forever.  But, with Addison, she's still very much my little one.  I'm not sure if it's because her extra feminine daintiness is exaggerated in comparison to her all boy, boisterous, older brother, or just the fact that she is smaller than he was at this age... but when I look at her little angel face, I do not see a one year old.  I see my little baby - just barely cutting her top two teeth, finally sprouting some more golden locks, and gaining more and more confidence on her little, fawn legs every day.  She is such a light in our lives, with a quick smile and warm laugh.  She loves to snuggle, and has never once made me question my very important role in her life (for those of you that remember... Andrew put "Mommy" waaayy down on the list of names to learn, much to my dismay).  She is very bright, but takes her time and does things on her terms.  She gives looks that could kill and she throws random tantrums that would make a terrible two look like a novice.  Yep, we're in trouble, but we wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!

I'm one!!

We tried to make "The Big Day" special... it's not every day you have your FIRST birthday, after all.  Unfortunately, her birthday fell the day before we left for a week vacation in Florida, so celebrating clashed with packing, and birthday festivities were kept to a minimum.  Having mommy guilt about the big party her brother got for his first birthday, I tried to decorate a little bit, we wore party hats, opened presents and had cake for dessert.  She also got to wear a tu-tu to school and brought in cupcakes to celebrate with her new Big Girl class (and they let Andrew come down to the Toddler Room for the occasion).  We also celebrated once in Florida, with a huge pink cupcake and presents from Gram and Pop. 

Birthday Morning Fun!

Is this a book?

 

Hmm... it tastes like clothes!

Cupcakes in the Classroom:

 

After Dinner Celebration:

 

Party in The Villages! 

 

Andrew got a blue cupcake too!

Merry Christmas, 2014!

Happy New Year!  It may be 2015, but we still have unfinished business from 2014!  First up - I found a few pics from Gram and Pop's visit that I never posted... so I'll start with those!

I Spy!

 Alpaca Farm Fun!

 

Cookie Baking Day 2

Our Annual Tradition!

Showing off his new hat from one of his favorite places on Earth?

Okay, next up.. our Christmas trip to PA!  This year, we left the day after Mike's 35th birthday (not a single picture or even a piece of cake... how sad!) and flew across the country with an 11 month old who had a double ear infection.  That, coupled with being stuck on the tarmac for close to an hour before take off, made this one of our worst plane trips back so far.  Luckily, Buddy the Elf brought Andrew an early present from Santa - a portable DVD player... so, at least one of us was happy.  The rest of the trip was very nice, despite each of us having a touch of a tummy bug, a reaction to an antibiotic, terrible coughs and congestion. As usual, it was a wonderful whirlwind of family, friends and making memories!  And as usual, I didn't take enough pictures with the camera, so pardon the crappy phone pics!

Fun with Friends - We were so lucky to be able to catch up with some of the old crew.  At some point or another (despite not having the pictures to prove it for everyone), we were able to see: Jen, Andrea, Phil, Carl, Matt, the Tizers (who we have not seen in WAY too long and were also dealing with jet lag, sickness, oh... and being 7 months pregnant!), Mark, Sterling, Kyle, the newly married Anne and Matt Ennis, and I'm sure some people I'm forgetting!

Of course, my bestest friend... :)

Addison dressed up in her London sweater to see the Tizers!

Trying to get a pic of Juliet and Andrew was close to impossible...
but they played so nicely and gave each other hugs like they remembered being 4 months old and hanging out togaether!

Good thing Ben wasn't around to see them getting cozy under the covers!

Date night at the Porterhouse!

Followed by Mike M's 30th Bday Party!

Mexican Train!  Great gift from the parents! 

A quick meet up for dinner at Penn Taproom with Carl, Phil, Dave, Andrea and Amanda

Yep, pretty typical dinner for us... :/

Uncle Carl and Uncle Phil

Aunt Amanda getting quality Addison time :)

Uncle Dave helping Andrew set up the trains in the basement!

A visit with Grandmom Palm - 100 years old!  Was so good to see her, Aunt Alice, Carol and Jessica!

Christmas Eve at Grammy's!

Grammy, Mom-Mom, Aunt Cyndie (the Elf), Aunt Amanda, Mike, Uncle Dave and Andrea helped to make this Christmas Eve much more exciting than last year's (think me 8+ months pregnant, Mike and Andrew by ourselves in CA).  It was a really nice evening and the kids were super excited!

Addison sitting on her present from Aunt Amanda!

Care Bear!

Christmas Eve Elf!

So cute!

Elf Cyndie gave this adorable outfit to Princess Addison!

Our princess!  

Aunt Amanda got us new outfits too!  Eagles wear!

Andrew in his new Spider-Man PJs and slippers from Aunt Amanda!

Earlier that night... 

...Andrew and his new Spider-Man were inseparable.

Mike with Addison!

 

Amanda's obligatory selfies!

Stuffed stockings under the gorgeous fireplace!

He came!!

Christmas Morning! 

Aunt Laurie showing Andrew how to use the slinky that was in his stocking!

 

Uncle Bob and Addison showing off her new ride!

Mommy showing how to use Andrew's new sleeping bag!

 

Peter Pan and Captain Hook!  We have already lost Peter Pan... :(

Merry Christmas Mom-Mom!

Aunt Amanda stopped by for a Christmas Day visit!

And, as usual, we forgot to take a Family Picture... but tried to do a shoot with Mom-Mom and all her grandchildren.  Out of 20 shots, the best 2 are below... :/

From left to right:  Brooke, Jasper, Ella on Mom-Mom's shoulders and Addison on her lap, Andrew, Maia and Lanie

Addison and Ella at the Ring's for lunch!

Addison showing off her new outfit from Mom-Mom

Our last night... which also happened to be my birthday, so it was a good excuse to get together one last time. And, we got a few good group shots!

Uncle Dave playing with Andrew's lego set.  :)

If you can believe it, we still had one more Christmas to do.  For the record - I have NO idea what we were thinking and it will be the LAST time we do this... 

This is the picture that Santa texted me to show Andrew he stopped in CA too.

Addison showing off her fawn legs.

Andrew's favorite present... although he also really loved his new scooter and play dough sets!

 Oh... and better late than never!