Guatemala Girl

Addison received some cute Guatemalan slippers from Becca and Jeff, so we tried them on yesterday, so cute!

And yet another bath towel shot, we just can't get enough of her reactions during the whole bathing experience!

I give you Addison!

Yesterday we baptized Addison at Holy Family in Kirkland. The mass was at 11:00 am, and I was a nervous wreck, worried that she was going to scream the entire time, just as she did during the rehearsal. To all of our surprise, she was an absolute angel! The minute we took her clothes off and wrapped her in the white towel, she was all smiles. She associates being naked with bathing, so we knew she'd like being baptized! After we dunked her and the priest poured the water over her head, Chris lifted her up in the air, just like Simba in the Lion King. It was priceless. She was as happy as could be, looking all around and loving it. Afterwards, we dressed her in the same gown that both Chris and his brother wore when they were baptized. We then headed to our house to have lunch with our family, and Addison's god parents, Becca and Jeff. I have to say that I'm relieved that it's over and she did well! Whew!

Stroller woes

Yesterday we met my friend Tracie down in Kirkland with her two little ones (Brett and Bailey) for a walk on LW Blvd. We started off ok, Addison was awake in Starbucks and smiling and cute, and then once we started on the walk....waaaaaaaaaah! She was tired and within a few minutes she was asleep. Whew. I thought "Ok, I can deal with a bit of crying if she's just going to fall asleep soon after." We made it to the park, she woke up and took a bottle as we watched Brett (3 1/2) play, and then we started back. This is when I wished I didn't have to walk the mile back to the car. She screamed the whole way back. If I stopped the stroller and made sure the binky was in her mouth, she would stop crying, but the minute I started rolling again....waaaaaaaah! And this was not a pleasant cry, although many people tell me her cry is sweet, including Tracie, it's a heart wrenching cry to me! We finally made it back to the car, in one piece. Uh-oh, now the dreaded car seat. Move a screaming child from stroller, to the thing she hates most in this world? I put her in the car seat and she was all smiles! I have no clue why, she just smiled and stared at her Baby Neptune car seat toy, and we made it home with no tears. Ahhhh, the unpredictability of infants...

And to make matters worse, I just returned from Safeway, and now I'm sure all of Kirkland knows who Addison is! She screamed bloody murder the entire time, causing mommy to want to scream too! Note to self: Don't leave the house. :(

Good luck charm

The Mariners have a good luck charm, and she's probably the littlest one they have! For some reason, Addison loves the Mariners! Whenever we have the game on, she is completely mesmerized by it! I think it might have to do with the bright green field and the movement of the players. Auntie Tara bought her a pink M's hat and socks, and although the hat is a tad big, it's been helping bring the M's their much needed mojo, because whenever she watches, they win! We were very busy during their 7 game losing streak, but last night she caught a glimpse of her favorite team, and low and behold, they won! I don't want her watching a ton of TV, but by gosh if it helps the M's win, we can make some exceptions!

I'm 4 months today!

We had Addison's 4 month check up and she weighed in at....drum roll....13 lbs 8 oz! Wow! She's really been packing it on, as you can probably already see in her pictures! When we look back at pictures of her just a few weeks ago, she looked so tiny! It's amazing that just a few ounces of formula can make such a huge difference. Today we found out that we can get the formula we're using (Nutramigen) through our insurance because it has such a hefty price tag. That's good news!

Play date with the girls...

Today we had a play date with Tessa and Elena! We're still at the point where none of them are really interested in each other, but we can pretend! Elena was so cute, cruising all over the place while the two little ones just sat there stationary, watching her and thinking "Hmmm, when are we going to be able to do that?" All of Elena's cruising and Kim chasing her made me realize that I'd better savor Addison's stationary nature right now, because it won't be long and I'll be running after her!

Really, is that right? Tell me more!

This is our response to our now BABBLING daughter! Yes, she's finally cooing and babbling, with a string of consistent vowels and consonants, much more than her original Canadian Goose squeaks. We're having a ball, going back and forth with her, conversing! And I was so worried that she wasn't making noises yet, she was just saving up a bunch of new tricks to release them all at once! We've been trying to get it on video to post, but each time she sees the camera, she suddenly gets quiet and stares at the camera. We'll try to be sneaky and get some babbling captured, it's so adorable. Now the competition begins, what will she say first....Mama or Dada?

I love Gymini!

Addison loves her Gymini time, she's really starting to grab on to the dangling toys, and of course drag them to her mouth!

Rollin'...Rollin'...Rollin'

Here's the play-by-play...it wasn't a fluke, she did it again today!

A day of firsts...

Tummy time is something that every Pediatrician tells you needs to happen every day, but most babies Addison's age (especially younger) hate to be put on their tummies. Their little necks just aren't strong enough to stay up, while their arms are trying to push up and figure out what to do. Whenever we would put Addison on her tummy, she grunts and cries, doing a complete face plant, which causes us to swoop her up and say "Enough of that dumb tummy time!" I have to admit that I've gotten in the habit of not putting her on her tummy because of her extreme dislike of it. However, this last week I've decided to give it a go again, and she's actually not screaming out in distress! She's holding her head up at about a 45 degree angle, (with me practically doing leg kicks and toe touches, encouraging her on!) and.......drum roll........today she rolled over onto her back! Of course I was whooping and hollering, and crying too (these milestones can be very emotional!) which caused her to look at me like "What in the world are you doing Mommy?" Her eyes were saucers, and then she broke into the biggest grin, like "Ha! I've had that trick up my sleeve and now I've decided to show you!" Of course when Chris got home, I couldn't get her to do it again, but that's always the case, right?

The other "first" for the day was her acceptance of a new pacifier, the big girl kind! She's been completely attached to her "kitty cat" pacifier, which is a pacifier (hospital kind) attached to a small stuffed animal like a beanie baby, which weighs it down and helps to keep it in her mouth. It's called a Wubbanub. She loves it, and it's been a life saver. However, today I thought I would give a "normal" pacifier a try, since she's making so many milestones, this is one she could tackle, no problem! I was right! In it went, and she sucked away and it didn't fall out, like it did before! She now has enough sucking power to create that suction needed to keep it in! As I'm typing this I'm realizing how funny it must sound to be reading this entry about tummy time and pacifiers, and the things I get excited about...but I'm sure other parents can relate. And if you're not a parent yet...you will completely get it someday! The question now is...what will tomorrow bring...

Just put me in the tub...

Bath time is one of Addison's favorites. She's graduated out of the "sling" that held her in place in the portable tub, and now she just sits upright in the portable tub, with me right by her side. She absolutely loves the water, she kicks her feet getting water everywhere. She hasn't figured out how to splash with her hands yet, but I'm sure that's coming. It's definitely a relaxation place for her, her face is priceless when we put her in the tub. It's like "ahhhhhhhhhh....."

Time flies...

Today we're celebrating our 2nd wedding anniversary...where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday I was just consumed with the details of our wedding, and now we're consumed with something new! We're also having fun getting ready for Mike and Tara's wedding! I can't believe my baby brother is getting married! The best part is that I'm gaining the coolest, sweetest, most sincere sister in law ever...I'm so excited. And she keeps me posted on all the latest celebrity gossip, whenever we have a question about what goes on in tinsel town, we know who to ask! Yesterday we went to Tara's bridal shower, and Addison wore a party dress for the occasion. She was a good girl, she slept, ate and sucked on my cousin Joanna's shoulder (sorry for the hickeys, Joanna!) which relieved me because I'm still feeling badly about the meltdown she had at Cousin Morgan's bridal shower a couple weeks ago. This was her third bridal shower, so she's a pro now!

Last night Chris and I dared to do what new parents dread...leaving Addison for the first time. We went to Jak's for our anniversary dinner, and left Addison with the two Grandmas, and cousin Kayla. We were nervous because she was tired and fussy when we left, and as we walked out the door Chris said "Maybe we should just run to Taco Bell and call it a night?" But we ventured forward, putting our trust in our moms who raised 5 kids between the two of them, so they can handle a screaming child for 2 hours, right? As we sat eating our yummy steak dinners, we wondered if she was screaming and if they were calling 911. We restrained ourselves from calling to check in, knowing that we would sound quite pathetic! When we pulled into the driveway, my bet was they got her to sleep but then she woke up and screamed the rest of the time. Chris' bet was she screamed the whole time. When we opened the door, there she was, sitting on my mom's lap while they bounced on the big ball, hand stuffed in her mouth, watching Olivia Newton John singing "Hopelessly Devoted to You!" It was like we hadn't even left. Whew! Only 2 meltdowns, one they attributed to gas! Good job, Grandmas! (and Kayla!)

We now know that we can leave for an occasional dinner, and know that Addison will survive.

Out with the old...

Addison is doing something new everyday it seems. The first biggie is her voice. She's found it! Chris and I are in hysterics each time we hear it because she sounds like either a Canadian Goose, or a 50 year smoker. We can't decide. She lets out these deep, guttural grunts that if you're not in the room when she does it and you hear it from afar, you will say "Was that just Addison?"

Another change is her tongue. She's found it too! She's been extending it as far as it will go, we think she's trying to sneak a peek at it! We'll have to capture it on film and post because it's pretty funny.

And last, she's outgrown her swing! Yes, our child is actually too big for something! We've been swaddling her when she sleeps in the swing, and now we can't put the safety arm over her because her legs are too big! She actually can fit in it just fine if she's just swinging for fun, without being swaddled, but this is the only place she'll nap, so we needed a swing that would fit her needs, so Craig's List to the rescue! I went and picked up a swing from a family out in Kenmore yesterday, and it's perfect. In the picture above, you will notice the iPod set up on the couch, it's playing her "rainstorm" track... ahhhh the measures we go to so she will sleep are beyond us!

Beating the heat

We're having record temperatures (for those of you from outside of Seattle!) and it's not easy with a newborn who wants to nurse, which creates body heat! We're surviving though, thanks to our new portable air conditioner (see picture) that we have stationed in Addison's room. We were pretty comfortable without it during the day, but once the late afternoon, evening hit, it was pretty miserable in our house, so we took many trips to her room to hang out! It's going to be in the high 90's today, hotter than yesterday, not sure how she's going to handle it! I think we might take a trip to the mall to cool down!

Addison is in love with her "Ocean Bouncy Seat!" It vibrates and makes lots of fun bubble and ocean noises, she's enamored with it. We normally have it upstairs so I can plop her in it when I take a shower, but we've dragged it downstairs so both mom and dad can have 2 hands available, to cook or just relax. Maybe we need another one for downstairs? :) As Addison's weight increases, our muscles need to catch up! Both Chris and I have commented that we are getting some pretty defined calf muscles from all of the bouncing we're doing! And that under arm flab? Gone! Now if only I could get rid of flab from other areas.... :)

Bjorn Breakthrough!

We had a major breakthrough this weekend, Addison is actually allowing us to put her in the Baby Bjorn carrier, without blood curdling screams! This is huge, because I haven't been able to take her for walks for any length of time, and I've been dying to get outside. We've been trying to get her in the Bjorn for weeks, and she hasn't wanted anything to do with it. Some people have told me to just make her tough it out and scream, but I don't think these people have kids or know what it's like to listen to your child scream like that. When they turn purple in the face, you know it's not a good thing! However this weekend, Chris and I both have had success with walking to the mailbox and back, and the last two evenings we've even walked further down to Mark Twain Elementary and back. Doesn't sound like far, but considering we couldn't even get out the front door a couple weeks ago, this is BIG!

Addison continues to make tons of developmental milestones, it's so fun to watch! She's batting at objects, and starting to grasp them too! She's also discovered her ears and head, which at first we were nervous that she might have an ear infection (babies tug at their ears when they have ear infections) but she's not crying when she grabs them, and no fever. It's most apparent when she nurses, she puts her hand back behind her head, very leisurely in fact, and then moves it down to her ear, and so forth. She probably thought "Wow, what's this knobby thing here? And this stringy stuff on my head?" We're still waiting for more coos and noises, she opens her mouth with huge smiles, and nothing comes out! We get little "pigeon noises" often, but nothing like a good squeal! It will come in time, and I'm sure we won't be able to keep her quiet! Remember, she is part Whitesel, and related to her Uncle Mikey, so we're sure she'll be a chatterbox!

Parade goers!

We took Addison to the Kirkland 4th of July Parade yesterday, and she was awesome! We found our friends Joy and Morgan Brooke, with their little guy Maguire! Addison especially liked when a band with loud drums came marching by, playing Tequila! That's the Husky in her! Yeah!

Update on weight gain: Since we've started the soy formula supplementing over 2 weeks ago, Addison continues to gain weight, but it's been with consequences. She's been extremely fussy and unhappy after she eats it. We finally put 2 and 2 together and realized that about 20 minutes after she downs the formula, she falls apart. And not a normal "I'm tired" falling apart. It's the kind where she straightens out stiff like a board, sometimes clenches her little fists, and SCREAMS. She's had quite a few of these melt downs, and now we're finally realizing that it might be the soy. So, we've switched her to a Hypo-Allergenic formula that is milk-based, but it has a reduced amount of lactose, and the milk-proteins are partially broken down, so it will help with her digestion. So far, so good! She seems to like it, and we haven't had a major melt down yet! We want our happy girl back, and hopefully this will help!

Sgt. Jaross!

On Tuesday, Chris was officially promoted to Sgt! We all went to his ceremony, and I pinned on his new badge, while he held Addison while she sucked down a bottle! We're so proud!

I'm a big girl now!

Addison finally graduated from her "newborn" size diapers, to size one! This is a momentous occasion! She continues to pack on the pounds...we think she's closing in on 11 pounds. On Friday, we went to Cousin Morgan's bridal shower...thank goodness Auntie Tara saved the day by riding with us, and being my "assistant" at the shower! Addison was happy for about 20 minutes, and when she wasn't smiling or sleeping, she was SCREAMING! It was a rough night, she had tons of gas and she was hot, and didn't want to nurse. I felt so bad for her, and the people at the shower who had to listen to her! We all decided that at least she looked cute while she screamed! She wore her first shoes to the shower, thanks for the darling shoes, Nancy Jopp! The pictures above are: new big girl diapers, Cousin Morgan, smiley girl, cute new outfit.