Hard to believe

At this time last year I was a little over 5 months pregnant, we were moving into our new house and I had just started nannying for the Peloza triplets. One year later Addison is 8 months old, we are still in the same house and I am blessed to still be nannying for the Pelozas and watching them grow up right along with Addison.
Some pictures from Addison and my day at work :)



Loves those balls! Apparently she is bowing in this picture??

The shirt says it all!

Me and my belly a whole year ago...

My baby girl is 8 months old today...what a miracle she is!

Whirlwind

I don't know where the last week has gone but just wanted to update and let everyone know we haven't fallen off the face of the earth. I would say that because of the holiday weekend I have my days all screwed up but I haven't known what day it is since becoming a mommy. Probably the reason why Addison never has the right "day of the week" bib on.
Addison spent memorial day at a sitters so mommy and daddy could have some fun with college friends. It was a nice relaxing day by the pool with friends and plenty of cold Corona but I did look at Alex mid-party and say, "I really don't miss this." It's hard acting like your 18 again ;)
Tuesday marked the beginning of my summer session of school and I have been swamped with reading, essays and exams. Addison has been taking 2-3 hour naps twice a day though so that gives me some down time with which to study even though all I want to do is take a long nap!
We had two playdates this week which is a far cry from our usual weeks of 1-2 playdates a day. I think both Addison and I needed the rest though, sometimes home is what we need.
I took Addison to the sitters house today so I could cram in some schoolwork but I spent the whole time missing her. Sitter said she did really well though, took a long nap and was smiley and playful all day. I picked her up around 5:30 and she went straight to bed when we got home, she is such a rockstar!
Tomorrow Addison and I head to work at 10 and Alex will pick her up at 5 to give her a bath and put her to bed at home. I was just putting her to sleep at work but it kills me when we have to leave and I have to wake her when she is so peaceful.

Some pictures from this past week....

Addison and her friend Katrina both showed up to the playdate in the same shirt. Katrina doesn't look too pleased with the whole matching thing haha

Addison doesn't look very happy here but the picture is just too cute. Her friend Julia is holdiner her hand :)

There's my happy girl!

My child is a genius

Today was Addison's first ever ice cream social. She got all dolled up for the event in a pretty purple sun dress complete with matching hair bow. Our task as guests was to bring a topping to share, so with 19 attendees the spread was mind boggling. There were oreos, peanuts, bananas, syrups of every flavor, chocolate covered marshmallows, candies, pie etc etc. (Oh I dont have a sweet tooth at all :) ) I had my sundae master planned in my mind but when it got down to it and with Addison's "help" I ended up with a pretty sad looking bowl of melted ice cream and toppings. Funny how kids just take over priority once youre a mom, even over ice cream! I did however share some of my vanilla ice cream with Miss Addison and she pretty much thought it was the most delicious thing ever created. She made a sour face every time I gave her a bite but she opened right back up for more. A girl after my own heart I guess.

Look at cutie patootie in her polka-dot dress

At the ice cream party eating her corn&sweet potatoes

Gettin down to the good stuff! Vanilla Ice Cream!

Tonight we had some fun at home with Alex, we hung out in the office rolling around on the floor with the dogs and taking funny pictures and videos. This is where the genius part comes in. Not only is Addison an olympic roller but she is rocking really well on all fours and if I am not mistaken, she repeats her name after me towards the end of the video. Just watch and be amazed by the awesomeness that is Addison...

I feel like I'm always the one behind the camera so Alex took this one of us...I think she is starting to look more and more like me :) YAY

Family <3


Miss Addison in all her glory and saying her own name!

Baby Signs

Today we had a preview class of "baby signs" at our mommy friend Taylor's house. Baby signs integrates American Sign Language with babies motor capabilities to create a line of communication through signs until vocal ability is acquired. I've signing with Addison at home since she was little using my years of "mad signing skills" from high school and college ;P She does not seem to care much yet and she spent most of the class playing with toys and babbling to herself. Either way, I think all of these classes are good for her development and are beneficial and fun for her and for me!

Big Class!

Playing with her toys, not paying attention to the teacher...

Under the parachute!

Rocking on her knees!




Parachute fun! Addison liked being under the parachute!

Bubbles Bubbles Everywhere

Addison had quite the day today. We started our morning at the Tumbleweed Rec Center at the "Bubble Blast" class. Basically a big open area in the middle of the center filled with bubble machines, buckets of bubbles and wands. Huge nightmare for the moms of children that could crawl and walk but great for us! Addison sat in the same spot the entire time just mesmerized by all the bubbles and activity. Only downside was that the bubbles were the kind that stick so as we left we were super sticky and wet. Oh well, it's no fun if you dont get dirty!
After that we were off to our weekly music class where we sing and dance and play instruments and act like total idiots but the babies love it! We have a CD at home of all the songs from class so Addison and I practice on our days off haha :D
This afternoon Addison took a 3 hour nap, she was tuckered out! Then we headed to the triplets house for some pool time! Their mommy was nice enough to let Addison, Alex and I come over and spend some time hanging out in the water. It was much needed and very appreciated! Good day all around :)

Memorized by the bubbles

Still in the same spot haha

All ready to swim mommy!

Pool with daddy

All dried off with mommy!


Wrinkle toes

We aren't ready for roadtrips!

Alex is working graveyard shifts for the next few weeks (hopefully it is only that long ugh!) But the good thing is we get him home during the day! We spent most of the day today in the car driving an hour to Litchfield Park and back. We met with our wedding coordinator at our wedding/reception site and are so excited about how things are coming along, it should be a very special day. Addison spent the whole time babbling over us, she has big plans for how she thinks the day should go...it was totally adorable!:D
After our meeting we stopped at "Friendship Park" in Avondale. We were hoping to be able to put Miss Addison in the baby swing for the first time but the genius who designed the park apparently didn't think to put a canopy over them, so the seats were about a million degrees and standing in the sun for anymore than 5 seconds is a big NO-NO in Arizona this time of year. There was however a sun canopy over the actual play area but seeing as Addison doesn't crawl let alone climb on the jungle gym it was a big fat bummer! We caught some cute pictures of her though which makes any trip worthwhile!!!


Addison and I...I think I'm a little overdressed for the park but I'm tired of feeling like I dress frumpy all of the time ;)

Beautiful girl...Wearing the right bib on the right day! That is a rarity!

Such a big girl!

Hi Ma!

Daddy's girl <3

We had quite a fun weekend with the triplets Saturday and Sunday. Addison came with me to work both days...she loves being around the "big kids." And both nights she slept like a rock, not waking up until 5am and then going back down until 7:30am WOOHOO!!! Miss Addison has learned how to push herself backwards in the walker there, eats big kid biscuits and toast and gets to play with new and exciting toys all day. No wonder she loves it there!
I just wanted to share these adorable pictures of Addison with Taryn, Brooke and Garrett, enjoying snack time and the Arizona sun :)


Taryn and Brooke pushing Addison around in the walker :D

Messy girl loving her toast!



Addison chillin in the water

Cutie patootie

Brooke and Addison enjoying the Arizona evening!


And a video of the busy girls hard at play :D

Not to toot my own horn but I figured I'd win...

A girlfriend of mine sent me this video and it made my day :D
Mother of the year
Thank you to all those who made this possible!

I'll be walking any day now!

Addison has finally learned how to "walk" while I hold her hands. It is so cute and scary at the same time! Alex took a video although it is sideways but it's still cute :D

Scooter!

Alex got home from work around 4:30 and before bath and bedtime we all played together. Addison and I were laying on the floor laughing at eachother when all the sudden she starts SCOOTING backwards! It was amazing! We got some of it on video but mostly her giggling which is fun to watch too :)

Creative Hands

So today, Addison and I went with our playgroup to "Creative Hands Studio" to make pottery with her little handprint on it. It was a great idea of one of the Mom's, to do as a gift to ourselves for mothers day! Addison and I picked out a tile and with the help of another mommy, we got a PERFECT little handprint :) I decorated it with her name and the date. I hope to make this a tradition for Mothers Day, adding a new tile each year!


Working hard!

Addison's tile...hard to see but once it is fired in the kiln it will look awesome!!!

Mommies and Babies!

Count those teeth!

Lunch in her big girl high chair, which mommy thoroughly disinfected before use :)

Checkup

Today was Addison's 6 month checkup! We did it a little late as we decided to switch pediatricians AND we switched insurance providers with Alex's new job. The new doctor was amazing and loved Addison :D I really liked her because she was very hands on (playing and talking with Addison) and spent time with us to answer all of our questions etc.
Stats:
Weight: 14 pounds 10.5 oz (10th percentile)
Height: 27 inches! (75th percentile)

Looks like Addison might be tall like her daddy :) Her weight is low but not of any concern. Dr just suggested we feed her solids more often but thinks she will just be naturally thin.
All of the rooms were decorated with bright, vibrant pictures and what else is on the wall of Addison's room but a huge giraffe! For those of you that don't know Addison has a collection of giraffes, including a 7 foot stuffed one named Harold!

Hanging out at the dr's office!

Family and Friends

It was a crazy weekend around our house. My roomates from college came into town to spend a few days with me and to meet Addison of course! Addison loved all of the attention and Chelsea and Crosby really enjoyed getting to know her better. It is really weird and funny and bizarre to see the girls I knew as wild and carefree 18 year olds, to be nurturing "aunties" to your child. I think it was dually weird for them to see me in the mother roll. Alex and I were talking about how crazy it is to recieve emails from high school and college friends and now instead of being pictures and stories about wild spring breaks, it is pictures of their weddings and children.
Naturally, the fact that 2 of my favorite girls were here, meant we made big plans for the weekend and Miss Addison had her very first babysitter. We found a lovely lady who runs her own in-home day care during the day and also offers night and weekend childcare for parents who want that much needed date night. She lives on a beautiful piece of land in queen creek, with dogs and goats of all things. I drove Addison over there around 7pm Friday with her overnight bag packed. I swaddled and fed her and laid her in the crib Nila had set up for her. The tears started as soon as I left the room...I think I cried for about 2 hours. It was so terribly hard to leave her and I thought about her most of the night, although it was a good first step as Saturday night it was easier to leave her.
Alex's dad, Grandpa Grieger, was in town for the day on Saturday and we spent most of the afternoon and early evening with him and Alex's grandma and aunt. Grandpa hadn't seen her since Thanksgiving so naturally he wass shocked at just how much she has grown, how interactive she is and how many teeth she has!!! (I think everybody is shocked by that haha) Addison showed off her rolling skills, sitting up, talking and holding her own bottle among other things. It was lovely to be able to spend a day with family and hope to do much more of it in the future.
As always, pictures from our wonderful times are posted below...


Morning Playtime!



Posing with Daddy and Grandpa


Holding onto daddy tight

Family <3

Addison and Grandpa

Playing!

Addison and Crosby...she looks a lot like Alex in this picture!

The girls :)