Summer time and the livins' easy

Yesterday Addison and I had a pool playdate with a new playgroup I joined called "Christian Mommies with Little Ones." The current members were all so welcoming and it turns out I already know a few people in the group! Funny how things work out like that!
The pool doesn't open until 10 but Addison and I got to the pool at 9:30 as we were running early which almost never happens! There was already a LINE and we were about 5 groups back. By the time 10am rolled around, the line was wrapped around the parking lot. People are CRAZY about pool time during the AZ summer! We managed to get a chair and stake out our area then into the pool we went. This aquatic center has a "zero depth" area for the kids to play in, the deepest it gets is 1' 6" which is perfect for Addison! She can have some independence and I can relax knowing if she goes under she isn't going far. Addison was SO excited to splash around and play with the other kids. Her favorite thing to do was go into the shallower area and put her arms down, almost like a push up and then let her feet float up to the top. She thought it was stinkin hilarious! She tripped a few times and went completely under, I was right there to pull her back up and was surprised that it didn't seem to phase her! Guess we have got to get this girl in swimming lessons!

Hi Mom!

Her favorite thing was letting those legs float up to the surface...so silly

My beauty queen!

Snack time with her new friend Rylee

Feetsies <3

Observing

Love this one! My happy baby girl!

11:10am...

Much too early for 100 degrees!

Hard head

Oh how i adore my goofball Addison. It has been tough with her lately, she has become so hard headed and stubborn that it makes my job as "mom" that much more difficult. We are encouraging her to "use her words" and oh how I hate that phrase! I swore I would NEVER use it, kind of like how I would NEVER put my child on a leash...HA! She got into a really bad habit of saying "eh eh eh!" whenever she wanted something even though she has the vocabulary to ask for what she wants. She still isn't putting more than two words together but she does have elaborate conversations with herself and with baby doll, I just wonder what is going through her little mind! My favorite Addison story as of late is today when I was taking her upstairs to bed, she all the sudden asked "Baby? baby?" I remembered that we had left baby in the car and being the awesome mom I am, I was feeling too lazy to walk all the way back downstairs and into the garage to get dolly. So I grabbed her other baby doll which was close by and handed it to her. She was NOT happy. She screamed "NO!" and threw baby. I rolled my eyes and chuckled to myself, quick ran out to the car and got her other baby and as soon as she saw it she lit up and gave dolly a big hug. So much for her not having any lovies that she has to take with her everywhere! Dolly is here to stay!
And here are some pictures of "Addison lately"

Princess Addison on her royal pool throne!


As you can see, the other dolly sits neglected on the floor haha!


All dressed up with no place to go!

Dolly

I laid Addison down for a nap about 20 minutes ago and she now insists on sleeping with her baby doll. That's in addition to baby sitting with her in her high chair, coming with on car rides, into stores and everywhere else we go. This particular dolly can also go in the bathtub but I wont let onto that until its my last card to play :) Anyways, Addison is still in there talking and playing with baby and sounds nowhere near ready to take a nap even though she is tired out! It just amazes me that 5 days ago she could have cared a less about her baby and then something clicked and now they are totally bff's!

Naked Time!

I woke up this morning to discover that my sweet daughter had taken off her diaper, thrown if out of the crib and was saying "uh oh uh oh ewwww" over and over again. I had to burst out laughing because she looked so ridiculous and cute with her bare little tush but now we have learned our lesson that Addison needs to wear shirts and pants to bed, not just a nightgown! Oh the wonderful joys of everyday life! And on that note, Addison has become obsessed lately with trying to take off her clothes...home, public places, it doesn't matter she's ready to strip anywhere! She has also started telling us when she goes poopy in her diaper which is awesome! She still wont sit on her potty for more than 2 seconds but I feel like we are making some progress at least :)
I cannot believe how much Add has started talking over the past few weeks. She is starting to form sentences and repeats as many words as she can figure out how to say. On the other hand when she doesn't have the words to express herself, I just get this high pitched shriek and fake crying. Today we took a trip to Hobby Lobby and she wanted in-out-in-out of the cart, then she wanted to touch everything she could reach (she only broke one thing though, doh!), then she grabbed a pillow and pretended to go night night time in the middle of the store. Needless to say, it is really hard to shop with her nowadays!
I love Addison and my days together and I love watching her grow but watching her grow up makes me so so sad inside.

Beautiful

A beautiful quote that fills my heart with comfort and joy...

"They say that time in heaven is compared to 'the blink of an eye'
for us on this earth. Sometimes it helps me to think of my child
running ahead of me through a beautiful field of wildflowers and
butterflies; so happy and completely caught up in what he is
doing that when he looks behind him, I'll already be there."

Update

I've been slacking on posts but not much has happened over the past month or so since we lost Dash. We have really been working on our family and spending quality time together.
Mothers day weekend was bittersweet, it is so wonderful to realize how much Addison has grown in the past year but at the same time our loss was so fresh that it was hard to have a completely celebratory day. My mom came down for the weekend and it was really nice to see her and have some fun for a change! My mom and her husband arrived the Friday of mothers day weekend and came to visit our house that night. Addison was a little cautious at first but after a few minutes she warmed right up to my mom and pretty much thought she was the greatest playmate ever! They colored, played peekaboo and were just plain squirrly, it was so cute to see :)
Saturday we visited them at their hotel in Scottsdale for some much needed relaxation. Daddy and Addison went swimming with MiMi and Addison's love of water was born! She loved floating with the noodles and by the end of our time she was jumping off the side of the pool into the water! My little dare devil! After the pool we went to my favorite little restaurant called "The Grape Vine." We used to go to Arizona as a family every year since I can remember to visit my grandparents. We would designate one day just to go to Old Town. Each of us kids got $20 to buy something fun at one of the shops and it was always the highlight of the trip. The Grape Vine was the restaurant that without fail we always had lunch at. I love that it is still around and still serving the worlds greatest lavosh! YUM! After lunch it was nap time for all and then off to the D-Backs game! We ended up scoring great box seats and Addison sat and cheered through ALL 9 INNINGS! She is such a little baseball fan! Even when we are at home, she likes to sit and watch the D-Backs play on tv...she is SO my kid :) We all wore our D-Backs jerseys like true fans and had such a fun time, even though they lost horribly!
Mothers day we went to brunch at Saddle Ranch in Scottsdale and it was fabulous! We enjoyed mimosas and I ordered this divine french toast which was on the house for mamas! What a great weekend!











Lately Addison has had her little friend Bryar coming over a few times a week to play while her mommy works. These girls are two peas in a pod and have a BLAST together. I just crack up even looking that them, they are so stinkin cute! We love you Miss Bryar, thank you for being our friend!

The Busiest Day in Heaven

***Happy Mothers day to all my mommy friends with angels here on earth and angels up in heaven!***

"The Busiest Day in Heaven"
It's the busiest day in Heaven
I'm planning a big surprise
To let you know I love you
And that no one ever dies.
Even though you're down below
And I am up above,
I'm sending you these wishes
And all my angel love.
It's really quite exciting
To plan this big event,
For lots of gifts will come your way,
And all are heaven sent.
First, I'll take a bubble bath-My splashes might cause some rain,
But knowing all the fun I'm having,
Will help to ease your pain.
Next, I'll get some pictures
In my halo and my gown,
So when you get to Heaven,
You can show them all around.
I have color crayons in Heaven,
And I will draw some star so bright
And place them in the sky today
For you to see tonight.
Then, Jesus will have story time,
And I will sit upon his lap.
He'll tell me all about you
Just before I nap.
I'll wake up full of energy
And play a game or two,
Before I finish sending
All my love to you.
After snack I'll write a song
For all the birds to sing,
And know I've made you happy
With all the joy it brings.
At nighttime I'll be tired,
But I'll still hold you tight.
My arms will wrap around you
And keep you through the night.
And when you finally slumber,I will kneel to pray,
Asking God to bless you
On this special Mother's Day.
Love,
Your Little Angel