Opry Land Hotel

I love to go to Opry Land every year at Christmastime.  I am amazed at all the lights and decorations they put out every year.  The Hotel is always beautiful but especially at Christmas.   I am so glad we went.  Addison really liked all the lights.  She pretty much stayed awake the whole time just taking everything in.  She is so alert and observant.     

Andy turns 30

On November 30th Andy turned 30.  We had a little surprise party for him.  For the cake we had to have his favorite, a cookie cake.   

Addison's favorite part was Daddy's balloons.    

Thanks to Grammy and especially Auntie Kate for help with making food.  Thanks to Grandpa for getting Andy out of the house so he could be surprised.  

Addison's First Thanksgiving

Two month Birthday

Here is Addison on Nov. 22, 2008.   She has changed so much in the past two months.  

First Shots

After Addison's two month shots 

Addison got her two month shots a few weeks ago.  It was very traumatic for Dad and Mom.  Poor little thing had no idea what was  coming.  She did not get them until 3:00 in the afternoon so all day I was agonizing over how it would go.  All I could think about was her crying and screaming.  

Once we got back into the room and had her weight and height checked I was feeling more relaxed.  We found out that our little girl had gained just under three pounds in just a few weeks; that was almost 50% of her birth weight.  How amazing.  She had also grown three inches.  Now she is 9lbs 3ozs and 23 inches long.  

The nurse came in with the shots.  Daddy held her hand and Mommy stroked her little face.  She gave the first shot.  Addison gave out a cry and then proceeded to hold her breath and turn really red.  She was very angry.  She got the second and third shot and the nurse was fanning her little face trying to get her to breath again.  She let out a wail which let us know she was breathing  but also that she was in pain.  Daddy picked her up and held her close.  She stopped crying in just a minute or two.  It was pretty amazing to go from so upset to calm.  Per the Dr.'s instructions we gave her Tylenol every four hours to help with the pain.  

By the next day we could not even tell she had the shots other than the band-aids.  

Five year Anniversary

While we were in Pennsylvania Andy and I celebrated our five year anniversary.  It is amazing how quickly five years have gone by.  It has been wonderful.  We have gotten to do a lot of really fun things.  We also bought and sold a townhouse, bought two dogs, bought another house and most recently had Addison.  

I always imagined we would do something like a big vacation or cruise  for our five year anniversary so it is kind of funny to think we spent it in PA taking Great Grandma Bedi grocery shopping for about two hours and then going to church with my parents.  It was pretty anticlimactic but in a way it reminded me of part of the reason I love Andy so much; family is so important to him (to both of us really).

I am so thankful for the friend, husband and father Andy is.  

Sadly we did not even get a picture together on our anniversary :(

Addison goes to Pennsylvania

As I was saying Auntie Allie rode back to Nashville with us.  She and Kristin had devised a plan...Allie and Kristin would drive up to PA and surprise Pops and Nani.  Allie would stay a few days and then fly back to St. Louis.  Andy would stay in Nashville for the week and then fly up for the weekend.  Then Andy and Kristin would drive back to Nashville with Addison.  (Did you get all that ? :))

We got back to Nashville with a plan to get back on the road as quickly as possible.  Kristin would repack, feed baby Addison and then give her a bath.  Auntie Allie helped unpack the car and made dinner.  Andy unpacked, took care of the dogs and then assisted Kristin.  We all moved as quickly as possible because we were going to get back on the road and drive about half way to PA while Addison was (hopefully) sleeping.  Eating makes her sleepy and she hates baths so they really wear her out. We figured the combination of the two should knock her out for awhile:)  

Auntie Allie and Kristin were on the road again by 8:00 pm.  Sure enough Addison fell asleep.  We drove 5 1/2 hours to our desired stop and Addison did not wake up at all.  She stayed in her first hotel...A Holiday Inn Express.  

Addison with Auntie Allie

Auntie Allie and Kristin arrived in PA to surprise Pops and Nani.  Unfortunately Pops and Nani had accepted a last minuet dinner invitation from some friends and were not home.  We had to tell them that we were in PA.  Of course they cancelled their plans and hurried right home.

  Addison got to meet the rest of her great grandparents while in PA.  

First she met Nanny and Pappa

Then she met Great Grandma Shuey

Then she met Great Grandma Bedi

She also got to meet her Great Aunt Susan

Her Great Auntie Kath drove an hour and a half to see her for dinner and then drive home

Here she is with Pops (we have no pictures with Nani.  My camera was broken and Nani was taking all the pictures.  Sorry Nani!)

It was a very busy trip but it was great that Addison got to meet so many of her family members.  

St. Louis or Bust

Addison went on her first road trip.  We went to St. Louis to visit her Auntie Allie and Captain Awesome.  (That is the "uncle name" Adam has decided on.)  The trip took us just under six hours and that was with one stop to feed Addison.  It is so wonderful to have them so close to us compared to when they lived in California.While we were in St. Louis we went on a picnic and to the zoo one day.  It was FREEZING but we still had a lot of fun.  It was Addison's first trip to the zoo.  She pretty much slept through the whole thing:) We also went out to dinner and tried some foods native to St. Louis; toasted ravioli and frozen custard.  We also got to see the church Captain Awesome works at.  It is called Windsor Crossing Community Church.  http://www.wcrossing.org/index.html  We were very impressed with the church.  They seemed to have an awesome children's ministry.  The youth ministry (that is where Adam works) seems really great.   It is a unique kind of church that is really reaching out to many different kinds of people.  We got to visit a Sunday morning service.  The sermon series was on the book of Nehemiah.  The sermon was one that could have been tough but the pastor was very straight forward and did not play around.  Mommy got to stay in the service while Daddy left to go change a diaper.  He never came back.  We assumed he decided to stay outside and watch the sermon on a TV outside the sanctuary but were we wrong.  Addison had her first major blow out.  Dad got to experience the Koala changing tables found in most bathrooms.  Also, that particular Sunday Addison wore an outfit that had to go over hear head.  Dad had to try to figure a way to get it over hear head with out getting any poopies on Addison.  Another man walked into the bathroom exclaimed "oh man!" and promptly walked back out.  Dad managed to get Addison all changed, wash the outfit out in the sink and put on the extra outfit Mom had in the diaper bag.  Unfortunately the spare outfit was a little too small.  Mom and Auntie Allie could not stop laughing as the whole experience was told in great detail.  Dad did not think it was so funny.  Other than the diaper experience we had a great time in St. Louis! It is great that now we can picture where Adam and Allie live (of course it is decorated super cute and very homey) and also the church they are a part of.  We left St. Louis on Sunday afternoon.  Allie rode back to Nashville with us and then began Addison's second road trip...

More Friends

Kristin's roommate from college, Melissa, and her two children and Mom came to visit the other day.  They live in TX.  Melissa has been such a wonderful friend and always makes a point to stop in Nashville when they are traveling through or anywhere nearby.  

D'arcy and Julian loved Addison.  They were so sweet to her. They brought her a gift that included several of their favorite books.  We have already been reading a few of them.  

D'arcy and Julian will have a new brother or sister in March 2009. 

Thank you guys for coming over and for the gifts!!  

Halloween Dress-up

Addison had two Halloween outfits.  Mommy had more fun dressing her up than Addison had being dressed up.   

Buster turns five!

Today is Buster's fifth birthday.  We call him "nurse Buster" because he always can seem to sense when something is wrong and when one of us is not feeling well he will just curl up beside us as if he is taking care of us.  

He is the same way with Addison.  He seems very concerned when she cries.  If she is sleeping in her bed in the other room he stays in the room with her.  When she wakes up and starts to cry he comes out of the room to where we are to let us know she is crying.  Who needs a monitor when you have a Buster :)

Meeting Friends

Ellie, Alex, Riley Kate, Addison, Ryder and Davis

Riley Kate holding Addison

Davis holding Addison

Addison got to meet some new friends last night.  They are the kids of her Daddy and Mommy's friends.  She enjoyed her evening.  Pretty much she slept the whole time:)

Riley Kate and Davis did a great job holding Addison.  They loved her and it was so sweet to see them with her.  It will be fun to see everyone together as all the kids grow up.

Dustin and Amy have Riley Kate, Davis and Ellie.  

Brian and Kristin have Ryder

Brad and Maggie have Alex.  

  

Visitors

Addison got to meet her second cousins Ben and Matthew for the first time the other night.  Ben was brave enough to hold her even though she was a little fussy.  He was a natural.  She was very content just to sit and let him hold her.  

We were so happy they got to come over.  Come back anytime.   

One Month Old

Addison on her one month birthday

Smile progression...

Start

Middle

End

It is so hard to believe Addison is already one month old.  This month has flown by.  We realize we are so blessed to have such a wonderful baby.  Things have gone so smoothly and we are not even too sleep deprived.  During the day Addison eats about every three hours but at night she sleeps a lot longer.  There have been several occasions where she slept for seven hours straight.  Normally it is about four to five hours which is wonderful for Dad and Mom.  

Already we can see she has a laid back sweet personality.  She really only fusses when she has a reason ie. dirty diaper, hungry or Soothie (pacifier) falls out of her mouth  

Last week she started to really smile.  Before she would smile in her sleep or at random times while she was awake but as of last week she started smiling when we would talk to her or give her a kiss or when Daddy blows a raspberry on her tummy.  (It seems Daddy can always make her smile.)  One thing Mommy enjoys now  is when she wakes up to feed Addison or change her in the middle of the night she talks to Addison and Addison smiles as if she is happy to see Mommy.  How could you be upset for having to wake up in the middle of the night when you are greeted by such a sweet smile?

Addison is also so alert.  The past two days she has decided she does not really want to sleep during the day except for maybe 10 minutes here or there.  She loves to sit in her little vibrating chair and looks all around.  Most of the time happy as can be.  Mommy has to move her around though because she does seem to get bored of sitting in one place.  She likes new things to look at.  

Visiting Nana and Grammy

On Wednesday Mommy and Addison went to go and visit Nana.  We got got to eat lunch and spend some time hearing stories from Nana about when she was younger and when her daughters (Grammy and Great Aunt Celi) were younger.  We had a really nice time.  

As we were getting ready to go home Grammy called and we got to go to the hospital where Grammy works for her to show Addison to all her friends and co-workers.  I think we caused a pretty big distraction because people were coming from everywhere to see what baby was visiting.  

Lunch date with Daddy

Yesterday Addison and Mommy went to visit Daddy's office and then Daddy took us out for lunch.  Addison loves her Daddy.  He can always make her smile.  

Auntie Kate

Auntie Kate has come by twice and brought dinner since Addison was born.  The first time it was turkey breast in the crock pot with home made macaroni and cheese and the second time it was white chicken chili and corn bread.  It has been so wonderful.  She brings us yummy food and then holds Addison while we eat:)

Thanks so much Auntie Kate!

Auntie Allie comes to visit

Auntie Allie came to visit Addison several days after she was born.  Auntie Allie and her husband Uncle Adam just moved across the country from California to St. Louis, MO.  

One of the gifts they gave Addison was a beautiful quilt that was made by Uncle Adam's Mom.  It is one of our favorite gifts and already has been used several times including the day we went to the park.  

First visit to Realty Mortgage

Addison all dressed up to go to Mommy's office

Addison with Charlie (Kristin's boss)

Addison had her first trip to Mommy's old office.  After we went to the pediatrician we stopped in to surprise everyone.  Of course Mommy had to get her all dressed up in a cute little dress and socks that look like mary jane shoes.  

Trip to Centennial Park

Dad took off this past week to spend time with Addison and Mom.  We tried to go on little outings every day just to get out of the house.  According to the pediatrician we are really not supposed to go to enclosed places like the grocery store or the mall where there are lots of people and germs just yet until Addison is a few weeks older.  Since the weather has been so great we have been doing things outside.  We took her to Centennial Park to see the ducks one day.  

We did have to change a dirty diaper on a picnic table. We were prepared though and had plenty of diapers, wipes and a changing pad in the diaper bag. 

First Walk

Addison had a little bit of jaundice when she was born.  The Dr. said a good way to help get rid of it was to put Addison in the sunlight and to take her for walks in a covered stroller.  (This is a picture of her very first walk.) 

The weather has been beautiful so we have enjoyed taking walks almost every day.  It has been good for Addison because her jaundice is gone and it has been good for Mom to get out of the house and get some fresh air and exercise.  

First Sponge Bath

We gave Addison her first sponge bath.  We found out quickly that she does not like to be naked or wet.  She screamed pretty much the whole time.  (The pictures are a little blurry because we were moving so fast the whole time to get finished as quickly as possible:))

Hopefully once she can take a "real" bath in her little plastic tub she will like it a little better.