2 1/2 Year Old Well Appt.

We had a great visit with Dr. Sarah for Addison's 2 1/2 year well appointment.  
Addison's stats were:
Weight - 28.25 lbs (50%)
Height - 35 inches (25%)
Head Circumference - 48.5 cm (70%)

Addison chatted up Dr. Sarah and was such a good patient.  She let her look in her ears, eyes and mouth and smiled through it all.  Addison ears looked great and I am happy to report that both tubes are still in there!  Dr. Sarah thought Addison spoke very well and carried on a few short conversations with her.  We talked about potty training and how Addison doesn't seem interested in it.  Basically, she told me to take our time and don't push it because she might fight back hard on it.  All in all, it was a great appointment and we have a very healthy, happy little girl.
Addison had a bag full of eggs from the egg hunt they had at school earlier in the day...she was pumped with all the candy she found...I wasn't as pumped!

April 2014 - 2 1/2 Years Old!!

This little girl is growing up right before our eyes!  She seems so grown up most days and it's crazy to watch her learn new things and see how quickly she absorbs them.  Right now Addison seems hugely interested in the human body.  She is pretty fascinated with her boobs and makes comments like, "Daddy, those are your boobs...my boobs are in my shirt".  She recently asked if she could touch mine which I kindly replied no, I don't think so.  P.S. this didn't stop her from touching them.  She also likes looking at herself in the mirror and making silly faces.  She continues to talk so much and everyday when I pick her up from school there is a check box next to "talkative" and then it is circled.  The teachers have said if she's quiet, they know something is up!
I decided to try and ask Addison a series of questions to see how she'd answer them.  I asked her these questions over the course of a few days because she couldn't focus long enough to answer them all in one sitting!!  I wanted to add my commentary through out so I don't forget what she was like at this age!

What is your name? Addison (She sometimes wills say Addy Grace or Addison Crooks)

What is your favorite color? Pink (This child LOVES pink!  Pink shoes, pink clothes, pink toys, pink anything)

What is your favorite toy? She just stared at me like I was crazy.  I'm not sure she actually has a favorite toy though, she kind of rotates through which stuffed animal is her #1.  We have puppy, big teddy, pink teddy, tiny teddy, red teddy and Copper that seem to be in the rotation currently.  However, she sleeps with 20 stuffed animals and knows when one is missing!!

What is your favorite fruit? Again, blank stare.  Right now she is on a pineapple kick.  I am hoping with the summer months rolling in she'll be eating way more fruit then usual!

What is your favorite TV show? Rio (We have been watching the movie Rio on repeat lately.  She is obsessed with it and as luck may have it, Rio 2 recently came out so we plan on taking Addy to see it as her first movie in the theater.)

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch?  Her answer was simple: Food.

What is your favorite outfit?  She didn't answer, but she tries to wear her pink Sofia outfit as much as possible!  

What is your favorite game?  No answer from Addy and the only thing I could think of was catch!  She loves to pretty much play catch with anything.

What is your favorite snack? graham crackers.  She looks so cute dipping her little graham crackers in her milk cup.

What is your favorite animal? Dog.

What is your favorite book? She quickly replied, Where the wild things are!! Then just as quickly changed her answer to fishy book.  The fishy book is actually called Rainbow Fish and we pretty much read it every night.

Who is your best friend? Gannon (I think it was because I asked her while he was sitting next to her...when I asked her later she said, my daddy)

What is your favorite thing to do outside?  Play.  Plain & simple!

What is your favorite holiday?  She didn't reply but I don't think she actually knows what that means!  She just told us the other day that the Easter bunny is coming to visit Santa....soooo who knows what's going on in that brain of hers!

What do you like to take to bed with you at night?  She replied "my daddy".  I guess in her defense, he does come in to her bedroom every night to put her to bed!

What do you want to be when you grow up? Again, no answer

Where do you want to go on vacation? In a very whiny tone, I want to go on vacation.

Who do you want to come over for a play date?  Jacob & Emily...these are two kids that are in her class.  She talks about them non-stop!

Who do you love? Everyone (Awwww)

What’s your favorite drink? Chocolate Milk

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the month!

March 2014

During the past month we've been busy!  We took Addy to see her first circus, Grandpa & Nonna visited, gymnastics started, we had a visit from Aunt Amanda, had a stomach bug & an ear infection!
Justin & I took Addy to the circus on a Thursday night.  It was a late night for Addison, but she really seemed to enjoy it!  She was most fascinated with the animals: elephants, dogs, tigers & horses.  She wasn't really a fan of the clowns...but we were far enough away so I don't think she was actually scared by them.
We left early (8:15) because she had started to yawn big time and was hair twirling up a storm.

At the circus, in awe of the horses

A few weeks ago we started gymnastics.  It is a Saturday morning class that is 45 minutes long and goes for 8 weeks.  It was a gift from her Aunt Amanda, Uncle Ian & Aunt Shelly for Christmas.  It's the gift that keeps giving!  Addison started off being a little timid, but even after our third week I could see many changes.  She is more comfortable in the foam pit, on the trampoline and loves the obstacle course.  She's learning to do headstands and somersaults which quickly became her favorite.  After this 8 week stint, I plan to enroll her into swimming classes at the YMCA.  She's around the pool enough during the summer months and i'd like her to have some lessons & pool familiarity before swim season is back in full force!

Gymnastics with Aunt Manda

Addy continues to have a great appetite.  She tries a lot of things, but her favorite is still mac & cheese or pizza.  She is still obsessed with marshmallows.  She'll ask for them in a whispered voice because she knows she isn't supposed to have them.  Let's be honest though, she still has her fair share.  Another favorite that has shocked me is black olives...she will eat them ALL DAY if I let her!
We had a great visit with Justin's parents even though it was a quick one.  They arrived on a Friday night and had to leave Monday morning.  They were supposed to drive in on Thursday, but the weather had a different idea for them.  Addison had a great time hanging out with them and we were sad to see them go.

Reading a book before bed with Grandpa & Nonna

On a different note, I am positive that Addison is testing my patience. Addison is back to her old ways when it comes to sleeping habits.  She was doing so well for a long stretch of time, but then she got sick with a stomach bug & then got her first ear infection since her tubes have been put in.  She had a few miserable nights in which I let her sleep with us.  Now she won't go to bed at night without a screaming and crying fit and won't stay asleep through the night to save her life.  It is exhausting for all involved!  Just the other night when she wouldn't go to sleep, I finally went in to wipe her nose and to ask her whats wrong.  She told me she just wanted to snuggle!?  How does a 2 1/2 year old know how to play me so well!?  I'm honestly at a loss and all the crying tugs at my heart strings and makes my stomach hurt.  At the same time, I am annoyed that I have these feelings because I know we'd all be happier with a good nights sleep!  Once again, we will be forced to lay the law down resulting in a few unpleasant nights.
I've said it before, but I continue to be surprised at how she can go from being the sweetest of children to the most ticked off child ever.  I love it when our little Addy is being sweet, but I don't know if it's the terrible two's but there are times when I think this can't even be my child!  I don't know if she's exerting her independence or what, but it makes for some fun times.  We've learned to offer things in twos so it seems like she is choosing, but sometimes even then she wants nothing to do with it!  One good thing is that spring/summer is rapidly approaching.  I think with some warmer days and outside play, she will get more energy out of her system, making us all a little happier!
Addison is soo girly in many aspects.  She currently won't wear anything unless it has some sort of pink color in it.  Purple works too, but mostly she asks for pink.  She has a Sofia nightgown that she wants to wear every night, until recently when my mom bought her Ariel pj's.  Now she agrees to mix it up between the two pairs, which means doing laundry more frequently than I want to!  She loves having her nails painted and loves to put on chapstick.  She likes watching anything princess related and sometimes says she herself is a princess.  Let's hope next months post finds me more rested!

Chalk on a sunny day

Enjoying time with Aunt Shelly

Addy showing off her nailpolish

February 2014

I'm not even sure where to start!  Life seems to be going non-stop and my thoughts are just all over the place!  I'm pretty sure Addison is 2 going on 8.  The attitude, the gestures, the facial expressions, the vocab are just unbelievable to us.  This girl can talk!  I constantly get "reports" from school saying she was very chatty or very talkative.  She seems to be one of the more out spoken children in her classroom.  I really need to work on what I say because she REPEATS EVERYTHING.   She's so observant and even when I don't think she is paying attention, she must be because of the things she'll say.
We've been dealing with snow the last couple weeks which have made for some fun days.  We have gone out in the snow to play a little, but she gets cold/bored quick and wants to go back inside.  We have been house bound a few days and have made the best of the situation.  It was pretty fun just hanging out with Justin, Addison & Brinkley.
Addison is always changing up what are her "favorite" things to do are, but currently she really loves playing with play dough, memory (matching) games, throwing the ball for Brinkley, reading books upon books, playing with her stuffed animals in her crib and playing with stickers.  Her new favorite show is The Little Mermaid...it's an old cartoon that I remember Amanda & Shelly watching when they were younger so it kind of cracks me up that Addison likes it so much.  It's on every morning while we are getting ready for work and she just loves Ariel.  The show seems scary to me for a 2 year old, but she doesn't seem to be bothered by it.
Her current snack obsessions are marshmallows & chocolate.  She asks for marshmallows all the time!  When I introduced her to hot chocolate with marshmallows it was like her world exploded!  She couldn't believe 2 wonderful things could be eaten together.  She still has a cheese "problem" and asks for that as often as she asks for marshmallows.  I try to have enough good foods lying around so I can give her better snack options, but sometimes she wants nothing to do with it.
Addison is becoming more & more independent and wants to do or try everything on her own.  Simple tasks like getting on the bed take just a little longer because she is determined to do it herself.  I like this attitude, but sometimes it is exhausting!!  Everything has to go a little slower and she gets super ticked if you help.  She has been really into helping me make cookies and wants to do every step by herself.  She actually lets me do the eggs because in her words, "that's messy".  Addison wants to do a lot of things with Brinkley...she is usually a good dog, but gets a little skittish when Addison grabs her around her neck and tries to drag her around (I wouldn't enjoy that either!)  We've had to keep a closer eye on them, just because Addison is bossy with her.  Brinkley really is good with her in every other aspect, but I don't want to give her a reason to snap at Addy.
Other than that, nothing too exciting going on in our life!  Basically the same old stuff day to day and wondering when I might try and potty train Addy and upgrade her to a big girl bed!

Texas 2014

This year my mom decided she needed to head to Texas in February.  She asked if I'd be interested in the trip and I couldn't pass it up!  The trip was yet again, my mom, my sister Shelly, Addison and myself.  A lovely little girl's weekend.  Addy was such a trooper and did really well with all the flights.  There were four flights total, 2 there and 2 back with a long leg (2 1/2 hours) and a short leg (about 30 minutes).  Addy slept during the 2 1/2 hour trip out to Texas and then again on that same flight home!  This makes travelling so much easier.  She is also easily entertained with the movies & shows we have on our Kindle plus my mom got her several sticker books and regular books to play with and Shelly downloaded a few games on her iPad.
We arrived in Texas and went straight to the nursing home where my Grandma lives.  Addison warmed right up to her and gave her a big hug & kiss.  My Grandma had some stuffed animals on her shelves that Addison quickly made her own and was very comfortable in her environment.  Addison warmed up very quick to my Aunt Diane & Uncle Wes as well.  She had fun playing games with both of them and got use to their house in a short amount of time.
We had a great few days.  We went to an Aquarium on one of the days we were there and Addy had a blast.  That day we were able to take my Grandma out to dinner to the place right around the corner from the nursing home.  It was a pretty warm day, so it felt good to be out in the sun.  The next day was supposed to be nice again, so we decided to walk to the playground and let Addy blow off some energy.  She was in love with this playground and had a ball!!  She probably walked up the stairs to the slide a good 30 times and also went on the swings for awhile. Later in the day we had my Grandma over to my aunt's house for dinner.  We pretty much made a ton of different appetizers and just hung out all day.  It was nice to let Addison hang out and play with my Grandma.  This also gave us some time to hang with my Grandma while Addison took a nice nap.  She took some really good naps while in Texas, but slept like crap at night!  That child just doesn't like you changing up her bedtime routine.  She slept in bed with me all 3 nights and on the last night developed a little fever.  The poor thing was pretty toasty so I threw her into a late night bath hoping it would bring it down.  She eventually fell back asleep, but man was I tired!
By the time we arrived home, Addison was itching to see her daddy.  She was sooo happy to see him at the airport and I'm not sure she let him go until after we got our bags and got to the car.  Another great Texas trip in the books!!

New Years Eve

We hadn't planned to do anything for NYE because of all that had gone on the prior week.  With it being a work day, Addy being sick and travelling we just weren't feeling it!
Justin, Addison & I had a nice little dinner and hung out.  Addy went to bed a little later then usual, but nothing too exciting.  At about 10:30 I announced that I didn't think I was going to make it til midnight, however, Addy had other plans.  She woke up around 11 and I brought her downstairs to hang with us a little.  At 11:30 we brought her up to our bed to read and book and then it was bedtime again.  Justin & I watched the ball drop from our bed and then it was lights out for me!
Here is the only pic from that night...Addy in our bed reading a book at 11:30!

Christmas 2013 in NC

We made our long trek back home (around 12 hours!) the Saturday after Christmas.  Addison is such a trooper and did so well on the drive.  At one of our stops, she insisted on running around and taking a short walk, so we obliged.  We knew we weren't going to be getting home anytime soon and the kid needed to let some energy out!  Our carpets had been professionally cleaned while we were in NY and my parents had come over to put all the furniture back into place and tidy things up for our arrival.  It was so nice to come home to a very clean house!
The day after, we had our Christmas dinner/present opening scheduled with my family.  Addy was once again ecstatic to open gifts.  She was finally feeling/looking really good so that was nice.  Every time she opened a gift she said, "Look Guppy"!. My dad said it was like she knew my mom did all the shopping and was showing him what they got her.  It was a nice quiet finish to a long week and I actually got some family pictures!  It is nearly impossible to get a picture of all 4 of us, so i was soo happy!

Opening Gifts

Shelly & Addy

Take 1

Take 2

Take 3