Our family picture from the Fair!

Ventura County Fair 2008!

Riding the carousel. I would have put her on a horse, but I was a little nervous at the lack of straps on them.
Ready to play a water game with Grandmom
Roger won two fish for Addison!
She attempted to scramble their brains, but we rescued them.
On another kid ride. Clearly I am having more fun than Adds. I got my four tickets worth!

Addison- really enjoying some roasted corn
Still really liking the corn. She ate the entire thing!
Excited over animals! My little animal lover!
Daddy is checking out the pigs
Doing her best to entice one over to her

Roger trying to get Addie to share her ice cream!

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Little Ms. Chatterbox

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Checking out my new slide from Grandma!

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Checking out my new swing from Grandma!

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Wordless Wednesday

*sigh* She plays with babies and strollers now...I love this girl!

Addison's First Haircut!

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books Addison got her first haircut on Saturday. I figured it was time to even up the back mullet with the side wispy hair she has. She was all good when we got to Supercuts, and even when we put her up on the booster, but as soon as we tried to put the smock around her, she flipped! We tried everything, her paci, a flower, and a lollipop. We even tried my mom wearing a smock to show her it was ok. None of it worked. In the end, she sat on my mom's lap with paci in mouth, flower in hand, and my mom still wearing the smock. Comedy! You can see how hard she was sucking on her paci in the video, she was worked up! In the end they gave us a cute little certificate and we called it a day. You can't tell her cute much from the front, but the back looks much less straggly :)

Wordless Wednesday

Oh the Daddy love...

These pictures melt my heart! Lately Addison will grab our fingers and walk us over to where she wants something. It's really sweet, she gets overwhelmed though when she wants to hold both of our hands, in addition to something else. It's funny- her own little conflict of interest!

The Kid-Napper?

We picked this up at Pinecrest the other day while dropping off our remaining paperwork. All of the kids have the same mats, called Kid-Nappers, but in a few different colors. Now, they are pretty neat. They have an attached blanket and pillow and roll up for storage, but the name?? They really need to rethink that!!

We washed it recently and have been letting Addie sleep with it so it is something of her's when she starts her new school :)

I'm 20 Months Old!

My lord, 20 months old? My baby, my girl, I can't believe it. But those moments when I get sad that she isn't a baby anymore, she breaks out something new and entertaining. This girl is a blast!
Addison,as always ,continues her love for nature. We now will move her high chair closest to the backyard window so she can gaze outside. She cracks up watching the squirrels in the trees (on a side note- we have some crazy squirrels). Roger recently brought home a hummingbird and a seed bird feeder. We hung them both in the backyard a couple weeks ago and explained to Addison about the feeders and how the birds would come visit them to eat. Since then we've had tons of finches and a couple of hummingbirds. She (not so quietly) observes them in the trees and will point them out to us.
If she isn't outside, she wants to be. She's mastered the words "Shoes" and "Outside", which sound more like "sheewws" and "ow-sye" in her little language. We actually need to make sure our front door is always locked also. She can pull down easily on the lever. While outside, she loves to run all over. We go on nightly walks with my neighbor and her kids and she gazes up at the trees and yells to the dogs as we walk around. We've found these walks to be relaxing for her :) She is also all about being helpful. We've been working a lot lately in the backyard. She loves to pick up rocks and bring them over to us. We also recently bought her a kid rake and shovel, it was getting difficult for her to manage with the big ones :) She excitedly will throw things in the trash if you ask her. We just have to watch that she doesn't go crazy. I recently found an aray of toys in the trash as well!
Overall she still eats exceptionally well. She insists on always using utensils, and she has gotten pretty good at it. In the morning she generally eats cheerios, yogurt, or a banana (which sounds like "na na na" in Addie-talk. We just need to work a bit more on her table etiquette. Aside from being a compulsive quadruple dipper, she also has a fit at the end of meals if you don't clear her plate right away. When she is done, she's done. And if you don't watch out, the plate and it's contents will end up on the floor (right next to the eager doggies). While we are on that topic, who tested the suction cups on the bottom of kid plates and bowls? THEY SUCK! I've tried them all and none of them are a match for Addie and her arms.
Nighttime continue to be a breeze, unless she isn't feeling well. She still generally sleeps 12 hours straight at night. Before bed we have increased out stories to 3. It seems two wasn't enough and Addie always wanted "maore".
Some other things to note:

• She's perfected the word "ooww" whenever you attempt to brush her hair.


• She blatantly will tell you "Na-oo" if she doesn't want something


• If you are on the coach and she isn't, look out for "up-pa"


• Shortly to be followed by "da-own"


• She will repeat when asked "peeze" in our attempts to teach her how to say please when she wants something.


• "Baa-oon" means Balloon accordingly to Addison


• She will gleefully exclaim "Ball" when she sees one (side note: I have bought at least 3 of these in Target as a mean to distract a meltdown in public)


• Everything liquid and drinkable is "wa-wer"


• Unfortunately everything she wants is "mii-ine" (We are working on using words for everything when she says this)


• Her dolls are referred to as "be-be"


• She will tell anyone who listens that the stove, grill, and firepit are "ot" while holding her hand up as if she is motioning stop.


• We close each day with "nah-nigh"

Happy 20 months my little bug!

Ms. Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous...

Addison was playing with my new JJB BeLight diaper bag the other day. This fun bag is perfect and lightweight. You can tie the strap in a variety of ways, so naturally Addie wanted to wear it as I was playing with it. AND THEN, she found my glasses. LOL. She knows she is funny and will keep of the act to entertain us. We just need to draw the line when she goes for people's actual glasses. Roger doesn't like that much :)

Addison's First Trip to the Beach!

Addison- carrying the bucket just like a purse. I love this kid!

Not too sure about the ocean when we first got there. She kept staring at the other kids and the water. Eventually she broke down, but she was still pretty cautious.
And then she would point to things of interest
Addison and my neighbor's daughter, Angelique
Snot and sand- doesn't mix well
She is obsessed with shoes. She puts mine on, then hers on. Sometimes she even tries to add a second pair :)
The older girls had toga towels, so Addie wanted one. We had to fold it in half so it wouldn't drag. And then mommy cleaver tucked it in the back strap of her suit to hold it up :)

Fun in the Sun!

This weekend we blew up the frog pool (courtesy of Gran-dude and Lisa) and played in the front yard. Personally, I thought the water was a bit cold, but Addie didn't seem to mind. She thought it was funny to splash me-even after I promptly splashed her back! She loves the sprinkler that comes out of the top of the frog. She will patiently fill up her buckets and then dump it right over. It's quite funny to watch her walk around inside the pool. She walks so cautiously taking mini baby steps all the way around.

Crabby Addie

Ahh, it seems my girl isn't a morning person. Just like her momma :) These pictures show off a bit of her 'tude.

A Few Pictures from the Picture People

We went to Picture People on Friday afternoon. All was well and Addie was happy and chipper. Then it happened, she saw the backdrop from our photo session being switched around (loud mechanical noises) from that point on she clung to me. I couldn't put her down AT ALL. She would cry and scream. At a last resort I just included myself in the pics as well. The were ok, but we'll go back soon and do some more. The one of just her even has my shoulder cropped out of it!

The World's Biggest Vacation Recap Post:

One hour into the drive to Arizona.
We have no shame in admitting that there was bribery by way of snickerdoodle cookies on the way there.
So happy to be OUT of the car after such a long drive!
She hates the tub, loves the waterfall in the pool. Go figure!
Hanging out in her new turtle float

Bubbles!
After the pool we have to take a break for a drink
Zeus is patiently waiting for his food. Addie must think there is some in there for her too, LOL!
Addison and her gran-dude.
She looks like such a big girl to me in this picture. She has the pout and all!

Kristen, Addison and I hanging out
The Zeus dog
Just a goofy picture of Roger and I
What is better than climbing inside empty cabinets??
Lake Pleasant, AZ

Roger and Kristen on the jet skis
Innovation at it's best. Bring the pool float in the boat to play with :)
I know I'm bias, but she can't be any cuter!
Sure, she won't like you take a wipe to her face, but she will wash it herself with water!
Addie thinks "another picture?" really?

Addie and her gran-dude playing in the water.
Getting ready for a cruise on the jet ski!
We must do everything just like daddy does.
Adds vs. the plum. The plum won.
She saw some ducks swimming by in the lake and tried to entice them over with her plum.

Chillin out in the captains chair of the boat
Oh- we got her to smile!!! NO way!!!!!
Intrigued with the birds in the trees.
After Roger took this picture I asked "Did it turn out?". He responded "Yeh, it's great". He has obviously accepted the same Addie picture taking mentality as I have. It's just too much work to wait for her to look AND smile at the camera! We were actually this close to the monkeys in this picture. No zoom! This exhibit is one of three in the world and there is not another in the United States. You could walk into the cage of these spider monkeys and watch them run about in the trees. There were so many of them chasing each other up and down the trees, across the branches, and all around. It was so cool!

Daddy and Adds. This was the otter exhibit. She loved them! She stared and stared and then cracked up when they swam in the water. We even got a stuffed otter toy as her souvenir :)
Mommy and Addison. Typical shot-kid not looking at the camera.
This monkey exhibit was so cool. This one just stared at Addie and she was trying to touch it.
Roger and Addison. Remember, we don't actually *try* to get our child to look at the camera. It's no use!
Dad and Kristen

My new animal love, giraffes! They are stunning!
At first she looked a bit freaked out when we put her on the carousel. At the end, we couldn't get her off! She screamed and laughed during the entire ride!
She loved the goats! I think she forgot that her grandma has a whole farm of these at home! I love how she somehow wound up in the "Goats Only" section.
Some quick love for this goat before we go
I think Roger was trying to communicate with this animal or something..

Behind bars!
She was intrigued by this raccoon. I don't think she quite realized it was fake. LOL
Addison and Aunt Kristen
This is what happens when toddlers enter the world stroller-free
It's all about gran-dude!


We got back (last weekend) from our trip to Arizona. We drove out, with boat and Addie in tow, on a Sunday morning and stayed until Saturday. It was awesome to visit with my Dad, Lisa, and Zeus! But added bonus, my sister Kristen was there :) We got to hang out at the house, boat a couple of days, visit the Phoenix zoo, and check out a Cabela's store amoung lots of lounging by the pool while we were there. It was so nice to just *relax*.

We all went in the pool the day we arrived. Much to my surprise Addison really liked it. She's going through a 'I-hate-the-bath-so-I-must-scream-bloody-murder-everytime-you-put-me-in' phase, she I was pleasently surprised when she splashed in the water. She even dumped buckets over her head- we won't get into the reaction we here when that happens in the real tub. I either need to bring baby shampoo in the pool, or invest in a floating turtle that fits in the tub. Oh yes- bath time is that bad.

Onto other topics, we also hit up Lake Pleasant a couple of days with the boat and two jet skiis. It was so much fun! We really enjoy going to other lakes and checking them out. Roger and I had some good times whomping on the jet skiis. Addison had fun in the water or riding on the boat. The first day on the way in to the launh area, Addison passed out in Lisa's arms- like almost catatonic. Nothing woke that girl up!

We also went to the Phoenix Zoo. Talk about a cool zoo! The exhibits were amazing. Addison really enjoyed looking at all of the animals. I knew she would- my girl is an animal lover through and through. She was in awe at most of the exibhits.


After a week of visiting we headed home. It was such a relaxing and fun-filled trip!