Trip to Charleston

As hard as it is to do things spur of the moment these days, somehow we managed a trip to Charleston this weekend! Tommy emailed me Friday afternoon suggesting it, and we were gone by 7:00 Friday evening. It was wonderful to see Elliott, Laurie, and Aiden - it had been too long! We also got to see friends Nathan and Meghan and play some dominoes on Friday night! They had already been having a good time without us, and Elliott was quite entertaining by the time we got down there!

Addie Kate did great! She slept the whole way down there, got up to play a little before we put her down on Friday night, and she still slept through the night! She did get a little cranky Saturday night before we went out to dinner, but hey - she's only 3 months old! She woke up around 5 Sunday morning, but I just snoozed with her on the couch until Aiden escaped his mother's grasp and woke us up!

Our big news - we left her moses basket (the ONLY thing she has ever slept in) in Charleston on Sunday, and her CD player. I about had a nervous breakdown when Elliott called to tell us that. Regardless, she has slept through the night 2 out of 3 nights since then, and woke up the other night at 5:15. I can't complain at all! (Except for the fact that this is yet another milestone proving that she is growing TOO fast! Sniff, sniff!)

Here are some pictures. Love and hugs!

Aiden and his Uncle T

Addie and her Uncle Elliott

All 6 of us outside the SC Aquarium

Family pic of Addie's first trip to Charleston

Aiden trying to hold Addie - it didn't go so well!

Check out that sweet smile... and that crazy hair!

She was not perfect the whole time we were down there, but most of the time.

Addie sleeping through the Aquarium! We didn't figure she'd be too engaged!

Aiden sliding at the Aquarium

The Rhoads

Aiden rocking, so sweet!

I'm awake now Mommy!

Addie and her Aunt Laurie

Happy 3 Months Addie!

Our little one is 3 months old this week. It's tough - I'll never make it to 12 months. Every time she hits a milestone I want to cry because she's growing so fast! Since I posted last, there aren't any really new milestones. She is starting to play with toys - there's a picture below of her playing with her little lamb from Cousin Becky. She loves it. Her daddy thinks it's a feret! She has started talking quite loudly! Hmmm, I wonder where she gets that from? Even Mrs. Lu laughs about it - she says she's never had a child do that so early, and coming from Mrs. Lu, that's saying something! When we put her on her tummy now, she will hold her head up and look around for a long time (there's a picture below). She's also turning over more regularly now, but again, she's been doing that since she was 3 weeks old! Her smile still melts our hearts and we think she'll be laughing any day now. Enjoy the pictures!

Snow Day!!!

What a treat it was to spend the day at home with sweet Addie. At first I was upset at the bad weather, because that means I'll just have to make it up somewhere along the line. But, I needed a day with my little one and it was wonderful! The only thing that would have made it better was if Tommy could have stayed home with us. Here are some pics of the snow!

11 Weeks

OK, I swear I'm going to get better at posting. I think now that I'm back at work, I'll be a little more organized!

Soo, since my last post, our little Addie has done a lot of new things! The biggest, I guess, is that she received her first round of shots on Chrismtas Eve! (No, Tommy and I are not crazy, we just really wanted to get them in before the holidays - to make us feel a little calmer about being around so many people.) She did so good - much better than mommy! Tommy stood right beside her, while I sat on the couch in the room with my head between my legs, my eyes covered, and my ears covered! I don't know how I'll ever make it through this first year!

We enjoyed a wonderful, wonderful Christmas. Everything is different now with her. She slept through it, but Tommy and I could tell a difference in ourselves. Tommy gave me a card and I cried. Mom gave us a book and I cried. Etc, etc, etc. Again, I don't know how I'll ever make it through this first year! These are certainly tears of happiness though - never fear! Addie also got to go to church for the first time on Christmas Eve. She did great! She loved looking at the lights and she really loves music - so it was perfect for her! It was different for Tommy and me too, because we went to the 5:30 service instead of the 10:30 like we always have. My parents went to both services so they could be with the 3 of us, and then again with Paul and Susan. Christmas Day was the whirlwind it always is, but again, she did great! By the time we reached my family Christmas night, she was done! Aunt Carol just rocked her about all night and she was happy as a clam! And, I don't think she'll ever need a toy as long as she lives! She's such a lucky little girl! Here are a few Christmas pics: 1- Check out my new hat! Thanks Will and Shannon!; 2- Mommy, Daddy, and Addie (this dress was the first thing I bought when I found out I was having a girl!); 3- All 3 of us by our Christmas tree; 4- our Christmas card picture (after about 100 shots and 3 different days!); 5- Now that's tired!; 6- I think I'd pass as one of Santa's elves!; 7- Check out my new ride! Thanks Uncle Paul!

Addie and I spent the rest of the week in Lexington visiting while Tommy came back to Greenville to do some things on the house. Then, on Dec. 30th, our sweet girl was baptized. What a special day for us! I didn't cry through that, but I certainly could have. Our wonderful family was there and Addie's Godparents, Elliott and Laurie, and her sponsor, Heather. Then, we enjoyed a brunch at Tommy's father's house afterwards. Oh, and her christening gown is the most amazing thing I have ever seen. My mom made it and did a fabulous job. Mom is a great seamstress anyway, but this is a work of art! I am trying to decide now if I should shadowbox it - it does NOT need to hang in a closet! Our wonderful friend Mr. Larry James was there to photograph it for us. He is an amazing photographer and will be taking her portrait pictures and 3 month pictures as well. (Pictures - Addie with her proud Mommy and Daddy; The Schreiber family; Granny, Gorga, Uncle Paul, Mommy, Daddy, and Addie; The Sanders family; The Sweatman family; The Plexico family; Addie with her sponsors; Addie with the pastors; Mommy and Addie; and Daddy and Addie - this is my FAVORITE picture - Tommy looks so happy and it shows my baby girl's beautiful blue eyes that she got from her Great-grandaddy Pop Sanders!)

Addie-poo is smiling and cooing and laughing now all the time instead of sporadically like in my last post. She'll every now and then bust out a really loud coo and Tommy and I just look at each other and laugh in amazement. She loves to wear nothing but her diaper, and she'll just kick her legs like crazy and move her hands all around. It is the cutest thing! She has found her hands - around 9 weeks. She'll make a fist and just look at it like it's the most amazing thing ever!

Her other big thing is that she's no longer at home with mommy all day. I had to go back to work as tough as it was. I went back last Thursday and my mom came up and spent Thursday and Friday with her. Then on Monday, she went to her baby sitter's for the first time. Mrs. Lu is the sweetest lady and she just loves all over Addie all day long. She is perfectly happy there (it's mom that's having the trouble!) - we are so very lucky to have found Mrs. Lu to keep her.

Well, I guess that's all for now. I'll post her christening portrait and 3 month pictures soon! Happy New Year Everyone!