I love a comparison!

I haven't done one of these in forever. They kind of keep me grounded. And make me a bit sad all at the same time.  I still think Addie is such a little girl, even baby, to say the least. Especially since I'm around big kids all the time. Then I look back at a year before and think, "Wow! She is SO big!" I still think she has these chunky baby thighs (or a little of them left) and cute pudgy cheeks. Then I look back to how they used to be. And I miss it.

Then I start to think that she isn't going to be our only child in about six short months. Then I really get freaked out. And I know most mothers out there have more than one child, and they have all survived. But I think they have all felt this way when preparing to have their second child. (Then I hear by the time you have your third, which most likely we will not have, it's all old hat!) To say Addie has been our world, would be the understatement of the year. She is our absolute everything. Tommy and I still make time for each other, have date nights, and have a wonderful marriage. But that girl, she is the best thing that's ever happened to either of us. And that's no small feat!

I am so forever grateful that we still rock her at night. I am so thankful that she still wants us to hold her. I am so thankful I don't dress her like she's 10. I'm so glad she still enjoys toys that are age appropriate and that I have enough sense to let her enjoy those things. I am so thankful that she is so darn smart, yet still needs me for so much. I am so thankful that I hear the words, "Mommy, can you play with me" on a regular basis. I love that she enjoys and sees the small things in life, that we often overlook, so that I can enjoy them with her.

Addie-girl, if love could move mountains, this world would be flat. For my love for you is the greatest thing, and I'm so honored and grateful I have been given this opportunity to be your mother and know this love.

Our Addie:

                                              2010, almost 3 years old:                                          

And 2009, almost 2 years old:

  2010, a little over 3 ft. tall:

And 2009, a little under 3 ft. tall:

Pickin' Apples

We made our annual trip to Skytop at the end of September. It was still hot as the dickens, but we had a great time as usual. Nothing beats those gorgeous mountain views - and the apples aren't bad either!

I planned ahead of time this year and we headed into Hendersonville for lunch and shopping. We had planned to go to lunch afterwards, but the baby (as in the one inside me!) couldn't wait and we ate before. (Which was fine, just probably made apple picking hotter!) We ate at an old pharmacy turned diner and had cookies at a nearby bakery. Mmm!

Below are a few of the hundred or so pictures we took while apple picking. It was just such gorgeous weather and our little subject was too much fun!

A little itch...

A mess, this one, a MESS!

So careful about putting them in the basket, after dropping a few first!

Love it - not a fan at first!

Apparently they grew on her!

And there isn't a trip made these days without a PB&J.
Below - they had all these huge, real pumpkins out front, where you waited in line for apple doughnuts. Addie thought they were there for her own personal enjoyment:

And the annual growth chart pictures:

Stinker- finally got her to stand up straight:

But apparently had to break out into a little rendition of the chicken dance!

Lastly, a picture with the cow - love my sweet, funny girl!

Precious New Shirt

She couldn't be happier to wear this, and Tommy and I couldn't have been happier to buy it. We are in absolute amazement that we are going to be blessed with another sweet baby in our family. All we have ever wanted is children, and used to think a house full of them. Well, that may not happen, but we will at least have two sweet children to fill our lives with joy!

The sweet girl at my favorite children's boutique kept the shop open for me to make a mad dash from Greenville so Addie could wear this shirt to my parents' house that night. Tommy didn't come with us, so he called and kept my mom busy on the phone so they wouldn't come out to the car like they usually do. We parked up the driveway and I let Addie walk in first. I told her to show them her shirt, and she did! However, Aunt Sue is the only observant one enough to notice! She just smiled at me as we waited for Uncle Paul and Googa to "get it." They finally did - Uncle Paul just beamed and Googa said, "Wait. Hold the phone. Somebody had better go in there and get your mama." Ha! He cracks me up. So, Addie runs in the kitchen (where mom is still talking to Tommy), and it takes forever, and a lot of prompting for Tommy, for her to see the shirt. It was a fun way to tell our good news. I wish I were more creative, but that was as good as it gets! (When we were pregnant with Addie, we just simply told them - nothing special. It had been a long process and we were so nervous!) We told Tommy's mom the weekend before and his dad the next day.

We did in vitro again to get this precious baby. Our stats were not even as good as they were with Addie, and with her they weren't great, so I was convinced it didn't work. Thank God above for acupuncture, or it probably wouldn't have worked - my stress levels were over the top. I even had high blood pressure at one point - something I have never had. Tommy stayed positive the whole time, at least with me, thank goodness. I was blown away when I took that first pregnancy test (too early to do so, but I have no patience) and it was positive. And all three of the pregnancy tests I took every day after that were positive too! My blood test numbers were great. Not as high with Addie, so I was pretty sure there was just one baby. Addie however, was convinced there were two, and that we'd be naming them Cinderella and Prince Charming. The first ultrasound showed one little angel and we were happy as can be. Now we are just trying to convince her that it will be ok if the baby is a boy. Good thing we have another six months to do so, because she is not waivering!

So that's our latest good news, and how nice for it to be such good news. Now I'm just trying to survive this pregnancy (that is crazy miserable, but I'm still so thankful that it doesn't matter), and all of the typical day-to-day things with a wild and sweet three year old! Looks like first of May we'll have a new one, so I'm enjoying each moment with my only child for now!

Last Summer Beach Trip

Tommy was so sweet and told me he wanted to take "his girls" to the beach one more time before the end of summer. We were able to squeeze in a long weekend over Labor Day at Isle of Palms. Elliott, Laurie, Aiden, and Amelia joined us and we had a great time, as usual. (The beach was so crowded though - yes, please take me back Edisto!)

 We headed to the hotel pool after the tide came in too far on the beach. The kids dug into this bag of stale cheese balls. Addie never has food like this, so she was in heaven! See my little stinker below?

While hauling back our mounds of junk that it takes to keep three kids and four adults happy on the beach, a photographer from the Post and Courier stopped us. Apparently, we were a sight, ha! We wound up on the front page of the Social (or whatever they call it) section with the caption, "Elliott Rhoad of Summerville pulls his daughter Amelia (front) and her friend Addie Sweatman while Rhoad's son, Aiden, looks on." Tommy had already walked ahead hauling chairs and the tent. Laurie was up in front of Elliott carrying a massive bag of toys. We had towels and a cooler between the girls in the wagon. I pulled another cooler and brought up the rear. Yes, I bet we were a sight. We just need to bring a donkey or an ox next time!

Clemson's First Friday

We decided at the very last possible minute to take Addie to Clemson for the First Friday parade. And by last minute, I mean, we saw the band in front of us as we were coming into Clemson! We had to park in campus and run, literally, to see if we could catch up with them. Luckily, we did!

 Unfortunately, Addie wasn't feeling great on that day, as you can see from the pictures.

 I squeezed myself onto the curb, and Addie and I enjoyed the parade from great seats. Her favorite thing was the orange golf cart. She loves them - it's on our list to get.

 My sorority at least made me proud. I will never understand some girls, or some fashions!

Last time Addie came to a First Friday parade, I was eight months pregnant with her! I can't believe we haven't been back to one since then, seeing as how we are so close. But, I'm glad we made it to this one and had a great time!

Craft Time with Mimi

My mom is the most talented person I know. She can do everything. I didn't take to learning all of her talents like I should have, so she's not wasting any time on having Addie learn them all! She found these cutie little crowns and brought them for Addie to decorate. She's starting small - I'm sure soon Addie will be smocking or french hand sewing her own dresses! Until then, Addie loved doing this! Thanks Mimi!

 It flat tuckered the little stinker out, which gets harder and harder to do these days! I love that she curled up in her daddy's lap and just fell right asleep! That also doesn't happen enough these days -she just won't stay still long enough!