February Happenings in the 505...

... via the iphone!

Here's a little glimpse of what we've been up to this month:

Blanket Time//Crazy Hair Baby//Shoe shopping with Dad

At the Aquarium with Cute Cousin Carter

Saturday Morning Cartoons with Dad//Snuggles with Mom

An Attempted Valentine's Day Photo Shoot//Valentine's Day Outfit

Do Your Hair Like Dad Day//Afternoon at the Park

Waiting// Working on Invitations for Addy's Birthday Party// Lunch Date with Sophia// Picture Garland for Addy's Party// Addy turned 11 months!// New Decor: House Plants and Antique Photography Stuff

Shopping! What girl doesn't love to shop?

And finally, a highlight of the month was receiving this picture from my little brother via text message.

That little peanut is my future niece/nephew! Congrats Perry and Nicole!

Five for Friday

Check out previous Fridays here.

1. You made up new words to Addy's books and asked if she had anything with a plot line or character development.

2. When you saw me wearing a blazer you thought it "looked like fun" and put one on too.
3. You and Addy get to spend the day together tomorrow and I get the day off!
4. "I wish I were tall so I could wear rain coats!"
5. You always have my back

P.S. I love you! :)

Excited for the Challenge

Do you ever start out on a project, maybe for school or work, that you know will be challenging but that you are also excited about, because you know it will strengthen and stretch you? That's kind of how I feel about parenting and raising a child. 

I know that child rearing isn't always snuggles and kisses. Things with Addy are pretty easy for us right now, we only have one child to tend to and for the most part, she is pretty well behaved. I realize that things will get harder and as parents, we'll face many challenges but I am so excited and I feel so honored to have the responsibility of raising Addy. 

The part I am looking forward to the most is teaching her and telling her about my savior; about her savior. I want to raise her in an environment, in a home, where Christ is the center. I want to raise a child who grows up to love the Lord and although I know it won't be easy, I know that through Christ, it is definitely possible.

I'm going to mess up. I'll make mistakes, in fact I already have. Last night, she almost went to bed without a diaper on under here PJ's. But, God is mighty to save. Thank goodness it's not all up to me!

I am writing this now, not to brag about my confidence in child rearing, because I definitely have my times of doubt, but as a reminder to myself. A year from now when we are entering into the "Terrible Two's" and it seems that she won't listen to anything I say and even 10 years from now when she enters the awkward years of puberty, I want to remember that being a Mom and a parent is a privilege and an honor and something I was once very excited about.

This is my prayer for my child:

 "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and earth derives it's name. I pray that out of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through his spirit in you inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love may have power, together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to this love that surpasses all knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." 
Ephesians 3:14-19

She Walked!

Good Morning and Happy Monday Friends!

This may sound odd but I really like Mondays. Call me weird, but for me, it's a day to unwind and get back into my routine. We usually do so much on the weekends that I feel like I need Monday to recover and get my house back in order. Do any of you other Stay at Home Moms feel the same way?

We have some big news to share.... this little lady walked for the first time this weekend! 

And when I say she "walked," I mean she just walked. Once. She's not walking because she really hasn't been able to do it since Saturday night, when she walked down pretty much our entire hallway. 

We were watching a friend's son on Saturday night and playing hide and go seek when I set Addy down (on her feet) thinking she would crawl after her little buddy, Alex, like she had been doing. Well, she surprised all of us when she took off on her feet. She must have taken about 5 steps before she fell on her little booty. Matt and I were shocked that 1) she just did it and 2) she went so far on her first try. She walked around a couple more times that night and went to bed early on account of grumpiness.

Since that night she's only taken a few, very wobbly, steps at a time. She seems to have lost her confidence, or maybe she just doesn't have anyone to show off for. She's such a fickle little thing.

Five for Friday

Welcome to the third edition of "Five for Fridays!" I am really enjoying doing this every week. It really helps to be on the look out for good things about your spouse, I've come to appreciate what a great guy I have a little more.

Check out previous Fridays here.


Five for Fridays

1. You used the movie Pretty Woman as an analogy for the gospel. Wow!
2. You said I had a cute "Colorado look" going on yesterday. You also said I looked thin.... just what a girl needs to hear
3. You entertained all the kiddos at Bible Study last week.
4. We're going shoe shopping for you this afternoon and you're excited. You are a rare breed my dear.
5. You give me more love and affection than I deserve.

P.S. I love you :)

First Night Away and Other Weekend Snapshots

This past weekend was an eventful one here in the 505. Matt and I celebrated Valentine's Day with a trip to Santa Fe. We left Addy with her Grandma-Ree and Grandpa Ron. It was our first night apart and I am proud to say that we all survived, even the grandparents. 

After spending a fun afternoon with Aunt M and Cousin Carter at the park, we received a rather large package from UPS on Friday night while Matt was punching in some extra time at the office, preparing for our big night away. After reading the label, I assumed it was a V-Day gift from the hubby. Silly me, forgot that I am not the only girl in the house who can receive gifts.

"CAUTION: Do not open if allergic to any of the following: Hugs, Kisses, Laughing till you cry, Cuddling, Showing your teeth, Oohs & Ahhs, Warm fuzzy feeling, Pure awesomeness, Belly laughs and Cheek cramps."

 I quickly realized after opening it that I was not the intended recipient. I had a good guess of who sent it before I found the card. My grandparents are great. I can just see my Grandma getting a big kick out this "Big Hunka Love Bear."

"4 1/2 Feet of Love."

Addy still doesn't really know what to think. At first she was scared and now she is just really curious about the very large animal that now lives beside her crib. I hope she doesn't have nightmares.

On Saturday afternoon we dropped Addy and a huge bucket of toys off at her grandparents (We left the Big Hunka Bear at home to watch over the place). While Grandma distracted her with a laundry basket, we snuck out the door. 

Last week Matt told one of his co-workers that we were going away for the first time and they said "You'll have a great time; your wife will hate it." Well, I'll have you know that when we left, I didn't shed a tear, never felt sad and didn't tell Matt that I missed Addy until the next morning. We both actually had a great time. I love the girl more than anything, but sometimes you just need a break and a romantic night away with my hubby was just what I needed.

We stayed at Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino where we were able to soak in the hot tub, sip on adult beverages, pig out at the buffet and then walk it all off on what seemed like a mile long hike back to our room. I'll know next time not ask for the "mountain view." There are not enough elevators in that place. 

 The resort was great but I think our favorite part of the trip was when we stopped for a late lunch at the Santa Fe Brewering Company. Turned out that they didn't serve food, just beer. But since neither of us were very hunger, we split a beer (lame, I know but I was still feeling a little funny from a bug I got earlier that week) and ventured up to the game room where we played a couple rounds of darts and Fuse Ball. By the way, I kick butt at darts. Who knew? I can't say the same about fuse ball though.

On Sunday morning, we woke up to snow.

 After brunch in Albuquerque, we went to pick up our girl. When Matt's Mom answered the door, we were greeted by a smiling little girl. From what we heard, they all had a great time. Cousin Carter even came over for a little while. They must have played hard that night because Addy crashed as soon as we got in the car; too much fun at Grandma's house.

 Our first night away was huge success. Thanks Grandma-Ree and Grandpa Ron for watching over our little one.

Five for Friday

This is my second week to do Five for Fridays; a new weekly post all about Matt and inspired by my friend Jessica. (She's living in Italy now and her blog is super cute. Check it out!)

The idea is to write five things I love about my hubby (could be inside jokes, a silly phrase or whatever.) You can check out last week's here.

Five for Friday

1. You took down that ugly tile wall. Thank you. Thank you.

2. You call your Mom to come help with Addy whenever I get sick

3. A tiny bit of you felt betrayed that I continued to watch "The Firm" after you said you hated it. I'm sorry.

4. You like to chat about your next DIY idea while getting ready for work in the morning

5. Buffalo Thunder this weekend! Woo Hoo!!!!

P.S. I love you :)

Addy is 11 Months Old!

 Today is Adelyne's 11 month birthday and sadly, our last monthly update. Next month she will be a year old. Crazy!

 I've had thoughts about just skipping over her birthday and acting like it never happened. But I don't think that would be fair to her and we have a super cute theme picked out for her party. I guess we'll just have to go through with it.

This past month has been a fun one with Miss Addy. It seems that she is learning or doing something new everyday.

Addy is standing up on her now, but not quite adventurous enough to walk yet, although she does love to walk all over the house using the walker she got for Christmas. That will keep her entertained for hours.

She's become a bit of a bookworm. It totally melts my heart when she scoots over to my lap carrying a book. Sometimes, we'll read the same one five times or more. Her favorite are the flip books, she's always surprised to find "baby" under the blanket at the end. 

 It's hard to tell in this pic but she got a really big kick out of that piece of paper.

Addy loves to be around kids. Although she might not interact with them the entire time, she's always in a better mood after playgroup or being in the nursery at church. It's so cute how she now recognizes her friends like Cousin Carter and her buddy Sophia and is always excited to see them.

I'm so glad I was able to capture this final picture. It sums up everything Addy has been doing this past month. She will often stand/sit with one leg up like that, almost as if she's about to get up and walk. And lately she will have her arms reached out like this when I go to get her out of her crib. And then there's the smile. I love that smile.

Happy 11 months sweet Addy Grace! We love you!!!!

Five for Friday

Happy Friday everyone!

I've decided to start a new weekly series here on the blog that is all about that special man in my life. A friend of mine, Jessica, over at Jessica Lynn Writes, has been doing "Five for Fridays" pretty much ever since she got married. Every Friday she lists five things she loves about her husband. It's so simple yet so sweet.

So, since February is all about love (that holiday that everyone "hates" is just around the corner), I thought this Friday would be a perfect time to get started. 

Five for Friday:

1. You got up multiple times with Addy while I was out like a light with a stuffy nose, just snoring away

2. You suggested we take a break from TV to spend more quality time together.

3. When Addy hears the garage door open, she gets really excited
4. You used your new love for aromatherapy to make our house "smell less like a foot."
5. You're just as excited as I am to stay in and put a puzzle together tonight

P.S. I love you :)