Addie the Swimmer and the Gymnist

These last couple of weeks we tried on a few hats and exposed Addie to swimming lessons (no pics though) and gymnastics. There's not a whole lot you can do with a one year old, but we practiced blowing bubbles in the water (more like Mom blew bubbles while Addie looked at me like I was crazy for putting my mouth in the same water she was peeing in!), going under for a quick dunk, and her favorite, which she likes to practice in the bath tub, kicking.

At gymnastics she hung onto the bar, played with the parachute, practiced some somersaults, jumped on the trampoline, and did lots of climbing. Too fun!

A Day in the City

Today we set out to have a picnic lunch in Golden Gate Park and visit the California Academy of Sciences. It was an amazing museum and we can't wait to take the baby back when she's a little older to really understand all the great things we got to see.On this super green live rooftop! Very cool!

Another rooftop pic with a beautiful old amphitheater in the background.

This was interesting. A 3 year old girl from 3.3 million years ago at 51 cm versus today's 3 year old girl at 84cm. Then there's our Addie at 1 year and 75 cm!

We've been reading lots of great books about fish, so seeing all the aquariums tied right in!

Dada and the baby girl checking out a video and display on saving our amazing Earth!

Watchin' the penguins swim with the big kids. One swam right up to her and scared her a little. Kevin and I both looked at each other and got a little chuckle!Ready to walk around! Phew! Kind of glad she still needs my hands and wasn't able to wander off in all the crowds!

Our Big Girl

Okay, so thank goodness she's not really all grown up, but to us, it's absolutely fascinating to look back on a year ago from now. We had Addie's check up last week and although she's grown leaps and bounds, she remains to be pretty consistent on the growth charts. She's in the 94th percentile for weight (24lbs. 16 oz.) and 61st for height (29 1/2 in.).

Addie is almost ready to walk and I don't think she quite realizes her own capabilities. Despite all of the warnings on walkers, we broke down and bought her one. She loves it! It cracks us up to see her cruising around the house and sort of reminds us of a little old lady with a walker.
Addelyn loves to say "Dada," and we're starting to get some "Mama's"! She can point to your nose, chin, ears, and lips, but we were a little worried about eye gouging, so we haven't taught her eyes yet. She loves to say "woof, woof" when you ask her what a dog says and "Uhhhhhh, uhhhhhh" for cows.
We've captured some video! Still working on getting her to talk on video.

Hellooo!?!?
Trying so hard to figure out how to put on Dada's work shoes.
Helping Mama rearrange the fridge!Getting her own mail! Can't wait for your birthday Marek!

Friday Night on the Marina

Addie and I were on our own this Friday. So while Kevin was flying home from Florida, we decided to have a picnic and listen to the live music the city puts on every Friday night. We had a great time but the Mixed Nuts were definitely no Satin Love from Eugene!

Baby girl enjoying her picnic din-din!

View of the courtyard on the marina, the band and the people dancin'!

Trying the self-portrait...where do we look?

That's better.Even better!

Happy Birthday Addelyn Ann!

This very day last year, marked the absolute best day of my life. I have never documented this day and thought today would be a perfect time to reflect on the details that made July 8th, 2009 such a monumental event.

The birth of our daughter began on July 7th, 2009, one day after my due date. I woke up at 4:50 am, feeling a bit different. I laid there and waited to feel it again. Yep, this was what they called contractions. My friend, was right when she said I'd know the difference between Braxton Hicks and the real thing. After a couple more times, I woke up Kevin and said "It's happening." I tried to remain calm but couldn't wait to call my mom and make sure she was on the road to California. That morning Kevin and I got showers and slowly prepared for the hospital.

My contractions were never consistent, sometimes two minutes apart, sometimes fifteen minutes apart. This caused a bit of anxiety. Would she come fast? Should we be racing to the hospital now? They say to stay at home as long as possible, but without having been through this I wanted the experts ASAP. So we arrived around 9 am. I was only 4 centimeters dilated when we got there and the doctor told us to walk around the hospital and get a light bite to eat. I can remember so vividly walking down to the cafeteria to get something to eat while they prepared our room. I don't think I have ever been in so much pain and so happy all at the same time. I couldn't wait to see her face, hear her cries, and hold her in my arms.

We got into our room and got settled in. Kevin turned on the t.v. and we watched Michael Jackson's funeral. I will never forget my favorite artist John Mayer singing Human Nature. It was so good! As the contractions (still inconsistent) wore on, my family started arriving. It was so comforting to see my mom and aunt's face and to know my dad was there supporting me too.

After a couple of shift changes and at about 6 pm I was dilated to 7 centimeters and ready for an epidural. I wanted to see how long I could go, but with back labor and laboring pretty much all day, I threw in the towel on the au naturale birth. Unfortunately, labor was slowed with the epidural and pitocin was now in need.

As the night turned into a new day, I started to feel like the epidural was wearing off, so we had the nurse come in. She said it wasn't wearing off and that it was time to push! I can't believe how fearful at one point I was of this moment, but when it actually presented itself, I couldn't have been more thrilled! It meant I was so close to meeting our baby girl. So after about fifteen minutes of pushing the doctor came in to check on me and quickly left thinking it would be another hour or so. I, however, proved him wrong and after about ten minutes of pushing as hard as I knew how, the nurse called him back in to deliver our baby.

While Mom held on to one of my legs and gave me words of encouragement, Kevin counted and stroked my head, and Aunt Pam video tapped (from an appropriate angle of course) I gave birth to Addelyn Ann at 12:42 am. She weighed 7 pounds 13 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long. She was beautiful and after getting the cord unwrapped from her neck we could hear her cries.

When they laid her on my chest, her cries stopped and I starred at her in awe knowing without a doubt this was one of those moments I had waited for all of my life. Addelyn Ann you are our miracle and dream come true. There is a saying, "I knew I loved you before I met you." and this couldn't be any more true. Happy First Birthday Baby Girl!

Our Sweet Baby Girl's 1st Birthday!

We had a great weekend celebrating not only Addie's birthday, but Allie's, Aunt Pam's and the 4th of July. We were so blessed to have family travel from as far as Austin, Texas, Eugene and Medford, Oregon and Whittier, California. I can't express enough how grateful we are for our family and friends.

Our precious birthday girl.

Addelyn we love you more than words can say.
My mom and my baby girl.
It was one hot day, so we prepared with tents and a pool for the babies.
We ate build-your-own sandwiches, Grammy's beans, Auntie Pam's pasta salad, Auntie Jan's coleslaw and fruit salad!Addelyn got many, many great gifts.

This little girl had no hesitation! She dug right in and giggled and wiggled her feet all the way through!

She got through almost half her cake without even getting a stomach ache!

Cousin Marek with Uncle Kevin, checking out what he gets to do next month.Addie trying to convince her buddies, Skylar and Cameron to go swimming with her.Auntie Jan and Dada cooling their dogs while the water baby swims.
Uncle Brentie, Auntie Leeanne and cousin Marek.
Auntie Pam and Uncle Kyle.
Ready to start our second celebration of the day, 4th of July!Grammy bouncing the baby girl.Watching fireworks over the marina at a park near by. What a great ending to a great day!

Allison Grace's Birthday!

This time last year, I was very pregnant at Allie's 2nd birthday. This year I have an almost one year old and Allie has a new baby sister, celebrating her 3rd birthday. Allison is such a bright and sweet girl. A couple of weeks ago we were together and as we were saying goodbye, Allie says, "I like red heads!" She is adorable and it is so fun to see and hear the many things she does and clever things she says. Baby Paige is lucky to have such a good sis!

Happy 3rd birthday sweet girl!Allie always asks if she can be by Addie.

Princess Allie!Checking out the bunnies...
and the goats at Fairytale Town.