hi!

I have wanted to blog about a lot of things but haven't had the confidence in my words to express the weight of the things that have been going on lately.
The loss of people close to me and of those that were close to those near to me as well as news coverage of many large scale tragedies lately has frozen me.
But time marches on and I started this blog to record events of my life. So I will get back on track.
AdaReece started 'school' 2 weeks ago!!! What?!?! This is from her first day:


Since last fall, has spent around 10+ hours per week at our house with a sitter, Laura, while i did stuff...Well, I was asked to fill in at a dentist office one day a week until October to cover two separate maternity leaves. So. Instead of starting her in Mother's Day out (I was planning to do that in August) I visited a few daycares and chose to enroll her part-time at the Erlanger at Volkswagen Drive Daycare. It is a HUGE adjustment for me but she has done great. Some tears and clinging but mainly smiles and is shyly adjusting to her classmates. She is the youngest in the class and in the fall some kids will move up and some closer to her age will move in.


No real 'colds' so far but she has been getting 3 more teeth (laterals) in and I'm blaming them for her on and off diarrhea.
I also went on my first weekend away.. 3 glorious nights in a hotel in New Orleans celebrating a fran's bachelorette party!!





It was so nice to get pictures and videos from my Michael.

(If the above video doesn't work then I'll repost later)

Just to recap...
February, March, April:
She loves sketti:


I made baby cakes:


She LOVES waffles for breakfast:


We visited Dallas for Daddy's conference:


And blew kisses:


And gave the 'stink-eye'


Went to Gulf Shores:


15 month checkup with Dr. Jeanie:


Easter in Columbus, MS


My grandmother, Barbara Blackburn passed away:





And we had lots of fun!











More very soon!!
D.

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Best life ever

Sometimes I feel like I'm going to drown in my life. So, I look back at the pictures in my phone to remind myself of how awesome my life is. And how blessed I am.


{top teeth erupting}


{climbing and digging for toys}


{funny faces}


{hiiiiiiiii}


{loves bath time}


{chicken and waffles}

Happy weekend!
D.

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Precious Firsts

This year is flying by already!
Today we had another jam packed day. First, we started this cold rainy day by running out the door to get downtown to the Creative Discovery Museum for PlayGym. We signed up to go on Thursdays at 10:30 but,  Michael is off this Thursday and we have a.lot to do so I decided to go today(at 9:30). AdaReece was the only one walking in the class and was the oldest by about 2 months(on Thursdays there are about 2-3 older than her and 2-3 younger)... She thought she was tough stuff. When we left there, we went to visit our friends we haven't seen in a while and had lunch at their house and AR loved on a sweet gorgeous 5 month old boy and when his big sister came home she got to play with her for a few minutes too. We had to leave there to go to AR's FIRST DENTAL CHECKUP! I know. She's only a year. I know. She only has 1/2 of two teeth in. I know we didn't need a visit. BUT. I used to work there so it was no big deal. And because the eruption is delayed based on her age I just made an appointment. Well, of course, the night before the appointment, I was feeling her gums while she was taking a bath and I could feel a sharp edge. And when he checked her today he said he could feel several of her front teeth should pop through any time now. Anyways, she did great. It was quick and fun and she loved running around the office and I got to see my old working buddies. Win. win. win.
Here are some pics:

Captain of the ship at PlayGym

Loving on Baby Charley

Opening wide (for puffs)

I love how she is standing here watching the big kids

Playing in the waiting room at the Pediatric Dentist

I didn't take any pics when we were in the back at the office because I was too busy talking...imagine that! Once we came home, she took a good hour nap and we had dinner, bath, bottle bed....crying, tylenol and finally sleep. These days are just going by too fast.

Maybe tomorrow I can freeze time.
XOXO,
Dannis

Happy 2013!

Welp. Lets see if this blog thing will work for me...

Christmas and all the fun that goes along with it was great. We saw lots of family and got waaaay too many toys. Our house looks like it could be a daycare. It's too much. I'm going to have to organize before it makes me crazy and I take it all to goodwill. But AR is such a little busy body that she actually plays with all of it. So. We also got some super cute outfits and I can't wait to get back to play dates and gym time. Here's her new raincoat:


Here's her sliding(in a new outfit):


Here's one from Christmas night:


More soon!
D.

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12 month photo shoot

I have been having problems posting my photos because the file size is too large. So. My phone resizes them and my laptop doesn't....
At her one year birthday... AdaReece is taking several steps on her own. If she's in a big hurry or being bashful, she prefers to crawl. She can clap and likes patty cake. She got soooooooo many new toys for her birthday and is getting better at putting things in a basket and turning the pages of books. She still only says Dada but is becoming more and more vocal and blabbers all day. She loves singing songs and 'dances' by moving her head. She is very stubborn and doesn't stop moving. She's started eating like a horse and loves blueberries, chicken and applesauce.















Although this year has been the hardest year, it has been the most rewarding of my life. AdaReece Elaine has brought more smiles, love, pride and joy than I ever imagined. Her infectious smile can brighten the darkest moments and I love her more than life, forever and ever no matter what.
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Can I phone blog photos?!

This is a test to see if I can post photos from my phone. Here are some pics from our first visit with Santa!









And an Instagram version:



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12.6.12

Crazy perfect day. Just the three of us all day...
8:45a: AR wakes up. Yes. She slept until ALMOST 9!!!!!!
Breakfast and played with all our new toys.


10:30a: Swim class at YMCA. just us. And the teacher. So fun.


11:30a: Saw and sat in Santa's lap for the first time. Did great. We shoved puffs in her mouth a. lot.


12p: Lunch at the Mexican place in Bradley Square Mall.


3:30p: Woke up from nap and ate again and played with MORE TOYS. Finally opened the last of all our birthday presents.





5p: Blew out candle and ate birthday cake again!


6p: Bath time. The best. most fun part of the day.


7p: Fast asleep as a one year old!
Mommy is sooo tired... I hope I can add photos to this post soon! And her 12 month photo shoot tomorrow. AND pics from her awesome penguin party we had Sunday!!
But for now, I have to clean the kitchen and go to bed!
XOXO,
Dannis
*i added photos in on 12-8-12!


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