Little Miss Personality

Since Addy had been crawling she has really developed quite a personality! It seems as though she is much happier now that she is mobile and can take herself where she wants to go. She is always smiling and laughing and loves getting into things that she's not supposed to get into! She has mastered that sheepish grin when she's doing something she's not supposed to and loves to keep her mommy and daddy on their toes! This week seemed to fly by because we were so busy. Derek was out of town on business at the beginning of the week, which proved to be especially challenging in the mornings. Addy and I were both so happy when he returned! Adalyn's Grandma Freihaut came up for a weekend visit and watched Addy all day Friday while we went to work. It was great for Addy to have time with her grandma. She will also be staying a few days this week to help us out with watching Addy when Derek has a meeting out of town and I have class. We are so thankful to have her here to help us out during our Crazy October! This week I handed out reports cards to my second graders....check that off of my long list of things to accomplish during the next few weeks. This week I will be working on preparing for parent-teacher conferences and writing papers for my grad class.

This past weekend we visited the Peoria Zoo. The zoo is preparing to open a brand new section called Africa in the summer. We were able to take a tour of the facilities before the animals arrived, which was really neat. We even got to go into the lion exhibit. While visiting the petting zoo, Addy took a liking to the pony they had there. She just kept laughing at him and pointing. It was so cute! Maybe she would like a pony for Christmas! This weekend we also made our jack-o-lantern for our front porch. I really wanted to take a few pictures of Addy with it outside, but the hurricane like winds in Central Illinois prevented us from attempting that. We had to settle with a few pictures on our kitchen table!

Papers to grade + research + report cards = a lack luster blog entry

Ok..this week's entry is going to be short and sweet because things are beginning to get a bit crazy around here. This weekend we ran many errands that needed to be completed in Bloomington. Addy was quite the well-behaved shopper and is beginning to love her rides in shopping carts! We managed to find time to stop for lunch at Culver's so Addy could eat and enjoy the great aquarium they have in the dining area. I have included a few pics of her checking out the fish. On Sunday we did a lot of work around the house. I graded papers, started on report cards, and did a few hours of research for my paper for my grad class. In between chores we got lots of Addy time in. She has become a super-crawler in a matter of a week. She is getting into anything and everything and had started to pull up on furniture and anything else that will support her. Today while I was folding laundry she pulled herself up on the laundry basket and then tried to dive in...head first. I know that I really encouraged Addy to be mobile and couldn't wait for her to crawl.....wow....I really didn't know just what we were in for!

Adalyn's personality is shining through more and more everyday. She loves to point out things and get excited about them. She has started to pay more attention to books..which makes her mommy very excited! Every day with her is a new adventure and we are really enjoying being her mommy and daddy. Derek is going to be traveling a lot over the next few weeks and I am going to start getting really busy with school and my grad class. Even though our schedules will be hectic we will always be looking forward to Addy time! She certainly helps us keep everything into perspective!

I have posted a few pictures of Addy and the fish below. If I have time this week I will post additional pics! Happy Fall!!

A weekend of firsts.....pumpkin patch, weenie roast..and CRAWLING!

Yes.....Addy is officially crawling! It all started on Friday night after we returned from a fun afternoon at Tanner's Orchard. We were playing with Addy and winding down for the night and she decided go travel across the room to get to a small pumpkin that her babysitter had bought her. It was a very proud moment for mom and dad! We thought that we had already started to babyproof the house, but we learned alot this weekend! Addy seems to have an attraction for all things electronic! I have included a video from her crawling on Monday evening.

This weekend Addy and I enjoyed a four day weekend! It was wonderful. On Friday Addy and I went to the portrait place to get Addy's picture taken in her halloween costume. I am going to wait to post those pictures closer to halloween to keep you in suspense! Derek took a half-day on Friday and went with us to Tanner's apple orchard and pumpkin patch. It was a beautiful afternoon. We made the trip out to the patch to choose three pumpkins and checked out all of the funs things to do. Addy's made faces at the llamas, sat on a tractor, got her first taste of a frozen cider slush (yum yum!) and played on the giant pumpkins with her friend Charli. By the end of the day we were all worn out!

On Saturday we went to another fall festival--Spoon River. Addy had a great time cruising in her stroller. We actually managed to not buy Addy anything from the festival, which was unintentional and unusual!

On Sunday we went to Adalyn's first weenie roast at Mel and Bob's house. Many of our Rochester friends were there to take part in the festivities! Angie managed to give Addy a few tastes of icing, which I blamed for her being very energetic later in the evening!

We ended the weekend with a restful Monday. However, Addy did get her first of two flu shots. She took is like a pro and didn't even cry! She's much better at taking shots than her mom. We ended the weekend feeling rested, but wishing every weekend was a four days long!

Enough of Dada already..what about Mama?

This week Adalyn turned 7 months old. This week she has really started talking. Everything and enveryone is Da da. I have been working hard to get her to say Mama, but she isn't having it. She continues to get up on her knees as if she is going to crawl and then proceeds to dive forward at the object in her radar. She has the motions of the knees and hands down, now all she has to do is get them to function together. This weekend we began the process of baby proofing, but still have a ways to go.

On Friday after school Addy and I made another big purchase for her (one of many). We bought her a new carseat because she is quickly outgrowing her infant carrier and will soon exceed its weight and heigth limitations. Addy and I managed to walk out of Babies-R-Us with only the carseat, which was a monumental occasion for me. Usually the clothes or accessories always get me!

On Saturday we went to Bloomington to run errands. Derek had a few things to take care of at the office, so Addy spent some time there with him as I went to a few stores. Addy enjoyed her time at the office with daddy. She checked out the unfamiliar surroundings and liked sitting in her daddy's chair. It was a pretty uneventful week as far as outings go. We spent a lot of time playing with Adalyn and working in the house. We are looking forward to next week because Addy and Mommy have a four day weekend (sorry Daddy)!