Last Days of Summer

As summer draws to a close, I am really trying to spend as much time with Addy as I can. School begins on August 18th and as day each passes I become more and more apprehensive about going back to work. Derek and I are thrilled with the childcare arrangements we have in place for Adalyn. She will be going to two wonderful homes during the day. She will be going to a sitter here in our town Monday through Wednesday. On Thursdays and Fridays Addy will make the 45 minute drive with me to the town in which I teach and will stay with a sitter there. When Addy goes with me to she will be going to the same sitter as my friend Kristi's daughter, Charli. They are just a few months apart, so they should have a lot of fun. Patty should have her hands full, but I think she is certainly up for the challenge!

This week Addy went to Patty's for the first time so that I could spend some time getting my classroom in order. It was very hard to leave her, but Addy did very well. She really loved all of the attention she received from Patty and her kids! I had my first taste of a morning routine...wow what a challenge! Getting out the door with a little one sure does take a lot of strategy!

At the end of the week Addy and I accompanied Derek on a short business trip to Galena. Addy and I had a lot of quality time together and did a lot of relaxing. We stayed at a resort that had a lot of outdoor activities. Addy especially enjoyed sitting by the lake and watching the water and trees. We also spend a lot of time in the resort's pool and headed into town to experience Galena shopping on Main Street. We had a great time just taking it easy and spending time together.

Addy on the grounds of the resort. The flowers were beautiful!
A little nap after a morning swim session

Over the weekend our friend Kristy came to visit from Florida and stayed with us for an evening. Since she was in town, we had friends visit on Saturday and Sunday. We grilled out on Saturday and the weather was beautiful. Addy had a great time playing with and watching all of the kids that came to visit. She was definitely worn out at the end of each evening!

Addy and Kristy

This coming week is officially our last week of summer. I can't believe how quickly it has flown by! My first week of school will certainly be a challenge!

Addy loves carrots!

FIVE MONTHS!

Adalyn turned five months this weekend! We can't believe how quickly time has passed. Derek and I recently looked at pictures of Addy when she was born and could not believe how much she has changed in such a short period of time. Addy has began to sit up on her own. She prefers sitting up to any other position and has really began to take interest in the world around her. It is so much fun to watch her examine her surroundings. We often wonder what she is thinking! She has also started to babble much more and loves to tell us "stories." Addy has really taken a liking to cereal and loves to get it all over herself. We have recently discovered that she also loves drinking water from our glass and will stop whatever she is doing when a glass is within reach!

This past week Adalyn and I took made an extended visit to Indiana to visit our families. We rode home with Derek's mom who had been visiting us. Derek joined us in Indiana on Thursday evening. While at home Addy got to spend lots of time with her family. She spent all of Friday with Grandma and Grandpa Schum while we went to Holiday World. She also got to experience grass for the first time and enjoyed taking walks in Grandma and Grandpa's yard. We visited Addy's Great-Grandma Heilers several times and Addy had a great time playing with her. Overall, we had a great trip and Addy really enjoyed all of the attention that she received from everyone!

Addy had a great time exploring the outdoors with her Grandma and Grandpa!

Addy is gearing up for the football season! GO COLTS!

Adventures with the Spoon

This week Addy experienced eating cereal with the spoon. On Monday she had her first real mealtime in her high-chair. It was certainly interesting--and messy! She made a yucky face with her first taste, but with each feeding she appeared to like it more and more.

This week Grandma Freihaut also visited and spent lots of quality time with Addy. We took a trip to the Miller Park Zoo where Addy got to see lions and tigers and bears--oh my! It was nice to have an extra pair of hands around the house while I start to prepare for the upcoming school year. Derek and I got the oppotunity to attend a Shakespeare Festival outing with his work while Addy stayed home with grandma.
On Friday Derek got his wisdom teeth removed and was a little sore all weekend. Addy also had a fever on Friday, so I took her to the doctor as a precaution. It turns out that she had a sore throat and a bit of a cold. As the weekend went on she seemed to feel better, which made us very happy because she wasn't sleeping too well while she was feeling yucky.


This upcoming week Adalyn and I are making an extended trip to Indiana. Derek will join us for the weekend. We are looking forward to seeing our family and friends. I am sure we'll have lots to share after our Indiana visit!

Uncle Cory's Big Day

This weekend was very special for us because Derek's brother Cory tied the knot. In preparation for our trip we jam packed the car with ALL of our usual baby necessities and headed to Terre Haute. Preparing for a short weekend trip is WAY different than it used to be!

Derek and I were in the wedding, so we relied on family and friends to take care of Addy throughout the weekend. Addy did a great job, despite being completely thrown off her schedule the entire weekend. We were nervous about her being "vocal" during the ceremony, but despite a few "close calls" her Grandma Freihaut, Aunt Gladys and cousin Candy were able to keep her from causing a scene during the vows. She even did well sleeping in the hotel. She didn't really enjoy the loud noise at the reception from the D.J., but loved to watch his hypnotizing disco lights.

Overall, we had a great weekend and are so happy for Cory and Courtney. It was a lot of fun to share their special day with them.

Addy got to spend some time in the hotel pool in between wedding events.

All dressed up and waiting for the wedding to begin.

Addy and her Daddy in their wedding attire.

The newly married couple and Addy. At this point Addy was exhausted!

Being a "ham" for the camera on Sunday in the hotel.Having fun in the hotel pool.

Another Summer Weekend

We spent this past weekend out and about--enjoying the beautiful weather and wishing the summer would slow down. Derek was out of town for three days for a bussiness meeting in NYC, so it was just us girls at home. Addy and I had a lot of fun on our first nights home alone, but we were glad to pick Daddy up at the airport on Saturday night.

Derek actually flew home by way of Springfield Airport and needed a ride, so Addy and I visited a few Rochester friends before we picked him up. Addy had some serious play time with her friends Charli, Ben, and Jack and enjoyed seeing her adult friends too! Little did we know that while we were having fun with our friends, Derek was having a horrible time getting back to Illinois. He lost his wallet in the taxi, which made it quite challenging to get on his flight! We picked Derek up from the airport late Saturday evening and Addy (and mommy) was so excited to see her Daddy. After his long day Derek was so happy to be back with his family.

On Sunday we took it easy. We have discovered that Addy loves being outdoors. She especially enjoys looking at the trees. It was such a beautiful day on Sunday that we had a picnic at Miller Park under the huge trees. Addy laid on the blanket for quite a long time just watching the trees around her. We really had a great time. I look forward to many more relaxing picnics at the park!

Enjoying a beautiful day in the park

Mommy and Daddy can be exhausting!

Playing in the crib

Modeling her NYC souvenir from Daddy

Addy's First 4th of July

Addy celebrated her first 4th of July this past weekend. Her Grandma and Grandpa Schum, Aunt Ashley, and Uncle Brian came to visit for a few days to celebrate with us. Addy loved all of the ongoing attention she received from her family. She took a trip to IKEA with her mommy, Grandma, and aunt Ashley. She was a good girl and enjoyed watching her aunt Ashley shop til' she dropped! On Friday we had a cookout at our house. Addy loved watching the sparklers and even laughed out loud. Saturday we all took a trip to Missouri and ate at Lambert's, which is the home of throwed rolls. We were very thankful that Addy didn't get hit by any flying rolls, although her Daddy did end up with pieces of a roll on his head! Addy's second overnight stay in a hotel went MUCH smoother than the first; she slept through the night. She also got to go swimming in the hotel pool. The water was a bit chilly, but she didn't seem to mind. On Sunday we stopped at St. Louis for Addy's first trip to the zoo. We only stayed for a few hours, but Addy really enjoyed the animals. She laughed out loud at the bears and loved looking at the fish. She also had her first ride on a carousel. She was so tired after all of this excitement that she slept 9 hours on Sunday night.

Addy loved watching the sparklers!

Little Miss Independence!

Addy getting into the "throwed roll" action! (Note: this is a fake roll!:)

Addy swimming with her Daddy in her floatie.Addy's first carousel ride. She enjoyed the ride!

Addy and her Daddy checking out the elephants!

4 Months Old!

Addy is 4 months old! It is fun to look back at the many pictures we have taken during the last four months to see how much our little girl has changed! It is amazing! Addy had her 4 month appointment on July 1st and received 4 more shots. She took them like a champ and didn't cry for very long at all. She weighed 19 pounds and measured in at 26.5 inches long. She is off the charts according to percentiles. She is a growing girl! Lots of things have been going on since our last post. We made a trip to Indiana to visit friends and family. While visiting home, Addy attended her first wedding. A friend of mine from college got married in Henderson, KY and we made the short trip with Addy to share her special day. Derek and I also celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary and Addy's wonderful (and brave) Aunt Kim babysat while we went to dinner. Kim, Addy and Olive (the dog) had a great time, but we're not sure about the neighbors! I have posted several pictures below, but will be sure to post more as I gather them from my various family members.

FOUR MONTHS OLD!


Investigating her newest toy


Addy, Kim and Olive