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)!

Hello Tooth and Baby-Proofing!

This week was another busy week in the Freihaut house. Addy's bottom tooth is almost all the way through and she continues to chew on everything in sight. Addy and I played a lot of Peek-a-Boo this week. She loves to cover her face up with a blanket and wait for me to ask "Where's Addy?" It has become one of our favorite pastimes!

This week Addy really started to move all around the house to get to things. I think that she managed to scoot or roll herself within reach of every plant in the house. She also readily goes from laying on the floor to sitting on her own now. She loves to make her way for the remote control and our lap tops. Needless to say, Derek and I need to get to work baby-proofing the house! We certainly aren't ready for a mobile Adalyn! But I guess we really don't get to choose when she begins moving! :)

This week was homecoming week at Rochester. Addy and I went to the homecoming parade on Friday with all of the second grade teachers. Addy and her friend Charli had matching Rochester shirts for homecoming. They looked very cute in their Rocket gear. Both of the girls really enjoyed the parade. They didn't even get upset at the fire engine sirens. After the parade we headed to the varsity boys' soccer game. Addy spent a long time on a blanket enjoying the beautiful weather and playing with her friends--Charli, Landon, and Sam. It was a great day! By the end I think I was more exhausted than Addy!

On Saturday Derek, Adalyn, and I continued our festival going ways and went to a nearby fall festival. The weather was beautiful and Addy loves to spend time in her stroller watching all of the action going on around her. I think that this weekend was officially the final festival for the season. We are planning an upcoming trip to the pumpkin patch, which we are very excited about!

Addy (on right) and Charli (on left) hanging out at the boys' soccer game. Their buddy Sam (in back) loves to keep an eye on them!

The girls traded this Gatorade bottle back and forth for a very long time! Who needs to buy all the toys when empty bottles do the trick!

Teething!!

Earlier this week we discovered that Addy's first tooth is breaking through. Her front tooth on the bottom has started to show, which explains her fussy temperment as of late. She has been chewing on anything and everything she can get her hands on! She has transformed into a gnawing and drooling machine! We are so excited that she is getting teeth. However, it is just another sign that our little girl is getting big way faster than we would like her to!

Adalyn is also itching to be mobile. She will sit up and dive at things beyond her reach. She often somehow manages to manuever to whatever object that is in her sight. During the past few days she has started to push herself up on her hands and knees into a crawling position. She has become much more observant of sounds and is becoming more and more of a challenge to feed because she is so curious about what is going on around her. She has also started to hold her bottle, although I think she still prefers having it held for her.

This week was a very busy one. Derek and I had meetings on various days and I had my usual class on Tuesday night. Our busy schdules certainly make picking up and dropping off Adalyn very intresting. Although our schedules are hectic and it seems like our heads are spinning, it seems as though Addy is getting comfortable with her routine of going to the two sitters.

This weekend was a rather uneventful one. We spent a great deal of our time at home tying up odds and ends around the house. We rearranged some of the rooms to create a designated toy area in our living room. Our house now looks more like a home again and less like a giant toy box. Addy stayed home with her dad on Sunday morning while I ran a few errands. He dressed her in a Colts onesie in preparation for the game agains Jackonsonville. Unfortuntely the onesie didn't bring the Colts luck, as they lost AGAIN!

We had a pretty low key week, which we found particularly low stress and relaxing. We are really enjoying the beautiful fall weather and look forward to many fall outings with Adalyn!

Addy loves bathtime!

Fall weather is here...hopefully to stay!

This weekend the weather was beautiful. I don't think it got into the eighties all weekend. I just love fall and look forward to taking Addy to all of the area fall festivals and parades. We started the festival season by attending the small festival in our town. Addy attended her first parade. She loved watching all of the floats and people pass by. She also raked in lots of candy because the parade participants couldn't resist such a cute little girl!:) It's too bad she couldn't eat any of the candy she earned with all of her cuteness.

On Sunday we stayed home and did some much needed work around the house. Addy wore her Peyton Manning jersey in preparation for the Colts' first game, which wasn't pretty! Addy was very fussy all weekend. She wouldn't allow us to put her down very much for independent time. Everytime we put her down she started the full out waterworks..tears and all. We think it is a combination of shots from last week and teething. I know that she was like this for the sitters last week as well. Hopefully this week will be a bit happier for Adalyn!

Gearing up for the BIG parade!
Look at this cool new teether mom!
How many licks does it take when the wrapper is left on?

My mom is very proud of these new hairbows!

Six Month Check-up

Today Addy is officially six months old. We took her for her six month check-up today and for four more shots. Addy took the shots like a champ but got very upset when her doctor examined her. She weighed 21 pounds 5 ounces, which is still off the growth chart and measured in at 28.5 inches long (also off the charts). That's a two inch growth spurt from her four month appointment! It must be the carrots! The doctor seemed to be pleased with Addy's growth and development. She has has some sniffles and congestion, which we think may be a sign of allergies. Since Derek and I both have allergies, the poor kid is bound to be allergic to something! The doctor also said that teeth may also be in the near future, which may explain some of Adalyn's fussiness and waking at night.

Over the weekend Addy's Grandma and Grandpa Schum and Aunt Ashley came to visit. We had a great time with them. On Saturday we all went to the zoo in Peoria. Addy loved watching the meerkats play. It was hilarious watching her watch them and then turn to us and laugh. She also enjoyed watching the monkeys and zebras. On Sunday we took Addy to get her 6 month pictures taken (see previous post). Grandma and Ashley were a big help during the session. It was great to have so many extra hands to help change outfits and keep Addy happy! On Sunday Derek also took me on my first golfing outing,which was quite the experience. I can honestly say that it is a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. Derek did beat me through nine holes--but not by much! I definitely lost less golf balls in the water than he did!

We had a great Labor Day weekend with our family and look forward to seeing them again. Even though this week is a four day work week, it is really hard to leave Addy. I miss her a lot through the day and talk about her often with my students. They really enjoy hearing all of my funny stories about her. I'm sure by the end of the year, they will know everything about her! Addy having a good time with her balloon from the balloon festival.

Addy's grandparents brought her this shirt when they came to visit.

The meerkats and Addy became best buds.

Addy loves the outdoors and spending time on our patio.