Forty-Seven Weeks - Let it Snow!

On Friday we woke up to the first "snow cover". Brody was so excited to go outside and make a snowball...unfortunately the only thing the snow wanted to do was stick to his fingers.

This week has been something else with Addisen. She got sent home from daycare on Wednesday because she had a few "blowouts". The one that did them in was when she pooped up the back of her shirt and on to the poor little boy next to her! It seems like her antibiotic is definitely doing it's job! Luckily we only have one more day of therapy and then hopefully she will start to come home in the same clothes that we sent her in.

We recently brought some more of Brody's old toys out for Addisen to play with. Who would have guessed that the 4 year old would like them better than the 10 month old! Tonight the Barn was Buzz Lightyear's fort - oh what an imagination!

Addisen is starting to really figure out her independence. She is now skimming along the furniture and trying to grab at everything! It is so amazing to see this little girl able to do so many things. My guess is she will be walking before her 1st birthday. Speaking of her first birthday - I can't believe it has been a whole year since I was wobbling around everywhere! Where did the time go - I really am getting a little depressed thinking about the loss of the "baby" years and on to the toddler years. I know it must happen - but gosh they grow up too fast!

I still can't get over how good Brody is with his little sister. Tonight she was all over him while he was trying to eat a snack and then again when he was trying to play his game. He doesn't get mad at all, he just tolerates her. It seems like I say it every week - but we really couldn't ask for better kids!

Forty Six Weeks - Is it possible to have healthy kids?

I finally got a picture of Addisen standing. It seems to be her favorite thing now - she will crawl over to the couch and then just stand next to me as I am sitting here. Part of me thinks she doesn't know how to sit down and the other part thinks that she is just pretty impressed with herself.

I am guessing we are going to have a little tomboy on our hands because she is so in love with her brother's toys.

Yesterday it was beautiful here, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to take some pictures at the local park. The only problem was that I didn't account for the time change and how quickly it gets dark here! I was still able to salvage a few of the shots.

This is one of my favorites! She's sooo big!

Addisen is just always so happy - even when she is sick. Today we were back at the doctor to recheck her ear and sure enough it is still infected. We are now on the third antibiotic for this ear infection. Our appointment with ENT isn't until the 22nd, so I am really hopeful that this antibiotic will work - I don't want her to have delays in walking or talking due to this infection!

Along with her ear infection she also has thrush - so that means an antibiotic two times a day, nystatin oral liquid 4 times a day, a diaper rash cream four times a day, fluoride once a day and her inhaler once a day - and you would never guess that this girl is sick! I have to admit that I sit here wondering if I did the right thing with sending the kids to daycare, but ultimately I really had no choice. I try to remind myself that Brody is now extremely healthy and so smart - it is worth it in the end right? I don't know that I could ever say that, because I still feel like I am missing out on so much by being at work full time. Looking back I have to laugh, I became a pharmacist so that I could work part time and be home with my family...some where along the line things did not go as planned!

I am so thankful that through it all Addisen is the happiest girl - at least I don't feel like she is suffering in any way. She is a great blessing to our family - a reminder that I shouldn't take things so seriously or get upset about little things.

These shots are some of my favorites too.

And here is my all time favorite - little sister watching her big brother - we are so lucky that they like each other so much!

I can't believe how much Addisen has "grown up" in the last two weeks - it seems like she is a toddler now instead of my baby. It is hard to believe that she will be 1 in about a month! Where did this year go?

Here's big brother with his cheesy smile!

We got a new addition to the family this weekend - a Betta fish named Charlie. I am already that crazy mother trying to do everything she can to keep her son's fish alive. Tonight I got home and he was laying in the filter (it had been unplugged because I read that Betta fish do no like turbulence). My heart sank and I called downstairs to Jim that someone wasn't swimming anymore. Right before Brody came up the stairs I took a look back in the tank....and he was gone! To my amazement he was swimming around - so he either enjoys the "bed" at the top of the tank, or tomorrow I am going to find him at the bottom!

A funny Brody story - Last night he was in the bathroom by himself and he had just finished going #2. Jim and I were in the dining room and heard him flush the toilet and yell "Fire in the Hole!" All we could do was laugh - where does he get these things? (probably from his dad).

Forty Five Weeks - Addisen's First Halloween!

We were a little late getting to our pumpkin carving this year..

Brody had already helped carve one pumpkin at school, so he was brave enough to scoop out some of the guts!

Eww!

His favorite part of carving pumpkins is using the "drill" and hammer to pound in the little light pegs that we have.

Mr. Cheese posing with our pumpkins!

On Friday Brody and Addisen had their Halloween Party at School. I got there and found Brody like this - the headless dragon! He said his hair was too hot for the head.

The teachers loved Addisen in her skunk outfit!

Tonight Grandma and Bobo came to our house to go Trick or Treating with us. Addisen and Brody did a great job and they even kept their heads on for the majority of the time!

Addisen was so interested in Brody's costume tonight. She was crawling all over him, which of course led to him crying because she scratched him. I can't wait to see what happens when she can really move!

Skunk and Dragon kisses!

Grandma showing off her pride and joy!

Brody did a great job saying Trick or Treat and Thank You tonight!

A rare photo with Bobo and Grandma!

The big accomplishment this week was Addisen pulling herself up to standing! I can't believe I didn't get a picture of it - but she can pretty much pull herself up on anything. I think it will be just a few weeks before we have a toddler in our house!

The other big news was Addisen's check up on an ear infection she had about a month ago. Unfortunately the infection was still there, so she is on another antibiotic and we will be going to see the ENT at the end of November. This girl is following in her big brother's foot steps - Jim and I just don't make good lungs or ears!

We hope everyone had a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Forty Four Weeks - Fall Fun!

We are very blessed to have two kids that love each other so much!

This weekend our neighborhood had a Halloween Party for the kids. My mom did an AWESOME job making the kids their costumes. I don't have many great pictures of them together (or Brody alone) because he isn't too into the picture thing right now.

This photo is not the best quality - but by far one of my favorites! The look on their faces tells the story in our house most of the time - Addisen is in LOVE with her brother and all of his toys and he tolerates her!

The cutest skunk I have ever seen!

Laughing at her daddy!

This picture tells the story of our trick or treating. The whole time the kids were in the wagon Brody would say "Mom, Addisen is taking my candy" and I would say "She isn't going to eat it, just let her play with it".

On Sunday we finally made it to pick out our pumpkins. We have been meaning to go for the last few weeks but the time just seems to be flying by!

Brody was very excited when he found a lady bug on one of the pumpkins - he was insistent that we do not buy that one because it would bother the ladybug! Shortly after this picture the ladybug ended up on his pant leg - thankfully daddy was to the rescue and removed the bug!

Finally a good picture of Mommy and Addisen - now we need to get one of Brody and Mommy!

I love how Brody's smile has evolved into a Joker like smile!

I was really hoping to get Addisen's 10 month pictures when we were at the pumpking patch - but unfortunately it was past nap time and she wasn't happy! This is the best we got!

And then we have Mr. Cheese!

Forty Three Weeks - Three's a Charm!

On Saturday we celebrated Brody's Birthday with his third party! We had our family here to celebrate with the Spiderman Cake! This was a much easier cake to decorate than last year's Buzz Lightyear!

Brody was a little confused by the end of the week. On Saturday I showed him the special "4" shirt I had bought and he said "I'm not 4, I am 5 now!" He was very insistent that he turned 4 when he took the cupcakes to school and so now at this birthday party he was 5.

He got a cool new racetrack from my brother and Jenny, a new game for his Leappad from Grandman and Bobo, Spiderman shirt and 4 wheeler from Aunt Judy and Uncle Bob, Puzzle and marker sets from Uncle Jim and Aunt Mary, Superhero shirt, puzzle and stickers from Aunt Kathy and Uncle Brian and a superhero movie from Jim and I. I am thankful that this is the last party until Addisen's 1st Birthday in 2 months!

On Sunday Jim ran in his 3rd Marathon. His parents, Brody, Addisen, my parents and I all headed down to Grand Rapids to watch him. We were nervous that it was going to be a rainy day, but luckily it turned out to be perfect running weather for him.

Brody and Addisen made Jim a special shirt to wear for the marathon. Jim said he heard a lot of spectators comment on the shirt and cheer "Run Daddy Run!"

Jim did an awesome job finishing at 3:31:50 - a more than 30 minute improvement on his personal best! We are all SO proud of him! He did give me a small panic attack at the finish line when his calf cramped up and he had to stop to try to work it out. I just lost it, knowing how much he wanted to make the 3:30 time - but luckily he ran through it and finished in great time!

Brody is so proud of his Daddy's medal!

My dad did a great job taking pictures of the event!

Addisen was a trooper that morning, but finally fell asleep on our walk to find Jim after the race.

We were so lucky to have Jim's parents here to witness Jim's great accomplishment!