Firsts...

I had my first night away from Addison this Friday when I went to the New York State School Counselor's Associaton Conference in Syracuse, NY. It was so great to sleep by myself in a big, soft, comfy bed and not be woken up by anyone. I had a great time with my co-counselor, Colleen. It was a great time. Addison spent her first overnight at Grandma's. (Tyler was on a field trip to NYC with the art club and didn't return until midnight, so they all stayed over at Grandma and Pop-Pop's.) It went great, Addison was fine drinking formula from bottles. She also has her first tooth! It just cut through. She's had a cold and the sniffles for two weeks, I guess sinus trouble can be a sign of teething. She's also rolling like crazy. If you lay her on her back she immediately draws her knees up and thrusts them over and flips, then pushes up on her hands and smiles. You can tell she's so proud of herself. Then she'll go back the other way. She's very strong. She's also got the hang of the Johnny Jumper and loves it. She's getting better at sitting but still flops over occasionally. Disappointing news... not enough families were interested in helping with the parade so we're not going to be in it. :( I'm sad. Fortunately I didn't tell Lauren. We'll still go watch the parade, though. Sounds like we'll have Thanksgiving at the Carey's, Christmas morning at our house and go to Portland after Christmas. Can't believe it's November already! Thanks for all of my birthday gifts... I'm enjoying them all!

Fall

We went apple picking at Hick's Orchard. It was fun, but pricey. Also, the other day I went on a short hike and leaf hunt with Lauren, Kobie, and Addison in the hiking backpack. Actually, to clarify, just Addison was in the backpack. It was a lot of fun, the weather has been great. I'll include a mysterious quote from Lauren:

Lauren: (Wearing my hat backwards.) "I look just like Dan Stewart!"
Me: "Who's Dan Stewart?"
Lauren: "Just... a nickname for myself."

... Weird. Does anyone know who Dan Stewart is?

Food, glorious food...

It's not that they're not doing cute things. It's just that I don't have time to sit down and write about them. I don't think I've ever been busier or more tired in my life than the last few months. I think it's starting to get a little better, though. I hope.

Addison is SO interested in food. I started cereal at 4 months because she's been lunging at any sort of food or drink that I'm holding and sucking on my cheek. She loves it. One day I didn't get a chance to give her cereal in the evening but at night she was sucking on my cheek so hard she gave me a hickey. I mixed up a bowl of rice cereal and formula (yuck) and she wolfed it down, banging on her tray if I paused while spooning it into her mouth. She's tried rice cereal, baby oatmeal, applesauce and peas. I think she likes the rice cereal with formula the best. She's grabbed for brownies and graham crackers that were in our hands while holding her, though. Smart girl. I wonder if she's old enough for teething crackers?

Lauren is the proud owner of a blue and gold shirt that says Jr. Spartan Volleyball. She is so excited to match the "bollyball girls" and wants to be "on the team". She's asked for a number on the back of her shirt. (4 if you're curious.) She has been having very good days at daycare. Her teacher, Mr. Hoffman, is just great. Addison's very happy at daycare, too.

Last weekend we visited "Uncle Great Great Fran" and Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Wiley. It was fun, I'm glad we did it. We met Alonna and her husband and two children at Fran's house. It seems like we'd have a lot in common. Too bad we don't know them better.

Hoping to go Apple Picking this weekend, and buy a pumpkin, and maybe back to Fright Fest again. We're going to participate in the TD Banknorth Parade (Formerly Joy Store parade) on Nov. 18th, World Class Kids is doing a Candy Land float. Fun!

Can't remember anything else right now...

Visitorphobia??

Is there a word for the fear of having people come over to your house? I was not the best housekeeper before by any means, but add a 4 year old, a baby, a dog to the mix and our house is a disaster zone. If I ever turn up missing, it's likely that I'm buried under a pile of dirty laundry or dishes.

Addison is 15 lbs., 25 inches, that's 90th percentile for each, if you're keeping track. Still happy as can be...

Milestones

Addison laughed for the first time yesterday! What a great sound. I was bouncing her in front of the mirror and she just laughed and laughed. Later that night Megan Capone was bouncing her and she laughed again.

Even more exciting, she slept through the night! Tyler's parents were watching both girls and Addison had a bottle of formula before bed which probably helped. She slept until 5:15, nursed, and went back to sleep with me. Hopefully it's a pattern that will continue, I could get used to this.

Lauren reached an interesting milestone. She has her first crush! I had no idea it would happen so early or the way it did. The first time she saw the contractor building the porch at Tyler's parents house, she just stared at him. His name is Brody, and he's probably 28 or so; he is quite handsome. I guess she kept bringing him cookies, and lemonade and flowers. The other night she told me she had a secret, she said Brody is her first boyfriend, but she's too shy to tell him! She said Grandma and Grandpa could tell him, though.

In other news, we traded our Ford Focus for a Ford Windstar. I never thought I'd own a minivan but it really is convenient for kids! It's a few years old but the mileage is low. It's got two sliding doors, bucket seats in the back so the girls' car seats are not right on top of each other, and lots of other neat features, like the warning alarm when you're backing up and something is behind you. Tyler will mostly use it to drive the girls to daycare and back and forth to work.

We had a great time at Bill and Hilary's house yesterday. Lauren swam in the pool for hours, and had fun playing with Grace Frasier and Sophie Campopiano. It's so strange to see my daughter playing with the children of my friends from high school. When did we get old enough for that???

Happy Labor Day... hope you're enjoying the nice weather.

Maine

"This is the life." -Lauren

We had a great vacation in Maine. Lots of family time, lots of swimming and relaxing... and a brief stop at Six Flags, New England, which was more fun than any of us thought it would be!

Now it's back to work. Lauren is back at "school" and Addison is coming with me to work each day. A babysitter (one of my students) watches her for me in the school library and brings her to me when she needs to nurse. Boy, will she get a good letter of recommendation! It was a last minute arrangement, but it's working out great. On the 4th Addison will join her sister at daycare. Hopefully I'll still have time to update this as the school year gets under way... no promises!

A Day at the Track...

We went to the track last Sunday. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves...