4 months check-up /growing strong & doing better than ever!

Addison had a great check-up on Tuesday. She got more shots, but only cried for a minute. The doctor said she looked great and was getting very strong. She weighed 14lbs,14ozs and was 25.25in long. He said we could start her on solids/veggies twice a day. We started her w/carrots a couple of days ago and she seems to really like them. She has to take a little of her bottle first because she gets very upset and hungry. We're gonna continue cereal mixed w/a little fruit in the mornings. Another thing he told us was she could come off of her Zantac soon and that we could try her with a CHEAPER sensitive formula. We were really glad to hear that!!! We are going to try her with the foods then change the formula in a few days.



She has started doings LOTS of new things...she has been sleeping in her crib and now officially sleeps through the night (anywhere from 7:30-8:30pm to 6:30-8:30am)~she rolled over a few times already and really likes grabbing her feet~she sits up in things with out bobbing her head~she reaches out and plays w/things~she sits and listens to books being read and looks at the pictures~today she even held her bottle by herself:) Here are a few pictures from the past few days.

Christmas 2008

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

My FaVoRiTe TiMe oF YeAr...CHRISTMAS!!!

Addison's 1st Christmas!!!

Addison's gifts from Santa

This Christmas was great because Scott and I already have what we really wanted...Addison!!! It was so much fun getting to dress her up and take her different places. I love sharing her with the family. Even though she doesn't understand the meaning of Xmas yet, it was still good having her there. She didn't really open any gifts, but played with the paper a little. She liked seeing her toys once they were open. The ones with music and colors are her favorite! She got tons of presents! I can't imagine what it's gonna be like next year...and the next...and the next! Besides getting our special gift, my next favorite gift was my surprise camera from Scott. It's the new Sony touch screen. It does everything. I took lots of pictures of Addie~of course! It is an awesome camera! Scott got his present early a couple of weeks ago...a new car. We are both happy with that!

I love this picture. She liked looking at the pretty paper.






She loves watching things move. She's even reached out a few times, but I couldn't get it on camera.

Can you believe all this stuff and she's only 4mths? This is a combination of Santa and Christmas gifts.


She's was very happy here playing with Daddy and her new toys.

We began celebrating Christmas the weekend before at my sister's house. Every year, we have cousins that come from Atlanta to spend a few days with the family. Sometimes, we visit them instead. The kids open gifts and the adults play dirty Santa and eat finger foods. Everyone always gets mad at me and Scott because we work together to try and get the gifts we want. Ha! Anyways, that night was a lot of fun.

On Christmas Eve, it has always been tradition for me, my brother, sisters, nieces, nephew, husbands, wives and aunt to spend the night at my mom and dad's house in Portland. They have a pretty big house, but the family continues to grow. No matter what, my mom always manages to make room. This is always a fun night. We have some type of dinner then we open gifts. Opening presents takes forever!!! The next morning, the kids get up for their Santa and then we have breakfast. When 9:00am comes around, Scott, Addison and myself are off to Louisville for Scott's family Xmas. We drive 2 & a half hours to stay a few hours there eating, opening gifts and spending time with family. Besides gifts, their tradition is exchanging ornaments every year. It doesn't take their family as long to open because all the kids open at the same time and then the adults. Then we turn right around and drive back to my parent's house.

Addison did well with traveling and going from one house to another. She was so amazed at all the lights and people. Of course, she got held pretty much the whole time. It doesn't really bother her though. Everyone loves her so much. They can't get over how much she is growing. I guess she really loves Xmas like her mommy.

This Christmas was a little sad at times because Brian's name would come up and it would get us all to thinking and missing him. It's still very surreal not having him here. We just tried thinking about the good times and the funny Brian, and it always makes us laugh again:) Overall,this was a wonderful Christmas! Hope everyone had a good one too.

Meeting Santa and 1st Christmas Pictures

Last weekend, we took Addison to see Santa for the 1st time. It was pretty short and sweet. They didn't really try hard to get her to smile. It was the end of a long shopping day so she was pretty tired anyway. She did awesome while we were shopping~barely even knew she was there!



We also had Addison's Xmas pictures made along with her 3month pictures. They turned out pretty cute.

In Loving Memory of a cousin and friend...he will not be forgotten!

Well, I dreaded writing this because it would mean Brian has been layed to rest, but I felt I should share some things in memory of him. You pretty much can't go anywhere now without hearing someone say something good about him. I went into the bank and the lady mentioned he was a member there and that he would be missed. I went to the chiropractor on Wed. and more was mentioned there. It's on everyone's mind. He obviously touched a lot of lives.

Burying someone you love is never easy. But besides older relatives, I have never had to experience the death of someone as young, and as close as Brian was to my family. He thought a lot of my dad, as if he was his own. He thought a lot of my mom too. He would call them just about every day. Sometimes he would come by to help with something or just to tell them about a "bust" or something that happened that he was very proud of (his most recent was a big drug bust). He ALWAYS had stories to tell, and every time he would tell it with humor and not even mean to be funny. He was always the life of the party at family reunions or get togethers. A year or so ago, he and Barbara had a family dinner at their house. I remember Brian showing us how his German Shepherd (his drug dog) could sniff out something that he had hidden. He was very proud to show him off to everyone. This year, the Denning's had planned a Xmas dinner for Sunday. Sadly, we will not be attending. That's where he would get to meet Addison. He loved children and was so good with them. Addison would have loved him. One of the last times I saw or spoke to Brian was over the summer. Scott and I went to eat breakfast at Cracker Barrel and ran into him. He was sitting alone enjoying his breakfast and asked us to sit with him. I'm so glad we did. We talked and laughed of course. I didn't realize it would be our last meal together.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, I've never seen so many people at a viewing in my life. The parking lot stayed full. The line was never-ending. People from everywhere were coming to show their respects. Flowers were being sent in at all hours. There were two officers guarding his casket at all times.

The Thursday service was one of the saddest, yet most memorable day of my life. It was unforgetable! The service, yet sad, was very enlightening because they really honored Brian and spoke of him as a true hero. It may sound cliche, but to a lot of people, he was a hero. He did many things for people and the community. He was a friend to all and his service was proof of that. The church was nearly full and people were still lining up to pay their respects to the family. There was a slide show going while people arrived and throughout the service. Brian was in the process of learning a song on the guitar called "Collide". That was played in honor of him. Several people spoke including his best friend and brother. His brother Michael gave a beautiful speech that Brian would be so proud of. There was not a dry eye in the entire church! He has really stayed strong for his family through this tough time.

Once the service was over, it was time to lay him to rest. Getting there was a very enlightening time also. The police department had EVERY road blocked from the church to the cemetery. Everyone was so respectful. As we drove in the precession, there were people getting out of their cars and standing on the side of the road to honor him as they drove him by. It was unbelievable!!! Once we were there, a policeman got on his radio and called out to every officer and made it Brian's "last call".

As the days now pass, I can't seem to get him off my mind. I keep hearing his voice and picturing him telling one of his funny stories. He will never be forgotten! The harsh reality is that a great man is gone, but his memory and legacy will live on forever through everyone that was touched by him. He will truly be missed! We love you Brian!

Sad to see him go...

I'm sure most of you heard about Brian Denning on the news or from someone you know. It's now the talk of the town. The news is sad, but true. Brian was my 1st cousin on my Dad's side of the family. He was a fun-loving person who will be greatly missed. He was the type of person who couldn't sit still for a minute. He ALWAYS had something funny to say when he was around. Our family reunions were always great because Brian was the life of the party! He knew lots of people and had lots of friends. Everyone that didn't know him wished they had.

I attended his viewing tonight and the turn out was amazing! He was definitely liked by many! It was very surreal. I guess it still hasn't sunk in that he will no longer be with us. When you look at his pictures, it's as if he is still in the room. I guess when you're alive, you never really realize the impact you have on people. Brian always knew he had lots of friends, but he would be very happy to know just how much he was liked and loved!

Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers.

3 months and growing fast!

I can't believe our baby is already 3 months old! Everyone told me they grow up too fast and that is so true. She can do so much... *laugh*smile*coo*look around*roll over~almost*sit up~with help*hold up her head*grab*suck fingers*recognize herself in the mirror. She has also changed so much in these 3 months~not just looks, but also the way she will just sit nicely and look around for the longest time. We went Xmas shopping and you barely even knew she was there. I guess you could say they get better with age, but it also has a lot to do with the $30 formula we've been using! Her reflux and spitting up has gotten better too because of the cereal and Zantac she's been taking. Maybe it's a combination of them all. However you look at it...she's a changed baby!!!

Her sleeping habits have gotten a little better I guess you could say. She does great during the day. She's already in a routine of eating her cereal in the morning, then napping. I also give her cereal anywhere from 12-100 and she takes her afternoon nap. She still cat naps some too. We try to get her ready for bed around 900 or so by feeding her cereal~sometimes earlier, sometimes later. It really just depends on the night if she goes for 3 hour spans or 5. She has this thing where she doesn't sleep sound due to her reflexes and rubbing her face, which wakes her up a lot! At first, I thought it was her tummy or the reflux, but she doesn't cry~just moves. I'm the world's worst about looking things up online. Of course, I had to find out if other babies do this and she's not alone! Some mothers say they still swaddle their babies at 7 and 9 months because of it. It helps them sleep longer. They talked about different ways to swaddle too. Well, Addison HATES it! It did help her sleep longer, but I didn't feel right doing it at 2 1/2 or 3 months. One mentioned using a Woombie which is a zipper sleep bag that cuddles the baby like the mother's womb, yet the material allows the baby to stretch a bit. I tried it and she did a little better. They say it takes some getting use to. We will see. Wish me luck! If anyone has any other suggestions, please let me know!