More Halloween Pics

At a house getting candy

Jam and his friends

Handy Jammy

Two Peas-In-Pods.

Yes we did this on purpose... we are such dorks :)

Halloween '08

Sorry for the long delay, but illnesses, deer season, and Joel's cd upload have pretty much kept me from the computer.  I had no idea we had as many cds as we have until Joel spent a couple of weeks on the computer. 

 

ANYWAY, Halloween was super fun.  It was actually 3 days long.  On Wednesday, we went to a party at the children's museum.  Jam played with Sammy D, Nolan, and Andy.  Grandma Dusty and Poppa Pete were also there.  On Wednesday and Thursday Joel worked on carving our jack-o-lantern family.  I think he did a wonderful job.  

On Thursday James did Halloween at school and opened a Halloween package from Auntie Emma D.  He spent a good portion of the afternoon covering Addie and himself in Halloween stickers.  

On Friday we brought the kids to Dehlin's house for trick-or-treating.  Addie was one of two peas in pods with Eli.  Jam had a blast trick-or-treating with Charlie, Olie, Sam, Addie, and Eli.  Kristy and I got to eat Addie and Eli's share.  They of course got a little taste a few hours later :)

The four of us posing at the Dehlin house after trick-or-treating

Two super cute kiddos all ready for fun!

Joel's pumpkin family masterpiece

Addie, Jam, and a ton of halloween stickers

Jam, Sam, and Poppa Pete at the children's museum

Addie Finds a Toy

I put Addison on her mat while I was watching the Canton, Ohio rally for Obama on CNN and she started intentionally batting at a toy.  This is the first time she's done this on purpose.  She played with and talked to the toy for like five minutes before getting tired out.  They grow up so fast!

Addison's First Snow Experience

As soon as James heard Addie making noise over the monitor he yelled, "I get to teach Addie about snow!"  So we got her up, fed, and dressed (during which Jam snuck out of the house in his pajama's) and ready for her 1st snow experience.

Addie really liked her snowsuite.  She thought it was very fun to wiggle around in it on the floor.

Addison was not nearly as happy with the cold wind.  She and I lasted about 3 minutes outside before she decided it was time to go in.  Just enough time for Jam to show her the snow and snap a couple of photos.

James thinks its fun to catch snowflakes on his tongue!

October in the UP!

We woke up to what James considers the most exciting sight since the birth of his sister...SNOW!  He has been having a lot of trouble containing his enthusiasm.  When I went upstairs to change Addison he put on his snow boots and snuck out the back door.  Besides not telling me where he was going, he was still in his pajamas!

Jam has spent much of the AM chanting, "It's winter, YEAH!"  He's such a Yooper!

Huntin' At Camp

This weekend we finally got back out to camp.  The weather was very chilly, but fortunately Addie has decided that wind is not as evil as she had once suspected.  

On Saturday, we helped build Grammy's post and then Joel and James and Grampy did some hunting with Indie.  Joel got his first grouse over her.  Much to our surprise Jam enjoyed carrying around the bird.  For those who don't know, one of James' many fears is birds.  Apparently he is only afraid of LIVE birds.

On Saturday night James had his first sleep-over at Gram and Gramps.  I was sad to leave without him, but he had a really good time.  So good a time, in fact, he wanted to stay again tonight!  I think Grammy and Gramps probably need a little time to rest and recover.

On Sunday we went back out to pick up Jam.  Addie, James, and I didn't hunt today because it was about 40 degrees and raining.  We did play Candy Land and watch football.  Addie took a three hour nap!  Apparently she takes after her mommy and likes to go to camp to sleep :)

My mighty hunters!

Jam came walking up to camp proudly carrying their game

Jam did not appreciate Indie wanting to check out the bird!

What a Yooper :)

Hockey Night in Marquette

This weekend Joel's family came to visit.  On Saturday we all went to Jam's hockey practice.  Here are some highlights.

James' face-off face

Jam celebrating.  After practice he told me, "I am the greatest skater out there!"

The great one skating with a chair

James spent a lot of time falling on purpose to test out his new pads

Joel and Jam "flying" across the ice

Fun In the Dank House

So, life has continued on in our house at breakneck speed.  I can't believe it's already been 2 weeks since I've posted anything.  

Addison is continuing to grow (8 oz a week) and get more fun.  I have decided that she is going to be an actress because she LOVES to be the center of attention, and fusses if there isn't at least one person looking at her.

Jam is doing really well in preschool and just recently started hockey (because we're gluttons for punishment).  It's really just a league to teach them to skate and stuff.  There is only one person who's smaller than him, of course.  Joel took him for the first time today and he really seemed to enjoy it.  We all went to the sign up night, and it was actually nice to see a bunch of other overly-active and overly-skinny boys running around.  Everyone keeps telling me that Jam is so skinny because he's so active, but I didn't believe it until Wednesday when there were like 100 of them tearing around.  

So now that I'm a hockey mom I've decided that by about 2016 I should be vice-president :)  I mean we're really close to Canada and I'm watching a hockey game on CBC to bone-up on my foreign relations... next step... Mayor of Negaunee. 

My Kiddos enjoying one last day of summer.

Jam wanted to be a big-boy burrito instead of a baby burrito.

James and Addie were playing on the floor in the kitchen while I was doing dishes.  I looked back and Jam had his cars stickers.  The next thing I heard was, "Addie, you're fine... I put a band-aid on it."  Apparently Dr. James can fix it.

In this picture I just thought that Addie looked a ton like Jam.

Just a Quick Note...

I just wanted to write quickly to say that Addison officially started babbling today.  I was changing her diaper and every time I looked away she would coo.  When I would look she would smile and then look away or make other cute little noises, seemingly for my amusement.  This went on for probably 10 minutes.  I wish I had the camera handy.  I'm sure she'll be doing it more.  I have pictures and video that I will try to post soon.  I hope you are all well.

James' Ore to Shore

I did Joel's O2S post the morning Addie was born, so I just realized that I never did Jam's.  Jam did the Littlest Rock first.  It was a 50 yard race.  He did that with his friends Charlie, Lily, Max, Emmy, and Bea.  

After that he did the Little Rock.  That was a 1 mile race that he rode with his daddy.  During this race he got stuck in the parking lot and got really mad and cried because people were able to pass him.  Once he got out of that parking lot he said, "Let's catch 'em!"  He did catch a couple of people and was in a better mood at the end of the race.

This is right when we got to the arena.  He was so scared he was shaking and said he was thinking he didn't want to do the race.

This is the start to the Littlest Rock.  James and Joel are a little to the right of center.  Jam has on his yellow fleece.

James and Joel at the end of the Little Rock.  Jam got to go through the same finish line that daddy did, which was of course a very big deal.

James and Uncle Tony after the race.  We had root beer floats in celebration of both my men doing so well in their races. 

Finally! Photographic Proof of a Smile!

Addison gave Joel her first real smile on Friday night (9/5/08) at dinner time.  Since then we have been spending a ton of time unsuccessfully trying to catch her smiling.  Friday night at like 2 Am she was smiling at me while on the changing table, but obviously we didn't have the camera.  A 2:00 AM diaper change is a ton more pleasant when you get a smile as a thank you.

Last night I thought I was getting ahead of the camera shy little stinker by bringing the camera upstairs.  Unfortunately she then wouldn't smile for either Joel or I.  At that point I  was thinking it may be easier to get footage of Big Foot than Addie smiling.  

Well, this afternoon our persistence payed off.  I held Addison, James made her smile, and Joel got the picture.  She has now officially smiled for all three of us. 

There is nothing in the world better than a smiling baby!

A Little Tummy Time

Addison definitely enjoys Tummy Time more than James did.  Maybe she'll be crawling before 10 months, unlike James.  

James thinks Tummy Time is fun because it's a little like playing and he is already getting impatient for her to be able to play.  Jam was playing with some of his horses on the floor and he told me that, "In a year, Addie will play with the orange and white one and I'll play with the black and grey."   He is going to be really good at sharing I think... thank goodness :)

James and Addison on her new mat from Auntie (and Godmother) Barb.

Sometimes you just feel like sittin' around and pickin' your nose ;)

Both kids very favorite place for tummy time is daddy's tummy!

Below is video of Addie being REALLY active on her mat!

First Day of Preschool

James had his first day of preschool today.  With all the craziness of a new baby I didn't get a hold of the teacher in time for the first day on Tuesday, but from now on he'll be going every Tuesday and Thursday AM.  

When I dropped him off he just took his jacket off and started playing.  After a couple of minutes I said, "OK dude, I'm leaving."  He looked up and said, "OK bye."  He couldn't have cared less.  I was heartbroken.  It was definitely easier for him than for me.  I got a little teary-eyed driving away with just Addie in the car.

When I picked him up the first thing he said was, "I love my school."  He said he played cars with a girl (he couldn't remember any names).  He had cheese sticks and strawberries for snack.  They read a story about a duck riding a bike that runs into a bunch of aminals (how Jam says it).  He also colored a picture of a cow since a cow was one of the things the duck saw.

After rest he went and found his monkey backpack and was ready to go back to school.  I told him he couldn't go back for 4 more days so he spent a good part of the evening filling his backpack with stuff and pretending to go to school.  I am so relieved that he liked it.  It sounds cheesy, but it seems like Jam was just in the little infant car seat that Addison is now in.

Jam standing by my purple willow tree.  He decided that was a good place to take a picture!

James and Mommy happy at the end of preschool.

Where the (Minnesota) Wild Things Are

James found an old Wild outfit that was his when he was a baby so they both had to wear Wild stuff.  I put a pink onesie under the outfit so it would still be girly.  Both kids had super rough days, so I think they took the whole "wild" thing a little too literally :)  Maybe we'll wait a while before we wear them again!

Jam said, "I'm snuggling with Addie like you and me do Mom!"

He gets a little better at holding her every day.

Too Much Olympics, Not Enough Sleep

Last night I was burping Addison after her 2AM feeding and I must have dozed off because I think I heard her burp and then there were announcers that said, "That one is at least a 7.0."  

The other said, "Yes.  That will put her on the podium, the only question will be what color medal."  

When I opened my eyes I was in bed.  I can't believe I'm narrating my life like the olympics!

In the AM I told Joel about it and he told Addie he was disappointed.  He thought she could have pulled off a 7.25 at least!  I think we're losing it :) 

Addison's Home Coming

Addie, Joel and I surprised Jam and Grandma by getting home by 9 AM.  Addie had a very rough night and we were very anxious to just get home.  As usual, there were a ton of crazy drivers on the road :)

Addie looking pretty in her purple hat.  I think purple may be her color.

It did not take long before Daddy and Addie were sleeping on the couch.  Jam and Joel assumed a very similar position when he was that age.

While Joel and Addison slept Jam and I had a picnic lunch out in the yard.  Fluffer Nutter sandwiches never fail to please!

Addie looking cute after a diaper change.  James is a really big helper.  He holds the clean diaper and throws away the dirty one.  Sometimes Mommy forgets and throws away the dirty one and Jam cries.  He also likes to talk and sing to her.  

He doesn't freak out about her crying like he did the first few times he heard it.  The first time, in the hospital, he tried to tell that "it's ok" as loudly as Addie was crying so we just ended up with 2 screaming kids!

          

Top:  James playing Addie's musical giraffe for her and rubbing her back.

Bottom:  Addie calmed right down when Jam started playing his guitar for her.

How an Anniversary Becomes a Birthday

Yesterday I got a call from the Dr's office that I needed a non-stress test.  Since it was our anniversary Joel said we would go into the birthing center quick and then go out for a nice lunch.  We left the house at around noon.

Here we are all ready to leave for our date

Two minutes after driving away I had my first contraction.  Of course we assumed that it was not the real thing... I mean how many times have we been faked out?!

By the time we got into Mqt my contractions were 3-5 min apart.  I was starving so I hoped they would stop so we could go out to eat.  As we sat on the monitor the contractions were only 2-3 min apart.  I lied to the nurse and said they were only like a 2 on the pain scale.  Then I stood up and my water broke... about 1:40 PM

Joel hurried up and grabbed the camera to take one last picture of my belly at 40 weeks and 5 days.

Addison Grace Dank came flying out less than an hour 1/2 later at 3:02 PM.  She was 7 lbs. 9.4 ozs. and 19 inches long.  I could have sworn she was bigger than that :)

Daddy holding Addie for the first time.  She is a total daddy's girl.  They snuggled almost all night.

James holding his baby sister for the first time.  Joel called when she was out and he was running around the house screaming, "Baby D is out!"  He has already helped with a diaper change and is going to be an amazing big brother.  I am the luckiest Mommy ever!

The Ore 2 Shore... Joel

On Saturday Joel and James participated in their first ever Ore to Shore!

Joel had his race on Saturday AM.  He did the 28 mile Soft Rock (there is also a 48 mile Hard Rock).  The race started in Negaunee and went through the woods to Marquette.  Joel figured he could do the race in 2 1/2 hours, hoped to do it in 2 hours 15 minutes, and finished in 2 hours and 1 minute!  We are all very proud of him.  He did not even think about getting back on his bike until he rode the 1 mile to work on Monday AM.

Joel at the start in Negaunee.  One can't tell by the picture, but it was pouring rain!  We amused the people around him when he told me not to go into labor while he was out.  I told him that I wouldn't go into labor if he promised not to fall.  Thankfully, we both kept our promises

Joel pointing at James 19 miles into the race.  James was thrilled!

Joel and James celebrating at the end of the race.  Joel was completely gassed!

All 3 1/2 of us at the end of the race.  Now that this is over, Baby D needs to get out so it can count as a whole person :)

Soon to come:  James' Ore to Shore!