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!