{six}

My baby is halfway to a year. That is so crazy to me. She is getting so big and changes so much every day! Six months certainly didn't go by this quick when I was pregnant! Here are some things about Addie at 6 months:

-she is 25.7 inches (49%)

-she weighs 17lbs 10.5 oz (81%)

-her head is 43.1 cm (69%)

-she started solids (she loves rice cereal and squash but isn't loving her fruits)

-she loves the view from restaurant high chairs instead of her carseat (and started sitting in her stroller without her carseat)

-she finally fits into this adorable hat

-she smiles for the camera all the time now

-she lets me snap picture after picture of her (I am a little bit obsessed but with those rosy, chubby cheeks and a new camera I just can't resist!)

-she loves when her daddy comes home from work (big smiles everytime)

-she has become a pro at sitting

-she is so grabby, especially when it comes to my hair and face

-she can see an object she wants and reach out and grab it

-she still only rolls from her belly to her back

-she loves to stand

-she loves to yell...all the time...she is quite possibly the loudest baby ever

-she loves to blow bubbles with her mouth

-she loves to stick out her tongue

-she LOVES looking in the mirror

-she has a lot of nicknames: adds, sweet pea, baby, munchkin, deedee, missy

I hope the next six months don't go quite so fast, love you baby girl!

Year in Review

So I have been working on a post with pictures and a recap of the last twelve months for about a week now and after all my hard work I decided not to post it. I was slightly depressed by the lack of exciting things to recap on the first half of the year and had almost no pics to show for anything, plus I realized everything I would be recaping I had already posted about so no need to do it again.

I was so sick/uncomfortable/exhausted/overworked the first half of the year that I have very little to show for it other than pregnancy progression pics. Of course come July I had a plethora of pictures and exciting things (to me) to post about, almost completely revolving around a certain very cute, tiny human! We had a lost of firsts in our family this year-first time I quit my job to be a stay-at-home mom, first time I delivered a baby, first time we became parents, first time we moved out of Cache valley, first time Nephi went on a business trip, first time celebrating the holidays as a family of 3, first time we are both done being students (Nephi graduated in December....yay!!!!), and many other great firsts. We have made a lot of memories this year and have grown so much closer together as a family.

Along with so many firsts, I find myself realizing a lot of things that we didn't do this year and a lot of things that can be improved upon in 2010. I realized that we didn't take one single vacation in 2010...how sad is that?! I am determined to get our little family on AT LEAST one vacation this year. I think if I could pinpoint one new years resolution I have it is to "cease to be idle". I have been thinking about this a lot lately and it is something I really want to improve on. I find myself at the end of the day wondering where the time has gone and what I have done all day. I will admit with a baby it can be hard to use my free time productively because I just want to take a break myself when Addie naps, but I am sick of feeling like I accomplish nothing in a whole day at home. If I use my spare time to keep my home clean, exercise, plan healthy meals, read my scriptures longer, serve others, plan my YW lessons, play on the floor with Addie, and visit with friends and family I know i will feel much more accomplished and happier. Basically I need to use my time for wholesome, uplifting activities and turn off the computer and tv. Wish me luck!

Ringing in 2011

We rang in the New Year bowling at Sparetime fun center with Phi's family. Addie was a spectator in her bumbo and loved all the people watching. I was hesitant to play at first because I am terrible bowler. Aside from Wii bowling, I always come in dead last and am lucky to break like 50...seriously. Well I finally decided to play one game and somehow I bowled the best game of my life. Not only did I break 100 for my first time ever (I bowled a 109) i won the game. I was ecstatic to say the least, looks like 2011 is going to be a lucky year for me!

We did the earlier time slot for bowling that went until 8 and then they did a mini countdown and new years celebration. Addie was done around 7:30 so we didn't make it to the countdown, but we sure had a lot of fun.

I think this pic is so stinkin funny. This is our little party girl, i love that it looks like she is blowing the noise maker!

Addie was asleep before we were out the door. After she went to bed we rang in the new year with Ryan Seacrest and Dick Clark.

On New Year's day we headed up to good ol' logan for a rose bowl party with some of our good friends. It was a lot of fun to catch up with them. Addie got to play with her friend Jace who is six weeks older than her!
(the pic wouldn't upload right so you can see Addie and Jace sideways)

We are excited for what 2011 has in store for our family!

Christmas 2010

I am getting so far behind on blogging. My internet/computer has been being dumb lately and I haven't been able to upload pics on blogger forev, but tonight it finally decided to let me! Our Christmas was fantastic this year. Having a baby to celebrate the holidays with is so much better, even if she had no idea what was going on. It was nice living closer to our families this year because we were able to have Christmas morning at home with just our little fam. We had our traditional Christmas Eve prime rib dinner at the Scott's and it was scrumptious. We ate a lot of yummy food, exchanged gifts, and spent time together as a family.

Here is Addie on Christmas morning. After we opened up our presents we headed over to my parents to celebrate Christmas morning with them!
Cute Jace getting ready to open his present from us

Addie getting in on the action

After opening up presents and having a yummy breakfast, we ran home and got ready for the day and went back over to my parents to hang out. We tried out my new wii game, Donkey Kong Returns, which is pretty much incredible. Later on we had Christmas dinner with all the fam. Addie did so great all day and loved all the action going on!

We finally made it down to temple square Christmas night and it did not disappoint! It was pretty cold but we bundled up! Addie loved looking at all the lights...but by the end of the day she was done and pretty much screamed the whole way home from Salt Lake!

Addie wanted out of her car seat so Uncle Kev carried her for a little bit

I went a little bit overboard with pics of Addie over Christmas cuz I was trying to figure out my sweet new camera. Hopefully I can take better pictures now!

Having Addie with us this year just really made me appreciate the true meaning of Christmas. It wasn't about the presents, it was about celebrating the birth of our Savior with our sweet baby girl and our wonderful families!

Questions...

I have a couple of questions for all you moms out there.

1. How do you keep your babies warm at night without using bulky blankets? (or do you think it is okay to use blankets)? I have been swaddling Addie from day one so she has stayed plenty warm but I am stopping the swaddling. She woke up this morning with ice cubes for hands and I felt so bad, but I have no idea how to keep them warm at night and I stress that she will kick her blankets over her face or something...I know I need to just chill, but any tips would be greatly appreciated.

2. I am starting Addie on solids in the next week or so and I was wondering how often and when do you feed them solids? Do you feed her solids right before/after a feeding or just anytime? Once or twice a day? etc.

I am new to all this and like to hear how other moms do things!

Fun Filled Weekend

We started and finished (for the most part) our Christmas shopping on Thursday. It was a very busy day and Addie was a good sport but I think she would prefer to stay away from the mall for a while! Friday was our ward Christmas party and it was a lot of fun. Saturday we hit the mall one last time ( I always tell myself I will not shop the weeked before Christmas cuz I can't stand the crowds but once again I was out in the craziness) and then my mom, Crystal, Jessica, and I went to the Tabernacle Choir and David Archuleta Christmas Concert that night. I was lucky enough to get four tickets...I never get picked for these kind of things! It was complete madness downtown and waiting at the conference center. We were over an hour and a half early and still had to wait in a line that wrapped all the way around the conference center (it felt like black friday shopping or something). People were so excited to see David Archuleta and it was a lot of fun to hear him live again (he sang at my Uncle's Wedding when he was 12, my uncle married his aunt!) It was a great concert and really helped me get into the Christmas spirit and ponder the reason for the season. I am so glad I got to share it with the girls!

Waiting, for what seemed like forev, for the concert to start

The set was spectacular....don't worry I took this before it started!

Sunday consisted of dressing Addie in her Christmas dress, enjoying the Christmas program and lessons at church, and dinner with the fam...a perfect weekend. I can't wait for Christmas!

Nephi's Birthday

A week ago Sunday was Nephi's birthday. He turned 26...he is really starting to get up there! We celebrated all weekend long. He took Friday off just for fun and we spent the day together. Saturday my mom watched Addie and we enjoyed a night out at the Gateway and eating at Tucano's (this is becoming a birthday tradition with us, thanks to Tucano's birthday club a.k.a. free meal for your birthday, you should all check it out)! Sunday, his actual birthday, Nephi got to teach in elders quorum (wahoo) and then we headed over to his parents for a birthday dinner. He was even lucky enough to have the first presidency giving a Christmas devotional for him that night!

It was a fun birthday weekend. Phi is such a great husband and daddy. Me and Addie sure love you and appreciate all that you do for us!