Addison's First Cereal

Addison had her first cereal today. She wasn't to sure about it, and I think that more ended up on her than in her. But I think we got most of it down.

Fairies

This week is our babysitter's last week. So sad! Her sister nannies two little girls Regan and Addison's ages, and the one that is Regan's age goes to kindermusic with us. So, since it is Jennifer's last week her sister brought the girls over for a playdate. I told her she could bring them over even after Jennifer moves, but Jennifer told her that she couldn't. I think she is going to miss my girl's, and we are going to miss her.

At one point the girls were both in fairy costumes, but I missed it. However, they were really cute with the bubbles. They spilled the spillable bubbles (as I knew they would) and they are trying to pour the spill proof bubbles into the spillable bubbles. For some reason they like the spillable bubbles better.

Addison Cleft Repair - Update 2

We went to see the surgeon today. After being up with Addison for 2 hours two nights ago I was really hoping that he would say we were through the recovery period. The nurse said it is always harder on the parents than it is on the baby. I feel a little whiney, because we have been really lucky with all of this that she only needed one surgery. However, I am a person that needs her sleep. I do not function well without it. And Addison does not sleep well with the arm bands on. I don't think I would sleep well either if I couldn't move my arms. Anyway, the surgeon said that her mouth looks good and that some of the stiches have started to dissolve. He said that on Thursday we can start giving her a bottle. Only two more days!!!! I will be counting down the hours.

Princess Regan

Regan is really into princesses right now. She wore her cinderella costume down to our neighbor's last week and she wore her Sleeping Beauty costume for a good part of the day today. We went out to dinner last night at the local diner and she wanted to wear her Sleeping Beauty costume and crown to the restaurant, but we drew the line at the crown.

Addison Cleft Repair - Update

Three days down and seven to go on the recovery. Addison is doing really well. She still doesn't enjoy the syringe feeding (we don't think she ever will), but we have discovered that she does best if we put her in her bouncy chair, stop it from bouncing, shoot some milk in her mouth and let her bounce and swallow. She loves to bounce. She still got aggravated towards the end, but she got a lot down. She also does pretty well if I sing to her while Matt shoots it in her mouth. We have also taped her arm bands to her suit and it is keeping her from being able to get out of them. I guess her future as a magician is over before it started.

Sue left today and Matt goes back to work tomorrow, so from her on out it will be just me and Ms. Jennifer. We were very grateful to have Sue come stay with us and help with Regan. This morning I tried to convince Matt that he could work from home these next two weeks, but he didn't agree with me. But now that we are getting better at the feedings, I think we will be okay.

I took a picture of Addison smiling. Regan, not one to let her sister have all of the spotlight, wanted to be in the picture. I think she got a little more than she bargained for.

Addison's Cleft Repair

As many of you know, all went well with the surgery. They started at about 7:30am and she was in her room by 9:30am. She slept most of the day yesterday and got up three times to eat last night. Not bad. She still doesn't like the syringe feeding. But we are able to get food down her. We feel like we are back in the infancy stages..... getting up several times a night and we are excited if we can get her to take an ounce. The really hard part is getting her to keep her bands on her arms, so that she won't put her fingers in her mouth. We woke up twice last night to find her right one off. I have now nicknamed her Houdini. She was pretty fussy all day yesterday...the few times that she was awake. But she seems to be getting back to her normal smiley self. If we can just get her to eat and keep her arm bands on.....

Addison 6 mos.

Today was a rough day. We went for Addison's 6 month well visit, and she got her immunizations. The nurse measured her height and head circumferance and weighed her. Her measurements were/are:

Height: 26 1/2 (70%)

Weight: 15 lbs. 11 oz. (45%)

Head Circ.: 18 in (99%)

Well, when the doctor came in to look her over he wanted to check her head again. I asked him if it looked smaller, and he said no bigger. So, he measured again and got 17 3/4 which is 97% . That is the same percentile she was in for her head at her last well visit. At first he said that we would keep an eye on it. I wasn't overly concerned, because Regan has a big head. But even when you are not overly concerned as a mother you still are concerned. Or at least I am. Then he said because she has a cleft....let's go ahead and get a catscan just to be on the safe side. Which at this point, I am all about being on the safe side. So, we went to get the catscan...which of course was an ordeal. Addison was not having being confined like that. They wanted her to be asleep, which she wasn't going for either. Finally she went to sleep and they were able to get a good read. And this is why I love my pediatrician. The tech told me the results would be ready around 3:30pm. At 3:30pm I was considering whether it was to soon to call my pediatrician's office to find out if they had the results when the phone rang and it was them. So, all is well. They said that the brain looked good. I would give you all of the scientific information, but words like that do not stick in my brain. The pediatrician cleared her for surgery and now we just have to go to the hospital on Monday.-

Pre-op Appointment

We had Addison's Pre-op Appointment today with the surgeon. We were there forever, but it looks like everything is a go. I have to do pre-admit tomorrow. Her 6 month well visit on Thursday, where the pediatrician will clear her. And then her surgery on Monday. They said that typically the babies don't like drinking from the tube at first, but they get hungry and then do fine. They said the worst will probably be the first couple of days. I can't believe we are almost there.

Regan's Swim Lessons

Regan has swim lessons this week. I took her for her first day yesterday. She did a lot better than I thought she would. Jennifer had to take her today as I was at Addison's pre-op appointment. I think she was a little more wary today, but Jennifer said that once she got in and was distracted by the toys that she didn't do to badly. I am thinking about putting her in swim lessons year round.

Mike and Chris's Visit

Mike and Chris came to visit to see the girls. Regan really took to them....especially Mike. They brought her two baby princess dolls, which she was very excited about. I think they are her new favorite toys. We had a lot of fun. And I think they really enjoyed Lafayette.

Regan's Artwork

Regan has been drawing things that actually look like what she says that they are. Here is a picture of a face and an octopus that she drew.

Addison Laughing

Addison has been giving us some belly laughs lately. We shot this when she was tired and hungry, so by the end she had had enough. Also, pay no attention to me calling her by the wrong name. It is a family trait and happens often. Poor Addison is going to think her name is Re-Addison.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1311491256887949572&hl=en

Conner's Birthday

One of our good friend's little boy's turned eight this weekend. He had his birthday at a rock wall climbing place, and I think Matt might have enjoyed it more than anyone. Our friend's asked Matt in advance if he would help with the party, and he was more than happy to do it. He also climbed a little himself. It was also the perfect birthday party for their kids as they are spider monkey's. I didn't think Regan would have any interest in climbing, but she wanted to sit with the big kids and listen to the rules. She then decided that she wanted to climb, so we let her put a harness on. But the the reality wasn't as appealing as the idea of it. So, she decided to color princesses instead.

Meredith's Graduation

We went to Meredith's High School Graduation yesterday. They grow up so fast (sniff, sniff). I think I am still in denial that she is graduating from high school and heading off to college. It's still a little surreal. Anyway, we had a great time visiting with family and old friend's. Meredith has had the same group of friend's since she was four year's old, with a few additions. One of her oldest friend's mom hosted a pre-graduation party and Uncle Bill hosted a post-graduation party. It was a busy day. But I have to say one of the best graduation's I have ever been to. I was expecting a long, boring ceremony. But was pleasently surprised. Dr. Timothy Ryan, who was the dean of the business school when Matt and I were at UNO and is now the Chancellor of the University, gave the commencement address and it was one of the best that I have ever heard.

Aunt Linda's Visit

Aunt Linda and her friend Madonna came to Lafayette to see the girl's. They come to New Orleans once a year for the food and wine experience, and we usually meet up for a meal. However, they were kind enough to drive to Lafayette to see us this year. It was a nice visit, and we look forward to seeing them again next year and hopefully inbetween....if Aunt Linda can convince Uncle Randy to come south. Regan was in a two year old mood and refused to be in the picture with Aunt Linda. Luckily Addison is not old enough to protest, yet.

Swim Party

We have had at least one (sometimes two) birthday party every weekend throughout April and May. I thought this was the last one until July, but we just got an invitation for one on June 5th. Regan is quite the social butterfly. Today's was a kiddie pool swim party. Water and Kid's makes me very nervous, but Regan had a blast! One of our neighborhood friend's had on the same bathing suit as my girl's, so we had to take a picture. Regan looks sad in the picture, but I think it is more tiredness from fun in the sun. She came home and went straight to sleep.

Sitting In Their Chair's

My friend let me borrow a bumbo chair and we brought it home today. Regan wanted to make sure I brought it in. I put Addison in it and she pulled her chair right up next to it and said "look, we are sitting in our chair's." It was such a cute moment, I had to take a picture.

Addison is cutting her first tooth. You can see it popping through the gum. It will be fully out soon. I am so sad that she is already cutting a tooth. My baby is growing up to fast!

Addison On Her Tummy

She is still not rolling over really. More of a half roll over. I think it is because she always has her hands in her mouth, though. But she is starting to play with the toys on her gym, and hold her head up really well on her tummy.

Doctor's Appointment's

We went back to the Plastic Surgeon today, and he scheduled Addison's surgery for June 18th. We are very excited!!

Regan also had to go to the doctor this morning. Her allergies started acting up last week and we noticed her starting to wheeze on Saturday. We gave her breathing treatments Sunday when we got home and yesterday, but she was still wheezing this morning. Matt took her to the pediatrician this morning and they gave her a shot of steroid and a breathing treatment. He said everything else looks good and said that it was a mild asthma attack, but still doesn't want to call it asthma. We are to give her breathing treatments every four hours for the next two days and then as needed. I am tired already.

Addison at Five Month's

This Weekend

We traveled to New Orleans for the first time this weekend since Addison was born. We went for Reid's first birthday. Before the party we stopped at a friend of our's who lives in the same neighborhood as Phil and Georgina do. We knew one of our friend's was also going to be there with her new baby. However, we were surprised to see another one of our friend's with a baby. She has wanted a baby for a really long time and recently went through foster care classes to get a foster baby to adopt. She was getting a 6 year old in a few weeks that we knew about, but had just been called on Friday to pick up a 6 month old baby. We are so, so excited for her!! And he is adorable!! In the picture with the babies in the carrier's, he is the one to the far right.

Reid's party was fun. He is so adorable! Since Addison has been born we haven't been able to see them enough. He is getting to be a big boy! He is trying to walk, and was pushing Quinn around on his ride on/push toy. Quinn took Regan for a ride in/on her two battery powered toys. Reid waited patiently for someone to take him for a ride, but the girl's kicked him out. I think Reid and Addison will be as close as Regan and Quinn. Reid was trying to get to Addison just like Quinn used to try to get to Regan. I thought that he just wanted his chair, because he kept trying to lay on her. But when we took Addison out of the chair, and Georgina was holding Addison he tried to climb on top of her in Georgina's lap.

I don't know how much we will be traveling before Addison can take a sippy cup. It is not as easy traveling with two as it was with one. But we enjoyed our little trip.

New School

Regan has been wanting to see her new school that she is going to go to next year. She always talks about how when she turns three she is going to go to her new red school. So, today I drove her by it and as she was looking out the window she said "Wow, that's a lot of school I have there."

Addison's Baptism

Addison's Baptismal weekend was busy! We are so happy that so many members of our family were able to come share it with us to help make it special. If anyone has pictures, please e-mail them to me as my camera decided to malfunction that day and I only have what my mom and grandfather took.