Girls on the Run

This morning Addison and I bundled up (NBC news called this morning the "coldest morning" in the past year) to go downtown with Genna and Elise and cheer on a "Girls on the Run" 5k. I have wanted to be involved with this organization since I first heard about it while training for the Chicago Marathon...and cheering today served to remind me of that.

It was well worth braving the cold to watch such determined and adorable girls proudly run along the river.

Elise and Addison enjoyed snacks of goldfish crackers and hot chocolate, while Genna and I savored our hot coffees. After the race we let the girls run a bit wild in the playground and then headed back to the car for some well needed warmth.

MOM, LET ME GO PLAY! Maybe I'll hug you later...

Addison is now sleeping and snoring upstairs, and Andy just turned on the Ohio State game...looks like nap time for me...

Afternoon giggles

Because, sometimes, flamingoes on your feet are funny!

Chicago Invasion

This past weekend my house was invaded Chicago-style by 10 of mom and dad's closest friends. They seemed to have a good time, although I am concerned what our neighbors are going to think when they see our recycling pile this week.

I loved being with everyone. I got to sit on tons of laps, play on air mattresses and get more attention than I thought possible. My mommy only took ONE picture...I think she was too busy pouring mimosas for the crowd! Don't worry though, a lot of incriminating pictures of her were taken, and I am sure they will be shared generously.

I spent the night with Grandma and Aunt Nikki on Saturday while the crew when on a pub crawl...which, in my opinion, they (translate "they" to "mom") are not tough enough to handle. The next morning when mom picked me up and brought me home at 10 a.m. no one was functioning. But eventually breakfast was made, showers were taken and goodbyes were said.

Even though my house smelled (and looked) like a frat house by last night, it was worth it. Turns out, my parents' friends are amazing, silly, compassionate, darn good looking and fabulous. Lucky me that they're part of my life.

I know for sure mom and dad feel exactly the same way.

Kisses,
Addie

** Follow up note: Since the Chicago crew has left, Addison has made me "read" her Chicago Friend picture book to her at least a dozen times. Last night she stopped on the page of Keelin & Berto, and after I said their names, she said "Babo" and kissed the page twice. So freaking cute....

Molars molars everywhere

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Molar,

Please cut through my baby's gums soon. She is being such a good girl, but it hurts her. Ice cubes, popsicles and fudgesicles are getting us through the day recently. I think you both may be almost here, as here poor little cheeks are on fire.

Be gentle and swift please!

Love,
Addison's Mom

Ouchy teething cheeks. Mean ole teeth.

Positive Body Image

Addison is growing so much these days, that I swear sometimes I think she'll be a preteen by tomorrow. She is already half my height, which is no amazing accomplishment, I know, but she shows no sign of slowing down.

I was looking at her still unfinished scrapbook the other day, and laughed out loud when I realized what a butterball she was last Thanksgiving. Now she is tall and relatively thin, with the exception of her amazing belly.

Addison loves her belly. She sticks it out with great pride and can often be caught patting or rubbing it. When she is bored she looks for her belly button, and can be found pulling her shirt out and looking down the neck hole at her belly. Truly, she loves it.

Last week while at StrollerFit, Addison was standing with the other kids, just as proud as could be, with her belly sticking out over her purple cords quite noticeably. One of the little four-year-olds in the class walked over to her, but his hands on either side of her belly and shook it saying: "This baby sure does have a big belly!".

Addison just smiled and shook her head, like "Yeah, what about it?".

As I wrote this, this is how I found her watching

Little Einsteins. She loves that belly.

Really, what is not to love about it??

You may think it's funny when your nose is runny...

When I first got pregnant my biggest concern, besides breaking my baby, was how to deal with the copious amount of poo filled diapers I was going to have to face. While most of my friends know that poo is a subject hysterical to discuss, it is not necessarily something I thought I could handled wiping off of someone else's rear several times a day.

I am proud to say it's 16 months later and poo filled diapers don't really bother me. They are actually quite informative as to how my daughter is eating, feeling, etc. Not that I wake up eager to change a poo filled diaper, but they are not the kryptonite that I feared they would be.

Instead I have found out that my kryptonite is snot. And man-oh-man, there is a copious amount of snot flowing from daughter's nose these days. I think I am experiencing the rare crossing of a cold with teething, which apparently equals 40 gallons of boogers a day. Her nose has been so bad that earlier this week she went and found our nose plunger thingy, handed it to me and leaned forward with her head tilted back. The girl needed a plunge...unfortunately she clogged the plunger.
Her nostrils are caked with boogs and are raw and red from my endless wiping. I bought Puffs with Lotion, but child's nose still looks like it went through a meat grinder.

When she woke yesterday the steady stream of snot seemed to have ceased. I was overjoyed. I dressed her up in a pretty little lilac dress and got ready to go meet Sharon and Ian and Genna and Elise at The Bonbonnerie for a little grown up playdate. As we were heading to the car, Addison stopped, looked at me in a particularly adorable way and then lifted the skirt of her dress and wiped her nose into it.

The snot has returned.

Summvember?

The weather the past few days has been marvelous. The skies have been blue, the sun shining, the temperatures hovering in the mid-70s. I know Al Gore wouldn't approve, but I could kind of get used to this global warming thing.

In an attempt to wring the last drops of "summer" out of each day, Addison and I have been in the yard cutting back bushes, pulling up weeds and wondering if we (meaning ME) will ever get ahead of the landscaping. These past few days are the first time that I have been able to be outside working and Addison has more or less entertained herself. Of course I took breaks to push her on the swing or help her up the slide, but for the most part she was on her own. She would throw and then chase after a ball. She walked around behind me, while I weeded ,picking up the weeds and putting them in her bucket. She basically explored the yard and tested how far out of sight she could get before I came after her (um, not far!).

Also in an attempt to enjoy the weather, we dressed like it was summer. I have been loving my shorts and tees and she has been all dolled up in dresses. I particularly liked her look yesterday: Mickey Mouse Club meets Punky Brewster?

Of course playing outside in such an adorable outfit has it's drawbacks...but don't worry, Addie's a trooper. Not one tear for her red badges of honor....

I woke up yesterday still a little bit in awe of the fact that we elected the country's first African-American president on Tuesday night. I knew that it was true, but I still felt compelled to turn on the TV for validation. Yep, I was right, Barack Obama is our president-elect. Not only that, but Ohio went BLUE. WHAT? Ohio, who elected GW four years ago. Ohio, which I stereotyped as my own republican hell. Ohio, where democrats are called bleeding heart liberals (and much much much worse). Ohio and Hamilton County, overwhelmingly blue. Wow.

I had no idea when I moved here seven months ago that I would have such a profound effect on this state. I am much more powerful than I ever knew. Thankfully I normally choose to use my power for good instead of evil.....

So, I tried to explain to Addison the monumental, historical night that she slept through. She cocked her head and listened to me a bit, then she thrust her cup into my hand and said, quite emphatically, "MA!" or "MO!". Either way, she was done with the "what an amazing moment" speech and simply wanted more milk. Now.
Talk about putting me back in my place.

OHIO and USA for OBAMA

Today Addison wore her Obama '08 onesie with great pride. She toddled all over our neighborhood, drooling on "her" political statement with such pride. She visited the neighbor's dog and waved at passing cars. I think she might have even stolen the heart of our very Pro-Obama neighbor, who pulled over to high five her.

It is taking all of my self control to sit relatively calmly on the couch, sipping my wine, and smiling into the brightness that is our national future. What I really want to do is run upstairs, wake up my baby, high five her, hug her, swing her around and around and tell her about the beauty of change, and of HOPE....and thank her for her service.

Election Day 2008

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek."

Barack Obama, Chicago, 2/5/2008

GET OUT AND VOTE!

Amanda the Panda Gets Married

We are back from our weekend with the Flaherty's, and we are, of course, exhausted. Getting out of town on Friday was a bit challenging ~ I think that every parent and grandparent in the greater Cincinnati area were on I-71 heading home to their tricker treaters. So after much traffic, a melted down baby and a pit stop for BBQ, we finally arrived around 9 p.m. After visiting for a bit, we put Addison down to bed and we cracked a few (okay, many) bottles of wine and visited with the fam.

Saturday Andy slept in (perhaps he played too long and hard with the cousins) and Addison and I got up to have breakfast with Gramma, Aunt Carol and Uncle Denny. She and I also took a dip in the Hampton Inn's pool...right after she peed down my leg. What a sweetheart.

After a short nap (for both of us) we headed to Melhman's Cafeteria for some good, cheap food and to meet up with Uncle Jeafen. Addison enjoyed a lunch of stuffed peppers, ham, and corn. For dessert she pretty much demolished a piece of cherry pie.

A quick shower and a few moments to get pretty later, we headed to Amanda's wedding at the Carnes Center. The ceremony and reception were beautiful and elegant with swaths of cream fabric, floating flower baskets, tons of pumpkin scented candles, and best of all, a beaming bride.

Addison boogied and explored, declared the flower girl her best friend and endlessly looked for cousin Jill. Andy and I (more I than Andy) might have partook in the open bar, but she was the one who danced like she did. After several hours of over stimulation, Andy packed Addie up and left me under the supervision of my family. Bad idea for me, good idea for the bartenders.

We hopped back in the car early on Sunday to make it to Rylan's baptism and a little Neyer family party to follow. With all the travelling and partying, plus the tooth that is cutting and the cold that is in full effect, little Miss Addie is quite exhausted...so while she naps I am going to unpack and see if we have anything edible in the fridge.

The weekend was a whirlwind, and while we saw tons of family, it felt like we didn't really get to see anyone. Hopefully, someday, we'll figure out a way to make it all a little less hectic...but until then Addie and I will take what we can get.