Friday, December 18, 2009
The Big 3-0
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Cookie Decorating Party
After the kids left, Dan and I gave Addie her birthday gift - a pink polka-dotted kitchen set. I still remember fondly the kitchen set my sister Elizabeth and I shared growing up, and since we have two girls now, I felt justified in getting them a pink one!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Addie's Second Birthday
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Meeting Santa
Deck the Halls!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thanksgiving 2009
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Halloween 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Catherine Clare is born!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Carving Our Pumpkin!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The Pumpkin Farm
Monday, September 28, 2009
Big Girl Bed
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
My grocery helper
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame...
Saturday, August 8, 2009
North Carolina 2009
Growing up we took family vacations to many locations throughout the United States: Utah, Arizona and New Mexico; Idaho and Montana; Boston; New York City; Ocean City, NJ; Ocean City, MD; and Washington, DC. You name it, we've been there. However, the past few years, my parents have settled on renting a beach house in Oak Island, North Carolina, and I couldn't be happier.
It truly is beautiful there. The beach is uncrowded. The water is warm. The seafood and vegetables are at their freshest. It is a very relaxing week, and gives us a chance to catch up on each other's lives, that with each year seem to be more and more busy.
Of course this year was a little less relaxing for Dan and I, mainly because we were chasing Miss Addie around. Despite the fact that the ocean waves knocked her down a few times, she still showed no fear, running right out into the sea as if she could swim fully by herself. Needless to say, she also loved digging in the sand. She occupied herself for hours filling buckets, digging holes, and collecting shells. Honestly, it is the perfect vacation for a 19-month-old.
Dan and I both said the week gave us some time to reflect on just how far Addie has come since our last trip to North Carolina. Last year she was crawling and barely pulling herself up on furniture. This year, she ran and jumped with ease. Last year she'd babbled "Da da" every once and a while. This year, as you can see from the video, she can count to ten. Last year, she showed little independence, clinging to and crying for me at times. While this year, she was too busy exploring and hanging out with Uncle Don (John) to know if I was there or not. Honestly, I cannot believe how much she has changed - but it is all good change, and I look forward to seeing just how far she'll go over the next 12 months.