Snow Storm and IHOP Adventure

Tuesday night it started snowing and didn't stop for about 48 hours. We ended up with almost 2 feet of snow! This is apparently the biggest October snow storm in about ten years. Josh had to go to work just for an hour or so on Wednesday. We were supposed to have the fall festival that night at church but he decided to reschedule for Saturday. Once he got home we were in the house, ready to bundle up and wait out the storm. Addie and I made peanut butter cookies for her dad and I made muffins. I love baking, especially when it's cold out. We had homemade french dip sandwiches for dinner and enjoyed the time hanging out together.

Yesterday we decided to venture out to run a few short errands. Addie was bundled up warm so we decided to take a picture of her in the snow - she slept through the whole thing.

Now on to todays adventure. I have written before about how Josh and I have weekly breakfast dates. We are trying to keep this tradition up even with the new addition to the family. So, this morning after we were up and Addie ate breakfast we got ready to go. I figured that we had about 2 hours to eat and get home before she would need to eat again. I was wrong. This happened to be a morning when she decided she was going to be hungry every 2 hours instead of the usual three. And, since I am such a prepared mother, I forgot the extra bottle at home. So, we are at IHOP and I have just ordered pumpkin pancakes that I am super excited about eating and Ms. Addison wakes us and decides to cry. After about 15 minutes of off and on crying I decided I have to try to nurse her. This is really the first time that I have had to do this in a public place other than in my car on the way home from Wyoming.

Luckily I have a blanket and we are sitting in a corner booth. The hardest part of this for me is not being able to see her. That can lead to problems that frustrate us both including making a huge mess. It was relatively successful but I stressed out more than I would like to admit. I guess this is good practice since in two weeks I will be traveling with her by mself to fly to Oregon to see my mom. I'm not super modest and don't have a problem nursing in public as long as I am somewhat covered but I still don't have the coordination down.

Ok, well, Addie is awake and hungry again so I will just leave you with a few pictures.

Happy 1 Month Birthday Addie!

I can't believe that you are already a month old Addison Hope! Sometimes it seems like she has been here a lot longer and sometimes it seems like it has flown by. She is awake more, likes looking around, and starting to sleep better at night. I love any time I get to snuggle her and I tell her regularly that I could kiss her all day long. Josh and I are no longer "Josh and Shiloh". We are now also "Mommy and Daddy" and even though everything has changed - I couldn't be happier. It has been an exhausting, emotional, confusing, and absolutely wonderful month. I'm so excited about all the months to come!

Pop and Memaw

My dad and stepmom drove in from Lubbock this weekend to meet Addison. They have been so excited about her arrival and were thrilled to finally hold her. One of things they have done that I thought was special was that while I was pregnant they started writing letters to her and I put them all in a binder for her.

Addie is sleeping a little better now which makes me happier. Josh and I have been trying to get into our own routine and schedule. I get us and feed her at night and then Josh takes her downstairs about 6am so I can get a few uninterrupted hours of sleep. I love that time - not just because I am resting but also because Josh is getting some special one on one time with Addie. He calls it Addie/Daddy time. He posted about it this morning on his blog, too. http://theblogofjoshjones.blogspot.com/

Here's a few pictures from our weekend:

How a baby changes things...

Instead of thinking about date nights, work, how many times I can go to yoga each week, craft time, actually taking a shower, shopping, playing on the computer, having a semi clean house etc these are the things that consme my day:
-poop
-laundry
-the numerous reasons babies cry
-spit up
-baby talk
-feeling like a cow
-wanting to sleep so bad it hurts
-sore boobs (sorry for the TMI)

But I wouldn't give it up because I also get all of these things:
-cuddles
-kissing my baby all over
-seeing Josh give her google eyes that say he is totally in love
-bath time
-sweet faces and funny faces
-going on walks with Josh and Addie

Life is forever changed.

3 Weeks and Counting

Addison was three weeks old on Wednesday! I can't believe it's been that long. We went to the doctor for a follow up appointment on Thursday. She is now 7 lbs 6 oz - so well past her birth weight and gaining faster than the doctors guessed. They said that will slow down but for now it's great.

She also slept in her cradle on her own for two night in a row. Last night was a little rougher but I didn't expect that we wouldn't still have some trouble. She is staying awake more and I'm excited for her to start being more alert and interactive.

Josh has been able to have a somewhat flexible schedule this week so he is home a little more. On Wednesday after we woke up and got ready I took Addie shopping to run some errands and then we went for a long walk in a park. I was pleasantly surprised and how well the day went. It was my first time out with Addie by myself. She did so good and it made me excited to have lots more mother/daughter days as she grows up.

That's about all that' going on here. Josh and I weren't able to make it to Homecoming this year for several reasons. I would reall have liked to go since it was my 5th year reunion - we will just have to make it a priority next year. I'm also pretty sure that next year we won't have a thre week old baby at Homecoming either.

Gramps and Gigi

My mom and stepdad left the morning of the 2nd. Josh's mom, dad and grandmother got her that afternoon. Gramps and Addie's Great-Grandmother stayed through the weekend and left on Monday morning. Josh's mom was able to stay with us all of last week. Grandmother and Gigi loved to just sit and hold and look at Addie. Gramps had a little more fun with her and decided to see if she could fit in his size 14 shoe - she could. Grandmother also makes a "famous" chocolate pie. We convinced her to make one while she was here. Gramps also thought that Addie needed to have her first taste of his mom's pie. We were able to take several 4 generation pictures. not many people are able to do that and it is really special that we will have that. Josh also gave Addison a bath by himself while I was at the gym and he even did her hair!

It was wonderful having Sue, Josh's mom, stay for the week. We didn't do a whole lot but enjoyed just hanging out together. Addison got some one on one snuggle time with her Gigi every morning while her mom and dad got a few hours of sleep. We also went to her first doctor's appointment for the 2 week check up. She was up to 6 lbs and 13 ozs - only 2oz short of birth weight. She was also about an inch longer. We are still having to wake her up every three hours and offer her a bottle of extra milk. Hopefully we will be able to stop at least one of those things this week after another check up.

Josh and I are now officially on our own - at least for 5 days until my dad and Pam get here for a weekend. I'm nervous (Josh is too) but I also know that we can learn and that God can give us what we need to be able to be good parents for Addie. I read in a book something like we are the only parents she will ever have and we are the perfect parents for our baby. That makes me feel good - God gave us this little girl and while we aren't perfect, we love her and each other.

Enjoy the pictures. The picture of the brooms is Josh's excitement for the week - he read that there is a weird gravitational thing going on right now and he had fun making the brooms stand up on their own.

I Love...

In the 12 days that I have had Addison there are so many things that I have already come to love.

- her sweet smell. I could smell her all day long.
- her beautiful dark hair. She has so much of it and I am excited to see if it will curl like mine or not.
- the way her hands are always up on her face. She will cover her whole face with her hands. Josh frequently has to move them so she will eat.
- the silly faces she makes, there are a ton.
- the way her tiny, soft hands will lay on my chest while I nurse her.
- the way Josh is so in love with her already.
- her beautiful eyes. I'm excited to see what color they will end up.
- the quiet little sighs that she makes while she sleeps.
- the way she likes to tuck her feet into my armpit while I nurse her.
- her cute little nose that my mom says looks just like mine.


I really love everything about her and I know that there are so many more things that I will discover that I love.

More pictures soon!