Where's Addison???

There she is!  Addison is now obsessed with crawling into cabinets and closets and closing herself in them.  You think she would be afraid of the dark - but not her, she just laughs!

Happy Birthday Papa Mike

Papa Mike's birthday was on Sunday and we went to the Olive Garden for dinner last night. It was eventful as usual. Trying to keep Addison to sit still for any length of time is a feat. At one point she was screaming because we tried to corral her and the whole restaurant was staring like shut that kid up! Oh well, she got over it quickly - what do you do?

First Nail Painting

Addison came home from daycare with freshly painted nails on Monday.  They even color coordinated with her shirt!  This is obviously her first nail painting as I have never attempted to wrestle that monster!  She looked so cute with them painted - almost older looking.  I told Doug this was the beginning of her being "city-fied"!

Words!

Addison is really trying hard to learn new words.  I always repeat names of things to her over and over again.  Now when I repeat a word, she studies my mouth and attempts to say the word herself.  You can see her mind ticking away.  She's really good at apple, ball, puppy and thank you.  All the other words don't really sound like what they are, but she's attempting!  She also started saying Mommy just as much as Daddy now (about time).  Although it seems she only says Mommy when she's whining or crying.  It's so sad sounding, like Mommy please help me.  It tugs at the 'ol heart strings.  Doug says it's because I'm the soft one - YEAH RIGHT.  If you have been around Doug and Addison, you have witnessed how Addison has him wrapped around her itty bitty finger.  She still says Daddy often, but it's in a more positive fashion - like Daddy where are you? or Daddy I have something to show you!  Oh well, you can't win 'em all I guess.

She's doing great with understanding what we're saying to her.  She has these foam squares for the bathtub that have pictures on them.  If I ask where one is, she can usually pick it out.

Anytime Addison learns something new we clap and praise her and she gets so excited by it all.  Seeing her progress as a toddler is truly amazing.  They grow so quickly!

Our Summer So Far...

We've had a great summer so far.  Addison is now running everywhere and keeping us on our toes.  She absolutely loves being outside - she loves to walk around and explore.  Doug has her ride with him on all the equipment.  I have a feeling she'll know how to run each piece very early in life.  One of her favorites is the lawnmower, she actually falls asleep on it after awhile.  It's amazing what kids can fall asleep in! 

She mastering climbing right now.  She has this small fridge/kitchen toy that sits in front of the entertainment center.  She'll step up on the stove and try to get to the tv.  She can climb up on her rocking horse all by herself and she always stands up once she gets up.  She's a dare devil and is going to give me a heart attack!  She does the same thing on her rocking chair.  She climbs up on the lawnmower, which is hard to do and has actually gotten really good at it.  Once she makes it on the seat she wants us to move the handle bars in so she can drive.  With all this climbing, her balance has gotten so much better.  She's very stable but she still doesn't always watch where she's going and runs into stuff!

Addison just got tall enough to open the doors in the house.  The doors to the outside are still too heavy for her to actually open but that doesn't stop her from trying.  We have to be on our toes now because she loves to play in toilet bowl water - ugh.  I'm going this week to get those child-proof door things and hopefully they will work (for us I mean!)

Eating is slowly improving.  She LOVES all pasta and would eat it every meal if we let her.  She just started liking yogurt and Doug discovered she likes chicken McNuggets (although I don't approve).  I was out with my friends one afternoon and Doug said he promised her they would have lunch at McDonald's and got her McNuggets.  He said she wanted them and couldn't tell her no - now please!

She's trying hard to communicate but everything really is "eh, eh" or "na-na".  I started teaching her "more please" and she said "ma-na" or something like it.  But she does say "te-tu" (thank you) and "uh-oh" well.  Of course Dadda is crystal clear...I'm mean she's been saying that for over 6 months now!  She yells for Daddy each morning when she wakes up and when she sees him across the way she'll YELL for him at the top of her lungs.  It's really quite cute.  She does say Mommy every once in awhile - I think she feels sorry for me!

Addison's really starting to comprehend things as well.  If I ask if she wants to go outside she heads for the door.  If I say put your shoes on, she'll find her shoes and attempt to put them on.  If I say take a drink or a bite, she will.  If I say no, stop that, she continues right on what she's doing and smiles at me.  Selective hearing at this age already?!?  She's also learning her body parts - I think she has her nose and head down but the others are sketchy.

She's a total ham.  She waves really big to everyone and does her little nose scrunch.  And when she gets comfortable enough, she will talk everyone's ear off!

Enjoy the pics!

Daddy left the bathroom door open and the lid up.

He was asking for trouble!

We went to cousin Lane's wedding in Central Illinois. 

Maci and Abby walked me around all afternoon.

I still love to push my lion around.

Mommy showing me how to feed myself.

That was fun!!! 

Not sure how much actually went in my mouth though.

Checking my mail.

This driving thing is easy!

And their off to the races...Addison in the lead...

(such a serious horse racer!)

Taking a rest on the hill and possibly eating grass - who knows.

Swimming in my giraffe pool.  

Its tail is a sprinkler, my favorite part.

First camping trip of the season.

I don't stay in my play tent very long, I prefer to roam.

Mouthful of animal crackers.

Why not sit inside the bag of toys???

Swimming with cousin Daniel.

Playing with cousin Jack.

Giving Daddy a kiss through the glass.

Feeding myself again.  Hey, it's an improvement!

Daddy and I feeding the fish.

(How precious is this?)

4th of July weekend at the river.

Collin and I up to no good.

Deciding weather or not to join in the sprinkler fun.

How many kids can we fit in this small pool??

Always scrunching my nose...

I think they fit.  Let's get to work!

Cousin Zachary's Graduation party.

Checking out Grandma Clara.

My best buddy Aaron.

Grandma Eileen watches both of us on Wednesdays so we get to play a lot together.

I dropped a can of beans on my toe.

It's hard to tell here, but my big toenail is black and blue.

(It was a hard picture to take since I never stay still.)

We went to the Magic House with Jana, Julia and Parker.

I loved the water table and I think Parker enjoyed it as well.

Checking out the construction zone.

There was a machine there just like Daddy's.



Muehlhauser Family Vacation : Punta Cana : 5/29/11

My Dad's side of the family took a trip to the Dominican over Memorial weekend.  All the kids (including ours) went along.  Seventeen people total - now that's quite a family!  We enjoyed warm weather, sandy beaches, and quality time with the family.  Addison did ok for the most part.  She was a bit more clingy and whiney  than usual, but I'm sure it was because she was out of her element.  She did love walking around and talking to all the resort staff.  They would walk by and say "pretty baby" and she would schrunch her nose, tilt her head to the side, and give them a big smile.  Then she would tell her stories.  This girl can go on forever with her stories, let me tell you!  Here are some pictures of our adventure.

Waiting for our plane at the airport.

Papa Mike helped keep me entertained on the plane.

Hanging out waiting for our room to be ready.

Enjoying the kiddie pool with Daddy.

 

Daddy....are you in there???

Beach time!

I loved walking in the ocean.

Hmm, what should I do next?

Weeeeee!!!

I wasn't so sure about getting too deep in the water.

Uncle Chris and I.

Digging for some treasure!

Collin, Aunt Janel and Conner.

We moved to the pool in the afternoons.

Once we were under the spraying water I liked it.

Cheeeeese!

The nose schruncher.

Snacking before dinner.

Our little family.

Dancing in the courtyard.

Haning out with Jack.

The cabana - perfect for us.

My tutu swim suit!

I'm telling you Addison, the fish was THIS big!!!

The floaty - I could only handle a few minutes of this.

Daddy even participated in a pool game.

I see you!

That's funny!

Collin, are you ok buddy?

Aunt Julie and I.

Aunt Erin and Jack.

The habachi grill.

I was very entertained by it all.

Uncle Chris got to wear a chef hat.

Daddy got to take a turn at the grill.

I loved the fried rice, yum!

 

Mommy and Daddy's romantic dinner out.

The best italian they ever had!

Some pictures of the resort.

They had these swinging benches, they were nice.

The main courtyard.

The kiddie pool.

Adult pool #1

Adult pool #2 with swim-up bar.

Favorite palm tree.

Special cabanas for the Preferred Club.

The whole crew.

Headed back home. 

Good-bye Punta Cana!