a new tradition

Last weekend, I ran the Living History Farms Race in Des Moines with a group of gals that I ran and finished the marathon with. I have to be honest, I was skeptical about how this race was going to go. I am not the hugest fan of getting wet, cold, and/or dirty- plus the thought of going through creeks and up hills didn't sound exciting. Still, I signed up and gave it a try....and had a BLAST! I absolutely loved it. It was so much fun- running through the creeks, sliding in the mud, and laughing with my friends while I did it. Once I was dirty- I was ready to go and get dirtier! I have decided that this is a new tradition in my life- to do this race each year. Oh and part of the tradition.....I will do it "dressed up." Costumes made it MUCH more fun!

80s exercise clothes this year. Hmmm....anyone have suggestions for next year? I am commited to the fact that the outfit must be a good outfit I can run in and also be warm enough!

Our marathon shoes- we TRASHED them.

After the race.....the bottom half is cut off- that is our dirtiest part. And my rear was pretty muddy too.
Below....a photo shoot with "the ladies" before the race!

Angie

Kallie

Jess

Danielle

Tricia

Thankful moments

I love it when Addelyn is in her cuddly pajamas, has wet hair, and smells clean and like baby lotion. All I want to do is cuddle up with her at this point of the night. Too bad my little girl isn't a cuddler like I am. Often she will push me out of her space that I so quickly invade.

Wednesday night after bath, she was sitting on Mark's lap with her head on his chest, cuddling up next to him. I saw this unusual event and ran over to join in. I laid my head on Mark's shoulder, my face looking straight into Addelyn's. Shen then reached over and put her little arm around my neck- almost as if she was inviting me into the moment. I laid there with my head on Mark's shoulder, looking into Addelyn's eyes, and prayed and thanked God for this moment, for this family. These are the moments I wish I could freeze in time.

Decisions

Tonight as our family sat on the couch together, I looked over at my sweet little daughter and sorry to say, she had her finger stuck up her nose. Pretty deep too. Instead of stopping the pick job right away, I watched for a moment (slightly entertained, I know I am terrible!). She got ahold of the booger that she had been searching for, pulled it out, and looked it. I said, "Addelyn, now what are you going to do with that?" She looked up at me sweetly, looked intently down at the gross little green thing on her finger, concentrated for a moment as if making a big decision, and then said, "Eat it!" Before I could respond, she did just that.

Our little monkey

Halloween 2009

Yes, Mark did dress up as Iron Man. It was a DTI thing (where he works).
Yes, it is a children's size.

Dave was Flash. And check out the cute little elephant and pirate!

Here are a bunch of Mark's co-workers from DTI in their super hero costumes.

Addelyn loves Justin. He got her a HUGE bag of M&Ms. Thanks a lot, Bolger. We definitely had to hide them. And yes, Mark did have two costumes this year. One (a huge banana) for trick or treating with Addelyn, one (Iron Man) for later. It was a big year for him, ha ha! This whole having a kid thing has really given him an excuse to dress up.

Avery was such a little cutie too. Addelyn LOVES this girl.

Addelyn and Austin jumping around

Addelyn cuddling with Ayden Williams

(she is also infatuated with him- I think it is a baby thing!)

Pumpkin carving- Addelyn was not so sure about touching the insides of the pumpkin.

She wanted us to roll up her sleeves....

She stuck her little fingers in, not very far though...

A little farther... (she was better once her shirt was off -at her request!) But don't let this picture deceive you. She hardly helped...

Final product

Rock a Bye Baby

something to talk about

I read today that a toddler between 18-24 months of age can add a new word to their vocabulary every ninety minutes. I have been in awe of my little girl and her developing language skills. It seems like every day she is saying new things and also making us laugh. A few quotes I don't want to forget:

"I hidin"
She is on a HUGE hiding kick! We often find her squeezed in a corner of a room, with the door shut. She sits quietly until we find her. Oh, and lately she has been found with my makeup and/or toothpaste. The makeup mess happened twice in the last week- makeup EVERYWHERE! On my dresser, on her face, in her mouth, on her clothes, on the counter, on her hands, pretty much everywhere!
"Ahhh nuts!"
We have no idea where this came from. She just started saying this and thinks she is SOO funny!
"Open dis"
Lids, doors, cases, wrappers, etc.
"Menutes"
Whenever Addelyn has to do something we know she won't be excited about doing,
we often give her a warning and say, "In one minute we are getting out of the bathtub or leaving the park or changing your diaper." Or we will say "One more minute!" This week she has started saying minutes whenever it is time to be put in her crib at night, time to get out of the tub, or time to get her diaper changed. Gotta love it.
"More rock-a-bye"
Every night either Mark or I read books with Addelyn in her room before bed. Then we turn the lights off and pray and talk and rock in the rocking chair for a bit. Lately she has been bucking against going to bed. Everytime we get up from the chair, she cries out "More rock-a-bye!" It is so hard not to give in! I think Mommy could be the pushover more than I ever thought I would be!
"Beeg gurl"
Addelyn wants to sit at the table like a big girl, drink out of a big girl glass without a lid, and sit on the big potty. She will get a huge grin everytime and continually tell us what a big girl she is! Tonight we had a bit of a battle when she found out she had to eat in her booster seat for dinner.
"Don't like dis"
Exciting! Now I can have two people in my family to rate the cooking! ha ha Tonight Addelyn decided she didn't like anything on her plate that I had made for dinner.
"M & Ms"
She likes M&Ms way too much. She first had them one night when I was gone at Big House. Mark let her do some taste testing! From then on, she has been in love with this candy. We don't really give them to her much but she is always asking. This has really started up again lately since Halloween (she got a HUGE bag of M&Ms from Mark's co-worker). Thanks Justin! :)
"Where ____?"
She continually asks where people are. Where daddy? Where Jess? Where Ilene? Where Papa? Must I go on?
"Noooooooooooooooooo"
Need I say more?
"I wuf you"
She only says this when we say it first but still it is one of the most amazing things to hear your little one say this to you.

These were just a few of the things we are hearing out of her mouth these days. I love this stage, it is so much fun! If I can get through the noooooooos!