The Birthday Party

Saturday afternoon we had Addison's party with  family and friends.  It was a small party, which was nice because it was not too crazy! 

I made this banner for Addison.  I got out my scrap booking tools and paper and made it over the course of a few nights.  She loves it so much that I decided to keep it up for a few days. 

We used our cake lady again to do Addison's cake.  She is very creative, can make anything you ask, and the cakes for delicious. 

My Mom always gets the balloon bouquet from a little shop in downtown Blue Springs.  We also had Minnie Mouse plates, cups, and napkins. 

My dad made this chair for Addison.  It is amazing what my dad can do and make with wood. 

Does this smile ever get old? 

I could not get Addison to look at the camera while we were trying to get this picture.  But, I love this picture because Lauren and Killian are so curious about the cake. 

Time for presents.  All Addison really wanted to do was rip the paper off the boxes.  After she got the paper off of this present,she moved onto the next present.  She did not even stop to look at what was in the box. 

This box was full of presents from Gramps and Nana.  3 pairs of jeans, 4 shirts, 2 dresses, one pair of jammies, a book, puzzle, a Minnie Mouse, and 5 pairs of socks.  I think that is everything! 

The birthday girl and her Daddy.  Love these moments. 

Big girl eating her cake and drinking out of her big girl cup. 

Happy Birthday Addison!

Urgent Care visit

I ran Lauren to the DR. this morning, thinking she just had an ear infection.  She has had a cough for a few weeks now...she can't seem to shake it.  Well she woke up this morning saying her ear was hurting.  She really is not one to complain, so I decided I should probably have her looked at. 

Good thing I took her in.  When the Dr. listened to her she was wheezing, so that bought us a breathing treatment (as seen here.)  Lauren did awesome with the treatment.  She was so excited that she even wanted to hold the mask.  She indeed has a ear infection, so amoxicillin it is.  The Dr. could also tell that she has allergies (by looking in her nose and seeing purple/blue, and not red...)  That bought us some Zyrtec each night until a hard freeze. 

I hope she starts feeling better soon.  She was so big and brave.  She even let the Dr. in training look and listen to her (since she had the classic wheezing, ear infection, and allergy nose.) 

We were there a while so we snapped some pictures waiting for the Dr. to come back after the breathing treatment!  Then we headed to Hy-vee to get Albuterol, Amoxicillin, and Zyrtec. 

Addison probably needs to be seen too...she has had the same symptoms for 2 weeks now too...Maybe tomorrow for her...

Addison's Actual Birthday

Thursday October 7th was Addison's actual birthday.  After work we headed to Chuck E. Cheese for dinner.  We took Lauren there for her second birthday, so we decided to go there for Addison's birthday as well.  The food was great and the atmosphere was amazing....well if you are under 10!  The girls loved it and that is all that matters. 

Addison trying to keep up with her big sister! 

Not a good idea for a 2 year old...

After dinner, we headed home to open up presents from Mark, Lauren and I.  Lauren had just as much fun as Addison did opening up all the presents.  Lauren was actually a very big help and let Addison open up most of her presents on her own.  Addison got a new lap top computer, 2 doggies, a barbie and a barbie movie from Lauren, a bowling set and a cleaning set of brooms and brushes. 

This picture cracks me up because that is the biggest, cheesiest smile I have ever seen out of her!  She was pretty excited about her cleaning supplies. 

Oh, and the final gift which she loves.  (I love  how excited both the girls are in this picture.) 

Her love of this car makes all the hard work of putting it together so worth it.  It looks easy, but it is not...just as Mark! 

A preview of all her toys.  She tried carrying all of them around most of the night. 

Addison took cupcakes to school, had a dinner out with us, and opened lots of presents.  I think she had a pretty happy birthday.  Addison is our girl who loves to be the center of attention.  She is not shy when someone asks "Who's birthday is it?"  Addison gets a huge smile on her face and points to herself and says "Addison."  When you ask her how old she is she knows....she says "2." 

More pictures to come of her party...

Birthday Pictures

It's late and I am tired..so I thought I would just share a few of my favorite pictures from the last few days of celebrating Addison's 2nd birthday.  There will be much more to come over the next several days! 

Happy Birthday Addison

Two years ago today at 4:57 I sat down at the computer and my water broke!  I had just talked to Mark about 20 minutes earlier, told him I felt fine, nothing was happening and to go ahead and go to the gym.  Lauren was watching TV and I just freaked out at the warm sensation oozing down my leg.  Lauren thought I peed my pants, and Mark did not believe me when I called him and told him my water just broke. 

It took him 45 minutes to get home since he just left work and he works downtown (rush hour traffic around here is brutal.)  My sister did not answer when I called her, and neither did my parents.  So I rushed around (no contractions were happening at first) packed a bag and finally got a hold of my sister to come over and watch Lauren so Mark and I could get to the hospital. 

When I arrive at 6:30 I was already dilated to a 4.  It took almost 2 hours to get my epidural and from then on it was easy sailing.  I pushed for about 20 minutes (a total of 6 times) and Addison Renee Harding was born at 10:43 at night.  She weighed 8 lbs 5 oz and was 20  1/4 inches long.  It was well after 3 in the morning before the nurses got me cleaned up and Addison got her first bath.  Mark was asleep by 1:30 or 2:00 in the morning, he just could not keep his eyes open any longer. 

We were home with our new baby before she was even 36 hours old!  It all happened so fast, and was truly an amazing experience.  She has challenged us in these first 2 years of her life in ways Lauren never did.  Addison is our dare devil, our risk taker, and our child that will push our buttons in the years to come, but we would not trade it for anything.  She is our social butterfly that does not know a stranger (she is yet to have stranger anxiety.)  She is laid back and easy going.  She adores Lauren and always wants her Mommy (although there for a while she was really into Mark and that just melted my heart.) 

Here she is just before leaving the hospital.  Lauren has adored her since the day she was born.  Lauren is an amazing big sister that will always be there for Addison.  She is just like a little Mommy to Addison. 

6 months old and full of smiles.  Addison is always a very happy baby. 

One year pictures.  I took them at Unity Village and they turned out great. 

18 months old!  I fixed her hair in piggy tails most of the summer because it just looked to sweet on her! 

And here she is now.  I just love this picture.  These first 2 years have flown by and I know it will just continue to go even faster as the girls get older.  We are planning on going to Chuck E. Cheese for dinner tonight, then opening presents with the 4 of us.  We will have Addison's birthday party on Saturday with family and friends. 

Addison is so excited for her birthday.  We have Tinkerbell cupcakes for her friends at school today, which I am sure the kids will enjoy.

Happy Birthday Addison.  We love you. 

Lauren's Boys

Landen was in town this weekend (he lives in Chicago now.)  It is amazing how him and Lauren can just pick up right where they left off and take off running and acting like the best of friends.  They have been friends since they were born.  They met in the infant room at 3 months of age and this weekend Lauren said Landen asked Lauren to marry him!  This was the visit last year.  It fell on the same day as Addison's first birthday party so it was a crazy fun filled day! 

Landen and his mom Jessica stopped by daycare of Friday to visit and surprise Lauren.  She loved it.  Saturday morning they came to the house to visit and play.  When Killian was done with football practice we met up at a local park so all three could play and have fun. 

After that we headed to Minsky's for lunch.  That is an all time favorite for all three of our families. 

We headed to the park Saturday morning to the kids could run and play.  It was a little chilly (only for the parents.)  Lauren, Landen and Kilian did not seem to mind. 

Here is Addison trying to keep  up with the big kids. 

Landen and Lauren

Killian and Lauren

They were so happy that they all were able to make it to the top of the rock wall!  These three adore each other, they have a blast each time they see each other...even if it is only a few times a year. 

Mark and I decided we are going to make a trip up to Chicago next spring or summer to visit Landen.  Lauren can't wait. 

Family Pictures from the Pumpkin Patch

Here is that huge smile Addison likes the share for pictures.  It is the sweetest thing.  One of the teachers at school taught her that! 

Taking a ride on the train.  Both girls really enjoyed riding around the pumpkin patch. 

Waiting for the pig races to start.  There was a girl, "Princess Andrea," dressed in an orange formal dress handing out suckers to the kids while they waited for the pig races to begin.  Lauren wanted to know why we did not see princess Andrea in Disney World! 

While it looks like Addison's eyes are closed, they are not.  Just another one of her huge smiles. 

After we had lunch we picked out pumpkins and then Mark headed out of town.  He went to Lincoln for another Husker game.  They girls gave him about 100 hugs and kisses before he left the pumpkin patch.  He was gone for less than 24 hours, but you would think we was going to be gone for 24 days the way the girls were kissing and hugging him.  He loved it though. 

I took this picture of the train, just holding out the camera and telling Addison to smile!  I did not get any pictures of just Lauren and I and I am so disappointed.  She was ready and willing to pose for the camera too. 

After Mark headed to Lincoln the girls and I took a hay ride out to the pumpkin patch to see where the pumpkins are grown.  They loved the hay ride.  I could not get Addison to cooperate and smile for me (oh well.)