Christmas Eve

On Christmas eve, Addysen and I spend the day at home and got ready for our Christmas party at the the Link's. Addysen did wonderful all day - considering she did not nap well ( she must have been excited that Santa was coming). So we headed off to Abingdon, to Jerry and MaryAnn's and we had a nice dinner and got a chance to catch up with everyone. Addysen got to show off her skills of pulling herself up. Then it was off to Altona to Christmas eve service. And what do you know - that little stinker did not sleep one wink during church. She was very good though. Daddy only had to take her out once and all she wanted to do was crawl around. Then it came time for communion. Addysen decided to put on a show for everyone at church too. All the way down the asile, she was flipping my hair up and snickering. It was really cute and I think the people who saw it, thought that it was cute too. (I'm just glad that I was able to compose myself enough to not get the church giggles too bad). Once we got home, Addysen was still awake (at 11:30). That is when I realized that I did not have anyone take our picture all night. So I made Aaron and Addysen stand in front of our tree and I set the timer on our camera so I could have a picture of us on our first Christmas together. Needless to say, Aaron was not pleased about this. But I got my picture - whether Addysen is looking or not.

Then on Christmas day, we spent the day at home and then in the evening we went to Grandpa Jim and Grandma Sharon's house. Uncle Ryan was coming home all the way from Maryland! We had a very nice dinner (Grandma Sharon did all the cooking -THANK YOU!!!) Then we opened up presents. No one was counting, but I think Addysen got the most! (I think she might be loved - just a little) Now we are getting ready for New Years Eve, and spending time with Uncle Ryan while he is home. AND -- This Sunday, we get to meet someone new and special in Uncle Nate's life. Ooh!!!!!

Christmas

Well as you could have guessed, Addysen was spoiled during her first Christmas. Santa, Mom, Dad and the whole family was VERY good to her. She got too many toys to fit in our small house. This is a problem that I am going to have to deal with (toys and stuff everywhere). She of course does not like to have them all put away nicely like Mommy does (ha ha ha). She got toys, books, clothes, a table to stand up and play at and two stride to ride bikes (which she loves). My Aunt Cheryl also gave her a fridge farm that she loves to play with. It is so much fun to watch her play with it. It plays music and every time it starts playing the music she gets so excited and she starts bouncing up and down or kicking her feet like she is dancing. It is so sweet. The other thing that I have noticed this week is that occasionally she plays differently when she thinks no one is looking. She got a telephone from Grandma Sharon and I have caught her 3 times now picking it up to her ear and babbling softly like she is talking to someone. (it just melts my heart - how did she get so cute?) When I pick up the phone and talk on it and tell her that it is for her and put it up to her ear, she just smiles, takes it from my hand and starts chewing on it.

I saw Santa!

Addysen went to see Santa Claus today! It was a fun experience that I won't forget. She probably didn't have as much fun as Aaron and I did. When we got there, we had to wait in line for about 20 minutes. (not too bad, unless you're with an irritated husband) Addy really liked this part, watching all the kids around us. Once we got up to Santa, Aaron put her in his lap and she looked at him and looked at us like, "what in the heck are you doing to me, and who in the heck is this crazy guy?" Her lip started quivering and her eyes filled up with tears as she looked back and forth at Santa and us. We were smiling and telling her that it was okay and the photo lady was squeaking a toy to get her attention for the picture. So we were able to distract her enough to get an okay picture with him, but I think that it is safe to say that she did not enjoy the experience.

I got new slippers!

Addysen is always taking off her socks when she is at home. So I decided to get her some slippers to keep her little toes warm. I just think she looked so cute in them. (it still didn't solve the problem - she likes to take the slippers off too.)

At the Mall

While my sister was home, we of course went to the mall (in Peoria). The older kids (Morgan, Caleb and Ben) rode the train that was across from Santa while Aubrie and Addysen watched. They just thought that it was so cool to be out of their strollers, standing up and watching the train going round and round.

A visit from the Bakers!

This past weekend my sister and her kids were home for a visit and we had such a great time! I just wish they could have stayed longer. Addysen really liked playing with her cousins, baby Aubrie (11 months) and Ben (4). At first, she didn't know what to think of Aubrie. She is bigger, more mobile and more confident. By the end of the visit, Addysen was standing her ground and I think the girls were playing like true cousins! It was very cute to watch them play together.

During this visit we also had our Johnson family Christmas. It was fun and interesting. We had a contest to see who could wear the ugliest christmas sweater. It was funny and put everyone in the christmas spirit. The winners of the contest were my cousin Sarah (basically because her sweater was ugly and it was too small), my cousin Meggan's boyfriend Brad (his sweater had lights and music) and the winners for the kids was my niece Morgan (I think that one was rigged - due to the party was at her house and her mom was the judge!) So if you were wondering why we are all dressed so badly in these pictures - that's why.

Well, we have more christmas party's to come, so I'm sure there will be more and more pictures to come. (but I'm sure I won't be able to get Aaron to wear a red turtle neck to any more parties! - sorry)

Busy time of year.

It has been a while since I have updated our blog, but things are getting busy! I can't believe how time has just flown by this holiday season and Christmas is right around the corner! This past weekend, Aaron, Addysen and I went and chopped down our Christmas tree. It was cold, but fun. Addysen didn't seem too interested in the trees. She was more interested in the lambs that we saw. She kept staring at them and talking to them. It was very cute.

Now we are getting ready for our first Christmas. We have our first family gathering next Sunday in Peoria. We are really excited because my sister, Emily and her kids are coming home, all the way from Louisiana! She is braving the airplane alone with 2 kids! We can't wait for her to get here and for all the kids to play! (i just hope i get my shopping done - but that is another story).

Here is a video of Addysen pushing her highchair across the kitchen floor. She discovered this on her own. She pulled herself up on the highchair one day and then it started to move. So she just started pushing it across the kitchen like her own little shopping cart! She does this with anything. Just this past weekend, while we were decorating the tree, we had the ornament box on the hardwood floor and she discovered it. She pulled herself up to it and started pushing it across the dining room! This child is very busy and always on the go! She wants to walk so bad! She even dares to stand up and let go at times. She's my little dare devil!

Fun in the tub!

Addysen loves to take a bath! No matter what kind of night she is having, as soon as it is tub time, she is a happy camper! I think she would just sit in there and play all night if we would let her.

Addy Standing Up.

Here is a video of Addysen pulling herself up to her feet. This is her new favorite thing to do! It is hard to believe that she just learned how to OFFICIALLY crawl 2 weeks ago. (as you can tell, Peanut is in the background - and he is very impressed with her abilities! ha ha ha)

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

Thanksgiving weekend was a lot of fun around the Link house! Wednesday night we had Thanksgiving at Grandpa Jim and Grandma Sharon's. This was the first time that Addysen discovered that she was the center of attention. While eating she would just yell out and bang her hands on her highchair... then she'd wait for our reaction.... (we all laughed at her), then she'd do it again.... then wait for our reaction... She really put on a Thanksgiving show! Then on Thursday, we went Aunt Cheryl's house for more turkey. Addysen got to play with her cousin's, Morgan, Caleb, Hunter and Baby Lexi. She decided to put on a show there too. This time she would laugh, just a very little bit... look around to make sure everyone heard. (then we'd all laugh - of course, b/c it was so cute) then she'd do it again and again and again.

Once we got home on Thursday night, it was time for Addysen to eat supper. So, we thought that it was only appropriate for her to try turkey on Thanksgiving. It went alright... a lot better than the beef and gravy. So she had turkey and sweet potatoes for her first thanksgiving dinner.

AND NOW... Addysen is getting way too big for her britches! She has now discovered how to pull herself up to her feet! Oh, man. Watch out, she is a dare devil. Anything she can find to grab a hold of, she will pull herself up to her feet. Now tonight, she has started to try to walk along things while holding herself up! I guess we are on our way to a lot more bumps and bruises.

I'm not Gonna Smile

Aunt Tammy is crazy, but she's a lot of fun.

Playing Airplane with Uncle Nate.

Addy's Bed Head

Here is a picture of Addysen first thing in the morning, when we

caught her pulled up on her knees to the side of her crib.

Addy's Crawling

Well, a lot has happened since the last time I wrote. As for Addysen, she has finally learned how to crawl! And let me tell you, she is a pro now! She goes all over the house to explore! There are no more days of leaving her in one room and leaving to go do something real quick and expect she'll be in the same spot. More than likely she is in the next room or following you. She has also started pulling herself up! She pulls herself up on the coffee table and in her crib. She doesn't get to standing position yet, but she gets to her knees. It won't be long until she up all the way up, she is trying to figure it out.

As for me... Last Thursday, I hit a deer on the way home from work. It scared me to death. I am alright, but my car isn't. I am just glad Addysen wasn't with me yet when it happened. My car isn't fixed yet, but it's drivable now. The dealer had to put in a new headlight and blinker. So since Friday I have been driving a big boat of a car. Luckily, I got my trail blazer back tonight. Hopefully, everything will be all fixed and repaired by the middle of December. Until then, I'll just have to drive my damaged trail blazer (which by the way, we can't open the passenger door) so I guess if we go anywhere, we'll take Aaron's truck or Aaron will just have to be our chauffeur.

WATCH OUT FOR DEER!

Drinking from a sippy cup

We have just started drinking from a sippy cup. It is going... okay. Basically all she wants to do is chew on the top, but she's getting the hang of it. She is not quite sure what to think of juice yet. Some days she likes it and other day, she wants nothing to do with it. She does however think she is pretty cool holding the cup.

Addy's Telling Stories

Addysen loves to talk and talk and talk. Sometimes it seems like she really means what she is saying. She is serious, and she means business. It is just so much fun to just sit there and listen to her when she gets started, because she can just go on and on. She is a total girl. She loves to talk, just like her Daddy! She is only seven months old, so obviously she is not speaking to us yet, but she does say Dada. And just this weekend, I heard her (for the record, Aaron heard it too) she has started saying Mama. Oh.... it was so sweet. It just melts my heart to hear her say that! I think I'm gonna keep her.

Playing with Cousin Hunter

On Sunday, we went to church to see our newest cousin, Alexia Paige get baptised. She's the one who stole Addysen's thunder, so Addy is no longer the baby of my family. Aaron and I have decided to forgive Alexia, because she is so darn cute. So Lexi, you are forgiven - ha ha ha.

I forgot my camera today(of course), but Nici got some good pictures. Addy had a great time watching everyone and playing with her big cousin Hunter (as you can see in the picture, did a very good job sharing).

I got a new winter coat.

Addysen just got a new winter coat and she just looks so cute in it. She got to wear it for the first time on Friday night when we went to an outside party. It was very cold out, but Addy stayed quite warm in her new coat, hat and mittens. I really wanted to get a good picture of her in it, well she passed out, before that happened. I guess too much parting with that crazy Erickson bunch! (Happy Hog Retirement Pete!)

The Cutest Duck in the World

Addysen went as a duck for her very first Halloween. Surprisingly, she did not mind the costume at all! She really couldn't move a whole lot in it, but she didn't care. She couldn't have looked any cuter! On Halloween we went to both grandparent's houses and over to McCann's to see John and Mary Ann and Lindsay and Jared. We had so much fun taking her out "trick or treating." She did so well, considering she only took 3 VERY short naps at daycare that day. (she must have been excited about Halloween!) We were sad that we did not make it to see more people, but we were on a tight schedule. We had to see the grandma's and Addy had to eat and get to bed, so we were limited for time:( We had a fun 1st Halloween with Addy, hope you enjoy our pictures.

OH... Happy 7 month birthday Addysen!

Our visit to see Grandpa with those crazy Lott kids!

On the Sunday before Halloween Tammy and I took our crazy kids to see Dad. Addysen just didn't know what to think of Caleb, he is such a nut and VERY 2! If your wondering - he's the elephant, the one who won't cooperate and show his face to take a good picture. Addy just stared at him and did her usual... looked very worried. Dad really enjoyed seeing the kids all dressed up and I think everyone else did too. After we were there for about an hour and a half, he was ready for us to leave. Tammy and I heard him whisper to mom, "Don't they have to get going soon?" (we can always count on Dad to say something that we will giggle about later) I just think that our kids were a little too over stimulating for him - they are for anyone trapped in a small room with them for any length of time. All in all, we enjoyed our visit and I think Dad did too.

Mommy, Daddy and Addy

Addysen and Grandma Olson

Addysen and Grandpa Olson

Addysen with Grandma & Grandpa Link

I Think She's a Keeper!

Our Little Pumpkin

Mmmmm... Leaves are good

A couple of weekends ago, the weather was so nice that Addy and I decided to go outside and take some pictures. I was trying to get a good picture of her in the leaves, in front of the pumpkins and the mum, but she had other things on her schedule. She loved the leaves! I did not know this, but apparently leaves are very tasty. Just ask Addysen :)