Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. Addison was so into it that it made it so much fun for us. We were able to spend the day at my parents house on Christmas Eve, and had some fun festivities including Santa. On Christmas day, Addison surpised us and was so excited to see what everyone got and was good about taking turns opening presents. She even said thank you after each gift was opened. Her favorite present I will have to say, is the princess dress that her cousin gave her.

Addison dressed as Mary with her cousins: Braxton (5 years), Aspen (2 years) and Pagelynn (18 months)

Addison sitting on Santa's lap

Addison with her cousins in their Christmas pj's from Grandma White. Pagelynn (18 mo.), Kailey (4 years), Keaton (6 years), Braxton (5 years), Kelsey (9 years) and Aspen (2 years)

Addison with her beloved princess dress

Jingle Bells

27 weeks and a new look

Ok, I am 27 weeks pregnant now, and am definately feeling it. I took these pictures on my own with the timer on our camera, so they didn't turn out that great. The one that is up close kind of cut the top of my head off.

Also, I got a new haircut yesterday and am pretty pleased with how it turned out. I am in great need of a highlight, but the salon was so booked I was lucky to even get an appointment for a cut, so I will have to wait until next month for the highlight.

Addison had such a blast watching me try to take a picture of myself, that she wanted to pose for a picture too. Enjoy!

Santa's lap

Addison got to see Santa at our Ward Christmas party on Friday. When Addison caught sight of him, she could not take her eyes off of him. She kept pointing him out to me. When it was time to sit on his lap, she was a bit hesitant until he pulled out a candy cane, then she climbed right up onto his knee.

Christmas Decor

After we saw the Christmas light at the Mesa Temple the other day, Addison has been wanting to put lights up for Christmas. She kept saying she wanted to help Grandpa put lights on his house. When we got home on Tuesday, I promised her that we would decorate the house for Christmas. So, yesterday we put up the tree and decorated the mantle. Addison giggled with glee the entire time. Each ornament we took out of the book, she would exclaim, "Look mommy!". It was so fun to see the excitement in her eyes. She is in the princess stage right now, and so every ornament that had an angel on it was a princess. Christmas time has always been an exciting time of year, but has definately been a wonderful experience seeing it through her eyes!

Our Thanksgiving Vacation

We recently went to Arizona to visit Brad's family for Thanksgiving. We had a great time while we were there, and got to see some extended family that we hadn't seen for a few years.

I was lazy and didn't take very many pictures, but thankfully Stacey, my sister-in-law, took some and emailed them to me. Thanks Stacey for some great pictures.

Addison loved playing with her cousin Cooper (15 months). Last time we were in Arizona, she had a hard time sharing and was kind of mean to him, but was better this time around.

Addison with cousins Cooper and Camden (8 years)

Addison loved spending her time with Grandma Nielsen

Phoenix Zoo (Addison was sick with the 12 hour bug that day and puked at least 5 times, poor thing)

Mesa Temple Christmas lights with Brad's parents

Last weeks' events

Addison has been wanting to watch the new Disney movie, Tinker Bell. So, 2 Saturday's ago, Brad rented Tinker Bell and we had a movie night with Addison. She thought it was so much fun, because we got in our pj's and had popcorn. We decided to do that more often. Oh, and if you haven't seen Tinker Bell, I would highly recommend it if you have little girls, it is soooo cute!

Then, on Wednesday this past week, I actually had energy in the afternoon, so I decided to go outside and blow the leaves in our yard with the leaf blower. It was nice weather, and Addison was begging to play in the leaves. She was a little scared of the leaf blower at first, but decided that it was fun to stand among the leaves as I was blowing them. After I got the leaves in a pile, she would run and jump in the piles. At one point, she was laying in the pile of leaves and the leaves started to blow over her face. Well, our dog, Winston, didn't like her being "burried" in the leaves, so he started to dig her out. We thought that he was being very protective of her, but during the process he managed to scratch her face and ear! Addison didn't think that it was very nice of him.

Finally, this past Saturday, while Brad was on the youth temple trip with the youth from our ward, Addison and I were all alone and bored. When I get bored, I bake, so I made homemade cinnamon rolls. While I was baking, Addison wanted to play with her watercolors. I guess they get a little carried away when they are not being watched over too closely. Good thing I had her stripped down to her diaper.

22 Weeks

Ok, so I hate having pictures taken especially being pregnant. There is a reason why I am always posting pictures of Addison, because really who wants to see pictures of me.
Well, when I was pregnant with Addison, I had Brad take a picture of me each month so we could see the progress of how fat I was getting. This time around we have slacked, so we decided to take a picture, so we could compare it to the last pregnancy. Lets just say I am bigger this time around (although the pictures are at different depths, so it is hard to tell). See for yourself.

Pregnancy with Addison-about 22 weeks

Pregnancy with baby #2- 22 weeks

Fall Leaves

It has been looking like fall here for a couple of weeks now, but the weather sure has been warm for fall. The leaves on the trees were so colorful this year, but it only lasts about a week before they start falling. We were on a walk the other day, and Addison wanted to play in the leaves. She had such a fun time playing in them that I had to get some pictures.

Halloween

Ok, so we had our church Halloween party and Trunk or Treat tonight and I forgot my camera!! So, you will have to settle with a picture of Addison in her costume that I got just before we left the house. She made the cuttest ladybug ever! Thank you Old Navy for making the best costumes.

Pumpkin Carving

We carved our pumpkin this past Monday for FHE. I will start out by saying that Brad has not been a big fan of carving pumpkins. One year, we were probably only 2 years into our marriage, we carved pumpkins with his brother and sister-in-law. He got pretty frustrated with it and I think I ended up finishing it. Then last year, I wanted to carve a pumpkin and have Addison help. Well, Brad decided not to participate with that one. So, this year I wanted to carve a pumpkin again and have it be a FAMILY project, so that is why I did it for FHE. Brad was very motivated and stepped right in and started preping the pumpkin. After cutting the top off, he had Addison help scoop out the seeds which she didn't end up liking the fact that it got her hands dirty. After scooping out the pumpkin, Brad proceeded to poke the holes in the pumpkin for our pattern (we use the kit with the fancy patterns). Meanwhile, I stood back to watch and take pictures. Then comes the good part. Brad finishes making the pattern and starts to saw away. We choose the cat pattern for our pumpkin. Brad is getting pretty anxious to get this pumpkin finished, so he starts to get faster and faster at cutting. Then all of a sudden, he brakes the tail off. He gets a little up set, but keeps going. No longer then 3 minutes later, a leg brakes off. Brad is now finished cutting and the cat design is not finished. I had to step in and take over to try and salvage the tail-less, 3 legged cat design we carved in our pumpkin. I think that it is safe to say that pumpkin carving isn't Brad's favorite Halloween activity.

My baby

Addison found the baby bottles yesterday when I was putting dishes away, and wanted to drink her juice out of one of them. I decided to let her, but regretted it when she woke up first thing this morning, she wanted the bottle again. I am sure it is a phase, and she will get over it quickly. The funny thing is, I could never get her to take a bottle when she was a baby. As soon as I decided to stop nursing her, she went straight to the sippy cup. Somehow she got the steps backward. What a funny girl!

Pumpkin Farm

So this past Thursday, Addison and I and our friends went to a pumpkin farm. It took about 40 minutes to get there, and was out in the sticks, but was a cute and fun farm. Addison was so excited to go, and loved every minute of it. The weather was a little chilly, but we were able to stay warm as long as we stayed in the sun.

Addison trying out the duck race.

Going down the slide

The pumpkin wagon

Addison, Charlie, and Gus

The cow train, that was pulled by a four wheeler

The tire swing that Addison fell off of right before we left, and hit her head on the ground

The hay ride

Flower princess

So back in September, our beautiful rose bush got a bug and started to die. I had to cut it back quite a bit. I thought for sure it was dead, but after a few rain storms and some nice weather it came back to life. So, we have a few roses again until the first frost comes along.
While Addison was playing outside the other day, she decided she wanted a rose in her hair. She thought that she was a princess and wanted me to take a picture of her.

Baby Girl!

I had my 20 week ultrasound today, and are pleased to announce that we are going to have a baby girl! I had mixed feelings up until today about what it was going to be. At first I was convinced it was going to be a girl, but then for the past couple of weeks I started to think it was a boy because this pregnancy has been very different then with Addison. Brad knew all along that it was going to be a girl. We are both excited, and are gearing Addison up to be a big sister. It will be fun having 2 girls together, I just hope Brad is ready for tea parties and princess dresses for another few years.

Parade

This past saturday we went up to my parents house to watch the annual "Maple Leaf Parade" that I have been to since my family has lived in Carthage, Missouri. Addison loved the horses and marching bands, and not to mention the loads of candy that was thrown to us.

Also, I had my 26th birthday this past monday, and Addison loves getting her picture taken with the person whose birthday is being celebrated.

Aspen, Addison, and Pagelynn

Pagelynn & Addison