A First Halloween

Tonight we went to our branch Halloween party. Here's our little monkey all dressed and ready to go. She was kind of overwhelmed at first with all the people, costumes, and noise. But then who wouldn't be when you have a gaggle of kids in your face making a ton of racket trying to get your attention and smothering you with affection.

It was surprising how much she liked her costume and actually didn't fight us to keep it on. Earlier in the week when she saw it in her closet she would smile and get really happy. Thanks again Grandma Cec.

Melt down moment.

Addison loves her friend Chloe. Especially Chloe's jewelry.

Ryan and I completed the family theme with me dressing up as a banana tree, when I held her Addison became a monkey in a tree, and Ryan as a tour for "Agre's Photo Safari." I had so much fun imagining up our costumes and then creating them. Notice, Ryan's jeep has actual working headlights and a real transparent windshield! Love it! Ryan at first didn't want to wear the Jeep when I was thinking it up but when I created it he had to admit it was a pretty cool jeep. And I don't think he minded wearing it in the end.

Now off to create next years theme!

Enjoying Fall

Ryan has been underway for about a month so as boat wives we planned a welcome back party for the guys. A dessert tailgate complete with lights, music, and flags. While waiting for the boat this is what I saw. A car drive straight down the boat ramp and into the water. And you know what? He didn't sink, he just kept on truckin'. He boated around for a few minutes and then... Drove back up the ramp and left. Just like no big deal. Crazy this state we live in!

My Mom made Addison's Halloween costume while she was out here visiting. Here's a preview of the little monkey.

She also discovered how tasty the tape measure was while Grandma was busy sewing.

ADORABLE!

We have been propping Addison into a standing position more lately. She gets so proud of herself when she is standing up.

And she thinks it's hilarious when she is on her knees. She has now discovered that she can finagle her way from her knees onto her bum without falling.

What a cute surprise to find in the endless laundry heap.

After dealing with chemo and hair loss I was way more than ecstatic the first day I was able to put piggies into her hair. She actually keeps them in too.

She loves to swing.

Ryan's Aunt and Uncle flew out from North Dakota to spend the weekend with us and to meet Addison. We had such a good time while they were here and did a lot of fun things. We went to the Pumpkin Patch Festival up the peninsula. The village was crowded with tons of people.

I got the obligatory roasted corn on the cob while everyone else went for the brats.

Addison having her first taste of roasted corn. And she love it.

This guy was just roaming around with a lama so we petted it.

Shopping, shopping, shopping.

Addison and her Great Uncle Jim. She took quite a liking to him and I think the same was true too.

We went to the dairy. They had animals the kids could pet.

Addison seemed more interested in them than when Ryan took her to the fair animals. We also went through the corn maze. It's huge, there's like five mazes in one. I am terrible with direction so I wasn't much help. It was a great day, and the highlight? Well, that deserves it's own post. So look for an unbelievable highlight post next!

Great Aunt Betty sharing her ice cream sandwich. They were huge and I'm pretty sure Addison wouldn't have minded having one to herself.

We also stopped in at Grandma Tommy's. They sell local food and tourist stuff. We grabbed some jerky, apple cider, and fudge! Addison would have been happy if she could have grabbed just one gumball.

They have some humungo pumpkins around the peninsula! I've only seen pumpkins this big in pictures...well until now.

My favorite type of pumpkin.

I must confess, I really like Wisconsin in the Fall. It's full of all those typical fall activities and sight we don't get in Oregon.

A Week With Grandma Cec

After seeing Addison for so long this summer my Mom was having withdrawals. Nothing a few frequent flyer miles couldn't get rid of. Last week we were lucky to have her fly out and stay with us for seven days. We went up the peninsula for lunch at the Fish Market, a white table cloth affair if you know what I mean. And we survived it with only on mark left on the table cloth. This is the fish tank they have in the lobby. It's a pretty creative idea and what a great way to reuse those nasty old TV cases. Whenever I put Addison on her knees she thinks it's so funny. She always giggle and laughs apprehensiously. I think it because she kind of teeters forward and then regains her balance and leans back. This week she has learned that she can maneuver her legs ever so carefully out from under her and get off those knees and avoid falling.

I needed some sticks and rocks for a project I'm working on so we headed to Cave Point for a little hike. Addison was playing peek a boo with Grandma.

Grandma Cec and Addison in front of Lake Michigan. It was so great to be able to finally show my Mom what Sturgeon Bay looks like. Although, this was her third trip out here since Addison was born it's always been under snow until this time. Unfortunately, Addison was recovering from a cold and ear infection, I was getting sick, and then Mom got sick. But we were able to see some sights despite it all.

It was so very, very nice that my Mom took Addison and watched her a bunch so I could catch up on some sleep. A few days before Mom got here Addison didn't sleep more than 15min at a time during the night so I was in some desperate need of sleep. Especially, because I am once again a single parent as Ryan is underway for the whole month. It is very interesting how you learn to survive with so little sleep when you first have a baby and then when they are older and stay up all night you're totally sacked the next day.

This is a little game my Mom came up with and Addison loved. It's all about Addison pulling off her socks and my Mom giving a big reaction like she was suppose to keep them on. During one nap I could here Addison rolling with laughter and came out to find them playing the sock game.

I love how her little shoulders go up when she is laughing.

We had a lot of fun while Grandma was here. Thank you Mom for coming out and helping me so much I loved it. And thank you Dad for holding down the fort so Mom could be here.

Here's just some random pictures:

Addison began a new medication to control the growth of her hemangioma. It's a blood pressure medication that she takes three times a day by mouth. She's been on it a little over a month now and is doing very well on it. The growth we saw return after being done with chemo. is now gone again thanks to this new medication. She will continue taking it at least until January. We are very pleased with the outcome and many people tell us you can't even tell it was there. It is very, very nice to feel the warmth from the light at the end of the tunnel.

We've come up with some interesting outfits now that Fall has arrived. We're still eking out the last uses of the summer clothes and trying to make them a little bit warmer for the crisp air days.

She love the cell phone. I showed her a picture of Ryan the other day on it and she took her little finger and rubbed his picture and smiled. She loves her Dad and although she can't voice it I know she misses him while he is away.

She finally fits into the little sailor dress the captain and his wife gave her.

I love this headband and the best part is that it's a adult size so it fits me too.

One of Addison's newest entertainments. She sits close to the end of our foot board and pulls herself towards the rails until her feet slip through. She gets so proud of herself.

She looks in the mirror and vigorously kicks her feet in the air.

She's also learned that this is a great place to fall backwards because it doesn't hurt on the landing. Like all babies her age she eats everything and the rails are no different. See those two bottom teeth, they're going to wreck my foot board.

She had her first swimming lesson a few weeks ago. She splashed so excitedly when we got in that I should have worn goggles. Contacts and that much splashing in the face don't mix too well. I didn't think they put babies underwater at this age but to my surprise we were instructed to take them under at the end of one of the songs we sing. When I was younger my daycare went to swimming lessons in the summer. My instructor took me under even when I protested and that is why to this day I am still learning how to swim. So I was more than hesitant to take Addison under and create that same fear that I have in her. I think I had a mini panic attack as I looked around at the other parents and back to the instructor. But nobody else was freaking out so I followed their lead and with much apprehension at the end of the song Addison went under. And when she came back up she looked around like, "What the heck just happened!?" And then started grinning. No coughing, no sputtering, just smiles as other kids around us came up coughing, gaging, and crying. I was so proud.