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.