Christmas

We are so blessed to have so many wonderful family and friends in our lives! This was Adi's 2nd Christmas, however, last year she was only 2 months old so we didnt get to witness the awe in presents. This year we did! But, it didnt last long...basically after 2 gifts, she was bored and wanted to beat on the boxes!


Saturday, Christmas Eve we got to go to my mom's for lunch with all of my sisters and brother as well as my Grandma Harwood! It was great having everyone together! We did a white elephant gift exchange which brought SO many great laughs! I think the biggest laugh was Grandma getting "footy jammies"!

Saturday evening we headed to Nick's parents where we got to spend time with his mom, dad, brother and his family, Robin and Nana! It is so wonderful getting to spend Christmas with family!

Christmas day, we spent the day, just the 3 of us together all day! We woke up and let Adi tear into the gifts Santa had brought her, I made a delicious egg quiche and we headed to church! Church was wonderful for Adi. She helped Pastor Floan light the Christmas tree. Yes, our shy little girl just adores Pastor Floan! After church we went home, had our brunch and hung out the rest of the day. All of us took a nap together and just relaxed as a family! There is nothing more we could ask for...we are all healthy and happy!

It was too cute...every little piece of paper was handed to mommy as not to make a mess, until after she was bored with unwrapping! :)


Helping daddy check out his new binoculars!

Look at this wild hair we have going on! It is awesome...we love it!

Intrigued...

With the tree being up, I couldn't pass up the opportunity for a cute, quick photo shoot! Adi touches the tree once in awhile, which is fine with us, we want her to explore the world as long as she isn't being hurt or hurting anything, we are pretty easy going, we think anyway! Here are a couple cute shots I got the night night we got the lights on the tree and started to put up decorations!

Christmas Tree...FINALLY!

Yes, we were a bit late on getting our tree up this year, but, we had a blast going out to the woods to cut it down and getting it all up in the house! I love looking at Adi's face when she sees it light up! For the most part she has done very well with leaving it alone. Of course she is curious but she hasn't knocked it down yet, so we are doing good!

Long Time!

Life at the Thompson house has been busy but, we are having fun so that is what matters! Since Thanksgiving we have had things going on every weekend which is not the way it is supposed to be! We need snow because when it snows we make no plans except plans to play!!!!

Last weekend Adi and I visited Harry, JoEllen and the kids for a fun day of Christmas cookie baking! Well, we just said hi to Harry as he was not helping us with the cookies!! Adi got her hands in on making her first sugar cookie but ended up liking to eat the dough more than cut out cookies! She IS my child! We have the privilege of meeting new kid friends for Adi and new adult friends for mom which is always fun! Adi actually did pretty well for being EXTREMELY tired...you see, Adi is used to her bed and her quiet mom and dad so no naps for her until we hit the road...she was OUT like a light not even 1/2 mile down the road! It was a quiet couple hour ride home! Thank you for having us Young family...we had a GREAT time!

Sunday we were off to Ben, Jess & Emma's to exchange Christmas gifts with the kids! We were well fed and of course Adi was quite spoiled by Auntie Jess! And as you can imagine, Adi LOOOOVES Emma! Emma is teaching her the ropes of being a girly girl, quite well! Thanks you guys for being so great to our family!

This weekend we have a family Christmas with the Vollenweider's on Saturday which is always a good time getting to see some of Nick's family who live by Green Bay and in Michigan!

Sunday is a Nana's birthday celebration, however, Adi and I began the tradition last year of making Christmas cookies with my mom and sisters, so we will be doing that instead! We will get to spend time with Nana on Saturday so Christmas cookie baking on Sunday will be calling our names!

11 days until Christmas...my oh my what a wonderful year we have had!

Daddy's Buck

Adi of course celebrated a little bit with daddy after he shot not 1, but 2 bucks with his bow this year! We are very proud of him, and very happy that our meat bill is going to be very small this winter! Between his over 300 lb. bear and 2 deer, we have a FULL freezer and that is a very nice feeling!

Don't they both look so proud!?

Catch Up

Life is busy so I haven't posted many pictures lately. I did take Adi's 12 month pictures but with her birthday and everything going on, I forgot to post them.

I will take the full body shot and eyes shut! Trying to keep a 1 year old who just started walking 2 weeks before her birthday is....ALMOST impossible!

With the help of Aunt Melissa...we got some cute pictures!

Other big news...Adi got her first haircut November 19, 2011! Thank you Donna Skogen for taking such great care of her...I am not going to lie...the scissors near the eyes freaked me out but Adi did SO well! She sat there the entire time and barely moved a muscle.

She kept a sober look on her face the ENTIRE time! Like...what are you doing to me!? We didnt cut a lot, just enough so she doesnt have to have hair hanging in her eyes all the time!

1 Year Baby Stats

Weight: 20.2 lbs. (30%)

Height: 30.5 inches (95%)

Head Circumference: 18.5 (90%)

These stats are no surprise as we all know she is long and lean...just like her daddy! :) She is as healthy as she can be and that is all we can ask for! :)

HALLOWEEN

Since I am playing blog catch up tonight...Adi had her first (well, not really her 1st Halloween since she was 4 days old last year and a pumpkin) Halloween trick or treating! We went and had dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Robson, Aunt Maureen and Cousin Mariah and her boyfriend first, then we went and visited Aunt Tanya and Cousins Wyatt & Seth and then off to Grandma and Grandpa Thompson's for only a quick visit since it was getting late and close to peanut's bedtime!

Miss Adelyn was a ladybug for Halloween...

Our little "bug"!!!

I also have to share that I have had Adi's name done on her wall for quite some time but forgot to add pictures...I LOVE IT!!!! It just "makes" her room!

And, I actually did this all by myself...not that it was that difficult, but usually I am just not that artistic to have a decent idea! I had to cut all of the circles that are placed ever so nicely on the "Adelyn" part of her name.

12 MONTH Photos

Since we had pictures done at JC Penney's, I almost forgot to take her 12 month pictures at home! This has been a tradition I started doing at birth and have done it every month since she was born! It is so much fun looking at the monthly changes! I plan to continue the tradition, however, it probably wont be monthly...but I may change my mind and do this until 24 months...time will tell! It is ALOT of work to get this kiddo to even LOOK at the camera when all she wants is the monthly sign, but, it's fun and I think some day she is going to enjoy looking at the book I put together for her! :)

This is the ONLY picture I got of her "looking" at me!

She LOVES paper and hates looking at her momma when there is anything interesting happening around her! :)

I dont even think I have mentioned that she IS walking! Yes...she started October 15th when we were up north! She doesn't like walking anywhere but carpet because she is still pretty unsure of herself which isnt a bad thing (I dont like boo boos!) and I am NOT forcing the issue! She will be running when she is good and ready to do it...wait...she already tries to run and falls flat on her tummy and gets back up and tries again! This growing up stuff sure is fun to watch...she is learning so much and I am so intrigued by the things she does these days!

It's Official

ADELYN IS ONE YEAR OLD!!!!! I know this is a little late...but, we have been busy with birthdays and parties and resting! I still dont have birthday party photos as my sister Lisa and sister Melissa took pictures that day for me so I didnt have to worry about it! BUT, I did take her 12 month pictures and we had her 1 year pictures taken at JC Penney's too! I hope she never tells me there arent enough pictures of her!

Her actual birthday was Thursday, October 27th which worked out perfect because I have Thursdays off work! It was a rather calm day...we just bummed around all day and gave her 1 of our presents so she could get a taste of what opening presents will be like! She of course could have cared less about anything IN the box or behind that pretty or "pey pey" (in Adi words) paper!

This was a bang bang bang on the box, rip the paper...

And put it on her head...and giggle giggle giggle!

Below are some of her 1 year photos that were taken at JC Penney's...

1 Year

This week is such an exciting week, yet I feel myself being sad at the same time! I cannot believe our baby girl is going to be 1 YEAR OLD on Thursday! I sit here remembering so clearly how I felt exactly 1 year ago today and I was in miserable pain as I was contracting but not dialating any. I remember oh so clearly going to the doctors office (not getting to see my OB) and him telling me...this is just part of it! I was so mad when I left that appointment. I could only sleep sitting straight up on the couch because some little girl was sitting right on my lower back which was where I had all of my labor pains! I sit here thinking...I would do that all over again for her! Tuesday of this week last year I had an appointment with my OB where he decided we would induce on Friday but then he changed his mind and got me an appointment to be induced on Wednesday! I think him and Nick had a discussion because the entire pregnancy Nick kept saying...Tuesday after noon, Wednesday or Saturday afternoon...those are the days you get to go in because I have those off work!

I have so many emotions but they are good emotions. When I say I am sad, I am not really sad, sad, just need time to slow down! We have been away from her for 2 nights and that seems like too many! People say you cant stop your life for your kids but I however disagree. I think you HAVE TO stop your life for your kids! I only get 18 years with her and 1 year is already gone...

This will be a busy week for us! Monday we are relaxing at home together. Tuesday our great friend Angie is coming for a visit because she cant make it to Adi's party. Wednesday Nick is hunting and Aunt Melissa is coming for a visit so I can get some things done without little stinker following me around! Thursday is Adi's actual birthday so we will be making that a special night! Friday decorating and Saturday is Adi's PARTY! WOW!

New things Adi is doing; She IS walking! Not all the time but she can walk from one side of the room to the other so she is on the move! It is just a matter of time before those tough little knees become scrapped up knees! She is off of formula now! It scares me having her off of it too. the formula has the best nutrients of anything and we all know how teeny tiny she is! She loves whole milk which is a good thing. I had it in my head from the beginning that I would not give into the pressures of whole milk and I didn't! :) If she keeps drinking as much milk as she does, the cost of formula is NOTHING! She plays pat-a-cake, dances to "Jump Around", wrinkles up that little nose at everyone, and is really starting to show more personality! She gives hugs and lots and lots of kisses which I take FULL advantage of!

Have I mentioned how much fun we are having with her! I cannot say this enough but I thank God for her every day all day! He has given us this amazing baby and I cant say enough how blessed we are to have her in our lives!

Vacation Pics

Aunt Tanya had some fun bowls and spoons to keep little miss occupied while we made dinner! Bear steaks...YUM!

The very first thing she went for...uncle Bob's deer sheds!

One of the falls at Copper Falls State Park! It is GORGEOUS!!!

Some very nice ladies were out on a hike at Copper Falls and were ever so kind to take a family picture for us! Hence the facial expression...no way no how was she smiling for strangers!

We had so much fun!

Hi Mommy & daddy! I'm just hanging out in the backseat taking my shoes off...then my socks...throwing toys all over and having a BLAST! And lets not forget blowing spit all over the mirror mommy has in the back seat looking at me so they can keep a closer eye on me!!!

It doesnt seem to bother her one bit being rear facing! However, it will be so much easier when she is 2 years old and traveling with us as her carseat will be rear facing until then! Safety first! :)

Family Vacation

Last week Nick, myself and Adi headed up North to stay at Bob & Tanya's cabin just outside of Glidden, WI! Since we didnt take our yearly trip to Canada this summer, we wanted to take a cheap, nice, relaxing family vacation. THANK YOU to Bob and Tanya for sharing their beautiful cabin with us for the week!

We left home Tuesday around 12:30 which was a bit later than we wanted to start but work first, then play! We got to the cabin around 5 p.m. at which time it was immediate baby proofing...thank goodness I remember the plug covers! Adi was all sorts of excited to get into and see all the new things. It was a full moon night...if you have never seen a full moon up North, I HIGHLY suggest it! Adi went to bed and Nick and I decided to head out to the porch and take in the cool, crisp gorgeous night!

Wednesday we hit the road checking out some of the sights we otherwise dont usually get to see being on the snowmobiles! And I have to add it was SUNNY and 74 degrees! Doesnt get much better than that, unless of course it is 25 degrees with 2 feet of snow! We went to Hurley/Ironwood, MI to visit Copper Peak...ski flying hill...next time I want to ride the lift to the top but with Adi, that just possible...too unsafe for her! After we did some site seeing around the area, we headed back to Mellen, WI to visit Copper Falls State Park! GORGEOUS! That is all I can say about this park! We did the 2 mile hike around the falls which is simply breathtaking! The water is low right now so the falls arent rushing quite as fast as they normally would but still amazing! After a wonderful day, miss Adi was tuckered out so we headed back to the cabin!

Wednesday night it began raining which gave us the perfect excuse to stay in on Thursday...we stayed in comfy clothes, ate great food, all of us took naps and just hung out! It was a GREAT day!

Friday we again took to the roads checking out some of the places we dont usually get to since we are normally on snowmobile! So, we headed further North to Ashland, WI where we found some interesting sites to see! Lake Superior is so interesting to me. I could spend HOURS upon HOURS walking the shores taking in the sites and smells...so relaxing! We found a little town called Bayfield, WI that has a ferry which crosses Lake Superior to the Apostle Islands which is supposed to be another phenomenal site to see! However, as we were headed to Bayfield it began to sprinkle so we kept trucking and hit some BEAUTIFUL fall colors! Northern Wisconsin peak for colors is well past already, but just along the shore of Lake Superior the colors were in full peak so we at least got to enjoy that!

Saturday we once again wanted to visit some places we would normally see only in the winter season, so it was nice seeing things green or without snow...just to get the sense of what it's like! We headed to Bear Chasers which is this little teeny tiny bar out in the middle of nowhere on a nice lake which any hour of any day during snowmobile season is FILLED with sleds...that is a site to see! Last fall Bear Chasers burnt down, so it wont be open again until late November, 2011, but it was still nice to see! We just hit the fire roads hoping to find interesting places and that we did!

Saturday night Adi's Uncle Bob and Aunt Tanya came to their cabin so we got to spend some really fun time with them as well as Nick's cousin Laura, her boyfriend Joe and their friend Dave stopped by for a visit so that was nice spending some time with them as well! Adi headed to bed and us adults had a great time with some drinks, laughs and fun!

Sunday of course, all the fun had to be put on pause until our next visit which I am sure will be very soon with Winter upon us!

Family Picture Day

Today was 80 degrees in Wisconsin, IN October which is ridiculously hot...but what a perfect day to drive around (now that I have Thursdays off to spend with Adi) to find great locations to take pictures! THANK YOU to my big sister, Lisa for taking our pictures! She has an AWESOME camera and takes great photos...I have 150 pictures to sift through, but I found 1 to show as a little "sneak peak"...

This was taken at Blue Mounds State Park...the fall colors are INCREDIBLE right now! :)

First 1st Birthday Present

When I was pregnant with Adelyn, I joined an online group called Baby Center...it is basically an online support group so any questions or concerns I had during my pregnancy, I could go to this website and get answers from other women going through the same things as I was. Well, when all of us mommy's had our babies in October we created a Facebook page where we can go and ask questions about our infants now growing into toddlers! While in this group, we decided it would be fun to have a "Secret Mommy" which was to get a 1st birthday present from that "Secret Mommy" Well, Adi has a very generous, sweet, kind and loving mommy from Florida, Amy Perry who has a little boy Mason who was born October 4, 2010!

So, guess what??? Yesterday we got home and had a package for Adi from her "Secret Mommy"!!!!

Adelyn had a blast with her FIRST 1st birthday card!

When she opened her princess Minnie Mouse she squeeled and giggled! Minnie is her new favorite stuffed animal!

She also got a very nice princess plate and princess spoon and fork to match...and, could you guess that they all came right from Disney!

Adi's Secret Mommy has been so kind to her...she also got her a Thing 1, Thing 2 bib, A Minnie Mouse onesie AND a very special pink and blue bow in honor of October being Infant loss month!

THANK YOU AMY, MASON and the Perry family! You are so very kind and generous and we are so lucky to "know" you!

September 27, 2011 ~ 11 Months TODAY!

As time is nearing her first birthday I cant help but be a little sad! Just 11 months ago I had my sweet, little 9 lb. 5 ounce baby in my arms! But, with my sadness brings great joy in the little girl she is! I love watching her curiosity. She is learning so many new things and I am just so proud to be able to say I am her mommy!

Well...the sign DOES say 11 Months...but that is hard to get a peak of with our little munchkin!

There we go...MUCH easier with the clothes OFF and daddy holding the sign!!! :)

Yes...she is a skinny mini...but, she was VERY excited to be telling mommy and daddy that we have a "bu" (buck) on the wall! Yes...daddy is working very hard on "buck" being her first word, and, he may very well succeed! We shall see...

Things that have been going on with Adi lately...hmmm...she has more teeth in. She sure did bust through the first ones early at 4 months old but these other 4 have taken their time! She is cruisin' along furniture like nothing and has been AND, last Friday, she did take 3 steps from Nick to me. She is climbing and is now our little monkey. She likes to look out our living room windows, so no climbing accessible items near them. Adi loves to give mommy and daddy hugs now when asked which I think mommy may be wearing this welcome out fast, so I better stop being so needy!!!

We are having a blast and enjoy our baby girl so much! We have such amazing family and friends and are blessed each and every day with so much love!

10 Months...LATE!!!

Life as we all know gets VERY crazy! I DID take Adi's 10 month pictures last month...I just never got around to posting. I must warn you...these were ridiculously hard to take as I had asked Nick to help me numerous times but then nothing...SO, I gave up and did them myself! I got very few shots of her face, but I had a good laugh and these just prove how squirmy she really is!

ENJOY!

It's a picture of her face...but of course...NO smile!

Sometimes bribery just works! She was quite content with my phone AND I got the 10 Month sign KINDA in the picture!!! HAHA!

This is all just too much fun! :) Go with the flow...that works best...

Summer is Coming to an End!

September 15, 2011 marked a very special day for us. Bentley turned 1! Bentley is my great-nephew who was born 3 months premature @ 1 pound 12 ounces and is over 27 pounds! He had a blast with his cake and all of his visitors at his party!

He was a little shy with the cupcake at first but once he realized what he could do...he had a BLAST!

Adi and her cousin Bentley having their pictures taken together for the very first time because Bentley was not able to be around anyone under 12 years old being a premie baby! Arent they just cute!?
After Bentley opened all of his presents, his cousin Ashley came a little late and brought this toy that lighted up and made noises and look at my daughter...she just pushed her way right in front because she wanted that toy in the WORST way! Look at sweet little bentley, just sitting back all relaxed taking in the fun! The picture doesnt show it but his hand is resting on her back! It was just too cute! :)
Mommy and Adi celebrating Bentley's birthday! I dont have many pictures of myself and Adi, as I am always the one taking the pictures, so this is a rare occasion and I like the picture!

Saturday, September 17th was another special day as my mom had her birthday AND mom and pops had their wedding anniversary that day too! We headed to the cabin on the Mississippi River for the night to help them celebrate! We had great fun with grandma & grandpa Robson, great-grandma & grandpa Rodamaker, aunt Shanna, cousin Cade, aunt Melissa & cousin Kodie!

We are looking forward to the fall weather as it seems every weekend there is too much going on and we have no time for home projects! And then of course, as the leaves change colors and fall, it brings us closer to the white fluffy stuff called snow that we love so much!

Mall of America

This weekend was a success...myself, Aunt Melissa and Adi hit the Mall of America and Twin Cities IKEA store! I am so proud of Adi. Saturday we shopped from 10a.m. until 8p.m. with a 2 hour nap in there and Sunday we shopped from 10a.m. until 6p.m. with only a 45 minute nap! She was a little trooper! Her daddy better look out because she is a shopper in the making!

Please excuse the order of the pictures below...I somehow managed to twist them around so they are backward...

This was at Rainforst Cafe on Sunday...Adi was tuckered out! It was a really neat little place to eat. It had moving aligators, steam from the water, thunder and lightning storms, moving monkeys/gorillas, HUGE fish tanks, it was AWESOME! And she slept right through it all!

However, on Saturday we saw Mr. Toad at the Rainforest Cafe, so we stopped in for a quick photo! Adi was very interested in everything...

Saturday morning before shopping Auntie decided to paint Adi's toes...because what girl can shop without her toes painted, right!?!

Before we left town Friday morning we got to have a quick visit with Great-Grandma Harwood...Adi giggled and smiled the entire time! But, who wouldn't with a great-grandma like her!?!

What Great Times

Well, we are ALMOST there! Little girl is standing all on her own now...she has taken 1 step but decided she didnt much like that feeling so she sat down! No forcing here...we are just letting her hit this HUGE milestone on her own! And, yes, we know...look out when she does! But you know what...we are having so much fun, how can you not laugh when she "gets into things"? As long as she is safe, we are happy! Sorry no pictures...it seems as though she will only allow her photo taken these days when she is naked! But, I assure you, I will catch her one of these times!

At least we still get big flowers and bows on her!!!

This past weekend we had a great time...Saturday we finished Adi's playset by FINALLY laying the bark and then heading to Mt. Vernon for the men's fastpitch softball tournament. We had a great time with friends and family! We also got to spend some time with ONE of our favorite little men...Clifton! His mommy says Adi and him will marry one day...but, Adi is already taken by little man, Mr. Harry...his mommy and I have an agreement!! :) I think they will all be great friends one day!

Dont they look so happy!? HAHA! :)

We got to spend some time with Aunt Iva & Uncle Earl too...Adi was in love! :)

Sunday we headed back down to the park to watch Uncle Aaron play and then headed to Governor Dodge to spend some time with Jessica and Emma! We had a great time! Unfortunately, I have no pictures because I forgot my camera, BUT, Jessica got some great pics for us so she will have to share!

Oh...and I had to share...she just thought this was the funniest thing in the world...look at me mommy...I made my first mess with dirt! :)