My sister is a wonderful scrapbooker. She has a room set up in her house where she has her paper, letterpress, photos, and stickers set out to document life. For Addison’s first birthday, Melody gifted Addison a 4 volume scrapbook chronicling her life month by month, holiday by holiday. It’s so special to see each and every photo that she selected, cut, bordered, and placed into a larger design.
As much as I wish to be a scrapbooker, I just can’t seem to have the time, patience, or vision to do it. That’s why this blog has been so great for me. Recently, I have found myself looking back at Addison’s first year and how she has grown and developed. It was then that I realized that this is my online scrapbook. So here I am, sitting down to scrapbook (without the themed stickers or glitter border) the highlights of our past two months.
If there was a heading on my scrapbook pages, it would say “Family”. In fact, we have seen each of our siblings and parents at least once (and sometimes more) over the last 2 months.
The week after the 4th of July, Honey was in town attending a debate camp with her students. It was such a treat to have an extended stay with Honey during the week. Clay and I enjoyed a mid-week date night and the happy-hearted Honey helping hand. Ever since Addison was born, my mom has made it her mission to change every dirty diaper when she was visiting. I have never seen anyone approach a dirty diaper with such enthusiasm. In fact, my mom approaches all things Addison with enthusiasm. How lucky we are!
Melody and Jeff came in that weekend for a just-because visit. Sometimes, those are the best - no holiday, no agenda, no schedule - a visit just to be with us and see Addison. It was fun to have them in town!
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| Aunt Meddy and Uncle Heffrey |
Speaking of cousins, growing up, Melody and I were very close with our cousins. We remain close but as we have grown up, got married, and started families, we rarely get to see each other. That we decided needed to change. In August, Clay, Addison, and I flew - that’s right, we flew with a 15 month old - to Dallas to celebrate Luke’s, my cousin Chris and his wife Carolyn’s son, birthday. Addison was a great flyer. She enjoyed blowing kisses to passengers as they boarded the plane and kicking the back of the seat in front of her (much to the chagrin of the man sitting in said seat).
We landed in Dallas and were joined by my mom and dad. Saturday morning, we met my Uncle Ray and Aunt Patty for breakfast before heading to the water park to party. That night we all congregated at Melody’s house for dinner. Our kids had such a good time together and we are ready to plan our next cousin’s reunion!
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| Addison, Corbin, Luke and party goers! |
August also included a trip for me and Clay to Ruidoso, New Mexico. Honey came up to keep Addison while we went to the mountains for me to attend a CLE conference and for us to have a little time away. We had a great time gambling and getting to go to dinner without out little one. We kept joking that it was strange not asking for a highchair when we made reservations with the hostess or not having to pick up food off of the ground before we left the table. Honey and Addison, like always, had a great time going to the pool, the Science Spectrum, and church together.
My scrapbook would also have the heading “Home.” We have so enjoyed our new home. On the weekends that we were not traveling, we spent most of our time there.
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| Riding in the golf cart with Dad! |
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| We love fro yo! |
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| The newest employee of KCBD! |
Addison is growing up so fast. She is a climber and still loves to snuggle. Sometimes, I feel like you can see the wheels in her head turning as she learns about the world around her. She has many words - dada, sss (translated Snoop), please, more, dog, baby - but I think her favorite is “mama” (which I she says anytime she wants something...guess who always gives her what she wants). Even more than the words she can say are the words she understands. We can give Addison simple commands and she responds appropriately - bring me/rock/pat the baby, blow a kiss, wave, let’s go outside, talk to your Honey on the phone. She has gone from a baby and turned into a little person - a fun, interactive, sweet and loving little person!
As I look forward to the upcoming months, I am excited that fall has arrived. We welcome the change in weather, the arrival of football season, and the holidays that are around the corner.
Until the next time I sit down to “scrapbook”, Amen and Pass the Butter,
Marcy
