Just Another Day in Paradise

Spring Break at the Beach

2009-04-24T15:14:00.003-05:00

Here are a few more pictures from the beach. What difference does it make if they are out of order?!?!? I hardly update anyway! Addison really wasn't wanting any pictures made because it was too windy. She just kept saying "windy" and shaking her head over and over and over. She doesn't like to be cold (just like her mommy)! I am sure we will have some warmer weather when we go back in June, and I for one cannot wait to go back! We are already ready to be back!

Easter 2009

2009-04-24T15:12:00.002-05:00

I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this picture!!! :) Addison had the best time looking for eggs!! She didn't like touching the trees and bushes that Daddy & Unkie Austin stuck eggs in, but she loved getting her eggs shaking them and saying "andies" (aka as candy) or "monies." Her and her daughter empty his pockets each night of change to put in her piggy bank and so she lives to get "monies" for her piggy bank! How long do you think the saving of her "monies" will last? LOL!

Bowling

2009-04-24T15:07:00.001-05:00

Brandon and I went with his family to Destin over Dan & Austin's spring break. It was much colder than I thought it would but was still very much needed!! We did get to take Addison bowling for the first itme and she loved it!! She thought she should get to bowl everytime. It was fun watching her. I cannot believe she is going to be 2 in just a few short months!!

My Birthday

2009-04-24T15:01:00.001-05:00

Yes, I know I am very, very, very behind. I am trying though! Brandon, Addison, & I celebrated my birthday with some Olive Garden! It was a good day that ended with Addison wanting to take lots of pictures. She loves to be behind the camera and so she attempted to take pictures of us. This was one of the better ones. :)

Addison's first hair cut

2009-04-24T14:54:00.001-05:00

My baby is growing up!!! She got her first hair cut. Well actually, at this point, she has had more than one, but this is some pictures of her first. She did really good and Brandon and I were very proud of her.

Christmas 2008

2008-12-18T08:06:00.003-06:00

Yes, I know this is VERY behind. I've been really busy with life and so I'm way behind on my blog. I'm going to try and spend a few minutes updating it and then TRY to stay on top of it from here on out, but not promising anything.

Happy Halloween!!!

2008-11-01T08:58:00.002-05:00

I love this little girl lots and lots and lots and lots!!! Isn't she just adorable?!?!?!?!

Happy Halloween!!

2008-10-19T15:42:00.002-05:00

Addison and Brandon with his grandfather, 2 uncles, and cousin

Saturday night Brandon, Addison, and I all went to Brandon's grandfather's surprise 80th birthday party. I think he was VERY surprised to see us there. Unfortunately, Brandon has never really been around some of his dad's side of the family and so it was the first time Brandon had seen his grandfather in roughly 10 years. I do believe his grandfather was very, very excited to see Brandon and his first and only great grandchild at the party. After dinner in Murfreesboro several people went back to his grandfather's house, and we got to hang out with them a little longer. We didn't really get to spend much time talking to any one person very long since so many were there, but it was still a nice night.

2008-10-08T20:36:00.002-05:00

Brandon was on vacation last week and we decided to take Addison to Pump It Up. It was Brandon's first time going. He was just as excited, if not more, than Addison was to be there! I had tried to explain to him what it was, but I guess I didn't do it justice. The two of them had a blast!

Addison was such a big girl this time! She hasn't been since she could walk and she wanted to do it all by herself!

She LOVED sliding!!! She would have done it a million times!!

Otherwise, there hasn't been much going on with us. Addison is becoming more and more independent daily and wants to do everything by herself. She has learned how to spin to show her pretty outfits off. She insists on having a bow in her hair and shoes on her feet at all times. I think I laugh at her daily for something she does. I had a migraine Saturday, and she shadowed me EVERYWHERE I went and copied my every move. I laid down on the floor. She laid down beside me. I leaned my head against the way. She pushed her way between my legs so she could lean her head against the wall. I would take a drink. She would need a drink. It was cute even if I did feel like crying. She was trying to make mommy feel better though. I laid my head in on the table, and she would lift it and kiss me and hug my neck. I think the child kisses me a hundred times a day. She loves to hug necks and give kisses!!! So while my child might be rotten at least she is a loving rotten!! :) You can ask her though if she loves mommy (or anyone else for that matter), and she says no. Everything is no. My brother and his wife just had their first baby about a month ago and they were visiting and Addison was so excited to see a baby. She would just point and smile. She was loving on him and all, but if you said do you love Max it was a quick no. My brother asked her if she wanted a baby brother and she was very quick to say no. Not that she has a clue what that means, but EVERYTHING is no. Well I hope that is enough of an update for my one and only reader!! :)

2008-08-20T17:19:00.004-05:00

Well, I have been told a few times that I should update this more often so here is my attempt! Not much has changed in the last month since I blogged last except that Addison is now walking! She is still stiff looking, but she walks! It is cute!! I cannot believe she is already a year old, walking, and constantly talking!! Who would have ever thought my child would like to talk?!?!?! I did let Brandon talk me into cutting her this past weekend, which I cried over, but I did it. She needed it! I think her hair being cut makes her look more like me! Brandon and I are also noticing more and more of my personality in her all the time. Not so sure that is a good thing??!!?? Regardless Addison is still the highlight of my life, and I am very, very fortunate to get to stay home with her!

As for Brandon and me, we are the same as always. We spend our weeks working and our weekends running various places. We went to Austin's first football game last Thursday, which was exciting. He is the quarterback so we are going to be go to his Thursday night games as often as we possibly can! Dan's football starts this Friday night, and we are going to that game this week. Other than that have just been in our normal routine. We don't get to go to MJ nearly as often as we did, which is a bummer because I don't get to hang out with my family as often as I would like. I do at least see my mom and Brandon Michael almost weekly since she moved to Lawrenceburg.

Well, I hope this stasifies the one and only person asking for an update as I believe you are the one and only reader I have!! :)

First Family Vacation

2008-07-06T15:10:00.003-05:00

She loved her pail of sand and shovel!

Cheri put tennis balls up her shirt, and she stood up and starting shaking trying to get them out and it looked like she was shaking her chest! It was quite funny!

I love this picture of my beautiful little girl!

Loving on mommy!

Loving on her daddy!

Well, we just got back from our first week at the beach! We had a great time! Addison didn't like sitting in the sand, but if she was on a towel reaching into she was very happy. She also LOVED playing in her baby pool that Brittany & Chad bought her! Addison & I spent most of our time either at the beach or napping! It was great to have no worries for a few days! Brandon got in 1-1/2 rounds of golf (it rained him out halfway into his first round), his annual Hooters trip, and football on the beach. I think we are all feeling relaxed now and ready to get back to life at home again. We tried to take some beach pictures with Addison on the last night, but she was dealing with an ear infection and wanted nothing to do with much of anyone except mommy; so, as you can imagine they weren't that easy to do. I took over 200 pictures this week but only shared a few! :)

Addison's First Day at the Beach

2008-06-28T21:06:00.005-05:00

Daddy & Addie in the pool!

Mommy & Addie (please excuse my blinding whiteness!)

Look Daddy I have sand!!

This is our first day at the beach!! We got here after a pretty calm ride down this morning around 12:00 or so. Addison was actually pretty good. We left super early thinking she would sleep in the car. WELLLLL, she only slept about 2 hours the whole way down and that was after many tears, much consoling, and some awful singing from mommy! :) But all in all it wasn't that bad! We got here had some lunch at T.G.I. Friday's and then headed to the mall to kill time until our house was ready at 4:00. However, we were lucky to get in early around 2:00 only to find out the second and third story of our house had no air. It is 9:30 now and it has been fixed and has been cooling off but is still quite warm upstairs. Anyway, as soon as we got in and settled we headed to the pool and beach. Addison loves the water!! She isn't too sure about the sand yet. I thought the water would scare her some, but she likes the waves. After the beach we came back to the pool and played for a little while. She really enjoyed it. Now she is sleeping soundly and we are going to get up early and head to the beach while her daddy goes and plays golf! I will try to update again tomorrow night! :) Hope everyone has a good week!

Addison's Birthday Party

2008-06-26T09:29:00.004-05:00

I cannot believe my little girl has already turned 1 and had her first birthday party!! We had so much fun!! She had such a good time!! I really appreciate everyone who was able to come!! Addison got tons and tons and tons and tons of wonderful gifts! Thank you!! She wasn't quite sure what to think about all of visitors at our house. She is pretty much used to it being mommy and daddy all the time and at her party we had 37 people, but I have to say for my child who is usually pretty timid around people (not sure WHO she would have gotten that from!?!?!?) she did WONDERFUL!!! She didn't cry at all, which was very impressive!! It was an awesome day!! And to top it all off Ashton got to spend the night with her! I am not sure who was more surprised to see who the next morning! They were both all smiles!! It was a great day followed by another exciting day. We had Courtney's (my sister-in-law) first baby shower for Max! It was fun!! She got lots of good things too! I can't wait to meet Max! Let's just all hope he LOVES baseball like his daddy! :)

Happy 1st Birthday Addison!!!

2008-06-19T18:47:00.005-05:00

My BIG Girl Seat!

Eating lunch with daddy!

Loving on her babies!

Isn't it cute???

Ready to love on mommy!!

Happy 1st Birthday Addison!!

Here are some pictures from Addison's 1st Birthday!! Daddy took the day off to stay home with us!! We had an awesome day! She was too cute and seemed so much older today! I cannot believe that my "perfect baby girl" is now a year old!! It had absolutely been the fastest year of my life! I will post more pictures after her birthday party this Saturday!! I am sure it will be loads of fun too!

Wedding Yesterday and Birthday Party Today

2008-06-08T07:18:00.003-05:00

This weekend is not unlike any other weekend for us. Brandon was in a wedding so Friday night was rehearsal and Saturday night was a wedding for us. Today we are heading to MJ for Emily a surprise birthday party. She is going to be so excited to see everyone she isn't going to know what to do or who to talk to. Other than a busy weekend our week was pretty long. Addison has another double ear infection so it has made days (and more so nights) around here very long. She is feeling better now though. I just hope we are done with them for the summer and forever for that matter. She has had an ear infection now since the middle of May. Well I am off to get some work done, run to the grocery store, and clean before we leave for MJ shortly. Have a good week!

June already!!

2008-06-04T15:14:00.002-05:00

It has been awhile since I have updated so I figured I should! Things have been really busy for us and are going to be even more so this month. We have a wedding this weekend followed with birthdays, baby showers, and vacation! Only 24 more days until we are beach bound!! :) I cannot wait!! It is our first vacation in awhile since Brandon hasn't been able to get off work, and of course it is Addison's first time to the beach! I think she is going to love it!! She loves water so I cannot imagine her not loving the beach! I am sure I will have tons of pictures to share when we get back!

Addison isn't walking yet, but I am in no hurry to get her there! She will be a year old in 15 days!! I cannot believe it has already been a year!! She has grown tremendously since being at 4 pounds, 11 ounces for the first 2 months of her life!!! It is amazing!! :) I know I say it all the time (and I am even saying it today sleep deprived) that I am absolutely amazed by her and love watching her do things daily. She has turned into such an independent baby. She will sit and play and play by herself (of course if I get on the computer that ends)! She loves to put things in and out of each other. She is constantly stacking her blocks and pulling them apart. I just love being able to stay home with her even if it is very stressful to have her home while I work a full time job too.

Well, I need to do some things before my little girl wakes up! She finally is sleeping ALONE for the first time in a few days! I am torn between another dang ear infection and/or teething. Hope everyone has a good week!

Casey

Just a little update....

2008-05-08T20:14:00.002-05:00

Well, we have had a very productive few days around here!! It has been great! I bought Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child and man has it been AWESOME for us!!! I am loving it!!! I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooo thankful that I was told to get it!! Addison sleeps twice a day in her bed now and sleeps all night long!!! Life is much happier around here these days!!

Not much else has changed for us lately. We are getting our driveway in the next few weeks, which we are thrilled about!! We were going to get it when we bought our house, but things came up we didn't- then the weather was bad, yadda yadda yadda; however, we are getting one very soon!! Then we will be bringing in dirt and starting the landscaping. Sounds like lots of fun huh??!!

I don't really have much else to update. Addison and I just spent the day working, cleaning, and trying to get things together for a yard sale this weekend. I am going to blog very soon about my groceries though. I think a few people might be interested in that! My sister has finally seen that I am not crazy and that it is very exciting to save 50% at the grocery store!! :)

Hope everyone has a good weekend and all moms have a great Mother's Day!!

Nothing extraordinary....

2008-05-01T20:37:00.005-05:00

I am actually going to get to post twice in one week!! That is amazing for me!! I really don't have much to update everyone on. Addison and I have had a very good week. We have had lots of mommy and Addie time. She has started saying "mama" nonstop, which is nice to hear since we have heard "dada" for the past couple of months around the clock. She is growing up so fast. It is crazy!!! She also decided this week that her walk behind toy was the most exciting toy she has. She has been running around everywhere with it. If she hits the wall, which happens every 2.5 seconds, she gets beside it and pushes it sideways until she can drive it straight again. It is rather amusing for me to watch her learn how to do things on her own and how she attempts to do it.

On a different note, I have been thinking more and more about what other things/jobs- paid or not- that I could do. I don't really have any idea or much time, but I am still just considering other things I could do and still be a stay-at-home mom. I guess what I am saying is that I don't hate my job, but I do think there are other things that would better suit me. I love to organize things. I love to help people get something together or accomplish something. I love feeling like I have helped someone out and made a difference in their life. I know those are the most exciting things someone could try to find a job doing, but it is what I like to do. Any suggestions?? And don't forget I hate, absolute hate, to do public speaking. Okay, I am going to head to bed. My husband has gone to run an errand that relates to some surprise he has for me this weekend!! I have begged all week for clues, but he won't tell me anything!!! The suspense is killing me!!!

Good Night!

A Day at the Park

2008-04-24T12:26:00.005-05:00

Well, Addison had her first trip to the park! She loved it! We had such a good time! Here are a few pictures!

Our strong little girl!!

Mommy and Addie!!! She is the cutest!!

Daddy and Addie!!! What cuties!!!

An update on my rotten child!! I have the book now, and I think it is going to save me!! I was out of town and had some things that kept me from being able to start what the book says without interruptions, but now it is full steam ahead!! I am REALLY hoping she takes to this well, and it doesn't backfire in my face!! Hope everyone has a good weekend! I am off to spend some time with my hubby!

Rotten much????

2008-04-17T20:12:00.002-05:00

I am in some SERIOUS need of help!!! So anyone with any advice, suggestions, or stories that resemble mine that can shed some light for me would be forever appreciated!!

My "perfect baby girl," as some like to refer to Addison, is going through a "stage" so I am told. A "stage" in which I might just lose my sanity before it is over. As most of you know I work from home with Addison; however, working these days is a feat in which I sometimes think is more than I can accomplish. For those of you don't really know how work goes for me here is a brief description. I am an independent contractor and therefore "pretty much" (boy that sounds like someone the Perry's know) get to decide if/when I work; HOWEVER, I am contracted with a company that gives me the work, which in turn means I log into their system get the reports and complete them within a certain time frame (20 hours). This is all great unless work gets behind and the TAT (turn around time) is lessened due to backlogging, which turns my 20 TAT into (here lately) a STAT file, which means due IMMEDIATELY! Furthermore, I am contracted to do so many lines a week, which it is not that I am required to do that many, but again, with a (practically) 10-month-old with me that required amount seems like a bigger feat to me than running a marathon (26.2 miles, which I have done already in my life)!!! So the point of this rambling on and on and on (I will be surprised if you are still reading this) is that I seriously need some advice on how to manage being a work at home mom, wife, friend, and all the other things a woman is supposed to be!

For the past month or more, Addison has been going through this "stage" where she WILL NOT, ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT do anything by herself. If I try to sit down and work she screams (not just cries but squeals/cries/screams all at once). She will climb up my legs, pull my stuff off in the floor, the whole 9 yards! I thought it might just be that she didn't like me being on the computer; however, in the past few weeks, I have had the joy of listening to her aforementioned screams while I clean house, cook, you know the things that have to be done. To make this matter even worse she won't nap. I have tried the whole let her "cry it out" theory. Does not work. I know you are thinking I give in. Oh no, I don't give in. She just won't stop. She will go for 2 hours without stopping. I don't let her scream the whole 2 hours (ok yes I do), but I do go in there and try to calm her down, which works wonders; she goes right to sleep in my arms, but the instant I pull her away from me to put her in bed the screams begin all over again. I walk away and the whole cycle begins all over again!! So, you know what happens after a 2-hour cycle of this (No, I don't break out the alcohol, although it has crossed my mind.) I cave and hold her to sleep. BECAUSE at this point my nerves are shot, she is exhausted, and we are neither one accomplishing anything. SOOOOOOOOOOOO, the only way I am getting any work done these days is literally with her asleep on my chest and 9 times out of 10 she is leaning to one side causing my arm to go numb as I try to type around her.

Bottom line---I am overwhelmed. I know some are going to suggest putting Addison in a daycare a few days a week, but I will not do that. I have worked in childcare and will not do it. When she turns 3 she will have mother's day out, but I am not doing that now. It defeats the purpose of staying home and working and I want to have her here with me. I know some would suggest a family member watching her; however, I feel like I should be able to handle this on my own. I have tried playing with her for certain times of the day and working at others. I have tried and tried and tried to get her on a normal routine, and I have decided there is no such thing as a normal routine in our life (other than her bedtime, which she goes to bed at the same time every night and sleeps all night). I am seriously lost as to what to even try next. I am truly open to any suggestions.

I hope everyone else is having a much better Thursday then we are having!! Have a good night/weekend!!

~Casey

Wow!! It has been too long!!

2008-04-14T12:43:00.004-05:00

I think I need to do better about keeping my blog updated!! Anyway, there have been lots of new things to happen since I last blogged. First and most exciting was our FIRST Christmas as a family of 3!!! Addison was the cutest!! It was so exciting to see her try to open presents. I am sure this year will be even more exciting since she will be able to better do it by herself.

Then immediately following Christmas we bought a house!! Very unexpectedly but very exciting nonetheless!!! We are loving it!!! It is awesome to have our own home now!!! We still have lots of things that need to be done, but I am not getting to anxious about most of it since we have plenty time to get it all done!!

We rang in the New Year with Addison having RSV!!! It was no fun at all!! I hated seeing her feeling so bad, but she has long since recovered from that (after 2 rounds of it)!!!

Anyway, life for us is very good these days. We can't complain!

Almost Thanksgiving!

2007-11-16T09:53:00.000-06:00

My little ham!!

Ashton and his "BB outfit!!!!"

I love this picture of Maddie!!

I just wanted to share a few pics- some are old but still good!!! Anyway, I cannot believe it is almost Addison's first Thanksgiving and that she will be 5 months old next week! Time has really been flying by!!!! I told Brandon just the other day that I really hope that time doesn't always fly by this fast because we have a child now. I am so unbelievably happy and thankful that I have become a mom! I know everyone says it, but I honestly cannot imagine going through life without her! She is the most amazing little person I know! I hope everyone has a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving! We are going to be busy, busy, busy!!

Wow!! Addison is 4 months already!!

2007-10-19T20:51:00.001-05:00

June 21- She wore this outfit as a dress for her first visit to see Dr. B!!

October 17- Can you believe she has grown this much!! It fits like it is supposed to now!!

October 19- Wow, I cannot believe Addison is already 4 months old!!! It has FLOWN by!! She has gotten so big (weighing about 10 pounds now)!!! She amazes me with something new all the time!! Brandon couldn't believe she was twisting herself all over her mat tonight. She also talks a lot!! Geez, I wonder who she gets that from?!?!? :) She loves to jibber jabber, and anytime you start saying da-da to her she smiles real big!! Works for all pictures these days!! I still think she is the "perfect baby girl," and I am enjoying all my time with her! She is the best!

A few 3-month pics

2007-10-12T08:43:00.000-05:00

I love this picture of her!! She cuts her eyes at us all the time!! She is getting bashful these days and tries to look out of the corner of her eye to see who is talking to her when she meets someone new.

Such innocence!! I still see only her daddy and none of me in her- even though I have been told recently she is looking more like me!

I LOVE THIS PICTURE!!! It cracks me up EVERY TIME I look at it!! I think it is the funniest because I make this face at Brandon and for her to do it is hilarious!! :)

2007-10-11T09:15:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone! I have decided to start a blog for us instead of sending out picture emails all the time. This way you can check back here randomly to see updates if you want. I will try my best to do a weekly or every other week update, but I cannot promise anything! We stay pretty busy these days with Addison and other family things! :)