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Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Blog Hiatus

I will be temporarily taking a break from the blog while we pack and move this week.

Please keep us in your prayers as we leave some pretty amazing friends and family. This will be harder than we thought...........

And I will leave you with a few sneak peak pictures of us at the zoo today. One word: BLAST!



Friday, March 16, 2012

Time Flies

When you are having fun!

A reflection of the past year and a bright future ahead.

Cannot believe a whole year has gone by and we now have a one year old, I guess technically considered a toddler. I look back at the last 12 months and while nothing specific stands out, I have lots of little memories of Addison, CJ and Addison, me and Addison, everyone and Addison. Addison has been our whole world for the past year. CJ and I made it a whole year without hurting each other or a precious human being that we brought into this world. Hard to believe. HEHE!

I have seen our lives transpire to much more than it ever was. We were very happy just the two of us (and Layla and the cats, of course) just a few years ago. Who would have known little Addie would have brought so much more joy into our lives. I certainly didn't think it was possible and I am pretty sure CJ didn't either. But she really has. We are so much more mindful of what we say and what we do, especially with/to each other). We have come to realize that life really has a difference meaning, a different purpose. We have a whole new understanding of family.

So, as a result, we made a life changing decision a few months past. We decided now, better than ever, is the time to move back to Virginia to be closer to family. Funny how a little baby could make me change the whole course of life. But it's true. I couldn't bear to raise Addison without her grandparents around, without lifelong friends around, without the "village" of support and love. Yes, of course we had it in Chicago; many lifelong friends, a few family members scattered throughout IL, but it was different. Something else was calling me back to Virginia. To this day I cannot pinpoint exactly what it is, but I know it has to do with Addison and it has to do with family.

Luckily Addison has an AMAZING father who supports her mother tremendously and has been able to "go along" with my decisions. CJ was very hesitant and apprehensive at first and couldn't understand why. I don't think he still truly understands why because neither do I, but he has rolled with the punches and agreed to this huge change in our lives but not without a few pouts here and there. :)

So, with just under 2 weeks before we make the BIG move, I want to cherish the time I have in Chicago. I want to really take it all in because I cannot take it back. I want all my friends and family to know just how appreciative I am. I cannot thank those in my life enough for being there for me in times of need. It does not go unforgotten.

Thank you Chicago. Thank you friends. Thank you family. Thank you Addison. and especially, thank you CJ!

(and of course I cannot have a post without some type of pictures so I will leave you a few of the cutie batootie)








Thursday, March 15, 2012

Happy Birthday Sweet Sweet Addison!

Happy Birthday to our Addiebug! She just melts our heart. LOVE HER!

More pictures to come along with a full post with stats on Monday!

A wave of emotions in 30 seconds:

Hi!

Ehhhh!

Yeah!

Ugh!  

Yawn! 


Ahh, do I have to go to school? It's my birthday! 

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Addiebug's Ladybug 1st Birthday Party!

{BEWARE, LOTS OF PICTURES ALERT!!!!}

On Saturday, March 10th, we celebrated Addie's 1st birthday with a wonderful party held at Jason and Michelle Davis' house. Jason and Michelle have become very good friends of CJ and I and were gracious enough to not only host the party but also cater it. The food was fabulous. The friends and family that attended were wonderful. Addie had a blast. A party to go down in the books. That's for sure!

As you can imagine, it was a ladybug themed party full with lots of little ladybug details.

Monthly Birthday banner made by yours truly :) 

Ladybug Balloons 

Ladybug banner

Poster

Fabulous Ladybug hat made by my friend Sara!







This seriously took me weeks to make but I loved how it turned out!

Present area

Food

Ladybug Cake made by Dominick's (they did a great job and it tasted awesome!)

Some of the food made by J. Davis Experience Catering (YUM!)

Plates and napkins

Sauces for the salmon and pork tenderloin

Everything had a ladybug tag

Ladybug chocolate covered pretzels made by my friend Sara

Shirt, tutu and head band made by Laynie Bug's Bows

Smash cake made by my friend Michelle

Ladybug High Chair decorations



Can't really see the Ladybug floor mat, but it was there!
And here are some adorable pictures of the ladybug princess in all her glory:




















And what you all have been waiting for, her SMASH cake pictures. She was very apprehensive at first, much like me, she didn't want to get dirty but once she was given a little encouragement, she dived RIGHT in. Too cute for words!


so happy and patiently waiting

I love her face, she's so interested in it

Michelle didn't even get it on the tray before she dug in

so dainty 

Looking at CJ like, can I really do this?


YUM!

She didn't like it on her hands at first. 


and the start of the frosting EVERYWHERE!

both hands now

she was so into it

finger licking good

she got Mr. Mike on the nose and thought it was hilarious



all smiles

Face in the cake, hilarious!

Look at me dad!

heheh

all in the hair! (this is what we try to avoid at home!)

dripping frosting, so sweet!

You taste mommy?

how about you daddy?

All done!

And bath time! 
We had a great time with wonderful friends and family. Thank you to all that came to the party. It is definitely bittersweet knowing this was such a happy time for us and Addison but also the last time we will see many of our IL friends and family. Thank you for all the love and support over the past 7 years! XOXO

(all pictures can be viewed on our Shutterfly page at http://theadventuresofaddibug.shutterfly.com/pictures/7514. Special thanks to Linda Watters for taking pictures for us!)