Catch up time!

I'm playing catch-up again! Here are some pictures from the last, oh, few months.

fun at the zoo!

first pig tails

Addi's and Anders' first snow!

Will we ever get them to come back inside?

Addi and "Uncle Bryan"

more fun at the zoo

marshmallow roast

sharing a marshmallow with Aunt Laura

Easter pictures

four generations!

pictures with cousins

Easter egg hunt with Jordan

Addi loves her grandpa!

Grandma brought Addi some bubbles.

feeding a baby goat

Weston's birthday!

kisses from the birthday boy

telling the bottles "bye-bye"

potty time!

Addi loves her new potty!

Don't I look glamorous?

Summer is here!

Here are some pictures from our trip to Destin. Scroll down below the pictures to read about our trip.

John bought plastic bugs for all of the kids.

Braden and Randy catch some fish!

Addi enjoys the sunset at the beach.

The kids listen to a band at Baytowne.

family photo

Gigi's sweet grandchildren

Braden is a super reader! Addi loves to hear him read.

Hey! How'd you get in there? Can I come, too?

our baby-crazy daughter befriending babies at the playground

Weston's new "do"

fun on the carousel (no smiles, though!)

Addison's first fish

more smile-less fun on the train

Braden and John build a sand shark

Addi loved dropping sand in buckets of water.

can't go to the beach without taking our pool

Gigi and the kids explore a bug on the balcony

Okay...summer is finally here! Maybe I can improve at "blogging." You'd think with Julie as my sister, I'd be a pro. Anyway, here's how the end of our school year went...The day the kids left for summer vacation, we had to take John to the hospital and found out that he had viral meningitis. After a week or so of viral meningitis, 3 trips to the hospital (1 via ambulance), and a blood patch John returned to "life" and wellness! Thank you, God! Emotionally exhausted (speaking for myself) we headed to Destin with the family and couldn't have had a more fabulous (and relaxing) time. Addison loved spending time with Gigi, her cousins, and her aunts and uncles. She was much happier in the sand this year, and really enjoyed swimming in the pool. She let us put her head under the water and didn't mind it one bit! She caught her first fish, with the help of her daddy and uncle Randy, and had a great time "petting" it. Some of her other favorite activities included: riding the airplanes, train, and carousel at "the Track," feeding the fish and turtles, reading books with Braden, "cooking" with cups and shovels in the pool, eating ice on our walks to the beach, and playing in the huge beach house. Addi's new experiences led to new vocabulary! She is really beginning to express herself with words. When we would leave the beach each day, she'd say "fun." One funny thing she said was, "Wait, Eme...Comin'!" She was trying to tell Emerson to wait on her b/c she was coming. It was a vacation we'll never forget, and one in which we continually thanked God for good health!

Here is a look back at the past 19 months...

...a year and a half later...

Here we are over a year and a half later...John and I are enjoying life with our 19 month old little "joy," Addison! She keeps us laughing with her silly antics and hysterical facial expressions. John recently finished his Masters in Technology, and has been accepted into a doctoral program. We are all so proud of him- not to mention that he is the most amazing husband and father in the world! I am in my 9th year of teaching (Wo!) and, despite our hectic schedule, try my best to cherish every moment. Time goes by so quickly...Anders, our proverbial 4 year old puppy, is still as hyper as ever. Domino, our rabbit, is now nearing 9 years old. Addison loves her "siblings" and takes good care of them. She likes to feed Anders "treats," and enjoys giving Domino hay and strawberries. Addison loves all animals, including her dada's "nakes" (snakes), her mama's classroom "wats" (rats), her own fish, and the many salamanders and "lillards" (lizards) that live in our yard. Our extended family lives nearby, and we enjoy spending time with them immensely! We thank God daily for the countless blessings he has given us.

After 17 hours of (induced) labor, 2 epidurals, (and 1 utterly exhausted new mother), Addison made her appearance into the world! Already, we can tell that she likes to "take it all in." Her beautiful eyes are wide open and ready to analyze everything around her. We feel so blessed to be her parents!

It's official

Today Katie and I went for our 38+ week appointment to check on how Addison is doing. While we were in the waiting room, Addison was moving like crazy. She was throwing out legs and arms as Katie and I sat back and watched. She is going to be an active one...or so we hope.
Thankfully, our appointment went well as they all have. We were thrilled to find out that Katie is scheduled to give birth to baby Addison next Tuesday the 14th. I can't begin to relay the excitement we feel. We have waited for this moment for so long and now we are rounding the corner and can finally see the finish line.
Please pray that everything will go well and that God will be with Katie, Addison, and the doctors.