5K...check!

This weekend Bradley, Addy and I made the Long drive home yet again. This time it was for GERMANFEST!!! This is Muenster, TX and pretty much the biggest party you have ever seen. Bradley and I got to go out together Saturday night to the fest since my parents were able to watch Addy. It was a lot of fun. We haven't been out together but once or twice since I had Addy, so it was a great date night. We saw lots of old high school friends and got to hang with people that we never get to see anymore. We had a great time with Bradley's brother, Adrian and his wife Stephanie. They also got to slip away from their boys for the night! (Thank God for Grandparents!!) It was one heck of a party and Mark Chestnutt was the entertainment for the final concert. We had a blast and I probably gained ten pounds from all the turkey legs, funnel cakes, sausage on stick, crispitos, and margaritas! Unfortunately again, the camera stayed in the car. I really didn't want to carry it around all night.

Then today was the Germanfest KCs Fun Run! Bradley and I started many weeks ago on the Couch to 5K workout plan. We have been running 3 times a week. It has taken my body SO long to get back in shape after Addy. I have always had a pretty good ability to long distance run. However, after Addy, we started with one minute running and five walking. Overall it is a good program. It progresses slow enough we could keep up. There were many weeks that we would run on Wednesday and not run again until Monday, and we were always able to just skip that time and move on up, so it is pretty doable. I love working towards goals so it was good motivation for me.

Anyway, back to the race...

We began at noon today. After our late night Saturday night, we were a little worried about just finishing! We did pretty darn good if I do say so. I was totally unprepared at the crazy amount of hills we had to run. Bradley and I also work out on an indoor track, so those were tough! If the course would have been reversed it would have been smooth sailing. Apparently some people consider those hills a challenge.... We ran amongst 1000 or so. We ran the 3.1 miles in 31.5 minutes. Our goal was thirty minutes, but I am marking it off as a success anyway. It was so much fun for me. It brought back a lot of those competitive feelings from cross country days. You know that girl that used to run 5Ks in under 24 minutes or so...yeah she ALMOST came back! Haha! However, I am looking forward to running more 5Ks. It is something Bradley and I enjoy together and we can take Addy in the stroller and just hang out as a family!

Pre-Race: Addy wasn't enjoying the wind

But apparently she had fun anyway

The starting line

Finishing stretch: Note Bradley's carefree expression as I about die

Post Race: My face is just a little redder than prior

The verdict is....

Addy is still a shrimp! We had our nine month check up today. Addy did a great job. She just played through the whole thing. She finds her pedi pretty entertaining, which is great! Here are those stats:

Height- 27.2 inches             50th percentile
Weight- 17 lbs. 10 oz         25th percentile
Head- 17cm                       45th percentile

You can see she is still very small on her weight. She did not gain at all since her sick visit two weeks ago. He seemed quite concerned on her weight, but wanted to give her to a year before we really started worrying. (TOOOOO LATE!!) I explained to him that eating is not something Addy much enjoys. Feeding the kid veggies is like fighting World War III. It just doesn't happen. Occasionally, mashed potatoes or mushed green beans will be eaten. She is so finicky even with her fruits that I never know when she will even take more than three bites, and some nights that is all we get...three measly bites. So we are still watching her food intake. If her appetite doesn't sufficiently increase by 1, she will definitely be on vitamins at that point.

And another area of concern is her right ear. She has another ear infection. We just finished a round of antibiotics two weeks ago, but apparently it didn't clear anything up. She doesn't ever show pain in her ears, so we really had no idea. This is like her Millionth ear infection in her right ear. Her left hardly ever has problems. Something else to watch as we try a different antibiotic this time.

If you can't tell I am feeling totally dramatic tonight. Could be the hours my nocturnal child has been keeping us up at night. We are working on night times very dilligently. Trying several new things that are working well, and we are seeing progress. Slooowly, but surely, nonetheless. So to end my tiresome post with a positive note: I LOVE nine month check-ups because there are NO SHOTS!!!! WOO HOO!!

Look Who's Talking!

I was 100% percent, undeniable called Mama today by Addy! We have been working on mama and dada a lot lately playing a game where I pat me and say Mama, and then her say Addy. We pat "Mama's head, Addy's head. Mama's nose, Addy's nose." Addy has been showing clues that she understands that my name is Mama, but it is still usually followed by other babbling. This morning getting her dressed, Bradley had came in and started talking to us and she looked at him and said, 'dada dada.' Then she looked at me and said, 'mama.' It seemed pretty obvious that she was testing out this theory, so of course we played our game with all three of our names. Then about ten minutes later Bradley was holding her trying to get ready to go. I walked in the bathroom and she lunged at me and clear as day said, "MAMA!" Bradley and I got pretty darn excited at the clarity of her words! Of course that made me one estatic Mama! I am loving every new thing that little girl throws at us! She is learning so fast.

Remember how Addy told you how much she was hating baths? Well, I will be honest and say that I have been awful about giving them to her because it is so hard with her crying through it all. Well after a few nights of dirtiness, tonight had to be bath night. Well we luckly had picked up some bubbles at Target (my new love affair). She had a lot of fun watching them fall down in her water, and even tried to catch them. We had smiles all around once again. I am very relieved that my child will not have to stink every night anymore and can return to a sweet lavendar smell! MMMMmmmm!

We had a wonderful weekend! My parents and sister Hannah were in. My dad, Bradley, and brother-in-law Scott had to reroof our shop, so they didn't have quite as much fun as the girls did! It was great visiting and playing around with my family. Unfortunately, my camera never left the contents of my purse the whole weekend while they were here! I really need to get better about that!

9 Months

Hello Friends!

Guess what today is...exactly 3 more months until I am the big UNO!!! I am growing so much you won't believe it! I am finally wearing almost all of my nine month clothes! I am learning so much lately! I love to play with people. Especially Daddy. He is still the funniest man I know. I love to bang things together to make noise, put objects in bowls, walk behind my pusher toy, and any other busy activity I can find. My favorite new game is to watch Mom stack my blocks and then I shove them things over! Mom jumps and it just cracks me up. SO MUCH FUN!!! I also just can't help but laugh when Daddy runs in place. He gets his legs going fast and I almost fall over with laughter. I am telling you, that father of mine is the best entertainment there is. I am really loving to interact with people. I can usually win anyone over with my hilarious fake laugh. If everyone else is laughing, I am too! Except I usually don't really know what's so funny, so I just fake it! That always puts eyes on me, and I LOVE to be center of attention. If anyone around is on the phone I get a little jealous. I try to laugh as loud as I can or just hollar at the top of my lungs until someone is paying attention to me! I am quite the little heartbreaker with my big blues eyes and I know just how to play bashful enough to get someone hooked. If none of the above works, I pull out my fake cry or fake cough! It is SO funny! Mom says its a little dramatic, but it usually works!

I am doing so many new fun things! Hold on for the ride! This is going to be a Looooong post, but I have to get these things wrote down for mom's memory. She blames her memory lose on her pregnancy, but I've heard rumors she was crazy long before me! So here goes...

•  I am crawling like crazy! I roam the house looking for things to get into. I got quite a kick out of dumping Sally's dog food all over the floor the other night! Too bad Dad wouldn't let me taste it..so close!
• I can pull up on almost anything. I am loving to pull up! I don't really understand why sometimes I can let go and stand just fine and others I kerplunk! I just assume someone is going to catch me. Usually even if no one does, I just laugh. Daddy is still amazed that my mother has a tough child!
• I LOVE to talk. I am constantly saying mama and dada. I just figured out that Mama is the name of that crazy lady that is always following me around. When she comes to pick me up I always smile and say, MAMA! There seems to be some connection between that goofy fun guy and me saying 'dada,' but I haven't really shown any certainty that I understand his name yet. Mom says I am paying her back for holding off so long on the mamamama's.
• I can wave anyone away! When mom picks me up from daycare, she always asks, "Are you ready to go bye, bye?" that just cues my waving. OF COURSE I AM READY TO LEAVE!!!! I just wave like crazy all the way to the car! Occasionally, I will say bye, bye while we are waving. But it usually is something like, byebyemamadadathathabyebye!
• I love to clap. I might have been caught swaying my hips with music one night. Mom is sneaky and I had no idea that she caught it. I am denying it ever happened and refuse to repeat the incident. I do love to clap as soon as my musical toy starts playing....and any other random time that clapping is necessary!
• My dog is my best friend. End of story.
• I do not like baths. I just decided one night, what's the point. You just get dirty again. From thereforth, I had tortured my parents by crying through every bath. Someday they will see my point. They keep talking about taking me swimming so they are in the water with me. I am not sure about any of this but I will keep you posted.
• I feel the same way about changing diapers and getting dressed. I loathe it!
• I have finally decided that eating is a really good idea! I am eating like crazy now that I am feeling better. Well let me clarify, I eat FRUITS like crazy. That is the only baby food I will touch. I will eat meats if it is like deli cut ham, or crumbled hamburger meat. I do not under any uncertain terms intend to eat veggies and I sure wouldn't expect me to like it. My favorite is still yogurt. I love cheese too!
• I am loving my cup more and more. I can chug down some juice in no time. Mom hasn't put any formula in it for me yet, but since I am finally actually eating again, I am betting she will start for meal times.
• I still love my pacifier. Mom thinks I am about big enough to give it up, but I am not convinced. Neither are my daycare workers, so looks like I may have it for a while more. Probably once mom is out of school for the summer she will turn into the Pacifier Nazi...beware!
• I am getting good at doing hand eye coordination activities. We do these quite often at daycare. My teacher always brags on me to mom about how well I pick up on the point of the activity and work so hard. The other day I even got the ball in the little hole and laughed when it rolled back out to me. I am figuring out cause and effect also. Did you know if you bang two objects together it makes noise? Awesome entertainment. Just make sure you don't get your fingers in the middle..that HURTS!!
• I also figured out that all those times I thought things were magically disappearing, turns out mom and dad just were hiding them! I am good now. They think if they put something behind them I will just forget about it! No way, I know that game so I go after it!
• I really like having my mom and dad around. If they have to leave its not so bad. I don't throw a fit or anything, but if they are in the room I go to them often just to check in and get kisses!
• Mom pulled a mean trick on me last weekend and tried to hold others babies, Cooper and Wesley. I did not think that was very funny! I am her baby and she is only allowed to hold me. ONLY ME!!

My Sweet Little Miss Priss

Addy's Crazy Hair after all day in a headband and bow!

Addy standing up completely unassisted

Well I will leave you with that. I am sure there is a lot more awesome new things that I am doing. I am pretty much THE most awesome little girl ever! I hope you enjoy reading about me as much as I enjoy talking about me!

Great Weekend

This weekend was an extended weekend for the Anderle Family. Bradley & I took off on Friday and headed to his parents house for the weekend. We got to meet Mr. Cooper John for the first time and catch up with everyone else! It was a great weekend that just didn't slow down! For those of you that know Bradley and always ask if I think he will 'outgrow his energy,' you should hang around with the rest of his family. The answer is clear. Energy and excitement are just a few words I would use to describe my in-laws! Unfortunately, Papa (Bradley's Dad) had to go to Atlanta for a business conference. We sure missed seeing him! Addy got to hang out with 3 of her 6 boy cousins! Wesley and Wyatt, and Cooper! She loved playing and trying to chase Wyatt. She was super curious about Wesley and Cooper. She kept checking on them too, waiting for them to join the commotion! And soon enough they will! Here are some pictures that just don't even do the whirlwind weekend justice!

Another picture slideshow by Smilebox

Sick Yet Again

Yep...thats right! Addy has been sick again! This time it is a viral infection. She began to get very grumpy and tired on Tuesday evening and by Wednesday morning eat was nonexistant for that little girl. She didn't eat all day on Wednesday and had several diarrhea diapers. She was still not eating on Thursday,and we were blaming her fussiness on teething, when I got a call from the daycare that she was breaking out in a rash! They thought it was some kind of food allergy...so off to the doctor we go.

She has a viral infection that was making her break out. She gets little rashes on her cheeks, arms and torso. She is finally eating again and diapers are back to normal, but she is still doing some extra sleeping. Hopefully, healthiness is around the corner...we have a busy day tomorrow!

Springy Easter

Another digital scrapbook by Smilebox