Da Beach

Just a few pictures from our trip...
We just got home from a trip to Gulf Shores, AL. My grandmother has a friend who has a house on the beach there, so we decided to try Gulf Shores instead of Destin this year.

This was Addison's 1st trip to the beach. SHE LOVED IT! From the very beginning she wasn't afraid of the water, and by the end of the trip she was fearless! Every morning she would say "go to da beach". She loving playing in the sand, jumping the waves, finding sea shells, and watching the other kids. Unfortunately, the jellyfish were pretty bad and she got stung on her leg. She whinned for about a minute and then wanted back in the water. She's tough. By the end of the trip she was so tan... her little white butt reminds me of the Coppertone baby.

Great Great Grandma Eunice's ("Noonace") House

Addison made her first trip to Mississippi. I have to admit I was terriffied of the long car ride with her, but she was an angel, and surprised everyone. Thankfully, her cousin Victoria did a great job of entertaining her the whole way. Unfortunately, I have only been to Mississippi once since my great grandmother died. I miss her house, it really is a "homey" place to visit. Lots of memories in that old place on the hill. It's amazing how much the area has changed since I last visited.

My grandmother has a picture of me like this (about the same age). We thought it would be fun to have one of Addi too. I need to compare, everyone says we are identical.

This girl LOVES her Paw Paw :)

I wanted to get some pictures of Addison at my Great Grandparent's house. Addison never met them, but they would have loved her to pieces. Their house is a special place, so I was glad that Addison finally got a chance to see Grandma "Noonace's" House.

**and this would be where we got into the red bugs** the next few days were pretty itchy!

Swinging with her Paw Paw, enjoying the cooler Mississippi weather

Swinging with MiMi, on the same porch swing that her Great Great Grandma Eunice and Great Great Grandpa J.D. used to swing on

playing with cousin Victoria (Toria)

"Say click...Take a pic!"

So, yesterday Addi received her birthday present from "aunt" Candice and "uncle" Travis! Yay! super cute shirt from my favorite www.sweetpeabling.com . So today we had to play dress up and take some cute pictures. You see, I had lots of laundry and housework to do and this gave me a good excuse to ignore it!!!

AND I finally got a chance to take some pictures in Addi's new pettiskirt her "aunt" Katie Katie gave her for her birthday!

And last night Addi got her first "haircut" and when I say haircut, I barely trimmed her ends. It was looking uneven, but I didn't want to take her to a salon and have them cut all her curls off!

Addi got lots of dress up clothes/costumes for her birthday so we played dress up the other day with a few of the outfits she picked out.

Ryan has been working looooong days and nights with summer football camps so Addi has been missing her daddy. The other night she stayed up late so she could scare him when he walked in the door. Then she ended up falling asleep on him :) so sweet.

"Come here honey..."

This week has been one of highs and lows. It's funny how something as silly as a smell or an image on tv can change my whole mood... Long story short, Addison has been sick for a few days, so I have had my hands full and I'm lacking in sleep. Then last night Addison was laying on the couch with me (watching Bubble Guppies) and they started talking about s'mores and I just about lost it. Now, there is only one other person in this world who might understand why this would upset me. You see, when I was pregnant I craved s'mores like crazy. I ate them every time I was at my parents house (with my momma). I haven't had one since I was pregnant. I never thought that I could have a negative reaction to a s'more. I hate that I had a miscarriage. I hate that stupid people are reproducing. I hate that I now hate s'mores :(

I have lots of things in my life that I don't hate! Ryan is home from work more...although he is busy with football camps this week. Addison makes me smile everyday. She is just so clever...I know I am her mother and I "have to" think so, but she really is. She has started calling me (and MiMi) "honey". Ryan calls me honey, so I guess she's been listening. All day today she's been telling me, "Come here honey..." when she wants me to come play in her room or get her something. Seriously, when she calls me "honey" I will probably do anything she wants!
At bedtime I always tell Addison how we have a big day tomorrow and that she needs to get some rest etc. Well, last night she wanted her cow (that sings "Achey Brakey Heart") to go to bed with her and threw a fit when Ryan told her no. So we laid him down in her playroom and covered him with a blanket. She told him "have a big day morrow" and started telling him all the thing we were going to do! Then we said prayers with him and she kissed him on the nose. I was so proud.

Then tonight her and I were playing with her dollhouse and the grandma doll was laying beside me on the floor. She picked it up and said "Grandma Tonie!" I asked her two more times what she said and she repeated "Grandma Tonie". My great-grandma Tonie passed away years ago, never meeting Addison. At first I got this eerie feeling about it, but apparently months ago, my grandma showed Addi a picture of my Grandma Tonie. Her memory amazes me! I know that made my Grandma Tonie smile.

"A rich child often sits in a poor mother's lap" - Proverb

(I love this quote...I am so glad I am a poor mother :)

Life continues to be crazy for our little family. We went back home for another birthday party for a friend's little girl, visited with family from Mississippi, hung out with old friends, and Addison got some much needed puppy time.

Two of my mom's dogs had puppies in April and Addison is obsessed with them. She picks them up & moves them from one place to another and totes them around. Her favorite puppy "brown puppy" aka "billy brown puppy" and "brownie" went to be with a new family last night & Addison was quick to notice that he was gone. It won't be long before the others get picked up by their new owners & we will have one sad little girl. I can't blame her, it's really easy to get attached to those sweet little babies. I have tried to talk Ryan into letting us have another puppy, but he says two is enough :(

Ryan and my mom are finishing up school this week...so life is about to get a lot better! In less than two weeks we are heading to the beach for a week. I am excited to get away & I am looking forward to Addison's reaction to the BEACH! She has 3 new swimsuits, floaties, and sand toys all ready to go. However, I am dreading the drive! Then we are going to Sea World! Yay! I haven't been in forever & Ryan has NEVER been! I am excited for him and Addi. LOVE ME SOME SUMMER!

Silly girl wearing her 3D glasses!

Addison's birthday cookie I made for her "real" birthday (sorry about the picture being sideways)

Miss Priss at the spring football game

MiMi's poor little puppies (all 10) get so much love and attention from Addison. I think this little guy would like less attention.

My mom's dog Mitzi passed away this last week. She was a good dog and we all miss her sweet face so much. Rest in Doggie Heaven Mitzi girl.