Spring Has Sprung!!!! Happy Easter

I didn't realize how difficult it was going to be to go back and recount Addy's daily life and accomplishments. I am really kicking myself for getting so lax and letting the blog go to the wayside. I will do my best to recount the events, thank goodness I love to take lots of pictures. Hahaha.

It seems that Spring is early this year and providing us with some fantastic weather. Addy is loving the fact we have been able to get outside and have a campfire at night at the cottage and enjoy the warm sun on her face as she cruises the back yard in her new ride. I found this push around car on Kijiji (love that website) and Addy loves it. Not sure if it is the fact that she is being pushed around constantly by mom and dad, or that she is able to see more and be closer to ground level. It is a hit and we are venturing outside more and more every day.

Addy continues to move around on her own more and more everyday. She steps herself around the perimeter of the house through the living room and kitchen, holding on to the wall. It is funny to see her do the big circle and then start all over again. We are going to be in trouble when she starts walking. She is even managing steps on her own behind her rolling walker and doesn't give up when she pushes herself a little too fast and can't get her little feet to keep up, falling flat on her face! She has definite determination.

A few times we have seen her standing on her feet and hands in a "downward dog" pose, but she is not quite there to pull herself up to a standing position. Soon little one, soon. A few more teeth have popped up on the scene, in fact she has her first bottom tooth. It is funny how I was so worried about this only months ago that she was not getting her teeth and bam. It is like she hears me talking about things I worry about and then poof she makes things happen.

On Thursday April 1st, Addison and Greg participated in the Itsy Fashion Show Fundraiser that was put on my students of Fanshawe College. The students created their own clothes out of every day household items, it was very interesting to see some of their creations. Halfway through the show they brought out the "preemie darlings" and had them walk the runway. Addy was still to young to do this herself so daddy walked her down in style. She waved and curled her up on daddy's shoulder at just the right moment to get all the "oohs and ahhs" from the crowd. It was fun to see, but Greg swears he won't do it again!!! HAHAHA

The weather was beautiful on Saturday and we took to the outdoors for the day. We have a great local Animal Farm located in Centennial Park in Sarnia. It was a little early in the season to have the animals outdoors but a few old faithfuls were out. Addy could have sat and watched the horse all day. Her second favs were the ducks and the goats that jumped up looking for snacks in the barn. A great way to spend the weekend.

Addison and Daddy on the Model Runway

Come out and join the fun and watch Addison and Greg walk the model runway in London for the Futuristic Wearable Art Fashion Show put on by Fanshawe College students in support of ITSY. Greg and Addy get to model some of the futuristic wearable art wear, while promoting ITSY and the St. Joseph's NICU Unit. Taking place at the London Music Hall on Thursday, April 1 2010 @ 8pm. Address is 185 Queen Ave, London, ON.The tickets are available at the Biz Booth at Fanshawe or through Fashion Merchandising students second year group A. It is going to be a lot of fun and we are going to get to see some of our fellow preemie families that we haven't seen in a while that are joining Addy and Greg on the runway. Don't worry she won't be entering any Toddlers and Tiaras competitions in the near future, it is going to be a fun night out in support of the great unit that has helped get Addy and our "preemie" friends where they are today. Hope to see you there!!!

our little crawler

Well February has been a very eventful month for Addy as she has accomplished some great milestones this month. It is like she just got up one morning and said okay let's do this. Quite the surprise that threw us for a loop as we weren't ready and did not quite have the baby proofing on the go yet. All of sudden she decided she no longer wanted to stick to just the living room area of the house; she was going to venture out into the world. Though she was only pulling herself around with a military crawl, it was pretty amazing that she got where she wanted to go pretty fast. And then on Valentines' Day she gave us the best present of all and got up on all fours and started moving around like mad. It was great, she really gives the dog a run for their money now and mom and dad too, because this now means that we can climb stairs!!!

Her favourite part of the house is under the kitchen microwave stand and under the kitchen table. She finds herself just small enough to fit under the rungs on the tall pub chairs and wriggles her little body underneath, standing up tall and throwing herself hanging over the rungs. What a hoot. She has even been brave enough to get herself up behind her walker and take a few daring steps with our assistance. She does really well, but is not quite sure she is ready for it full time yet. She has become quite the little domestic goddess and gets right in there with me when the Dyson Vacuum comes out. Not to sure if it the fact that she likes the machine or if she likes the noise it makes and the way the vent blows wind in her face.

We have spent a large part of the month watching the Olympics and the great job that our Canadian Athletes have done. This pic is Addy stealing Uncle Scott's hat to wear in support of the men's Hockey team as they beat Slovakia!!!! Go athletes. She is quite the little cheerleader and seems to have really found her voice these days and carries on a conversation with us now at the dinner table. We have no idea what she is saying but we are sure it is pure brilliance. I often find her quickly sitting inside the fridge once the door is open wanting to pull whatever it is I need out or trying to find her favourite blueberries in the fruit crisper drawer.

It seems like she is doing something new every other day or so, or maybe it is just that time seems to be going by so fast and she is getting to be such a little girl before my very eyes. I am more amazed at her strength and determination everyday, and oh yeah the stubborn streak that she so wonderfully shows at each new task she attempts to conquer time and time and time again.

Happy One Year Corrected Little Girl!!!!

Today is Addison's official "corrected" (due date) birthday!!! Wow it would have been a year ago today that she was to be born. Even though she came a little bit early on us, we are nonetheless so very blessed with her in our lives. We believe that she is such a special little girl that she deserves to have two birthdays to celebrate in one year. Don't you??

For her special day we shared a quick supper together, with a special mini cupcake for dinner, pre-empted by the singing of Happy Birthday! Even through our tortuous singing, Addison managed an adorable little smile, she was so excited. I unfortunately had to take off to Orillia for an overnight stay because of work so I was out the door early and Addison had a special bedtime story and cuddle with daddy before bed. Did I mention that this being back to work thing really sucks and gets in the way of my enjoyment of my personal life!!! Anyway Addison Happy Birthday little one, look forward for what's to come in the next year. Daddy and I love you so very much, you have changed our lives and given us a new meaning to life. MWAH!!!! Kisses and hugs.

A Trip to Ottawa

Our plans for this past weekend were to head to Granny and Grandpa's for the Stanbra family Christmas, but a sickness hit their household sadly, so we made a quick change in plans. (Hope you feel better soon Granny) Seeing that we had the time booked off and Aunt Steph and Uncle Ken extended an invite, we packed our bags, Addison, the gifts and the dogs and headed up to Ottawa for the weekend. We drove up late Thursday night and as usual Addison was a dream passenger. We arrived close to 1:30 am Friday morning and poor Sidney who had been waiting ever so patiently finally got to come out of bed and greet us with her cute little smile!!

After a quick sleep we got up to enjoy the next day with everyone. The girls enjoyed some good quality cousin time in the morning and played together until it was time for Nannan to arrive. Big cuddles and lots of hugs and love from Nannan for both Sid and Addy. It was so great to see her and have Addy spend some quality time with her. We had a great dinner and then a mini concert by Ken and Steph. They are wonderful musicians and Ken can sing anything, it was so relaxing and enjoying and even Sid got in on the gig with her bongo drums. We exchanged wonderful gifts, and Addison received an adorable home made set of wool fruits and veggies that Aunt Steph made by herself! They are soooo cool and so real, I had to get Steph to show me how these are done. I dont know if I will make them as good as she can, but definitely a hobby that I am going to put on my list of things to do.

Saturday it was a beautiful day so we took the girls outside and enjoyed some fresh air and the great igloo outside that Sid, Steph and Ken had bulit. The girls go their pictures taken with Greg and when I looked back at our pics I could not believe how much Sid and Addy looked alike, the similarities are astounding. After our igloo time we played some ball with the dogs and hung out on the play structure and took a tour around the yard on Sid's sled. Sid was such a good monitor and held on tight to Addy so she would not fall. A good long nap and we woke up to Uncle Rick and Taylor who came to visit and stay the night. We had great fun hanging out and kicking each other's but at all the WII games, and just in case you guys forgot I am the boxing champion!!! Guys we had so much fun and cannot wait to come down and do it again soon. Thanks for making it a wonderful trip. It may not be Christmas time officially, but it felt like it in our hearts, as it is all about the family.

What's New for the New Year!!

Well the year has started off well, we have all settled back into our regular routine, involving work and daycare. Greg is back policing the roads and loving it, it really is where he is most comfortable and enjoys himself the most. Addy is back in the swing of things at daycare and loving all of her time with the other kids there. She is so comfortable there and really is thriving, she picks up so much from the other kids and is learning everyday. She is eating like a champion these days and seems to have taken a liking to the italian dishes in  life. Her favourite of course is Mim's signature lasagna and she enjoys what she can do with the funny spaghetti noodles, even though mom and dad have to help her eat this one a bit.

Her new passion is buttons and everything electronic. Greg and I spoiled each other with IPOD touches this year for Christmas and Addision thinks that these things are the best things since sliced bread. Her new past time is hanging out with daddy on the couch using mommy's IPOD and playing music. I couldn't resist snapping this pic, "like father, like daughter". They are two peas in the 'POD' in this one.

Addison continues to amaze us and her therapists with each passing appointment and visit. She still manages to pull herself around the house military crawl style, she still is not quite sure about crawling on all fours. She really is getting strong though and is almost pulling herself up fully to a standing position. She still is quite wobbly and does the splits more often than not, but everyone once in a while she gets herself up and standing at her exersaucer. Gone are the days I think that she would sit inside the exersaucer and play for hours. Reality is that is wonderful news for us to hear, we are so happy that she is progressing in the right direction at her own speed. At her year followup appointment with the Development Clinic at St. Joe's hospital we were told that she was doing well and did not need to be seen for a whole year!!!!  Her sounds and talking are coming along stronger everyday as she learns new sounds and how to put them together. It will be a while before we hear words  so we try to communicate with her in every way that we can, so she still has a means to tell us what she wants. Her new most adorable thing that I love and cannot get enough of is her new face and laugh she does just for me. She will look at me and scrunch up her nose, purse her lips and blow out her nose. It is the silliest thing ever and not sure where she picked it up, but it is the cutest thing ever. I love it.

Felíz año nuevo!!!!

Happy New Year everyone. We are so excited to see what 2010 has in store for us!!! Addy has come so far over the last year and we can't help to think that only 28 days from now, we were able to bring our little angel home!!! Seems like a lifetime ago. It has been a wonderful year and we would change very litlle. When asked on New Year's Eve what the best moment of 2009 was for me; without hesitation "Addison coming home"!!!! Early in the day we stopped in at St. Joseph's Hospital and had a visit with the staff at the NICU. It was so great to see everyone again (two of our core nursing staff were working) and to show them how big Addison is getting. It was such a warm welcome walking back in there.  For the evening we rang in the New Year with great friends and even our little "night owl" woke up and did the count down!!!

So unfortunately the holiday has come to a close, however we like to do things a little different and still get to celebrate Christmas with the other half of our family at Granny and Grandpa's this month. Going back to work and daycare is around the corner for Addy and I, and a new season of being back out on the road policing, begins for Greg.

So even though over the holidays, Addison has not had any therapy appointments she still has managed to practice daily. With a little help from mom and dad to get on her knees, she will manage to pull herself up to a standing position against the couch. It has only happened a few times but hey it only takes one time to make it count right??? Clapping comes on demand now and I believe Addison understands what it means, especially by the look of sheer delight on her face. She is more talkative every day and makes new sounds and combinations of sounds all the time. Daddy swears that she says "dada" daily. Her face holds so much expression, it is like she is an old soul when she looks at you. She will stop suddenly and look at you with a complete straight face, then break a little smile and scream "OHHHHHH" with the roundest little mouth. Dancing is a constant, a girl after our own heart. Music is in her soul and she will be going to her first concert before we know it I am sure of it. She comes by it honestly though between Greg and I when we moved into together we had 350 cds. Music is the root to the soul!!!! 

Happy New Year to all our family and friends and all the best to everyone for 2010.