Brian has accepted a job offer!

On Friday Meck Co extended a job offer to Brian (and of course Brian accepted it). He will be an Environmental Project Inspector. He will be testing water supplies to determine whether or not nearby pipes are contaminating the water (plus other tasks). The pay is excellent (it definitely beats out the $28k/yr I make at DSS). We have found a nanny too- Kari! We are really happy she will be able to take care of Addisyn for us :) Well we will post again soon.

Love,
Lindy, Brian, Addisyn, and Bear

Addisyn caught RSV

Poor Addisyn has been very sick since Sunday. Brian took her to the Dr on Monday and the nose swab confirmed she has RSV. Brian asked the Dr where Addisyn could have caught it (she is not in daycare and has no contact with other kids) and she said Addisyn probably caught it when she came in a week ago for her well check (RSV is highly contagious and can live on any surface and can also spread through droplets in the air). The Dr sent home a nebulizer so we can give her breathing treatments, but since it is a virus it just has to run its course. When Brian was leaving a couple was bringing in their 10 day old baby for its 10 day well check- how scary. Poor Addisyn has been super congested, wheezing, and occasionally gasping for air (which is scary for her and she panics). It is awful to see as a parent. I wish I could be sick for her. Addisyn has been up every 1-2 hours coughing or hungry all night- she cant eat well because she cant breathe out of her nose, so she eats smaller more frequent meals. The Dr said it can take 2 or sometimes even 3 weeks for them to get completely over it. I hope since I am breastfeeding she gets better sooner. Her nose wasn't as runny last night and she wasn't wheezing, so she actually slept about 4 hours at a time. Pray for Addisyn to have a quick recovery.

Our house is officially under contract- we have a closing date of March 20th. Sadly, the house we wanted in Jefferson Woods is under contract, so we can't put in an offer on it :( I guess it just wasn't met to be. I am sure we will find the right house eventually (we are looking for a house with a garage- since Brian is so handy- and preferably 4 bedrooms or 3 bedrooms and a play room- Addisyn has more toys than the average child).

We will post again soon!
Love,
Lindy, Brian, Addisyn, and Bear

PS Please excuse any spelling errors, I typed this with one hand b/c I was pumping :)

Is it going to snow?? Am I going to cook??

Well the Weather Channel and The Weather on the Ones are forecasting snow for our area. I have heard everything from 1 to 6 inches of snow- I guess we will see! As for the cooking- Grandma Pina taught me how to make bread pudding today (yummy)- Thanks Grandma! At the end of this blog I posted a few other recipes Grandma has taught me- very easy recipes- if I can do it anyone can! Addisyn went for her well check today. She is 25 3/4 inches long and weighs 16 pounds even. The doctor was very impressed by Addisyn's crawling skills and Addisyn being able to pull herself to the standing position. Addisyn had a few vaccinations :( but luckily at her 9 month appt there are no shots. Addisyn has been saying "mama" for a few weeks now. She has been able to make the sound for a while, but recently we have noticed she definitely knows what it means. When she wakes up after a nap or in the middle of the night and Brian goes in for her, she will continue to cry and she begins saying "mamama" and she is calling for me! I will get up and go over to them and she puts her hands out for me (and usually goes right back to sleep). It is really sweet to know that she finds comfort in me. I think in the middle of the night she is used to having me care for her, so it is not normal when Brian goes in there and gets her (and since I breastfeed, she knows the difference between the two of us!). Anyways, our house was shown twice Saturday and once Sunday. We lowered the price and are really hoping to sell. We found a house in Jefferson Woods that we would Loooovvvveeee to buy! Well we will post again soon.

Love,
Lindy, Brian, Addisyn, and Bear

Addisyn biting on her crib:


Pulling up and reaching for her jumper:


She sees herself in the mirror:



I love my piano!


Addisyn in her horse laughing as I say "boo"- this video is kind of dark:



Addisyn had been playing her piano but I distracted her with the camera:





Recipes from Grandma Pina- (so easy that I can make them)- Thanks Grandma!


***Simple Banana Pie:

1 pkg (4-serving size) Vanilla Instant Pudding
1 3/4 cups cold milk
2 cups mini marshmallows
1 cup thawed cool whip
2 medium bananas
1 graham pie crust

Pour milk into large bowl. Add pudding mix; beat with wire whisk 2 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes. Gently stir in marshmallows and cool whip.

Place banana slices evenly over bottom of crust; cover with pudding mixture.

Refrigerate at least 1 hour (makes 8 servings)- Very yummy pie!!!


***No Bake Cheesecake

1 pkg Oreo cookies divided
1/4 cup butter melted
4 pkg (8 oz) Cream cheese softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tub cool whip

Coarsely chop 15 of the cookies; set aside. Finely crush remaining cookies; mix with butter. Press firmly onto bottom of 13x9 inch pan. Refrigerate while preparing filling.

Beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Gently stir in whipped topping and chopped cookies. Spoon over crust; cover

Refrigerate 4 hours or until firm (makes 24 servings- 1 piece each)

With this recipe you can use any kind of oreo. We tried mint oreos and it was delicious!

Oh so many toys...

...she is a busy woman! Anyways, the other day a woman was feeding her baby a bottle (about the same age as Addisyn), it was a dark substance, so I asked "Is that prune juice?" She said "No, its coke." I could not imagine giving Addisyn coke- I am picky about what kind of apple juice to introduce (i.e. made from organic apples, 100% juice, made in the USA). Talking about apple juice- the pediatrician gave the "okay" on introducing apple juice (Addisyn has previously only had breastmilk). As directed, we placed 2 oz. of apple juice in a no-spill sippy cup and let Addisyn give it a try. She made the "sour" face and spit it out, but it was exciting anyways! Also, as you will notice in the pictures Addisyn is now using a pacifier. Who would have guessed at 6 months old she would decide the pacifier was okay?? It is so nice now that she uses it. We leave it in her crib and in the morning when she wakes up she finds it and puts it in her mouth.

Addisyn playing with her Polar Coaster toy...



Addisyn's first aquarium (no water, just plastic fish that light up and a bowl that makes bubble sounds)...


Addisyn is really checking out this new toy...



She wants to eat my camera...



Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Pina w/ Addisyn...



Grammy playing with Addisyn...



Trying her first juice...


Playing on her piano...


Love,
Lindy, Brian, Addisyn, and Bear

We are listed!

Today we officially listed our house on the market. We were approved for a new home loan on Friday, so we hope to have 20% from this house to put on a new house. We are not sure if we will build or buy something already out there :) Anyways, Addisyn has learned to pull herself up to the standing position (see below). We will post again after Addisyn's 6 month baby well check!

Love,
Lindy, Brian, Addisyn, and Bear

Addisyn pulling herself up:


Splashing in her tub:



Biting on a baby cookie (this is a very messy situation lol):


Climbing through her tunnel:



Videos: (click on arrow to play video)

Addisyn climbing through her tunnel:


Addisyn pulls herself up:


Addisyn splashes in the tub:

Happy New Year!

We hope everyone has a wonderful New Year. It is nice to be off of work for the day! This week has been crazy for us. I had my Nissan 240sx in the shop being painted and repaired (remember I was rear-ended). When I got my car back Maaco had broke my spoiler, a piece to my gas tank door was gone, and they painted over the 15 yr. old peeling-up/cracked vinyl stripe that goes around the outside of my car! Needless to say, I had to leave my car with them so they can fix the spoiler, replace the piece to my gas tank door, and peel of the stripe and repaint my car. What a pain! Anyways, the other night Brian was driving my 240sx and ran over an uncovered man hole! What luck! It blew out the back right tire and damaged the rim. On Monday I will have to talk to the City of Gastonia adjustor. Gosh, when it rains it poors! Anyways, Addisyn is getting to such a fun age. She is so interactive and mobile. The other day when I was at work I called Brian to see about meeting for lunch and he did not answer his phone. He called back about 30 minutes later and said "I didn't hear my phone ring, we were in the other room building a leggo house." I guess the two of them have fun during the day. There are toys everywhere when I get home :) It is good for Addisyn to have the one-on-one interaction with Brian. Addisyn has learned to pull herself up. We had to lower her crib because we don't want her to fall out. Anyways, below are a few pics and a video. We will post again after Addisyn's next dr. appointment.

Love,

Lindy, Brian, Addisyn, and of course Bear

Addisyn and Grandpa:


Those little toes:


Those big blue eyes:



Reading her picture book (you actually put your own pics in it):


Play Time:


Video of Addisyn playing with her leggos (6 months old):