Lincoln Parish Park and Baton Rouge Zoo

A few weekends ago we headed over to Ruston to have a relaxing weekend and to have a "Matt and Laura Day" as we like to call them- (they have been called that since college.)  Anyway, it was a great weekend going to lunch, rollerblading at the park and going to the movie.  Totsie and Papa had a fun time keeping the girls too.  Before we left we took Addison to the park and let her feed the ducks.  She LOVES the ducks and would get so frustrated when they didn't want anymore bread.  What a fun day!

 Last weekend we took the girls to the zoo while in Baton Rouge.  Addison really liked it but was a little hesitant at the beginning.  She wanted to be held for the first 20 minutes!  Then, she relaxed and figured out what it was all about.  Her favorite part was the fish (of course).  I don't know why we just didn't go to Pet Smart or something!  She was soooo excited to see them and was certainly the loudest kid in there.  All we could think about was how are we going to fit a fish tank in our house one day??

Do you see the JOY on her face?!

 This was about the time where she LICKED the fish tank.  Oh my gosh.........I have no words.  She did it several times too.  Seriously??? 

 This was where it all fell to pieces.  She had a pretty bad fall because she never watches where she is going.  She starts to run really fast and loves to watch her shadow at the same time and that just ends in disaster.  We cleaned her up and she was so upset that we didn't have bandaids with us.  Once she gets a "Bo Bo" you can pretty much head home and call it a day.  She was sure to tell lots of people about it too.  If she would just start paying attention to where she was running!

 I adore these "riding on daddy's shoulders" pics.  I can never just choose one.  She enjoyed a break from all the walking and got a great view from up above.

LOVE this one!

 Melody was along for the ride (here's the proof)!  She slept the entire time and I never had to find a place to nurse her!  Yay!  I was a little worried about that one.

Happy 5 Months Melody!!

Melody Rose you are 5 MONTHS OLD!  Such a Big Girl!!  I am pretty late on your monthly post but I finally got it together!  You are still the sweetie pie that I talk about all the time and still the most easy going baby I have EVER met.  I will say the first 4 months we were really relaxed with your sleep schedule and let you nap in the swing during the day (you slept better that way if Addison was making noise).  Well, at the beginning of 4 months you started to wake up a lot through the night- that was weird because you had started sleeping through the night pretty consistently.  So, we decided to get serious and do all your naps at home and never in the car or swing. (You are now too big for your swing). We also started a few weeks ago with you napping in your very own room.  You were still sleeping in the bassinet in our room at night.  As of this week you have been moved to your room and things are pretty nice!  We officially took the bassinet down and up went the treadmill- NICE.  We have started the Ferber Method today to help you fall asleep on your own.  Because of this method, Addison is a FABULOUS sleeper! 

You still don't like the bottle but that's ok.  You pretty much fight it if your Daddy tries to give you one here or there.  You are still a wonderful nurser and only prefer that which is fine with me.  I have a ton of frozen milk that I would hate to go to waste, so we will be trying to give you a night time bottle every once in a while.  

You are sooo ready for some food!  You have been very interested in watching us eat for the past month and basically beg us with your eyes.  Bless your heart.  I know we will start it around 6 months but we are just in no hurry whatsoever to begin this whole cereal thing.  Funny how it is with the first child.  We couldn't wait with Addison.  We counted down the days and thought it would be sooo cool!  It is just so easy to nurse you and there's really no process to it all- why mess up a good thing???  Don't worry, we will feed you:)  You are wearing 6-9 month clothes.  A lot of Addison's summer clothes are already fitting you (really good).  Hopefully it will warm up real fast so we can get some use out of them before it is too late.  We might have to get you a few new items because you seem to be growing faster than your sister at this stage! 

You have found your feet and absolutely love them.  You also like taking off your socks.  You are still loving your swaddle (the miracle blanket) but we will be weaning you of that sucker in about a month.  When you are in it you always sleep with one leg out.  I always worry that your poor little leg is getting chilly and will sneak in late at night to tuck it back in.  I LOVE those little soft, chunky legs!

You rolled back-to-belly on 2-5-11.  You were 4 days shy of being 5 months.  Now I will put you down and you just travel all over the room by rolling.  I can tell you are thinking about crawling and will be trying it out pretty soon.

Have I mentioned that I love nursing you?  You are so easy and sweet about it.  I love how you always look for my finger and insist on holding it every time.  But you don't just hold it, you are constantly taking it and tapping it against me.  

We have pulled the exercauser out of the garage and gave it a good cleaning for you.  I love having you girls so close in age because all of the baby equipment is still in good condition!  We haven't had to buy anything!

You have found that your mouth can make the coolest sounds.  You make raspberries all the time and it completely amuses you.  You also get really excited when I make a buzzing sound like a bee or snort like a pig.  These two things are guaranteed to make you smile and laugh.  When you are laying down or when we hold you in the standing position you will repeatedly slap both of your arms on your sides- looks like you are trying to fly.  

You got your first cold this past month.  I'm pretty sure it was passed down from Addison since she had it around the same time.  You got over it fine and all was well.  You also are drooling a lot and constantly chewing on toys and our fingers.  No teeth just yet!  If you are anything like your sister, we won't be seeing any until you are almost 1!!!!

 

 

Chillin' in the Exercauser

Miss Personality!

I LOVE this hat!

 Addison, you love your sister sooo much!  One day I was in the kitchen and overheard you say, "I love you Melody."  It doesn't get better than that.  You still are the best caretaker around.  Y'all just love each other so much.  I get so much joy out of watching the bond between you.  I can't wait until y'all can really play together!
Addison has found a new love with styling hair.  It all started with her second haircut.  I would always tell her to," Be still."  and everyone in the salon told her she, "Did great."  Now, when I get out of the shower, she pulls my chair out for me and gets the comb and brush.  Tells me to put conditioner in and then grabs a comb and helps me get the knots out.  As she's doing this she says, "Hold still Mommy, you're doing GREAT!"  Funny little girl.  She also expects me to spray conditioner in her hair.  Now with Matt- she loves watching him put in his hair gel.  She's so fascinated that she will spit (a lot) in her hands and just rub it all over until her hair is one big mess!  She usually does this while we are riding in the car and she always says ,"hair gel."  I have to stop her after awhile because it just gets so out of hand.
She has started to write her letters.  I am not sure if she means to or if she accidentally does something and then it ends up looking like a letter.  But either way she will yell out what letter it is and sure enough it is right.  Smart I tell ya.  She has known her letters since she was 1 1/2 years old so I think it would be time for her to try and write them.  I'm pretty positive she's a lefty- she use to use both but now the left side has really taken over! 

Pretty french braid

All bundled up!

Not much happening

This is just a complete random post about random stuff.  In the next few days I will be doing Melody's 5 month post and I wanted to get these on here before I forget.  This first pic might not seem that big of a deal and may look like a toddler running around in her diaper........BUT it is sooo much more than that!  Ya see, lately we have started this fun tradition at night where we have a "Dance Party."  It's where we just play music from our iphones and all dance around like big goofballs.  It is so much fun and such a positive and happy way to end the day.  I ADORE dancing (always have) and it makes my heart happy to see Addison have so much fun dancing.  The first time we did this we played the song "If It's Love" by Train.  She got so hooked on this song and kept saying "again" every time it was over.  So, it is hard to have dance party without it. 

Showing off her moves during Dance Party!

Sweet Melody Rose

 This is the latest Addison face.  I'm not sure where she got it, but she sure loves to do it a lot!  I think it's pretty funny and definitely has lots of personality.  This morning while I was changing her she looked over at her crib and called it brown and then black..........THEN had a long pause and said, "Chocolate wood."  Isn't that hilarious?!  What could be better than a bed made out of chocolate wood?  I love the mind of a child. 

 Matt turned the big 29 on January 25th!  We celebrated the weekend before and Mom and Dad came to stay so that we could have a date.  It was so nice to have a little alone time and actually talk!  We went to Superior Steak House and a movie.  Matt had his favorite cake at home and Addison enjoyed "blowing out" the candles. 

Daddy and Melody Rose

 Addison has been so fun lately.  I just love being with her and hanging out with her.  We have the best time goofing off together and things are so much easier since the tantrums have really started to go away.  In these pics I was just laying in her lap and she was being my dentist for the time being.  She loves to mess with eyes, mouth and hair.  She gets the biggest kick out of things and just cracks up laughing at the funniest stuff.  It's moments like this where I feel pure bliss and can't wait to spend my whole life with these two precious girls.  What an amazing gift.

 Anytime I get alone time with Addison, I will take her to Pet Smart.  I know it may sound silly but if you think about it, it is really just a free zoo!  Kind of a small zoo but it works.  She is obsessed with fish, birds and hampsters.  She thinks all the fish are Nemo's.  She LOVES to watch the hampsters run on the wheel.  She will squeal so loud because she gets sooo excited!  I also take her in the back to look at the dogs getting groomed.  I tell you what, sometimes the best entertainment is free! 

 I don't think I've ever talked about our kisses.  Well, it is a big deal.  Anytime we give kisses, we give eye kisses, nose kisses, ear kisses, cheek kisses, chin kisses, forehead kisses and lip kisses.  Whew!  That's a lot of love if you ask me!  She loves to do this and she does it all the time.  I think we started it as a funny and educational thing but now it is just a MUST!  I love it!

 Melody Rose will get her big 5 month post soon but I had to include this pic right now.  This little girl is on the move!  I have never seen a child so determined to get around and move at this age!  This bumbo thing has lasted maybe a month.  She is already trying to get out and do her own thing.  You can't leave her in it for one second!  Here she is before bedtime all snug as a bug in a rug!  She loves her swaddle and was enjoying being in our bed.

 Oh Addison, how your Daddy loves you!  Let me tell you what he went through the other night.  He camped out all night on the cold floor at the school just to ensure you get into this great school!  That's right........all parents get there on Sunday to sign the list and only a few spots are available.  Then, you have to stay all day and overnight to hold the spot and turn in your registration forms Monday morning at 8 AM.  We are happy to say we got you in and we got the LAST SPOT!  That was a close call.  Daddy got there at 1:30 PM on Sunday and the first person on the list got there at 5:50 AM that morning!  Crazy the things parents will do to get their kids into a good school!  Melody Rose, I have no doubt your Daddy will be doing the exact same thing for you one day!  Anyway, we showed up that night to bring Daddy some McDonalds and let you take a look around.  There were lots of families with lots of kids there.  You were the life of the party and very loud and confident from the second you walked in.  For a child that has never been to daycare or mom's day out, you are very social and outgoing!  You loved the classrooms and played and played with all the babies and toys.  I am positive you will love school and learn so much!