Robin's Nest

We've been keeping an eye on "our" Robin's nest the past few weeks and finally saw three baby birds today. They were sitting in their nest with mouths wide open waiting for their Mommy to bring them some food. It was so sweet and I could really relate to the scenario. I never thought I'd be able to say I could relate to a bird!

Momma came back (with a worm) when we were admiring her offspring and wouldn't go near the nest until we left. She kept flying tree to tree and seemed to be getting agitated. I felt so guilty for disrupting her routine, I actually cried!

I've never been much into nature before recently but I now find myself saving flies that have gotten in my house (I know, weird, but they have families, too!), getting upset when I notice my hummingbird feeder is empty (like I'm starving them or something) and crying over baby birds!

Two monkeys in a bed

The other day when Chase woke from his nap, I couldn't go to him right at that moment so I asked Addison to go open his door and say hi to him so he knew he'd been heard. I walked in to this...

He wakes up so bright-eyed and happy!

Bananas

Contrary to what this picture depicts...

Chase really LOVED his nanners! (A whole banana isn't too much, right?)

He chews his fingers in between spoonfuls.


Silly boy.

He enjoyed his post-meal entertainment even more than the bananas!

Can't you just feel the love?

The sweetness in this little boy is just too much to handle!!

Another Zoo trip

Well we've definitely been getting our money's worth out of our zoo pass these last couple of weeks. We went again today with my sister, Lori. She's been wanting to see the Polar Bears and we never turn down the zoo. Addison would go every day if she could! Thanks for making the trip up to see us, Aunt Lori!

It was a little rainy (just drizzling on and off, mostly) which was actually nice because it wasn't too crowded. Even better, it wasn't 95 degrees like yesterday!

Of course, our first stop was the Polar Bears, Addison's new favorite.

They were pretty lazy at first but one of the girls (they're twin sisters) got really playful and put on a show for us, playing with her ball and bucket. It was so cute to listen to Addison tell Daddy all about it tonight!

We stopped at a lot of the other animals, but this one was really special.

That's Misha (MEE-sha) and she was born at the Louisville Zoo in February. When she was 2 months old, there was a fight within her family group consisting of her mother, father and another adult female that resulted in Misha losing part of her left leg and breaking a bone near her left hip.

When Misha was taken from her mother for medical care, her mother's milk dried up. Because her mother didn't have surrogacy history or training, they transferred Misha to Columbus where they knew she would receive the best care possible as the Columbus Zoo has been a pioneer in the gorilla surrogacy program. Surrogates are taught to not only care for their baby like their own but also to bring the baby over to staff when prompted for bottle feedings, medication and regular check-ups. AMAZING!

Misha is making excellent progress and they expect her to permanently enter her gorilla family very soon. I can't wait to go back and see how she is doing with her new family!

And speaking of family...I just ADORE mine!

Addieism

A: Mommy, can I watch TV while you feed Chase?
M: Sure, sweetie.
A: That would be really cool, Mommy!
M: Okay, honey.
A: Can I watch Barney?
M: Sure.
A: That would be really great, Mommy! I love Barney. They're my friends.
M: Good, sweetie. I'm glad.
A: Thank you, Mommy. That's really nice of you to let me watch TV!

THE GIRL CRACKS ME UP!!!!!!!!

Sweet Potatoes

Chase tried sweet potatoes for the first time today. And by tried, I mean he ate 2 servings! I planned on stopping at 1, but he was squealing for more. He is such a hungry boy and quite the enthusiastic diner, kicking his legs and waving his arms for more. I am going to be one busy food-making mama!

Mia Frances

Welcome to the world, Mia Frances, and congratulations, Liz and Todd! We can't wait to hear more about your little angel!

4th of July weekend

We had a busy holiday weekend, celebrating our nation's birth with lots of friends and family. Addison and Dustin spent Saturday morning at a park while I stayed back with Chase and got some things done around the house. After naps, we went to our good friend, Matt's, surprise 30th birthday party. You may have noticed the new picture in my header. It was taken at the party. I just love it! Here are a few more...

Stephanie, Matt's wife, had set up everything so nicely for their guests. They had a lot of different little tables and activities set up for the 8 or so kids that attended. Coloring books and crayons, balls, bubbles, pinwheels, etc. Addison had a great time running around with the other kids, a couple who she's played with before.

She also enjoyed eating. She always enjoys eating. She's kinda like a little scavenger and hangs around the food table at parties!


The first thing said when she walked into the party was, "Where are the cookies?" She apparently associates cookies with parties! Then she wanted to know where the cake was. She was very patient the entire time we were there until finally the cake appeared and we began to sing "Happy Birthday" to Matt.

Look at her trying to get a peak at the cake!

It was all downhill from there! She sat in the birthday boy's seat and stared at that cake!

She did not take her eyes off of it!

Not for one second.

I told her she could sit there, but wasn't allowed to touch it.

And she listened...until she saw her window of opportunity when Matt looked away!

She finally got her piece of cake and was a happy, happy girl!

The next morning, we headed down to Dayton and spent the day with my parents. There is seriously no one Addison would rather be with than her grandparents. We are so lucky to live relatively close (hour or two) to all of them! I have such fond memories of the times spent with my grandparents as a child and am so happy my children have the same opportunity.

We had a nice day just hanging out and Dustin and I even went shopping for a bit while the kids napped.

We had a cookout for dinner and when we were done eating, we brought a plate over to my grandpa who was home alone for the evening. Grandpa is in his 90's and still gets around pretty well. Usually when I see my grandparents, there are 50 other family members around, so I don't have much of a chance to really focus on my grandparents. This visit, with it being just us, I had a nice time to really sit with my Grandpa, which was such a blessing. Really looking at and talking with him, I realized just how old and frail he is. It made me a little sad but also allowed me to reflect on the memories I have shared with him. I was reminded of how extremely fortunate I am to have such wonderful grandparents. I know my kids will feel the same way 30 years from now!

Grandpa gave us some sparklers (that were probably 20 years old) for Addie to play with. The funny thing was, he gave us all of them that were remaining in the box, except one. (And he had about another 30 boxes of them.) Aren't old people funny?

We took them home and got right to it!

This was when she asked, "Can I put these sparkles in my hair?", to which I shouted "NOOOOOOOOOooooOOO!" and lunged toward her, afraid she was going to singe her hair! (She gets sparkles in her hair when she gets her hair cut.)

After that, I kept very close to her. She did good at holding them away from her body and had a blast!

Monday, we went to an 80th birthday party for Dustin's Grandpa. I was so busy I forgot to take pictures! That evening, Addison and I went on a big grocery shopping trip because we had racked up the max amount in food perks (20% off groceries up to $300) and needed to spend it before it expired. When we go to redeem our food perks, we always try to spend the $300, which is actually kind of challenging. I try to add up in my head what I've spent, but often lose track, especially when Addison is with me talking my ear off.

Well, this trip will go down in his-tor-yyyyy. Wouldn't you know that I spent EXACTLY $300!!! NOT.EVEN.KIDDING. Am I good, or what!?!?!

Addieisms

While reading The Giving Tree - the part where the boy is an old man and just needs a place to rest.

A: Mommy, I want to be old.
M: You will be old someday, sweetie, but you don't want to be old yet. You want to be young so you can play!
(we continue reading)
A: Mommy, I want to be an old stump.

(The ambition this one has! he he)

--------------------------------------------

A: Mommy, I love you.
M: Aww, thanks sweetie. I love you, too.
A: I love you too, Mommy. You're my best friend.

(I just had to document this so I can show her in a few years when she views me as the furthest thing from her best friend. She tells me ALL THE TIME that I'm her best friend. I will definitely enjoy it while it lasts!)

Polar Bears and Carousel

I took the kids to the Zoo on Wednesday. By myself. I've had an itch to get out of the house lately and tried to do something every day this week. By myself. (Needless to say that I am now EXHAUSTED. I might have done a little too much!) But, it was the most beautiful week (temps in the 70's/low 80's, which is rare for July), and I wanted to take advantage of it. Plus, I know how happy our little adventures make Addison and I live to make her (and Chase) happy!


We were at the Zoo last week, as well, with my sister, Julie, and Noah and saw the Polar Bears for the first time - we just got them a couple months ago. Addison was enthralled with them and that's the first thing she wanted to see. They really are neat animals.

This week, one of them kept diving off a cliff. It was a lot of fun to watch her perform for her audience.

After seeing the Polar Bears and a few other animals, I gave Addison the option of going on a boat ride or the carousel. She chose the carousel, which I was surprised about given that she's never liked riding it. Well, we've turned over a new leaf...she loves it now!

She rode it all by herself while I sat in the sleigh next to her horse holding Chase. Chase liked his first carousel ride, as well!