Addison - the 15th Month Old!

"How Big is Baby Addie?"
"Baby Addie is SO BIG!!!"

Addison had her 15-Month Check-Up on Friday...Here's the numbers:
Height
31" - between the 75th-90th percentiles
Weight
22lbs. 13oz. - 50th percentile
Head Size
18" - 50th percentile

Addison has been in these percentiles since she was born (with the exception of her head size which began only in the 10th percentile!). Everything at her appointment checked out well - and the doctor even said she was a very well-behaved child during the exam. Apparently during the exams, other kids get very cranky and cry - but Addison just sat there calm and quiet while the doctor checked her out. I think it's because she is in that stage where she's interested in EVERYTHING, so I think she was entertained by the all the doctor "gadgets".
That being said, just like all doctor's appointments, this one had a bad ending - shots! Addison received her DTaP #4, Hib #3, Prevnar #4 as well as her first round of Flu/H1N1 shots.

These Are A Few Of Her Favorite Things
I am Spartacus
Ok, I get it - "be careful what you wish for". Via Facebook, you may have read that I was *in heaven* that Addison had taken a liking to drum corps - specifically '08 Phantom Regiment's "Spartacus" show. Well, since then we've/she's watched the show about 50 times. And by "specifically" I MEAN specifically!!! She doesn't want to watch other drum corps shows (she'll watch moments, then just walk away). She nods emphatically when we ask, "Do  you want to watch drum corps?" and now we no longer bring it up. But she will come to us with the DVD remote, or the DVD case of the show. So yes, I sincerely enjoyed those first dozen times - cuddled on the couch with Addison on my lap - watching her clap, wave her arms to imitate the conductor or drumline and be enamored by the color guard ballad solo, but now it's a relief when an hour goes by without having watched it again. I know it could be much worse - this isn't some obnoxious cartoon she's obsessively watching (that day will surely come) it's music and pageantry and c'mon, how cool of a story will this be in 17 years when/if she follows in her mommy's footsteps over to Rockford?
Lives in a Pineapple Under the Sea
When it's not drum corps or no TV (those moments are great!), it's Spongebob she has started to really like in the last few weeks as well.
Oh, and don't worry - she spends a LOT of time away from the TV, outside or in her room playing.
Book worm
Addison still loves her books, and takes many off the shelves daily to flip through. She loves one of her pop-up books lately and her now long-time favorite "So Big" Elmo book and a baby Bible. She goes back and forth between a handful of books. However, she would rather just sit and flip through them herself rather than have us read to her. It's really the page-turning she enjoys. So I read whatever page she flips to, even if it makes the story quite the non-sequiter.

Out of the Mouths of Babes
Addison certainly understands much more than she can say - but she has also found ways to communicate many of the things she wants too.
Here's some words you can hear Addison say:
-Banana (Nnaa-Na!)
-Night-Night (Nye Nye!)
-Mama/Dada
-Milk
-Up
-Off (usually when she wants her shoes off)
-On (usually reverse of above)
-No
-More
-Cheese (maybe??)
-Cat
-Bye
-Go

There's probably more that I'm not thinking of right now - seems like there's new ones every few days!

Naughty Girl
Addison has had a bad streak of temper tantrums, especially over at Auntie Lorie's when she wants her cousins toys or food, etc. There's been a few instances of hitting and hair pulling. Tim & I are unable to recreate the situation as harshly at home, but we have been able to see her upset when she wants something we have that we don't give her, she'll wave her arms. When this happens, we take her arms, hold them at her side and say "Do Not Hit" - there's not much of a response from her until we hold her arm for about 10 seconds and then she'll start to cry. However, and this confuses me, when we let go of her arm, she'll go and point to my eye or nose - which is a game we play often (where's mommy's nose, etc). So, it's like her way of changing the topic?? We hope this discipline will set in so she stops this hitting situation soon. We do NOT want a naughty mean little girl!!!



Overall, Addison is a very energetic toddler. We are constantly on the move with/after her, even in our little condo! She sleeps through the night, no problem and takes 2 good naps throughout the day. She's very happy and there are times she has us cracking up (and she laughs right along with us!) She's social and creative and very curious. I love to sit with her when she plays and watch those gears turning. I can't imagine all she is learning!!!!

Next weekend we are going on our first family vacation to Galena, IL! We will be spending 2 nights at a Bed & Breakfast and can't wait to enjoy the scenery and have an amazingly cozy weekend with our little girl! Stay tuned for some pictures ;)

Addison-the 14th Month Old

Our Little Girl is Growing Up
Addison is becoming more and more a little person. She is fine-tuning her motor skills, being more verbal and communicating her feelings and needs/wants much better.

Walking, Running, Dancing

Addison has left her walkers behind with her days of crawling. She now walks everywhere with ease, only pausing or falling down when she attempts running or stairs/curbs. She can crawl all the way up a flight of stairs and move up and down a few stairs easily - however, always under our watchful eye!

The best thing about Addison walking - is when we crouch down with our arms out asking for a hug and she runs down the hallway - giving us a big bear hug and kiss. I look forward to many years of this :)

Addison is certainly a white girl. Her only dance moves are bobbing her head with her mouth open and stiffly waving her arms. But it is adorably hilarious all the same.

Some of her favorite songs are: "OMG" Usher; "California Gurls" Katy Perry; "Bad Romance" Lady Gaga

Communication
Addison clearly says things like "Up"; "That"; "Na-Na-Na" (No); "Nana" (Banana); "Nye Nye" (Night Night). It seems like she is on the verge of one day just saying 10 different words. She understands when we say it's time to go to bed, time to get dressed, when we ask if she's done or wants to be picked up and much more.

Books
Addison's favorite *toy this month has been books, which is a habit we adore! Her favorite books are "So Big"; "Guess How Much I Love You"; "My First Bible" and a Baby Einstein lift-tab word book. We are encouraging this fun pasttime as much as we can. Tim and I both loved books as children and hope that Addison grows up to be an avid reader.
She enjoys simply sitting in her Addison chair and flipping through books all on her own.

Overall, Addison is a good girl. She has her moments and certain things that make her bratty and throw toddler tantrums. We are trying to minimize her paci usage and that is often times the cause of her tantrums. That, and of course when bedtime sneaks up on her while she's playing and doesn't want to stop - but it also very tired.
We can't wait to see what fun awaits us just around the corner!