Swimmin’

Addie is LOVING GiGi and Granddaddy’s pool this summer. We’re going to have to go back VERY soon for another visit!

Memorial Day

Every Memorial Day, the Schweizer heads up to our Property in Del Rio, TN. It’s right in the heart of Cocke County, which is lovingly known for it’s Cock Fighting and Moonshine. Perfect place for a family get together. Ha. Most everyone camps out (there used to be 2 cabins for everyone, but they got burned down to nothing years ago..long story), however my immediate family stays in my Dad’s cabin across the river from the campsite. Which is good, since we all know I don’t sleep in a tent. I tried once, but quit before the night was over.

I LOVE these pictures of Addie and Granddaddy. I have this exact same picture of me and MY Granddaddy in the exact same spot, sitting on his shoulders, when I was around 2 years old. Some of my favorite childhood memories are from up at the property with my Granddaddy, and I SO hope Addie’s are the same with hers!

Since it was Addie’s ACTUAL Birthday on Friday, we got her a cookie cake to share with all her cousins. Not sure why she’s giving someone a death stare though.

After enjoying some cookie cake, everyone hung out on the cabin porch and entertained each other with their musical abilities (or lack thereof..ha).

Addie and Isaiah decided that Dora was MUCH more entertaining than all of their crazy family out on the porch.

Addie and Denzel digging in the dirt.

Family Picture. Missing a few people though.

Laina came to her first family reunion, and was SO adorable! She was just smiling away at us.

Kelsey and I spent a good bit of time playing on the 4 wheeler, which made for MUCH easier trips from the cabin to where everyone was camping!

Addie and Isaiah spent a lot of time down in the River (the French Broad) throwing rocks.

Cute Denzel

Betsy and Jay also braved us all for a couple of days!

Addie has been working on her “Cheese” face. Ha.

All in all, it was a fun weekend, and it was so good to see everyone!

Two Years Old

I am sitting here in COMPLETE disbelief that I am now the Mama to a TWO year old. Seriously…where have the last two years even gone?

Two years ago, we were laughing and talking and taking pictures (I’m pretty sure these are the last pictures I have ever looked well rested in…just sayin’) and getting ready to meet our sweet girl.

As HAPPY as I was to FINALLY be having my baby (can we say MISERABLE pregnancy?!), we were all VERY nervous about how healthy she would be. Everyone assumed she would be immediately taken to the NICU (She was born at 35 weeks, 4 days), and we were all just hoping for the best. Well, we certainly got the best! Addie came out screaming her little tiny lungs out. The NICU team grabbed her up, checked her out, and said she didn’t need them at all. Right before they headed out of the OR, one of the NICU nurses told me that to be such a tiny little thing, and so strong, I was going to have my hands full. If only she knew how right she was…

Addie was born Wednesday morning at 9:15 am. I was NOT about to stay in the hospital for one second more than I had to, so I convinced them to let us take all 4 lbs. 11 oz of baby home with us Friday morning.

(please notice that her head is the size of one of the lenses on Ry’s sunglasses. she was TINY! why on earth they trusted us to take her home and keep her alive all by ourselves is still beyond me…)

Newborn

3 months

6 months

9 months

One year

15 months

18 months

21 months

Two years

I still just can not believe you are already TWO! You have more energy than any child I’ve ever met in my life. You LOVE to make people laugh, even if it means pretending to fall on the floor while yelling “uh oh” at the top of your lungs. You LOVE to watch Dora, and make us giggle as you sing along with the songs. You sing all the time. You adore being outside. You love to do anything artsy, especially painting. You LOVE Elias with all your little heart, and talk about him constantly. You HATE thinking you’re missing out on anything fun, and will keep yourself up until all hours of the night if you think there’s a party going on without you. You are VERY dramatic, and it makes us laugh, which makes you mad. You love Sassy, as well as any other animal you see. You can tell us what just about any animal says, however, your kitty cat “meow” is by far the most entertaining, and our favorite. You never stop talking, even when we have no idea what on earth you are saying. You don’t like strangers, but it doesn’t take you too long to warm up to people. You like to pick out your own clothes, but we don’t let you unless we are staying home that day, as your fashion sense is questionable at best. You love shoes and all things girly, but are the first person to sit down in the dirt with a firetruck to play. You keep us on our toes every minute of every day.

Your Daddy and I can NOT imagine life without you. You are absolutely the best thing to ever happen to us, and we love you more than anything in the whole entire world. Happy Birthday my sweet girl.

Ballerina Addie

When GiGi and Granddaddy asked what Addie wanted for her birthday this year, I told them I was planning on signing her up for a summer session of Ballet Classes, and told them they were welcome to sign her up for it and make that her present. GiGi immediately agreed, and thought it was a great idea! This week we went and picked out her ballet outfit (which was also part of her gift from GiGi). Addie was VERY opinionated, and although I tried to get her to try on different color leotards, she would ONLY try on the pink. So, pink it is. She was SO excited to try it all on again once we got home, and wore it for close to two hours before I finally made her change. She starts classes the first week of June, and I can’t WAIT! Hopefully she LOVES it as much as she loves her outfit!

Artist-In-Training

Chris, Liz, and Penny got Addie an easel for her birthday. She LOVES it!! Granddaddy was nice enough to help her set it up for her, and help her get started!

I Heart Summertime.

I do. Seriously. I’m the first one to admit, while I do NOT miss Florida, in general, I DO miss the weather. Particularly the nice, steady, play outside in December weather. Addie LOVES to be outside, and so do I, so winter is a VERY long season for us. One of the things I love about summertime is the splashpads. There are a few around Birmingham, but I most love the Trussville one. We went a LOT last year, and I am planning on spending almost every afternoon there again this summer. It opened this last week, so after Addie’s party on Saturday, we headed out to play.

Addie wasn’t too sure about it all at first, so Christy helped her see how fun it really was.

Elias and Addie. I love that when they’re in a big group of people, they’re usually always side by side with each other.

Aunt May helping Addie fill up her bucket

Addie, Aunt Brooke, and Elias filling up their buckets

Addie and (the other) Elias

Addie and her two Elias’

I’m thinking we’re going to have a FUN summer!