Cousins

Ad has so many cousins right around her age that she loves to go to Idaho to visit. We drove through the night again and stayed at Laur's house.  That morning Oley and I needed to go to the temple so we could get our temple trip in that month, but Oley also wanted to go to the Brazilian BBQ for his birthday.  So Oley went to the temple and then ate at the BBQ with Doug, while I went to the temple and Laur watched all three of the kids.  Once we were done we headed to Idaho Falls.  Laur and all of the kids rode with me and the boys and the dogs rode in Doug's car.
As we were driving Doug's car got a flat tire.  They were close enough to Pocatello that they were able to leave the car there and use one of Oley's uncles to get to Idaho Falls.  It made for a very stressful start to the week. 
We attended church with the Burkes on Sunday morning.  Oley failed to let me know that they wanted to take family pictures right after church so I did not even try to get ready that morning, it was a very late night and early morning.   Ad also was not having the whole picture thing, she just wanted to run in the nice weather. 

After church Ad loved playing with her cousins at Grandmas.

She is getting confident enough in her walking that now she is trying to go up and down little steps.  She still forgets to bend her planted leg and so takes a step and hopes that she can balance.  It's as if walking and not realizing you just stepped off a curb.  She'll get it. She was determined to figure it out at the playground.

 She loves to play with her boy cousins.  The two that are younger than her still aren't quite sure they want to play with her, but she loves to play with Oden and Ryker. 

15 Months

We took little bug in for her 15 month appointment today.  The poor little baby had to get A LOT of shots this time around.  I felt awful for her.  She is still off the charts in her height and still at the 10th percentile for her weight.  She is just so skinny and I have no idea why, she eats all the time.  For example, Oley and her love to share Oreos together.  Whenever we are at the store and walk past Oreos she is sure to let everyone know that she wants a Cookie. 
I feel like an awful mom that cookie is one of her first words, but she sure does love Oreos.

 

She loves watermelon.  If she had her choice she would eat it all the time.  She loves to torment Dinky and Lily, we bought her a ball and she just loves to throw it at Dinky.  Oley has taught her how to blow kisses every time she leaves.  It is adorable.  She is growing so much and picking up on everything.  Her favorite thing to do is go on walks to the park and swing on the swings.  There is a little boy in our neighborhood a month older than her and they love to play with each other.  She is getting more and more dance moves by the day too.  Rather than just swinging her hips from side to side she now can twist all the way around, she loves dancing!

First Bike Ride

We got to take Ad on her first bike ride and she Loved it!  I was worried that the helmet was going to bother her but once it was on and we were going she was a champ!  Oley and I should have been thinking and not taken her for a 15 mile bike ride right off the bat, but she did great.  She got a little antsy about 8 miles in so we stopped to let her stretch her legs and play at the park. 
On the way back I put some books in the trailer with her and she was perfect.  I am excited to go on more rides!

Oley's Birthday

I got home from Girls Camp on Oley's birthday.  As soon as I walked in the door he was spent.  Being a single dad for a week was trying on him, so while him and Ad napped I got entirely unpacked and made him a birthday cake.  I have made it a point to make him a cake every year on his birthday, last year I was running the Grand Teton Relay so my mom did it, so this year I wasn't going to fail. 
I found a great peanut butter frosting recipe on pinterest and it turned out much better than it looked. 

We took Ad out to get her a bike helmet.  My colleague at work had a bike trailer for his son that just moved to Florida so he let us borrow it.  We were anxious to get our bikes out, but I wouldn't let her go in it until we had a helmet. Once we found one we set let her walk around in the mall and she was so happy!  As we walked around she would exclaim Hi! to every person we passed.  She was squealing and in heaven.  Oley looked at me and said, "I better hurry and get through school, she is going to be expensive soon." 
Oley wanted to have a burger at Red Robin, we learned our lesson never to take a tired baby to a restaurant.  All I can say is I am glad they stuck us in the corner, it looked like a tornado came through once we were done.  I felt horrible, I tried to clean it up as much as I could but Ad was definitely not in the mood to sit still.  Although on a lighter note this was her first coloring page. 

Girls Camp

As Oley did, I also got an opportunity to spend a week in the wilderness with the youth from the church.  When they asked me to go to girls camp at the beginning of the year I thought it would be a blast.  As I learned more and more about how things are done in Washington it is so different than when I was growing up.  Girls Camp was very structured - a lot of spiritual classes, certification, and very little free time.  I was hesitant to be going but since I said that I would go I went and I am sure glad that I did. 
The cabin mom I was paired with was also a first timer.  This was highly unusual since all of the others had at least 1 year experience.  We were over the 4th years.  From the first day I knew that this week may not be so bad.  The 4th years are asked to do a lot for certification, they had to build huts and sleep outside one night, they were put in the long houses with no doors, and they had to do a lot of their own cooking.  This being said Mindy (My cabin mom partner) and I were up for a challenge. 
The week went really well.  We had A LOT of laughs! There was so much structure that Mindy and I were probably worse than the girls about staying on top of things, but it made for a great experience for our young women as well.  I am so glad that I was able to be totally disconnected from work for a week and just focused on my spirituality and being built by the youth of the church.
Oley periodically reminded me of how incredibly difficult it is to be a single parent for a week and let me talk to my little babe.  I missed them terribly. 

What a great experience.  I think I may do it again next year!

Wedding Season

Yup it's that time of year again when everyone gets married.  Lucky for us we got to attend 2 this year.  Oley's Aunt got married on 8/8 and so his grandparents and parents were up for the wedding.  Ad loved hanging out with her Papa, spinning around in circles. 

They held their wedding at one of our favorite parks in Tacoma.  Ad loved throwing pebbles into the pond - she could have done it all night, but instead was walking around everywhere!

The day after the wedding we were able to enjoy lunch with Oley's family before they headed back to Idaho.  After lunch we went to Chambers Bay with Joe and Brenda.  Ad loved throwing rocks into the sound while Oley and the boys searched for crabs. 

It's been an incredibly busy summer and we are only half way done.  Next wedding...Allison's in a month.  When we got her invite Ad loved to look at it.  She is getting better and better about saying names and so "isson" is what she calls Allison right now.  I am so glad that she recognizes her and finds so much joy in looking at her pictures.

Olympic Game Farm

Oley's parents came up for a week the weekend after my family left.  I have been wanting to go to the Olympic Game Farm since we moved to this side of the state and so I took a day off and we went up.  It was a blast!  I can't wait to take Ad again next year. 
It's a drive through park where they have rescued animals.  You are allowed to roll your windows down and feed the animals whole wheat bread.  There are some areas you are able to get out of the car and feed them.  Ad had a great time and so did everyone else. 

  This was an outlook point at the beginning.

 After this picture was taken this llama started spitting at everyone.  Glad it decided to wait until after Ad had her fun with it.

 Ad loved feeding all the animals.  She would take a bite of the bread and then she would share a piece with whatever animal was at her window. 

They told us when we get to the Elk and Bison that you cannot stop your car you just have to keep driving.  When we got to their sanctuary the elk came quickly to the car.  As I was looking out Oley's window we didn't notice a huge elk had come up on my side of the car.  It stuck it's head in the window and before we knew it had Ad's whole arm was in it's mouth.  Luckily that's all that happened, but it scared little Ad for the rest of the big Elk and Bison that came up to the car.  Dougie and Oley had so much fun we drove the loop twice because they wanted to see the bison again.

Love Having a Baby Girl

I absolutely love having a daughter!  I constantly struggle with the fact that I go to work and she stays home with her dad.  I remember the first time that she began to start to cling to me, it was last Thanksgiving and we had family at our house.  Until this point she typically was okay if I would have Oley watch her while I did something, but that weekend in particular if I was not holding her she was not happy.  She has never grown out of this stage and I am 100% okay with that.  Because she stays home with dad I felt like I never was going to get that special bond with her, but I am so glad that she is super clingy to me.  I love that she wants to be involved in everything I am doing.  I was kicking a soccer ball around the house the other day and now she loves the soccer ball. 

 

If I go into the bathroom and shut the door she is right at the door knocking and saying Mom. 

She loves to sit on my lap and get ready for the day with me.

 

I love the tenderness of her personality and how she lights up when she gets a new toy or gets to play outside. 

 She is the best little pal I could ask for.  I love getting to spend time with her.  The other night we laid in bed and had a laughing contest, we giggled for over 20 minutes.  Her little laugh is just so contagious.  The joy she has brought into our life and our home is far beyond any blessing I could have ever asked for.  She truly brings hope and optimism to everyone she meets.  I am so privileged to be known as her mom.  I am forever grateful to Allison and the strength it took for her to make such a difficult choice.  I know that if it wasn't for Allison and her faith in Christ I would not have this sweet little spirit in my life and for that I am eternal grateful.