Christmas Newsletter 2011

2011 has brought a lot of changes for us and we are very excited for the new opportunities for us! We finally sold our house in Spokane in June and were able to buy a new house here in Clarkston that we love! We bought a 3 bedroom home (our only wish is that it was a four bedroom) and after two months of working on it we were able to move out of my parents basement and into our new home with fresh paint and brand new carpet. Can I say how much I love brand new carpet! Love it!

Addison is turning two this December and I can't believe how fast the time has gone! She is talking like crazy and she is so funny. She loves to color and is starting to learn her colors and is able to count to ten (except for 3, 6 and 8, she skips those). Her hair is growing so long and she has already had two hair cuts within just a few months. She is so much fun and we are trying to explain to her that she has a baby brother or sister coming on the way but every time we tell her there is a baby in mommy's belly she just looks for mommy's belly button. I know she will be a great big sister though because she loves her baby dolls and stuffed animals so much and is constantly snuggling them and putting them to bed and changing their "boppers".

Addison the Lady Bug

So from the previous paragraph you can gather that I am pregnant and the due date is May 19th. We are excited and we will find out what we are having in a few weeks. I am sort of leaning towards a boy just based on my own intuition but I guess we'll know soon enough. I am still working for the Shopko pharmacy and enjoy my job. I have to say that I am looking forward to 4 1/2 months of maternity and the best part is that it will be during the summer months this time! Oh yeah! How's that for planning!

Adam is working at Potlatch No. 1 Federal Credit Union as a loan officer and loves it. He has been there for a year now and looks forwards to growing with the company. He started a new calling with the young men and enjoys working with the youth of the church. He loves having our own home again and I can't seem to get him to stop mowing the lawn or vacuuming the house. He just loves to take care of our home.

Addison Loving on Grandpa

We went on our yearly trip to Seaside Oregon this year and Mom, Dad and Denise joined us. We had so much fun going together and playing on the beach. Addison had a blast running in the water and playing in the sand. We went to the tide pools on Canon Beach and we rented the sand bikes again this year. We had lots of fun on the beach at night hunting for sand dollars and also crabs in the sand. I'll tell you that finding a crab in the sand at night, getting it to come out and it running towards you can be a little scary and hilarious at the same time!

We are so excited to be living in Clarkston, our new home, our new friends and being closer to family. We are looking forward to the many new opportunities and adventures that await us and especially the new baby! We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! Love, the Leonards

Addison's First Oreo

Chocolate...a girls first true love!

...or maybe not

The going ons...

Alright everyone, I officially suck at keeping up my blog but if any of you out there are paying attention to this at all anymore I should probably let you know the changes in our lives. We currently are no longer Spokane residents. I have been relocated thru work to be the new pharmacy manager in Lewiston. The last time I wrote was in the Summer and things have changed so fast. I got word in August that the position was available and I had an opportunity to move back home and be closer to family. Of course we took the opportunity and have made the transition back home. Our house is currently for sale in Spokane so if anyone is looking for an amazing house here it is!!It has been a great house and we love it so much. We are sad we have to leave our home but we are very excited about the new opportunities, the great new area we have to live and being so close to family. Adam and I went on a walk today and it was so beautiful outside. We love the river and small town feel of the valley.

For Halloween we went to Wilson Banner Ranch and picked some pumpkins from the pumpkin patch. It was so much fun. We went with Jeremy, Natalie, Ava and Emma and the girls had such a great time. Here are some great shots...For Halloween Addison was a cow and she is so cute in her costume. We plan to go to Sears and get her 10 months photos taken tomorrow in her outfit so we will have some good ones to hand out to family and friends. Here she is in her get up...

How ironic, a cow drinkin' milk!

We have also been going to Kaleb's Football games and watching him doing awesome as a quarterback, lineman, and tackle. Here is a pic from the most recent game, it was chilly.
Here is a photo of Addison hair do that she has been sporting recently (when she allows me to do it). We call it her bam-bam look.

And this is how she looks from my point of view most of the day. She is starting to walk already and has been for a good month now it seems like. She isn't too sturdy on her feet but she is pretty good at it when she does try to walk. She would just rather crawl because she is so much faster. She is such a cutie! We love her so much. She is so fun and happy and the life of the party!

It's been along time

I can't believe I haven't posted since Addison's baby blessing. She is now 6 1/2 months old and has changed so much since January. She started rolling over at 3 1/2 months and is already army crawling and on the verge of a full crawl. She can get just about anywhere she wants without any problems. She is such a fun baby with an amazing personality. She is always so happy even with her double ear infection that she is battling right now with Augmentin (which has given us some pretty fun and unexpected diaper changes as of late). I just thought I would post a few of the great pictures I have taken of her in the past few months as a quick update.

Addison's first experience with solids around 4 1/2 months

Fist time in her bumbo chair! She hated it! But now she doens't mind it because she pretty much climbs out whenever she wants to. Now we have to get a high chair.

Spending some quality time with her Cousin Leah

All bundled up and ready to go on a walk with Daddy

One of the cutest pictures ever! She had just figured out how to stick out her tongue

and I timed it just right to catch it!

First time on a slide, you can tell she is going to be a little dare devil.

Hanging out on the porch with Mommy

We can never keep any shoes on her feet so I had to put in this pictures of her in her little cowgirl boots, she had then off in record time!

Another trick she has learned along with holding her bottle she can throw it back like an old pro!

Sitting up in the tub like a big girl!

How come they grow up so fast!!

Enjoying every minute!

Sorry it has been so long since we have posted but we are just having too much fun around here. Here is Addison in her Easter dress. I know it is early but I have to get as much use out of her dresses as I can since she is growing so fast! Isn't she cute. I just love it!

Here is a picture of Addison taking a little bite out of her dress during sacrament. I guess I wasn't the only one who was a little hungry :)

And finally, a little Alfalfa impression while taking a bath. There really isn't much else you can do with her hair just yet. It is too short on top and not very thick in the back, so we really like the headbands and flowers.

Six more weeks until I have to go back to work:(

Six weeks old already!

Can you believe it, it has been six weeks since little Addison came into the world! I can't believe how time flies! It has been a wonderful six weeks to be able to stay at home with her and spend lots of time together. I wish I could stay home forever but in 11 short weeks I will have to return to stupid work! Crappy!! I wish I could be a stay-at-home mom forever but alas, the world must go around and unfortunately it is powered by money. Maybe someday that will change.

As you can see from the pictures we had our little Addy blessed yesterday and it was wonderful. Adam did a great job and it was great to have our family and friends there to celebrate. Her blessing dress was actually my dress from when I was blessed. The white blanket was crocheted (spelling??) by Tara's mom and was beautiful! I have to say Addison is the cuttest baby ever! Here are some more pics from the blessed event...

Addison's little half smile for the camera. I have yet to get a real one on film yet due to the fact that as soon as she sees a camera she just stares at it.
Daddy and his little girl.

Proud Grandma and Grandpa Leonard.

Proud Grandma and Grandpa Barnes

And finally, the very proud mama!

11 Days old and lovin' it!

I'm sure you all figured out that Addison has come into the world by now. I was induced on the 28th and I have to say that it was a good experience. I know there are a lot of people out there who have negative feelings towards being induced or have had bad experiences but I have to say that mine wasn't bad at all. I went in at 7:30am and they started the pitocin drip at 9:00 and the doc came in at 10:00 to break my water...which hurts really bad by the way, I recommend getting an epidural before he does that. I was dialated at a 6 after that and then decided to get the epidural since the contractions started to be quite painful. I then had to wait. I took a lot of naps, as I waited until I could start pushing, it was quite nice. Around 3pm I was dilated at a 10 and fully effaced but they wanted to me to labor down so I wouldn't have to push as long. By 5 I was ready to start pushing and 2 hours later at 7:12pm little Addison was born. It is amazing how quickly you forget about all the pressure from pushing and how hard you had been working when they place your little girl on your belly and you finally see her. She is the most beautiful little baby and I am not just saying that because I am the proud mama...take a look for yourself

The picture of the mom is never supposed to look good, right? Proud (and sleepy) Papa

First Grandchild for Grandma & Grandpa Leonard

Addison is Grandchild number 10 but Grandma & Grandpa Barnes are just as proud!

All in all things are going great for us.

Little Addison is such a good baby and we couldn't be happier.

No pictures until I have a baby

I am on strike! I am 3 days late and I am in great anticipation for Addison to come into the world. And so, I refuse to post any pictures of anything Christmas like until she is here. When she is here you will be bombarded with pictures of a cute little baby in front of our beautiful tree and maybe even some pictures of the proud mom and dad. Until then, you only get a new blog background. Sorry.

Getting ready for Addison's arrival

We have been working on the nursery and trying to get ready for our little bundle that is on her way in less than 8 weeks. Can you believe it! She is almost here. We have a crib and dresser now and are only in need of a glider. I found one at Baby Depot and we will buy it in a few weeks. One thing at a time you know, I don't want to get too overwhelmed. But we are getting very excited for her arrival and so I thought I would share some pictures of the nursery and for some of you who have been asking a pic of me at 32 1/2 weeks.
You may be looking at the little black girl in the picture on the wall, we don't actually know that girl it came with the frame. We will change it as soon as we get a pic of Addison.

Alright, here is the ever famous prego picture. It is the only one I will post so enjoy it while you can. Do I have the new motherly glow? I am thinking, "man, I can't wait to work out!"

Keith "The Hottie" Urban

Last night Adam and I were able to go to the Keith Urban Concert at the Spokane Arena. Let's just say it was amazing!! We were sitting on the left side of the stage in the risers in the 7th row so we have a perfect view of him the whole time. Plus there was a mike about 15 feet away from us that made me very happy when he sang at that one. He throws such an amazing concert and is such an awesome performer. He can play like the guitar like crazy!!! There was one point when he was playing and his hand was just a blur. I got some pretty good shots of him and also the opening band Little Big Town who are also amazing and Jimi Westbrook is really hot too so it was a good fun night. Little band is rockin'!! If you every get a chance to see then you should because they throw a great concert too. What a way to open the night!Don't worry Adam knows of my obsession for these guys and he is not threatened at all. He knows he is number one in my book!!

Here is a picture of me with Keith in the background at the end of the concert. This is really like 15 feet away even through the camera makes it look farther away than this. He was so awesome!! Adam also got to touch his hand as he was leaving the stage. We walked over to the side rails of the risers where he was walking off thestage and reached down. Adam was up higher than me but since he is so much taller and has longer arms (and not big prego belly in his way) he was able to reach Keith but I just barely missed his hand. How sad. Oh well, I still have the fact that he told me he loved me at the Gorge 4 years ago right :)

I just want to publicly apologize to Tara for forgetting to call her yesterday on her birthday. I blame it on two reasons...1. Keith was on my mind most of the day and that is quite the distraction and 2. I am pregnant and can barely remember one thing to the next. I have to check my work schedule every morning just to make sure I go to work at the right time. Sorry bud, I will make it up to you on Thursday when I see ya!! Love ya man.