Lake House Fun

With a sunset like this, how can you not have a great weekend away?! :)

We went to my brother's lake house a few weekends back and had a great time!

I didn't get a lot of pictures, but Eric did take this one of Daddy Bob and his youngest great-granddaughter. :)

With steps like these that lead to the lake, you're definitely going to sleep well at night! :)  The room that Eric, Addie, and I use has no windows... it's probably my favorite room in the house!  We sleep very well each time we are there!

We had great entertainment over the weekend!  Abbie was a star here singing "Do You Love Me."  She was assisted by her back-up dancers, Mommy and Daddy!  This was the finale to the "party" she planned after dinner... complete with her "party clothes!"  It was so much fun! :)

"Work, work... aw, work it out baby!"

I love this pic!  She found a big stick that she said was perfect for her microphone!  "Girl, put your records on..."

My sweet family... what a great weekend! :)

Happy Father's Day!

This is from one of the first times Eric got to hold our little girl... there we were.  The three of us as a family for the very first time.  We were behind those NICU curtains... Addie hooked up to all of those monitors... trying to maneuver her tiny little body so that her levels wouldn't drop... trying to see through our tears.  It was pretty stressful, but for some reason, none of that mattered at this very moment.  I got to witness one of the most amazing things I had ever seen.  There is absolutely nothing like seeing the man you love hold your child.  The love in his eyes and in his voice made me fall in love with him all over again.

Look how tiny she was!  Wow.

...and to this day, I am amazed each time that Eric holds our baby girl.  He loves her and it shows.  I am so thankful that he is with me on this journey.  He leads our family and works hard to provide for us.  I'm the luckiest woman on Earth, and one day, Addie will see just how lucky she is, too!

In fact, I think she already knows how wonderful you are. :)  We love you so much!

Here are some other Father's Day wishes...

Happy Father's Day to my Daddy!  He is one of the most incredible men I've ever known, and I am so thankful for all he has shown me and taught me.  He leads by example, and I'm a better person because I have watched him love my Mama and his children and work tirelessly to provide for all of us.  Now, I get to enjoy watching him love my daughter, too!  No doubt that she is going to love her Papa! :)

My grandfather, Daddy Bob, is one of my favorite people.  He sets such a Godly example for our family, and I'm so thankful that he is here to know and love Addie!

This is my father-in-law, T-Paw. :)  This face shows how excited he is to have his first grandbaby!  If my memory serves me correctly, some of his first words when he found out we were expecting were, "She can have anything she wants!  Anything!" :)  I know that he is going to love and support Addie and that she'll love her T-Paw!

Here is Addie with her Poppy.  Anyone who knows Warren knows that he's pretty manly and pretty much the opposite of lovey-dovey.  Heh.  Not with Addie.  His voice reaches new heights, and he shows a side of himself that lets us know that he and Addie will become close buddies. :)

 

Here is Uncle Trae.  My brother is one of the greatest dads ever!  He is so wonderful with Abbie, and I am so proud to be his sister.  He loves Addie, too, so we can't wait for Abbie and Addie to have sleepovers with Uncle Trae and Aunt Amber! :)

This is a picture of three generations of Jackson men... one of my favorite pictures. :)

Eric's Papa is very special to Eric, and I know he will be to Addie, too!

 Here is Addie with my dad's father... my Paw-Paw.  He was so excited to meet Addie... he was happier than I've seen him in a long time.  I can't wait to see him with her again soon! :)

Happy Father's Day to you all!

Happy 5 months, Addie! :)

What were you doing five months ago today?

Me?  I was coming to terms with the fact that I was officially a Mommy!  That day seems like forever ago... but at the same time, I remember it like it was yesterday.  I honestly remember every. single. second.  What a day it was!  It was the happiest and scariest day in my life... all wrapped up into one day.  Crazy.  Thinking back to that day makes me VERY thankful for each "month birthday" this little girl has...

I cannot believe that our baby girl is already five months old!  Addie is such a joy to us, and she is getting to be tons of fun!  Here are her stats:

-Our scale says she weighs 10 1/2 pounds!  Holy cow!

-She is *** inches long.  We'll measure her tomorrow when she is actually being still for 5 seconds. :)

-Clothes size: she usually wears newborns, but she is starting to wear 0-3 month clothes in some things... 

-She is up to a size 1 diaper!

Here are some of our latest milestones:

-Addie is a fantastic sleeper!  She has been sleeping through the night for a few weeks, and we could not be more excited!  We've established a great nightly routine, and I honestly think that it's helped her.  It was hard at first (and sometimes it's hard to make ourselves come home and get her to sleep on time), but it is totally worth it!

-She has started to smile and laugh!  We can't get enough of it!  She has realized that she can make all kinds of sounds with her mouth, and she spends a lot of the day "talking" to us!  We've gotten some of it on video, so one day I'll figure out how to upload the videos on here. :)

-Addie is quite the mover!  When you hold her on your lap, she will just kick and move... kinda like she's a little swimmer!  She loves to play on her playmat and we've even started to sit in the bumbo!  She's getting really good at holding her head up, so she enjoys looking around to see what's happening!

-Addie also loves to eat!  She eats a LOT during the day... hopefully at our next pediatrician visit in July, we'll get to start some rice cereal and fruit!  Can't wait! :)

Addie,

You are the light of our lives, sweet girl!  We love spending each day with you and seeing the world through your eyes.  We love watching you grow and learn... taking in everything around you!  Most of all, we love you! :)

Mommy and Daddy

Our family is growing :)

... not in my belly.  That, my friends, won't happen for a while.  I'm a wee bit gun-shy with the whole pregnancy thing. :)

Anywho, we are so excited that my brother, Trae, and his wife, Amber, have decided to adopt! :) We are thrilled that God has led them to this decision.  I can't wait to see who God has waiting to become a Wieniewitz and join this sweet family:

I'm posting this because Trae and Amber are beginning to spread the word to family and friends.  They are doing a private domestic adoption, and hopefully, by letting others know, they can become a special, forever family to a birthmother and her child.  So many lives are touched through adoption... some of my favorite people in the world are adopted, and I know the new little addition to our family is going to be just as special!

So, just keep this in the back of your mind in case you come across anyone. If you pray, please remember them in your prayers.  Pray for patience, for wisdom, and for the birthmother and her child... :)

One more thing... 
the sweet baby they will adopt gets to have this cutie as his/her big sister:

She is going to make the BEST big sister! :)

Be sure to check out their adoption blog... just click here.

Blessed.

So, as I was putting little bit to sleep tonight, I started crying.  Shocking, huh? :)  I do it a lot.  Apparently, my hormones are still crazy.  Anyway, I was holding her and just remember the days when I had to hold her while she was connected to wires and her whole body fit right under my chin...

Look how tiny! :( Addie was about 11 days old in this picture.

I just got overwhelmed tonight at how amazing this journey has been.  I can't believe how lucky I am that I get to be her Mama!  She is so much fun... I'm so anxious to watch her grow!  I know that it will pass quickly, so I am trying to savor every moment.

I did get a few pictures of her tonight.  She is quite the little poser. :)

She was so content right before bath time. :)

Seriously.  Miracle.

This might be my favorite one. :)  Please excuse the medicine on her tongue. :)

This verse is so true... and thanks to all of you for praying for her as well. :)