It's about that time...

...to start cheering for the Tigers! :)

Here is a little comparison... Addie is on the left in an outfit borrowed from Abbie (on the right in 2006). :) I love having pictures of the girls in outfits that we have borrowed from Abbie.

Gosh, I love these two girls!

Fun NICU tradition!

Addie was so excited to be reunited with her NICU family!  The Baptist NICU holds a "birthday bash" each August for all NICU graduates.  It was a great time, and we loved showing off our preemie and getting to see how well the others we know are doing!  In my opinion, it's just another way to show off what kind of miracles our God can perform! :)  This picture is one of my favorites... we love our favorite Nurse Carly!

This is a picture of Addie with the neonatologist who took care of her on Day One.  He was waiting in the delivery room early that morning to swoop her off into the NICU... he is the one who brought her over to me in the delivery room and said, "Look real quick!" so I could take a peek at her sweet teeny face before they took her away... Dr. Rojas will always hold a special place in our hearts.  He is an incredible doctor and man, and he took very good care of our baby girl. :)

 

 Sweet Cooper and Addie... he has come such a long way!  It was awesome to see him doing so well!  We spent hours talking to his Mom and Dad during our days in the NICU... and we still keep in touch through facebook and texting.  I'll always be thankful for their friendship!  Oh, and can you tell Cooper was excited about the pictures?! :) ha

This picture is so sweet... Johannah was right beside us when we were in the intensive part of the NICU.  We also spent many, many hours talking with her sweet parents who we now consider friends of ours.  It's amazing how close you become with people who are experiencing the same things you are.  We may not live near them, but when we saw them at the party, we picked up right where we left off!  It was so great to see little Jojo doing so well! :)  AND they like to put fancy bows in her hair, too!! :) ha

Here are the daddies with their babies... Johannah (who is about 3 weeks older than Addie) and her dad, Joe, Addie and Eric, and Cooper (Addie's valentine :) who is almost 2 months older than Addie) and his dad, Kevin.  Again, these two families were such a great support to us!  We are so thankful God had our paths cross.

The Titans' cheerleaders came, too!  Addie loved them! :)

My girl and me... the party made us re-realize (is that a word?!) how blessed we are!

 Daddy and his baby girl.  Love these two!

Needless to say, we are already looking forward to next year!  We can't wait to see Johannah, Cooper, and Addie running around the room! :)

Happy 7 months, Addie! :)

**So sorry I didn't post this on her actual birthday... I've been too busy to blog lately!  Life is crazy... it's great, but crazy!**

Here is the little doll on her 7 month birthday:

I promise you... she is literally this happy about 95% of the time. :)  That part of her sweet personality is absolutely precious!  Now, keep in mind, that the other 5% of the time she is not happy.  At all.  These are times when she is letting us know she is hungry, wet/dirty, or sleepy.  She communicates quite well... and loudly. :) ha  Her lungs work VERY well now.

Here are her stats:

-13 pounds!  Whopper!

-24 1/2 inches

-Size 1 diaper

-Size 0-3 month clothes (she can wear some 3-6 month onesies! :)

Addie loves the water!  We have had fun with her at my parents' house and Eric's dad's house swimming this summer!  She even took a little swim at Abbie's birthday party a few weeks ago.  We are so looking forward to watching her splash around next summer!

Addie can successfully roll over from her tummy to her back!  It has taken her a long time to reach certain milestones simply because she's a preemie... but she is definitely working hard to catch up!  She's almost able to roll from back to tummy.  We think that will happen in the next couple of weeks!

Addie and Mommy started new schools this past month!  Here we are on her first day.  She has adjusted very well to her new "home away from home." :)  It feels so great knowing that she is well taken care of each day and that they are giving her the love and attention that she needs.  Addie sleeps well at night, so we know they are playing hard each day!  We also love that she is around other children.  She LOVES watching them play... and they love her, too!  She's the baby of the group... so naturally she gets lots of attention!  The kids are all so excited when they see her... melts my heart.

Addie loves to play!  I think I put this on her last post, but this month it has gotten even more entertaining!  She will grab anything (as you can tell by the pic... that is her sock monkey :) and bring it to her mouth almost instantly!  She has a "red bird friend" that sits by her changing pad... all we have to do is lay her down and she rolls right over to play with it!  It is by far her favorite toy! :)  She also loves her dolphin and owl and her fun musical ball!

Addie loves bath time!  She's started to look for her squeaky toys when she's bathing... it won't be long until she's sitting up splashing around in the tub!  This picture also shows that she loves her Daddy!  He can make her chuckle any time of day... it is just precious. :)

Addie has the best blue eyes. :)  Seriously... I look in them as much as I can each morning before work and each night before she drifts off to sleep... I can't get enough of them!  I'm all misty just typing about them... Gees.  The hormones are still nuts 7 months later.

I'll post about this again later, but I had to include this pic of Addie with her primary nurse, Carly.  I already have plans to print and frame this in Ad's room... we went to the NICU Birthday Bash on her 7 month birthday.  It was such a great experience!  Baptist hosts it each year, and it is wonderful to see the sweet people who saved our baby.  Ah... misty-eyed again.  I think I need sleep.

Addie,

Well, munchkin... we fall more and more in love with you every day!  We absolutely LOVE you and your precious personality.  We praise God each day for choosing us to be your parents!  What a miracle you are, sweet girl!

Love,

Daddy and Mama

It's been a while :)

Life is super busy these days, but here is a picture of our munchkin that's sure to make anyone smile. :)

Hopefully life will slow down soon so I can post about the fun we've been having this past month! :)