Christmas Card 2011

Happy Holidays!!! I cannot believe another year has come and gone. We have had one big change this year! We welcomed August John Meyer (aka Gus or Gussy man) on September 19, 2011. Here are some brief tidbits about all of us!

Ryan is still at Hy-Vee. He is the Assistant Director of Store Operations and finally has some better hours. He loves the Hawks and is addicted to my yearly Christmas present of his Hawkeye website. He will also give me updates on recruits for both basketball and football (I pretend like I care).

Katie is still at Madison teaching students with autism. This is her 9th year teaching. She loves to read (when she has time) and play with my beautiful babies!

Addison is a bouncing, bounding 3 year old! She loves to talk and is very good at it. She says the craziest things. She just talked to the Grinch on the phone today and told him not to take her candy canes! She took a tumbling class this summer and we are looking into preschools for next year. I cannot believe that she is going to be old enough for preschool.

August was born on September 19. He came into the world at 11:52 AM weighing in at 8 lbs. 13 oz. He is almost 3 months old now. We have had some trials and tribulations. He was pretty crabby the first two months but is getting much better now. He is beginning to smile and is able to hold his head steady when being pulled to a sitting position.

Hank and Daisy haven't changed much, just adjusting to one more body in the house!!!

2 month appt.

Gus had his two month doctor appointment today. He had shots. =[ He took them like a champ! He was also diagnosed with a little reflux which could be why he is fussy all the time. He has had one dose of the prevacid and is already acting less fussy. Here are his current digits and percentiles (He is a big boy!)

Height: 23 3/4 inches (90%)

Weight: 12 lbs. 7 ounces (75%)

Head: 40.6 (80%)

Maybe he will be tall like my Grandpa TT!!!!! it would be the only thing he would have gotten from our side since he couldn't look more like his daddy!

2 months

Hard to believe that Gus is 2 months old today.

Paci free!!! Addison update.

• Addison has been paci free for four days now! We visited the dentist on Friday and he could tell that she was a habitual paci user! He suggested we work on getting rid of it so I decided that we were going to do it cold turkey! She still asks for it but he crying jags are getting shorter! Yesterday she was biting her nails right before nap and I told her to keep her hands out of her mouth. She said, "leave me alone, mom."
  


• Addison has started replaying scenes from her favorite movies. The floor cleaning scene in Cinderella in the bathroom, the cake baking scene in Sleeping Beauty, and the scene from Bambi when Bambi's mom dies (I don't like this one but she will run to a corner and say "we made it mother")
  


• The other day I asked Addison to get me something while I was feeding Gus and she looked at me and held out her empty hands and told me "I can't, my hands are full."
  


• She calls Gus her "Gussy man".



• She is the greatest big sister. She is so loving and always wants to talk to Gus.



• She loves to help but only on her terms. She helped me load the dryer the other day and then wanted to stay downstairs to watch it!



• She lets Hank in and out of the house when he needs to go potty. She also locks the slider door when she is done.



• When she hears the beep of her dad's coffee maker, she annouces that the coffee is done!

1 month

Oh, the things she says and does

Mom: careful, don't poke him in the eye.
A: I am wiping the tears off.

Mom: Addison, what did you do today?
A: well, ...
(every conversation starts like this)

Gus was crying in the swing while I was going to get his bottle ready, I came back and about 10 pacifiers were littered around his head. Addison went into his room, used her step stool, and got him pacis to calm him down.

All of these things were said when we were up north for Ryan's grandpa's funeral so that is why we had a lot of livestock coversations.
A: Look mom, horses!
M: cool, do horse have toes?
A: No, they wear shoes!

A: Cows. Cows eat grass and horses eat carrots. Sheep eat grass too, like cows.
M: your right.
A: I know lots of things!

I love my little brother!

August John Meyer

August John Meyer (aka Gus) was born September 19th, 2011. He arrived at 11:52 AM weighing in at 8 lbs. 13 oz. and 21 inches long! He came very quickly. I was sent to the hospital on Friday night because my blood pressure was up. I was sent home to collect my pee for 24 hours (I did that a lot for this pregnancy). I was called by the doctor on Sunday and was told that I have developed pre-eclampsia again and they were going to induce me on Monday morning at 7. We left Addison at my mom's on Sunday night for a sleep over at grandma's house! We arrived at the hospital at 7 and all preparations were started. They broke my water at 8:10, by 10:15 I had my epidural (love that guy!), and by 11:52, he was here!

Gus has been in the world for a week now and home for 4 days. He is doing great!!! The first night was rough but since then, it has been wonderful! Addison is always saying how much she loves Gus and she is so sweet with him. She willingly gives up her pacifiers (only one) but she is still willing to give them up. We don't use her pacis with him but the fact that she is willing to give them up is so cute!!!

Here are some Addison updates.

• She calls play dough "dough dough"


• Whenever we pass construction equipment, she says "look mom a bullbozer" Carter will correct her when she is wrong but everything is a bullbozer!


• I think she is finally getting the hang of pooping in the potty.


• I love driving in the car and listening to her sing all of her princess songs. Her little voice is so adorable.


• Like any typical girl, she does not stop talking!


• She loves to paint with watercolors.

belly pics

36 weeks




37 weeks

Everything is going so differently with this pregnancy than my last one it is unreal (especially because last time around I never made it this far!), I thought I missed out on some stuff when I was pregnant with Addison because I never got to do the last month and a half. Umm, wrong! It turns out that it is just that much more uncomfortable and you become more anxious to meet the new member of the fam! I am feeling pretty good except for getting up many times to use the restroom which I can handle but lately the last couple of nights I have been having numbness and shooting pains up my right arm. Saw the doctor today so I asked her about it. She said to buy a wrist brace and wear it to bed. It is carpal tunnel because of some swelling in my wrist. We will see how that works! We had an ultrasound today and baby Gus is weighing in at approximately 7 lbs. 7 oz. We have an induction date if he doesn't make his presence known before that!

High Five

I asked Addison if she was ready to meet Baby Gus and she said, "I want to give him a high five!" It was so cute! I had another appointment today and will be 36 weeks on Saturday! One more week and he is comsidered full term! The doctor said that everything looks great and he has started moving south, closer to the birth canal! We are so excited to meet him!

Addison's 3! at OneTrueMedia.com

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33 weeks

How far along: 33 weeks
Total weight gain: 15 pounds
Maternity clothes: of course
Sleep:I get up a lot to pee but what pregnant lady doesn't!
Best moment this week: Had an ultrasound to check on size of baby since I have gestational diabetes. He is approximately 4 lbs. 13 oz. This is going to be a lot different this time around!
Food cravings: Sweets but I have to watch those so small portions for me
Gender: BOY
Labor signs: none yet
What I miss: My summer freedom, back to the grind tomorrow!
What I am looking forward to: Starting school and getting my long term sub ready for my maternity leave
Milestones: baby is the size of a pineapple.

Almost three

Tumbling

Walking to the Bix

It is very hard to believe that in a month, my little lady will be three!!!! It is amazing how quickly time passes. It doesn't seem that long ago that we were learning how to crawl, walk, talk, and do all the amazing things that she can do now. Here is an update on things that Addison is doing and saying that just make me laugh everyday!

• "Dad has a hea-bake. Get better dad"
  


• Papa was going to poker one night and Addison told him to "win big" and he did. Now we need her to say, "share your winnings with me." =]
  


• Addison and Carter are starting to have actual conversations. Here is the one from tonight. A: I need some socks. C: You're crazy. A: I'm not crazy.
  


• Addison ran in the Jr. Bix this summer and I asked her if she was going to run fast, she said "Yes, like Lightning McQueen"
  


• She started Tiny Tot Tumbling at the Y this week! She is pretty good at the balance beam!
  


• She saw Baby kicking the other day and I asked her what he was doing. She said, "He is swimming"
  


• She loves to listen to princess music in the car and "Mac's" song (Life is a Highway) from Cars.

30 weeks 6 days

I have passed a milestone. If this were my last pregnancy, we would have baby # 2 already. I only made it 31 weeks and 2 days. I am now on 31 weeks 4 days. Hopefully, I can keep it up and keep baby cookin' at least another 6 weeks. I have been feeling really good and have had a great summer hanging out with my peanut! I go back to school next Wednesday so we will see how it goes!

Addison and belly pics

28 weeks 6 days

Well, I have been slacking on the belly pics which stinks since I said that I was going to be better about that. I have been feeling really good. They did diagnose me with gestational diabetes which kinda stinks since now I have to really watch what I am eating! Addison is doing great! We went to the zoo the other day and she fed the giraffes and rode a pony! Here are some new Addison sayings.

• Addison just got over a cold so she did a lot of blowing her nose. When she needs a kleenex, she says "I need a blownex!"




• When we are talking about what we are doing for the day, she will say "oh, that will be fun!"




• She still remembers when we went to see the airplanes and when we see one flying in the sky, she will say, "I saw the airplanes on Sunday!" (even though that was about a month ago)




• Addison has been having issues sleeping in her own bed so we have put her elmo couch in our bedroom and tell her that if she wants to sleep with mom and dad that she has to sleep on the couch and she no longer gets to use her pacifier. Her pacifier has to stay in her room. I am hoping that is a big enough incentive to get her to stay in her room, so far it is not working. She always starts in her room and around 4 will come into our room.
  

I think we are going to take the kids to their very first movie in the theater on Sunday. Cars 2 here we come!

Addison

Crazy how quickly summer passes. Cannot believe that it is July 4th already! Addison is having a fabulous summer. Here is an update of what she is up to.

• She will go up to little kids and say "Hi, I am Addison" and then wait for them to introduce themselves. She always ends up calling the girls "Sara" no matter what they tell her (Cailou's friend)
  


• When she wants the attention of a group of people, kids or adults, she will say "Hey kids, look at me"
  


• Potty is still going well. She will leak in her undies and then run up to me and say "Mommy potty!"
  


• Yeserday she went potty and requested a sucker. I told her that I didn't know where they were. She said "They are around somewhere"
  


• She goes off the diving board by herself. (caught by an adult)
  


• She loves go under the water during ring around the rosie.
  


• She will stay on the stairs at the pool and play ring around the rosie all by herself. She stays under the water for about 5 seconds! (Future swimmer?!?)
  


• She loves princesses! It is fun to watch her play with them and see how they interact with each other.



• When asked about where the baby is, she will say "Under Mommy's belly!" She has also started coming up to my tummy and saying "Hi baby Gus"
  


• she went fishing for the first time last weekend with her own princess pole!

My Montage 6/15/11 at OneTrueMedia.com

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I think we did it!!!

Very proud in her big girl undies and a sucker for going on the potty!



Addison is officially potty trained!!! It took less than a week. For the past two days, she has been telling us when she has to go and has used many different bathrooms in a lot of different places!!! When it is time for her to flush, she likes to lift the lid and say that it is a "Naked toilet"

New story. I downloaded a bunch of princess songs from Disney movies to listen to in the car. Addison has her own names for a lot of those songs.

Princess and the Frog: "Ray's song" and "Louis's song"

Cinderella: "prince song" and "mouse song"

Tangled: "Pascal's song" and "bad guy song"

Most of the time, we listen to one song over and over but every once in awhile, she lets us move on.

OK, on to me. It has been awhile since I posted about the pregnancy.

How far along: 24 weeks 3 days
Total weight gain: 15 pounds
Maternity clothes: yes
Sleep: It is ok. I find that I am more comfortable on the couch, I think because I have something against my back.
Movement: yes, alot in the morning and evenings
Food cravings: Root beer floats!
Gender: Hopefully, we find out tomorrow!!! Let's hope baby has spread out a bit and is not in a ball anymore
Labor signs:NO
What I miss: a nice cold beer while camping!
What I am looking forward to: finding out what baby is tomorrow!

The potty training adventure has begun!

Yesterday when I got home, we started our potty training adventure. 2 succcess and 2 accidents in 2 1/2 hours.

Day 2 (first full day of potty training)- HUGE SUCCESS!!! No accidents for my big girl!! Way to go Addison!

Now for some...

Addisonisms and Addison updates

"doggie treats"- this is what Addison called puppy chow all weekend that Mark and Grete were here. She really like "doggie treats!"

Addison jumped off the diving board this weekend! She loved it and did it probably 20 times!

Pictures and Videos

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

My Little Princess

"Addisonisms"

• Never, never never. Not really sure where she heard that but she says it when playing with her princesses all the time.
  


• She loves to put things to bed (animals, princesses, etc). She also likes to pretend to change their diapers.
  


• She calls hamburgers "hamgeburgers"
  


• She was very into Auntie Jo's wedding last weekend. Auntie Jo was the bride and Uncle Cory was the prince. He is the only prince as well. Daddy isn't a prince, Carter isn't a prince, and Uncle Matt isn't a prince.
  


• She took one look at my mom last weekend in her black dress for Joanna's wedding and said "Grandma is a black bride!"



• After her bath she always says "Addison carry you" when she wants you to carry her to her room.



• She always picks a pink, green, and yellow paci to take to bed. I am going to work on the potty thing first before fighting the paci fight.



• She calls Ryan's dad "Papa Bombine" (Combine)



• She loves the movie Princess and the Frog. Her favorite character is Ray (the firefly). She loves his song and can be heard singing the words "goin' down the bayou" while riding in the car.


• Calls Pocahantas "Hocamanus"



• When putting Addison to bed, I love hearing the words "love you too, mom!"

15 weeks

the stain on my shirt is oxyclean from doing the laundry

How far along: 15 weeks

total weight gain: 4 pounds

Maternity clothes: not really some shirts and pants but they are still too big

sleep: it is getting better for Addison but mom still has to get up and go to the bathroom alot!

Best moment this week: spending all day Saturday with my husband and daughter

Movement: I am feeling something but it might be gas! =]

Food cravings: bagels with cream cheese

Gender: I am thinking boy but don't know yet

Labor signs: nope

what I miss: my energy. I am ready to not feel so tired!

Weekly wisdom: Don't put off what you can do today!

Milestones: the baby is 4 inches long crown to rump

14 weeks

How far along: 14 weeks

Total weight gain: 3 pounds

Maternity clothes: some pants but they are still too big

Sleep: not sleeping too well. Getting up to go to the bathroom a lot and Addison is having some sleeping issues.

Best moment this week: Coming home from Mexico and having my little lady run up to me at the airport

Movement: none yet

Food cravings: sour foods

Gender: I am thinking boy but we will find out in six weeks

Labor signs: nope

What I miss: nothing much

Weekly wisdom: I totally ruined my daughters life by leaving her for a week. The folllowing script played out a few times while we were gone.

Addison: Baby Thomas (Thomas the train toy) is crying.

Grandma: Why is baby Thomas crying?

Addison: Because he is all alone!

Milestones: The baby is the size of a lemon.

My sister..

My sister is absolutely fabulous! Both my sisters are fabulous but Laura takes the cake this month!!! She went to her company (McGladrey) and pitched Addison and the March of Dimes. They picked it up for their Casual for a Cause for the month of March and on March 18th, Laura and her work friends raised $363 for Team Addison Meyer and March of Dimes!!! Thank you so much McGladrey and Laura for being a great aunt to Miss Addison and a great mom to Carter Man!!!

12 weeks

How far along: 12 weeks

Total weight gain: 1 pound

Maternity clothes: not yet but it is coming soon. I am having trouble buttoning my pants!

Sleep: I get up about 3-4 times to go to the bathroom.

Best moment this week: Being done with school for two weeks!!!

Movement: nope

Food cravings: I am not having a ton of cravings but when I see food on TV that looks good, that becomes what I want.

Gender: not yet

Labor signs: none

What I miss: being able to sleep on my stomach!

Weekly wisdom: watch what you say in front of toddlers. I used the phrase "son of a ..." and Addison filled in "b****"

Milestones: The baby is the size of a lime.

11 weeks

How far along: 11 weeks
Total weight gain: 1 pound
Maternity clothes: none yet
Sleep: Wishing my daughter slept later, espeically on the weekends but sleeping okay.
Best Moment this week: Nothing much this week.
Movment: none yet
Food cravings: chinese food and shamrock shakes
Gender: no idea yet
Labor signs: None
What I miss: sushi!!!
Weekly wisdom: Let things go that you cannot control!!!!
Milestones: The baby is the size of a fig.

Belly pics to come!!

10 weeks

How far along: 10 weeks
Total weight gain: none
Maternity clothes: none yet
Sleep: dreaming weird dreams about people getting hit by school buses?!?
Best Moment: Seeing the baby on ultrasound this week!
Movement: None yet
Food cravings: Shamrock shakes!
Gender: no idea but we are going to find out.
Labor signs: None
What I miss: nothing right now but I have a feeling when we go to Mexico I will miss all the fun drinks!
Weekly wisdom: I am going to take belly pics this time around!
Milestones:The baby is the size of a kumquat

Big News. Addison is...

going to be a big sister!!! We had a doc appointment today. We got to see the baby because doctor wanted to make sure of the due date. Heart rate 176! Baby looks good! Due date October 1st!!!! We are so excited to be expanding our family!!!!!

It's hard to do!

Since I don't update enough, I thought I would let you know some "Addisonisms" that she has been coming up with lately.

*When she is struggling to do something, she will look up at you and say "It's hard to do!" or she will throw the thing down and say it!

*ENOUGH! Addison likes to say this word to mommy when she does not want Mom to talk or sing! (yes, she heard this from me, I say this to her when I think she has carried on way too long with something)

*Relax (also from me)

*Mom/Dad: "Addison, you hair is a mess!"

Addison: "No, Addison beautiful!

*She can locate a Jeep whenever we are on the road. She especially likes the yellow ones because of her soon-to-be Uncle Cory!!!

Mom/Dad: "Is Addison cute?"

Addison: "No, Addison big girl!

*She counts to 15 but then makes some numbers up. (eleventeen)

Can you say SNOW!!!

Queen of the Mountain. This is Addison sitting on a snow drift. (yep, she is taller than the mailbox!)