Shana's visit

Auntie Shana came for a 4th of July weekend visit and we had fun! Addison smiled right off the bat when she saw Shana, which is funny becasue usually she takes a bit to warm up to people. Shana came baring gifts and lots of playtime for Addison. We had fun just being together, going out for lunch, playing at the lake, hanging at Jeff and Natalie's, cooking and sitting out on the patio all night on the 4th of July. This past weekend Addison developed a major obsession with balloons and lights. She can turn lights off and on and gets very excited about it. She points and makes "ooh, ooh" noises at both the balloons and the lights. She has also started attempting to sing along when we do "Itsy Bitsy Spider", it's so cute! You can tell she is trying to say spider, and she does it in a sing-sing voice. I will definitely try to capture that on video. There's been more teething action too, so we suspect the eye-teeth will be popping through pretty soon. She's definitely turing into a little girl, no longer a baby. Amazing, and sort of sad, but SO much fun! I took the day off from work on Monday and just spent the whole day with her. I cherish those rare weekdays together! Wish I could do it every day, especially during this time of rapid growth and change.

Relaxing on Jeff and Natalie's roofdeck lounge


Getting tickled by a plant

In her new jammies from Shana

Addison's first tortilla chip - no salsa!

The big girl car seat

Playing at Lake Calhoun

Shimmying and shaking

Happy Birthday Addison!

We can't believe our baby girl is a year old! July 2nd 2008 easily marks the best day of our lives to date, and we were so excited when we woke up this morning to greet Addison on her first birthday. She slept until 6:45am, so that in itself was a huge treat for us - WE had to wake HER up. We immediately turned on the video camera to capture her first moments as a one-year-old, and took her downstairs to check out our gift to her - her very own play kitchen! She was sleepy, but we think she liked it.

Addison spent the day at Grandma's house and DJ and I headed over there after work for a birthday celebration. Grandma had fun pink decorations up everywhere and balloons with Addison's name on them. Addison feasted on meat loaf, scallop potatoes and broccoli salad. Talk about comfort food! She loved it, couldn't get enough. She topped it off with a strawberry, blueberry and kiwi tort with vanilla ice cream. Her first taste of true, straight-up sugar surely won't be forgotten, but will NOT be a regular occurence. Only special occasions like this one. :) Well, that's the plan anyway...

Auntie Shana comes in later this evening (11:55pm to be exact), so stay tuned for pics from a fun weekend with her. The weather promises to be pleasant. Happy birthday to Addison, and happy 4th of July!

Patty-cake and the new kitchen!

Birthday dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's

On her tip-toes pushing her new shopping cart

Grandma/Grandpa Barat's home-made silly birthday card

Fruit tort!

Morning sleepy-head

Kisses from Callie

The first of many birthday presents

Addison received the first of what we're sure to be her many birthday presents - a baby laptop from Auntie Kaili! When Kaili was here visiting in May, Addison was obsessed with her laptop. Accordingly, Kaili thought a computer of Addison's own would be a good idea. She was right! We've taken the thing everywhere - in the car, into restaurants, into the bathroom in the morning when we're getting ready for work and it's provided endless entertainment. Thank you Kaili!

Addison's "walking" skills are getting more advanced each day. It shouldn't be long now, though we're thinking around 14 months or so. The more and more people we talk to, the more we're finding that many babies don't walk until that 14th or 15th month. We shall see!

Step, step, step....

Father's Day Weekend

Tired, going to bed, but the quick and dirty rundown of the weekend is....

Friday - Mom and Dad's night out, Addison overnight at Grandma/Grandpa Barat's
Saturday - Dad golf, Mom and Addison swim/play date with Sonia and Isabella
Saturday night - Father's Day dinner with Grandma/Grandpa Barat at our house
Sunday - Mom, Dad and Addison playing and relaxing; Addison's "1 year photos" with Erika had to be postponed until Tuesday due to weather

Good night!

Summer!

Lots of fun this weekend - Logan was in town all week and got to meet his sister for the first time. He brought her presents and everything, so she was an immediate fan. We went to the 1st birthday party of Addison's buddy Maxwell (middle name Barrack - is it obvious that his parents are Democrats?) at the most amazing park in Southwest Minneapolis with a zero-grade wading pool with fountains in the center. The water was CHILLY, but should be all warmed up by later in the summer.

We spent a ton of time outside becasue the weather was so nice. Our back yard is looking a lot like a park these days, so instead of heading off to one, we had a picnic out in the grass and set up Addison's own personal wading pool. Abby, Alice and Anna were quick to throw on their suits and help Addison splash in the pool. Again, the water was CHILLY, but it didn't stop or little water baby from crawling right in. Yes, in case you're wondering, we did slather her with sunscreen and then put a hat on her when the girls' mom recommended it. :)

Addison has a newfound respect for Elmo - he is one of the funniest guys she knows. Check out the clip below, or on Flickr for a longer one where she is actually imitating his moves! http://www.flickr.com/photos/elizabethbarat/3629050296/

Our flowers in bloom

Maxwell's bday

Fun outside

Pool time




Elmo fan

Trying to stand

Quick weekend update - 11 months old!

This weekend has been cool and rainy, a welcome relief to our parched lawn and yard. DJ and I, along with his parents, took in a show of the Phantom of the Opera on Saturday. That was the 5th time I've seen it, and it never gets old - I love it! I'm busy dowloading my favorite tunes from the musical so Addison can listen to them on her iPod. :) We left Addison with our neighbors Gwen and John and their 3 girls (future babysitters) who adore Addison. She likely had the best afternoon of her life. When we walked in to get her, the girls were surounding her, playing with stuffed animals, putting on a puppet show, reading her books, hiding behind forts made from blankets - she looked like she was in heaven.

Just over the last week Addison has become increasingly active and a bit more daring, getting into drawers, closing doors, pulling up on the stereo cabinet to mess with the buttons and pointing at absolutely everything in sight. She's even been taking a few little steps forward while holding onto our hands.

Around 8:30am on Sunday we got a phone call from Mara saying Mike got called into work and that she needed help with Eliana - 18 months. Mara had a c-section, so I can only imagine how difficult it is 8 days after surgery having to chase and lift a 22 pounder. So we hung out at the Antonoffs until Mara's mom could come over. Addison took a GREAT nap there and then snacked and played with Eliana. Oh, and she popped another little pearly white tooth on the top right!

Swinging at the lake last weekend

Mara and new baby Sam - Addison was so gentle with him!

Fun new stacking blocks

Baby steps - sorry for the sideways show below!