A snowy day in Middle Georgia (Part 2)

I had just finished blogging, when I looked out the window and noticed how hard it was snowing and that it was beginning to stick! Addie was taking her afternoon nap, so Justin and I quickly dressed in our make-shift snow gear and headed outside! We had a blast playing in the snow! (Don't worry - we kept going inside to check on Addie!)

A few hours later, when Addie awoke from her nap, we dressed her in some snow gear and went outside for her first real experience with the wet stuff. She was unsure of it and actually began to cry because she couldn't move in her getup (we had 3 layers on her)! However, when we put her on the ground in it, she really started to get the hang of it. She was really amazed at this white stuff and how it stuck to everything. In fact, she grabbed two hands worth and just sat and stared at it. I posted more pictures and a video for you to see just how amazing today was!

A snowy day in Middle Georgia (Part 1)

WE HAD SNOW TODAY!! It started raining softly overnight, which developed into small hail, which turned into sleet, and finally into snow by this morning. However, since the ground is warm (37 degrees) the snow melts on contact, so I don't have any pictures of us knee-deep in the white stuff. Oh well! The weather here has been so crazy over the past few days! Friday was warm enough for me to wear short sleeves, Saturday was filled with sirens blaring for tornado warnings, and today it has snowed for several hours straight and still going! I thought Valdosta was the only place with weird weather!!

However, during the first brief snow shower, we mangaed to get Addie all bundled up for some pictures! I'll let her tell you about her winter adventure!

"Bye Bye! I am going to go play in the snow!"

Daddy was so excited he didn't even take time to change out of his church clothes!

Silly Daddy!

Mommy and I were so excited that it snowed!! But she didn't let me get down in it.

She said it was too wet!

I had a great time outside, but now I am ready to get out of these wet clothes!

How do you get this hat off?

Addie's 1st Haircut!

Addie got her first haircut today! One of the ladies from our church is a hair stylist and volunteered to cut it for me. Her name is Hinky (different I know!), and she keeps Addie on Wednesday nights in the nursery. She was so kind to work us in this morning!

Addie was a bit unsure at first. However, she was very interested in the carousel horse! I kept her still by showing her pictures from my digital camera, and when Addie started to wiggle, Hinky called in her dog, Khaki, to serve as a distraction. It worked perfectly!

Doesn't she look like a little girl instead of a baby! I can't believe how quickly she is growing up!

Addie's First Birthday

On Saturday we celebrated Addie's first birthday! Family and friends came to our house at 2 for some appetizers, and of course... the cake! Addie's room is decorated in ladybugs, so we had a ladybug party! I spent months planning out the smallest details. She had ladybug decorations, ladybug cakes and cupcakes, ladybug dress, and much more.... I was so excited because I got to experiment with many new ideas I found on the internet. I had a blast making her birthday cake - it's the first time I've ever decorated cakes. Justin did a marvelous job making her cupcakes and birthday hat. Way to go Daddy! I also made her a dress with a ladybug applique I found online!
Grandparents and friends filled the house with laughter and fun! God graced us with such a special little girl, and we are glad they were there to help us celebrate her! Many of them drove up from Valdosta for a few hours, and they made it even more special! Thanks to all that came or thought about Addie that day! We appreciate all that you have done over the past year and nine months to help us out and especially for praying for us! God bless you!

This is Addie's dress I made for her. I was trying to get a picture of her and Grandma Stephie, but Addie hogged the picture!

Addie in her birthday chair! Wow look at all my presents!

Ethan helps Addie open her big present from us! It was a toybox!

The spread. We had a veggie tray, a fruit tray, Rotel dip, Pigs in a Blanket, and plenty of sweets! The little ladybug cake was for Addie!

"Happy Birthday to you..."

I changed her into a red t-shirt with black dots. I didn't want her to mess up her party dress.

Rylin and Addie enjoying a moment together. Best friends that live too far from each other!

We let Addie enjoy her cake. She was apprehensive at first, but she quickly caught on to what she was supposed to do.

Our Little "Helper"

This week has been so busy! I've had to be in and out of town from Tuesday to Thursday, and we've had revival! With our hectic schedule this week, housework has understandably taken a backseat. However, our sweet girl decided to help us out with a little laundry. I'll let you see for yourself just how "helpful" she was.

Battle of the Colds!

I am sorry I haven't posted in over two weeks! Sorry! We have had our battle with the cold! I got it first and then passed it onto Addie! We had several rough nights but started feeling better mid week - just in time for Justin to catch it! Oh well, we just like to share things in our family!

Since I last spoke, we have had much going on! Justin started his gastrointestinal phase, and I have been busy in the GVA world! Actually, GVA offered me a contract to finish the rest of this school year out! Yay! Praise the Lord! He knows exactly what we need and when we need it! Thank you to all of those that have been praying for us!

I wanted to post this video of Addie playing "Peek-A-Boo". She just walked up to Justin (who was laying on the coach recovering) and took his blanket and put it over her head! We are constantly amazed by the ways she finds to entertain herself!

Happy New Year!

We have really enjoyed being home. It has been such a special treat to spend time as a family! It is a rare thing for Justin to be home and not distracted by study! This is his last break until July, so we are making the most of it! We have cleaned house, undecorated for Christmas, and tried to organize some paperwork!
For New Year's Eve, we went to church and had a wonderful service filled with testimonies of both trials and triumphs from 2008. After church, we put Addie to bed and had a parents-only party! We had a cheese tray, small sandwiches, tacitos, and fruit salad to help ring in the New Year. And I need not forget the Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice - it's a must in our house for New Years! It's amazing we lasted until midnight! We usually turn in at 11 at the latest!
I hope that 2009 will be a wonderful year for each of you, and no matter what the new year holds for us, may we grow closer to the Lord through it!
I've attached a video to make you smile today! Our little girl has figured out how to move her playpen! What will she do next?! (Don't worry Grandparents - she was crying cause she wanted me to pick her up!)