Happy Birthday Addi

Two years ago today, at 1:01 p.m. Darrell and I were blessed with our beautiful baby girl.  What immediate joy she brought us!  She was born screaming and didn't stop for about 30 minutes.  I remember Darrell looking at me saying, "Oh man!  I hope this isn't a sign for is what to come."  She was the sweetest, easiest baby.  We had to wake her up to feed her.  The first night, the nurse brought her in for me to feed her, and she said that she was such a "good" baby and they had to wake her up to bring her to me.  When we got home, it was the same!

Precious-One day old

So tired!

First day at church

It's amazing to me how two kids who come from the same parents can be so different.  Both Cade and Addi were both very content and happy babies.  Both of them loved to cuddle and be with their mommy and daddy.  Cade continued to have such a kind, easy going nature about him.  Addi, on the other hand was different.  She was still sweet, but she had more of a feisty way about her.  As she got older, she definitely had a way of letting us know if she wanted something or if something wasn't going her way.  She had a strong and sassy personality.  For example, there was a little boy that went to Ashley's with her that she did not really get along with.  He may not have even been doing anything to her, but she was going to let him know who was boss (as a mom of a little girl, this made me smile...I didn't want her to put up with any stinky boys).  She was quite the little princess!

One of my ALL time favorite pictures.  This is just one example of how much he loved his sister!

The past ten months Addi had grown up a lot.  I can honestly say that she looks nothing like she did when she was a baby.  I look back at her pictures, and it is crazy how different she looks.  Her appearance had changed so much.  It seems like all of a sudden she got so tall and turned into such a little girl.  One of the nights that we were at the hospital with her, she was laying in the bed and Darrell and I both commented on how "big" she looked.  She was quickly leaving the baby phase and turning into a precious little girl.

6 months playing in the exersaucer

6 months posing for a picture

Watching her grow and learn new things was wonderful!  She loved to tease you and play hard to get.  One of my favorite things was watching her dance.  Oh how she LOVED to dance!  The older she got, the more of a girly girl she became.  She was a girl who LOVED accessories.  Each morning when I got her up she would ask for her bow and her shoes and neither of them came off until it was time for her bath.  The girl also LOVED bracelets and purses, anything she could carry on her wrist...and the more of them, the better.

First Birthday--Seriously...how cute is she!

Stylin in the pool

Today we will be celebrating her second birthday without her.  It is an emotional day for me for so many reasons.  Because we were waiting on Addi's new heart, I had purchased some things early for her birthday just in case we would have been celebrating in the hospital.  We were going to have an Olivia (the pig) party, as Olivia was one of her favorites.  Both her Olivia tutu and Olivia "2" shirt are sitting in her closet and will not be worn.

Pre-Surgery picture

Post-Surgery

21 Months--Again SO cute, look how she's resting her hands

2nd Birthday outfit

For her birthday this year, we will be sending her pink balloons to Heaven!

We miss our sweet girl more than anything.  I miss seeing her come around the corner in our house with Mr. G in her hand (hanging from his tail) and her hair all in her face.  I miss her sweet voice and the innocent laugh that made me smile so big.  I know that she is having the best party of all in Heaven!  Happy 2nd birthday sweet girl...Mommy and Daddy love you right up to the moon and back!

Pretty in a Pink

I started working out at the YMCA a few weeks ago. As I was walking in I passed the tree that was planted for Cade. There was a new addition...a pink bow! There I was walking into the Y ready to work out with tears in my eyes. I'm sure a few of our soccer moms had everything to do with that! Again, we are so blessed to have such sweet people in our life. Thank you for thinking about Addi and adding something about her to Cade's tree.

Amazing Students and Great Parents

I absolutely love teaching.  I have been so blessed to be a part of so many kids' lives over the past nine years (by the way, where did the time go...I can't believe I have been teaching for nine years).  The past two years my students and parents have been through a lot more than they had planned on.  At the beginning of this school year, I sent a letter home to all of my parents letting them know about Addi's condition.  I also had a conversation with each of my three classes letting them know that Addi was going to need a new heart and that we were hoping that one would come some time this year.  Everyone has been so loving and supportive along the way.  I have received TONS of drawings, cards, and notes from my students, and such uplifting cards and letters from my parents.  Several of them also came and visited us at the hospital during our different stays. It is truly AMAZING how much love my students and parents have shown my family!

Being a teacher has touched my life in so many different ways.  I love being a part of community that cares so much about what is best for children.  I have met some pretty amazing people and have developed some pretty amazing friendships.  Thank you so much to ALL of my students and parents!

My Homeroom Class at Field Day

All Three of my Classes at Field Day

Mother's Day

I'm not going to lie, this is a day that I was not looking forward to this year.  I thought that last year would have been the hardest Mother's Day, but this year has that one beat.  I have never celebrated a Mother's Day with both of my children, and this is the first Mother's Day without either of them.  It is definitely difficult not having my two precious kids here with me and I've definitely shed quite a few tears about it...and then I realized that the tears aren't because of Mother's Day, it's simply because they are NOT here at all.  But there are many times when I think of Cade and Addi and I will smile and laugh. The memories I have of them mean everything.  How blessed I am to have had them for the time that I did, and I absolutely would not trade that for the world!

A big part of who I am today is because of Cade and Addi.  My life was forever changed the day that both of them came into my life.  The love a child brings to their parents can't be described or explained.  We still share that love, and even though we are in two different places...that love is constant and will never change.  Whether I am with them or not, I am always their mom, and that makes me a pretty happy mommy....EVERY DAY and not just on Mother's Day!

Me and Caderader    August 20, 2006

Me and Cade   May 24, 2010

Me and Addibelle     May 26, 2010

Me and Addi     January 20, 2012

With God, my Lord and Savior, and the love and support from my family and friends, each day gets a little easier.  God carries me through and I am going to honor Him by being the person He created me to be.

Fun at the Ranch

Sunday Darrell and I went with Laura and Marcel to the Meijer family ranch.  One other couple met us there and we had a great time.  First of all, Darrell LOVES this kind of stuff.  He rode four wheelers with Marcel and did a little fishing with Taylor.  Laura and I played around with all those kids!

Me and Darrell with Parker, Kale, Landon, and Gracie



Me and Darrell



Just the girls!

Darrell and Landon playing

The ranch is in Columbus and it is beautiful! There is a creek that runs behind the house, a lake to fish in, and "toys" to play with.  Marcel's parents are in the process of building a new house out there and the plan is to have it ready by Super Bowl.  It was a tad toasty, but we enjoyed our time there.  It was great to get away for the day and relax with great friends.  I even got in some quality snuggling time with Gracie that I totally took advantage of!  I loved every minute of it!!  Thank you, Laura and Marcel, for a great time and we'll be waiting for our Super Bowl invite.

Me and Gracie

Cuddling with Gracie...LOVE it!!

We have ADDI*TUDE!

I'm not sure if you've heard this before, but I work with unbelievable friends.  Today we had our 5th grade Science STAAR test and my team called me into one of their classrooms.  My whole team (all five of us) were in there and Kathy pulled out these pink shirts.  They said "Got Addi*tude?" and underneath it says, "Always Remembered.  Forever cherished."  ...and of course they are PINK!  It brought tears to my eyes thinking about my precious little girl and her Addi*tude.

At Addi's funeral our pastor, Greg Poore, gave an amazing sermon about Addison and he challenged everyone to live with "Addi"tude.  Many people who were at the service have told me that the message he gave, especially the phrase "living with "Addi"tude" has really stuck with them.  She was such a sweet, little girl who was also such a strong fighter.  For half of her short life, she proved to everyone how tough she really was!  I hope that everyone tries to live their life with Addi*tude!

My 5th Grade Team with our Addi*tude shirts!

I found this picture of us from a couple of years ago on my computer at school....much better than ugly sweaters!

Back at Work

Today I went back to school to begin a second "new normal". It was good to be back and my kids were so excited to see me. Some ran down the hall to hug me and I heard LOTS of stories about things that happened while I was gone.It really warmed my heart!

I know I've said it before, but I really do teach at the most wonderful school! Everyone has been so supportive and loving. It made it really easy to get back into the swing of things. The group of ladies I teach with are more than just co-workers, they are like family. Kathy and Larissa have been with me from the beginning. They both mean so much to us!

Here's a picture of the three of us... It's our "ugly Christmas sweater day." I couldn't find another picture of us!! Haha...I'm sure they'll appreciate that!