Happy Halloween!

Here are some more pictures of Adeline's first fall. I'm sure all of you moms with more than one child are rolling your eyes and laughing thinking, "Enjoy the days you can take nice pictures at a pumpkin patch! With two things like that are impossible!" Well... we are! I can only begin to imagine having two little ones to coordinate pictures with (Suzie, I have fresh compassion) since we also tried taking pictures of Addy with Connor.

We had a great time though and the kids seemed to love the pumpkins. Addy just LOVED the small petting zoo they had there. Johnny had to keep pulling her back because she wanted to stick her hand in their mouths! There were lamas, chickens, cows, goats, sheep, bunnies, hens, miniature horses, dogs, etc. She was fascinated!

We decided to do Halloween. I'm aware of all the controversy amongst Christians but Addy... I mean, Johnny just couldn't resist the candy... :) Addy was a chicken. We first went to Grandma and Grandpa Hamstra's house to take pictures, then took pictures with GG and then walked up and down our street with Kathy & Connor (the bumblebee!) It was a blast. Addy was smiling at everyone until she came home and passed out from exhaustion!

Needless to say, we had a very busy day but Addy handled it like a trooper. As a special treat she had "sweet" potatoes with her cereal for dinner.

Happy Fall Ya'll

I must admit... I stole that phrase from a dear friend (thanks Candi.) I thought you'd enjoy these pictures of Addy enjoying fall. Now that she has started eating real food she wants to chomp down on anything, including leaves!

She is almost crawling. She raised herself into a sitting position from her belly and has started saying "dada." We aren't sure if she knows what it means but we'll let Johnny think she does!

Our annual women's conference ended tonight and it was phenomenal. The Lord really spoke to us through his word and Donna & Samantha's sharing. So many women did so much work and the end result was a well run, creative, fun and most importantly we met with the Lord and were changed by His word. I have many personal applications for my own life (please ask me about them!) as did everyone I spoke with afterwards.

More new cousins!!

Yup, that's right, the Hamstra /Kotynski clan is multiplying! Donnie Kotynski asked his girlfriend, Shannon Korzeniewski (above), to MARRY HIM! That means that Shannon will be my new cousin and her son Ajai will be Addy's new cousin! We couldn't be more excited to welcome Shannon to our family. She has proven to be a woman who knows and follows the Lord in all she does.

The wedding date is probably going to be April 15, 2006. And to top it all off, Johnny, Addy and I are all going to be a part of it! It's going to be a blast and we can't wait!

How about those SOX! Even though Addy is a Cubs fan she has enjoyed all of the excitement of the games, who wouldn't! Here she is watching the game with her GG (Grandma Gloria). We're all Chicago fans though and hoping to see the World Series come home!

Oh... and I got a new haircut last week. Its pretty short (see the first pic). I'm still learning how to work with it but so far I'm liking it! Sorry the blog's been so quiet we're very busy these days! More soon.

GO SOX!

I'm definitey a Cubs fan... don't get me wrong... but I'm not a Sox-hater like other Cubs fans. We're excited that the Sox are in the running to win the World Series. Chicago hasn't had a big win in a while! And as you can see, someone else in the family is rooting for the sox... Addy's grandma! This is just one of many Sox accessories/outfits that have been bestowed upon this innocent child. She's too young to choose between the Sox and the Cubs now but we're convinced she'll wear pink either way. :)

Here is Addy eating her rattle while we were eating breakfast out one morning. Unfortunately, these days have passed. Addy is now very vocal in her desire to eat with the rest of the family. No tasteless rattles for her, bring on the french fries! (as if she needs the calories...)

Left overnight!

We left Adeline overnight for the first time this week. Johnny and I stayed overnight at a hotel while Addy stayed with GG (Grandma Gloria). It wasn't quite as emotional as I anticipated and nice for us to have some time together without the distractions of every day life.

She's eating her cereal like a champ and protesting when we eat without her! My parents are both here this weekend and are enjoying taking Addy to the park and swinging her on the swings. She's loving it!

Real Food

Its official... Adeline has had cereal. You can all stop asking me if I've given it to her yet... come on guys, she HARDLY looks like she's starving! But, this past week she has taken an avid interest in food. She watches us eat and moves her mouth as if she is chewing while we're chewing... and Monday night she cried the whole time we were eating dinner because she wanted some. SO, we gave the little stinker what she wanted... real food!

Ironically, my sweet baby girl, who has slept through the night consistently since she was two months old, woke up last night for two hours! "They" say that giving a baby cereal helps them sleep through the night but not in my case! She woke up wanting to nurse and then just wanted to smile and play all night! So, it is with much yawning and fatigue that I post this... but also with much relief. Only one tear was shed on my part and it was an overall enjoyable experience.

GG brings COLD weather!

Good thing I rooted for Georgia! That's right... don't tell anyone but Aunt Tara bought me this bib when I was born. On Saturday she was wearing orange but I was wearing RED!!

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I'm all decked out in new clothes now that Aunt Tara sent me a ton of cute things (pink pig shirt and jeans above and below) and GG (Grandma Gloria) brought me a small European wardrobe (poncho, etc. below).

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It was so nice seeing GG and Grandpa again after such a long time! GG is staying for a month and mom is sure that when she leaves she's going to have a spoiled baby on her hands!

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The weather is getting colder and colder. Going on walks I have to wear a coat, hat and gloves or I come home an icecube! Its a good thing GG brought me a new coat, mittens, scarf and hat!

our sweet gal

Here is Adeline enjoying bathtime. I'm partial to pictures of her in the bathtub.

She seems to be hungrier lately. We are going to start her on cereal this weekend when my mom and dad come into town. We're both so excited to see her again! She is also getting on all fours and rocking back and forth. Johnny and I are grateful she isn't as coordinated on the slippery hardwood floors. Maybe that will mean her mobility will be a little delayed and we will have a few more weeks of not having to chase her around!

We are especially grateful for our healthy baby today.. and very aware of this passing world. I have been challenged to spend more time thanking God for His mercy in my life and not take the many blessings in my life for granted.

I'm getting a new cousin!!

You read correctly! The news of the month is that I'm going to be a cousin! Can you believe it? Auntie Meems and Uncle Trav are going to be adding to their family. We're praying for a safe pregnancy and a healthy baby so that God willing, I'll meet him or her next summer! WOO HOO!
This is my smug face after I went number two while taking a bath. This is what you have to look forward to Auntie Meems!

Pretty Blue Eyes

Bathtime has become one of Addy's favorite times of day. We have tried several "bath seats" but none of them are really worth the money... she prefers the independence and though it makes it easier to clean her it means 100% involvement!

I love this strawberry hat that my mom bought her.

look at this girl! Who could deny her anything???

Check out our online photo ablum for more pictures of Addy.