Family Time!

A couple of weeks ago, Dan took off Friday to hang out with Addy and me. We went out to Egin to visit family. We spent some time with Great Grandpa and Grandma Stoddard. Marion is 94 and Blanche is 92 and they are amazing! It was their 73rd anniversary that day, so we were excited to spend part of that day with them and introduce Addy to them.


We decided to get a home family photo...PS yes I am very well aware that it is not a great photo... It was a late night with Addy. We are tired, I have no makeup...but oh well... Here we are...

Addy loves her Daddy...

So this position does not look that comfortable, but Addyson seems to like it!


I think she was even drooling on me!

Look Alike Contest!!!

I swear that Baby Addy changes every day! She is now about 2 1/2 weeks old now and growing fabulously! She had her two week check up today and still growing strong. Her statistics... She is now 6 lbs 5 oz (WOW!) and 19 3/4 inches long. I did find out that she DOES NOT LIKE Plum Loco... okay maybe all spicy foods together! She scram all night... and basically hasn't slept very well since. We are working on figuring out our nights and days again! Kind of difficult to keep a newborn up during the day! Anyway, I have been worried that she only eats about 5-10 minutes at a time, so I am so pleased at her growth. Her cheeks have started to fill out, but I think she is adorable as can be still!
We have been trying to figure out who she looks like this week. We found a baby picture of Dan from when he was just 2 days old... We decided that Addy looks alot like him, especially in the nose, lips and chin... So here are some pictures to compare... Sorry, there may be some duplicates. Do I look like Daddy?

That was Addyson...

That was her Dad... Here is another Addy photo...

And for good measures, Daniel at 3 months old...


Or do I look like Mommy?


Obviously that was Addyson with Dan...And this is me...


Aunt Joann thinks Addy looks like her Grandpa Holman... I think so too in this photo!

Today is Addy's Due date, so where has our five days gone?

Addyson and I have had a blast the past five days. We have lounged around at the house mostly. I find myself just staring at her, before realizing hours have gone by. I just love her so much! She is such a precious spirit! And she already has her dad wrapped around her finger! He now volunteers to change the diaper. Dan is wonderful help. I truly am blessed with the best husband! My mom has been spending the nights with us until just last night. She was such a help. She allowed Dan and I to get good rest while she got us when Addy was start to fuss. She would take care of her until she was ready to eat, then awake me. I really want to thank her for her help. Love you mom!
On Monday we went up to the hospital to visit with my Aunt Zulma, who is the hospital's lactation consultant. We just wanted to check up on our feeding skills. Addy weighed in at 5 lbs 3 oz that morning. I am not sure what her discharge weight was when we left the hospital on Sunday. Aunt Zulma said we were doing great with our feeds. So we have just kept trucking. Yesterday was our first appointment with the pediatrician. We found out it takes a bit longer to get two of us ready to go somewhere. Yeah, we were a few minutes late for our appointment. OOPS! But the Doctor was pleased with Addyson. She weighed in at 5 lbs 7oz and had grown a half and inch. Everything went well and he sent us on our way. I just wanted you all to see how much bigger she looks with her 1/2 inch and extra 4 oz. :)

We discovered the binky this week. We have been working on the use of that and I think it may just become one of our best friends. We also found out how entertaining the swing is. So thank you Greg and Tiff for letting us borrow it.


Addy was so content in the swing while I worked on putting together her bouncy. Then of course we had to try that out too! I just can't believe how content she is thus far. I love it!


We have also been working on her tan to get ready for next summer. Okay, not really. But we have been laying out by the window in the mornings to get some sunlight and Vit. D flowing through her veins. She just lays there on a towel for a couple of hours in her birthday suit, soaking in the rays. So precious always!

ADDY'S FIRST BATH TIME!

Who would have known that babies poop so much! I swear as a clean diaper is placed, it suddenly is dirty as well! Oh cute story before I go on. While we were in the hospital Daniel went against his word..."I will never change a diaper" Yeah, he did. He changed a diaper all by himself! It was so cute and funny! She was not enjoying the whole diaper change thing, but she was also starving which didn't help the matter. She cried and cried throughout Dan's torturous procedure. Once he was done, I went to pick her up to feed her and Dan got this desperate panic look on his face and immediately grabbed her. He sincerely said, "You are not going to take the glory of saving her." So then he just held, cuddled & loved her to make up for his first time attempt. And will this be the only time? Oh he wishes!
So back to our next ordeal with dirty diapers! I was dwelling on the amount of dirty diapers... So I was changing Addy's diaper on a changing pad (luckily) on our cream carpet. Got the dirty one off, cleaned the cute bum, and suddenly she does this cow poo shoot! If you have ever seen a cow poo, you will know what I mean! She shot me and the cream carpet! And then it just kept coming! So it was time for our first bath time!


Addyson did not like her sponge bath! She just cried the whole time. So we put her in her new robe (that of course drowned her...We did however so and purchase some preemie jammies) And then with a joint effort, she was dressed and looked so dang cute in her new jammies that actually fit!

On our way home from Madison Memorial Hospital!

After all the Doctor's rounds, shots, screenings, vital sign checks, and visits from guests wanting to meet Miss Addy, it was time to go check out her new abode. But what to wear? She was so tiny, she didn't fit in ANY of the clothes that were brought to the hospital. She looked like Erkle with the pants that drowned her! So we had to make due and just accept our big shirt and rolled up & down pants. And let me tell you she loved her car seat! (Yeah, the one her daddy didn't like because it was "sissy blue") As soon as she was set in it, she was out for the count! Then we were wheeled away by our favorite nurse, Rosie (my friend Steph's mom)and went to say hi to Addy's mom's work friends on Med-Surg.



Once we got home and were all unloaded, we were all tuckered out!

Baby Addyson has arrived!

ADDYSON LOU STODDARD 5 LB 6 OZ AND 18 INCHES LONG
BORN ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2008






Wow! What an experience! 23 hours of regular contractions, 45 minutes of walking halls, at least 20 puking upchucks :( no time for an epidural, a wonderful blessing, ten minutes of miserable pushing, one small tear, two sleepless nights, a beautiful cry, and suddenly we were blessed with a wonderful baby girl.
My contractions started coming ever 6 minutes at about 2:30 am on the 26th and stayed consistent until 2 pm. Then I took a walk outside and they sped up to every 2 minutes. Thinking we were headed in the right direction, I was disappointed when after the walk they slowed to about 6-14 minutes for the next 5 or so hours. So we decided to just go out to dinner at Applebee's, figuring we were probably not having our baby that night...(way bad idea!) Then up to the hospital, just to get checked to see how close we were and knowing they would probably send us home. Well, we measured 90% thinned, and only a 3. So they had us walk the halls for an hour. I went down to med-surg and only lasted 45 minutes until my water broke right there in front of my co-workers...luckily they didn't know. Then back upstairs for the worst part and then the best part. I was now a 7 and 100% thinned. Then there was the puking, terrible contractions, more puking, worst contractions, puking, then pushing while puking. Did I mention they had informed me I was too late for an epidural or any kind of pain med. Wow, that was depressing! But she is here and she is so beautiful! Dan was such a wonderful partner; rubbing my back thru those horrible contractions, trying to remind me to breath, coaching me right thru the end, and then helping the nurse take care of Addy so I could rest for a bit. Worth it? You bet! I am so blessed with such a wonderful family!

LOOK AT ME WITH MY GRANDPARENTS!
Grandpa & Grandma Stoddard


Grandpa & Grandma Holman




This is ADDY with her DADDY, and her DADDY with his DADDY!


Aren't my parents troopers! Daddy is sweet and he is my SUGAR DADDY! And my momma is one tough lady!

With just a few weeks to go!

Getting this room was like pulling teeth! However, well worth it! I had been bothering Dan to get it cleaned out and finished for months, fearing having our baby early because some of the girls at work had. (Actually just because I wanted it done when my friends came over for my baby shower:)) So I finally gave him a deadline a week and a half before the date of the party, and told our family members that he couldn't hang out with them or help them until it was finished. He was way diligent, coming home after work and working until about midnight for a week. And look at it! It looks awesome! We want to thank my dad and Dan's brother, Greg, who helped with the bead-board/shelf. Thank you Daniel very much! I love it! Also, my friend, Candice made us letters for her name and they match perfectly. we just really hope she is a girl!


Just thought I would show you all how big I have become this month. I am totally anticipating the day... At work there were 6 of us that work together pregnant and due within about 8 weeks of each other. The first was to start at the end of August and then the rest of us every couple of weeks from then. I was suppose to be #4... Well, I am the only on still holding out! Everyone has gone early! So now I am just waiting...

Mr. Bryce Holman's talent is AMAZING!

So I just wanted to share my dad's awesome talent and hobby with building customized log furniture! He is simply amazing! Dan and I were oh so lucky to blessed with an amazing king size bed, dresser, and night stand from him! It is the high point of our house that I love to show everyone that comes over! Thanks Dad for doing all the hard work of this slide show so I could steal it from your blog. :) And thank you again for the amazing bedroom set! We love you!

Greg, "Soldier Boy" giving blog insights

I don't know who is aware of this or not, but my brother, Greg, is in the National Guard. He is currently doing his second tour of deployment oversea. He is in the hostile conditions of Afganistan. I worry alot about him, so it is nice when we get to talk to him on skype...An internet site allowing you to talk and often see the person you are conversing with if you have a video camera. Anyway. He left a message on skype after he had checked out all the fam's blogs. I really had to laugh at his "constructive criticism." Love you Greg! Here is what he had to say...

"As an outsider looking in, i'm going to have to give the award of best blog site do Barry and Karin. It is the most interactive and such, with some good story line of the two of them and stuff. The whole blog concept started as people sharing feelings, almost like a diary on display of thoughts. Karin actually has some of these thoughts and feelings. Could use a little work, turning the black font on the front to a lighter color to show up better. Todd and Suzy's has nice pics, a lot of them, but not too interactive or "high speed". Brookes has a fun little cover picture that took some work, nice, maybe a little more action going on, oh, and the music selection is poor!!! Blake's is nice, but definately needs some work to spice it up some, nice pics though, the slide show is kinda short, even though maya is really cute in the bday pics! Not so sure i like the title of the blog. Seems like if you got rid of the One it would roll across the tongue more smoothly. Music selection is short and sweet, but good solid base (i'm a little baised since i suggested a few!) Mom and Dad's is nice, need to fix the opening statement of course as i've already mentioned, get rid of the comas, and the to should be too. Music was fitting. Well, they all look good, and as with everything i say, take it with a grain of salt and know that i'm up at 2am with nothing better to do than give contructive critisism."

Stolen Family Pictures

I think that my dad got these photos from Suzy and Todd, and don't you worry, I stole them from his blog. Thanks guys. I can't believe how big the Holman clan has become, and to think it is still growing. WOW!


I had never seen this picture and I thought they all looked so dang handsome. These are my favorite men!