Update Time

Holy peets...apparently we took a little bit of a hiatus on the blogging front.  We were home this weekend and a few people said something about how we don't update anymore, so I'm going to really try to be more consistent, hopefully that will encourage me to take more pictures too!

I was giving Addie a bath a few weeks ago and noticed that the light was pretty good for snapping a few pictures...here are a few that I ended up with: 

We went back home for the weekend and went to the pumpkin farm with my mom, sister and nephew.  It was really windy and by the time we took pictures the kiddos were pretty over being there.

And then there is this sweet one that I found when I was uploading pictures...these two make my heart so happy:)

Made for This

This is YoungLife's logo and tagline:

After Addison's first week at camp, I am certain she was made for YoungLife.  She did amazingly well at camp...sleeping through clubs, sleeping through meals, being loved on by our kids, and cruising around camp countless times in her stroller or baby bjorn.  I was feeding her outside one beautiful morning (Castaway is literally one of the most amazing places on Earth) before any of the kids had woken up and was just blown away with how grateful I am that I get to not only work for Capernaum, but that I get to do it with my family right there with me.  Steve was such a trooper, hanging out with Addie for the majority of each day while I was out and about around camp.  I am so thankful for how supportive he is of my job and for what an amazing dad he is!  For me personally, it was SO AWESOME to get to watch Steve and Addie be together all week and to be able to watch my personal and professional lives collide.  I suppose in ministry that's just the way it goes though...I guess you could say I came home from the trip feeling beyond blessed.  Here are a few pics from our week.  We didn't get one of the three of us, which I'm super bummed about.  There's always leadership weekend...and fall camp...and many other trips in our future though:)

 Hanging out at the volleyball tournament

 Being loved by Abbie, Capernaum's intern and one of my favorite people 

Breakfast time with Mommy

 Snuggles from Meg

Some love from Krystyna

I just realized we have no pictures of Steve and Addie from camp...we have to get better at using our camera.  OH - Addison also started smiling like crazy at us while we were at camp - super fun.  There is nothing better at the world than picking her up in the morning and having her give that big toothless grin at you:)

Newborn Photos

A few weeks ago we were lucky enough to have a friend come to our home and take some pictures of Addison.  Unfortunately, I waited a little too long to figure out a date with Kyle and she was already out of that "I sleep allll day and can't be woken up for anything" phase, so she was awake for most of the shoot.  Kyle still got some great shots that we will cherish forever though.  Here are a few of his shots:

Photos courtesy of Kyle Exsted

4th of July

This past weekend we made the annual trek to the cabin to celebrate the 4th with Steve's side of the family.  Last year we had two dogs in tow, this year we had a baby.  Every year the cabin gets a little more chaotic with the addition of more kids and/or dogs - I love it!  I would say our first road trip with Addie was a success.  This Sunday we're heading to Castaway Club for a week with the Young Life crew, so it was a good test run!  We spent our weekend eating, going to town, napping, eating, playing cards, watching the Casey Anthony trial and...eating...good grief.  

 All dressed up for the 4th of July

 Sweet kisses from Daddy

 Steve discovered that Addie loves getting little baby massages

 I had Carrie, my sister-in-law, help me try to figure out our moby wrap carrier so I could carry Addison around more easily.  After I got Addie into it Vivian, their 2 year old, started walking around with her beloved Bear in her shirt...so cute!

 More cuddles with Daddy. I see a scary trend starting here...I don't think Steve is going to have a chance when she gets a little older.

Vivian and Mike fishing off the dock

Picture Updates

Well...this is what I figured would happen when we started this blog.  Life has gotten busy again and we're much more comfortable getting out of the house with baby Addison, so the blogging has slowed way down...sorry for any of you that eagerly await updates on the excitement that goes on in the Myrah house (heavy sarcasm if you didn't catch that).  Since our last post Addie has been busy growing and developing.  Everything she does seems like the greatest thing on Earth to me and Steve - it's so awesome watching her discover new things.  She has recently started smiling (another heart melting moment), tracking us when we move or leave the room, staring intently at ceiling fans and other contrasting objects, and breaking out her different types of cries.  Speaking of crying...she loves to do it.  About three weeks ago she started turning into quite the fussy little thing.  She is great in the morning and then gets progressively more fussy throughout the day, so by about 7:00 she's usually at a 10.  We're told this should peak by 6 weeks old, which is this week, and then start to get better.  Until then, the best solution we've found is for Steve to sing to her, which is unfortunate for me because he is easily the worst singer I've ever heard!  She also doesn't seem to like regular songs - she prefers when he makes them up...awesome.  The minute he stops singing or gives her back to me she goes right back to screaming.  I'm hoping to get this on video soon...it's quite the sight.  Other than that not a whole lot is new, but here are some recent pictures:

 A great picture that Grandma Sue snapped of Addie

 Visit with Grandma:)

 Steve feeling pretty good about his calming skills post-cryfest

 Addie and Penelope (almost 9 months old) in their matching outfits...they don't know it yet, but they're going to be best friends:)

 Me pretending to be a photographer...those are some big feet

 Smiley Addie

Sleepy Addie

Bath Time, etc...

Tonight we gave Addie her first bath...we had been holding off and just giving her sponge baths because we were nervous that she was going to hate it, but we figured it was time.  She did really well during the actual bath, but didn't so much love the drying off part.

 Thinking this isn't so bad after a few minutes

 Once the ducky washcloth came off it was game over

 Cutest. Duck. Ever.  (just my opinion:)

Clyde is never too far from Addison 

Pre-bed snuggles with Daddy

On a completely different subject, I was going through some of the things they gave us at the hospital and came across "The Baby Bill of Rights".  It reads:

TALK TO ME: Sing, hum, babble, or even read the funnies to me! I don't know exactly what you're saying, but I need to hear you. And I do know what you mean, even if I may not know words. Like your voice tones mean "I love you." Or when you yell, I hear, "you're a pest!" Unless you communicate with me, how can I learn? I learn from you.

HOLD ME: Everything is so big and new to me. I don't understand where I am. Or who I am. And I get scared. But when you hold me, I feel better. Your warmth warms me. Your breath and heartbeat make me feel I belong. Belong here. Belong to you.

ANSWER MY CRY: I don't cry to get you upset. Or to get you mad. I cry because I can't tell you how I feel any other way. Maybe I'm cold or wet or hungry...or scared and lonely. Answer my cries. You'll soon know what each one means. You won't spoil me. You'll help me to be a better baby...and to make you happier too.

LOVE ME: Like me. Love me just as I am. Don't expect me to do what I can't do. Like being toilet-trained. I know I'm messy. But I'm growing. Overlook my baby weaknesses. You're the most important person in my world. I can't make it without you. So get to know me. Have fun with me. And love me...love me just as I am.

I absolutely loved reading this.  Lately I have been getting pretty stressed out as I'm coming to the realization that I'm probably not going to be able to continue to breast feed because I'm just not producing enough for what Addison needs.  This was a great reminder that as long as we are loving her the best we can, everything is going to be alright.  What an amazing gift to get to care for and raise this little person:)  

Addison goes for a walk...

It was a beautiful night tonight and the dogs had a little too much energy, so we decided to try out the baby bjorn and take a walk around the neighborhood.  She was super fussy before we put her in the bjorn but she was out cold within 5 minutes of our walk...fantastic.   

 Strapped in and ready to go

 She held my thumb the whole walk...melts my heart

So sleepy after taking two walks today!

That's about it for now.  We're very excited to have her baby pictures taken this Thursday by a friend of ours...we'll post those as soon as we get them.  What to wear, what to wear!?!