Happy New Year!

As I look back through our photo library of the last year, it's amazing to see how much our lives have changed during 2008. The first pictures of that year include a partially finished second floor of our house. If I remember correctly, the first days of 2008 included my friend Kelly and I tiling our bathroom floor. We have gone from working day and night at our jobs and then on our house, to working all day and playing all night on the floors we spent so much time tiling and sanding with Addie.
The last picture in our photo library is of an almost 10 month old playing dj. This is so far from what I would have pictured just 12 months ago, yet I cannot seem to picture our lives any different from what they are now. Who would have thought Raffi would dominate the music selection in the Corbett household? We should commission Dave to do some childrens stuff ;)


2008 is clearly the most life-changing year Brian and I have had. We have been so blessed to have such an amazing child, and wonderful family and friends. I am looking forward to all the joys 2009 is sure to bring and hope that everyone has a wonderful start to the new year!

Merry Christmas! from Addie

My very first Christmas was so busy and fun! A couple days before we went to see Santa and his elves at the North Pole. We must live very close to the North Pole because we went there two days in a row!


After seeing how the elves make all the toys I was very excited for Christmas to come! I got to play with Grandma and Papa Corbett on Christmas Eve and Santa left me a baby doll at their house. I love to give her kisses.


Christmas morning I got up and Santa had come to my house and left presents just for me!


Santa must be a very busy man because after we went to church, we went to Grandma and Grandpa Engstrom's house and he had left presents there for me too! Later that day I got to play with my second cousin, Carson, and see my Godmother who brought me a doll all the way from Chile!

Thank you Santa and everyone else! This was the best first Christmas ever!

On the First Day of Christmas...

We had our first family Christmas last night with the Humenansky's. Addie enjoyed watching all of her cousins and second cousins play and LOVED opening presents.



















She also enjoyed her first sweet treats - a spritz cookie and a krumkake. She really liked the sweets, but thankfully was more concerned with finishing her peppers. We've taught her well!

#6

I was tagged by my friend, Mandy, to post my 6th picture in my 6th folder on my iPhoto.
So here it is... This picture was taken in March 2006, when Brian and I went to visit our friends, Ben and Kelly, in Tokyo. This is from our first day there, when we got up ridiculously early to visit the Tsuguki Fish Market. The market was huge and crazy - a theme that seemed to fit most of the trip. I remember we followed that excursion with a trip to the top of a giant building where there were tons of windows that overlooked the city. What a day! The trip was amazing, and something that neither of us will ever forget. Thanks Kelly and Ben!



I will try to keep this thing going by tagging Sven. I think he has a few more readers than I do, so hopefully this will appeal to quality not quantity! Here's the rules:
1. Go to your sixth picture folder and find the sixth picture.
2. Pray you remember the details!
3. Post it on your blog.
4. Tag four others and leave a comment on their blog to let them know they've been tagged.

9 Month Stats

Weight: 18 lbs 8 oz (50%)
Length: 26.75" (25%)
Head: 17.75" (75%)
Number of Teeth: 2
Likes: Eating, petting Gracie (and all cats and dogs), crawling, giving kisses, riding in her stroller, playing with other kids, boowa and kwala, books, and blocks.
Dislikes: Getting her nose wiped, the cold, wearing mittens, when Gracie runs away.
Favorite Foods: Cheerios, avacado, cheese, spaghetti, squash, and apple juice.
Newest Nickname: Colonel Cadabbie

Christmas Traditions

This weekend we participated in two christmas tradtions: we got a christmas tree and went to see Santa. Addie enjoyed looking at all the trees despite the cold weather, and helped us to find the perfect one.














Today we went to see Santa Claus. Addie was all smiles leading up to it, but was a little unsure and curious once she sat down on his lap. She didn't cry, pull on his beard, or smile. All in all, I guess it was a successful visit.

Uh Oh!

This is something we hear a lot lately. Addie has mastered the sound, but now we just need to work on meaning. She will say uh oh in any context and will repeat it tens of times after she gets going. She loves hearing others repeat it back, and we think it's adorable! I will let Addie tell you about a few of her other favorite things right now:


Banging together my cups and riding in my new carseat!


Looking at my Baby Animals book and feeling the different textures


Playing UNDER my exercauser


Putting toys in my basket and dumping them out again

Happy Thanksgiving!

Addie started gearing up for Thanksgiving on Tuesday by working on her first art project! She traced her hand and decorated it with seeds and feathers to create a turkey! Miss Tina helped with the tracing and gluing, but we were assured that Addie picked out the feathers herself.

We all had a good Thanksgiving and were able to visit with both sides of the family. Addie's favorite dishes today were: turkey, sweet potatoes, and Darren's mashed potatoes - Delicious!

We have so much to be thankful for this year, and are excited for the holiday season to begin! (And a special thanks to Grandma and Papa for the use of their camera while ours is getting fixed!)

How We've Been

It looks like it has taken us a while to recover from Halloween! I think the biggest change since then is that it gets light an hour earlier and therefore gets dark an hour earlier. We are just chugging along in our routine and having a little bit of fun along the way.

We attended a Baby Name Election Party where we voted on possible names for our friend, Baby Vreeland, who is expected to arrive in mid-February. FYI: the winning names were Lucy and William - but there is still a good amount of time before the name-inauguration in which things could change.

We also had a family first this week, with my cousin Katie coming over to babysit. From what I heard from Katie and Addie, they had a great time together. Brian and I had a good time too, as we dined and danced with our friends at the ColdPlay concert.

By now many of you may be wondering what's missing from this post... a picture! This week our camera broke. I have no idea when or how it happened, but as soon as I turn it on it turns itself right off. This is simply not acceptable behavior for a camera. So I will end with another FYI: the Corbett Camera fund accepts both cash and checks ;)

Happy Halloween!

My Pearly White

A Riddle

What is white, sharp, and hiding all over?
A tooth!
We saw Addie's first tooth tonight. It is the lower left central incisor. That's dentist talk for front :) The tooth hasn't seemed to affect her demeanor. The only signs were a little bit of a diaper rash and a rash around her mouth. How exciting!

How I spent MEA break by Adalae Arlene Corbett

We talked about Halloween. I am going to be a cat for Halloween. Mommy says she might be a vampire. This is my impression of a vampire:

On Friday we went to the Como Zoo with our friends Cassie, Mandy, and Henry. I also met some new friends who have cool moustaches.

Mommy must have forgotten how to cook lunch because we went to restaurants every day for lunch. I still ate Cheerios though.

We walked to a new park that had a teeter-totter. It was a little scary, but mostly fun.

Hope you all had fun with your Mommies and Daddies this weekend. I am already excited for 4 days of fun at Thanksgiving time! I think Mommy is too ;)

Future Career Choices:

America's Next Top Model

or

Yogi?

A Fall Tradition

A Long Night...

Of sleep! I was tentative about writing about this last week, but my superstition has been broken, so it's fair game now. So… for the first time since August 2007 I slept undisturbed from my bedtime (10:00pm) until my alarm went off (5:30am) for four days in a row last week. It was glorious! But like all good things, it had to end. I am hoping that it’s just because of the cold that Addie has right now and that she will continue sleeping through the night again soon. ☺

We have all been very busy lately, but have been trying to make the most of our weekend time together. A couple favorite activities are:

Going for runs along the river


Walking down to the park and going down the slides and in the swings


Addie also enjoys watching her “Saturday Morning Cartoons” online. Our friends Mandy and Henry introduced us to Boowa and Kwala – a dog (I think) and a koala who sing songs that Addie LOVES. Her favorite right now is the Toco Toucan song - check it out sometime! (http://www.uptoten.com/kids/boowakwala-club-flower-tocotoucan.html)

Serious Animal Watching

Addie has a fascination with animals. Her favorite by far is Gracie, but anything else that swims, flies, or walks on all fours will do. This weekend we went to the zoo and spent a good amount of time watching the sea otters, meerkats, and fish. Then on Sunday, Grandma and Grandpa Engstrom took us to the Renaissance Festival where there were more animals to see and touch as well as great people watching. ;)

Is it a sign!?

Tonight Addie and I were enjoying a wonderful meal consisting of peas and bananas when she all of a sudden put her hands out, palms down, and moved them from center to out. Was she "all done"!?


Yes, she was! I asked (and signed) if she wanted some more and even offered, and she turned away. Then I asked if she was all done, and she moved her hands in the same motion again! Maybe I am looking for something that isn't there, and the sign wasn't executed perfectly, but I like to think that it is not impossible or ridiculous that signs we have been using the last two months are starting to click!

Mrs. Corbett, I have a question.

Aahh, such curious little souls I work with. I hear this sentence numerous times each day, and most times, I follow it with the question, "Does it apply to math?". I'd say about 50% of the time it does not, in which case, I address it later with that student individually. When I followed up with one very curious student today the question posed was, "Why do you have the breasts pumpers behind your desk?". It took a lot of self control to not laugh hysterically. Apparently, this student had not realized that the several baby pictures around the room was my daughter. Once I explained that I have a little baby at home, she seemed to figure out the answer to her own question.

When I decided to continue nursing and pump at school, I wondered how I would feel about people knowing what I was doing when the "Please Do Not Disturb" sign was hanging in my window. Turns out, I'm pretty indifferent about it. On the other hand, all the moms and dads (yes, dads too) find it as the hottest topic to bring up with me. I have heard more breastfeeding success stories and mortifying moments in the last few weeks than in the 6 months that I have been doing it. It's funny that the most natural relationship between a mom and child causes so much conversation!

Addie-Cadabbie it's 6 months already!

Time for some 6 month stats:
Weight: 16 lbs (50%)
Length: 25.75" (50%)
Head: 17" (93%)
Likes: Waking up in the morning (and at night sometimes), watching Gracie and all other cats, dogs, and children, riding in the jog stroller while mom runs, looking at herself in the mirror, drinking water from her sippy cup.
Dislikes: Shots, not being allowed under the furniture, formula, wearing a lifejacket, and her carseat.
Foods tried: Zucchini, sweet potatoes, apples, bananas, peaches (her favorite!) , avacado, acorn squash, mashed potatoes, carrots, and tomato.

Addie's height and weight have caught up quickly, and as before, she is bursting with brain power! She is doing well, and has adjusted very quickly to life at daycare. All the kids are excited to see her when she arrives, and have even given her nicknames like "Addie-Cadabbie"!

Happy Half Birthday!

Addie is 6 months old today, and I can't believe how quickly the time has gone by! It has been a crazy week with school starting and trying to establish a new routine. I think it will definately take some time before I feel that I am successfully juggling work and life. On a positive note, Addie is seeming to enjoy daycare quite a bit. Today her note indicated that Maxine (one of the other kids there) said, "Addie is very good!" How cute! Another fun adventure from the week was our first jog together in the jog stroller, and it is much harder than it looks! I think we may have to start doing some destination runs where the terrain is not quite as hilly as Northeast :)

What a Week!

I went back to work this week and it was definately eventful. Here's a summary of how things went:
Monday - Woah.
Tuesday - Some construction worker apparently cannot read or comprehend the sign, "Please Do Not Disturb".
Wednesday - Addie gets her first cold.
Thursday - At HPA 7:30 to 7:30. It was fun to meet some new students, and seeing them made me a little excited for the coming week.
Friday - Finally, a resful evening and it seems like the cold is gone!
Saturday - A successful triathlon and the cold returns.
Sunday - A wonderful day at the lake with a new swing, boat rides, and swimming.




Well, tomorrow is the real thing. It's amazing how 6 months off has left me feeling like I have completely forgotten how to teach. I'm sure it will come back to me quickly. Good luck to all the teachers and students out there. Here's to the 2008-2009 school year!

Tomorrow's The Day

Yikes. Tomorrow is the day I have dreaded most since March 5th. Addie is all packed and ready to go and I was able to talk to Miss Tina for a bit today which helped. The other nice thing is Addie will be the only daycare child she has this week (she also has her two boys home for this week). This gives me a lot of relief in knowing that Addie and Miss Tina will have a week to spend some quality time together and really get to know each other.

While all is well and prepared on Addie's front, that is not the case for me. I spent a day at HPA this past week and my room is a disaster. Many of you have heard me complain about this already, so I will not continue.

On a positive note, we had a great final week of summer. One highlight was our twice weekly swimming date with Erin and lunch with Brian at Cedar Lake. Addie was even able to get a nap in at the beach for a few minutes! Then Friday we had lunch with Mandy, Henry, Brie, Ava, and Cassie at Turtle Bread - yum yum. Then we went somewhat skeptically to Underwater Adventures and had a great time! The girls LOVED looking at the fish all around them and were kicking and screaming with excitement. It was so cute! Then Friday night we went to the State Fair where Addie was exposed to things like corndogs, bacon on a stick, and Sweet Martha's cookies. She also made her television debut with Sven. When he was introducing her she grabbed the mike and it went straight into her mouth. It was adorable!

The last bit of good news is Addie is becoming more receptive to bananas, and is enjoying sweet potatoes :)

Swim Swim Fishy

Countdown Satus: 1 week left :(

We went to the cabin this weekend, and had a great time. The weather was perfect for playing outside, going for a boat ride, swimming and a fire. Addie has become quite the swimmer this summer. She began her time in the water with a feeling of indifference, but has now come to enjoy herself quite a bit. This weekend she was floating in her crab and realized that her feet could touch the bottom and with that she started to push herself around near the shore. When we would push her out further where she couldn't touch, she started kicking her feet in hopes of touching the bottom. It was so fun to watch her explore the water on her own!

Other highlights from the weekend include driving the boat with Papa (and tolerating her lifejacket for nearly the entire ride!) and playing with her cousin Riley and uncle Jon. The one dislike Addie has presented us with this weekend is bananas. Loves zucchini, hates bananas. Weird. Especially because Brian and I both eat a banana every day. I guess we'll just keep trying and hope she comes around!