Addy's 1st trip to Olive Garden

Yesterday we went to OG for Shari's birthday celebration dinner. Addy had a great time (for the most part). Shari bought the onesie that Addy is wearing last year before we even knew she was a GIRL! Notice - Emily has a matching t-shirt :)

Here are a few pics:



Blake has started teaching Addy how to play XBOX:


More pics can be found at Dropshots (click on the 'Curran Pics' link to the right)

Oops, she did it AGAIN!

It was almost like she peed poop. I read that runny poop could be a side effect of the vaccinations...

4 month shots

Addison was a little trooper today when she got her shots! It was her lucky day - instead of 3 shots she only got 2! The nurse said the new combination just started today! When she got stuck with the first needle she just made a grunt noise - then the second one she let out a pretty good scream, but it only lasted a second! Now little princess is sleeping. Let's just pray she doesn't have any negative reactions to the vaccinations! I will be watching her like a hawk for the next 24 hours.

*Warning - Gross Poopy Pics* & 4 month check-up info

Addison had her 4 month check-up this morning! Here are her stats: weight 14lbs, length 24 1/2in, head 16 1/4. She remains in the 50th percentile on all growth charts. Dr. Khanfar said that she is perfect & doing well. WOOHOO!!! He gave me the green light to go ahead & start cereal (rice or oatmeal) & solids. But left the decision up to me. Most babies start solids between 4-6 months and Dr. Khanfar is fine with whatever we decide. The schedule he suggests is 4 months - cereal, 5 months - veggies, 6 months - fruits/juice. Absolutely no peanut butter, strawberries, oranges, eggs or cow's milk until 1 year. I believe we are going to hold off until 6 months for cereal & solids.

I put Addy in her bouncer this morning while I was getting ready. She has started to try & wiggle out of it so now she has to be strapped in the seat. While I was doing my hair I heard her tooting LOUDLY! So, I looked over at her & told her 'Sounds like someone needs a diaper change'. She just smiled & cooed. I go over & unstrap her from the bouncer & this is what I found:

Of course, wipes wouldn't even come close to cleaning this blowout, so Addy got a bath this morning. I laid out newspaper & paper towels on the floor & put on my rubber gloves. This was SO GROSS!!! I was so worried about getting the poop on her face/head when taking the onesie off that I almost had myself convinced to just cut it off her! lol. But I didn't - I very carefully removed it. Here are some more pics of the blowout:

She thinks this is hilarious!


Blake just informed me that I don't fasten her diapers tight enough & this is why she had a blowout up the front of her stomach. I think that would have been a blowout regardless of how the diaper was fastened!

Wednesday we go for Addy's 4 month shots. I dread this without Blake being here with us.

After Addy's dr appt we met Memaw & Papaw Richard at Waffle House for breakfast.

Happy 4 month Birthday Addy

4 months ago today we met our little angel Addison! I thank God everyday that she recovered from her rough start in life. She is a happy & healthy little monkey!
*more pics added to Dropshots. click on 'Curran Pics' to the right

Last Day of Daycare

Yesterday was Addison's last day at Ms Ginger's house! She spent 5 weeks there, but now it's over. I am kind of glad anyway, since Ginger & I didn't see eye to eye on some things. Examples: One day she gave Addison Anbesol(sp?) without calling me or Blake first. I let that one slide. Then they were having the inside of the house painted & I felt the fumes were too strong. The last incident happened just last week. I went to pick up Addy & Ginger said that she had been fussy all day, so she gave her Mylicon (fine with me), Tylenol & rubbed Benadryl on her gums. Okay - Ginger doesn't know how much Tylenol to give Addy. It's based on weight! Second, Benadryl doesn't go on gums you batshitcrazy lady! So, when she told me she gave Addy all of this I was so upset I couldn't see straight. The next morning I went extra early, so we could have a 'come to jesus' meeting. I stressed how she must call anytime Addy may need medicine (except for Mylicon). Even if she is fussy - call - I am right around the corner & can be there in 2 minutes. Apparently some of her parents give her free range to do as she wishes with their children. At least she told us that she gave her the medicine, but that doesn't make it any better with me. All this being said, Ginger is truly a wonderful caregiver - she just uses her experience rather than relying on todays medical journals. I would leave Addison with her again & have no regrets.

The Price of Children

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 to be $160,140 for a middle income family.

Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition. But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:

* $8,896.66 a year, or
* $741.38 a month, or
* $171.08 a week.
* That's a mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is "if you want to be 'rich', don't have children. Actually, it is just the opposite.

What do you get for your $160,140?
* Naming rights – First, middle, and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles under the covers every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said, or how your stocks performed that day

For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to:
* finger-paint,
* carve pumpkins,
* play hide-and-seek, and
* catch lightning bugs

You have an excuse to:
* keep reading "The Adventures of Piglet and Pooh",
* watch Saturday morning cartoons,
* go to Disney movies, and
* wish upon a star.

You also get to:
* frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets, and collect:
* spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas,
* hand prints set in clay or Mother's Day, and
* cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For $160,140, there is no bigger bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:
* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* removing a splinter,
* filling a wading pool,
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and
* coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat to witness history:
* her first step,
* his first word, and
* their first time behind the wheel.

You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs called grandchildren and great grandchildren in your obituary.

You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, and communications

In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have the power to:
* heal a boo-boo,
* scare away the monsters under the bed,
* patch a broken heart,
* police a slumber party,
* ground them forever, and
* love them without limits...

so that one day they, like you, will love without counting the cost.