PARTY!

 

 After Scott prepped the pork shoulder, I smoked it. It was DELISH.

These photos kind of uploaded in a weird order. These first few of them with presents were done after naps. Grandma Jadwin hooked them up with play dough! Addilyn also got some plastic Dr. toys and new nightlights from us.

playing with presents from her party

I believe the rest of the photos are pretty self explanatory. The party started at 11 and everyone vacated by 1:30. We just partied hard! For lunch we had smoked pulled pork and smoked baked beans. We asked a few people to bring fruit or pasta salads instead of gifts and it worked out really well! I put Scott in charge of running the party. After we ate we played games.

The object of this game is to get the cookie from your forehead to your mouth with no hands. It was pretty entertaining to watch!

Pin the tiara/mask on the princess/super hero.

Addilyn's day

On Addilyn's birthday Monday we went to the Greensboro Science Center. They have a zoo and aquarium as well. Since it was going to get warm we started out with the animals. Addilyn wore her "Birthday Girl" pin all day.

We opened presents from grandpa and nana Jadwin and our present after dinner. She got clothes and a new Barbie RV. From us she got all of my Barbies and Barbie clothes that I had growing up. She LOVES them and has spent hours and hours playing with them over the past week. 

Levi at TWO

Levi will be two on Wednesday the 13th.

My little baby boy is not only for sure no longer a baby, but he is going to not the baby in the family. So bitter sweet! He has lit up our world. I love that he and Addilyn can play together now. When he was first born it was challenging to be a full time parent to both Addilyn and Levi. But now they entertain each other and are good friends. I've been dreaming for this stage. Granted it comes with it's own good and bad (like diffusing fights). They truly love each other!

Being the second child, he is a little more (okay, a lot more) advanced developmentally then Addilyn was at his age. Addilyn was too the books on track. But Levi has been talking in phrases for months. He can sing songs with most of the words. His play time and capabilities are ahead in that he knows different games and learns them with Addilyn. Physically he's been jumping forever- which I posted about that when he was closer 18 months. He is not shy when it comes to the playground- he goes right up to the toys and does his thing. He understands many concepts- like sharing. Of course he's not that great at doing it, but because he's got a sister he has to learn to share. Levi knows when he's done something he shouldn't have- like hitting, pushing, or pulling hair. He knows his time out. He can count with you and sometimes when you drop out he keeps going. I'm telling you- this kid is impressive.

He also participates in our co-op preschool when it's at our house. He sits with everyone during lesson, does the craft, and plays with them. Smarty.

Levi is silly. He tries to play games with you. For example, when Scott is putting him down to sleep and he keeps calling "Daddy!" as he's walking out, Scott will turn around and say, "I know what you're doing!" Levi then laughs because he knows he's been caught trying to keep Scott in longer in his room.

His hair. Do I need to say more? Everyone has raved about his hair since it started getting out of the infant/newborn look. It's blond and has curls. It's beautiful. And those eyes- they are the prettiest sky blue. There's no gray or yellows. It's pure blue.

Since he was somewhere between 15-18 months something changed with him. He got HUGE. I mean like gigantor. He was topping the charts at 18 months and for the most part has stayed a big kid. He's not fat looking, of course....but he's just a rock. He's tall and built to last. He's only gained a few pounds more in the last  6 months (because really, he didn't need to gain) but he's gained in his height.

Levi's favorite songs include Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and basically the whole children's songs genre. He loves cars, balls, dinosaurs, dolls, play dough, swords, sprinklers, trains, and playing with water. Levi likes to play dress up with Addilyn and sing on "stage". He loves playing red light/green light. And of course, he loves to play in the dirt and dig around. Scott wouldn't want me to tell you that he copies a lot of what Addilyn does- specifically the girly things like wanting to wear flowers in his hair and dressing in her princess dresses and shoes. But who cares?! He's only 2!

Overall Levi is quite the impressive child. He's gorgeous and smart. He's definitely a lady killer. Sometimes when he acts out like a 2 year old we have to remind ourselves that he is in fact only 2. He just seems so much older with his personality. We love him to DEATH.

Addilyn is GOLDEN

What to say about this beautiful girl? I thought I'd post about her now since I probably won't on her birthday (which is Monday). This is her golden year- 4 years old on May 4th. Too bad she can't look forward to it like I could (23/23rd).

The above picture was taken on April 25, (uncle Aaron's wedding), and what was her original due date 4 years prior. I can't give you stats since her apt's at the end of the month- but I can give you some things I love about this girl.

This girl has a sweet and soft side. She is so tender towards her brother (when she wants to be). For example- Levi got an "owie" and needed a bandaid. All I did was get the bandaid for her and she sat him on the end of her bed, cleaned his owie with a tissue, and put the bandaid on. All the while telling him "it's okay Levi. It will be all better. oooooh owie. Yes, I know. It will be better. It's okay Levi." and gently stroking his hair. So much love.

Addilyn is an entertainer. She may not be to anyone outside the family- but she is. You've seen videos I've posted on Instagram of her "showtimes". She gets her step stool, whatever works for a microphone, and sings her heart out. Her songs have progressed from made up but to a familiar tune to songs from her favorite princess  movies. She still likes to throw in her own words and what not, but she belts it out no matter what. Addilyn dresses up in her princess dresses (the same dress works for like 5+ princesses so you have to ask her which one she is) and dances.

I know this is the age when kids start to really use their imagination. I can't tell you how cute it is watching her use hers. She mostly likes to reenact scenes from princess movies. In fact, she will reenact the entire movie if you let her. She loves the scenes from Sleeping Beauty when Aurora pricks her finger, faints, then Prince Philip (Levi) fights a dragon (me or the dog depending), and then has to kiss her awake. Another is when Cinderella loses her slipper and she runs off down the hall and you have to call out to her- then try the slipper on her foot. She loves to sing the song from Sleeping Beauty (I Know You) and dance with Levi. Thankfully he is a very willing participant 99% of the time. Typically when reenacting Frozen we have to do the whole movie via the songs- and I'm the one singing them. We trade who is who for when it is convenient (like the end of the movie when there are more than 3-4 characters involved...because there's only me, Addi, Levi, and yes....Lily the dog has a part too).

Addilyn is a helper. After changing a diaper she's my "trash man". Yesterday she even gathered mine and Levi's dishes with hers after lunch and put them in the sink. Of course there are days where she'd rather not be a helper- but the ones when she is, I love it. It's especially convenient now when I can't do a whole lot due to my rather large size. She helps me help Levi. She's a cheerleader and encourages him to help too. When doing chores she's typically right there wanting help. It's awesome. She even has taken over feeding Lily.

There are a few things we are trying to work on with Addilyn of course too. Like how she is really shy with people. We are trying to refrain from saying "oh, she's shy..." because she has been starting to identify with it. I believe she gets overwhelmed really easily and starts to shut down. It's sad because I know that she's really not! Either she responds by crying or having a loud scream/outburst. Overall though I've seen her improve and she is starting to adjust a bit better in situations.

Can I just say how stinking beautiful she is? I mean, I know she's my offspring and all- but man. She is quite the looker. I don't think I could have asked for a better daughter for me. I know from many experiences that the children you have God gave them to YOU. Meaning the trials and joys that I have with Addilyn are meant for me. I couldn't handle some other kids I know as my own- they would drive me to the wall. But Addilyn tests me enough that I can still keep my sanity and love her. Man do I love her.

Here are some links in our blog about Addilyn in the past 4 years if you feel like reminiscing with me...
Addilyn's 3
Growing up
a funny video at the end
Typical Addi
Pictures
Addilyn an only child
First birthday
and of course....her first month of posts
And if you missed how we announced we were pregnant....