Hello!! We're home!!

Hi everyone! We've been back for about 24 hours now and are finally starting to catch up on some rest. I don't think my legs have walked so much since my last trip to Disney!

Overall, a WONDERFUL, FANTASTIC time was had by all. Seeing the excitement in both Addie and Ben's eyes was so awesome. Out of sheer luck, within 15 of walking into the Magic Kingdom on Saturday morning, all of the characters were putting on a Dreams Come True singing spectacular at Cinderella's castle. I don't even have words to describe how Addie responded to this. Here are some pictures to show it! Ben loved it as well.








I'm still trying to figure out the best way to share all of our experiences. (and I'm trying not to steal my friend Rebecca's "Top 10 Disney favorites" blog idea. :) )

Some bad news to report: I left my camera on the bus to the airport on Friday night. It wasn't ever turned into lost and found- so it's gone. It had all of my pre-Disney excitement pictures, as well as the kids' first plane trip photos. :( Luckily, Muddy brought her camera, so I used that the whole trip. We bought a new camera today, so we should be ok from here on out...

Post more tomorrow!!

Some pictures to leave you with...

Well only 119 pictures/videos taken today at Thanksgiving! :)

Here are some to fawn over while we're gone:

Out front of our house, the leaves are beautiful. Ben thought they were really cool too.

This is how we found Addie this afternoon, while we were doing dishes. How cute is she?

Addie was Guppy's Big Helper while installing a handrail on their hot tub. She was really

turning the wrench herself!

This is such a cute picture of Brian and Scott with our two and Scott's son outback of Muddy and Guppy's house

Addie, Ben and Graham loved playing the paino at Thanksgiving dinner.

Addie and Ben enjoyed their ride around on the quilt

Finally, Aunt Danielle and Ben. Yes, she is that tan.

Check out Dropshots too, I added more pictures and videos there as well!

Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Wanted to share something that Addie has did before I forget it:

Yesterday she got into the car for daycare and as I'm driving she's saying "Mommy, I need to wear my dancing shoes." I have no clue what she's talking about, but figure out she means her red high heels that Muddy gave her. So we get to daycare and she's still insisting on wearing them. I think 'pick your battles,' so on went the dancing shoes. When I got Ben out of his carseat, she saw a pair of sunglasses. Of course they had to be worn too. So Diva Addie walked into daycare clicking in her red heels, with sunglasses on upside down. Everytime she saw someone, she yelled "Surprise." I wish I had my camera for that!!

Things I'm thankful for:
Amazing children who make me learn more things daily than I ever thought possible
A husband who loves his kids more than anything and wants them to have the best of everything
A family who as chosen to have their lives revolve around my children, who will drop everything to help if we need them
Friends who make me laugh, and listen to me when I feel like I'm losing it
Health- knowing what others face on a daily basis makes my family's medical issues seem small, but important nonetheless
People who read this blog on a regular basis ;)

Getting ready

to see the Mouse!! Soooo excited, Disney is just a few days away. We still have so much to do for it. Er uh, I should say I have so much to do for it. Tomorrow the chillins are going to daycare, so I can do the last minute shopping and then packing for all 4 of us.

Addie is really getting psyched to see Mickey. She's been talking about Disney a lot, to everyone who will listen. Tonight I asked her what she's going to do when she sees Mickey and she said, "I'm going to run to him and hug him." How cute is that? Thank God for video capabilities, because I want THAT on camera! She also mentioned that she would smile and say cheese for pictures with Mickey.

Brian's family said yes to the invitation to join my family for Thanksgiving dinner! So this year it's going to be Muddy, Guppy, Aunt Kim, us, Mom Mom, Pop Pop, Uncle Scott, Aunt Danielle and Uncle Rob! Should be nice. Addie'll surely be showing off, since she'll have most of her biggest fans there. We'll miss Onkteb and Aunt Gail, but we know we'll see them on Friday.

Ben is walking so well in his new sneaks. He looks like such a big boy now :( He spent most of his day in the toddler room at daycare. And for some reason when he gets his nebulizer treatments there, at 10 and 2, he falls asleep mid-treatment! He never falls asleep with me giving it to him, but apparently Miss Sarah has the magic sleepy touch.

Oh yes, and Ben has officialyl mastered the baby gate at the stairs. Mind you both my parents and Brian's parents have a terrible time opening the gates, but give one year old Ben a try and he'll have it opened before you can say "no!" LOL

A day of firsts!!

Ben got his first pair of sneakers today. For real sneakers, that is:


Addie got her first real haircut! She insisted on "going to the barber 'shot' like Daddy." She and Brian go the barber shoP every 3 weeks to get his hair cut. When I mentioned to her that she needed hers cut, she knew where she was going. Once there, she wasn't too keen on the idea. I'd say she got about 3 inches cut off, and her bangs trimmed.

See how low on Addie's back Lisa is cutting? Her hair was seriously at her waist!!

Major cuts!

The finished product

Happily enjoying her lollipop, while Daddy gets his hair cut

Funny story, Ben enjoyed his first lollipop too. Little boy had NO problem figuring out what to do with it! He actually finished more of it in the same amount of time than Addie did. I had to wash the floor off repeatedly, from his drool lines, which just kept coming out the more he sucked on the lollipop.

Holiday wishlist

Addie, yesterday, discovered the Target toy circular that's been sitting out for weeks now. EVERY single page turn brought about "I want this and this and this and this, all of them." Didn't matter if she knew what it was or not, she wanted it. That led to a conversation about what she's asking Santa for.

Addie's list:
Green clothes with frogs
Elmo
Babies
Mickey Mouse

Ben's list (according to Addie):
Clothes with monkeys on them
Cars
Balls

I think the monkey and frogs part came from her looking at Ben's Spin & Bounce Zebra, which just happens to have a frog and a monkey on the handlebars :)

Happy Birthday to Muddy!

I'm very excited that this time next week, we'll be in the Magic Kingdom!!

Some funnies

Addie is into holidays now, thanks in part to a very successful Halloween. Can't believe I'm admitting this "outloud," but I just put away our Halloween decorations today. She was devastated that they were leaving. I assured her that Christmas decorations would soon take their place. To get her started, I put in the best Christmas song collection of all time. Actually it's the album that we grew up with, that doesn't actually exist anymore, besides in the format of a cd that was made off of the record (does that make any sense?). She's into listening to Christmas music a lot. Her current favorite is Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

Here is the Addie Nourie version of Rudolph...I have video, but it's not the greatest. I'll get the good stuff later, promise.

"Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, had a very shiny nose, and if you ever saw it, you would even say it blows." I've tried repeatedly to explain that the line is "you would even say it glows." However, I think the Addie version is very appropriate and makes total sense, especially to a 2.5 year old. So here's my plea to start singing the logical words to Rudolph! :)

The other night when we picked her up from daycare, she started talking about how much she loves her family. I asked who is in her family and she said, "Mommy, Daddy, Ben, Addie, Muddy, Guppy, Onkteb, Aunt Gail, Aunt Kim, MomMom, PopPop, Uncle Scott, Graham." Today I asked her what everyone's name is. Here's what she said:

Mommy- Cory (plain as day, I might add!)

Daddy- Bwian

Ben- Benjamin Applesauce

Addie- Addie Flounder

Muddy- Eieen

Guppy- Guppy (so funny she can't grasp Bucky, after all those months of her only calling him that!)

Onkteb- Asthmatic (OMG, what a panic!! She loves to look at his "asthmatic" necklace!)

Aunt Gail- Aunt Gail

Aunt Kim- Aunt Kim

Mom Mom- Cindy

Pop Pop- Leaf (soooo cute!)

Uncle Scott- Uncle Scott

Cousin- Graham

Here's a picture of Brian and I at the wedding:

Here's a funny one of Ben last night:

And here's Addie doing her "pbbbt" face. Note the perfectly pursed lips.

Ben had his one year check-up today. Weighed in at 23 lbs, 2.5 oz, and measuring 31.25 inches long!! Holy cow, he's huge! Got 3 shots and Addie got one.

We're hooooooome!

Yippy! We're back in Delaware! Smooth sailing in the planes, until we had to come back into Philly. Of course that airport is soooo crowded that we were delayed about an hour. Got back just in time to get the kiddos from daycare. They're expressions and excitement when they saw us is indescribable. :) Both Brian and my hearts melted.

My camera battery died at the end of the wedding, so it's charging right now. When I get home tonight I'll upload pictures from Miami. I didn't take too many, since no kids were around. LOL

Addie and Ben had a blast with Muddy and Guppy and Onkteb. They ate like kings and queens as well. Here's an excerpt of what Muddy wrote to me about her experience with them. I know she won't mind me posting this. Reading it made me tear up.

"I have to tell you I had some verrrrrrrry tender moments with Addie and Ben this weekend. Ben is just so damned precious when he wakes up and stands up in that crib. It was all I could do to not just keep waking him up deliberately to see that little face looking up at me when I came into his room. The 90 minutes he was unhappy last night were actually quite lovely. He'd start crying, I'd rock him, get him "sound" asleep, put him in his crib, and he'd start all over again. It was just so wonderful cuddling him in my arms in the nightglow of his room, and then to hear him breathing..........closest thing to heaven. When he finally gave up the ghost, it was with his head on my right shoulder and his body across my lap. I could tell he was completely, soundly sleeping at that point.

And Addie, well, she could not have shown me more love this weekend. She had her moments where she was doing pbbblt out of her mouth, but Cory, she is the sweetest little girl in the entire world. When she came into bed with me last night, she curled right up in my arms, and spent the night just cuddling, and cuddling, and cuddling. I whispered to her and she'd answer me back, and I'm not even sure she was awake. While I watched her sleep last night, I actually wrote a few poems about her in my mind which I hope to get down on paper. The love I feel for those two little guys is immeasureable."

Last night home!!

Tomorrow Brian and I will be heading to Miami for Hal's wedding. It will be the first time we've both been away from them overnight. It's actually my first time being away from Ben overnight ever. :( I'm a nervous wreck. :)



Here are some pictures from today.



Addie napping, with her 80's look



Look at this smile!! They were being pulled around at Muddy and Guppy's house



Very serious about holding her brother


You can't see it all the way, but Ben's shirt says "I still live with my parents" I thought that was so funny when I saw it!!



Please say a little happy thought that the kids' health is ok while we're gone. I know with cell phones that should Muddy and Guppy need to get us, they can right away, but still. We'll be pretty far away.

Apparently I'm a hoarder!

I took the day off as a "sick day" to spend time going through the mountains of laundry and new clothes for the kids. I literally was to the point that I wasn't sure what clothes the kids need for cooler weather, because they were in various bags, in various rooms, etc. After an entire workday's worth of time, (ok, minus a dr appt and going to nurse Ben at lunch), I am happy to announce that my kids officially have more clothes than any family of four needs. I filled three, yes, three, 18 gallon totes of Addie's 18-24 month clothes alone! Ben's tally wasn't much better!

Ben was given a nebulizer by the pediatrician yesterday. He is receiving breathing treatments every 4 hours, for the next week and a half. That's a lonnnnng time. She touched his chest and said "he sounds like a vibrating bed." I knew he was congested and all, but wasn't expecting the nebulizer. Let's hope it stays out of his lungs. He's very cute using the machine.

Brian and I are gearing up to leave them with Muddy and Guppy this weekend. I don't know what I'll do with myself. For real. Thank God for cell phones, because I am going to be a worry wart the whole time, between Ben's breathing and Addie's seizures, I'll be checking my cell phone every 5 minutes.

Here's Mr. 1 year old cutie after his bath tonight:

Happy 1st Birthday Benjamin!!

Happy Birthday to the most wonderful, adorable, smart, handsome, relaxed, fun-loving, cuddly, walking one year old boy I know.

Amazing the difference of one year:

Happy Birthday to Guppy as well. Thanks for sharing the spotlight with Ben! (Even though you didn't really have a choice!)

Ben's going to the doc at 1:45pm for his cough. Poor bub.

Addie's blood results came back showing absolutely nothing. Totally normal, not one thing out of the ordinary. Hrmph. Apparently it's just fevers caused by the common cold that make the seizures happen. She's healthy otherwise, though, which is a plus!

What a difference two days makes!!

Take a look at this:

And this:

In other news, an Addie funny to share. Tonight while giving baths, Brian said something sarcastic to me, in a not-so-nice tone. Addie looked him dead in the eye and said, "Not nice Daddy. Mommy is a good girl." I agree!

Ben has a pretty bad congestion thing going on. He has a cough that rivals some of the worst I've heard. Tonight he even coughed so hard he threw up all of the milk he had just drank, all over me of course. I am going to take him to the doctor tomorrow, in case he's got an ear infection or something heading towards his lungs. Poor kid, celebrating his first birthday all stuffed up.

I actually went to the dr today for myself! Believe it or not, I have had this sinus infection going on for over 6 weeks now. I ended up with a prescription for an antibiotic, a nasal spray and a decongestant (but I won't use it, b/c even though the dr said it's ok to use while nursing, the instructions clearly say do not use while nursing.)

This time last year, I was getting ready to go to bed, just knowing that the hospital would be calling me at 4am to come on in to get induced....how wrong was I?

Back on track, I promise!!

Ok, my apologies for not updating since Thursday, but we've been SUPER busy.

Saturday we did the hayride and bonfire with Brian's employees. Sort of a disaster logistically and not well organized, but fun nonetheless. Addie came home telling me "I played with fire." Again, not something I want her saying and/or thinking she should do. She and Graham were most interested in having their marshmallows melt and burn into oblivion :) It was pitch black around the fire, to the point that Brian and Scott were chasing after Addie and Graham and they literally tackled the kids, because they couldn't see them!

Sunday was Ben's 1st birthday party. The weather agreed with us and allowed us to have the moonbounce out for all to use. The theme was Mickey Mouse, which went over well. And he made out like a bandit with gifts. It's nice to see the toys all over the floor now, and they're not Addie's. Er uh, maybe I should rephrase that, since she's convinced every gift Ben received was hers.

In walking news, Ben is really getting the hang of it. Watch the cute video from tonight.

One year ago, was my due date for Benjamin!! So cool to remember what my life was like this time last year, and what was in store for all of us! Here I am one year ago!!

Ok, here's a boatload of pictures and videos.....buckle up!

She was all about doing it herself, as you can see

It was COLD. I had to buy the kids' winter coats during the day! Ben was swimming in his, but he was warm.

On the moonbounce during his party

Eating his cake

The post-cake face (and hair!)

The cake I made....good enough

Happy eating teddy bear pasta tonight

The after-dinner-playing-under-the-table-together-time picture

Playing after his party, with his new toys, while wearing his new outfit from Ilka. I LOVE this picture, because he's basically saying, "Yea, so I'm turning one, you wanta make something of it?" Actually he was falling forward to his hands as I clicked the camera!

Showing how much he loves his gifts from Ilka

The day after Halloween

Firstly, a message to Aunt Gail, who fell today :(

Addie was a fashion disaster when I picked her up from daycare. Apparently, the day after Halloween for kids in daycare = many changes of clothes needed- if you catch my drift. Here's how she was dressed when I picked her up, this is her 3rd pair of pants for the day!

Also, Ben was a walking fool today! He's transitioning into the toddler room next week!! How is that possible? Wasn't he just born?

Tomorrow morning I'm taking Addie to get her blood drawn. I hope it goes smoothly for her, or at least as smoothly as getting a large amount of blood from a 2.5 year old!

Finally, some pictures of the kids playing. The last one is blurry, but you can sense Ben's smile in it. He's a linebacker in the making, I tell ya!