bye, bye baby....hello toddler!

It has been several weeks since we have had time to update everyone on what is going on with our family.  This is simply due to the fact that our sweet, precious baby is now a full on toddler.  We are constantly chasing after her, and trying to keep her out of everything!  Now that includes much more since she is walking and can reach higher.  She also loves to crawl up the stairs, and giggles anytime we chase her around the couch.  Right now we live in an enclosed space in our living room, although it seems like the only person who can manage to find an easy way past the barricade is Adelyn!  Here are a few photos from Ady's first birthday party, her Winter Onederland.  We didn't have much snow here that weekend, but of course Omaha had the first snowstorm of 2012 that weekend so most of our family was not able to attend.  Thankfully we had several friends, and some family that made the trip so her birthday was still very special!  Unbelievable that she is already 1, and amazing to think that one year ago we were "living" in the hospital praying our baby would be strong enough to come home!

Getting ready for her party, being such a ham!

Right before her party with Aunt Chrissy, smiles everywhere that day!

Our dessert table complete with cupcakes, snowmen cookies, and hot cocoa bar

Ady's throne

The birthday monthly banner - amazing to see how much she has changed

Our birthday girl, unfortunately this is the only picture of us at her party

After eating her birthday cupcake, surprisingly she didn't make a huge mess

She got to have another cupcake on her actual birthday, this one was more messy.  She also gave the dogs the cake part while she devoured the frosting.

The best attempt at the 12th month photo

Can't believe she is so big!

We had Adelyn's 12 month doctor appointment, and we are so blessed to say she is developing perfectly.  She has finally hit 20 lbs so that puts her at the 30th percentile which is the highest she has ever been.  She still is a small fry with her height at 10% and her huge melon at 93%.  She is also hitting all of her developmental milestones all while still being such a happy little girl.  It is really hard to have a bad day when you get to look at her beautiful, smiling face!  We are so excited to see what the next 12 months brings!!

First Christmas & 11 months!

This Christmas was one of our favorites yet!  We were able to experience this glorious holiday through the eyes of a 10 month old, and watch as the lights twinkled in her eyes.  It was heart-warming having her around during the difficult challenges we were/are facing.  Surprisingly she was actually helpful in opening gifts, and loved ripping the wrapping paper off the presents long before Christmas.  She also learned to master pulling herself up to stand, and cruising along the furniture.  Over this past week (couple of weeks shy of her 1st birthday) she has started taken steps on her own, and becoming more courageous everyday.  She isn't far from total independence with walking!  We are loving spending every day with her, and find it unbelievable that she will be 1 in a few weeks.  Where did our baby go? Although our little, bitty baby is growing she is becoming an adorable, interactive toddler.  She is so much fun to be around, and shows off her new skills and smiles every day!

Adelyn admiring the snowman

She loves talking to him too

Adelyn and Daddy on Christmas Eve

Our first Christmas together!

Opening a couple of gifts on Christmas Eve

Watching the snow fall outside

With Daddy on his birthday!

Showing off her Christmas dress with her new boots

Needless to say, that outfit got a little warm - rosy cheeks!

Eating the wrapping paper

Reading a book with daddy

11 months already!

Showing off her 8 teeth!!!

What mess?

This morning I thought it would be fun to try a craft with Adelyn.  I wanted to make a turkey out of her handprint.  I know, I know, I was being a little naive.  Ok a lot naive.  I even wanted to do each finger a different color.  I actually tried to accomplish this, little did I know I wouldn't even get a clear fingerprint.  Isn't it amazing how much things change when you have a baby.  Last year I would have freaked out and made it my life's mission to get the perfect print.  This year I just watched and laughed as she made a mess, and I treasure the masterpieces she made.  If you look close you can make out at least part of a handprint!

Yup those are tears, all she wanted to do was snuggle with me, and we did - paint and all!

Finally some smiles, she really enjoyed playing in the paints.

Hey at least we had fun!

Adelyn has also taught me that my plans are no longer something she has to abide by.  These next few photos are our attempt to get 9 month photos.  Needless to say they aren't as posed as some of the younger ones.  Either way she still is adorable!

Here I come!

Hey!  I'm just gonna lean on the frog and chew on my block, so take the picture!

Will I seriously need to do this pose every month?  I'm getting too big for this mom!

These last few photos are Adelyn getting caught in the act of misbehaving.  Actually they are just glimpses of her having fun with all her toys.  She couldn't reach her toy on her own, so it only makes perfect sense for her to climb inside her dinosaur to get the extra height!

Ummm, hi Mom!  She is so stinking cute!

Loving her toys!

Our sweet angel!

This year the Sass family is incredibly thankful for our amazing family and all their support.  We are also very thankful for each other and the unconditional love we share for one another!  Most of all we are thankful to spend our first Thanksgiving as a new family!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Crazy Eight

It is unbelievable that our little Peanut is already 8 months old, although in many ways it is quite evident.  Adelyn is always crawling to get to something, and it is usually something she shouldn't be around.  Her favorite go to toy is anything the dogs are playing with, including their chew bones.  She also loves pulling herself up to stand on anything remotely stable.  Now that she has developed some confidence with that skill she is starting to let go while standing, soon realizing she isn't quite ready for that (or at least Mommy isn't)!  She is quite clever though, today she was struggling to reach a toy while she was standing next to the couch.  Instead of whining for me to help, she went back down on her knees, put the toy in her mouth, stood back up, and started playing with the toy.  I wonder if she has been watching the dogs play too much, pretty sure we don't want her carrying her toys around in her mouth with her hands are busy.  Oh well, we will address that later. :)  Other times she seems so clumsy that I want to put one of those big sumo wrestler costumes on her to protect her as she plays bumper cars around the room.  Even with all the craziness of our curious lady, she still can change any situation just by flashing that gorgeous smile and batting those long lashes (especially to Daddy) .  In eight short months, we have learned to love someone at first sight, find patience when none exists, smile when things seem tough, find pride in the smallest of accomplishments, love unconditionally, and lean on one another all while falling in love more and more each day!  Thank you Adelyn for making our lives so much better than we could have imagined, and filling in that missing piece in our family!  We love you!

Showing how big she is at 8 months

Posing with her Froggie

I may be small, but I'm pretty amazing!

Up, up and away

Last weekend we took Adelyn on her first trip (traveling to Omaha doesn't count), we went to Estes Park, Colorado for a family reunion.  We were a little nervous how Adelyn would handle the flight and the travel in general.  We are so blessed, we have such an amazing little traveler.  She was asleep before we took off, and didn't wake up until we started the descent into Denver.  I tried feeding her when we took off, but I'm not sure I was real successful.  She didn't seem bothered with ear pressure issues on either flight - such a blessing for a parent flying with a baby!

On her first plane ride

Little stinker

 The first day we spent in Estes Park was very chilly, overcast, and a bit rainy.  Luckily we were all dressed for the weather, so we walked around "downtown" with some family.  We quickly learned we made a great purchase with the Baby Bjorn, especially since it was on consignment - 60% off!  It was so much easier than the stroller, and Ady could easily take a nap and we didn't have to worry about her slumping over.  It was extremely nice when we went through airport security on the way home.  I was starting to take it off, when a TSA official instructed me to leave it on and walk around the full body scanner.  They swabbed the palms on my hands, and we were on our way.  I was so relieved because I didn't want Ady exposed to the scanner and radiation.  I digress... we had such a great time in Colorado we forgot to get the camera out so we don't have many photos from the trip.  Adelyn saw the mountains and wanted to get into the spirit so she decided to cut her first tooth.  On Sunday, Tim noticed two little white "peaks" in her lower gums.  Hopefully once she cuts this tooth, we can get back to sleeping through the night.  I guess we can only hope, but if that is our only issue with Adelyn we are blessed!!

Love Adelyn's new hat!

Sleeping baby while we played miniature golf.

Just a few weeks late, but I added some 7 month photos to this post.  Our little peanut is getting so big, she can now sit on her own.  She has started to move around like an inchworm, she is days away from actually crawling.  She just needs to move her hands then she is off.  I'm enjoying my last few days of "freedom" before I have to either be in the room with Adelyn or barricade her in one area.

7 months and sitting up on her own.

Seriously mom, how many more months do I have to lay on this frog....I don't fit anymore! 

Finally... 6 month photos!

Things have been a bit crazy around the Sass house, so I'm a little late getting some of Adelyn's 6 month photos uploaded.  I have to admit, I thought if I didn't add these photos maybe she wouldn't really be 6 months. :)  Our little Peanut is growing so much.  At Adelyn's 6 month checkup, the doctor told us she is growing and developing just like a term 6 month old.  Good news, she doesn't need age adjustment anymore!!  She is 50% for height and head circumference, and 25% for weight (no wonder she is still in 3 month clothing).  Some of the other recent accomplishments for Miss Adelyn are responding to (and ignoring) her name, knowing Ginger & Baxter by name, eating cereal like a champ, giggling like crazy, sitting unassisted for 10-15 seconds, inching her body backwards (although not entirely sure it is intentional),  putting both feet into her mouth at the same time (not sure that is an accomplishment or just gross), and the sweetest thing of reaching for us when we go to pick her up - love this one!  Hopefully by the next monthly update she will be able to sit up by herself and drink from a sippy cup without causing her eyes to water & a coughing spell.

Wish I hadn't put those silly white socks on her.

Gather round the magic carpet children, its story time.

The headpiece started on the left, but kept moving toward the middle.

She thought a fun game to play with daddy was catch Ady before she falls off the frog.

Every once in a while its all worth it for a shot like this!

Might need to train Daddy on fixing the props & where to stand.

By far the worst part of going to the checkups is the shots.  She let out a scream at this round of shots that we had never heard before.  Daddy thought it was refreshing to hear that sound, since fortunately we aren't use to hearing her cry like that.  He might be eating his words now.  The last 3 nights have been horrible.  Our little angel who has slept through the night since 8 weeks decided to go on vacation and leave the screaming, cranky sidekick.  The calm before the storm she was rolling around (see the photos) having fun, and then it was time to sleep.  It doesn't help that mother's intuition is failing this week too.  Not sure if it is the shots, teething, growth spurt, or separation anxiety.  Now I can finally appreciate when other parents say, just when you think you have things figured out - they change!  The good news is there is improvement from night to night, bad news I'm still not sure what is going on.  As long as my sweet little angel comes back from vacay, I can live without knowing.

She rolled herself into a burrito, and thought it was so funny!

Steamroller managed to back herself up to the wall and the fireplace.  Probably time to baby-proof!

Everyone's favorite - Photos!

Two updates in one day - woohoo!

She was such a trooper over our crazy busy weekend!  We went to the Farmers Market, Shakespeare on the Green, a Birthday Party, several family cookouts.  I don't think she was ever in bed before 11:30 and she took only brief cat naps during the day.  All this and she was such a happy, chatty baby!

Adelyn and Mommy over July 4th weekend

With her daddy too!

Adelyn's first Shakespeare on the Green

She seemed to enjoy herself

Adelyn's first Omaha Farmers Market

Loves her grandma time - or is it loves her baby time???


Drum roll please..... her 5 month photos are here!!!

5 months already

Love that face!

Lounging with her froggie

Daddy is so silly!

Beautiful Little Lady



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