A NEW year, A NEW you!

I cannot believe that 2012 is already over! WOW- did this year move by in full speed or what?! It was a good year. No, it was a great year! I am happy to say that for the first time in our marriage, we did not have an major changes, moves, or big events happen! (Want to an overview of what happened in our lives in 2011? click here!) In 2012, it felt so good to just be! We were finally able to focus on being the best 'us' we can, as individuals and a family. Rest assured, we have A LOT of growing and bettering to do but it was a good start! 

Last year, for the first time ever I made a list of what I called New Years Goals…I have always been hesitant to make these because I didn't ever want to be just another person writing down a bunch of idealistic things that I would:

A. Forget come June  

B. Never achieve. 

So when I made this list, I meant it. 

I am a firm believer that if you don't have goals, you will never achieve them. This year, I daily (almost) worked toward these goals, and can honestly say I achieved them! I even exceeded one of them by running a FULL marathon instead of my goal to do a half or 10k!!! I only hope to continue on with these lifestyle changes and increase them as the years go by. 

This year, I made another list for 2013. I had been thinking for a long time about what things I could do to better my life in major ways and grow as a person. Here is what I came up with. You better believe that everyday will be spent working towards these goals!

Cheers to continuing to grow to be a better person not only for ourselves, but for our God and those around us. 

My little girl in her "party ballerina outfit!"

Happy New Year everyone!!!

Christmas time is here!

And just like that, it was Christmas! 

Last year, having a newborn- I expected the time to fly by. But this year it seemed to come and go quicker than ever! I officially think that many of us make Christmas too chaotic. too hectic. and too busy. I only got a small chunk of time I was able to sit and truly ponder on the wonder of why we celebrate. Next year, this will be different. I don't know how we are going to make the days not so filled with the stress of food/ gifts/ company etc, but I am determined to make it happen!

Anyways… We DID in fact have a great Christmas, despite the craziness! Last year, I didn't have to work because I was on maternity leave, and this year, I just lucked out! 

We started off our celebrating with the whole Dittrich gang in New Ulm on the 22nd! It was fun to see them again after just a month at Thanksgiving (which rarely happens!) and we enjoyed a full day with these great people! 

Addie officially understood how to open presents, and that there are good things inside! Although the boxes and wrapping are often just as fun for them :)

Then it was Christmas eve,  and I tried to snag a few pics before we headed off to church for a fun family service!

My family! 

The "kids" including the newest addition, we call him Theo as well…she is completely in love with him already!

We finally got to my parents house around 7pm on Christmas eve, and they once again braved a 'surf and turf' meal! (I on the other hand enjoyed some fine veggie pizza!)

 Addie got to meet her great Aunt Wai Pik from Hong Kong that was here to visit! They adored one another and had lot of fun being silly!

The boys were digging in! They mean business when it comes to their meals and meat. 

Addie loved opening some more presents, and got another round of "not so girlie gifts" from her uncle Scott which included a dump truck…lol

Christmas morning was here!…and well, it was a very very tired morning. Let's just say I am spoiled by having a baby who has since 3 months old not only slept through the night, but slept in until 8:00-8:45 am. I AM NOT used to having her up for hours on end at night. Pack and play + us in the same room just didn't fly that night. 

BUT….we got over that real quick, got all decked out in red and green, and got ready to brave the day full of fun!

All of my mom's side and part of my dad's side joined us Christmas morning at my parents for brunch and gifts! Addison was loving time with great aunt Judy- another favorite!

And of course, those priceless moments with Gramma Pam. Gosh these two have such a special relationship!

Christmas night, we hosted the immediate Dittrich family at our house! Good times were had, and the cousins were so fun to watch together!

Completely delusional from no sleep, but loving every moment of the play time with new toys and family!

Aunt Haley is like a magnet for kids. They all love her- and I don't blame them, she is amazing!

Uncle Alex even scored some cuddle time the next day- gotta love these moments!

Merry Christmas!!!

Gearing up for Christmas!

The December birthdays had past.

The lights and decorations were hung. 

The snow had fallen, with even a snow storm behind us.

(Almost) All the presents had been bought.

...And now it was time to enjoy a few more special moments/ traditions before Christmas arrived! We really try to soak things in around here…sometimes we fail, but other times we succeed! Here are some of the successes that we were able to capture with the good 'ol iphone!

Addie, Theo and I braved it out on the deck during the huge snow storm in order for her to have her first full fledge snow experience… So, I set her down….and she sat still…and did not move. ever. lol Oh well! There were no tears and this was the most expression I got out of her! At least we have the first one under our belt! 

We complain and complain about the cold winters in the midwest, but sometimes I don't think I realize how much I actually appreciate them. Even though the roads are NOT fun to drive on, the snow is absolutely beautiful! I loved this view as I was driving into my neighborhood, and just had to snap a couple pictures!

After getting Addie's 1 year pictures taken by a wonderful friend, we made some more Christmas cookies! Sam and I have done this every year since we have been married. We love doing it…However every year we find the need to make a simpler cookie recipe. Not because we don't have the time, but because of our severe lack of baking skills! Either way, we have fun doing it…and this year we got to show Add the ropes! 

Us girls had one last trip to the Mall of America to wrap up the last of our gift buying and ended up scoring some AMAZING deals for ourselves too…oops :) We always have so much fun together though- we make a great team!

We decided to make it a tradition last year (when Addie was just 3 weeks old) to try and make it Downtown Minneapolis and look at the Macy's 8th floor display. I think every year I go, I forget how short the display actually is, and that they don't change the theme each year…but again we went, and it was great! Addie is at such a fun age, and was so fun to watch her be mesmerized by everything!

I think she pointed at things 95% of the time! It's been her new thing, and I adore it!

Of course one of us had to catch the stomach flu, so I took one for the team! Addie very much enjoyed the empty bottle of sprite that remained though!

Christmas season was upon us, and soon to be here! We tried our best not to hurry the moments so they didn't slip on by!

Addison Joy: 1 Year Old!

I cannot believe that our little Addie is ONE! A whole year has passed since she entered the world! On 12.2.11 at 6:18pm, 2 1/2 weeks early, Addison Joy made her arrival. She weighed in at 7 lbs 3.4 oz and  was19 inches long.

Ever since that moment, our world changed more than we could have imagined {for the better}. I am dead serious when I say that EVERY day we are in awe at how blessed we are to have someone so precious in our lives! 

Addie is still working hard on growing, and still hasn't mastered it quite yet, but we believe she will get there!…;) 

One year stats: 

Weight: 16 lbs 2 oz (< 1st percentile)

Height: 28 inches (18th percentile)

Head: 16 3/4 inches (1st percentile)

Addie was born one day after my birthday, so this year we got to experience two days in a row of celebrating! My birthday was a great combo of fun activities, but her's was even better :)

A couple months ago we were trying hard to pick a theme for her party, and eventually decided to do a monkey theme! We finally arrived there after the following conclusions:

A. We wanted to do something that really represented who she was- at one, she is not really into any movies, shows, or characters

B. She always wants to be upside down, climbing, flipping around and is all around silly!

C. It's cute!

D. She loves animals

Decision made!

Here are a couple photos of her 1st birthday party:

We feel so lucky to have amazing friends and family in our lives and in hers as well! It was so fun to  celebrate with them all! Bring on the next year full of great memories and growing into the incredible individual God created Addie to be!

The last of the firsts for her!

Thanksgiving 2012 was Addie's official last "first holiday" {besides her birthday, but I think that will technically be her 2nd time right?!} and it was a good one!

Being a nurse, It is expected that you will have to work your fair share of holidays…so I fully intended on working Thanksgiving or Christmas and/ or New Years. Thankfully, I got scheduled for NONE of them! How could that have happened?! I am not sure, but I am not going to complain! Although the double or double and 1/2 time would have been nice, there is nothing that beats holidays with my family.

Back to Thanksgiving… The day started off right with a beautiful run, and non other than my favorite treats: A veggie egg and cheese breakfast sandwich and pumpkin spice latte from my love {Starbucks}. 

Sam, Addie and I then made the 2 1/2 hr trip to New Ulm to Sam's wonderful Grandparents house. They always do such a great job hosting. They are seriously the most active and spunky grandparents I have ever met! It was nice to see all of his aunts, uncles, cousins etc that we don't get to see that often! Believe it or not, some of them had never even met little miss Addison yet! {Last Christmas we didn't brave the trip down there with a 3 week old, and I was scheduled to work on Easter.}

Addie was shy for a while {would we expect anything else?!} but after a couple hours, and a nap, she warmed up to a few people... and especially enjoyed the 50+ year old blocks!

I for one LOVE thanksgiving not for the food {I really don't like 99% of thanksgiving foods} but for the fact that it is a holiday NOT centered around gifts! So it was very nice just to 'be' with others!

On our way home, we stopped by my parents to pick up Mr. Theo, who of course couldn't spend Thanksgiving alone- and plotted the next days early morning shopping.

It was great {of course} to get the majority of our Christmas shopping done, and to get some good deals during our 12 hr shopping day…but so often I just felt sick to my stomach! The focus on spending so much money and all the gifts you 'HAVE' to buy just really got to me! I so wish we could do without gifts on Christmas. Or people would be satisfied with all home crafted gifts! It is nice to get new things for yourself, and to buy for others…but how much do we really need? It says a lot that most of the time we have to sit down, and think hard about what we want for Christmas.

Anyways, It was a super fun day with my mom, and maybe one year {hopefully sooner rather than later} we can start scaling down even more on the gifts, but it is hard because it seems like everyone would have to be on board!

All in all, I am SO thankful, and SO blessed beyond words can describe. I loved this Thanksgiving and look forward to the Birthday and Christmas festivities ahead! We fully intend on soaking up every bit of it! Can you believe my little monkey is going to be ONE year old in just a few days!?! WOW, it is cliche, but so true, time really does fly with the little ones! What a beautiful, sweet, silly, and special girl she is! Her giggles and sweet/ thoughtful spirit melt my heart each and every day!