When There's Love at Home

Our little addition

2011-02-07T23:15:00.002-06:00

We had quite the party at the hospital while we were all readily awaiting the arrival of Emryn Grace. Seriously, no sooner had everyone left, she came. There was no time for the epidural :( It was nice to have family there to share this special time in our lives. Adri was able to come in to the room just moments after her sister arrived. She was a bit unsure at first, but warmed up right away. She laid her claims to the baby and told others when it was their turn to hold her. Kole and Adri hanging out in the hospital before Emryn arrived.

Emryn Grace...6lbs8oz...18and 1/2 inches long. She looks just like Adri did, except Emryn has a head full of dark hair and Adri was almost bald. What little hair she had was blonde.

Adri and Emryn just a few minutes after we got home from the hospital. Adri is already teaching her to watch Mickey Mouse!

Vacation

2010-07-17T11:11:00.004-05:00

Adri and I have done a great deal of traveling this summer. We have been to Colorado with Grammy and Grandpa. We went to Kansas City to see the Backstreet Boys in Concert. We have been to Disneyland and finally Galveston. We have a few more trips to m ake before summer is over!! We have had a BLAST!!!

On the way to Disneyland, we stopped in Arizona to see Kathy and Tyler and the kids. We had a blast!! Adri and the kids became instant buddies.

Once we arrived at Disneyland, Adri immediately began watching the Princess Bedtime stories on the TV. She LOVED the stories that were told. We mwt Minnie and Mickey the first day we went...well we actually met them everyday because that is the one thing Adri could not get enough of!!We went to Minnie's house. Adri (above) is playing on Minnie's computer. Our first picture with Mickey!!Goofy was the first character we saw. At this point Adri wasn't sure about the guys!!Adri really liked watching the princesses. She saw Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella dancing.Her favorite ride...the tea cups...she liked to drive these "all herself" After day one, we were able to talk Adri into actually riding a horse on the carousel. Prior to that she liked watching Daddy ride while she sat on a bench that did not move.
She like the idea of watching the bug show, but it really was not little kid friendly...we had to leave before the show was over because it was a bit scary for her!

Pictures of our other trips will soon be here!!

2010-05-04T19:44:00.002-05:00

Adri Cheering on the Blue Knight at Medieval Times.

Easter

2010-04-18T18:06:00.002-05:00

The Church had an Easter Egg Hunt the Saturday before Easter. Adri had a great time!! She gets the wonderful opportunity to see her cousins and Aunt Lexi everyday. She loves them very much!! Adri had a blast at the church Easter Egg Hunt. She only found a few eggs, but it did not phase her one bit.Easter morning she was excited that there was candy in her basket. She did not waste time trying every kind.Sunday evening, we went the Grammy and Granpa's for the family hunt. Adri insisted that she eat dinner with Grandpa. She loves him both Grammy and Grandpa SO MUCH!! We had over 300 eggs for just 6 little kids, so each child wound up with at least 3 basket fulls!! It was fun!!
Our life has been full of fun and wonderful people! We can't wait for the summer. We have much planned!

Adri is 2!!

2010-02-11T20:20:00.003-06:00

Boy how time flies when you are having fun! Life with Adri has been nothing short of a BLAST! She turned 2 on February 8. She was lucky enough to be surrounded by so many people she loves and that love her in return. This was Adri's birthday cake for our rather large party on Sunday. I can't believe how great it tunred out!
Adri blowing out her candles. She was so excited when everyone sang to her. We just loved having everyone there to help her celebrate such a wonderful day.

Adri had a cookie monster cake on Monday, her real birthday. When we sang to her, she sang along. She was excited when we got to the party about "Happy Birthday to Adri" she screamed at the top of her lungs "ME!!!" She licked the icing off of her Mickey candle.

Mommy and Daddy gave her this cute little table for her birthday. She LOVES it!! When she saw it, she ran across the room so fast that she almost bit it several time!

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On a different note, Adri and I have been doing a good bit of shopping with a GREAT friend. Stephanie, Adri and I are always finding some reason to go out and do something. The other morning I needed to go to Walmart before school and get some things for my food tech class. I woke Adri up and asked her if she wanted to go with me. She quickly raised up out of the bed, said "yes" followed by "Stephanie?" I don't think I have laughed that hardin a long time!

Dave's Birthday

2010-01-17T18:37:00.003-06:00

Friday was Dave's birthday. Adri was talking about it all day long. I let her pick the gift she wanted to give her daddy, hence the cookie monster shirt below!! She had a blast helping make the cake. She is so fun!Adri enjoyed eating the cake after a nice night out to dinner with daddy!

Christmas morning

2009-12-29T11:20:00.003-06:00

Christmas mornig was so much fun. Adri is old enough to know what to do. She had been asking for cars from Santa since November. Her answer never changed, so she was really excited to see that she got cars from Santa.She thought Santa had taken the stockings away because they were not where they had been. She kept telling us that Santa had taken them AWAY. When she finally saw her stocking sitting in her rocking chair she was excited.

We had breakfast after she played with her toys from Santa. She could not wait to open the gifts under the tree.Finally, she opened her Mickey Choo choo. We had a wonderful Christmas! We were able to spend it with the people we love most...our family. Adri calls my parents house "home". When she is ready to go see Grammy, Grandpa, or Lexi; she tells us "home". It is wonderful to have such great family!

Holiday Fun

2009-12-13T13:46:00.003-06:00

With Christmas right around the corner, there is a great deal of fun to be had. Adri is not missing any of it!! We went to the city Christmas Parade. Adri takes it all in. She really watched as all the floats rode by throwing out candy.... Adri thought it was real fun to have her Santa lantern with her... Earlier that day, we had a breakfast with Santa at the church. Adri DID NOT want anything to do with sitting on Santa's lap...but she loved the candy and apples he gave her! Adri and her cousins and Aunt Lexi after Santa hooked 'em up with sugar.

Adri and her Daddy made a Christmas ornament before seeing Santa. She painted, glued and put stickers on. It was a blast!

Putting up the tree

2009-12-01T18:54:00.004-06:00

Friday we put up our Christmas tree. We had a blast!! With Christmas music cranked up, we decorated the tree, put the nativity up and began wrapping gifts. (Yes!! I am almost done with our Christmas shopping!!) Adri just loved decorating the tree, you would think she was an old pro. We haven't had any problems keeping her from playing with the ornaments now that it is done...she just loves to look at it. Her favorite thing, by far, is to wrap gifts...and I might add, she is getting pretty good at it. The pictures are all self explanatory...sorry, but all the captions would read..."Adri decorating the tree..."

Below is a video of our little angel dancing to the music and having a blast...Enjoy!!

Texas Style

2009-11-28T20:08:00.002-06:00

Adri just loves her first pair of boots!! And yes, they are pink. She has only had them a couple of days, but has managed to wear them with PJ's, a diaper, and her clothes for the day. She never wants to take them off. We will see how long this lasts:)

Halloween 2009

2009-11-01T17:14:00.001-06:00

Our little Adri was none other than Minnie Mouse. She went trick or treating and was out after the 1st house. We had to wake her up to see my aunt. She had a blast.

We understand the Camera!!

2009-10-24T14:03:00.002-05:00

So, recently Adri has found and started to understand the purpose of the camera. Everytime we pick it up, she is following us saying, "Cheese." I have taken a few of her moments and put them here for you to see. She is NOT at all afraid of the camera.
Adri saw Dave downloading pictures and posed next to the couch until he took her picture.

Adri was playing with her Nanna Gail and decided to pose for a picture in the middle of playing with Mickey.

Adri, the eater, thought it was time for a picture during dinner.

Adri is not posing in this one, but she wasn't going to be left out. She had to play Wii. She actually thought she was the one bowling the entire game! As you can see, she gets pretty serios when it is time to play.

Summer Pictures

2009-09-15T23:07:00.002-05:00

It is long over due to post pictures of our summer fun. I have really nothing new to report, except that Adri is getting more like a little person...if you know what I mean...everyday! I cannot believe how big she has gotten. Adri went to Schlitterbahn...she really did not care for anything except the food and the kid area. No lazy river for her!!

This one was taken in Utah. She felt the need to help push the luggage cart to our room.

This was the 4th of July after the vomit in Crazy Granny's NEW CAR!! She was fine the rest of the day.

Here, she was intently watching the elephants at the circus.

We have had a most eventful summer. It just makes it that much more difficult for me to go back to work and have to leave her.

First Week of School

2009-08-29T09:34:00.002-05:00

I am so glad to have the first week of school behind me. It was not that bad...I actually enjoyed myself. I did, however, miss spending all day with my little pal. Adri and I are such great buddies. It does make me sad to leave her, but at least it is with her Grammy and Grandpa.

On a different note, school is a bit different without Dad there, but I think it is going to be a great year!

Six Flags

2009-08-16T21:54:00.001-05:00

Adri has had quite a summer!! She has been to the beach, the circus, many shopping trips, and Utah. We took Adri to Six Flags with Grammy, Grandpa and Lexi on Saturday. Ethan, Genevieve and Tory went too. She had a BLAST! I am not sure if she liked the rides best or if she liked pushing her stroller all day best. She was a trooper, only one nap and not much of a grumpy spell we were there from open to close. Needless to sat that by the time we got her to the car, she was out of commission.

Adri did not know what to think of Porky and Daffy. Lexi had not been to Six Flags in years, so it took her a while to warm up to the park as well.

Adri rode the Carousel first. She did not like it in the beginning, but once it started turning she changed her mind.As you can see, Lexi really enjoyed this ride.

Adri was not exactly sure what to think of the Yosemite Sam ride. Her eyes were wide the entire time. A couple of times, we thought she just might cry. She made it through, but was more than ready to get off of this one.

Everyone tried to climb these rope ladders. None of us were successful at it. Dad coached everyone through it. Thank goodness there were no pictures of me and Genevieve trying this out.

Adri loved Looney Tunes Land, with the exception of of the mini Superman ride. She was fine when it got off the ground, but the first drop sent her into a panic. Dave rode it with her, so I could not see her face, but I could see her little finger reach over the buckle and point to the ground. It was priceless.

The promised Utah trip Pics...

2009-08-13T11:07:00.000-05:00

As promised, here are a few of the pictures taken during our trip to Utah. It is rare that we are able to get all the cousins together...and sitting still enough for a picture!!

Adri LOVES to talk on the phone. She is constantly calling someone on anything that slightly resembles a phone. She jabbers on about everything and really thinks she is doing some big time talking.

While we were at Brian and Gretchen's one night, Adri thought she would be "Miss Priss" and show off for every camera in the room. She posed differently after every flash that went off.

Here she is again!! She learned so much about cameras that by the end of the trip she was picking up phones, holding them up, and telling others to say, "Cheese!" We are constantly laughing at the things she learns.

Today was the last day of swim lessons. Adri likes swim lessons, but enjoys it way more when Audrey (her cousin) is in the pool with her. We were able to put her under 2 times today. She wasn't crazy about it, but did hold her breath!! We hope to continue her progress all year long.

Trip to Utah

2009-07-17T23:16:00.001-05:00

Our little family recently hit the sky and headed to Utah. We were there for two weeks. While we were there, we manged to eat at every place that Dave had not been in years, hang out with the family, and do a bit of sight seeing.

The mountains were so beautiful. We spent one afternoon in a National Forrest, which I thought, was way cool. Adri absolutely loved her cousins and jumped in to play as if she sees them every day. It was great how comfortable she was with everyone. Pictures later!

Summer Fun

2009-06-27T17:32:00.001-05:00

We are having a blast! Our Summer began with a great trip to the zoo. Our whole family went. This was fun because it was Adri's first trip to the zoo. She loved it! It was fun to spend time with my family, but we were real excited that Dave's Dad and Gail decided to spend the day there with us as well.

Just last week, Adri and I went to the beach. Another first for her. I really thought she would be scared of the ocean. Boy, was I wrong! She loved both the water and the sand! We have a real beach bum on our hands!!

Next exciting trip...2 weeks in Utah!!!

Adri enjoying Stewart Beach in Galveston!

We were so lucky to go and share this fun trip with our family!!! We love them and had so much fun!!

Adri had her picture with Grandpa Jack and Nana Gail at the Ft. Worth Zoo. I'm not sure who had more fun, Adri...or the Birthday boy!!!

This snake was CRAZY!!! Adri didn't think much of it, but it was grossed out!

Adri and her Daddy at the zoo. She is really a Daddy's girl!!!

Catch Up

2009-04-04T19:24:00.000-05:00

Adri loves to play rock a bye baby!

We caught her here making a mess after mommy cleaned it up! She was way too cute to get into trouble!

This is her the day before her birthday at the airport. We were picking up Uncle Ethan.

Her birthday cake! It was not that hard to put together.

She was purple for 2 days after eating this...but she sure thought is was yummy!

RETURN MISSIONARY!!!

2009-02-15T20:12:00.000-06:00

ETHAN IS FINALLY HOME!!!! He came home last Saturday. We partied all weekend. After we picked him up from the airport, we went bowling for Elena's birthday party. Sunday we had Adri's birthday party.

I am so excited!!! I missed him so much. At first, Adri would not have much to do with him, but now I think they are pretty good buddies!

On another note...being in the primary at church is such a blessing. Those children stregthen me. I cannot believe how much one can learn from a child! I am truly blessed!

ROAD TRIP.....GO UTES!

2009-01-04T00:21:00.000-06:00

Dave, Adri and I recently went on a roadtrip to New Orleans. Dave is a HUGE Utah fan. After learning that the Utes would be playing in the Sugar Bowl...Dave knew he had to go. I am not really a football fan, but I do like a good roadtrip and the great atmosphere of the games...so Adri and I went along. Dave was so excited when the Utes won.

Adri was quite the trooper. She had so much fun! She tends to make friends with everyone around us, and this game was no different. She finally settled down enough to take a nap with only half of the 4th quarter left.

Before the game, Adri loved the bands playing outside. She loves to dance and really got a kick out of watching all the people.

She was a great car rider. She slept most of the way to and from New Orleans.

When we decided to stop she really enjoyed to the front seat! Dave says it was worth it, but I also tend to believe that Utah winning had a little something to do with it!

Christmas Morning

2008-12-29T00:01:00.000-06:00

Christmas day was so much fun!! It was Adri's first Christmas, and although she really did not know what exactly was going on...she did know she wasn't going to be left out!

Adri used my rocking chair to set out for Santa to bring her stuff. She loves to rock, so of course, Santa could have left nothing and she would have been in heaven with this chair.

First thing Christmas morning she began to dig through the many things she got from Santa. She LOVES the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and got one of her very own, but really did not want to get too close to it without moral support from Momma.

She figured out the great joy of tearing into gifts by the time she was opening her last! Again...it's Mickey. This motivated her.

It think her favorite thing of all was the simple little sippy cup she got in her stocking. Dave and I hope she will stay this easy to please!

Adri loves her cousins, aunts and uncles and grammy and grandpa and was SOOO excited, as always, to see them Christmas Day evening. After playing the night away at Grammy's she was ready for bed.

Christmas changes after you have a child. It has always been fun, but a child, no matter what age, makes it magical.

Thanksgiving

2008-12-07T20:58:00.000-06:00

We went to Arizona for Thanksgiving to be with Dave's family. It was the first time for them to meet Adri. We had a blast! Adri loves her cousins!! She even tried to play cards with the older ones.

Aaron is only a few months younger than Adri. They got along great!! It is funny, just looking at them you'd probably bet he was older than her.

Adri had her first experience with golf while we were in Arizona. Daddy showed her how to putt on a mini putt putt course. She liked it, for the most part...this was probably the only time she did not smile!!

She and Daddy rode a fun little merry go round too! I think Dave enjoyed it WAY more than Adri!While we were at the Park for a fun little Turkey Day football game, Adri met the swing. She loved it!! She had so much fun and never wanted to stop swinging.

Our Cow

2008-10-23T18:53:00.000-05:00

We are having so much fun with Adri. She is now almost 9 months and learning to get into everything quickly. She loves hanging out with all the other kids in our family. She is happy most of the time.

Adri is learning to pull up.

Our little cow and her cow.

This will be here first Halloween and we found the cutest little cow costume. As you can see...she will be a cow for Halloween. I have owed cows and still have a couple, but she is the cutest I've ever had!! Dave was so excited to get the costume that he tried to dress her before she got a nap...finally she won and took her nap, then daddy was able to dress her.

A month of firsts!!

2008-09-21T13:46:00.000-05:00

Adri has cut her first tooth and began crawling all in the same month. She is getting so big and is in to everything. A month ago, I could put her on the floor to play while I got dressed, now she is into whatever she can find!!

The past couple of weeks

2008-08-06T08:19:00.000-05:00

I have not been keeping up real well with posts. I am going to try and catch up here. We'll see...

We went to cheer camp early August. Adri had a blast. She is such a looker, of course, there was a great deal for her to watch. The first day she did not take any naps, by the second day, she was sleeping through any and all noises!

We went to the circus! It was Adri's first circus. Adri's little Aunt Lexi Mae loves to get the cotton candy with the hat and the program with the nose. Both of the girls enjoyed themselves.

Lexi loves Adri! The took a picture together at the circus. These two girls are the best of buddies.

My mom and dad, I think they love the circus as much as the rest of us. This is right before the circus began.
The Laird family. We don't have very many pictures of all 3 of us. It was fun to take Adri to the circus.

Dave and Adri outside American Airlines Center.

Adri also got a new toy she really loves!!!

We bought Adri a new toy...she loves it. All she does is jump up and down. She laughs and giggles and thinks it is the funniest thing in the world. It is fun to watch her learn to use her legs. Dave and I make sure to let her jump for a while right before she goes to bed. She has been sleeping great!

3 years and counting!!

2008-07-22T22:11:00.001-05:00

Dave and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary on the 16th. I cannot believe that it has already been that long. We are constantly amazed at how much we learn about each other daily. We are excited to see what the next few years will bring!

We feel so very blessed for the many opportunities that have come our way and the joy of havingsuch a sweet little girl in our lives. We could not have asked for any different life. We live everyday on cloud 9.

Adri is 5 months

2008-07-14T19:23:00.000-05:00

It seems like yesterday that we were bringing Adri home from the hospital. She is now 5 months old. She is the joy of our lives. As a busy body, Adri cannot lay down without rolling from her back to her stomach and rotating from one end of her toys to the other. She has figured out ways to scoot across the floor to get to whatever she wants. Life is so much fun!

Sitting Up

2008-06-24T11:33:00.000-05:00

Adri is so very close to sitting up all by herself. She is just getting so big. Adri is also a big time talker. She loves to chat, at this point we really don't know what she is saying, but she sure is telling us what she thinks. She gets that from Mommy! Just last night, I told Dave that she is a born debater!! I am so proud!!!

Weight loss

2008-06-09T18:46:00.001-05:00

The Herrin's are playing the biggest loser...again! Dave won last time, he has promised to take everyone out to eat. Ultimately it is an evil plot to make everyone else gain weight. He will probably choose to not eat that day and watch as everyone else chows down!! We were all very excited last time. As a family we lost a total of 53 pounds!!

Virginia has a few more pounds of this baby weight to lose. Research says if it is not lost by 6 months after the birth, it stays. She has deemed her job this summer is to do nothing but work out...we shall see!!

Sleeping through the night

2008-06-02T01:04:00.001-05:00

So... for the last four nights straight, Adri has slept through the night!!! I cannot be more excited. This only started as summer began, but I'll take all the sleep I can get at this point.

Summer has begun!!

2008-05-31T19:29:00.000-05:00

I am so excited that summer is finally here! Adri and I will be able to spend a great deal of time together. We have so many plans. Currently we are planning for Dave's 1st Father's Day. He is such a good Dad. We hope to eventually have a house and be finished with apartment living.

Adri has been such a blessing, I cannot believe that she is almost 4 months old. Everyone warns of the sleepless nights, fussiness and other things that make parenting sound horrible. But no one ever tells you how wonderful it is. I cannot believe how much joy she has brought to our life.