Put into perspective...

This little bugger is total and complete hyperactive, over zelous, stubborn, yet intelligent dog you will ever meet. He's pushed me to my LIMITS...especially after Addison was born. In fact, I was ready to find him a new home b/c he was too much to handle with a new little baby. But despite all of this, he is our 1st baby and we LOVE him and always, always will! Everyone who knows us knows, Oskar is a pill but so, so, loving! In fact, Addison's favorite word is "Oskar;" anytime we hear a dog bark she says, "Ahhhhh-ker!" Even Max is Oskar! So this morning when we dropped him off at the vet fearing the worst, I sat with my head in my hands, tears pouring from my eyes.

Oskar slipped a disc in his lower back sometime Tuesday morning-not sure how or exactly when, but the entire day he moped and hid from everyone but me. We decided we better take him in and when the nurse mentioned it was probably his back, I feared the worst. I figured if he'd slipped a disc, he would have to be put down. Fortunatly, his injuries aren't too bad and he'll hopefully make a speedy recovery with a few pain killers and anti-inflammatories.

We're just waiting for the final call from the doc giving his okay to release Oskar to us after a long day without him. I'll tell you, things have been way too quiet and in order around here. I'm ready for my hyperactive puppy to come home. Even Max is depressed wondering where his brother is!

Unfortunatly, it takes times like this to make me realize how precious our little guy is. He's all those stubborn, obnoxious things, but he's also one of the most loyal, loving dogs that anyone could ask for.

We're back!!!

So after a temporary sabbatical or two or maybe even three from Blogger, I would like to officially announce that the Cann family is back! Haha! The reasons I started this blog was to help keep extended family updated and to keep records of our happenings...so that's just what I'm going to start doing...again!!! As you can see, we haven't gone private, for various reasons, and don't plan to, at least not right now!

So a little update on where we're at and what life's handing to us:

• We've moved from Moscow, the town we loved, to Twin Falls, a town that I'm not sure of but Eli promises me I'll soon learn to love it!
• Eli started his new job and LOVES it and is doing really well!!!
• I have accepted a 1st grade position and am SO excited to be in the public schools! (I met with several teachers from the district last Friday for coffee and couldn't be more thrilled to work with a great bunch of educators!)
• We live in an adorable little house with a fully fenced back yard! It's so nice not living in an apartment! I'll try to get some pictures taken today after Addi goes to sleep!
• I went to Florida on a once in a life time trip and it was AMAZING though I missed my baby dearly!
• Addison just turned ONE on Sunday!!! Where did the time go? (Pictures and details to follow soon!)
• And, we're selling Eli's prized possession...his truck! Wanna buy it?!

Overall, we are so very excited about this new chapter in our life. We miss our friends in Moscow/Pullman a lot but we plan to go back and visit soon to get Addison's 1 year photos taken and then for my friend's baby shower! And although Twin is COMPLETELY different from Moscow in nearly every facet, it's closer to our family and to us, there's nothing more important! While the road was extremely rocky and difficult to navigate at times over the past several months, God has truly blessed us, and we are ever so thankful with where He has lead us!

Mowing the lawn with Daddy!

Big Changes & Going Private

So after months of negotiating, decision making, and pure uncertainty Eli has excitedly accepted a terrific job offer in Twin Falls meaning that we are going to be moving! We both have been feeling a lot mixed emotions-excitement, fear, sadness, and relief.

When I came to Moscow about 7 years ago I thought I was here only to receive my degree, I didn't envision sticking around, but Eli and I have fallen in love with Moscow. When we began working in our current jobs we always talked about how lucky we were to have such compassionate and understanding bosses; how many of our co-workers have truly become our dear friends; how we actually enjoy going to work. We had never experienced these feelings in previous jobs so when we both gave our notice last Monday, there were many tears shed. It's hard to say goodbye to something you love and appreciate but we just can't financially afford to stay.

As I'm trying to digest all of this ever-quick change, I'm torn to know that Eli and I will live apart for a little while. Eli is leaving in two weeks and Addison and I won't follow until later in the summer (I'm still trying to determine a final date...). In the 8 years that we've been together we have walked the difficult path of a long distance relationship for a total of two years. I thought when we got married we were done but no. I have no doubt that this will be the most difficult time a part yet!

All in all, we are excited, but we are also very sad to say goodbye to our current jobs and our friends. We know this is what's best for our family but it's still very difficult. Thank you to all of you who have given us so much support. I can't imagine where our life would be if we didn't have all of the love and support of our families and our dear friends. We love you all and we know no matter where we are in this world, you all will continue to be in our hearts!!!

***********************************************************************************
So now it's time for me to find a job. I'm about ready to submit several different applications to school districts down there. Because of this, I need to make our blog private. Although I don't have anything on our blog that I'm ashamed of, I think it would be in my best interest to make it private. I know there are probably some people who "blog stalk" our blog which is totally fine (I do it too!!!) just leave me your email address in the comments section or email it to me at henr6661@vandals.uidaho.edu so that I can grant you access to continue reading!

I am still alive!!!

Have you ever felt that you have fallen so far behind on something that you need massive amounts of time to get caught up and so you put it off and then it just keeps getting larger and larger??? Well, that's exactly how I've felt with this blog! I began this as a way to document what's going on in our lives so that Addison can look back on it and enjoy all of the memories but somehow it became a chore...not sure what happened! So, I've decided to heck with it, I'm just going to start now and not worry about all that was missed! Sound good?


But before I go, here's one thing that I've wanted to share: all of Addi's 6 mos. professional pictures! I know I'm a little bias but isn't she SO cute?!!! We are so blessed!

A few pictures with cousin Clara! Aren't they adorable?!!!

It's beginning to look a lot like...

WINTER!!! Maybe I shouldn't write that with three exclamation points since I despise winter! I don't mind snow on Christmas, but then it can just go away! Oh, and it most certainly should not arrive before December 25th! However, this is what it looked like today outside:

And look at this big girl holding her own bottle--glass bottle I might add! Such a big girl growing like a weed!

At her doctor's appointment on the 17th she weighed 13 lbs 12 oz (50th percentile), 23 1/4 inches long (40th percentile) and F.O.C. 40 (30th percentile). So she's growing well! In fact, just this weekend she began to reach out to touch and grab things. She's been attempting to do this for a week or so now, but she's definitely mastering it with more and accuracy (plus some adorable awkwardness)!

She's saying, "Mom, I'm soaked from all this spit-up. Quit takin' pictures and change my clothes...for the 3rd time today!" I asked the doctor about this for the 100th time and he continues to tell me there's nothing to worry about...we're just over feeding her. So, we've cut her bottles back to 4 0z, but try to explain to an infant why she can't have more when she's used to eating more! Oh yeah, you can't! Anyway, this has helped some, but she's still spitting up a lot. In fact, just last night, Eli caught one spit-up with the bib and I dumped it back into the empty bottle to find that she had spit almost 1 oz up. (Gross I know, but I wanted a number for the volume coming back up! Rest assured, I thoroughly washed her bottle before her next feeding!) Anyway, that's 25% of what she's taking in...not to mention all the subsequent smaller spits...ugh! I guess she's gaining weight fine so we'll just ride this boat and hope that we hit smooth waters soon!

Oh, and might I mention...WE'RE GOING TO VISIT THE *PARENTALS* or should I say *GRAND PARENTALS* IN JUST A FEW DAYS!!! I can't wait! I need a break from work and Moscow life!!!

This and That

Here's Addison playing at school in the bouncer!

And here we are with my sister at her baby shower! Not the best pic of Addison, but it's still a fun one!

Thank you to all the phone calls, facebook and blogger comments about my previous post. I am taking it all into consideration, but I am laying low with the entire "sleep" thing until Addison is feeling better! Apparently between my scorching high fever last weekend and Eli's bronchitis, Addison has taken her fair share of sick buggies :(

So, Eli and I have decided that starting the first of January, you know after the huge gift buying season is over, that we're going to focus on getting out of debt. I've been reading Dave Ramsey's book The Total Money Makeover and I am getting completely motivated. It's not to say that we're in too much debt, but unfortunately we do have student loans, car and truck payments, and just recently some credit card debt.... I have always vowed to never carry any balance on a credit card, but we caved. Needless to say, it's getting cut up! Anyway, this book gives me hope that if we get out of this sooner than later, we will be able to save a substantial amount of money for retirement, vacations, Addison's college, etc. If anybody has any debt, even if it's just a mortgage, I strongly encourage you to read this book! I'm reading it now, then Eli will. We're giving ourselves until January just so we can get through the gift giving season, and then, we're buckling down! If anyone has read this book or had success with his ideas, I would love to hear your thoughts!

Calling All Moms

Addison has been doing really well with sleeping through the nights and taking good naps until this past week. Every night she has woken up between 2 and 3 am which isn't too bad but I would really like to get her back to sleeping through the night. Furthermore, I would like to figure out her daytime nap schedule. I've taken a lot of things from the book Baby Wise and have found much success with her eating and sleeping patterns...until last week! Her previous schedule was to eat ~5 oz. at 6:00, 9:00, 12:00, 3:00, 6:00 and final feeding at 9:00. After each feeding with the exception of the final one, she would play for awhile and then go down for a nap until her next feeding. I have not taken the leap to put her to bed awake only to let her cry herself to sleep...

Anyway, her new thing is to eat at all of those times, but then only sleep for 20-50 minutes off and on between each feeding. This afternoon and evening she has only slept on and off for an hour...not nearly enough. I think she is getting to the age where she may be ready to put all those little naps together into one long morning nap and one long afternoon nap. I also wonder if she needs to eat more at each feeding, maybe somewhere between 5 and 6 oz.

So I need your honest input and help...
1. What have you found that has worked for your baby(ies) as far as sleeping patterns?
2. I want to stick to our feeding schedule, but how can I culminate all her little naps into one larger nap?
3. Is this normal for a child to completely change her sleep schedule all of a sudden?
4. Baby Wise suggests teaching an infant to fall asleep on their own starting at 2 weeks of age, but I strongly disagree with this. I don't think a newborn should be left to cry. But Addison is now 3.5 months old, in your opinion, is this too early to have her cry herself to sleep until she figures out how to go to sleep calmly?

She just finished going through a growth spurt so I don't think she's going through one now... She does have a cold, and maybe that's what's contributing to all of this???

Anyway, I thank you in advance for taking your time to help me. This whole mom thing is just a huge guessing game! Does it ever get easier?

To family members that don't have a google account, you can always leave feedback as "anonymous" and then in your comment leave your name so I know who wrote it! I would really like your input!!!

There is nothing I HATE more than...

BSU...

"One child left behind..."

GO VANDALS!!!

***To all you BSU fans/alumni/students, so sorry you chose Donkey State...hopefully you'll be able to make better choices in the future!!!

Can I just say...

...I am SOOOO glad that I'm not pregnant anymore! I was looking through pictures from this summer and came across this fun one from my sister Megan's graduation from medical school. This was taken about 1.5 months before Addison was born!

***This is also a fun picture because it's the only one I have of Amanda, my other sister, and me being pregnant at the same time!

Our Weekend Adventures!

Addison was a trick-or-treating, costume wearing, football game watching, tailgating kind of girl this Halloween! Last Friday Addison dressed up with all of her friends in celebration of the special day! She was actually able to go with me as I took my class around to some of the local businesses in search for some Halloween treats! We had a lot of fun!

Such a cute Bee!

This was also her cousin, Evelyn's, Halloween costume from last year! So adorable!

I was super original and went as a "Big Baby" for Halloween with my kiddos! I was comfortable and the kids loved it!

This is my friend's daughter, Jaymie, who in turn, is one of Addi's friends from Building Blocks! They are exactly 6 weeks apart!

Friday night we decided that it was time for Eli and me to get some "alone" time. Initially I had a babysitter set up, but on Thursday, I chickened out and cancelled. (I might note this was the first time we have ever left Addi and she's a little over three months old!) On Friday, some friends from work changed my mind, and convinced me that Eli and I needed to go out with them. So, our good friends, Brad and Michelle, took GREAT care of our baby girl. Anyway, after we dropped her off I cried and cried...all the way to Pullman. In fact, I think I sent my first text within 5 minutes of dropping her off (and sent many more throughout the night)! Needless to say, Eli and I had a lot of fun! I went as an 80's girl and Eli went as a rock star!

On Saturday, Addison dressed up in her Vandal gear to cheer on the amazing Vandals and what an amazing game that was! And despite how loud the dome was, Addison did really well! She cried a little but for the most part, she just slept! (Oh the life, to sleep anywhere, any time!) Anyway, Addi was very proud of the Vandals and their amazing come-from-behind victory (and so were Mommy and Daddy)!!! We had plans of taking Addison around in her costume to a few of our friends' houses, but instead, we all fell asleep on the couch around 8! We were tuckered out!

GO VANDALS!!!

Celebrating the victory on the Idaho 50 yard line!!!

All bundled up warm for the tailgate! Not that we were really out there long, but it was very cold even for the short time we were out and about!!!

We will miss you...

Meet Tina and Jake...

We met them a little over a year ago through some mutual friends. We hit it off imediately! We enjoy spending time together playing games and sharing some drinks!

Last New Year's Eve we all got together to celebrate and Tina informed me that she and Jake were expecting; I responded by telling her that Eli and I were expecting too! Who would have ever thought that these two amazing people would be going through the same amazing journey in life at the same time as Eli and me! Tina was due just a week and half before me but then Addison made her appearance a month early so she was born two weeks before Ryleigh, their precious angel!

Tina and me at around 33 weeks pregnant!

As luck would have it, they have yet a new chapter in their life beginning that is taking them away from the Moscow area :( While we are so excited for them, we are super sad to say goodbye. It was so fun and helpful t0 have a friend go through her pregnancy and birthing classes at the same time as Eli and me. Tina and Jake are amazing people and I know they will meet many new friends but I'm selfish and want them to stay! This is just one of the major downsides of living in Moscow...our good friends keep moving... :,-(

We love you lots Jake, Tina, and Ryleigh! Come visit often and be sure to keep blogging so that we can keep in touch! Hearts to you!!!!

Say a prayer

My sorority sister from college, April, and her husband, Brad, could use a few extra prayers right now. Monday night her 28 year old husband suffered a heart attack and is currently in the ICU....

Makes me realize how precious life is...

Leavin' on a jet plane...

We're flying out of Pullman and into Boise today for my sister, Amanda's, baby shower! It should be a lot of fun! It's just Addison and me going; Eli is staying home to work and take care of the puppies :(. I'm sure all will go well, but I'm nervous about going alone and I just know I'm forgetting something! I have been packing and packing...all for a SHORT trip! How can one little tiny baby cause me to take SO much longer to pack? And how can one little tiny baby's necessities take up so much room?

Side note, Eli and I got our flu shots yesterday and my arm stinkin' hurts today.... blah....

And of course, how can I possibly do a blog post and not leave any pictures?! So here you go...

Tummy Time!

WONDERFUL VISITORS!

As I stated in my previous post, I am attempting to make an effort to get caught up, not only for your reading pleasure, but so that I have the memories to look back on in the years to come!

Being away from family has been really difficult for Eli and me as I know it has been for our families (especially for the Grandparents!) At times I wish that we lived a little closer but we love Moscow and probably won't be leaving anytime soon! Therefore, it's extremely exciting when family comes to visit us! Just before I returned to work, Addison got the opportunity to meet Grandmom and Granddad and my sister, Amanda! While they weren't here at the same time, they were here within hours of one another! Addison had a wonderful time getting to know everyone! Some of her favorite highlights of the visits include:

• Hanging out at the campground where Grandmom and Granddad stayed
• Visiting the bears at WSU
• Eating Ice Cream with Granddad (okay, Mommy did that part, but in a way, she partook as well!)
• Going to the antique store in Moscow
• Cuddling in Grandmom's arms
• Cuddling in Granddad's arms
• Cuddling up next to "B" in Amanda's arms
• Shared many spit ups with everyone making sure to mark everyone's shirt at least once! It's her way of say, "I REALLY love you!"
• Going shopping in Spokane
• Avoided the widespread outbreak of Swine Flu (as did all of our visitors!)
• Going to the Fair to see all of the farm animals
• Going for a walk and stopping at the U of I bookstore to assist Amanda in finding a Vandal Dress for "B" (Pretty sure she nearly marked the yellow dress with her spit up! She apparently preferred the black dress over the yellow one!)
• Sharing loves with EVERYONE!

As you can see, we were very busy having fun! Now we can't wait to go visit everyone again this weekend for Amanda's baby shower! (Addi and I will be flying down to Boise together...I'm a little nervous about flying alone with her. Wish us luck!)

Thank you Grandmom, Granddad, and Amanda for coming to visit us! We REALLY enjoyed having you! We can't wait to see you and everyone else this weekend!