It has been fascinating to watch Addy’s play progress from adult-centered antics to solitary and parallel play to the start of pretend and imaginary play. Addy loves her stuffed animals and melts our hearts with the kindness she exhibits toward them. We hope it continues with her new baby brother or sister! Addy is more willing to try repeating words we ask her say, and she surprises us every day with all the new things she has learned, especially when we have not specifically focused on a particular concept or skill. The most recent example happened when Addy took one of our key sets and stood on her tiptoes to pretend to lock the front door from the inside. Her antics this month are filled with similar stories. She is learning so much and growing up way too fast!
Even Daddy could not escape the flu that hit our house before Christmas. Luckily, he was able to take care of Mommy and Addy for several days before he got sick. He tried to pretend that it was a bad turkey sandwich causing his illness, but he soon gave in and admitted he had the flu. The flu seemed to affect adults much more than the kids. Eli, Lily, and Addy all had mild cases while the parents were sidelined for several days by it! Mary Long named the flu “Rottinger Disease” as it was responsible for shutting down daycare for several days.
Uncle Jay and our neighbors Jamie and Kyle Miese took Addy off our hands for a few hours when we were really sick. Thankfully, Jamie and Kyle managed to avoid the flu, especially since Jamie is pregnant, but Uncle Jay texted and teased Daddy for “using Addy as a biological weapon against him.”
Addy did a great job with her first Salvation Army bell ringing experience. She was a “wild bell ringer” at times, but she definitely worked the crowd, and we were able to collect a bucket full of money during our shift from 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday, December 19, at Sentry on Cottage Grove Road.
Addy’s latest words are SIT (sometimes sounds like SHIT!), DJACK for her cousin Jack, SSSSARA for her Aunt Sara, and OH OH OH in a high voice for Cheerios. She signs “airplane,” “light,” and “moon.”
Addy likes to pretend to wash her hair by using the mini bottle of hand sanitizer from Mommy’s purse. She rubs the top of her head while holding the bottle.
We visited the Rotary lights display at the zoo in Marshfield during our visit to Colby and decided to try a Santa visit since he and Mrs. Clause were in a heated hut. The visit was very quick as we snapped a picture of Addy screaming and trying to escape while Santa looked disinterested and told Mrs. Clause to “give ‘er a candy cane.” As we exited the hut a few moments after we entered, Mike told the people in line we had a “short list” this year, which made them chuckle. I am quite sure they heard the screams!
Addy had a wonderful Christmas with both sides of the family. She was not shy or scared of people, much to the relief of Mommy and Daddy. The Calmes/Stettler/Mertens/Roltgen/Ellenbecker families tried a “progressive Christmas” this year starting at Great-Grandma Adelle and Great Grandpa Lawrence’s house for quick breads, cheese, and games. We “progressed” to Aunt Britty and Uncle Eric’s house for salad and Christmas carols, during which Addy liked dancing to “What Child is This?” and playing piano during “Silver Bells.” We also attempted the “12 Days of Christmas” by handing out slips of paper, each with a line of the song written on it. Addy added to the fun and laughter by running out with only a diaper on halfway through the countdown of days. We completed the evening at Grandpa Mark and Grandma Vicky’s house, where we enjoyed soup, ham roll-ups, bread, and dessert. Addy was very deliberate about unwrapping presents and had fun with all the Christmas excitement. In fact, she had such a good time she kept Grandpa Mark up half the night during her sleepover. They were both waiting for Santa We actually have to place a little of the blame on Grandpa Mark who kept trying to cover her up with blankets that were underneath her. We warned him about that maneuver!
The Roltgen side of the family celebrated in two shifts this year, as not everyone could make it on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. We were part of the Christmas Day crowd, where we enjoyed a nice meal, followed by the modified sibling gift exchange involving socks and candy this year under Aunt Sara’s direction. Addy loved doing hot laps through Grandpa Bob and Grandma Gretchen’s living/dining/music rooms, jumping on Grandma Gretchen’s stuffed dragon, and pretending to ride the tricycle around the house.
Addy’s favorite present was a squeaky teething giraffe named Sophie that she used to have when she was younger. The old Sophie started to mold, or got “scuffed” according to the lab report, so we had to take her back. Daddy was right that Addy was overjoyed by the return of Sophie. She would not let go of her as soon as she was out the package. Of course, this was the gift Mommy gave to Addy to open during Great-Grandpa’s Christmas reading, thinking it would keep her busy. Little did Mommy know that Addy now understood Sophie was a squeaky toy, so the continuous squeaking started during the end of Great-Grandpa’s reading, proceeded for an hour past bedtime in her pack ‘n’ play, and continued into the night with Grandpa Mark. Addy fell asleep on top of Sophie clutching her for dear life!
Addy did a great job with all the traveling throughout Christmas this year. She entertains herself with mini books, blankets, reindeer/moose, and scenery out the window. We hardly hear a peep out of her, unless she starts “chattering” about something she sees or reads!
During daycare, everyone must be seated during snack time. Addy and Eli like to push the limits by kneeling or squatting, so Mommy started saying, “sit on your butt.” The day before Christmas break, Eli started repeating the word “butt” in the morning, continued through lunch, and entertained his extended family over Christmas with his new word. Addy also likes to sit and use her feet to “Fred Flintstone” her way to various locations around the kitchen and living room during snack. She has inherited Daddy’s metabolism and with her movements, most likely has the snack calories burned off before snack time is over.
When asked what Santa says, Addy responds in a low voice, “HHH HHH.” Santa never gets his third HO!
Mary, Kevin, and Eli Long hosted a Wild Baby Sleepover at their house during Christmas break. Addy continued her preference for men and latched on to Kevin from the start. She grabbed his finger the moment she arrived and led him around the house while jabbering, “Ya ba da ba da ba…”
Addy’s chores include scrubbing floors and any other surfaces that catch her eye, throwing away trash or what she deems as trash, unloading the dishwasher, sorting laundry, cleaning up toys, throwing her dirty clothes in the hamper, and delivering requested items. She is a great helper!
Mommy asked Addy if she would like to play with the “hungry” caterpillar stuffed animal from Eric Carle’s classic children’s book. Addy responded by running to the kitchen with the caterpillar and placing him in the highchair, since he was “hungry!”
Addy is fascinated by the blender, mixer, and anything cooking on the stove or in the oven. She says “HOT HOT HOT,” even if Mommy is making a salad.
Addy is a great bowler with her new bowling set from Kevin, Mary, and Eli Long for Christmas. She will roll the ball nicely AFTER trying to chuck it across the room several times. If she misses any pins, she runs over and knocks them down with a wild fling of her arm.
Addy loves playing with cups in the bathtub. She dumps water from one cup to the other, over her head, and then tries to douse Mommy! She also likes washing up in the bathtub when we squirt soap into her hand.
When Daddy had his shoulder surgery, we had to remind Addy over and over again that Daddy had an “owie” and could not pick her up. When he showed her the bandages, Addy would scrunch up her face in an expression conveying both disgust and fear.
After Christmas, Mommy and Daddy tried to get Addy to color with her new animal crayons on all the thank you cards for a personal touch. She was excited about this task for the first three or four cards but soon lost interest. This resulted in Addy rolling on the floor throwing a tantrum while Mommy and Daddy attempted to wrestle a crayon into her fist and make marks on the remaining cards. Mommy explained that “sometimes we have to do things we do not want to because it is something nice for other people.” Addy was not impressed with Mommy’s speech. Needless to say, some of the coloring on the cards was, as they say in the art world, a “print” rather than an “original!”
Addy loves her Christmas presents. Right now, her favorites are musical Snoopy dog, Little People nativity and airplane, Toes, Ears, and Nose lift-the-flap book, Sophie squeaky giraffe, and the busy ball drop. We like to refer to Snoopy as “Snoop Dog.” Addy forwards through the airplane sounds until the music plays so she can dance.
Addy decided to pull strings out of her monkey hat in the backseat while Mommy was driving. The continuous UH OHs should have been Mommy’s first clue!
Addy likes pretending to put Snoop Dog to sleep in the baby bed by covering his entire face with the blanket and feeding him chicken and ice cream in the baby highchair. All the stuffed animals—Octotunes, ducks, Snoop, reindeer/moose, and Little Lamb—have to watch Addy eat breakfast from their spot on the table or chair. They also go potty, get carried everywhere around the house, and enjoy lots of snuggles.
Mommy told Addy to go ask Eli if he was hungry for lunch. Addy ran over to Eli, lifted up her shirt to show her belly, jabbered something, and then ran back to Mommy signing “EAT.” Meanwhile, Eli just looked at Addy with a very confused expression!
Eli now calls his girl Addy by name—“Aaaaaaad.”
Mommy and Addy ran errands while Daddy was recovering from surgery. The customer service line at the store was very long, but Mommy decided to give it a try. While kneeling by Addy to talk to her, Mommy smelled a full diaper, so she called it a day, and they headed home. Mommy informed Daddy about the very poopy diaper that had brought an early end to the errands and needed immediate changing. Daddy was laughing as Mommy opened the diaper to discover that Addy and Daddy simply share overactive gastrointestinal systems!
One night, Mommy and Addy were having wild exercise time before Daddy got home. When Mommy challenged Addy to run as fast as she could, it was accompanied by a revving motor sound. Addy was also interested in doing squats with Mommy. At first, she pushed her hips and pelvis forward as far as she could trying to imitate the movement. Mommy showed her how to bend her knees. After a couple successful attempts, Addy got tired, laid down on the floor to rest, and refused to attempt any more squats.
Addy loves bagels and will say “uh uh uh” while pointing emphatically at the toaster. After toasting her bagel, she will do the same sound and motion toward the refrigerator, which is her request for cream cheese. She also asks for flakes on many of her foods. In Addy’s world, “flakes” are brewer’s yeast and ground flax meal.
Addy knows she can lead Daddy all over the house by extending her hand requesting his finger. Mommy sometimes complies with her request, but oftentimes Addy is disappointed because Mommy cannot follow her around when the daycare kids are here. After Mommy declined, Addy tried grabbing Eli’s hand and leading him over to the couch, but Eli was a bit reluctant!
Addy is very intrigued by Mommy’s growing belly. When asked where the baby is, she lifts Mommy’s shirt to play with her belly button ring. She also kisses Mommy’s belly when asked to give kisses to the baby.
Addy likes playing with Mommy’s ponytail before naps and bedtime. Laughs are always better than screams in our book!
Addy is very good about alerting us to potential dangers by saying UH OH over and over again or stopping dead in her tracks. One day she found an outlet cover that had been removed and not replaced. She brought it over to us right away. She has also found the baby gate open on the stairway several times (not to mention names…Daddy!), but she stops and points until we come over to close it. Addy is our little safety patrol officer!
Addy figured out she can play Octotunes by sitting on it, so we have renamed him “Octo-butt!”
Addy drives Mommy CRAZY by refusing to keep her hands on her tray during meals. Eventually, they make their way under her bib, in her hair, and on her pants. We should probably have stock in laundry stain remover.
Addy sets six- to eight-piece puzzles by herself.
We have a new bathtime routine as Addy likes to run naked all over the house while Daddy tries to get her into the bathtub. No accidents so far!
Due to overuse of the word UH OH, we have been talking about its appropriate context. When a ball gets stuck under the couch…UH OH. When Addy deliberately throws her sippy cup off the tray…NO NO. Let’s just say the lesson needs some revisions as the response to everything remains UH OH!
Addy knows how to press play on the CD player, adjust the volume, and play with the bass settings. She loves choosing a CD from the stand and trying to put it in by herself. We have listened to “The Little Mermaid,” “Dirty Dancing,” and Aunt Sara and Grandma Gretchen’s Christmas CD over and over and over, as those three seem to be her favorites at the moment.
Mommy and Daddy have perfected their “ice skating” moves on the hardwood floors as we try to avoid the major creaks when we are getting ready for bed.
Mommy and Daddy were marveling over Addy’s persistence as she has been boycotting bedtime recently and trying to skip her second nap. After 50 minutes of crying/screaming/howling that could not be soothed by a drink of water, extra cuddle, or diaper change, Addy finally gave up and went to sleep. We decided she may be a good candidate for the half marathon, as her long-term persistence and determination would be enough to outlast the other runners to the finish!
Addy is very curious about computers and likes to pretend to use the mouse, type, and press random buttons that do crazy things to our screen settings.
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