I haven't gotten the pictures onto the computer yet, but I thought I'd do a quick update during my lunch/Adora's nap with recent events!
Adora's birthday and party was yesterday. I didn't anticipate how emotional I would get with her turning one! I know it's just a number, but her birthday brought up all kinds of memories about the day she was born and the tumult (is that a word?) and joys we've gone through since then.
Our plan was to have a fun, low-key party. I didn't get a clown and I didn't go to Chuck-E-Cheese's. I made a cake from a box, and we had our friends and Adora's over for some play, burgers, cake, and ice cream. We woke up at 7:00 and made it to 8:00 church. I dropped Jake and Adora at home after that and ran to Wal Mart for some last-minute stuff--ground beef, buns, etc. We spent the next couple of hours at home cleaning and getting food ready. For a little party, it sure took more time than I thought it would! Adora went down for a nap around 11:30. Some friends from Oklahoma City drove down and arrived a little before noon. Others started arriving around 1:00, and Adora was still asleep! Good for her! But I didn't get a chance to change her into her party dress. Who cares :) She woke up around 1:15 or so and played for a few minutes. Then, we all ate burgers. After that, it was time for cake and ice cream! I'd made Adora her own little cake and everyone else had cupcakes. We sang "Happy Birthday" and instead of blowing out the candle, Adora just went straight for the icing and put her fingers in it and then put her fingers in her mouth :) After a little coaxing, she did blow out the candle all by herself! I have a video of it that I will try to post. I think it's too long right now, so I will have to figure out how to edit it on the camera and then post it. She had a little bit of all three flavors of homemade icecream--vanilla, strawberry, and mint chocolate chip. By the time she'd had her fill, she had icing from nose to chin :) Jake took her to clean her up, and they came back out in her beautiful party dress. She played some more and opened up presents. She got lots of books, which is awesome, because Jake and I are really getting sick of her old ones :) We had a really great time. In fact, I think I had more fun than any birthday party I've ever had :)
I took Adora in for her 12-month checkup today. The doctor said that her constant illnesses are normal because she does have some interaction with other kids. I think I'm just going to really try to wash her hands more, even though it's a pain in the butt to soap them up and rinse them off while holding her up to the sink at the same time. She is 21 lb. 6 oz (> 50th percentile) and is 30 1/4" tall (< 90th percentile). So she is right on track! She got blood taken to test for lead and iron levels. It was really sad. We had to sit in the blood-giving chair with Adora in my lap, and they brought the armrest thing down in front of us. I felt as if we were in a high chair together. They tied the rubber band thing around her right arm and tested for veins. Are you kidding me? This girl has no visible veins. Her skin is so beautiful. But I digress. He couldn't find one in that arm, so he tied the rubber band around her left arm and felt one there. I still didn't see it, but he said he felt a "big one." Ok, Mr. Barely-Trained Air Force Whatever-They-Call-You (not a nurse). I was really nervous that he would miss and have to try again. Someone else helped hold Adora's arm down while I braced her legs and body against mine and also helped hold her arm still. He poked and she stiffened and let out a weak cry and cried the whole time the needle was in, but she didn't move very much, thank goodness. His stick was good, so who am I to criticize his methods? (I just hate that anyone has to hurt my baby--toddler--girl.) I guess it took about 30 seconds for them to get enough blood, and Adora got a sticker for it and some really pretty purple flowery prewrap stuff to keep the gauze thing on the wound, so all was ok.
Then, we headed to the Immunization Clinic. I asked if they had separate M, M, & R shots because I would prefer to spread them out as recommended by Dr. Sears. I did not expect them to, though, since I read on Dr. Sears's website that they are not currently making separate shots. They actually had one of each, but in the end, I decided to just give Adora the MMR 3-in-1 shot because I didn't want to have to give her an M now and then when I came back for the R have to get the whole MMR because they didn't have the separate R anymore becuase no more were coming in. Does this make sense? So the poor girl had to sit through another shot. She was really exhausted, too, by this point because it was about 11:45, and she usually naps around 11:00. She fell asleep in the car on the 5-minute drive home and is now peacefully sleeping in her crib.
By the way, MMR is one of the most highly-reactive shots, so it's likely that she will get sick AGAIN in the next 10 days. That's something to look forward to!
On our drive to Montgomery, we stopped in Shreveport to visit with some friends, and Mom and Jeff drove up to visit with us while we were there! We went to an IMAX (Hurricane on the Bayou) and explored the SciPort a little bit. Adora liked the piano, but I guess 22 pounds isn't enough weight to get the keys to work. (4/11)
Our first week here, we went to the zoo with some new friends we met whose husbands and dads are also going through Squadron Officer School. I think this is Adora's first time on a train. I think she is smiling at Baby Jacob, a little one-month-old who she loves. (4/15)
The base has a ceramics shop. The first full weekend we were here, we went there, picked out a platter, and had Adora paint it for me for Mother's Day. She's so cute in her little apron :) They fired it for us, and Jake went back to glaze it the following weekend. Total cost? $7! (4/18)
The Air Force is funny. One of my friends from Sheppard just moved to Alexander City, AL to wait it out until her husband finds out where his next PCS will be. It's only an hour and 15 minutes from here, so we made the drive for a playdate. Adora had a lot of fun with Kennedy, and they both showed each other how much they've grown since they last saw each other. (4/22)
Our favorite thing so far has been a water/amusement park just outside of Birmingham. We spent hours there this past weekend. Adora loved the water! In typical Adora fashion, she just wanted to explore everywhere alone, so we tried to let her roam while keeping her close so when she faceplanted, we were able to keep her from drowning :) (4/25)
