7 months!

actually more - but i can't bear to say she's almost 7.5 months so humor me :)  nate and i looked at these photos and actually don't think she looks all that different past month 3.  at least when we're looking at a still photo :)  5 seconds of addie in motion would definitely prove the difference!

**grandparents only**

warning, you should only watch this video if you are a grandparent of addie.  or maybe an aunt or uncle :)  it's 3 minutes of not very interesting events, except that she's now crawling, sitting from crawling, and attempting pull up- oh, and in general, just being adorable :)  if you're the aforementioned, you probably care but if not, you may want to go elsewhere :)

if it weren't for my iPhone...

i'd miss out on some great Addie moments :)

Storytime at the Library 

Little cupcake :)

Teething is no fun for anyone!

No but seriously!  Teething makes for a cranky Addie Bird!

Passed out without a sleep sack from all of that crankiness :)

You know what's hilarious?  Destroying the exam paper while waiting for the doctor.  Seriously!  Give it a try sometime.

Addie at our weekly Mommies and Babies lunch

Sleeping again.  This time with her owl lovey (and sleep sack!)

For a few weeks, this was how I got a shower in when Addie was awake.  That's over now as she seems to consider it baby jail.  She's much happier to free roam the bathroom and torture Cleo without a playpen wall to stop her!

Of course she loves the porch since she shares DNA with Nate & I.

Steeler fans :)

Attempting to keep her entertained while I'm making dinner!

I didn't realize she'd be even CUTER if i put her in jeans!  Fall, hurry up!

Back at story time!

Funny food face :)  There are plenty of these!

True story.

This was a relatively brief moment in time when she was so excited about the toys that Aunt Cassie sent, she stood for about 30 seconds to check it out.  She hasn't had all too much success in that arena since but those days are clearly coming soon :)

guess who sits in the cart now?

and loves it.

First ride at Target- obviously tired, but enjoying it :)  you can see the worried Mommy that scoffed at shopping cart cover thingies propped her with my purse and covered the handle with my ring sling (I didn't realize the first thing she would do was lean forward and suck on the cart handle) :)

Getting the hang of things at World Market, like a kid in a candy store :)  She's definitely mastered the casual one arm slung over the back method.

Rocking the cart at Publix :)  She particularly likes swinging her legs as we shop :)

when have i ever kept something up?

i'm ditching the weekly menu thing for now.  let's be honest, i can hardly remember what i had for breakfast, let alone what i cooked for a week :)  but i do remember what the winners were in terms of new recipes, so i'll continue to share those :)

here are a few that we've really enjoyed the past few weeks.

#1:  shrimp cobb salad - here's my iPhone pic of it.  it was super tasty!  i was skeptical about salad for dinner (few in my book make a meal.  exceptions include: taco salad... and this one.) :)  i did use double the bacon and double the dressing but... it's still salad :)  corn.. tomatoes.. bacon... shrimp.. what's not to like?  it has a yummy lemon-y dressing too.

#2:  sea salt vanilla bean caramel sauce.  i drooled a little bit just typing that.  mmmmmm.  for my birthday, one of my requests was a salt keeper (a cute little olive wood one with a swivel lid).  and wonderful husband that he is, nate followed my carefully constructed amazon list and purchased it for me :)  he also got some fun salts to put in it, one of them was from the farmers' market.  the lady said she goes to some island in the keys and just rakes it up.  sketch?  maybe.  but sea salt down to the literal sense for sure.  i used it in this delicious caramel sauce.

i had never made caramel before and it was mildly tricky.  but the pics on the recipe really helped me decide when it was officially caramel :)  still, when i stirred in the cream (and vanilla bean- yum....), the whole thing seized (right word?  i have no idea.  but the whisk was suddenly weighed down with a gob of sugar) and i had to keep whisking for awhile until the sugar melted back in.  anyway, it was all worth it because it was SO good.  i am officially swearing off buying caramel ice cream topping ever again and forever making this instead.  i also saved my empty vanilla bean and put it in a jar of sugar per the suggestion in the recipe.  any idea what i can do with vanilla sugar?  it smells so yummy!

and so long as we're talking about the winners, it's important that you know there were also losers.  one in particular actually and that loser was mayo chicken.  i think it has a better name, but overall i thought it was bland.  i mean, the recipe sounded bland so i should have know, but i was expecting some kind of mayonaise alchemy or something and it definitely did not occur.  consider yourself warned :)