Wrapping up 2009 in Alabama

Well, we have less than a week left here in Alabama. We move to Ahoskie, NC on January 2nd. The movers will be here at 8am and we will officially be in Ahoskie on Sunday, January 3rd. Brian will begin work as normal on Monday. I know that I haven't done as well as I had promised in the past about blogging but I will definitely get better being so far away from everyone. We did get skype up and running so if you have skype and would like to message us our email is brianandmatteapavlick@gmail.com.

So for those of you who don't know about all of the happenings the last month, I will try to get you up to speed in a paragraph. Brian took a job within the same parent company, Boone Newspapers. He is now the Advertising Director at the Roanoke-Chowan News Herald in Ahoskie, NC. Ahoskie is a very small town in Northeast North Carolina. It is about 30 miles from the Virginia border. We flew up there for the first time November 16-17th; he was accepted the job November 20th and began working December 1st. He has flown back and forth a couple of times and has been able to work from home during this transition. While he has been doing that, I have been trying to tie up loose ends here and get things set up in Ahoskie. God has been so truly amazing. I know that this is what we are supposed to be doing and where we are to be going. HE has worked everything out beautifully. We could not have asked for anything to be more perfect. My favorite verse truly sums up this time in our lives... "Delight yourself in the LORD and HE will give you the desires of your heart. ~Psalms 37:4"

This last month has been a complete whirlwind for us. Between all the travel to and from NC and the family holiday engagements we had planned prior to finding out about the move, we are exhausted. Our house still isn't packed up yet. We are making great progress but it still seems like a never ending thing. My younger sisters are here now helping us watch Addie so we can get some stuff done. My parents are coming down tomorrow. I had to say goodbye to my sister and brother on Sunday. Lets just say that Sunday wasn't the best day for me. I knew this would be hard but I didn't think it would be this hard. I guess I tend to resist change more than I would like to think that I do. Don't get me wrong, I am very excited about this new opportunity and this new chapter in our lives but it is still hard leaving family and friends behind.

Please remember us this week in your prayers as we continue to say goodbye to friends and family and embark on this new journey. We hope to talk to you all soon!

Beach Trip 2009

We have officially been back from the beach a week today. It was so difficult to get back into the groove of things after the laid back pace of the beach. I miss it so much already. It is ok though because I think we brought back half of the Gulf Shores Public Beach back with us in my car. LOL. Addie's experience this time was much better. She LOVED the sand and the water. She loved just chillin' in mommy's chair. While we were down there, we had to eat at Lambert's Cafe. For those of you who are not familiar with Lambert's, it is a restaurant in Foley, Alabama where they are famous for their "throwed rolls." They actually come around and throw hot rolls to you. The rolls are about the size of softballs. Addie LOVED them (as you can see from the next two pictures)!
She wasn't too sure of the guy who was throwing them but she loved eating them. She ate better that night than I have ever seen her eat before. She ate so many veggies and still had room for a roll the size of her head. HaHa.
She became out little sand crab as we began setting things up on the beach for the day. She really like crawling around in the sand then putting her sandy hands all in her mouth...yum!
The first few days were were down, it was not crowded at all. Then of course, over the 4th of July weekend it was ridiculous. On the 4th Brian and I got out to the beach early to claim a spot and by lunch, there was not a free spot on the beach for miles. Things calmed down a little the next week but it was still kind of crowded.

Yes, I had to the do infamous beach pictures with the baby.

I love this picture. These are my two most favorite people in the whole world! (And yes, "GINGER KIDS" do tan. HaHa)

While we were there Addie's hair really started to curl. Mom claims that my hair was just like that but dark brown when I was a baby. I still think she is Brian's "mini-me."

I couldn't get Addie to stop waving at all of the people behind me who were watching me take pictures. She is a very friendly child. LOL.

Can't you just see the mischievousness just wanting to come out?

She had about all of the sitting still and smiling she could take...

Now it was time to get dirty!

By the second day at the beach Brian and I had most of the kinks worked out and had a nice set up at the beach. We had our tents, chairs, Addie's pool and of course we can't forget her drumstick and ice cream cone. HaHa. She has a play kitchen at home and she is obsessed with the toy food. She takes it with her every where. It is so funny to see her go all around the house with certain food hanging out of her mouth. We are still teething so everything goes into the mouth still.

We had a blow up pool that we used at the beach. We kept it under the tent and filled it with ocean water. She loved the water but wasn't crazy about the waves splashing her so this was the perfect set-up for her. And yes, there is that drumstick again.

Come nap time at the beach, she would start telling me "nite nite" and we would go shower her off and put on her dry clothes and she would sleep in her little tent under our tailgate tent. She LOVED it. We had a little battery operated fan in there for her. She had it made. When she woke up she was ready to go again.

Well, I hope that you have enjoyed our beach stories. Maybe they haven't bored you too much. We had a blast down there and can't wait for next summer to come around so we can do it all over again. Nothing can replace the memories of taking your baby on her first family beach trip. We definitely made some wonderful memories to last a life time. I hope that we are able to instill in Addie a sense of there is a time to work hard and time to and relax and have fun. It is nice to get away from computers, cell phones and just the hum drum of very day life. Too bad every day can't be a vacation. But then again, if it were would we really enjoy the times we were able to get away?

Beach Fun

Addie has been to the beach twice this year so far. The first beach experience was not a pleasant one for her. We drove down to Florida early one morning in May for my great uncle's funeral and drove back that afternoon so while we were there we just stopped by the beach. She HATED it!!!! She cried when we sat her in the sand and had a complete melt down when I put her feet in the ocean water. She wasn't a happy camper at all.
She didn't like getting dirty... hmm... I wonder when she gets this from. LOL.
Hey, at least she isn't screaming. I actually had to put a shirt under her so she wasn't touching the sand at all.
Now she isn't touching either sand or water and she is happy.

We just got back from Gulf Shores on Sunday. By Sunday she was actually enjoying both sand and water. She wasn't sure of it to begin with.

She LOVED splashing in the ocean then licking the salt water off of her hand. Most of the other pictures that I took she has her tongue sticking out.

This picture was taken early Saturday morning. We just went down for the weekend. She was still a little uncertain of the sand but she warmed up to it quickly.

I absolutely LOVE the beach. I would live down there if I could. We are making another trip down next week and are staying for 12 days. I am so excited. We will be down there for the 4th of July. I can't wait to see Addie's reaction to Fireworks. I hope she stays up that late. The sand and sun wore her out fast this weekend. She slept so well. She slept the whole 4 hours home in the car from the beach which made travel a breeze. Well, I will try to blog more when we are down there. Have a wonderful summer! See you all soon!

Summer time at the ZOO

We have officially became members or the Birmingham Zoo. It was a GREAT investment. We can go to the zoo 363 days out of the year plus get discounts to hundreds of other zoos. Addison LOVES animals. I know that most kids do but her favorite is the monkeys. I guess it started when I was in the hospital waiting to have Addison and Brian and my sister were talking and he said he has decided to "let her like monkeys." She has several stuffed monkeys but there is something about a cotton-top tamarin jumping up and down inches away from you face that is so hilarious and interesting to a 9 month old. She LOVED it.

I must say that the Birmingham Zoo has gotten much better since the last time I went when I was in college. Now there is a splash beach area with a foam bath and fountains for the kids to play in, a cafeteria and plenty of other decent snack bars not to mention the petting zoo and the Sea Lion Splash Show, Rhino Encounter, Camel Rides and Giraffe Feedings.

Addison was also amazed by the butterfly house. One even landed on her hand but before we could get a picture it flew away.

She thinks she is too cool for the hat and sunglasses that I kept putting on her.

We even carried Aunt Selah with us one day. Zebras are also one of our favorite animals, hence the Miss Z she carries everywhere.

The petting zoo was fun, not very clean but fun. Addison thought the goats were little dogs. She kept calling them like she does our dog, Ed.

This is still at the zoo. There is a portion of the zoo by the petting zoo with all of the domestic animals called Grandma's Back Porch. Yes, I know she looks like a boy but we had a hat on all day and I didn't bring a bow. I know... shame on me. It was our first trip to the zoo so give me a break. LOL.

Here is another petting zoo picture. This sheep was much bigger than the other little goats. Addie isn't too sure about her.

Here is another picture of her on the porch. Even though she had on ruffles and earrings, people still thought she was a boy. :(

Here is Daddy and Addie waiting on the Sea Lion Splash Show. Addison is more interested in the other kids there than smiling for the camera.

If you haven't been to the Birmingham Zoo in a while and you are in the area, I highly recommend it. They have made great improvements. Maybe we will see you there. Have a great summer!

So I have to confess....ever since Addison was born, Alabama has been pretty good in football.

She also seemed to enjoy every game she watched with Daddy last year.  It only seemed natural then that Mattea and I take a chance and bring Addison to the A-Day game this afternoon.  We figured this was the only time we could bring a 7-month child into the game and not pay full price for a ticket.  And so, we had the pleasure of taking Addison to her "first" Alabama game.

It rained for a little before the game so Mommy kept Addison in her poncho so it looked like Addison had an adult's body with a small child head.  it looked pretty funny.  But the sun eventually came out and everyone was happy.

So as you can tell, Addison fit in quite naturally with the cheerleaders.  We did buy her a cheerleader outfit today and now we can say she got her first glimpse of being in the spotlight.  The Cheerleaders ran to her and grabbed her and not only did we start taking pictures but so did the people around us.  Addison loved it for a good minute and then starting to cry because she couldn't see her Mommy and Daddy.

And it's only fair to get a picture with Big Al himself after the cheerleaders.  Mommy decided to jump in as well and you can tell that Addison still isn't sure about a 6 foot bipodal Elephant but it was still cute.

Which brought us to the Walk of Champions.   Yes, we simply let Addison sit in the middle of the Walk and let her enjoy the setting.  She loved it.  It was funny to watch her try to read about the 1973 Championship Team while all these people were walking around her going "Roll Tide Lil Girl!"

This may be my favorite picture of the day.  You can tell how little she is (or how big the stadium is).  But she still loved hamming it up for the camera and who knows, by the time she gets older, they may allow girls to play on the team!!

Ah yes, Daddy's brilliant idea to get Addie into the stadium for a pic at the Promised Land.  As you can tell, Addison was more preoccupied looking for the sound system that was playing "Yea, Alabama!"

And just for fun, we ran into some good friends from Montgomery and so we have this lovely pic of Addison with her pea splattered bib and her Uncle Muddy!  Very cute.

Well thats it for the Pavlicks today.  Hope everyone enjoyed Spring Football!

bp

SPRING IS HERE!!!!!!

We absolutely LOVE being outside. Addison is amazed by the birds that have taken over our tree. We like playing in the grass. It is so prickly!
"Huh? Did you say something?"

We just had lunch with Daddy and it was such a beautiful day we decided to take advantage of the sunshine.

This Addie's Secret Garden!

Too bad she and I both are suffering from allergies from all of this pollen or we would practically live outside. She does a better job of hiding it than I do. She looks so carefree and happy! She truly is her Daddy made over; nothing bothers either of them.

She has so many expressions, but i thought this was cute. She is just so serious here.

It wont be too long before she will be running up these stairs. She is so proud of herself for actually sitting on them all by herself.

Have a wonderful spring and we will try to keep you updated a little better than we have lately.

Easter

Happy Easter!

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend. We participated in the community egg hunt put on by our church. Addison, with the help of Daddy, won a PRIZE basket. She was mesmerized by all of the other kids running around looking for eggs. The egg hunt seriously lasted about 3 minutes, but that worked out great for us because it was nap time anyways. It was surprisingly very cool and windy.

Addison LOVED taking pictures with the animals! She loved them so much she tried eating the lambs ear and almost tore off one of the baby chick's wing. The poor thing didn't move for a good minute after I freed him from the death grip she had on him.

She is so animated! I was very pleased with how well these pictures turned out. Amie at Moments in Time does a beautiful job!
We took this picture after church. Addie LOVES Cutler. His parent's are in our bible study/home group. They are like family to us. Brian claims that they will get married one day. He is only 3 years older than her. HaHa.

I LOVE this little girl! Her smile can light up a room. Life is never dull with her.

Here is our only really decent picture of us on Easter Sunday.

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter!