Davies

Halloween

2011-11-01T06:30:00.000-04:00

We had an awesome weekend of Halloween festivities this year! It started out with the Company party at Adam's office with trick or treating and a chili cookoff. The chili was fabulous, and Addi had fun walking up and down the hallway saying "trick or Treat" to the people passing out the candy. Daddy bobbed for apples, and Cambria was the cutest little monarch butterfly I ever did see! We also went to our ward Halloween party/trunk or treat, and then went trick or treating again on Halloween day! So much candy...we helped the kiddos eat their nice little stash of chocolates! YUM! Oh yes, and Addi's new and favorite word is "jack o' lantern." So funny to hear him say it!

My handsome little mummy boy and sweet little butterfly

At the ward Halloween party

Addi was so polite when going to each of the cars for candy...he always said thank you!

And the final night of trick or treating my babies dressed up as a "Tex-Mexican" and "Daddy's super-girl."

Oktoberfest

2011-09-27T07:46:00.000-04:00

We made it out to Oktoberfest this year- without a drendel or lederhosen, but nevertheless, we had a great time! We figured that since this would be our last chance to make it before moving back to the states we would check it out with the family. We decided to go on "family day" which left us with everything half off the regular price. Once we got to Munich, we took the rail system right to the fest. We didn't really know what to expect, we just thought there would be lots of beer- which makes it ironic that we even went even on family day. But, we were surprised to see something almost like a state fair, rides and all, only German style. I had never seen so much lederhosen before! It was so fun to people watch, listen to live music, eat huge pretzels, shop, and just be with our family. Good times!

Appel Happel

2011-09-15T07:00:00.001-04:00

Addison loves apples! He eats at least one every day and he begs me for apple juice during snack time. So, I thought it would be fun for us to go to an apple orchard in town and pick some apples straight from the tree. Addison was so excited on the way there, I lost count of how many times he said the word "apple!". I met some friends there, grabbed a basket and a wheelbarrow and we set on our way. We filled our baskets with assorted apples and bought some fresh, delicious apple juice. Of course, before we left we had to try some of the juice and it was absolutely wonderful-super, super sweet! The only bummer of the trip was the bee sting Addison got on the tip of his thumb. He must have tried to pick it up, poor guy didn't know what he was in for.

My new project: canning applesauce.

4-day weekend in the UK

2011-09-01T08:21:00.007-04:00

Adam came home from work one morning so excited about his four day weekend he had coming up, and insisted that we go somewhere on our list of places to see in Europe. Of course, I couldn't say no...we are a traveling family! So, Thursday night we made an itinerary, booked our hotel, booked a ferry ride across the English Channel, and packed up our stuff for the weekend in the UK. Our friend Miranda even let us borrow her husband for the weekend too! Thanks girl, now I can't wait for a girls only trip with you!!! Where should we go??? Gotta start planning :)

We stopped in Brugges, Belgium before jumping on the ferry and quickly toured the cute little town.

Then, we hopped back in the car for a short drive to board the ferry, but to our dismay we were kind of lost and didn't make it in time for the ferry that we planned to be on. So, we just waited a little longer for the next boat and boarded for a two hour ride across the English Channel. It was nice for us to all sit together and relax while the kids played in the children's area for a while. The time went quickly and soon we were back in our car and back on the road...on the wrong side of the road! It was a very interesting experience and I'm glad Adam was the one driving because he seemed to handle it with no problems, even driving through the round-abouts. We made it safely to our hotel in Lakenheath that night and the kids got some much needed sleep.

We woke up bright and early ready for London! It was great! There was so much to see and we had so little time. Although, I think we did great at touring all the sights we we had planned in just one day. Here is a picture story of our day in London:

The Tube.

Buckingham Palace- changing of the guards.

British Soldier.

Park picture, with the bird lady behind us.

Walking through the park.

Big Ben.

Riding on the London eye.

Unfortunately, the battery for our camera died while we were on the London Eye, so that's all you get to see of our day in London.

We went to Cambridge and St. Edmunds the next day and had a fantastic time exploring. Here are some pics of the day:

Cambridge- one of the college chapels.

Love this picture, so British.

The picture says it.

Phone booth, gotta love 'em!

What's a vacation without ice cream?

Our final day was spent mostly driving back home, but before getting back on the ferry we made one last stop at the Leeds Castle. It was amazing! The gardens were breathtaking and the castle was just beautiful.

Look at the tower, Addison!

Candid family pic.

Okay, now we are ready to smile!

My little princess and knight in shining armor!

So long UK, I know we will see you again soon! Thanks for a wonderful, yet fast weekend! We loved every second of it!

Rheinwelle Regionalbad

2011-08-23T08:39:00.004-04:00

My water babies! We went swimming at an indoor water park in Ingelheim during the weekend and had a great time. We LOVE the water!

Cambria's Birthday Party

2011-08-19T07:51:00.005-04:00

On Thursday, we had a little birthday party for our little one year old. Wow, her first year just FLEW right by! We had a few friends from church come over to help her celebrate the right way, with balloons, birthday cake, and presents. I tied about 20 balloons to the back of Cambria's highchair and decorated her seat so festive. I stayed up super late the night before making a happy birthday sign at a friends house that was so so cute, I don't ever want to take it down! I really wanted to make her first birthday a special one, and without a doubt it was a big success! Thanks everyone for helping make this day a memorable one for my little Cam Cam. She felt so loved!!

The success of the party didn't exactly start until after we sang "Happy Birthday" though. To my surprise Cambria wasn't very happy about all of the balloons I tied to the back of her chair. During the song, I ended up holding her while she watched with a smile as everyone's eyes were on her and then Addison helped us blow out the big candle. He is a sweet big brother. But, Cambria didn't dig into her cake until the next morning for breakfast...and she loved it! She was too worried about those balloons at the party.

So, we all sat down to open presents. It was so adorable to watch her reaction to her gifts. I think her favorite was the glow worm. As soon as we got it out of the box, she grabbed and pressed it to her mouth and said, "Muah!" It was SO stinkin' cute. She also got a tea set, clothes, a baby doll, a radio, princess books and plastic ware, and a step stool. She was spoiled with love!

One birthday tradition that we started with Addison is to give everyone a helium balloon and make a wish, then let it float away into the sky. So, we all made a special wish for the birthday girl, and all the balloons floated off! The kids sure did have a lot of fun with this! They wanted to make more wishes and let more balloons go. As the balloons floated away Addison said, "BYE! See ya later!" Ahh, I love that boy!!

The kids had a great time jumping on the trampoline and running around in the back yard.

It was a great night! Happy birthday my little princess! We love you!

EFMB Graduation

2011-08-13T00:49:00.001-04:00

Adam was away from the family for nearly two and a half weeks in Grafenwoer earning his Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB)!! While he was out in the field, he took several performance tests as well as a written test to prove that he could earn it. The average pass rate for this badge is about 15%, which makes the EFMB one of the most difficult and prestigious Army skill badges to earn.

It was hard at home without him, but totally worth it because of his hard work out there. He did an awesome job and now proudly wears his badge on his uniform! We are all so very proud of our soldier! Congratulations Captain Davies!

Cake Smash Photo Shoot with Cambria

2011-08-12T08:25:00.001-04:00

Since Cambria is turing one very soon, my friend asked if she could take a few shots of Cambria for a cake smash photo shoot. Of course, I couldn't say no to that. So, I made a cake, and we headed over to the studio. My baby is such a girly girl! She didn't know what to do with that cake, and we all know that she definitely didn't want to dig in and get messy, especially with all the attention on her. Here are a few pictures of my beautiful girl from the studio.

Paris, France

2011-07-07T16:15:00.000-04:00

During the four day weekend in July, NaNa and Grandpa Owl were visiting us so we decided to take a trip to Paris. We left the kids behind with an awesome nanny. I felt 100% comfortable leaving them with her because I knew she would give them all the love they needed while we were gone. They had so much fun while we were away, in fact, I don't even think the kids knew we even walked out the door.

When we arrived in Paris, we went straight to the hotel to check in, drop off our bags, and park the car in the garage for the weekend. We stayed in a TWO-star hotel. Two star!!! That will never happen again, ever. We thought we found a great deal online, only to find out that we were right next to Gar du Nord, a main train station with a bunch of weirdos lingering around. Money talks, especially in Paris. Apparently we should have spent more. Since our visit didn't revolve around the hotel, we accepted our accommodations and set out to some wonderful sites in the city.

So, here we go...

#1- Montmartre- This was just a 10 minute walk up from our hotel. I love this area in Paris, very artsy and just a fun place to be. We also went to the Basilique du Sacre Coer. It was beautiful inside and out!

#2- Moulin Rouge- Voulez vous!! We tried to get in, but tickets were outrageous, and booked for two weeks straight. So, there was no way. I'm sure we didn't miss much, but it would have been cool to say we went. A picture outside is just as good, right?

#3- Arc de Triumph- We rode on the Metro here and took some quick pictures, but didn't stay long because they were doing a memorial service and it was all roped off. And we were okay with that because we actually climbed the stairs to the top last October. So, we saw from afar and moved on.

#4- Champs Elysees- We walked the strip and stopped for a fabulous meal at Cafe George V. We sat outside, enjoyed the weather, our company and the food. I had the most delicious dinner, beef bourguignon. We even ate escargot as an appetizer. Only in Paris would I have ever tried this! It wasn't so bad. As Julia Child would say, "Bon Appetite!"

#5- Seine Cruise- we took a cruise along the Seine River right at sunset, so it was absolutely amazing to see the city go to sleep. We saw so much of Paris on this ride, and took in so much info, it was totally worth it. And, as the clock hit 11:00 the Eiffel Tower began dancing with lights. BEAUTIFUL!

#6- Sainte Chapelle- This cathedral is covered with vibrant stain-glass windows where each panel tells a biblical story. It's very quaint and hidden between buildings.

#7- Notre Dame- We came here on a Sunday, which was an excellent time to visit a church! We were there for part of the Mass. We sat and listened for a while, but didn't get much out of it since it was all in french. But as we toured all the way around, we heard the choir and congregation sing beautiful music. The organ was amazing and rattled right through my body! I LOVED it!

#8- Louvre- We just stood outside and took pics here. It was the first Sunday of the month, and that meant all museums were FREE, well, most of them...so the line to get in the Louvre was L.O.N.G. really long. So, we opted out, while Yvonne and Al waited in line to see the famous Mona Lisa. Instead, Adam and I took the Metro to Le Cordon Bleu (a cooking institute)...which was closed. It was a bummer, but neat to just walk by and peek in the windows.

#9- Eiffel Tower tickets to the top!- I can't believe how high we actually were. We could see for miles and miles. I bet we could even see all the way back to our house in Wiesbaden!

#10- Rue Cler- a famous street filled with local farmer's market vendors and excellent restaurants. We ate our last dinner here...and saw the LDS missionaries!

That's then end of our trip.

Did I tell you that I love this man? I do! And he's the best thing that's ever happend to me!

MSC Conference in Garmisch

2011-06-02T16:15:00.000-04:00

We spent a week in Garmisch, at the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort. Adam was attending a MSC conference, and the rest of us just tagged along for the ride. We brought our bikes, and the bike trailer for the kids so we could ride around town, but for the most part the weather wasn't in our favor. As soon as the clouds broke, we took off on our bikes to a beautiful waterfall not too far from the lodge. It was amazing and just plain fun to get out with the family!

Then we took a family hike through the Partnachklamm Gorge. It was so fun, and something that we've never done all these times we've been to Garmisch.

Euro Disney- Paris 2011

2011-05-29T16:14:00.000-04:00

Addison went to Euro Disney when he was teeny tiny, so we wanted to make sure to take him back again before we move back to the states. We picked a weekend in June and set out on our adventure. We had a fun time, and were able to still do a lot of the rides despite how small our little ones are. Of course I sat out on a few of them with Cambria though. Amongst all the rides, buzz light year laser blast was by far Addison's favorite. And to top it off Addison met the REAL Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story!

Addison even got his own laser gun to take home.

We stood in line to meet Buzz, and Addison was so excited. He kept saying "hi-ya!" which is something that Buzz says in the movies, it was super cute! But, when it came time to meet Buzz and shake his hand, Addison became very timid and shy. So, I had to jump in and help him out a little. I think he was star-struck!

It was a fun weekend that we will always remember!

9 day cruise through the Baltics

2011-05-27T16:10:00.000-04:00

Day 1- Copenhagen, Denmark
Many pedestrian thoroughfares are lined with Renaissance palaces, picture-perfect parks historic merchant houses, and charming canals and waterways.
We found the original Cristus statue in a local church, saw crowds of Justin Beber fans, and even stayed in the same hotel as the famous boxer, Evander Holyfield. We made it to the LDS temple too.

Day 2- Warnemuende, Germany
Warnemuende is a sea resort and northmost district of Rostock in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, situated on the Baltic Sea in the northeast of Germany at the estuary of the river Warnow. Being a centre of maritime traffic, the district of Warnemuende comprises numerous navigational aids, the oldest is the lighthouse, which is currently still in use. Because of the low current and good sailing conditions, Warnemuende is one of the best sailing grounds in Germany. We spent our day relaxing on the beach, and walking along the coast of the beautiful resort town.

Day 3- at Sea

Day 4- Tallinn, Estonia
Founded in 1154, Estonia's capital is one of the oldest cities on the Baltic Sea and remains largely unchanged. We explored Upper Town, Lower Town Holy Ghost Church and numerous medieval merchants' homes.

Day 5&6- St. Petersburg, Russia
Built on a grand scale like the visions of its founder, Peter the Great, St. Petersburg has regained much of the sophistication it earned and then lost during its many transformations. The strong European influences of this once imperial capital are simply fascinating.
We rode the subway, visited the Church of our Savior on Spilt Blood, toured the Hermitage, and topped it off with a bus tour of the entire city.

Day 7- Helsinki, Finland
Finland's capital is a blend of classical and modern architecture with Russian and Swedish influences. We shopped Market Square, visited Senate Square and Temppeliaukio Church, carved from solid granite. We also had the chance to ride the train 20 minutes north to the Helsinki LDS Temple.

Day 8- Stockholm, Sweden
Laced by an ingenious network of waterways and bridges strung between a freshwater lake and the sea, Stockholm was easily seen on foot, after we took the tender boat to land, the rode a 40 minute train to the city. Its gabled old townhouses peer over cobblestone streets, while its magnificent 17th-century palace sits watching over the harbor. Our favorite places in Stockholm was Gamla Stan, the Royal Palace, and the Nobel Peace Museum.

Day 9- at Sea

Day 10- Copenhagen, Denmark
We made it back, just in time to hop in a taxi to the airport. We had a wonderful trip and will always have great memories of our first cruise.

Keukenhoff Tulip Festival, Cheeses and Clogs

2011-04-17T14:33:00.000-04:00

Well, we had so much fun in the Netherlands (AKA Holland) that we had to go back. We made it just in time for the Keukenhoff Tulip Festival and Parade.

We camped out at the North Sea. That night we hung out at the Beach and Addison had a blast! He LOVED running in the sand, picking up sea shells, and getting really close to the tide. I love seeing him sooo happy!

We woke up really really early because of the sunrise...and from being cramped together all night, and went to a cheese farm and clog factory. We bought Addison a pair of clogs, that he loves to clunk around in. This was yet another great trip with our little family.

Addison turns TWO!

2011-03-14T08:29:00.004-04:00

It's so fun to be TWO! Addison is such a wonderful boy, and we are so proud to have him as our son! He is the best big brother, sweet as can be! We love having Addison as part of our little family. We can't wait for the many more years of joy he brings to us. Thank you for being you, Addison! We love you!

He's a few of Addison's favorites:

Books- Go Dog Go! and Ten Apple Up on Top!
Words- NO, ka-chow! (Lightning McQueen sound), hi-ya! (Buzz Lightyear sound), dinosaur, dragon, car, and tractor. At least one of these words is used in every sentence.
Movies- Cars, Toy Story, & How to Train Your Dragon
Food- Pizza, apples, and cucumbers
Activities- running, jumping, and playing with cars

We love you, little man! Happy Birthday!

Belgium & Holland

2011-03-07T12:42:00.001-05:00

In March we took the perfect trip to Belgium and Holland! It was a fantastic family vacation! Short and sweet, which is just the way we like it. The sites were wonderful, and of course it's always exciting to see new places over here in Europe.

On the way to Belgium we stopped in Cologne, Germany and visited the huge cathedral there. It was beautiful as we passed over the bridge and the spires of the cathedral just shot out of the old town. Apparently it's one of the world's largest Gothic churches and a UNESCO world heritage site.

After a quick walk through the church, we found a dunkin' donut shop and stopped for a little american snack. Then we drove on to Brussels, Belgium, the land of chocolate and waffles. Mmmmmm.....did someone say "Godiva"?

After indulging in sweets for an evening, we stayed at a quaint hotel near Brussels, and then woke up for an amazing sightseeing drive to Holland. We drove the back roads, and over levy's to the Kinderdijke windmill area which is another UNESCO world heritage site.

That night we stayed at the Scandic Sanadome Spa Hotel in Nijmegen. We floated in salt baths, soaked in the mineral-rich hot tubs, and sat in the mint room. On top of that we had room service for dinner. Almost like pizza delivery, because that's really the only thing on the menu Addison would eat. It was an amazing weekend which we all deserved.

Family Pictures

2011-02-11T12:27:00.000-05:00

My friend, Kortney, took some family pictures for us while we were in Texas in February. They turned out great, although during the photo shoot we were really worried because our babies did NOT want to sit still! Kortney always does an awesome job and we will use her every time we visit TX.

Cambria 6 months old

Addison two years old (almost)

Our sweet little family

My angel! How can you not love this face?

Christmas in Garmisch

2010-12-28T07:03:00.009-05:00

We celebrated Christmas a few days early at our house because we were off to Garmisch in a rental RV for a week in the snowy mountains.
We spent our "Christmas" day waking up early to what Santa had to bring. We opened presents, played games, watched movies, and ate a traditional holiday meal- including crepes for breakfast. So, here we are in the morning opening gifts.

The next day, we hopped in the RV and took off for an adventure. We stayed in the Vacation Village campsite, just across the street from the Lodge. We spent a lot of time cuddling close, watching movies, relaxing at the indoor pool, and eating yummy food.

We also ventured out to explore the town. On the 26th we dropped the kids off at the CDC and went skiing/snowboarding in Hausberg for the day. Let me just tell you that my rear end has seen better days. I think I broke it, not even kidding. Let's just say I'm not a snowboarder anymore. It's time to take up skiing...there's always next year.

We took a drive to the Neuschwanstein Castle and pulled Addison in his sled all the way up the winding hill to the top. We stopped along the way for snacks and enjoyed the scenery. I think we've been here every season of the year, and each season it's beautiful!

We even got to meet Santa, himself! Addison was too nervous to sit on his lap this year, but isn't this just a sweet picture of Cambria asleep in his arms?

Halloween Happenings

2010-11-01T07:07:00.016-04:00

We went to a "Murder Mystery Dinner" at a friends home. Adam played the role of "Jules" a jeweler from Paris and I played the role of ""Lucie Gusie" a young Parisian actress. We were on a "Mediteranean Cruise" on the yacht of a rich entprenuer in the year of 1928 (which explains the 'flapper' costume), with the group pictured below when the host suddenly "died". We all had to use clues to figure out "who did it"! It was so fun dressing up, using French accents, and blaming everyone but ourselves for the murder.

1928 Flapper Girls! Marnie, the host; Christy the singer; Lindsey, the nightclub owner; and me, the actress.

There was a really cute pink skeleton in our home! So cute!!

Daddy and Addison carved a pumpkin. They designed a really cool looking "monster" that we displayed on our front porch. This really helped scare away the evil spirits!

And finally, our babies were dressed in a hotdog and hamburger costume for "Trunk-or-Treat" night at the church. Oh, I just want to eat them, they are so adorable! Unfortunately, I forgot my camera for the event and didn't get any pictures of Addison getting candy...but alas, my good friend brought hers and snapped a few of these little cuties. I'll have to post them once she e-mails them to me.

Poor Addison was attacked by a "shark" at the activity...literally. He has the proof on his upper lip. But that didn't stop him from collecting his loot, not to say that he's eaten much of it, mostly the sweedish fish.

It was an awesome October, can't wait for these next two months ahead. Only wishing we were closer to family to celebrate with.

All Smiles!

2010-10-27T09:37:00.003-04:00

Cambria went to a "Steering Committee" meeting with me and Adam last week. I just had to show off this sweet baby to all of the volunteers that I work with. Look at that beautiful smile! I just love her!

Proud baby of the 421st MMB!

Newborn Pics

2010-10-18T03:44:00.018-04:00

My friend, Holly, also took some beautiful newborn pictures of Cambria the week she was born. Here are a few of the photos she took of my sweet baby. My favorite is the last one which shows just how tiny she really was!

Baby Blessing

2010-10-18T01:40:00.002-04:00

On October 3rd, Cambria received her baby blessing from her daddy. It was a very special event that took place in our home where the bishop from our ward, our home teacher, my dad, my sister in law, Addison and I were able to witness and listen to the words that her father said. She lay so quiet and graceful in the arms of the priesthood holders as she was blessed with love and charity, a testimony of her savior, and a desire to learn of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It was beautiful, as is she.

The men who participated in the blessing.

Addison being Addison...not able to hold still for one second!

I love those sweet cheeks Cambria!

Little Addi so full of energy!

Yay! A big smile from our baby boy!

Cambria sandwich

And the best part, Grandpa!

Cambria Lauren Davies

2010-09-17T09:03:00.012-04:00

Welcome Cambria!

Our sweet baby girl came into the world and changed our family forever!

Here's the story, but if you don't want all the details then scroll down to the end for Cambria's stats:

It was just an ordinary Tuesday at the Davies' home. Adam went to work while Addison and I stayed at the house doing our normal routine, which consisted of things like making pancakes for breakfast, playing with Tonka cars, watching Ratatouille, and going to the park. Meanwhile, I was having contractions but didn't even think too much of it because there was no real pattern to it. So, we went on our day as usual. Around noon I put Addison down for his nap and decided that it would be a good time to squeeze in a little nap for myself. About an hour and a half passed and I woke up to heavier contractions. I still didn't think much of it though. By this time Addison was awake and I was in the room getting my bags together because I thought, this really might be the day.

After doing laundry and cleaning the house, and even carrying Addison up and down the stairs the contractions picked up a pattern and were about 30 seconds long and 10-15 minutes apart. Adam had come home from work, and I didn't have dinner ready, I hadn't even thought of food at this point so he had to fend for himself in the kitchen. I decided to take a bath and relax, which turned out to only cause my labor to come on even harder and quicker. So, after putting Addison to bed for the night I tell Adam that Cambria is coming and that he needs to get dressed and get my bags out to the car. Luckily, Adam's brother was visiting so we didn't have to worry about having someone come over to watch Addison in the middle of the night.

Anyway, Adam thought we should wait a little longer, he thought we should wait until the contractions were five minutes apart and one minute long. I don't know what he was thinking, but I kept insisting that we go to the hospital now...so around midnight we start leaving. But before we even make it to the car, I have to stop for a moment to make it through a contraction. Once it passes, I tell Adam that I need some water, so he runs back into the house and brings me a full cup. As soon as I drink it, everything comes back up and I am puking all over the sidewalk. I knew that was something normal when going into labor, I guess my body was not only trying to get the baby out, but everything out!

Well, now that we are in the car, headed to the hospital that is about 15 minutes away, Adam is trying to hurry and get us there fast, but every crack and bump in the road made me feel each contraction 100 times more.

When we finally made it to the hospital, we forgot where to go. We had only been to the hospital once before, and since all the maps and signs were in German, we were lost! It was midnight and there was no one around to give us any directions, so Adam found a wheelchair and wheeled me all over the hospital looking for a clue. We eventually found the right floor and I was wheeled right into the labor and delivery unit. My midwife immediately had me lay on a bed to check my dilation, which was already a 6. I was pretty surprised because the pain from the contractions weren't too hard to handle yet.

I wanted to deliver naturally, but knew that somewhere in the middle of it, I may opt out and ask for an epidural so I told the nurses to get everything ready for it. They just stood there and chuckled because there was no way they were going to do it. I was a little upset by it, but after they checked my dilation again, I was at a 10 and ready to go into the delivery room. So, I walked, yes I walked across the hallway to the bed. I knew I really had to focus on the contractions and prepare myself to push at the right time. There were a few times that I lost concentration, but with Adam and my midwife there, I was able to regain my composure and with 5 really hard pushes she came.

My afterbirth endorphins immediately kicked in and I was so so happy! Adam cut the umbilical cord, the the doctor lay Cambria on my chest, skin to skin for a while. I had a few small tears, so the doctor spent 10 minutes or so stitching me up as I held my sweet baby. Once he finished, they took Cambria's stats, wrapped her up and gave her back to me.

My doctor and midwife were truly wonderful, but I wouldn't have been able to do it without Adam by my side. He was there to hold my hand, calm me down, and watch as our new baby, Cambria Lauren, entered the world. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget.

Cambria Lauren Davies

Wednesday, August 18 at 1:39 am

6 pounds 14 ounces, 19 inches

We love you Cambria! We are so blessed to have you in our family and can't wait for the new adventure ahead!

Maternity Pics

2010-07-28T03:08:00.000-04:00

One of my really good friends here in Wiesbaden, Holly Nichole, has a photography business and was sweet enough to take some maternity pictures for me. We drove out to some wheat fields as the sun was setting and had a blast taking these pictures in the warm evening breeze. She captured some great shots. Take a look.

Big Brother

2010-07-27T08:59:00.001-04:00

Dear Cambria, I can't wait to cuddle you. Mom and Dad can't either. We have a pretty good life, so get ready. Families are Forever.

PS... in honor of Granny Wade:

"Golly ain't she pretty.

Goodness ain't she pink.

They say she came from Heaven.

That's a fib, I think.

She's stolen all my kisses.

She's stolen my place in bed.

I think I'll get a drumstick,

and beat her o'er the head."

But that's just a silly rhyme. You know I'll take care of you li'l sis'. I love you!

Independence in Amsterdam

2010-07-04T08:37:00.000-04:00

For the weekend of the 4th we went to Amsterdam with Landon Brock. Marriott. Downtown. Anne Frank House. Van Gough and Rembrandt Museums. Royal Delft. Flower Market. Good Times.

Memorial Day '10 - Luxembourg American Cemetery

2010-05-29T08:15:00.001-04:00

Memorial Day with the Cases. Spangdahlem AFB. Trier. Luxembourg Case Mates. American Cemetery. General Shinseki. General Patton's Gravesite.

Adam S. Davies, CPT, MS, Commanding

2010-05-27T07:41:00.000-04:00

Exactly 4 years from the day he commissioned, Adam took command of the 557th Ground Ambulance Company in Wiesbaden. He will lead the company through its conversion to an Area Support Medical Company over the next year. The Company's mission is to provide Levels I-II Combat Health Support. As the only ASMC in Europe, Adam hopes to draw missions to Eastern Europe and Africa in addition to supporting the War on Terror. He is extremely excited, and couldn't have asked for a better group of Soldiers to work with. Always Ready!

Update

2010-05-22T09:34:00.000-04:00

Things have been really busy at the Davies' residence.

I've been spending a lot of time with my favorite boys...Addi and Daddy.

Chasing this little one...and he is oh, so fun!

And waiting for this one...only 8 weeks to go!

A much better update is to come shortly. Until then, have a wonderful weekend!

Love Him!

2010-05-04T07:35:00.000-04:00

USAREUR Co CDR, 1SG, and Spouse Course - Vilseck

2010-04-29T07:14:00.000-04:00

We spent a week in Vilseck preparing for our new roles as Company Commander and Family Readiness Group Leader. Addison got to spend each day at the Child Development Center playing with other kids. Adam caught some sort of stomach virus and was sicker than he ever remembers. Perhaps the highlight of the trip was Lauren's trip to the nearby Flossenburg Concentration Camp where she got to meet a survivor.

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T06:58:00.000-04:00

Easter in Schweinfurt with the Cases and the Murcins. He is risen!

We're 28!

2010-03-27T20:23:00.003-04:00

Babysitters, Indian Food, and an Evening Together - Here's to 28 good years. Looking forward to the 29th.

Praha

2010-03-25T09:08:00.013-04:00

Last weekend we took a short trip to Prague in the Czech Republic to wander the streets, view the beautiful city, and treat ourselves to an early birthday present. It was quite wonderful! We checked into our charming hotel, relaxed for a minute, then quickly hit the streets. We didn't have time to waste since it was just a short visit. Our first stop was at the Municipal House in Republic Square. This is a famous Art Nouveau building that holds the best concerts in the city. Although we did not go to a concert here, we were able to eat dinner at an elegant restaurant located within to eat the traditional Czech meal, which wasn't much different than a German meal.

Here we are enjoying our dinner.

While eating, we were treated to traditional Czech music that Addison just loved!

Most of our pictures from this evening were very dark...for some reason I just can't seem to hold the camera still enough for the flash and we didn't bother taking out our gorillapod.

So, the following day we headed out on foot to the Old Town Square and saw the amazing Astronomical Clock and watched the clock strike past the hour as Jesus and His Apostles perform from the clock tower.

Then, we continued on to Charles Bridge that crosses over Vltava River and connects to the Prague Castle. Before crossing, we stepped aside and took this great shot of the castle in the background. And, you see my sweet baby sleeping!

View from the castle looking down.

One of the many beautiful doors at the Castle.

We saw and enjoyed much much more, but this post would be too long for more pictures and details. We loved every moment in this gothic, yet romantic city in Bohemia.

Addison's Birthday Party

2010-03-17T09:57:00.002-04:00

Addison was lucky enough to have his birthday party at his Grandpa Philip's house with his Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins. We had a wonderful time with Sweet-n-Sour chicken skewers and rice, a Lion cake, birthday presents, and family.

Here's a pic of the whole gang:

Addison loved the cake!

The proud parents:

He loved the Build-a-Bear puppy!

We all went outside and gave Addison a balloon to let go...we waved goodbye to year number one, ready for year number two!

ONE

2010-03-14T12:23:00.006-04:00

I can't believe it's been one year since I held my baby in my arms for the first time. Since the day he was born, our lives have been extremely blessed. Addison, you are the sweetest, most handsome, curious and funny little boy we know! We love you more than words could ever describe. Thank you so much for joining our family. Thank you for being so sweet to us and bringing a smile to our faces everyday. We love you so much and are so excited for you to be one! Happy birthday my little boo. I love you so much.

NaNa and Grandpa Owl

2010-02-22T17:52:00.002-05:00

Addi boo boo is visiting NaNa and Grandpa Owl this week in Houston. Addison loves them, but hasn't been able to spend much time with them since we don't live close by. So, we thought this would be a great chance for him to bond with his grandparents and love them all week long. He's only been gone for one day, and we miss him already.

Have fun with Uncle Tyler, NaNa, and Grandpa Owl! We love you and can't wait to see you baby!

Weekend with The Griffs

2010-02-22T16:32:00.005-05:00

If you don't know the Griffs, then you are missing out! We had a fabulous weekend with them in Dallas, especially Addison. He enjoyed playing with their boys as they met for the first time. We were able to meet their new addition, Oliver, who is now nine months old and so happy. Their boys are so cute and full of fun and energy.
Saturday we went to the botanical gardens and took lots of family photos, and then took a lunch break at Spiral Diner in Fort Worth, a very healthy and delicious vegan restaurant. We then went to Cabela's, an outdoor shop and an extreme from our previous event, where people want to protect the animals. Addison enjoyed looking at all the animals and walking through the store.
That evening we were able to sneak away from the boys for a few hours and have a date night with Roland and Alaina. We had good food, good conversation, and lots of laughter.
They had to leave the next morning, and we miss them already!

Fort Worth Botatnical Gardens

2010-02-22T13:59:00.010-05:00

I am biased, but you might agree that I have the most handsome little boy. He is always happy and brings a smile to those around him. I just love him. We went to the Botanical Gardens this weekend and captured a few shots of Addison as he nears ONE year old. Here are the ones we want to share with you.

Uncle J

2010-02-21T18:11:00.001-05:00

We went to Fort Hood Friday afternoon to see Adam's brother Jason one last time before he deploys. Addison met his Uncle J and we sat and talked for a while. Jason's an Airborne Ranger who currently commands an infantry company. We admire his warrior spirit. We love you Jason and are so proud of you! Be safe!

SNOW

2010-02-17T14:46:00.003-05:00

12 inches of snow in Keller! It was beautiful, soft, and perfect for playing in. But, we were scared to drive in it as we traveled to Dallas from San Anotnio. They didn't clear the roads, or salt them...and there were plenty of cars stuck in the ditches. There was a power outage in Keller. The airlines even cancelled our flight to Salt Lake because DFW hadn't experienced so much snow at once.
We made the most of our time in Dallas, and ended up having a great weekend anyway...because it all melted the next day!

2010-02-07T15:01:00.000-05:00

Saturday we stopped by my mom's gravesite since Addison hadn't been there yet. We planned on having a picnic and spending some time there thinking about her and what a great woman she was, but the weather wasn't in our favor so we made it short and sweet. We decided to just clean the marble and stone, and take a few pictures of Addison there. It was nice to visit the gravesite, although we know that my mom isn't just hanging out in the ground. Her spirit is in a much better place. We love you mom!

Joe T. Garcia's

2010-02-07T13:31:00.003-05:00

We had a wonderful weekend with our friends, the Robinson's. They came up to Dallas for a few days and we enjoyed talking and laughing while eating the best mexican food in Fort Worth. We went to Joe T. Garcia's on Friday night. This was the place Adam and I had our Wedding Dinner Party at, and it was the first time we went back in over three years. It was so fun being there.

Here is Addison having fun listening to the mariachi band play guitar and sing to him.
Meet the Robinson's. Mark and Julia are such a fun couple!
Me and my man in uniform!
The Davies and Grandpa Philip.
The gang.
Still daddy's little girl.
Addi and Daddy playing with the fountain.
Us again! I can't get enough of this man!
It was a great visit and we can't wait to meet up again!

Hangin' out with Grandpa

2010-01-26T17:17:00.006-05:00

I saw him working on the tractor.

And I wanted to help.

So, he let me.

Then he let me sit on it!

It was so fun!

My Grandpa is cool!

Christmas Update

2010-01-25T19:26:00.005-05:00

Addison had a visit with Santa. He loved his beard. He laughed and had a great time.

On Christmas morning we opened up all the presents from under the tree. I think Addison had more fun with the wrapping paper.

That is, until he saw his pirate tent!

My sister sent us a package with aprons and a family cookbook. Her friend makes them and they are so cute!

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas season with your families!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-19T13:53:00.002-05:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

YES! The message is true! We're expecting and Addison is going to be a big brother!

So Sweet...

2009-11-14T14:56:00.003-05:00

This is how Daddy found Addison after dinner

PART I: Roadtrip Paradise...in an RV

2009-11-03T09:18:00.006-05:00

One of my very best friends, Melinda, and her husband, Matt, flew across the pond for some sight seeing...and gladly accepted our invitation to do it all in an RV. No better way to see Europe with your closest friends and family! We had a fabulous time visiting and revisiting the best cities in all of the world. The sites were breathtaking. So, this post will mostly be dedicated to pictures. We have so many of our trip from France to Italy, and back to Germany; probably better described than words.

Day 1: Burg Eltz, and Paris

The Burg

The funnest group in Europe.

LD and MJ

Kissing under the Eiffel Tower, who wouldn't?

Day 2: Paris

Standing outside the Louvre after visiting the famous "Mona Lisa" and many other paintings and sculptures. We must go back, too much to see in such little time.

Driving on L'Avenue des Champs Elysees. Parking is really difficult to find for an RV in Paris by the way.

Standing outside the Cathedrale Notre Dame de Paris.

Beautiful view of the city on the Arc de Triomphe.

Just ate at a great Italian restaurant on the Champs.

Parting our ways for a romantic evening with the hubs.

Day 3: Versailles

Walking through Marie Antoinette's villa, being silly...nuff said.

Marie Antoinette's famous portrait with the rose.

Sweet pic of my sweet boys.

Day 4: Normandy and Mont St. Michel

Normandy was our moment of silence for this memorable trip. We couldn't have traveled through France without paying tribute to our fallen soldiers who gave their own lives to save ours.

Visitor's center at the American Cemetery

Omaha Beach

The fallen

Sainte Mere-Eglise, where the paratrooper, John Steele, was caught on the spire during the drop.

Mont St. Michel. According to legend, St. Michael the Archangel appeared to St. Aubert, bishop of Avranches, in 708 and instructed him to build a church on the rocky islet. This island is very unique and interesting! Population 41.

Amazing!

Day 5: Nice

French Riviera

So NICE to be here with my family!

Addison was such a trooper the whole trip! He had a blast!

Group Shot

Beautiful sunset

Much, much more photos for your liking to come! To be continued...

PART II: Roadtrip Paradise...in an RV

2009-11-03T03:00:00.002-05:00

Day 6: Monaco

007
The one and only Monte Carlo

Bugatti. 1.6 million dollars. Fastest car in the world. I want one.

Beautiful water. Beautiful Yachts.

Day 7: Cinque Terre

1st town on the hike of Cinque Terre.

Muscle Men between the rocks. Yep, those two handsome beaus are our hubby's!

What a good looking family! :)

2nd town. Didn't go any further than that. The sun was setting, and we had some swimming to do in the Med.

Day 8: Pisa and Florence

We must have a photo in front of the Leaning Tower. Classic. We should have skipped out on it this visit. Probably as this photo was being taken...we were getting robbed. Not off our backs. But, inside our RV. So long debit card, adios i-phone. Who needs money or communication???

Walking out of the police station in Pisa with the police reports!

Michelangelo's David. A replica standing in the original location in Palazzo Vecchio. But, a great sculpture nonetheless.

Ponte Vecchio

I love the nightlife of Florence!

Day 9: Venice

Priceless!

Backstreet to local homes. This place was actually for sale. If you lived here, we would come visit you more often!

Lunch break near the Rialto Bridge.

Day 10: Neuschwanstein and Heidelberg

Three times the charm! We love the Neuschwanstein Castle. If you don't know why, just ask.

Postcard Photo

We snuck in the back doors of the castle to find Matt and Melinda, and snuck in this photo too. :)

Old Bridge Gate in HD

West of the Old Bridge Gate is the Bridge Monkey. He holds a mirror in his left hand, with a sly smile on his face, saying, "Why are you looking at me? Haven't you seen the monkey in Heidelberg? Look around and you will probably see, more monkeys like me." I think he is implying that we are all monkeys!

Outside a great German Bakery.

Delicious!

Well folks, that's the end of our trip! So fun and so worth it!

Halloween Happenings

2009-11-01T03:32:00.000-05:00

This year we hosted a Halloween party at our house on Saturday evening. It included a costume contest and tasting of delicious and sometimes spooky desserts, but it was mostly an excuse to get together with our usual group of friends and have a good time.

The Davies
(aka Mustafa, Aisha, and their baby from Afghanistan)

We made some very hairy, and a little scarey daddy long-leg cupcakes.

The Wood's
(aka Indiana Jones and Mairan)

Soni, Soni...she makes great food! This is just one of her delicious treats she brought; Bruschetta.

The Riddoch's
(aka the baby"sitter" and white trash)

Jessica is an amazing chef! She brought this vegetable tray with her hand crafted Frankenstein cheese head! It was so good!

The Stallings
(aka the Lumberjack and his German frau)

Hannah made some gooey, but delicious eyeballs made of gingerbread cookies.

Happy Halloween from The Davies family!

Sesame Street Live

2009-10-01T04:58:00.006-04:00

We went to Sesame Street Live yesterday in Heidelberg. Elmo, Grover, Cookie Monster, Zoe, and Rosita came to speak to all the kids about being an Army family and how our parents serve our country. Elmo talked about deployments and homecomings. But, mostly we sang, danced, and laughed with everyone! We had a great time.

The 2009 European AMEDD Regimental Ball

2009-09-20T05:17:00.008-04:00

We were invited by the The Commander of the US Army European Regional Medical Command to the Regimental Ball last night (of course, because Adam is his Aide de camp!). We had several friends there, who we were able to share this special night with. We had a great time socializing and dancing the night away!

(me and my handsome date!)

(Adam & Lauren, Jared & Cathy, and Sonila & Mike)

(Ladies and Gentleman who received special awards for their medical service in the US Army)

Budapest, Hungary

2009-09-18T09:49:00.019-04:00

Adam and I went to Budapest for three days and had a fabulous time. I knew this was going to be quite the experience, and it was...as soon I stepped off the airplane. The city was lit up in beauty. Driving to the hotel, this is what I saw:

(Thanks for the pic, Wikipedia!)

While Adam was conferencing with the US and Hungarian Military Doctors, all of the spouses went on touring and shopping excursions. The greatest part of it all was our ride to all of the sites. We all rode together in a coach touring bus with the Hungarian Military Police as our escorts. The sirens were blaring and the lights were flashing as we went along our way. YES, Imagine a police car with a huge bus following closely behind driving down the middle of the road, through all the red lights! It was great. We were so important that everyone had to get out of our way...no one could stop us from our shopping! :)

(Notice that we are driving on the wrong side of the road here!)

Day 1:
We traveled north of Budapest to Szentendre, a picturesque town that sits at the bank of the Danube River. We went on a guided tour of Kovacs Margit Museum, which featured the works of Hungary's most renowned ceramic artist.
Then, we hopped on the bus and drove to the Citadell, and climbed part of the fortress atop the hill.

Later that evening, Adam and I had a nice evening out on the town. We walked the Chain Bridge, did some shopping on Veci Street, and had a great meal with some great friends. Did I mention that the food in Hungary was very tasty? We were fed like royalty every day and it was wonderful!

(Picture from the internet, we couldn't get one as good as this!)

(Goose leg with potatoes and red cabbage)

Day 2:
We drove down Andrassy Avenue to Hero's Square. The center of the square is the Millennium Monument, built in 1896 to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the Magyar conquest. The statues around the momument include kings, governors, and others held in high reqard, like King Steven I, who brought Christianity to the country.

We then walked to Vajdahunyad Castle (can you say that??) and viewed the architectural design, then quickly moved on to the Basillica of St. Steven, Hungary's largest church.
Then, we went to The House of Parliament. This magnificent structure was built as a symbol of Hungary's independance in 1867.

(The Royal Crown Jewels of Hungary, guarded by the Royal Army 24/7)

Finally lunch time came around, and so we drove to Gellert Hill and ate at the top of the hill and had a wonderful panoramic view of Buda and Pest, with the Danube right through the middle.
Before we called it a day, we went to Castle Hill, where Budapest was founded. Here we quickly viewed the grounds and walked through the inner village.

That evening we drove about an hour out of Budapest for a Puszta dinner and evening show. It was excellent! We were taken by horse through the farm and brought to an arena where we watched an Arabian Horse show. It was nothing like we had ever seen before. We were so amazed! The show was followed by a delicious dinner where we were enchanted with music and dancing.

Day 3:
We drove to the city of Godollo to visit the summer residence of Franz Josef, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary and his wife Elisabeth ("Sisi"). This was my favorite place to visit. I could just stay there forever imagining what it would be like to live as an Empress! I learned much about Sisi, and came to adore her.

(Wikipedia pic, again! The pine tree is now majorly leaning towards the house because poparazzi would climb the tree to try and get photos of Sisi and Franz Josef!)

After lunch along the Danube River, we headed to the Central Market Hall, a great shopping attraction! Here we had 45 minutes to shop till we dropped before meeting up with our husbands. I was able to purchase Hungarian Paprika powder, Hungarian lace, and a cute little shirt for Addison.
Once we met up with our hubby's we made our final tourist stop to the Military Hospital and Nuclear Bunker located beneath the Buda Castle.

Soon after I had to say goodbye to "the Paris of Eastern Europe" and catch my plane back to Heidelberg. But, I wasn't too upset leaving this spectacular city because I had my sweet baby boy to come home to.

(Addison wearing his Hungary t-shirt)

Addison's 6 month stats

2009-09-17T14:48:00.003-04:00

weight: 17 lbs. 12 oz.
height: 27 in.
teeth: 2, with 2 more on top cutting through
food: veggies, fruits, meats, rice, oatmeal
positions: rolls over boths ways & sits up
favorite acivities: watching sid the science kid, sitting in the jumper, strolling through town, singing "old mac donald" & playing with momma and daddy

Switzerland

2009-08-25T15:02:00.006-04:00

Adam, Addison, and I had an amazing time in Switzerland last weekend.

We stayed here.

We ate dinner here.

We used the Swiss Alps as our backdrop.

We camped underneath this waterfall.

We drove on a spare tire.

We did some hiking.

And had this to look at.

We even walked through tunnels.

We slept on a cliff in Murren.

We wore ourselves out.

We were at an elevation of 2,000 feet.

And we loved every moment!

Love the cousins!

2009-08-18T05:59:00.002-04:00

When we were in Texas, Addison was able to meet most of his cousins on my side of the family! He had a blast with all of them. He would just sit with them, laugh and play with them, and observe every little move they would make. Ever since we then, you can see his little brain working, trying to figure out how they were able to do all that they did. He's become so active, grabbing everything, rolling across the room, and playing with everyone in sight! He's so fun and we love watching his personality develop!

FIVE MONTHS!

2009-08-18T05:39:00.003-04:00

I can...
...smile really big! :)
...sit up all by myself!
...lay on my tummy and hold my head up high!
...stand up,when I lean on something!
...and I am VERY social!

P.S. my two bottom teeth just broke through!

Rice Cereal

2009-07-08T12:22:00.007-04:00

We do lots of new things every day, and today's new activity involved food! We tried rice cereal from a spoon...and despite all the silly faces he made during his feeding, I really think he liked it.

1.) Tasting Rice cereal for the first time.
2.) New and interesting texture.

3.) MMMMM!!! Y-U-M-M-Y!

4.) I like this stuff momma!

5.) Video of Addison eating the cereal. WARNING: Watch at your own risk. (Momma using lots of baby talk!)

Proud to be an American!

2009-07-04T16:41:00.005-04:00

We are so grateful for the independence of our country! We thank those past and present who fight for the red, white, and blue!

God bless the U.S.A.!

Magical Adventure

2009-07-03T17:13:00.000-04:00

We had a fantastic time with Mickey and his crew at Disneyland Paris on Friday! The magic started bright and early in the morning as we walked through the gates and entered Main Street U.S.A.! We headed into Town Square to the Central Plaza and had a beautiful view of Sleeping Beauty's Castle, then forked left to explore Frontierland on the Thunder Mesa Riverboat. Addison's favorite ride by far was Pirates of the Carribbean found in Adventureland. We rubbed shoulders with pirates of the high seas and sang "Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life for Me!". We were then whisked away into Fantasyland where fairytale dreams come true! We spent most of our time here as we rode the classic fairytale rides that brought the stories to life. It was a magical adventure that we all enjoyed! We can't wait to go back, so even us grown ups can be kids again! Here are a few pics of our trip:

Family picture at the Disneyland Park entrance
Entrance to the park

In front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle

View of Thunder Mountain from the Phantom Manor

Addison bright eyed for every single ride! His bib says it right, there was no time for napping!

Le Pays des Contes de fees (boat ride through Fantasyland)

Promotion Ceremony

2009-06-29T13:03:00.011-04:00

On Monday, June 22, 2009 Adam became a Captain in the United States Army! We felt so grateful for all of our friends and co-workers who attended and showed support to Adam on this special occasion. We also felt very honored to have General Gallagher, Adam's boss, promote him. During the Ceremony we were able to call Adam's dad, and brother, Tyler, so they could take part in his promotion as well. It was a wonderful event that ended in mouth-watering pulled pork sandwiches (a recipe that I made from Cook's Illustrated).

Being read in as Captain in the U.S. Army.
Pinning Captain Bars on Adam.

So proud of you, Sweetie!

Congrats!

Captain & Mrs. Davies

Did I ever tell you that I love this boy?

2009-06-29T12:56:00.003-04:00

Well, I do! And, I just can't get enough of him!

Oh We're Going to the Hukilau!

2009-06-27T12:17:00.002-04:00

A few Saturday's ago, our Ward held a Luau at the Church. We had a fabulous time watching all the performances, being part of the dances, and enjoying company with great friends! We cannot go on without saying how tasty the food was too! Here's just a little glimpse of the great time we had:

Dressed up for the performances!
Girls who performed the Hukilau.

Oh no! These boys look a little crazy!

But, Addison doesn't seem very scared.

Such a cute performance by the children and Aniva Togisala!

Haircut

2009-06-22T09:03:00.003-04:00

Addison had his first haircut on Saturday. He had fuzzball hair in the back that was just begging to be clipped! So daddy pulled out the clippers and buzzed away. Now little Ad is just as cute as can be! Well, he was before the haircut too!!

Top Three Dad's

2009-06-21T17:04:00.009-04:00

The results are in! The top three dad's in the whole world are: Adam, Philip, and Steve!

Adam is the best daddy Addison could ever ask for! Although Adam has only been a father for three months, I watch him give tremendous love to his son everyday. Everything about being a daddy just comes naturally to Adam...all the way down to changing diapers. I love watching these two boys bond together. The grin Addison gets on his face when his daddy walks in the door is priceless. The long conversations they have together is adorable. And his soothing touch when Addi is tired is just the sweetest thing. Not only is he the best daddy, he is also and amazing husband! I couldn't be luckier!

Addison made Daddy buttermilk pancakes and eggs for breakfast.

I love my daddy!

I also have the best Dad any girl could ever ask for! He's always been there for me...through thick and thin! My dad is a softie when it comes to his daughters. He will do anything to make us happy. He just can't say no...even now that we're all grown up! I've always wanted to be just like him. As a little girl I would sit on his lap as he used the riding lawn mower to cut the grass. I would sit out in the garage as he worked on the cars. I'd snuggle up to him in Church. And I still want to be like him today. He is an amazing cook. He's full of adventure. And he too honors his Priesthood. I love you dad!

And my father-in-law, Steve, you are a wonderful father too! I have loved getting to know you! I love listening to your stories and hearing your silly jokes! You've been a great support to us and an amazing grandfather! We love you!

Happy Father's Day to the BEST dads ever!

Addison Made a New Discovery

2009-06-18T12:14:00.003-04:00

He found his feet...and his itty bitty toes! He's been playing with them all day and it's just too cute not to blog about!

Hi Daddy!

2009-06-17T15:47:00.003-04:00

Dear Daddy,

But...

Love,
Lauren and Addison

P.S. We love you very much! XOXOXO

My baby LAUGHED today!

2009-06-17T08:59:00.003-04:00

He laughed and laughed and laughed! And I loved it!

Strawberries 'n Cream Pastry Puff

2009-06-16T16:45:00.010-04:00

One word: DELICIOUS!And all you need is a pastry sheet, strawberries, cool whip, powdered sugar, and some chocolate drizzle! Toss the pastry sheet in the oven (20 min. @ 400 degrees), layer it up...and DELICIOUS!

Fun in the BUMBO

2009-06-16T11:31:00.002-04:00

This is Addison's favorite place to sit and watch mommy with her daily routine around the house. He wiggles, smiles and talks as mommy makes the bed, folds the laundry, and does the dishes. Fun for him, fun for me!

Lunch along the Nekar River

2009-06-13T11:52:00.018-04:00

Saturday was the perfect day to take our grill out and cook up some burgers. We invited our friends John, Kate, and their baby Aiden to join in on the fun. We decided to head out to the Nekar River, lay out our blankets, relax, and eat some delicious food while enjoying a nice converstaion. It was a great way to spend our day!

Look at me! I'm three months old!

2009-06-09T05:24:00.005-04:00

Talkin' with Daddy

2009-06-08T17:57:00.003-04:00

Addison can talk all day! But, when Daddy comes home, he gets so excited! He has so much to tell him! He talks about all the cool stuff he did with Mommy while Daddy was at the office. He tells him where they walked to, what errands they ran, what friends they saw, how much milk he drank, and how much he loved snuggling up with mom during nap time. He can go on and on for hours and we just LOVE it!

Anniversary

2009-06-03T08:40:00.000-04:00

Did you know that I've been married the love of my life for three years??? The best moments I've had, have been with my prince charming, Adam. As many of you know, it started within the fortress walls of West Point, NY and then to the Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany where Adam proposed. Soon after, we were sealed in the Dallas, Texas temple for time and all eternity. I couldn't have made any better decision in my entire life. We've lived, laughed, and loved each other to the fullest! To put it simply, I love my sweetheart! It's been the best three years, and I can't wait to spend my eternities with him!

Wedding day: June 3rd, 2006, Dallas, Texas

1 year anniversary...Adam in Afghanistan, Lauren in North Carolina
(no pic for this one)

2 year anniversary in Asheville, NC

3 year anniversary in Germany with Addison

Happy Anniversary babe!

Addison's Baby Blessing

2009-05-27T12:31:00.003-04:00

Addison was blessed by his daddy on Sunday, May 24th. Every word was beautiful and was meant just for our sweet baby. It was a wonderful experience to sit and listen to all that Adam had to say to his son. He blessed Addison that he would gain knowledge of the gospel, that he would recognize the spirit, and that he would learn charity. He said so much more. Addison was such an angel as his daddy held him and gave him his first father's blessing. My dad, the Folau's, the Lakey's, the Biggs', and the missionaries were all over after church for a BBQ celebration. We are so glad for everyone that helped make his day special.

American Beach in Tirrenia, Italy

2009-05-27T12:25:00.001-04:00

Our last day in Italy we spent relaxing at American Beach. I didn't dare jump in the Mediterranean...way too cold, a little water on my toes was just enough. Somehow Adam gained the courage to dive right in, only for a few minutes though. My dad and Addison decided to bask in the sun and play in the sand. And we all enjoyed taking a little nap! The beach was beautiful and the weather was perfect. It was a great day to start out our summer!

Firenze

2009-05-27T12:19:00.004-04:00

Here we are in Florence, one of my favorite cities in Italy! We were only able to visit for one day, so it was a whirlwind experience. We loved every moment though, and can't wait to go back!

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

2009-05-26T03:13:00.006-04:00

We drove to Pisa in the evening and saw that the tower was falling down...so Addison, Adam, and Dad helped hold it up. They sure are strong boys!

Verona & Venice

2009-05-26T02:02:00.001-04:00

Remember the two star-crossed lovers? Romeo and Juliet. This play was based from the city Verona, Italy. So, on our way to Venice we had to stop by the Juliet's balcony and take a picture. The archway that leads to the balcony is covered with sticky notes and words of love. Adam grabbed a pen, jumped up on the step and had to write something about us:

He wrote:

Adam
Loves
Lauren
4 ETERNITY

Then we drove on to Venice:

I heart Venice! I heart Italy!

Royal Linderhof Palace

2009-05-26T01:28:00.002-04:00

What a beautiful palace on a beautiful day! We headed out to the castle on a Tuesday morning to explore. King Ludwig II had this castle built here in the Bavarian mountains. The tour was quite interesting! We came to realize that King Lugwig was a little crazy! He came here to live a "fairy tale" in solitude. There was only one bedroom in the whole castle! And there was only enough room for one at the dining room table. This table was "magic". The floor beneath the table lowered down to the kitchen where his servants placed his meals and then raised the table back up for him to eat on. Despite all the weirdness inside the castle, it really was an ornate, gaudy palace. Each room was breathtaking! It was truly a fairy tale place to be.

Thanks Grandpa Steve!

2009-05-08T07:51:00.004-04:00

Steve hopped on a plane to Germany Friday afternoon to meet his Grandbaby! Addison and Grandpa were able to hang around for the whole week and they are best buddies now. Addison ate, burped, slept, and smiled in Grandpa's arms. It sure was cute to watch them together! We're so glad Steve was able to come visit. Come back soon!

Three Davies' Generations

Of all the boys in all world, this boy is Grandpa's boy.

Going Private

2009-05-04T11:40:00.002-04:00

We're deciding to change our blog to private. We'll be switching it over in the next couple of days, so please send us your e-mail if you would like to stay updated on our little family!

My little baby

2009-04-27T03:06:00.003-04:00

isn't so little now! He's six weeks old and has already made many milestones in his newborn life.

Addison looks and listens intently to everything around him. He recognizes momma and daddy and follows us around the room with his big alert eyes. One of Adam's favorite things to do with Addison is move all around while he watches his daddy move back and forth and be silly, especially when Addison gives a little grin.
He coos all the vowel sounds, especially when he is happy and excited. He kicks out his feet and moves his hands all around when he's doing it too. We are lucky parents because he is very a happy baby.
He loves music. We dance around the room during the day listening to Motzart and he falls to sleep each night to lullaby's. When he's fussy, it doesn't take long to calm him down with a Nursery Rhyme or song.
Cuddling is fun for us both. He loves to be snuggled with, caressed and gently rubbed across his forehead with the tips of your fingers.
Our very favorite thing Addison does is SMILE! And he sure does have the most adorable smile. The first time he did a real smile was during tummy time. He looked up at mommy and as soon as he saw her, he just gave an ear to ear smile and cooed. That was such a priceless moment!
We love Addison so very much and cherish each moment with him! It's true what they say...babies grow way to fast!

He loves his momma

2009-04-22T11:53:00.004-04:00

...and I love him too!

Garmisch

2009-04-18T12:46:00.006-04:00

We spent last week here.

Surrounded by this.

With our friends Caleb and Suzy.
It was fun!

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T13:47:00.005-04:00

We want to wish all of our friends and family a happy Easter this year!

The Easter Bunny (AKA momma) came to our house and left us lots of delicious treats...and my favorite Reese's Peanutbutter Cups. She left Addison and Daddy baskets filled with candy and presents! I think Addison wants her to come back every year! We are so thankful for all of the Easter Bunny's gifts.
Most of all we are thankful for Jesus Christ, and for this day we have to reflect on Him and for His Atoning sacrifice. Oh how we love Him and are ever grateful that He is our Savior.

2009-04-09T14:13:00.014-04:00

NaNa and Grandpa Owl came to visit Addison last week. We had lots of fun adventures while they were here. Each moment was unforgettable!

We visited Schloss Lichtenstein.

Then we went to Schloss Neuschwanstein...where Adam proposed four years ago! We loved taking Addison there to re-live the experience with him.

Our next stop was Salzburg, Austria. We drove up to Eagle's Nest, which was Hitler's summer home in the Alps. We took a gondola to the top of the mountain in Salzburg to the beautiful Fortress. We saw Motzart's house. And we ate yummy food.

At the end of the trip Addison was worn out!

We can't wait for NaNa to come back and visit! Thanks for a wonderful week!

Baby's first bath

2009-03-26T13:18:00.005-04:00

He didn't love it. But, he had nothing to complain about when he was massaged with baby lotion. I love the soft, silky feeling of a clean baby, not to mention the sweet smell.

Daddy loved holding him close when bath time was over and falling asleep together. I love watching them bond together. I love how happy Adam gets when he walks in the door and sees his son. Adam is such a wonderful father! I'm so thankful for all the help he has given me during the first two weeks. What can I say?? I have the two best boys right here in my own home! I couldn't ask for more!

All wrapped up

2009-03-22T08:58:00.003-04:00

in a cozy quilt. Addison is one week old! He is the most loveable, cuddly, adorable baby. I just can't keep my eyes off him! We are so grateful that we are his parents.

Friday, March 13th was Addison's due date and the doctor let me come to the hospital to be induced. I was so glad that he offered it to me because the last few weeks of pregnancy were totally miserable! Around ten thirty in the morning Adam and I had our bags packed and we headed over to the hospital, ready for baby Addison to make his arrival. As soon as we got there I took the inducing pill and waited...and waited for progress, but nothing really happened until three in the morning. My water broke and we headed into the delivery room where I immediately requested an epidural. You see, in Germany getting an epidural is not part of any birthing plan. But, they gave it to me and I dozed off into total heaven! After this moment of bliss, I was ready to push. One hour later Addison Knox came into the world! It's so wonderful to have such a little baby become the biggest blessing in your life. We absolutely love him!

He's Here!!!

2009-03-17T17:38:00.009-04:00

Introducing Addison Knox Davies. He was born at Saint Elisabeth Hospital in Heidelberg, Germany on March 14th at 12:59 pm, weighing 7 1/2 lbs and measuring 21 inches long. Neither words nor pictures can express how we feel about him. Pictures from our trip:

Waiting on Addison...

2009-03-10T17:22:00.000-04:00

The last few weeks leading up to Addison's due date have been some of the slowest and most painful of my life. Heart burn, swollen hands, swollen legs, and swollen feet are NOT FUN! I spend most of my time yelling at the TV while playing Mario Kart on the Wii.

ERMC Babies!!

2009-03-06T17:04:00.001-05:00

The office threw Lauren, Kate, and Laura a baby shower today. They say there must be something in the ERMC water! Adam replaced Kate's husband, Jonathan, in December as the Commanding General's (CG's) Aide and David has been the CG's Driver for going on 2 years. Baby Davies is due 13 March, Baby Beard is due 15 March, and Baby Aguilera is due in April. One of the guys in the office made the comment "I don't guess the CG is keeping you guys busy enough!" We all know that's far from the truth! Thanks to everyone that put this on... it was great!

Valentine's Day 09 - Schloss Lichtenstein

2009-02-14T16:46:00.001-05:00

For Valentine's Day this year we took a day trip to Schloss Lichtenstein, a beautiful castle that sits on a cliff just south of Stuttgart. It was really neat... almost a mini version of the Neuschwanstein Castle. It snowed all day, and was pretty cold during the tour, so we made the most of it and got back home.

Happy Birthday Melinda!

2009-02-03T07:35:00.003-05:00

Today is all about Melinda, the birthday girl! Since there's no way I could be with her today, I just wanted her to know how special she is to me! She is an amazing friend...and the best girlfriend I could ever ask for! We've known each other for years and have been through many challenges of life together and I'm grateful that she has been there every step of the way!

So, Melinda, I hope you have an awesome birthday today! I wish I could be there with you to celebrate! Love you and miss you girl!

Lauren

Schloss Heidelberg

2009-02-01T16:23:00.011-05:00

Yesterday was a cold COLD day, but we made it to the top of the mountain to overlook the city and visit the castle here in Heidelberg. We didn't ride the trolly up the hill, but instead drove up and enjoyed the warm air blowing from the heater in our car.

We were lucky enough to spend the visit with our dear friends Ian, Miranda, and their sweet baby boy, Eli.

It was definitely worth the sacrifice to get out of the car and explore the castle grounds.

We can't wait for summer to hike up the hill to have a picnic here and look at our beautiful city below.

We'll even pack a lunch for you! So come visit and enjoy a wonderful stay!

Review of 2008

2009-01-10T02:21:00.036-05:00

January
*Waited and waited for Adam to come home from Afghanistan!
*Visited with Kristen in Charlotte, NC
February
*Adam FINALLY came home from the war!!! Yahoo!
March
*Celebrated another birthday together
*Got my first DSLR CAMERA!
April
*Began Private Pilot lessons in a Cessna 152
*Took my third graders on a field trip to the zoo
*Went to Atlanta, GA for Easter with our family
May
*Took a fishing trip
June
*finished my third year of teaching elementary students
*Celebrated our anniversary in Asheville, NC
*Visited San Antonio for a Medical Conference
July
*Went to Boy Scout Camp
*Visited family in Florida for the 4th of July
August
*Announced that we are expecting a baby BOY in the Spring!
September
*Played on the beach in Puerto Rico...
*...while Adam played Army in the woods
October
*Drove to TEXAS to visit family and friends one last time before our move
November
*Moved to Germany
*Celebrated Thanksgiving with Ian and Miranda
December
*Had the BEST Christmas ever with Adam!
*Welcomed Adam's dad to Germany for a short vacation!
*Went to FRANCE!

2008 was a blast! We loved sharing our moments with family and friends, and enjoyed our own time together too! Thanks for all those who helped create these memories! We are looking forward to what 2009 has in store for us and know that it will be just as exciting if not more!

Tis the Season!

2008-12-29T11:21:00.005-05:00

The Christmas season has brought us much joy and happiness this year!

From our house to yours, we want to wish you all the warmest love as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Oh, how much we love this time of year!

The picture you've all been waiting for...
My belly seemed to grow into this big bowling ball over night! At my last apointment, the doctor told me that my baby weighed four pounds. Now that just sounds too big! Way too big considering the three months I have left to carry him in my tummy! He also told me that I was the happiest pregnant woman he's seen in a long time. It's truly been an amazing six months, which many days have not been fun...you know, terrible heartburn, sleepless nights, kidney infection, and swollen feet. But all those aweful things seem to be forgotten about when the baby kicks, gets the hiccups, or when I can feel him sliding across my belly, when Adam and I sit around thinking of names for our little man, when I think about how great of a daddy Adam will be, and most importantly when I know that I am doing all that I can to ensure that he is as healthy as he can be. All of those things and much much more brings a smile to my face! So despite all the not so fun moments, there is so much to be happy and excited for! We are looking forward to what the new year will bring!

Happy 2009!

With Love,
The Davies

Have You Ever?

2008-12-18T09:58:00.000-05:00

I'm waiting for my camera cord to arrive so I can post pictures from the past month. But, since we're still without it, I'm joining in on a tag from Suzy. There are 99 simple yes or no questions to answer. The ones Adam and I HAVE done are in bold.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris (going for New Years!!)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch-hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
91. Flown in an airplane
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby (having a boy in March!)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Now, I tag anyone who wants to share!

We've arrived!

2008-12-09T11:19:00.008-05:00

Adam and I finally arrived in our new hometown... Heidelberg, Germany! We've actually been here for about three weeks now, but haven't had time to post a blog since. The time we've spent here so far has been wonderful! We've seen so many of our old friends, and made new ones too! It is such a small world when you are in the Army because no matter where you go, you will find familiar faces. We have felt so welcome in our new environment!
Our new home is just minutes from downtown Heidelberg and right down the road from Adam's work. We are in the perfect location! It is so fun to walk down the streets of Heldelberg this time of year because of all the Christmas Markets! It is beautiful and the atmosphere is wonderful! Everywhere we go, we can feel the "spirit of Christmas". There are lots of shops and little boutiques that we love going to! The resturants are delicious too! We are so happy to be here together, but miss all our friends and family back home. We will post more pictures soon! We can't wait for you to see the beautiful city we are living in! Start booking your flights and come visit!

New Baby Furniture

2008-11-04T15:18:00.002-05:00

Here is the baby furniture we purchased right before the movers came to pick up all of our belongings! We wont be seeing it for a few months...60 to 90 days, but can't wait to get the baby room all set up before I start to get too big. We love it!

We Love You!

2008-11-02T14:44:00.000-05:00

Kristen brought the kids out to visit us one last time...it was short and crazy! The kids had a fun time running around all of the boxes in the house and making forts with our extra blankets for bedtime. We are going to miss you Kristen, Brooklyn and Josh! We will miss all of the weekend visits, cute comments they make, and the random phone calls from Josh. We love you! Hope you can make it out for the baby! Start saving your money!!!