I'm going to be an AUNT!!!

My Sister in Law - Carla is pregnant & due January 13, 2009!! She has finally given me the go-ahead to tell people.. and I am SO excited for them!! She had her first ultrasound today - and the baby's heart rate was 164 bpm, and moving all around. Carla thinks it a boy, and I do too. In fact - I think we all do. I am so happy for them, and Addison is thrilled to have a little cousin on the way! They are going to have one cute little baby!!! We are calling the baby "Al" - short for Aloysius, which is what Cletus WANTS to name the little one. However his naming rights have been revoked - and Carla will get the final say.. THANK THE DEAR LORD!! ;) Not that there is anything wrong with the name Aloysius....

Here is a picture of the expecting parents to be - and my little lady back in May.

And here is a picture of the BIG COUSIN to be!! We had Addison's 1year pictures done last Saturday. They turned out AWESOME!! I will post them when we get the disc. (Thanks again to Precious Poses by Andrea Janke.. we are so happy with how they turned out!)

Update from my Dad in Abu Dhabi

A few of you have asked about my Dad and how he is doing.. Here is an exerpt from the latest e-mail we rec'd on Monday. I will make sure to post pictures when he sends some. He is very missed!

Dear Family and Friends:

Here’s an update on my assignment in Abu Dhabi.
I am staying at the Shangri-La Hotel Quaryat Al Beri in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The resort-style hotel is about 15 minutes drive from the airport and project site. My room overlooks the strait that separates Abu Dhabi Island from the mainland. Abu Dhabi is situated along the coast of the Arabian Gulf. For those who have never been to the Middle East, the UAE has a similar feel to Cancun, Mexico. It is quite warm and humid. The city is highly developed with substantial new construction ongoing everywhere you look. 80% of the people in the UAE are expats; many from the US and Europe. The government is ruled by Sheikh Khalifa, UAE President. The people are highly tolerant of outsiders provided that we do not interfere with their culture and beliefs. The Emiratis are easily recognized by their dress – white full length shirt (khandura) and headdress (gutra). The women dress in black, including a black veil. From what I understand, the Emiratis do not readily interact with outsiders, although they are very polite. In my limited experience, they are very reserved and avoid eye contact.
The project is quite interesting and unique. CH2M HILL is the programme manager for Masdar City, which is going to be the first sustainable (“Green”) city in the world. While Abu Dhabi is very oil rich (getting richer every day thanks to those of us with SUVs), they are concerned about the environment and eventuality that the area will exhaust its fossil fuel resources at some point in the future. Therefore, they desire to be at the forefront of energy technology development for the future. Once complete, Masdar’s energy needs will be provided by wind, solar, passive cooling, geothermal, and other green technologies. Fairly interesting stuff!

Ma is-salaama (good-bye),
Craig

Sporting the piggys.....

I pretty much think the pig-tails are hilarious... so that was the "new" hair do of the week. Have a great weekend!!!

New colors- new title

I just decided to update a few things on the blog. The web address will stay the same- but the title & color scheme are updated ;) Since I will also be posting updates about my Dad I thought it would be best to change things up a bit! Hope everyone is having a good week!

Update on the Pop-Pop....

Just heard from my Dad via e-mail. He is in Bahrain on his way to Abu Dhabi. He left Denver last night6/9/08 at 5:45pm - and should arrive in Abu Dhabi around 10:30pm 6/10/08. He said it was pretty dark outside, but its pretty(Its 8:30pm (9+ hrs MST). He will send pictures and I will make sure to post them on here. Since I had to look up the location of Bahrain - I thought I would post the map on here. You can see where it is in location to Abu Dhabi. Its so crazy to think he is literally 1/2 a world away! Thank God for modern technology & the fact he can communicate back to us via his blackberry. I miss him so much already........

Happy 50th Birthday to Grandma Maggie!

Happy Birthday to my Mom, Maggie who is celebrating her 50th Birthday today!! We hope you have a great day. Here are some pictures from this weekend of my little lady - and her new pigtails :) I know they are a little ridiculous, but I love them!! She looks like Cindy Lou Who in the picture below ;) Addison is 11 months today - and plans for her 1st Birthday party are underway!

My smiley kid...
Trying to get out of her exer-saucer. The only way we can keep her in one spot for more then 2 minutes these days is to put her in the saucer!

Snack time on Sunday afternoon and sporting the blue bows..

Cheering on the Cubs as they played the Dodgers. Thank you to her Aunt Carla who bought this for her as an early b-day gift!! She will get a lot of use out of it and be able to wear it all summer!!

Daddy & Addison - while Erik was taking a break from working on the deck. The past two weeks Erik has been working on our deck. He took down our old deck and is rebuilding a new one!! I am very excited for the finished product!! It was really cold Sunday morning - in the mid 50's hence the hoodies.

Addy's favorite thing of the moment is "reading" her books. She was reading her "Pat the Bunny" book.

Hope everyone has a great week!!!

Pop-Pop's Adventure to the United Arab Emirates - Abu Dhabi

My Dad is leaving today for Abu Dhabi for work. He found out last week that he has been assigned to a job out in the UAE. Here is a picture taken from last week when he came by to say Goodbye to Erik, Addison & I. She was giving him his father's day gift, she picked out the gift bag herself ;) We miss him already!

May was a BUSY month....

Well I have finally got around to posting a million pictures!! YAY! May was a super busy month for us with family & friends in town from all over the country as well as Addison's Dedication at church & Erik's 28th B-day. Here are some pictures from the last couple weeks...

Great-Grandma Martell & Addison. My Grandma bought her a little yellow lab stuffed dog - and she loves it!

Kisses from Great-Grandma.

Aunt Jessica & Addison when Jess came into town for Addison's Dedication and her friend Caitlin's bridal shower. (Congrats to Cait by the way!!)

Erik & Addy Shea on his 28th Birthday. He wanted them to have matching mohawks. ;)

Showing off what her Dad did to her hair as well as showing the world she is 10 months and still doesn't have 1 tooth to show for it!

A side view of the awesome mohawk.

Here is the fam right after the Dedication. It was a wonderful day. It meant a lot that so many people were in town and able to celebrate with us.

Here she is trying to wave at Daddy wearing her Dedication outfit. Sorry for the lack of Dedication pictures.. I didn't download them properly - and only have a few on here.
Addy w/ her Godparents - Her Aunt Carla (Erik's sister) and Uncle Cletus. (Yep - she has an uncle Cletus) :)

Addison swinging in the backyard. That hat doesn't fit her head, but its the only one she would keep on for more than 5 minutes at a time...

Since I haven't posted a picture of the boys in awhile - here is all 3 of them in a "dog pile". This is pretty much how they like to sleep.

Addison playing on her new toddler cube. She wants to go down the slide by herself, and doesn't want Erik and I to help her.

She has hundreds of dollars worth of toys and she wants to sit in a diaper box. Works for me ;)

The new "Cheesy" smile. She doesn't like to open her eyes in pictures anymore.