Such a Helper

Kendall is growing into such a big girl! She likes to help me by setting the table, she always puts the fork on top of the napkin, I didn't even show her how to do that she just learned by observing! Yesterday a " fuh-fly" was on our door; he stuck around long enough to catch a few photos. Also, here is a perfect shot of Kendall & Anna...always a blur of motion. Kendall took a drive with her shades on & the top down. And as always Kate was super happy just hanging out. We leave tomorrow, yippee!

Warning: lots o' pictures

Good morning Little Kate. "Wha, huh??" Yes, she goes from barely awake to smiling and yes she now sleeps on her stomach (her choice-I don't put her down that way).

Yesterday Anna and Noah came over to play. Kendall shared the love with both of them.

I had $7 credit at the children's consignment store and somehow Kendall figured that out and found a 'horse bike' that cost $6.95 so guess what we came home with?

Kendall caught me taking her picture and then requested that I take a picture of Kate instead...so here it is. Kate seemed a bit surprised to find the camera turned on her. "Ah mom, not again" She didn't even have a chance to smile!

I'm loving our new camera and I'm toting it around everywhere, can you tell? I'm counting down the days before we go home!

Nose Running Down

Today Kendall told me that her "nose (was) running down" I hate when that happens don't you? Seriously, get back up there nose. We ran to the Dollar Store this morning to pick up a few fun things for our plane ride. The Dollar Store is in the same shopping center as the pediatrician. As we pulled into the parking lot Kendall said, "It's for Kate". She is so observant. When we turn on this one ROAD she says, "Drink for mommy". Busted, it's the road that the Sonic is located on (our Sonic gives free refills for the life of you cup so we make quite a few stops there).

I've decided that I'm going to pick up sewing. You know, since I have so much time on my hands. I've really been wanting a cute little apron for myself and for Kendall (I know so very domestic and old fashioned) but I see really cute ones online and I know that they have to be sew easy (heh heh, my wittiness is overwhelming) to make. I don't know if you remember but about the time I started this blog I was preparing for a craft fair, I didn't participate last year but I'm considering doing it again this year. Maybe the Paper Chick will be branching out into non-paper products. It was really a great learning experience last time (and I did make money) so I feel that this time around I'll have a even better idea of what will sell.

Never Forget

Never forget the weight of your sleeping baby against your chest . Never forget the feel of soft baby hair against your cheek. Never forget the smell: sweet mixed with sweat and a little milk shake on top.

Until I have time to scrapbook

this blog is serving as my notebook.

Nap Time

I love nap time, my own and my girls'. Kendall can either wake up super happy & well rested or she wakes up like this (like yesterday):

Until she noticed that mommy had the camera then she had to pose and give a cheese grin.

After nap time Kate played in her Exersaucer. Here she is trying to sneak up on the giraffe. She thought that she was pretty stealth and funny and was glad that I caught her ninja like moves on the camera. "Didja get it mom? I showed that giraffe who was boss, huh?"

Later Kendall had a conference call with Japan, she drank Sake out of her sippy cup. Oops I gotta go, I guess nap time is over, drat.

Discoveries

Today Kate discovered her toes. While she was napping I discovered her cankles.

Just a Walk to the Park

The four of us took a walk to the park down the street. Kendall waved at all the cars going by and Kate just chilled in her stroller.

Just a break for a Kate kiss

We're home!

Oh and just one year ago this month. Look how much she has changed!

OH and Guess What

A sweet little baby slept for 9 straight hours last night! Of course I woke up at 6 in a panic and had to run in to make sure she was alive. Life is good and getting better.

Been Through The Water

I found this video online. You can listen to my current favorite song this way.

AHHHHHHHHH

I'm so excited! Cause....I'm leaving on a jet plane! I have really really REALLY been wanting to go home to P'cola lately. It is really hard for me right now to have these great little girlies and not have my family be a part of their everyday lives. It is equally hard not to be a part of my nieces and nephews lives too. Kristy just had a baby and it absolutely kills me that we areat the same stage in our lives but not getting to experience it together. Well, last night Brian and I talked and we decided that I have been putting way too many miles on my car and that since it has to last me awhile that I shouldn't make this extra trip down there. Well, not being one to give up so easily I found a super great deal on flights today and just booked tickets for me and the girls to fly down at the end of the month! It is going to be a hard day having the two girls by myself on a plane BUT SO WORTH IT! In honor of my trip here is a little P'cola mosaic love.

Today was Kate's 4 month checkup. I was getting everything together and trying to get out the door this morning. As we were walking towards the door I was holding: one carseat containing Kate, Brian's drycleaning (about 5 shirts and a pair of pants), 2 books and 1 video to return to the library, my keys and my phone. Kendall was carrying a Ziploc baggy of cheerios and a sippy cup. Kendall holds up her cup in the air and looks at me sweetly and says, "Mommy hold it?" No girlfriend, you're going to have to be responsible for that one".

The checkup went well. Kate is in the 15% for weight and 25% for height. The paper is down stairs and I don't remember off the top of my head what the exact weight & height was. Kate was a super trooper, she got four shots and didn't even cry until the 4th one.

Kendall is not too fond of doctors but if you tell her that you are going for Kate's appointment she is just fine. She did want to make sure everyone was clear on who's appointment it was though she told every nurse, "For Kate!" She really lucked out today since Kate had all the poking and probing and Kendall got a sparkly Band-aid (cause if Kate gets one then Kendall has to get one too), a clown sticker, and a lollipop. Yum.

Conversation

Coming home from the gym the other day I hear Kendall's sweet little voice coming from her carseat:

Kendall: "Kendall drive"
Me: "No honey, Mommy has to drive"
Kendall: "KENDALL DRIVE" Waaaaaa, "KENDALL DRIVE!!!!"
Me: "This is way too early to be having this argument, try again in 14 years"
Kendall: "Take shoes off?"
Me: "Okay, you can take your shoes off"

Plum Tuckered Out

We've had a fun day today. We met Jennie, Anna, and Baby Noah at Noah's Ark today. The girls had some fun there (minus the drive by Mimi snatching). The girls did a little leap froggy today and then they played on the mall boat. Anna and Kendall tried to break into the gumball machines, you should have heard them: "Do you know how to get into this thing?" "Nope but those blueberries sure look tasty". Okay, maybe I embellished that story just a tad but they did think they were berries. I have a lot of blurry photos since someone is always on the move. Kate and Noah caught a few zzzzz's too. Afterwards we came home, had naps, then Kendall had a little story time.

Daily Happenings

We have just been sticking around the house the last couple of days. I've been waiting for a break in visitors to "sleep train" Kate. I needed a stretch of time so that I could be consistent with her and so far it has gone pretty well. Today is only the second day and I'm already seeing progress. It is so hard to let your baby cry but it is really not fair to her to have to rely on me to get her to sleep! Yesterday we worked on naps and last night her night time sleep was already much improved. Since I'm not spending all my time bouncing her around the house I was able to get a little cleaning done and spend more quality time with Kendall. I checked out a Preschool curriculum book from the library and I'm making lesson plans so that we can do activities during the day. First we are going to do shapes and next we'll work on colors. I'm finding craft, exercise, and learning activities to support each day's shape, color, holiday, animal... I think that she will enjoy it. Also, now that Kate will be on more of a schedule I'll be able to plan our day a little better. I know that in preschools the kids really like to see what they are going to be doing; kids like predictability. I've started a picture schedule that I can attach with Velcro to a poster each day so she can look to see what to expect.

Kate is loving her Exersaucer, she is starting to reach for the toys now. She can finally hold on to little toys now too. I can put her in her Bumbo (that purple thing) and hand her a toy and she will play. Eventually she ends up with her mouth on the middle part, I keep thinking that she is teething because she is always covered in drool. I sometimes have to change her clothes during the day and for church I put a bib on her in the car so that she isn't soaked by the time we get there. Mmmm, yummy.