Oh, the things I've learned

I love to watch Kaylee learn and discover new things. I sometimes am amazed at what such a tiny little thing can learn and do. Here is a (*partial*) list of the recent, and some not so recent things she can do. (not all of them are favorites of mine for her to do, but she seems to enjoy them)
1. Hug
2. Kiss
3. Blow a kiss
4. Say mamma, daddy, eyes, shoes, nana (this is either her favorite blanket or the dogs....not sure yet), cracker, and maybe socks
These first four are some of my most favorite!
5. Ride benny (my old horse on wheels)
6. climb the heater to look out of the window
7. Climb anything she can get a foothold on
8. Turn off the computer (when I am using it!)
9. Let the dogs through the gate
10. Push buttons on the computer, TV, DVD player...well, anything with a button
11. Attempt to use the paper shredder (thank goodness for locking switches!)
12. Pick up playing cards with her toes and throw them (just saw that one for the first time just now)
13. Point out her eyes, nose, ears and belly (sometimes hair)
14. Find everyone's shoes and try to put them on
15. Blow her nose by herself (or at least a good attempt)
16. Get a clean diaper out of the closet and bring it to me when I ask...and sometimes when I don't!
17. open plastic bags
18. Feed the dogs their bones (and many other things)
19. DANCE!!!
20. the list goes on....

Lip Lickin Good

Today Kaylee had her first real strawberry picking experience. We took her to the patch a little after 7am and were lucky to even get a row to pick...I guess everyone thought that today would be a good day to pick. Kaylee ran up and down the row, picking off the vine as well as out of the box of already picked berries. We caught her with fully green berries as well as eating the whole berry - topper and all! It was a fun morning to show Kaylee yet another part of the world she lives in.

Birthday Treat #1

So today's my birthday and I was served breakfast in bed with huggs and kisses (and eggs, bacon, juice and coffee) from two of the most special people in the world to me! Presents are nice, but I honestly, honestly am so happy with my dream come true of the most amazing husband and cutest little girl!

A Day at the Park

The other day I took Kaylee to a local park. She had so much fun playing in the rocks, swinging, going down the "slicky slide" and making a few new friends. After we got frozen yogurt and went to see daddy at work. This was one of the sweet days that makes me feel so incredibly blessed to be a mom. It wasn't extraordinary, just a fun time with my girl.

Takin' Our Monkey To the Zoo

I love to take Kaylee places - show her new things and watch her reaction. On her first vacation (which she was about 5 months old) I was very excited about taking her to the aquarium. She slept the whole time. Not exactly the reaction I was expecting, but well...what can you really expect from a 5 month old at nap time? Several weeks ago I did get a great reaction. We went to a small zoo to see how she would do. No use overwhelming her if she was afraid or not interested. No fear! She loved it! Ran around to the different animals, fed the elephant and had a great time! I on the other hand almost got attacked by killer llamas - Adam laughed so hard he could barely run to my aid and help his pregnant wife...I mean grab the video camera and capture the scene! :) We all had a great time and are looking forward to going to the big zoo in Cleveland in a few weeks!

Can't Decide

My husband and I laugh every time we give our daughter a choice between two or three things...no matter what it is she always tries to figure out a way to choose them all. Most of the time we see this when we are letting her pick her clothes out. I am really not sure why we let her pick her clothes...she really doesn't care if she even has clothes on...I guess it is to avoid one of us having to make a decision. (go figure) We will hold out two or three outfits and let her pick...and pick...and pick...as most of the time she takes all the outfits, hugs them, and walks around her room smiling as if she has been given a new toy. The other day her decision was quite comical however as we were letting her pick her "leash". I guess some people have little kids who are content in a store to be held, or pushed around in a stroller or shopping cart, not Kaylee. She likes to run at top toddler speed up and down as many aisles as she possible can. This is a cure for an exercise plan, but not the most efficient way to accomplish a shopping trip. We figured if she had one of those cute little animals on her back that just happened to have a tail leading to our hands that we might be able to keep her a little closer while still letting her safely explore. Adam held up two animals and of course she took them both. He then placed one on one side of the aisle and the other on the other side. She stood in the middle, shifting her weight from one foot to the other for several seconds, no doubt trying to figure out how her little hands could take hold of both at one time. She did pick one finally and promptly took off across the store running away with the leash in hand. Maybe one day...

Figures Doesn't It?

I am figuring it out that God uses the times when my husband is at work to make me stronger. Things always seem to happen or to go wrong when he isn't here. Just last week I had the scare of my life when Kaylee fell down a flight of stairs to our basement-of course, Adam wasn't here. Now, Kaylee's the type of kid who bumps into something and turns red right away at the "bump site" and then sometimes bruises. I called 911 (even though as my aunt says, I am 911) and immediately started checking her out. By God's grace though, she had not a scratch, mark or bruise on her entire body. I still stand in awe of how remarkable that is. I admit, I try to be super mom. I don't want anything to happen to my kids. I was to always be there for them, protect them from harm, and watch over them. But that isn't possible. God however is always there. He does always protect. I am so thankful.
Today another "Adam is at work so let's see what can happen" thing occurred. The dogs spent a good bit of the day outside, as they do on most every nice day. I heard them at the door and went to check on them-figured they just needed a drink. Should have known better...Adam was at work! Zoe, the baby of the house, was looking back up at me with a mouth so swollen I knew we were in for trouble. When she was only weeks old she had a similar allergic reaction that we had to rush her to the after hours emergency vet. So I knew the look. This time, at first, seemed better. But... (there's always a but) within the 10 minutes or less that I was on the phone with the vet, her entire body had become covered in welts, her eyes had swelled shut and her mouth was so swollen I had to entirely remove her collar. We were able to get her to the vet right away and get epi, benedryl and some steroids into her and she is doing better, still swollen right now, but at least she can see again.
I'm not sure why my strengthening has to come in these forms, but I am certainly glad that God is bigger than it all and always shows Himself strong.

My Darling

I am blessed! After the heartbreak of a miscarriage God blessed my husband and myself with an amazing little girl. It's hard to believe that she is already a year old and in a few more months will be a big sister. Her eyes are captivating and her smile contagious. We have lost the ability to run in and out of a store without getting comments on her from numerous strangers. She loves it! As soon as she realizes she is getting attention she hams it up. And I can't really say that I mind it either. Because every time I look at her I am reminded of how great our God is and that even after heartbreak He shows us His love. And every day His love looks back up at me with a four teeth grin. I've wanted to be a mommy since I was three (slightly young to actually be a mom, but planty of time to grow a dream) and now I am!

The First Blog

After enjoying several other blogs and talking to a good friend- who encouraged me- I have decided to blog. With one kid and another on the way, two dogs and several other kids who take up residence here multiple times a week (aka in home childcare), I usually have some entertaining stories. Today's story however...kind of gross... I was enjoying a quiet morning with my daughter. We were playing in her room and I was also catching up with a good friend on the phone. And my two dogs were asleep on the bed. Well, not exactly asleep. They wanted me to think that they were asleep, so they made their movements very quiet as they chowed down on two shall we say "very dirty diapers". I finished up on the phone and decided to make lunch - a lunch that was delayed as I sanitized and disinfected the hallway where "the event" had occurred. Never a dull moment (although today I would have preferred one!) ...more to follow....hopefully cuter and not so gross