Cooke baking play date

We don't have daycare (Elaine) over the 2 week holiday break, and Mama didn't have to work, so we had Brandt and his mommy over on Monday to make some cookies and play. They live about 5 minutes from us, so it was very convenient and fun!
Keifer was so excited to have Brandt at her house (although you might not have known it when he was actually here).Brandt apparently told his mom on the drive over that he would share his cookie sprinkles with "Keifer's mom" but NOT with Keifer herself. Ahh, the joys of egocentric 2 year olds! LOL.
It was a lot of fun. The 2 hours flew by and we only had 3 knock down tussles and Keifer only tried to bite Brandt on his head one time. Oye. They are honestly like sister and brother- thrilled to be together but can't put up with the other having something they might want!

Here, Brandt sits to watch the "Movers" with Keifer, and she is so excited!

Our girl attempts to put her arm around B. but he is resistant to the touch

Let's make some cookies (and yes, Mama only gets store bought dough for now! LOL)

We're making cookies!

our first batch, with only a few gimpy gingerbread boys

Keifer double fisted the sprinkles and would've rather eaten them all rather than actually decorate cookies

Sprinkle girl!

Tasting our cookies!

Brandt trying HIS cookies - he was very fond of the red hots!

Holidazzling good time

Last weekend, we loaded up the girls, met up with Keifer's buddy Brandt and his parents (from Elaine's house), and took the Light Rail (choo choo train) down to watch the annual Holidazzle parade. We were nervous, as Kyla has never been up past her bedtime, especially in the outdoors (and cold outdoors!) but they all did great. Keifer was thrilled to spend time with her buddy (aka brother practically) but you wouldn't have known it from the way these two 2 year olds interact! LOL. Fighting and sharing and loving and disliking. That is how we sum up their relationship!
Keifer was excited (I think) more so for the train than the actual parade, in comparison to last year. Kyla did great as I carried her in our Ergo carrier- she was bundled up and comfy and mama was comfy in her new Jacket (my Christmas present from daddy early! YAY CJ!), and Keifer kept the spectators among us entertained with her "oh, no! oh, no! Here they come!" while watching from daddy's shoulders.
Enjoy!

On the train, giving Kyla some good eats

Brandt and Keifer waiting for the parade to start
Mama snuggling Kyla (yes, she is in there!)

Keifer on daddy, exclaiming with awe over the lit up floats

Brandt and his mama and daddy

Family picture!

Jingle Bells!

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Wordless Wednesday: Mom, these stockings are way too big for me (Ho ho ho)

Gingerbread houses

Keifer made her annual Gingerbread House at Elaine's house this year. And, as before, it was a tough thing to keep her away from once we got home that night. Last year, she was convinced that if she took a big ol' bite, she could eat the house. This year, we had to combat the girl all night long for pieces of candy. She had us suckered in for more pieces than we would've cared to have given her. Ehhh, it's Christmas, right? :)

So proud of her work

Last year: who IS this small, short haired child?(*sigh*)I remember it was the day after we first cut her hair in this cut. (*sighing again*)

Investigatingand...Chomp!

All you need are....plastic bags!

Our Kyla girl got SO excited last week just shaking this plastic grocery bag. Honestly, she played with that thing for over 20 minutes straight! Who knew that toys were so low on the list? LOL.
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Wordless Wednesday (*sort of*): Baptized

So much love. Blessings and intent.

Big sissy picks her nose.
Then big sissy assists in the blessing with water.
And Mama blubbers.
*sniff*
Angel child of God.

"I got the potato chips": out of the mouth of K1

I have been keeping notes on the hilarious things that Keifer Lynn has been telling us throughout the past few months. I keep meaning to sit down and type them out, so as not to bore you with one gigantic post of cutesy things that only my family and CJ and I think are the sweetest sayings ever. However, working full-time and parenting has gotten the better of my time: I have great intentions to sit down and blog,but sleep gets the better of me. Soon I hope to have a better balance on this whole working-mom life thing, but until then, please put up with me slacking on my blogging capabilities.

Keifer says:

I got the potato chip! ~~ after digging in her ear with a Q-tip and finding the tip yellow with wax. When I was little, my doctor used to say he was looking for potatoes in my ears. I now say that to Keifer when I attempt to clean out her ears. She took potatoes, and made them into chips (and quite proudly, I should add!)

Mama, I just love my fresh sheets! They are fresh, aren't they!? ~~ I changed Keifer's sheets and put on clean sheets. One of my favorite things is fresh, clean sheets (especially cottony flannel types). She imitated me telling her they were clean and fresh, and dropped the "clean". LOL. She was so cute saying the "fresh'.

You tell her: Keifer, you're a hoot!
She replies very seriously, No! I'm KEIFER!

Many times we've heard this lately:
Daddy (Mommy): You're not listening to me! ~~ this is her attempts to stall us from doing what she has no desire to do. So she has her own agenda, but we don't always follow that, so we aren't listening to her!

A few days ago, we received a thank-you card and picture of her Baby Ballroom friend, Dani, after attending her 2nd birthday party. Keifer was delighted to have mail from a friend. Ever since that day, she has been asking us to help her "write a letter" to Dani. She also enjoys pounding on the keyboard to write to Dani on the computer - we open up a text.document and she pounds away. We just pray she doesn't delete some major file on our hard drive by accident!

CJ got this one last month:
Daddy, settle down! ~~ he was attempting to stop her from switching out the DVD player. She is quite good at it now but initially she was freaking her parents out by her attempts to learn how to do so.

Mama, that's not a choice! ~~ told to me when I ask her to do something outside of her capabilities (according to her).

Mama, I sooooo proud of you! ~~ complete with hugs and offers for M&Ms because I went potty like a big girl!

Mama (Daddy, Kyla): I love you, too! ~~ this is the phrase that most melts my heart. CJ and I have managed to successfully (so far! Knock on wood... ) raise a 2 year old cuddle bug. She loves to cuddle us, and when she gushes with love for us (or Kyla) she is usually squeezing us tight somewhere (leg, arm, body) or placing her little hand against my cheek. *sigh*

When strapping her into her car seat one random day, she blurted out to me: Mama, I just LOVE to kiss you!

One night, when putting her to bed, she very matter-of-factly told me: Mama, you made me cry yesterday, so you have to rock me!"
Ahh, yes, Ma'am!

A day or so after Halloween, I had asked Keifer to stop doing something. She responded with, again, Just settle down, Mama!
I asked her: what did I do?
You pick me up and throw me around!

What? LOL. By no means am I a Mother who picks my children up and throws them around. However, I think she was referring to the incident prior to Halloween when she would not settle down for nap time, and I had lifted her off her floor and put her back into bed, causing her much anguish and self-pity (this must be me "throwing her").

Ahhh, Keifer. She really is a drama mama in the making, now isn't she?

Happy Birthday, DADDY!

Happy birthday to the world's best dad (for real!) We love you SOOOOO MUCH!!!!!

Wordless Wednesday: Santa doesn't scare ME!

Unlike her big sissy...........

Exhaustion

The weekend; the previous week. The holiday season: exhaustion today.
Friday night was Elaine's Christmas party, complete with her visit from Santa. Keifer wanted nothing to do with him, while Kyla was indifferent. Fun times, but an exhausted girl that night.
Saturday: both sets of Nanas and Papas were in town, and Keifer got to swim with Papa Dale and cousin Aubrie at the hotel. Nana Margie put her to bed in her house.
Sunday: Kyla'a baptism. We were surrounded by love as friends and family witnessed an extraordinary ceremony. Pastor Joy included Keifer in on the baptism: she helped put the water over Kyla's head, helping as always and loving on her sister. Of course, the nose picking was to be expected, and the dancing with the band while they sang was just icing on the cake.
So much love at our home afterwards. Yummy food. Delicious cake (after some mishaps with the pick-up), and energetic, playful cousins. Tired people, tired kids. Too much food, and not enough "healthy" food.
Monday morning came too soon, and too much to do still. The Christmas season is a joyous one with a 2 year old in the house, just beginning to understand it's significance. Holiday songs on the radio each car ride makes each day joyful and exciting.
Rambling? Yes. Tired? Yes. Pictures? Yes, soon...................

Get that Puppy!

Kyla has really started to notice the puppers -who wouldn't, with Sassy in your face licking you all the time? Here she is, trying her darndest to get that big puppy! Luckily, he is such a sweet boy, he gives her a snicky lick on her hand when she reaches, unlike Sass, who goes for the full face attack!


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Introduction to Solids:

Kyla has officially started her rice cereal eating adventures, as of last week. Yep, we waited the full 6 months (and a week or so) as she had her sucking issues for awhile there. She didn't really think rice cereal was all that great the first few times (as seen in the gagging here), but she is now a happy and cooperative eater! She does especially well for Elaine during the day (of course! LOL).
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Wordless Wednesday: When "Christmas Mint" Chapstick attacks!

The city of lights?

Christmas is coming. Keifer is now aware of this. She really isn't sure what Christmas is, other than it's "Baby Jesus's birthday". Just who Baby Jesus is -well, we're slowly trying to get that concept into her ever-working brain. The other part of Christmas is the excitement of Santa! And of course, the lights! Everywhere we go, the minute we see even a smidgen of a light on a tree or house or deck, our girl (aka "Eagle Eyes") will proclaim "look, a Christmas tree!" Or, "look, it's beautiful lights!" or saying such as this.

Because she gets SO excited over the simplest string of lights on an outside tree, when we heard that Duluth was opening up Bentleyville in the Bayfront area, well, we knew without a doubt we'd be there on Friday night. And we made it. It was amazing. Simply amazing. I cannot believe how much work went into the beautiful light display, and all the hard work the volunteers did (because it is all volunteer work!). Free cookies, cocoa, coffee, marshmallows to roast over open-pit bonfires, and of course, Santa. Beautiful lights, and Santa. And don't forget his crew of trusty Reindeer - all walking around in costumes. And Frosty.
To say Keifer enjoyed it is an understatement. I almost think it was TOO much for her to take in. She didn't really know where to go first! LOL. However, I can say for sure that going into a "tunnel" of lights was by far her favorite part of the whole experience. To be surrounded by the lights was as amazing as anything will be for her.

Oh, CJ and I had fun, too!

Welcome!

Keifer called this "the light castle!"

Ready to start walking!

There were so many amazing displays, pictures like this don't do this event justice!Frosty! Keifer was willing to go up to Frosty to shake his hand and say hi, but forget about getting NEAR the Reindeer or Santa!

Into the "light tunnel" they go! Can you see her little lips saying "cheese"?
Look!!!!
Away in a mangerMama's girl! She wanted Mama to carry her quite a bit- which is hard when you're hauling around 38 pounds of active girl!

The replication of the Aerial Lift Bridge (which is right outside this display)

Camel Hunt: Part 2

Bundled up and ready for the hunt

We're not afraid, no way

So this past summer, Keifer Lynn told her Papa Dale that she wanted to go look up the road for those "camels' that were in our backyard earlier. Camels? Ahhh, yes, she meant DEER!

The girl doesn't forget a trick, so during this Thanksgiving visit, our girl reminded her Papa she wanted him to look again for the "deers". They bundled up for the cold (but no snow yet, thank goodness! A rarity!), and hiked up the road and back. No luck. No deer were sighted (no "deers") but there were plenty of "birdies" sighted.

Luckily, the next day, during our family photo session with my friend for our Christmas pictures in the woods behind the house, we saw a doe just sitting serenely in the woods, as passive as could be. I'm not sure Keifer was able to spot the deer sitting there amidst the trees,but it was very cool for the adults to see!

Gobble Gobble Turkey, you look so good

It is SO fun to be in the house with a 2 year old who is starting to "get" holidays! For the past few weeks, Keifer has been singing Turkey/Thanksgiving songs that she has learned at Elaine's house and brining home a multitude of art projects revolving around turkeys and pilgrims! It's been SO fun, and now we are beginning to teach her about Baby Jesus and his birthday (Christmas) as well as Santa.....quite the mix, but she's starting to take a real interest in it all.
We had prepped her that for Thanksgiving, we were traveling up to Nana and Papa's house for the weekend. She was beyond thrilled to be leaving, so on Thursday AM, she woke up bright and early, and was ready to put her shoes on to leave by 7AM. It took CJ and I quite the extended amount of time to pack the car, as we now have 2 kids, 2 dogs, and plenty of gear to take with us. And that's with my parents having a lot of the things we need already at their house!
We got there in time for Thanksgiving dinner. We were joined by my Aunt Barb, my cousin Becky, her daughter, Aubrie, my brother Darren, his girlfriend, and her son, Wyatt. Wyatt is exactly one year older than Keifer (to the DAY! Same birthday), and Keifer was also dancing for joy to be able to finally meet Wyatt,after hearing about him for weeks. She had been calling Wyatt (for pretend) on her cell phones to tell him they were going to play together.
Whew. It went off without a hitch, and Keifer was in great jacked-up spirits as she ran around, screeching after Wyatt and her older cousin, Aubrie. Kyla was as sweet and cuddley as ever, taking in the sights and sounds and refusing to nap for us - I think she was also too jacked up!

Our latest blessing modeling her turkey bib!

Big hugs to greet Papa Dale

Pilgrim Keifer- she made pilgrim hats for her and her cousins/Wyatt, as well as the napkin rings at Elaine's house! She was so excited to share her art work!

The pilgrims waiting to share their Thanksgiving meal together!

Isn't this true of all families? A baby arrives, and suddenly, all the kids swarm around that child, each wanting to tug and pull on said baby, and get the most attention from it? Poor Kyla- but she handled this well-giving plenty of gummy smiles to all ! Keifer had to step in and remind everyone whose sister Kyla was! *hurmpf*

Auntie feeding Kyla- so Wyatt and Aubrie had to help. How many hands does it take to feed one baby a bottle? Hmmm....

My late Grandpa (Papa)'s best friend Ted is an adopted member of our family, as his wife passed away 2 years ago, and my Papa was his family. He joins Auntie and the kids on the couch. Here, Keifer is deciding to join in on pictures, hence the back of her melon head.
Wyatt was taking his turn on the piano, while Keifer danced circles around him (literally)! These two had quite the time *sharing* the piano!

Cousins! Or, as Aubrie calls them, 'sisters' Aubrie & Keifer pretending to go to sleep in Keifer's newly converted big girl bed. They thought they were so funny!

Smiley Snowman

A few years ago, Keifer Lynn enjoyed the pop-up book The Very Smiley Snowman.

Oh, cool!

Now, her baby sister Kyla is learning to enjoy it as well! She loves to touch it, just like big sissy did!
See, it's so fun to look at, Nana!

Happy Anniversary!

Once again, that time of year is upon us. It's the Fall, the week before Thanksgiving, and it's Chris and I's 6th Wedding Anniversary! Happy 6 years, honey! I love you! Sorry for the recap of posts, but it's easy to do when there are pictures in another post! So here you go! CLICK! It was a Monday, at 4PM, on a beautiful beach on Captiva Island...a beautiful beach of sea shells, surrounded by close family and friends. What a beautiful memory.

Here's to many more years ahead of us! It's been interesting, to say the least! Two dogs, two kids, and family and friend adventures......thanks for being there for me, my love bug!

Tonight, we will show Keifer our wedding DVD to see what she thinks of it. My cousin Becky's 4 year old Aubrie has loved watching the "wedding movie" for years now. She thinks I was a Princess in it! I like to think so....

A much younger CJ and I....a few months before our marriage! *sigh*

The half-way point: 6 months!

Hey, it's that time again! Six months already?

My mom is so silly when she takes these pictures - I'm trying to reach out and grab her!

*looking around scratching head in bewilderment* Where did the past 6 months GO? Didn't we just rush to the hospital because my sac had ruptured, to have this lovely little angel girl? Wow. Six months have gone by in a blink of an eye, and it only goes faster and faster the more she grows!

Oh Miss Lovely Kyla, how we love thee.
How you love to socialize and try to say "hi" to us, and try to imitate us moving our mouths in words. When I say the "Thank You Prayer" to you, you move your lips along with me. You talk to your favorite cows and pigs on the wall, and you light up when we turn on music for you. You are oh-so-curious when you hear voices and sounds,and sometimes you get really mad at us when we wn't let you watch TV! You would prefer to drink a bottle while watching The Incredibles or The Movers with your sissy (I know the colors are bright!) but mama would prefer that you enjoy colors in books, rather than on TV! You're also starting to really zero in on the food and drinks that we have/are eating, and are using your newly fine-tuned fine motor skills to reach out and grab things! So far, Keifer thinks that silly, but we all know that in a few months, she won't be digging that anymore!

You have learned to grab your toes and seem fascinated by them, as you try so hard to get them to your open, waiting mouth. Your feet are stinky after wearing footed pajamas (just like your sissy!) and you giggle and screech with laughter when I pretend to eat your toes up - Yum yum!

You reach for your bottle the minute you see it, and are trying so hard to hold it on your own! My favorite feeling right now is when I'm feeding you a bottle, you grab onto my thumb and any other finger, one in each little fist, and hold on tight. It's the same way when you go to sleep; you like to hold onto a finger.

When you get tired, you have this little "yell" (I like to call it) that you start up. You open your mouth wide, and using all your breath, you literally YELL at whoever is in your visual radius. I know you're telling us "I'm tired, I want to lie down, I need to go to sleep", so luckily mama knows what that means! Today, at the doctor, you started yelling at me when it was time to go: you were clearly exhausted and letting me know it!

You've had your first Urgent Care visit as of this past weekend. Six months and whammo, there you are at the doctor on the weekend. You had mama and daddy all in a tizzy Friday night, because whenever we would lay you down in your crib, you started choking and coughing, and breathing really funny. We were up all night with you. You were also burning up with a fever and that was worrisome. The doctors and nurses at Urgent Care were so charmed by your flirty nature, and despite the fact you weren't feeling well at all. you managed to flash that one dimple many times, to gain many new fans.

The doctors said all sounded clear in your lungs, and your oxygen levels were good. Just a virus of some sort. Today, (2 days later), you had your 6 month check up with Dr. J. and she delayed your shots until next week, so you can get better. You haven't had a fever since yesterday, but you're still sounding congested and coughing a lot. Dr. J. also peeked in your ears, and noticed that one eardrum wasn't as healthy as it should be, despite you not letting me know it might be sore. Hmmm. You are on a medication for the ear, and hopefully it won't develop into anything more!

Your exam turned out well, and your stats continue to creep up for a regular 6 month old (despite you being born a month early!).

Height: 26 inches - 50%ile

Weight: 15 lbs, 12 ounces -- 50%ile

Head: 17 cm (or mm?) -- 75%ile (of course, the big head!)

You're sleeping through the night, only getting us up for one bottle and you wake up in the morning happy as a clam. People (and mama and daddy) say they've never seen a happier baby: well, I do recall there was one in this household that the same thing was said about! I guess we must be doing something right in raising you to be such a sweetheart! We love you, our angel girl #2!

Sleeping peacefully: when we put you down in your crib, you immediately roll over onto your left side to sleep and start sucking your fingers. Just recently, you've decided to start rolling ALMOST completely onto your stomach, but not quite, so sometimes you get stuck, but usually you are showing us you like your tummy to sleep on. Rocking you to sleep is a dream; you love to be held tightly in a ball position and you fall right asleep to the sounds of mama shhh shh shhhing you. *sigh*.

Check out my hairline! It's starting to come in really light and soft, and fuzzy!

Yes, I love to chew on my fingers! And yes, I'm damn cute!

Exercise!

We (well, Mama) is always talking about exercising, so this must be K1's interpretation of one way to do so...
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Meeting the Piano

Last weekend, after a friend's birthday party, Keifer and I stopped by cousin Leslie (and Leland's) house for a visit (we were very close by). Keifer met a piano for the first time and was in awe! She loved it! Here she is tickling the ivories- she may have a natural ability? *wink wink* Who knows-she certainly enjoyed it and singing along, unprompted! :)

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