How to celebrate a 1 year old's birthday

We've been super busy in the Soup home. Last Wednesday was K2's 1st birthday and we had a great time celebrating, despite her ear infection. Mama and Daddy also got out that night to see Daughtry in concert (rock on, whoooooo), and had a great time.

Thursday, Kyla had her daycare Birthday party at Elaine's house and was just delighted to have everyone sing to her again. The girl likes to be sung to! LOL. The kids enjoyed their mini-muffins, and Kyla actually REFUSED her first mini-ice cream cone! Big sissy took over for her! Elaine gifted our girl with an adorable little alligator push-toy and a new book. She loves them!

Friday, Nana Dian and Papa Dale picked the girls up at Elaine's house early, and Keifer was beside herself with glee. I got home and they were busy playing, playing, playing. Of course, Keifer hadn't napped- she is refusing to nap for us no matter what we try these days. Yet she still naps for Elaine each day with no problems. Hurmpf.

Don't you love big sissy K1's party dress?

Saturday CJ and I cleaned house (with Keifer assisting- the girl loves to pretend vacuum and help mama dust with the swiffers), and Daddy did some Birthday party errands. He picked up our cake/cupcakes and food, and then everyone napped! HA! Uncle Corey, Abby and Mason came over for the party- with my parents, and Us, it was so fun. Nana Margie and Papa Jim were unable to join us, but luckily technology has helped in that aspect: we Skyped them during the "singing" of our party and they even had party hats and a special sign for Kyla! LOL. Once again, Kyla was beaming- just think sunshine beams- when we sang to her. She wasn't sure what to think of her cupcake, but managed to get really full of green frosting, so she must have enjoyed it. AFter a bath, I bathed her and changed her for her presents. Uncle Darren (my brother), his girlfriend Steph and her 4 year old son, Wyatt, joined us, and were there to witness the opening of gifts. Our girl was spoiled rotten, as always.

Keifer & Wyatt, sitting in a tree.....or actually taking a break from squabbling over the harmonica or whatever toy they each had in possession.......

After everyone calmed down, CJ and I took K1 over to the hotel where Darren and Steph (and Wyatt) were staying. It's the same hotel that we had K1's 2nd birthday party at- it has a fantastic kiddie pool- one that parents don't even need to get into! The kids had a blast playing in it. At one point, Keifer actually came over to CJ and I and told us she was tired and ready to go home. UNHEARD of. After some pizza,she was ready to swim/play some more, and we did manage to get her in the shower, and home without passing out, which was what we thought would happen.

Sunday AM, Nana and I took the girls to church, and afterwards stopped at Stride Rite to get K1 some new tennies. She is hard on her shoes, and with her wide foot, we need a good shoe that fits right. Nana also splurged on some new sandals for Kyla girl, as she is cruising around the furniture and should be taking some steps here eventually!

Darren, Steph and Wyatt were at the house when we got back, and we all had lunch and the kids played together some more. Or should I say fought? LOL. Those two are very similar in headstrong personalities, despite having huge crushes on each other. Saying good bye to each other was also a competition, as Wyatt hugged K1 first, making her pissy that she wanted to hug HIM instead. So she did, to his dismay. Then they growled and made faces at each other and said their good byes. LOL.

Whew. What a weekend and birthday WEEK!

Kids: sick and honest

Monday, Keifer complained of a headache and a tummy ache. After a good nap that day, she seemed to be in great spirits, so I thought maybe it was just a headache and a fluke that her tummy hurt, too. Hmm. We had just gotten done with dealing with Kyla having diarrhea for over a week straight, and Kyla having an ear infection diagnosed on her birthday. I wondered if perhaps our K1 girl was getting sick, but she SEEMED to be OK after her nap at Elaine's, so I took her to meet up with our Ballroom friends, Mandi/Dani and Melissa/Mazzy. The girls had a ball playing on an outdoor playground, sharing a picnic and then playing inside an Indoor climbing park.

On the drive home, our girl was fine. She chomped on her new favorite thing, "chewing" gum (as she calls it) and read some books in the back.

We got home, and told Daddy she had a headache and wanted to go to bed. We gave her some medicine for her headache (non-name brand, of course), and within 10 minutes of her climbing into bed and falling asleep, she came out of her room. As she was walking DOWN the stairs towards me, crying, "Mama, mama", I began to meet her halfway up. As I did so, she started to gag, and promptly threw up all over me, the stairs, my hands and arms AS I TRIED TO CATCH IT (in my hands! What was I doing?), and herself. We were both soaked with vomit and I don't know who wanted to cry more: me or her. Vomit is NOT my thing, people. Seriously. The smell of it? Makes.me.want.to.vomit as well.

So I hustled her into the shower, hysterical, and we got ourselves cleaned up while Daddy tackled the stairs (and did an amazing job, yaya CJ).

Then, as were were showering, Keifer says to me: "Mama, why is your tummy so big?" (it had some serious bloat!) I said "because mamas sometimes have a little extra fat,but am I still pretty?" she paused, then said "you have pretty toes!"

She is a very keen observer of details, like painted toenails, doncha know?

The very next day, I took my last sick day I have available and stayed home with our girl. She seemed to be herself, and while I was trying to do some things upstairs, she even managed to give herself her very own "tattoos" - coloring both sides of her ENTIRE legs, front and back, completely brown and her feet, TOPS and bottoms, black. Ahhh, she is creative as well.

Halfway thru my book challenge for the year......

I am halfway through my 50 book challenge for the year! I'm pretty stoked that even as busy as we've been the past few weeks (well, year really!) that I can still find time here and there to get my reading in. My bliss. My spark (that's for you work people reading "spark").

So far, nothing has really jumped out at me except for the first book on my list- Blame. Honestly, I read and I like or I don't, and I've actually brought back about 5 books or so this year for not being able to get into them. I did enjoy all of Jeffery Deaver's books; he is a great murder mystery writer and the last one of his that I read, The Blue Nowhere, is definitely an eye-opener to just what MIGHT happen because of the way our society uses computer. I'd say that's a great one to check out.

I just finished The Carrie Diaries the other night and found it super easy and fun and it would be a great summer read as you're lounging in the sun (because like me, I'm sure SO many of you will be lounging this summer. Ha ha). No, really, it's the prequel, if you will, to Sex and the City (the book) and I really liked it.

I'm currently starting 2 new books, and am SO excited to delve into Nurture Shock. I've heard some awesome things about it, and so far, after only one chapter, I reallly do like it. I'll keep you posted!

1. Blame-- Michelle Huneven
2. Mennonite in a Little Black Dress -- Rhoda Janzen
3. Best Friends Forever -- Jennifer Weiner
4. Half Broke Horses -- Jeannette Walls
5. The Broken Window- Jeffery Deaver
6. The Blue Nowhere --Jeffery Deaver
7. Positive Discipline: The First Three Years: From Infant to Toddler--Laying the Foundation for Raising a Capable, Confident Child--Jane Nelsen Ed.D., Cheryl Erwin and Roslyn Ann Duffy
8. Jamesland --Michelle Huneven
9. The Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rock Star – Nikki Sixx with Ian Griffins10. The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir-- Kao Kalia Yang
11. Open: An Autobiography -- Andre Agassi
12. The Brightest Star in the Sky – Marian Keyes
13. You Say Tomato, I Say Shut Up: A Love Story--Annabelle Gurwitch and Jeff Kahn
14. The Overnight Socialite--Bridie Clark
15. Watchlist --Based on an idea by Jeffery Deaver
16. The Swan Thieves --Elizabeth Kostova
17. Think Twice --Lisa Scottoline
18. The Perfect Husband --Lisa Gardner
19. House Rules --Jodi Picoult
20. Missing Mark -- Julie Kramer
21. Hide --Lisa Gardner
22. The Next Thing on my List --Jill Smolinski
23. Chelsea, Chelsea, Bang, Bang -- Chelsea Handler
24. Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen -- Susan Gregg Gilmore
25. Poor Little Bitch Girl -- Jackie Collins
26. The Carrie Diaries -- Candace Bushnell

Wordless Wednesday: First swing of Spring

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Wordless Wednesday: First time in a swing!

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Happy birthday, Mama & Daddy: I can crawl up the stairs!

This was her first attempt at crawling up the stairs. She does amazingly well...now we are doomed! Baby gate!!
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

One year stats: growing, growing, growing!

It's hard to believe that one year ago, our peanut was nestling into the Special Care nursery for a long stay and this AM, she had her one year appointment to great stats!

Poor baby had an ear infection yesterday, we found out when Daddy brought her to Urgent Care. Poor girl. She's on meds again for that; it seems as though her allergies/colds are going to turn into ear infections for K2 - we were so much luckier with all that with Keifer.

Kyla awoke early this AM-did she know it was her appointment? Big sissy came with us, and was a wonderful helper to Mama and asked the nurse and doctor many appropriate questions!

Kyla loved eating the paper on the table, and didn't want to sit still to be measured. She's right on target for her developmental milestones, and is moving right along on her growth curve. Dr. J was happy with her status!

Right now, our girl is: 21 lbs, 10 ounces = 65%ile

29 3/4 inches long = 75%ile

head is 18 1/2 cm = 90% ile

The Soup babies don't mess around with head size!

Our poor girl got her 3 shots - MMR, Chicken Pox, and Hep. A, and I had forgotten that at one year, they have their finger pricked and take a small vial of blood. Oh, the tears and sobbing. I was about to sob right along with the poor baby. However, I brought her to Elaine's and as soon as she saw Elaine and her friends, she lit up like a light bulb - it was really so sweet.

Today is her "daycare party" with mini - muffins that Daddy got for her to share, and Mama will be there to share the singing for her angel girl #2.

So happy in her KYLA chair to be one year old

Cheese ball

So excited when the wait staff at our favorite Teresa's sang "happy birthday" to her last night!

She adored this hat and wanted to investigate it's beauty!

First thing in the AM on May 19, her big 1 year birthday!

Our big girl pulls herself up on EVERYTHING that she can, and is now starting to CRAWL up the stairs!! SEE? That was her 1 year present to US! LOL

Oh, how I adore baby feet learning to walk! :)

1 year old!

Happy Birthday to Kyla Whitney!

One year ago, she made her debut at 11:00PM on the dot via Csection! I had been leaking amniotic fluid for a few days, and at 4PM on May 19, 2009, the doctor told me, "Go home and pack a bag, you're going to the hospital!"

Plans were all aflutter with calling my work and coworkers, getting a long-term sub prepared, getting my parents set up to come down (immediately) from 3 hours north to watch K1, and getting our Brother-in-Law to watch K1 while we left for the hospital. It was also 90+ degrees that day, and we didn't (unexpectedly) have daycare that week because Elaine's father had passed away. What chaos. However, amidst the chaos, our angel baby girl #2 was born to much love and joy!

More to come soon- I promise but here is a collage that my friend made for us- we have the same one for Keifer hanging in our home.

I wanna wish you a happy birthday.....

...happy birthday to ME, today!

Yes, another year older and another year wiser. And like a fine wine, I wonder, do I keep getting better with age? Hmmm...discuss amongst yourselves. And as I remember my parents saying when my Mom turned 36, I'm on the "backside of 30". Oye. The slide to 40 is only too close.

CJ and I spent the weekend van shopping (AHHH yikes! A Mini-van!!), errand running and he so graciously let me hit the gym both days. We grilled out Saturday night with his brother/our SIL and the kids, and caught up on shows together on the couch without passing out!

Sunday, we awoke to a vomit episode with Keifer- all over daddy's chest- but luckily it was short lived. I think it might've been the coughing she did all. night.long and it was phlegm-related but she got over it. She helped daddy clean out our car so we can see what we'll get for a trade in on it, and hit the grocery store with me as well. K2 has had a runny nose, but is a chatter machine and is pulling herself to a stand anywhere and everywhere she can! She is so funny! She certainly has been keeping us on our toes!

I also got to hit the gym last night, and then our neighbors came over for a short lived play session- although Keifer was so tired from NO NAP all weekend (why, me, why???) that she was a grouch to her friend Hayden. Luckily she passed out cold on the couch while I was putting K2 to bed last night, and mama had some uninterrupted "catch up" time with the DVR and some internet surfing (but alas, no blogging- that would require lifting my fingers and typing! LOL).

I awoke this AM to a card and a hug from my K1; she also told me that I could try on her Princess Birthday crown, but she didn't think it would fit me, because my head is "too big". LOL. I got to work, but......turned around. A gas line had broke in the back of the Elementary school I work in. The lawn care mower hit the cap, it popped off, and the fire engines and city workers were there and the entire school had to evacuate. I got there just in time to turn around and join THE ENTIRE school at the local community center's park, which is about a mile away. Wow. What an AM. We were all allowed back to school around 10:30 or so, to our dismay, and to the smell of sweet gas. Headache. However, thank God nobody was hurt and my afternoon class proceeded as usual and I got some awesome cards and gifts from my coworkers.

Oh, and my sweet CJ bought me an awesome new pair of pricey running shoes and a pair of running socks (for $10! WHA?? $10 for socks? LOL). Ahhh, now I"m off to home to try and choose what dinner I want before I get to hit the gym ALONE and enjoy some mommy time alone and work out.

Toe Touching Love

"Mama, I'm touching your toes (*w/her toes*) because I like you, well, I LOVE you!" says K1 to me as we were cuddling on the couch, eating popcorn and watching Dancing With the Stars on Monday night. How sweet is she??

Yearly portraits

We had the girls' 3 year and 1 year pictures taken 2 weekends ago. Although taking pictures with young children is essentially like running a triathlon, we did manage to get some beautiful pictures out of the deal. I do have to gush over my beautiful 2 daughters: sisters forever. How I love them.

And it made me chuckle and secretly a little pleased that when I stopped by last weekend to pick up the pictures, a family of 3 young boys were going through the exact same motions of struggling with their boys to take pictures, even right down to the words: "if you do this, we'll get you a treat". Why do we put ourselves and our kids through this? LOL. Oh well, they make for fantastic pictures!

Here is just a sampling of the amazing pictures that were captured.....

Wordless Wednesday: Princess Keifer

Swim, baby, swim

We enrolled Keifer in swimming lessons at our gym in the beginning of March. She made it to one lesson before she managed to have a double ear infection for 2 weeks following that. CJ is in charge of taking her to lessons, and he did make it to another lesson with her at the end of the month, after said ear infections. She was not having anything to do with the lessons. Apparently she was being quite the stinker and refused to do anything that was requested of her, and demanded Daddy be in the water with her, then didn't want anything to do with him. We stopped going for a few weeks.

Cut to the end of April- after she turned 3. We hyped the swim lessons up for her as a "big girl' thing, and it managed to entice her enough to try again. Without daddy in the pool! Success! Our girl has now made it through 2 lessons without daddy in the pool and does what the teacher wants her to do!

I managed to find help watching Kyla at home so I could see Keifer Lynn in action at the pool last week. It was fun to see her kicking and floating on her belly and back and blowing bubbles with her teacher. There are 3 other kids in her class , and Keifer is definitely the "headstrong" one of the bunch, it appears to me. She is the one elbowing the others to do things FIRST, and is apparently a little thorn in her teacher's side, as she likes to push the envelope with her listening skills. For example, instead of simply pushing the floatie bar thing back to the teacher, like the other kids, Keifer likes to twist and turn and splash the bar; madly throwing it AT her teacher, rather than the gentle push in the water. It took the poor teacher all of the lesson last week to finally get our LION of a girl to do this the correct way. Ahhh, Keifer, why are "THAT CHILD?". LOL

But: the good thing is, she adores her class and loves learning, so I'm hoping and praying the learning of correct swim techniques sticks with her!

Here she is in her "lane" with the other kids and her teacher. She is the one with the teacher, holding onto the floatie bar thing swimming towards the camera.

Hanging out in the back left

Keifer's 1st Dentist Visit!

This past Saturday morning was a HUGE momentous occasion for us: Keifer went to the dentist for the FIRST TIME! **cue audience cheering and clapping wildly*

She was so excited! So excited, in fact, that she woke herself up at 5:15 that AM screaming and crying, "I don't want to go to the dentist"! Ahh, yes, the nerves were jangled, for sure.

We managed to calm down upon later waking, and after reading Dora the Explorer's book, Show Me Your Smile, which we've owned and read for months now, our girl was ready! She was ready to get her teeth counted and cleaning and flossed!

Papa Dale came with me and my K1 girl, so we were really doubley excited over that happening. He chose to stay in the lobby, but that was OK. Mama was a big ol' sap and took pictures of the whole visit for our girl to look back on with pride. Here goes:

The dental assistant, Pat, came and retrieved us from the lobby,and brought us back to the cubicle where the big event was going to happen. Pat did an excellent job of showing all the tools and the chair to Keifer, explaining sweetly and slowly exactly how everything was going to work. I used this time to also use the Dora book to compare how this was just like "Dora!" (and the office staff LOVED this book and everyone commented to me how they needed that book in their office!)

Our big girl, ready for the dentist to come check our her smile!

Pat puts a special vest on Keifer, so she can take Xrays of her teeth. Keifer was very curious and asked LOTS of questions to Pat, including, "why are you wearing gloves? Why are they blue? What are you wearing on your face (the mask?)"

Letting Pat clean her teeth with a special toothbrush! "It tickled!"

Pat flossing Keifer's teeth

Personally, I think the Xrays are SOOOO cool! You can see her baby teeth in the front, and then her bigger, permanent teeth behind them! Awesome!

The dentist and Pat told us that Keifer (so far) has some good spacing her mouth, which means MAYBE we might have a good shot of not needing braces when her bigger teeth grow in. We shall see when the time comes.....

After Pat cleaned and flossed K1's teeth, she was waiting on the dentist to come and check them, and asked "what are you going to do next?"

The dentist checking out our girl's teeth. Keifer had to touch her blue gloves. LOL.

Keifer and her new friend, Pat, after our visit. She was so awesome with Keifer! What an awesome visit and YAY for having healthy teeth, Keifer! On the plus side, she HAS gotten VERY good about making sure she brushes 2 times a day with her new toothbrush from Pat. Hopefully that will stick with her longer than a few days!

11 Months! Kyla is 11 Months!

A few years ago, there was an 8 month old named Keifer Lynn who wore Mama's favorite band of all time's logo for her monthly picture. This sissy, though plump and BABish (Big Ass Babyish), has grown into a thin, long and lean excellent big sister. Her baby sister, Kyla Whitney, is now finally starting to fit into this onsie and has been allowed the opportunity to model it for you- here in her belated 11 month pictures and story.

Keifer Lynn in her rocker glory: Rocker Baby 1

Introducing Rocker baby's younger sibling, Kyla, debuting at 11 months

More months on a girl means more teeth to model!

She seems a bit unsure as to the correct smile

Here is Rocker baby 1 ALL grown up - wanting to make sure Rocker baby 2.0 is coming along OK. Notice Rocker baby 1 is still rocking out with her "rock star" dress (as she calls it, no lie). Is it any wonder that Keifer's top played song on Mama's Ipod these days are "So What?" by Pink? I think not.

Hey, kid: you'll poke your eye out!

Kyla: At 11 months old, you can now: Crawl (for a week now).

Eat like a crazy woman-but are still testing out lumpy/chunky textures.

Babble and can say "nana, mama, dada, and la la la...you always try to imitate sounds.

Smile all.the.time. People actually comment on it all.the.time as well. You are "one happy baby" so they all say. Yes you are! All you know is love- you are a lucky, happy baby who feels nothing but joy surrounding your being, so of course you are happy!

You usually sleep well for us.

Love your sister. To pieces.

You love Elaine's house. You love Elaine and Papa Joel. Papa still calls you "gabby" because you babble so softly and often.

Love to eat books instead of look at them and love to shake mini-maracas. Can now put the ball in the hole of the Dino toy and your favorite destination is either the play kitchen food or the dollhouse that is off limits. We just had to put the dog bowls upon the counter for fear of you flipping the wt aer bowls or eating dog food. You are on the move and fast since you started crawling!

Oh, how we love you so, Kyla! Our precious girl!