It's not about the destination; it's about the journey.

 

Before Little Man came along, we'd travel to fun spots around the country, hiked up mountain trails, or walk along natures paths!   Now? Not so much. Go for night out at a restaurant, a walk with him, shopping with him, and you'll quickly learn exactly what I mean. I’m sure he is a very normal toddler and I’m sure many of you know exactly what I’m talking about:

That bug on the leaf you never would have noticed? Fascinating.

The beauty of a field of flowers? Take it in. For an hour.

That slug who you thought looked the same as all the others? Different.

That leaf that is blowing in the wind?  Let’s chase it and crush it in our little hands!

You may not even make it to your destination, but taking the time to enjoy the journey, the process, makes the destination less important.

Kendry teaches us so much about life.

He teaches us what it is to experience little moments of joy throughout the day. He makes us  smile, and laugh, and play every day. He shows us what it's like to discover things about the world: the excitement over the taste and texture of a new food, the surprise of hearing someone else sneeze and the response of  “bless you” coming from whoever is in the room are all part of the wonderful life that I now enjoy with him by my side.

He reminds us that time goes by so fast, so we'd better enjoy each moment to the fullest. I look at him sometimes and can't believe how incredibly fast his babyhood is passing by.  So “Enjoy the Journey”!

Month 21 has arrived

Dear Kendry,

Here we are. 21 months after you made your entrance into the world and my life hasn’t been the same since. You are by far my biggest source of joy and my biggest energy drain.

You keep me going, you keep my laughing and man, oh, man do I love seeing you smile. Here are your stats for the month:

Weight:  23 lbs 

Height:    32 1/2 inches

Shoe Size:   7 toddlers

Clothes:    Size 2 T

Teeth:   10 (4 top and 6 bottom)

 

No longer can we get staged photos, unless you are asleep.   Here you are with your bear that has grown with you since birth.   You keep getting bigger, he is still just his little old cuddly self!

You are a crazy little boy, do you know that? You run in circles around the living room, giggling to yourself and falling down as soon as you make yourself dizzy. You think all the beds in the house are trampolines and you bounce like “Tigger” with the best of balance.

Your appetite has improved greatly. And you know exactly what you are and aren’t willing to eat…. 

Water…your favorite pass time is to play in the water.  You have filled the toilets with all kinds of wonderful goodies, you pull the stool up to the sink to brush your teeth, and you splash like a fish in the bathtub.  You are all smiles when the water is running!  Today you enjoyed the beautiful sunshine and a few moments in the hot tub with Grandma.

You are talking all the time now.

It’s not always the English language, or any language for that matter, but you’re talking–and that gives me such joy. 

Your favorite words are: NO (what little man doesn’t learn No from day one?) other little boy words: POO POO, Pee Pee, Kaka…bye, Hola (when the phone rings) mommy, ball, bubbles, bampa, ready, set, go….”Let go”…(because you grab on for dear life to everything!) and my favorite “Let’s Go” as you grab your coat and head for the door. You are still signing many words, plane, train, dog, more, milk, drink.

I am proud of the relationship you have with your grandparents. You love to call grandma momma and grandpa is “Bampa”  Spending time with them seems so natural and the way it’s supposed to be – older generations spending time with the newer generations and helping to mold them into great adults.  They think you are brilliant and amazing just like I do! Not to mention the savings from outrageous daycare costs!  Thanks Grandma & Grandpa…..to be able to walk through the backyard to your house has been a blessing from heaven!

I will always love you and I will always be in your corner. I don’t make many promises to people but I will make this promise to you. I will ALWAYS listen to you and I will ALWAYS be someone you can count on. I will do whatever I can to make your life better for as long as there is air in my lungs and my heart still beats. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS.

I love you to the moon and back Little Man, you have filled my life with an enormous amount of love.

Love and Hugs,

Mommy XOXO

Peanut ~ Peanut Butter and Jelly

 

First you take the peanuts
And you crunch 'em,
You crunch 'em
First you take the peanuts
And you crunch 'em,
You crunch 'em

For your peanut, peanut butter
And jelly
Peanut, peanut butter
And jelly

Then you take the bread
And you spread it,
You spread it
Then you take the bread
And you spread it,
You spread it

Then you take your sandwich
And you eat it,
You eat it
Then you take your sandwich
And you eat it,
You eat it
'Cause its good, peanut butter
And jelly
Good, peanut butter
And jelly

Until We Meet Again

“Nothing is worth more than this day. You cannot relive yesterday. Tomorrow is still beyond your reach”

The clouds are at once violent and at another promising. One can never be sure!

Difficult Valentine’s Day as we say good bye to a very special man….Dane Schoss

                           July 18, 1956 – February 14, 2012

 

Dane's life was a precious gift to each of us.
His winking eyes were a daily reminder
of his deep love for all of us.
As he embarks on his new journey we are thankful for the many memories of happy days spent with a truly remarkable man.

Dane rest in peace and know you will live on in our hearts forever!

Dear K Bear of 20 months

Welcome to Month 20 Little Man.  Here are your stats for this month with out much change:

        Weight:         23.5 lbs

Height:         32.5  inches

Clothing:       18 – 24 month size

Shoe Size:     6 1/2 or 7

Teeth:            still just 9

Over the past 20 months you have had:

O NIGHTS OF SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT

2400 bottles at least

600 baths probably more

bananas by the bunch

gallons of apple juice diluted with water

numerous (daily) temper tantrums

millions of kisses and hugs

and unlimited love

You like to do big boy things now.

And like all big boys do, you have a mind of your own.

Let’s just go through a few of your daily happenings:

My favorite thing that you have really started doing this past month is “KISSING” You are really into it too, you kiss animals in pictures, you kiss your stuffed animals and it’s so lovely to have unsolicited kisses coming from your cute little puckered up lips….BAM…you smack right on the lips. 

Next….You love to climb on everything, which is not as fun as your kisses.    We have found you on top of the table, washing machine (getting into the laundry soap), kitchen counters, the computer desk, and the chair in the computer room playing with the prisms in the window.   You are fearless!

And pushing the chair to the phone is so much fun for you.  When you get there you pull the phone down and say “Hola”

Because of this fearlessness this is what the kitchen looks like on a daily basis.   Chairs laying on their side, because you push them everywhere to get where you want to be!   UGH!

Mommy learned how to make bread this month and you were delighted with it.   Of course, you climbed all the way up on the kitchen counter, found you a big hunk and took off with it through the house. 

You are so happy feeding yourself.  You know exactly what you want and how much of it you are willing to eat.   Chicken nuggets are a big favorite with you.   We are so glad because we love Chick–fil-A.   Look at you being a big boy in your own chair at the Mall….

You are extremely possessive of anything that you think is yours.  

The PSP is yours…even though it doesn’t work!

Even Grandpa’s headphones are yours!

You are still an incredible dancer… No matter what you are doing, if you hear music, you start showing off your moves. You started off as an all arms guy, but now you’ve incorporated head bobbing, hand movements, bouncing, squats, clapping sequences, kicks, and stomps into your repertoire.  I’m hoping to get a video of this soon.   We never have the camera ready when you break into your moves. 

It is hard to believe that 20 months have already passed since you became the best part of my life.  I want, more than anything, to do right by you. To be the kind of woman you respect and admire. I want to be someone who is easy for you to love, easy for you to fold yourself into when you most need me. 

So today, I will hug you a little more, and I will play with you in the soft  white snow.  You will giggle as I smother your food covered face with kisses, until you grow tired of the kisses and push(SHOVE) me away. You will run away from me looking over your shoulder laughing all the way, as you hide behind the rocking chair… There is a whole world for you to explore, and my eyes will well with tears, because in that world there can be so much pain. That Little Man  doesn’t stop me from wishing the worst thing that will ever happen to you is that your “bobo” is lost in the bed late at night.

No one ever told me that letting you grow up would be so hard, yet filled with so much love.  You make mommy feel like the luckiest person in the world, and I love you to the moon and back with all my heart.

Happy 20 months Little Man,

Love, Hugs, and Kisses,

Mommy

Messy…but Oh So Good!

Today we tried a new approach to eating. Little Man  has never been a great eater.   We literally have a major battle every time we sit down to eat.   So today our approach was let him eat what he wants, how he wants and as much as he wants…….what a difference it made.    Everything that went on the plate became an experiment for him. 

Our first step was to buy bowls that could be attached to his tray.   Give him a spoon that he could easily grip and away he went………. 

 

Lunch time is over already???  This was too much fun!

Time for Dinner…….Let’s give it another try!

Hopefully breakfast tomorrow morning will be just as successful.  

How to Shovel Snow like a MAN

All bundled up ready to make something with this white stuff….it is covering the ground so it is

probably time to build a snowman, a snow cave, oh it’s just time to shovel?????

Let’s get ready…………..

Snow boots, snow pants, snow coat, and gloves…now what am I suppose to do????

You want me to do what????

I’ve seen this cold wet stuff before, and I like how my boots make tracks in it…

Shoveling….well I think I’ll leave all that slipping and sliding down the driveway

to someone a little bigger than me!

Co-Sleeping Works for US!

No this is not our bed…but many days you will find us just like this for nap time…….AND EACH and EVERY night I think about how lucky I am to be able to watch my Little Man fall asleep. I think of how lucky I am to be able to touch him and know that he is a peaceful, safe and warm. I remember the day he was born I promised I would always be there for him;  I promised that I would give my love freely and generously. And I think of how good it is for him to fall asleep every night comforted by the warmth and closeness of the person who loves them the most in this world.

There are no awards for how early a child sleeps alone all night. When I am old and frail he won’t say,  "Mom, thanks for making me sleep alone when I was a baby, or I might never have learned how to sleep!!"

SO……….If I win the Sleep Trophy it will be because my Little Man has not ever cried himself to sleep, aaahhhh without me right there by his side. Sometimes he just doesn’t want to give in to that “I’m So Tired Feeling”

One day he will sleep alone.  And probably the days of crying himself to sleep will come: girlfriends will break up with him or he with them, a family pet will leave this world, he might not get the job he really wanted, a friend will tell him a lie….you get the picture….but it just won’t be because I made him CRY himself to sleep! 

Without guilt……..for as long as I can, I will make bedtime a happy event of togetherness and connection.  It is my privilege to do so.  And in case any of you want to point fingers at me and say SHAM SHAM….

Co sleeping is normal, healthy, safe and most of all… Awesome.

Why? Well just to name a few reasons:

• Baby sleeps better. Anyway Little Man does. Yes sireeeee he does! 
• Less mama anxiety. It feels so natural to sleep with him….so I just do it.
• Feeding time is simple and I get to sleep through it. Mostly.
• It’s SAFER than a crib. No recalls either. Breathing is regulated. Any problems with baby are known– since the baby is RIGHT next to you.
• On a side note…we have made Little Man’s Crib into a day bed, he naps there very comfortably and some nights even sleeps there for a few hours…then finds his way to the big bed! 
• Cute smiley faces in the morning all around! Mostly mine! 
• Oh and did I mention MORE SLEEP???  Isn’t that reason enough!!!!!

Green Boogies

 

Only 9 days into the new year and here we are visiting Dr. D….

It was a complete surprise to Little Man when this huge big green boogie came running down his nose and touched his lips…..gross.

Dr. D gives “me” a complete check over and tells “Mommy”….The color of your snot does not necessarily indicate how sick you are – really green snot doesn’t necessarily mean you’re really sick, and clear snot doesn’t necessarily mean you aren’t sick. 

Ears are clear

Lungs are clear

Throat is a touch red

SINUS INFECTIONS ARE YUCKY!

It might “SNOT” be pretty, but your green snot “Little Man” is just a sign that your body is helping you get better quickly!

Now we have some yummy pink Meds that are almost as good as candy! 

Hello Winter

Utah’s first major snowstorm of the season arrived early Saturday, and I realized this morning that I am woefully unprepared for winter. Kendry didn’t have gloves, snow pants, or boots….so it was off to the Market Place to get geared up!

Kendry was bundled up, our snowman kit was all ready to go, and out we ventured into the powder!   POWDER POWDER POWDER….snowman will have to join us another day!  With or without a snowman Little Man loved it!

 He swatted it, tasted it, and then he started crawling around in it.  He was digging a hole in the snow when we decided to try and make a snow angel…he wouldn’t lay still enough for a picture of him but the shape came out very nice!

Tonight he is enjoying the snow from the comfort of our home, next to a cozy warm fireplace to keep us warm!   CUZ…baby it’s cold outside!

19 Months of Love

Welcome to Month 19 Little Man.  Let’s get started with your stats:

Weight:       23 lbs

Height:        32 inches

Clothing:       18 – 24 month size

Shoe Size:     6 1/2 or 7

Now here is what has been happening in your world:

Almost everyone who meets you comments on three things: 1.) how happy you are; 2.) how cute you are; and 3.) your amazing personality. It takes a stranger maybe 20 seconds to realize these things about you, and they are so essential to the core of who you are these days. They are right on! Couldn’t resist sharing this picture one more time of your First Dance on New Year’s Eve!

With very few exceptions, you are an extremely happy toddler.  We joke that you can always find a "victim" and do whatever sweet thing you can to get their attention…usually by dancing your little heart out!  It almost always works. My favorite thing about it is to see the joy you bring to so many people's faces; you really have an amazing knack at making people smile. You like to exercise your independence, but you want us to see and acknowledge what you’re doing. You are a fantastic mimic and realize quickly the things you do that make us laugh.  See here you are telling mommy …….that is not what I want to drink, bring me my bottle!

The second thing strangers notice, how cute you are, which is obviously very true. Your eyes are the deepest brown that twinkle and sparkle.  They are very expressive, too. Actually it is your brow that is very expressive, it moves up and down with a frown to a complete look of surprise!  So amazing! Here you discovered face time on the cell phone…Squeals of delight!

The third thing…..You have managed to perfectly mixed mellow and wild child!  You love to snuggle ….on your terms!  When you are ready to run and play you scoot away with delight!  You’re have not learn how to be patient with getting changed and dressed, you protest when it’s time to put your arms through shirt holes, kick your legs in the air when getting your diaper changed…and flip and turn and crawl all over the bed!  You also love to help out in so many ways around the house, especially with the laundry.  Grandpa was surprised to learn that you thought fingernail polish belonged in the laundry basket.  Now lots of his clothes have sparkle purple nail polish permanently on them.  Here you are helping fold a batch of nice warm clothes:

You’re definitely a  child of the 21st century. You actually hate when anyone tries to take away “your” electronics, knowing full well that they are not actually yours! You always protest and instantly begin a tug of war and you’ve been known to throw a tear-filled tantrum that makes everyone smile, wondering what

we’re in for during your toddler years!!!!

Christmas time was delightful, you loved sitting on Santa’s lap (you saw 3 of his Jolly Helpers this year).  The presents were great and the gift wrap and boxes were even more exciting for you.  Everyone knows exactly what you like WHEELS and MUSIC.  It has been amazing to watch you play with each and every gift, dragging them through the house, onto the beds and couch, and playing with all the passion you have.   You can entertain yourself to almost a full hour…we think that is remarkable and above average for a Little Man your age!

Let’s talk about talking…you can put a string of words together that has absolutely no meaning to any of us, yet you know exactly what it is you are talking about.   You do put several phrases together, your latest is READY, SET….GO  it is so dang cute!   You also love knocking on the front door and saying “Who’s there?”  When you climb on top of things you know to say “GET DOWN!”…

but someone always has to get you down!
We know you have talent talking,singing, dancing, and playing. You are still practicing away on your piano skills every day!

If there’s a single word you should live your life by, it should be this: Love. It might sound corny, I know … but trust me, there’s no better rule in life.

My prayer for you is that you will live your life by the rule of love. Love your spouse, your children, your parents, your friends, with all of your heart. Give to them what they need, and show them not cruelty, nor disapproval, nor coldness, nor disappointment, but only love.

Love not only your loved ones, but your neighbors … your coworkers … strangers … your brothers and sisters in humanity. Offer anyone you meet a smile, a kind word, a kind gesture, a helping hand. It will make all the difference in the world!

Little Man I love you to the Moon and Back. You have changed the course of my life and made it worth living. 

XOXOXO

Mommy

What Are You Doing New Years ~ New Year’s Eve?

What a fun night we had with Kendry at the Ogden Airport New Year’s Eve Gala.   He, of course, was the hit of the evening.   He danced with anybody that would come close….he danced by himself….he giggle, laughed, and had a ROYAL meltdown when Grandpa picked him up to leave! 

New Year’s Eve means a lot of different things to a lot of different people, but one thing that most everyone agrees on is that it should be joyful and fun.  We hope you have had a hootin’ hollerin’ good time!

  

Another Year Has Come and Gone

Christmas Countdown #25 – Merry Christmas

Gifts all unwrapped..

Kendry napping with his new friend!

Mommy home from the hospital and

look at the smile we got from K-Bear!

Hoping the new year brings lots of joy,

happiness, and blessings from above.

Christmas Countdown #24 – Christmas Eve Prayer

 

The sleigh was all packed,
The reindeer were fed,
But Santa still knelt
By the side of the bed.

"Dear Father," he prayed,
"Be with me tonight,
There's much work to do,
And my schedule is tight."

"I must jump in my sleigh
And streak through the sky,
Knowing full well
That a reindeer can't fly."

"I will visit each household,
Before the first light,
I'll cover the world,
And all in one night."

"With sleigh bells a-ringing,
I'll land on each roof,
Amid the soft clatter
Of each little hoof."

"To get in the house
Is the difficult part,
So I'll slide down the chimney
Of each child's heart."

"My sack will hold toys
To grant all their wishes,
The supply will be endless,
Like the loaves and the fishes."

"I will fill all the stockings
And not leave a track,
I'll eat every cookie
That is left for my snack."

"I can do all these things Lord,
Only through You,
I just need your blessing,
Then it's easy to do."

"All this is to honor
The birth of the One,
That was sent to redeem us ...
Your most Holy Son."

"So to all of my friends,
Least Your glory I rob,
Please Lord, remind them
Who gave me this job."

~ Warren D. Jennings ~

P.S.  Yes Santa, hopefully K-Bear will be nestled all snug in his bed!