About Me

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I would say that I am curious, vivacious, gregarious, sometimes funny, intelligent, easy going, very passionate about the things I love, caring, thoughtful, and kind. Maybe that is a little over the top, but I think you can count on me to be very honest. LOL

Sunday, November 27, 2011

The Test

P1090638  This little man is really testing us! He is such a little stinker. Loveable, but a stinker nonetheless. No room can contain him. No one…I mean no one …..can stop him.

He’s like this little man/superhero/MacGyver. He figures out how to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants. The mornings are usually manageable (so we enjoy them while we can and praise him for his good behavior), and for some reason, after naptime clear up through bedtime is a battle.

When we correct him, we try to offer alternatives for his behaviors, but he is sooooo not interested. Eventually, he will be able to communicate a bit better, and perhaps he shall tell us why he does what he does.

In the meantime, we just love him more than we ever thought was possible, no matter how many buttons he pushes, how many toys he drags onto the bed for his garage, no matter how many drawers he dismantles, no matter how many books he is more interested in eating than reading….No Matter….we love him to the moon and back!

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Yes, he pulls this up onto the bed all by his little self….along with many other moveable objects.  Then he pulls them back onto the floor and the process starts over again!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Loving Saturday Morning

I love Saturdays and not for the obvious don’t-have-to-work reason…………

I love Saturdays because I get to see the beautiful gold light that streams through my windows the first hour of the morning. Gorgeous. Today there is no sunshine, snow has covered the ground, trees, bushes, and grass!   Still it is Saturday and a day when I can enjoy almost anything!

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I love it because Kendry and I can stay in our jammies and hang out. I love how he will sit on my lap and watch a movie with me….

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I love actually having breakfast with my Little Man…….relaxing and feeding him with food prepared in the kitchen! Yes he still loves his bottle and I’m so thankful that he will drink it….all 8 ounces!

Isn’t he just the most handsome Little Man around!!!!   He is learning so much every day.  The cute little way he can say Thank You, Hola, Adios, and now he shakes his head both “Yes” and “No” is simply delightful.   His smile will warm anyone’s heart!   His tantrums will make you pull your hair out!  No matter what….

Love you to the moon and back,

Mommie

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Raining Leaves

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Autumn is here and we couldn’t be more excited! The air is crisp, the morning is fresh, the cozy feeling of a warm fire place has returned and falling into the leaves is so entertaining for Kendry. 

Early yesterday morning we watching the rain shower of leaves from the trees through the front window…this morning our trees are bare and the ground is covered with the leaves everywhere we look! 

This fun song makes jumping in the leaves lots of fun!

Autumn Leaves

(Tune: Mary Had a Little Lamb)

Autumn leaves are falling down, (Flutter fingers down)
Falling down, falling down.
Autumn leaves are falling down,
Falling on the ground.

Autumn leaves are whirling round, (Twirl in a circle)
Whirling round, whirling round.
Autumn leaves are whirling round,
All over town.

The leaves are now raked into huge piles and are being haul away….it was fun while they lasted, but we sure didn’t want to have them covered by the snow that is suppose to be coming this weekend!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Little Man is 17 Months

Dear Kendry,

Oh, the things you are up to these days, I wish I could jot down daily a new thing you do, say or imitate.  You are growing so fast and every minute of your life is just fascinating to me.   You seem to be constantly talking even though we only understand a few of your words:  Hola, Mami, Dadada, Papi, NO NO NO, Hot, meow, and moo!  With a combination of words, signs or actions, you can tell us what you are thinking, feeling, and needing most of the time, especially in the middle of the night when you want a drink you sit up in bed and point to the water by the side of the bed. During the day you grab our hand and pull us to wherever it is you want to go…usually to the garage to get in the car and go!

Hands down your favorite thing to eat is TOFU…can you believe that.  Dragon Hill …our favorite restaurant for Chinese food…gives us a little take out dish every time we go there.   Yes, we are regulars!DSC_0139 You also love scrambled eggs, toast with jam, French toast, oatmeal, rice, beans, chicken nuggets, peaches, pears, avocadoes, grapes, and cherry tomatoes.   When you have had enough to eat it is easy enough to tell because you toss it on the floor as quickly as we put it in front of you.  You love to feed yourself, but using a spoon is still a challenge…hands just seem to work a lot better!   You aren’t always the most consistent eater, but you manage to grow and stay healthy.   Some days, the high chair is merely a place for you to play with forks or spoons, babble, show off…and throw whatever you don’t want on the floor.  Other days, you eat up an entire plate. You are very aware of how hot your food is, if it is anything to hot you make the biggest noise and hold your mouth open and out the food comes.   I am really a freak about your nutrition because of how sick you were with dehydration last January.   So I am extremely happy that you will drink 8 oz of milk in one sitting now! 

Here are you stats for the month:

Weight:      23.5 pounds

Height:       31 inches

You still love to be outside even though it is getting to cold for us to take walks.   You run around the backyard throwing balls, picking leaves, and chasing your shadow, when the sun shines.  You look up, watch the birds, look at the sky and listen for the sound of planes.  You make the sign for plane whenever they are roaring overhead. Living close to an Air Force Base, makes plane watching easy and delightful!

Halloween was a challenge for you.   Your first costume was a friendly lion which you absolutely refused to wear….you screamed, kicked, and pull on it until you got the head gear off.   So with that much of a reaction we decided on something a little more up your alley….SUPER MAN!  You loved passing our candy with grandpa, you sat by the front door waiting for the kids to arrive.   Several times you wanted to leave with them, but we managed to keep you safe and warm inside for most of the night…..and yes you love the candy!

 

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This month you started watching the video Babies….it is easy to tell which baby is your favorite because you imitate his every move.   Baby Ponijao is just adorable with that big smile!  Ryan watched with you yesterday and said…”Hey, that looks like my brother!”

 

You really love all kids and have been spending a little bit of time with the day care kids at Ryan’s home.   The first day you were there you weren’t to happy with one of the little girls and decided it worked best to just hit her to get her out of your way.   I sure hope that isn’t going to be the way you solve your problems.  You love your bear so much and you carry him around the house giving him Besos all the time….so when the kids try to hug you, you usually hug back and give them a big Kiss!  You are really a friend to everyone and never hesitate to try to make a new friend – young or old….even in the grocery store!  While shopping one afternoon, you asked a lady for one of the cupcakes she had in her cart.   She quickly offered to give it to you!   Wow you are a smoosher!

You are a very smart little man, we have tried to baby proof the kitchen with magnetic locks and now you are trying your best to use the magnet to get the cupboard doors open.  Grandpa spent one whole afternoon locking things up….it sure has helped keep a few things in place!

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You are also very coordinated, you climb on the bed with ease, you climb on your toys, you climb on the fireplace hearth, you climb in the rocking chair, the big chair in the office….as many times as we tell you to get down….you think it is lots of fun and very funny to just do it again and again!  One of the really cute things you have also learned to do is shrug your shoulders.   I don’t know if you know what you are talking about but you just lift them and say ahh ahh!  Here is a picture of you watching Babies and climbing on your musical table….into the pack-n-play…which you won’t sleep in!

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The books on the shelves are no longer safe, you have so much fun pulling books off and then sitting with the pile all around you and you start to read them to yourself.  When you find one that you really like you bring it to someone to read it to you.  Your favorite books this month have been Lights Out  Night’s OutCurious George Pat-a-Cake!, and Good Night A touch & Feel Bedtime Book.   You do a lot of reading to yourself and talking yourself through your books.  You will even laugh at the high points of the story and thumb through bigger grown up books like an adult.  While tearing a few of the pages and eating the corners of the books!   Geeze what a kid!

Dancing – yes you have rhythm and you are a dancer….Anytime, anywhere, you can make up your own tune if you need music.  You are getting quite good now and will move your feet really fast, twirl, raiser and lower your arms, and clap your hands to a beat.  Anytime a catchy tune is on the TV you will quickly run into the room and begin dancing.

Bath time is still one of your favorite parts of the day.  You love all the toys and the water splashing has become excessive. 

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You wear size 18 months – 24 month clothes, are still lean and tall, and wear size 4 diapers now.  You still only have 8 teeth 4 on top and 4 on the bottom.   We think you are probably getting a few more because you have been drooling again and putting your whole fist in your mouth and biting on it.  You crinkle your nose when you laugh hard or give us that big smile.  You are drinking about 24 ounces of milk every day, 4 ounces of juice diluted with 4 ounces of water, and about 8 ounces of water every day.   Quite a change from when you would only drink 2 oz of milk at a time.  You still want your bobo at night, naps, and if you see it laying around the house you pick it up and plop it in your mouth.  At night time if you lose it you search the bed with your eyes closed until you find it….but if you don’t want it you throw it as hard as you can out of the bed.  

Little Man, you are just sweet, and I love the huge hugs you have learned to give every day!  You are just funny…you love to be tickled, chased, and played peek-a-boo with!   You are you perfect….nothing else to say!   You make us laugh every single day and you are just a joy to be around *(unless you are hungry or tired!) You are so handsome…..everyone still tells us “WOW, he is so dang cute!   I am so, so, so, lucky and proud to be your momma!

Love you to the moon and back,

Mommy

Friday, October 28, 2011

Asian Cucumber Salad

 

Sushi is one of my kids absolute favorite foods to eat. And we absolutely love our neighborhood  “Imperial Asian Cuisine & Sushi Bar”.  We also love the little side dish of cucumber salad which comes with every order from the Sushi Bar.    It is so light and refreshing.  The perfect combination of sweet and sour.  Tonight I decided it was time to give it the home-made try……it worked!   We loved it! 

 

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Ingredients:

1 English cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced

1 large carrot, peeled and matchstick-julienned

4 radishes, matchstick-julienned

1/4 red onion, thinly sliced

1/2 cup rice vinegar

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoons chili garlic sauce

1/2 teaspoon salt

Preparation:

In a microwavable bowl add rice vinegar, sugar, chili garlic sauce, and salt. Heat the bowl in the microwave for 45 seconds. Stir the vinaigrette until the sugar is completely dissolved. In a medium size bowl add the sliced cucumbers, carrots, radishes, and red onion. Pour vinaigrette over the cucumber mixture and toss. Cool in the refrigerator for 1 hour before serving.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Pumpkin Cookies ~ While Little Man Sleeps

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Fall in our house means pumpkins. Carved pumpkins for Halloween. Baked goods with pumpkin. Roasting pumpkin seeds. Watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown". And last but not least, decorating with pumpkins.

The season would just not be the same without the round, orange squash. Autumn also brings cravings for more comfort foods throughout the day and with that, I decided time to give this simple pumpkin chocolate chip cookie recipe a try.  So easy:

1 box cake mix….spice, carrot?   We used carrot

1 can (small) pumpkin

1/2 bag chocolate chips…

that’s it!   Combine all and drop onto the cookie sheet bake for 12-15 minutes at 350 Degrees!

Enjoy….Little Man will be awake soon …running through the house with one of these bite sized cookies clutched in his little hand!

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Saturday, October 8, 2011

The Car Ride

Ryan and Kendry 

It was just a very quick car trip to take Uncle Jim to pick up his work truck…yup broken down work truck! Ryan and Kendry love to tease each other, well Ryan teases and Kendry laughs.   They always have a good time when they are together. 

Friday, October 7, 2011

Fresh and Clean

Cardirick and Kendry Kendry football jamies Little Man is just 16 months old and being born with a full head of hair, it was inevitable that at some point he would need a haircut. I have totally lost track of how many we have had, but tonight I snapped a few more pictures of the event. 

At first I thought that I would try to cut his hair, but I think because my poor haircutting track record with the neighbor girl when I was in Junior High that idea was  shot down in a heart beat.   And since I have the cutest son in the entire world…I wanted to keep it that way and go professional with the stylist!  That’s you C!   We love having you come to our home every other week for this big event.  And Little Man is getting much better about sitting still…for the most part!

I, of course, acted like Little Man’s personal paparazzi for the day….every day for that matter. “Kendry!” “Kendry!” “Kendry!”

“Lookie Here.”  “Please, Kendry!”

I flash photos the entire time. After all my kid is a celebrity….in our world!

With another haircut out of the way, he really isn’t a little baby anymore. I mean, he’s still my baby, but he’s not a baby baby.

You know what I’m saying?

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

A Little Lunch and Song

 
We enjoyed lunch on the back patio before all the good days of sunshine are gone.   Kendry loves the sun gold tomatoes…he honestly ate every one of these little bites.   We practiced singing Incy Wincy Spider a zillion times.   The only action he really gets is the spider going up the spout!   The rest will come with a few more zillion tries! 
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Incy Wincy spider climbed up the water spout.
Down came the rain, and washed the spider out.
Up came the sun, and dried up all the rain.
And Incy Wincy spider went up the spout again!

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

16 Months of Love for Kendry

Dear Kendry

October has arrived! The days are slowly getting cooler and the nights are too. Even today, as you turn 16 months old, the weather has changed with thunder, lightning and rain! You too are growing and changing each day. Here are your stats for this month:

Weight:       22.5 lbs

Height:        30 5/8 inches

It seems like you learn something new all the time. You love to climb on things even more now! You can climb on the couch, the fireplace, the bathtub, and the chest at the bottom of Grandma and Grandpa’s bed is perfect for you to climb up on the bed with.DSC_0007DSC_0008 

 

You love climbing up the stairs, but we are still afraid to let you go down them by yourself.   You look so proud of yourself. We are proud so of you too!

 

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And how about those 8 little teeth you now have.   We were wondering if it was ever going to happen, then all of sudden there are 8 of them! But…no you won’t show them to us when we ask!!!!

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You have learned to point at what you want. It is adorable. You are showing us what would make you happy now. One of your favorite things is to grab onto our legs and push us forward to where you want to go.   You also love to grab our hands and lead us around the house. You most often take us to the door leading to the garage! You want to go go go……outside and play or even in the car now. It is really cute. We love that you will get into your car seat without arching your back and giving us the word about not wanting to do it! You even take long trips now and seem to love being on the go!

We are trying to encourage you to use words but you just aren't ready for that yet. Everything is just Mama…Mama…..Mama…. We know that you understand lots more than just Mama,  because you will come running if we ask you if you want a taste of a cookie.   You also love to look up in the sky and watch the airplanes fly by..you even make the sign for plane when you hear them.  Loud sounds seem to scare you, Grandpa showed you the fire detector and you love to push the light button yourself, but if Grandpa pushes the alarm you grab on with all your might around his neck. 

You have become a much better eater. With that said, it is still a challenge to get you to eat vegetables.  (but you love the tomatoes right out of the garden!)DSC_0120

You have this thing about eating more than one food at a meal. Whatever you start off eating is what you want. You throw everything else on the floor. It can get pretty messy around here! And you don’t mind the mess at all! Your favorite new food this month was Tofu…imagine that!  DSC_0004 DSC_0006

Speaking of messy, you have become so helpful around the house! You love to sweep. You think that the broom is the greatest thing ever. You love to dust too! Mama gives you a dusting towel and you go to town!  We are trying to teach you to put your toys away each night, but you seem to think that is not your job at all.   As soon as we put everything away….out it comes again!   And the cupboards are no longer safe…Grandpa is going to get locks on them this week!

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Sleeping is another issues.   You are getting much better and you don’t drink any milk through the night, but you still want someone to be right by you all night….just in case you lose that “BOBO”!   You are sleeping about 10 hours a night, with a few wake up seconds for a quick drink of water!   Now about that napping issues….what happened to 2 naps a day?   You were so good about 2 ---two hour naps until this week.  You still take one really good nap in the morning, which means by 6 o’clock in the evening you are rubbing your eyes and want a cat nap to keep you awake until 10 (or later!).   Maybe cold winter nights will help with an earlier hour bedtime???

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I love having you with me everywhere I go and seeing your face when you experience new things. There really is no greater joy.   I can't imagine life without you.  You are so independent and strong but I cherish those moments where you come up to me and collapse in my lap for a cuddle or climb up me for a beso.  You do this with Grandma too and I often come home on your 'Grandma days' to find you all cuddled up to her. I love the relationship you two have already. You truly are a great hugger and kisser.   We can’t get enough of those big squeeze hugs and besos…even your teddy bear gets to enjoy your love!

You are such a comedian!  You always make sure you have our attention then you like to dance in funny ways and walk like a robot.  We laugh so much  sometimes we cry.  You know every show on the Sprout channel…and you still just jump up and down with delight when Patty Pig comes on.  You can even say her name!  You love to play with all your fun toys, especially your cars as you drive them across the floor making the car sound……where did you learn to do that???

Look how much fun you have with Grandma’s books……every day!

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You are so much fun to play with in the back yard, you still love the water and now that the tomatoes are ripe you pick them and will eat 6 of them without stopping (yes, they are little Sun Gold Tomatoes …your favorite!)

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As another season begins, I realize that the time just flies by. I can't believe that summer is over and fall has taken over. We have had a great time this summer, you and me. We love to  laugh about the days, things you have done, and new things you are doing.  Then we know to  thank God for such an amazing little man. I can't imagine spending my days any other way. You are my best buddy and I love you so much. My heart just can't contain itself.

I love you to the moon and back,
Mama

Saturday, October 1, 2011

October Comes ~ Leaves Change Their Colors for Autumns Big Show!

To celebrate the first day of October…..we went to the canyon to capture the beauty of autumn.  DSC_0089

When you’re 15 months old, your life is free and interesting. Your eyesight is aligned with most adults’ kneecaps. You are constantly learning day-by-day. Everything is like something new, something to capture, and something to cling on to. The tire swing at the cabin is something to cling to….thank you Mommy and Halie for keeping me inside the swing as long as you could!

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The leaves are beginning to change. The live electric green of summer is beginning to shrivel, molt and fall into shades of orange, yellow and brown. The trees are stretching their branches for the last time before they must face the season’s breeze bare and naked.DSC_0109So many family happenings take place around the dining room table,  leaving us with memories which shape our lives forever!

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Four generations gathered today to celebrate the beginning of October.  Grandma and Grandpa…generation 1….generation 2 is taking the picture….generation 3 Ali and Jason….and our beautiful generation 4 Halie, Kendry and Brevin. 

The love of family is life’s greatest blessing.