Kendall is THREE!

On January 4, I put my little two year old to bed, behind her crate paper decorated door (that she hadn’t yet seen). And on January 5, I woke up a sassy, energetic, sweet, smart beautiful THREE year old.  Crazy, crazy how time flies, I tell ya.  She actually woke up in the middle of the night and thankfully didn’t get scared by the hanging streamers.  It was cute to witness her excitement, in realizing it was just for her.  She took cupcakes to school and we had a party for all of our family and friends to help celebrate on . Her birthday party was at Monkey Joe’s (an indoor jump castle spot) by her very own request.  She loves Monkey Joe and will dart after him anytime we are there.  And bouncing…she would do it all day if you let her.  She had a blast!  Her cake was a castle cake, at her request as well.  Thank you to all of our family and friends for helping to celebrate our incredible girl!It is bittersweet to know how fast time can fly by, truly in the blink of an eye! Happy third birthday to our baby girl! We love you so very much! 

Eight months old

You are growing so quickly sweet boy. Closer to ONE  as the days go by.  You are attempting to crawl and sometimes get up on your knees but so far you aren’t going anywhere.  Meal time is not a problem for you.  Peas are about the only thing you won’t eat right now, maybe that will change.  The sippy cup has caught your eye when it is on your high chair tray and you are a good water drinker. You love to pull up on things and Kendall wants to help you as much as she can.  She loves you so very much and so do mommy and daddy. Your personality continues to thrive and it’s the cutest.  Your expressions, your squeals, your laughs, I just love it all.  Check out the smile, the mohawk (look closely), the tongue and the funny face! Couldn’t you just eat ‘em up? You love to sit in the high chair when we are out and ‘just take it all in’. I love to watch your face and see your eyes focus on different things that interest you. I wish I knew what you were thinking.You complete our family, little one! I’m so thankful to be your momma and look forward to all the days ahead. Thanks for keeping my heart full!

Six months old

We didn’t make it to Columbia for our Aunt Michelle photo session so these pictures from my phone will have to suffice.  These were taken at Ryan’s uncle’s home in Mauldin, SC.  Such a perfect back drop for my not so perfect photography skills.

Hard to believe it’s been half a year since we met our sweet boy.  He is such a delight.  Always smiling with his wide open gummy grin and his big blue eyes.  He is so fair skinned and has such light hair, still.  I’m wondering if he’ll keep his blue eyes? I sure hope so. Ethan can sit very well on his own.  I know he is thinking, “what else can I do besides sit here?” but just can’t figure out his next trick yet.  Don’t worry buddy, you’ll get there soon enough.  He is eating a variety of food and loves every minute of it.  It’s the cutest thing to watch him eat his puffs right now.  He is also learning to drink from a sippy cup and doing quite well.   Kendall continues to light up his day and can make him smile and laugh so quickly.  I.LOVE.IT!! Sometimes I make Kendall play with him on purpose just so I can see the two of them interact.  Shh!! Nobody tell Kendall.  Although she loves it just the same! We love you so very much sweet boy and I know I will say that to you and your sister more than you will probably want to hear.  You are so laid back and easy going! I’m so glad to be your mom!

The BIG sister

Boy, does she love her baby brother!! Kendall has taken quite well to Ethan! She wanted to hold him immediately when she walked over to meet him. She said, “I hold baby, momma.” Sure thing, sweet girl. It couldn’t have gone any better.  The smile on her face was priceless when she held him.  I am so excited to see how she’ll do at home!

Today’s the day

I was at work today, expecting to finish out the day and then have Friday off to finish up some last minute errands I wanted to do. Well, Ethan had a different plan for me.

It was 10:45 am and my water broke! It took me off guard being that I was induced with Kendall. I surely thought I was just meant to “hold on to” the baby until it was time or just be induced.  I was so excited but the only thing that was going through my mind was- I haven’t packed my bag, I haven’t finished up everything at work, I put dinner in the crockpot, I didn’t take one last pregnant belly photo, I didn’t say bye to Kendall at daycare and most importantly, I didn’t get to buy Kendall a gift from Ethan to open at the hospital. I was trying to think of something really special and was going to buy Kendall a gift on Friday, when I had the day off. My other plan for Friday was to get Kendall out of school early and spend a mommy/daughter day with her.  Ethan wasn’t too worried about all of the things I wanted or needed to do.

THANKFULLY, Kendall got to come to the hospital and hang out for a bit before her dinner time and before Ethan arrived.  I really enjoyed seeing her and even got emotional when she had to leave.  I kept thinking about how the next time I saw her she would be a big sister and that she had to come to a silly hospital to say “night night” and that I didn’t get my mommy/daughter date with her. She’s growing so fast and I love her so much!After a busy day of labor, IV’s and monitors, Ethan Caleb entered this world at 8:12 pm after a mere FOUR minutes of pushing, weighing eight pounds five ounces and was twenty inches long.  It was such a beautiful sight to lay eyes on my son.  How perfect, a girl and a boy! We couldn’t be happier! Thank you to my sister, who captured such a special day. Beware of picture overload! Ethan was welcomed by his Grandma, two aunts and an uncle. He was so unexpected, alot of our other family members had different plans and were going to be available on and after the date of induction.Daddy checking out his boy, before his bath.   He wasn’t a huge fan of the bath but enjoyed getting his hair washed.All clean. Our sweet addition. Labor and delivery went very smoothly although Ethan was pushed out so quickly, he did receive a small bruise to his left tear duct.  The bruise was smaller then a pea and hardly noticeable. They say he bumped my pelvic bone on the way out.  We are so very excited to bring our baby boy home to meet his big sister and start our family of four.

Twenty months old

Our sweet girl was under the weather for her 20 month birthday.  After we went to the beach on Saturday (pictures to come), she woke up Sunday morning with a fever and it lasted for three days.  We went to the doctor and were told it was just something viral, everything else checked out normal.  What a sweet picture.

Kendall has adjusted very well to day care. She has been there since June 13 and is no longer using the pacifier during nap time while she is there.  This momma needs to get with the program and take it away at home.  She only gets it for naps and a bedtime however, I’m ready to be done with it.  I feel like she is getting too big for a pacifier.  I know I just need to not give in (ha, easier said then done).

Kendall has eight teeth right now, although they are not all completely in.  She is taking her time with popping teeth out, I’ll tell ya. I’m just hoping the longer they take to come in, the healthier and straighter her adult teeth will be. We’ll see! Food is still a challenge for us as Kendall is so picky with food.  I have introduced new foods over and over with no luck. I have tried to disguise food and she’s too smart for that.  She still prefers chicken nuggets, mac and cheese and turkey dogs over anything else.  Breakfast is not a problem, it’s only lunch and dinner that we need help with.  Thankfully she loves most fruits so she is eating a little bit healthy.  We’ll get there, I hope.

Her personality, still, continues to blossom.  She is so funny, every single day.  She is talking more and more and her memory is really starting to shine.  She surprises me with things that she remembers, although some of it, I know is her “routine.”  I think the sweetest thing she does right now is to reach for my belly, lift up my shirt, kiss my belly and she says “baby!”  The sound effect for the kiss is the best and she does it over and over.  I. LOVE. HER!! Happy 20 months sweet girl!

Guess what?

After multiple tries at the “best” picture, this is the best I could get of the front of Kendall’s shirt.And this is the back… Kendall will have a brother or a sister around February 11, 2012.  We are so excited and big sister is already aware that there is a baby in mommy’s belly.  It is the cutest thing to see her kiss my belly!