From my phone

Taking the idea from my sister… I know the quality isn’t perfect, but I think the subjects are!

Being silly!

We were playing in the playroom today and Kendall wanted to take a picture.  She loves for me to take pictures of her and Ethan with my phone.  I put the camera function in reverse so we both could see the screen and started snapping away.  I told her to make silly faces and this is the best she would do.  She was too busy trying to figure out why she could see herself. Ethan was making some of the sweetest noises that I wish I would have recorded but all I remembered to get were these chubby cheeks!  I love these two so very much!

Just because

These are some of the most recent random pictures of our TWO year old, soon to be big sister. She’s so funny lately. I wish I could capture her actions and personality on video every day!! Side note: if Ethan doesn’t make an appearance before February 6, we will be induced at 6am on that day!

It’s gone! It’s gone!

The pacifier is officially gone! I have to admit I didn’t consistently try to get rid of the paci in the last few months.  I knew Kendall was going to be transitioning with a lot of new things and I was trying to pick my battles.  Well, I think she decided she was done with it all on her own.  I couldn’t find it this morning when she woke up and she saw me searching for it.  We left her room and I got ready for Ethan’s baby shower.  I told Ryan about not finding it and said “good luck during nap time.”  I went to look for it (without her) before I left and I found it against the wall, resting on her bed frame and put it in her dresser drawer.  Ryan knew about the hiding spot.  Well, in the middle of the baby shower I get a text that says, “she’s asleep with no paci.” I was so excited.  She didn’t even make a big deal about it.  Ryan said, “we can’t find it” and she was okay with that.  Needless to say, that was that and we’ll see how things go! Way to go, big girl!!

Ice cream cone Christmas trees

My mom shared an old idea that she used to do as a kid with Kendall and Jack and they both had so much fun with it.  Cover an ice cream cone with green frosting and decorate with red and green M &M’s, how easy.  Kendall wasn’t sure what to do with the M&M’s to start with but it didn’t take long, after sampling a few, to figure it out. And then, oh my, she wanted another iced cone all to herself….to eat like corn on the cob. I was a little iffy due to the mess it would make but then I thought, “sure go ahead.”  It was a treat to watch her examine the cone and see how she could get the most icing off.  What a cutie!! Thanks for sharing your holiday craft with me Grandma! It was fun! The trees made a nice final touch to our first gingerbread house.

Random fall photos

Soooo, since I missed posting our October fun, I’m doing it now…all at once. Enjoy!!

We went to the fair for the second year, and Kendall LOVED it.  She did not want to get off of the carousel and had so much fun petting ALL of the animals.  She even fed a few, by her choice. We rode an elephant and of course she had to touch it too.  She patted him nicely on his back.It was so much fun to experience the fair through my baby girl’s eyes.  She took it all in and I can’t wait to go back again next year.  Kendall also wanted her own bag of cotton candy before we left, although I should have said no being that she only ate some of the pink and was done. And here is lil’ miss in her Halloween outfit.  Not really a costume but good enough for this year. We tried just three times to take a picture with her witch mask she colored in school. LOVE IT! I almost forgot to add in our zoo trip.  I wanted to take Kendall to Boo at the Zoo but the timing didn’t work out to stay until the festivities began.  We made it there in time to see a few animals before all of the trick or treating started and we had a blast. I took some pictures of the animals we saw (monkeys, flamingos, koi) and some in the aquarium exhibit but they didn’t really turn out to be blog worthy.  Here are a  few that did. I’m hoping next time we make it to the zoo there will be more animals to see and I will have more camera participation from Miss Occupied.  Most of the animals were “sleeping” to prepare the zoo for all of the kiddos to trick or treat.

Halloween “gouly” basket

Uncle Adam and Lauren gave Kendall her first Halloween treat last weekend.  The first thing she wanted to take out of the basket was the purple flashlight.  She wouldn’t let me put it back for a picture.  The flashlight has different cover pieces that project Halloween images.  Her favorite one right now is the owl. She carries it around as much as she can. I tried to show her some of the other fun treats she got but she wasn’t too interested.  Instead I showed her how to shine the flashlight on the couch and other solid colored surfaces so she could see the owl.  I wish I would have taken more pictures but it was time for breakfast after the amount of time she played with the flashlight. Thank you Uncle Adam and Lauren for my Halloween goodies.

Love~ Kendall

Let’s go Gamecocks!

Lindy bought Kendall this cheerleader outfit last year when she was about 8 months old (I think) and she is finally able to wear it.  I think she looks pretty cute in garnet or maybe maize and blue.

Here fishy, fishy

I decided last night, that tomorrow was as good of a time as any to take Kendall to the aquarium for her second visit.  We met up with Aunt Mollie and Sullivan and Emory.  The last time we went she was such a baby and not really aware of what she was seeing.  This time was completely different.  She explored each exhibit and could even name some of the animals that we saw. “Fishy,” “sna(ke)” (which she touched poked), “shar(k)” and she even gave her best at octopus which was more like ah-pu. Too cute!We stopped at the exhibit with stingrays, crabs, horse shoe crabs and a few other swimmy creatures. Kendall and Emory enjoyed watching the blue crab walk sideways. Sweet girls! “Ah-pu” pictures with Sullivan! Kendall was impressed with so many things but I loved seeing her just stare as the fish swam near her.  These pictures are of some of my favorite tanks at the aquarium, especially the middle one. Some aquarium residents And just because you can’t go to the aquarium without taking these pictures.  Kendall would not sit next to the frog for the picture I really wanted.  I think someone had a really good time.  Can’t wait for the next trip!

“Bounce, bounce!”

We went to visit Emory, Sullivan, Aunt Mollie and Uncle Randy yesterday and look what we came home with! Kendall LOVES it.  She is into jumping, galloping, bouncing and dancing right now so you can imagine the joy that this mini trampoline brings to our girl! (side note, we will be padding this bar as soon as possible). We have to protect this sweet face and her newly developing teeth.Kendall is learning (and saying) a lot of words lately.  This interpretation is “bounce, bounce, bounce” and then she says “Maaaamaaaa!” LOVE IT!!

Yummy!

Chick-fil-a ice cream is such a treat! Kendall ate every bite minus the four I shared with her! She is getting pretty good at using a spoon too, with both hands.

Silly girl

Kendall is really fond of music and when certain music comes on the tv or radio she will break it down.  She dances in the car a lot.  She’ll put her arms in the air and shake them back and forth and move herself left to right-hope you can make sense of that- all while saying, “dan” (dance)! It is the cutest thing and I can’t help but join her.  She always has the biggest smile on her face when she dances.  I love it!

This video was before bed last night when she was dancing to Jake and the Neverland Pirates theme song, which is a cartoon on the Disney channel.

Over the weekend….

We had lots of fun!  Friday we headed to Mt. Pleasant to celebrate Emory’s birthday.  We didn’t make it to the party with all of the kids because it was during Kendall’s nap time but we did enjoy dinner afterward with all of the family. Saturday, after I ran my first 5K with my friends Rachel and Sabrina, we headed over for a play date.  The weather was beautiful and Stryker has a lot of fun outside toys to play with.  Kendall enjoyed jumping in the trampoline as long as she was the only one jumping.  It took her a little bit longer to get used to it if Stryker jumped too.  She just laughed and laughed when she was inside! When we were done playing, we headed out to the annual, Old North Charleston block party for a St. Patty’s day celebration.  This was our second year, as a group, heading out to the festivities.  Last year we got rained out and by time we made it to the car, the rain was gone however, we headed home anyway.  This year Kendall and Stryker enjoyed cookies, listening to the bands, dancing and watching all of the crazy adults dressed in green! It was a lot of fun this year and we definitely look forward to next years celebration.  Such a fun tradition!Sunday, we hung out around the house, played outside, went to the park, went to the grocery store and had an extra long bath…..lazy day.  Sorry, no pictures on that day.  I was too busy running after her and being somewhat sore after the run that photos weren’t on my list of priority.  

A day at the park

It was absolutely beautiful out today so we headed to Middleton Park to play.  Kendall explored a lot of the parks equipment this visit.  She found twirly things, spinning things, things she could push and pull and a climbing wall.  She tried everything…to an extent.  So. Much. Fun!!    Daddy helped her get to the top of one of the slides, which she loved going down.There are six slides at Middleton Park and I do believe lil’ miss found all but two to play on.  The sun caught this picture but I just love it, I had to share it. We couldn’t leave without a few pushes in the swing. It brings a smile to her face every time!As you can see, she was not into the camera.  There were too many kids doing fun things. We said bye-bye to the park after lots of running around and went to eat some lunch. I am thankful we live so close to this park.  Kendall LOVES to be outside and this park is perfect.  We had such a fun time today and look forward to our next visit.

Kendall & Sadie

Kendall ABSOLUTELY loves Sadie! She can’t get enough of her when we visit Grandma and Grandpa.  Good ole’ Sadie, she just lays there and takes all of what Kendall has to give her.  My dad says you couldn’t make a better dog.  You can see the love between the two of them.  I had a black lab growing up and I am thankful Kendall can have the same.  I adore watching the two of them play! 

Too funny!

I have been teaching Kendall a few things and this is one of my favorites.  Although guppies don’t exactly talk she at least knows what they ‘do!’  I love it!