It's been a long time...

Summer has came and went, fall is quickly flashing us by, and before we know it Santa Claus will be here! I know it has been a really long time since I blogged, but I have been so busy with school and have spending every chance I can with Miss Kensley. She is growing so unbelievably fast. I feel like a real parent when I can honestly say and truly mean, "They grow up so fast!" She is changing every single day; saying new things, eating new things, and even taking a step here and there. A few things we've done in the past week include: going to the zoo to trick or treat, going to Hubers to FINALLY pick out a pumpkin, taking our very FIRST step on our own, and visiting with the eye doctor! This all began last Sunday...it hasn't even been a week yet and we have done so much.


We went to the zoo on Sunday, Oct. 18 with lots of family. We saw Grammy, Addie, Uncle Sean, Aunt Megan, Gran Robin, Kristan, Mama and Papa Ott, Aunt Heather, Uncle Joey, and Brooklyn. We had so much fun there. After we got done trick or treating, we got to ride the merry-go-round with Brooklyn, Daddy, and Mama Ott. We wrapped up the evening with a dinner at Texas Roadhouse-yummy!


We went to Hubers on Tuesday, Oct. 21. We've had Kensley's little pumpkin and Mommy and Daddy's big pumpkin since late September, but we never made it to Hubers to let Kensley actually pick out her own. Finally we made it there...unfortunately the pumpkins were all pretty nasty. We left with awesome pictures, but no pumpkin. Oh well, we still had fun. Kensley got to eat some of my ice cream cone at Hubers and would get so mad when I would take a bite OF MY OWN ICE CREAM!


Lastly, we visited the eye doctor today. Kensley did so great while we were waiting to see Dr. Masden. He was very patient with Kensley. He said that her eyes were right on with development for her age. He also said she was very pleasant and seemed like a really happy baby. After we finished with the appt, he came out to the front desk and told the ladies that she was the best baby patient they've had. They wanted to know if we had drugged her!! He could have been just pulling our chain though and actually thought she was an awful patient! :)



Anyway, that is what we've been doing this week. Kensley has been so much fun as she continues to grow into a little toddler. Here are a few pictures from our adventures this week!

Why can't I feed myself?

"Seriously, Mommy...why can't I feed myself again?" I think these were actually the words Kensley was thinking when I kept telling her, "No! Let Mommy do it!" So I thought it would be a good idea to get my daughter dressed and ready for our dinner guests tonight. Weird how I would think it would be okay to get her dressed to go to the store. When we got back home from the grocery, we immediately went to the highchair for some carrots and applesauce. I had a bib on her, thank God, because today was the day that she thought she would feed herself. I mean why not...she is 7 months old! The words, "No, I can do it!" are starting to linger in my head...oh the joy!

So we start with carrots; vegetables before fruit and about the 3rd bite, she begins putting her fingers in her mouth and sucking on them after every single bite....I mean EVERY single bite! Nevermind I have dinner guests coming in 3 hours and I really need to begin preparing the meal. So, in the fingers went and out came the carrots. Nice! Does orange go well with pink? So she, nonetheless, thinks this is funny and it has now turned into a game! Seriously, no means no! Well it wasn't enough that she was putting her fingers in her mouth. She was determined to get the spoon from my hands and place it ever so elegantly in her mouth as well. The words, "No, I can do it!" again start to creep in my head.

So...you'd think that would be enough, but it's not. She has discovered her highchair has a "seatbelt" that Mommy doesn't use. So...why not play with it with her carrot covered fingers? Oh and the dog happens to be on one side of her highchair making some sort of noise. Why not lean over and look at the dog? I mean Mommy doesn't have anything else to do. Oh and she leans with carrots all over her face...her shoulder happens to be right by her mouth covered with carrots, and I struggle with her to turn her head back towards me away from her shoulder so we can get through the jar of carrots and hopefully avoid a mess of orange carrots on her pink shirt!

So after our fun time learning how to feed ourself and not listen to Mommy, I'll end with what James so nicely told me, "That'll learn ya!"

Seriously, I really can't feed myself?!

Is he here yet??

Before Leslie and Terry's lives become extremely hectic with a new little one, we decided to have dinner with them. Kensley is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her new boyfriend. We thought we would get a few pictures of her sitting on top of Noah before he even gets here. She has such a big smile in the pictures...we think she is already touching his butt! :) Oh what the future holds!

Leslie looks great at 38 weeks! We are so excited for our future playdates with Noah...we just need him to get here!

Playtime with Addie!

Kensley just lights up when Addie comes to play. She really enjoys watching Addie get into everything all the while she is desperately wishing she could do the same thing. I love to have Addie around because after she is gone, we find Kensley has picked up all kinds of new moves and sounds. It's like having our very own teacher at our beckon call!

Addie couldnt get close enough to Kensley. You can't quite tell in this picture, but she is literally sitting on Kensley's leg here.

So, I've had this wrapped since Christmas for Kensley...obviously it is a toy that wasn't needed when she was 2 weeks old. It is a little stroller that she can walk behind. The girls ABSOLUTELY love to tear paper up, so I thought it would be a fun way to entertain them for a little while.

Addie thought it would be easier if she sat on top of the box to tear off the paper!

We had a great time visting with Uncle Sean, Aunt Megan, and Addie. Can't wait for our next playdate!

More Georgia Fun!

Her first time sitting on the horse!

Daddy and Kensley petting the other horse, Shiloh!

Just hanging around in the barn.

After we had fun at the barn, we took time out to go on the boat. She didn't waste anytime taking her nap...She's my little mummy!!

Ok, so we thought we'd better uncover her face...

Playing on her own.

She was able to take time out from playing to pose for Mommy!

And she even had time to pose with Daddy!

Play time is over...it's time to get down to business and drive the boat!

Driver change...

And here is our infamous picture we take every year on the porch right before we leave. It is bittersweet to take this picture because it means our trip has come to an end...until next year!

Thanks again, Aunt Jo, for such a fun time as always. We were so glad to take Kensley to your house for the first of many trips!

Waverunners, boats, and horses..oh my!

We had such a fun time while visiting my Aunt Jo in Georgia. We never want to leave and we are so happy to have Kensley join in on our family tradition of our annual trip to the lake!

Kensley's ready for bed...but she had to take a quick trip in her buggy!

Look at those sleepy eyes!

First time on the waverunner! She was such a good sport. She later got on with my dad and was falling asleep!!!

Her first trip to the horses!! She absolutely loved the horses. Her Great Great Aunt Jo was thrilled to find out how much she loved meeting her horse, Frosty.

I was soo excited to take her to see the horses. I was taken to see Aunt Jo's other horse, Nick, when was I was just a little bit older than Kensley. It was so neat to be able to take Kensley.

My lil' baby doll!

James is constantly telling me that I treat Kensley like a baby doll...always dressing her in different outfits, having photo shoots, fixing her hair with different ribbons and bows. Sorry, Daddy...this is what it's like to have a little girl, I guess!

Da Da Dad...

Kensley and Daddy spent their first Father's Day together this year! We had such a great day. We got to hang out at home for a while and then we headed in town to have dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Kansai. Daddy picked it and unfortunately for us, the a/c was out. We didn't sit at one of the grills, however it was still very sticky inside. We managed to survive and soon headed home to surprise Daddy with his gift. Unfortunately, we had to wait and wait for him to come upstairs...

Kensley was hanging out on the floor with her puppy...Lilly was too stuck up to hang out on the floor with her, but Lexie was thick in the middle of it...as usual!

Yay! Daddy finally made it upstairs!

Tell me again, Daddy...what did I get you? Maybe if I taste it I will remember!

Nope, I still don't remember...

That's right...it is a wallet with pictures of me in it!!

We desperately tried to get a family picture from this day...but this was the best we could get! I love the lighting!!

Overall the day was a success! I think James had a great time spending the day with Kensley and me. I can't even imagine what Father's day will be like next year. She will be walking/running around everywhere! Lucky for us she still just hangs out on the blanket...it's only a matter of time though!