Answering your Questions: Part 1

When are you moving to Cheyenne?
Ronnie will graduate on May 15th and then begin the bar prep courses here in Laramie through the rest of the summer.  He will take the bar the end of July and we plan to move to Cheyenne in August (although exactly when in August we are unsure, that will depend on availability of housing over there). Ronnie will begin work on September 1st, so we know it will be before that.

Where are you going to live in Cheyenne?
We have absolutely no idea.  With Ronnie's busy summer study schedule, we'll be a bit pressed for time to make trips over there, but we are planning on renting for 6 months to a year before we begin looking at places to purchase.  There are several reasons for this: we would like to get more familiar with the Cheyenne area since the only place I know at all is the mall; we'd like to be able to save a little for a down payment; and we'd like to see how those things called school loans are going to pan out.  We've also decided that we are kinda done with the apartment thing, so we will be looking for a town house, duplex, or single family home to rent (hopefully).

Tell us about your work schedule
I am fortunate enough to have a fantastic part-time job.  That translates to four hours in the office every day.  I am super blessed to have a mom and sister in town to take care of my kids for me--it is the best!

I kinda feel like

this blog has been a bit neglected, but I suppose that is how it should be when taking care of two kids! 

Let's have some update and random thought bullets, shall we?

• I return to work a week from today. While part of me is excited to have a routine and get our little household used to the new "normal," I am dreading trying to get out the door with two kids.  Ronnie is a great help in the mornings, but he has early class two days a week and those are the days I am not looking forward to.
• Today was a day that has felt very normal to me.  Easton was happy and played by himself and with me depending on what I needed at the moment, Kendree was also a happy and content newborn and my house is clean and bright.  Sigh.
• I saw three neighbors set out on walks with their little ones and while I wasn't part of that party (a double stroller would be necessary first), it was so encouraging to think that weather where we can venture outside is just around the corner.
• I know I've said it before, but my week is infinitely better when I meal plan.  I'm thinking this will need to be a priority in the future if I'm going to keep my sanity.
• The sign that I know I really feel like I'm getting the mom of two kids thing under control?  I've started thinking of my next projects.  I realize they will take quite a bit longer than I'm used to to finish, but there were weeks where even the thought of something extra was enough to send me over the edge. :)
• I've started thinking about Mother's day coming up--what are some of your favorite gifts for those special ladies in your life?  I'm at a bit of a loss this year.
• Easton LOVES church.  Yesterday we made the mistake of getting him dressed in his church clothes immediately after he woke up and then it was an hour and a half of explaining that "we will go to church in a few minutes."  It's also a little scary to have your two year old take off to nursery by himself after sacrament meeting, but at least we know he likes it!  After church, we hear about his church friends TJ and Isaac and for the rest of the week we have to be careful to not let him see any church clothes, or he is devastated when we tell him there isn't any church that day.
• I'm feeling a little blah about the blog, since I don't have anything on the docket to share my thoughts about--any questions you've been dying to ask me?

Random Catch up

About two weeks ago, we enjoyed some spring like weather and Easton got a ride in the wagon from Aunt Erica and Aunt Sarah.  He and Alayna couldn't have been happier!

Easton and I went over to Aunt Erica's house to pick up some things and he thought this plastic crown and baby bouncer were quite possibly the coolest things ever.

Several of Ronnie's sisters requested a better look at the goatee that they glimpsed in a few pictures.  Here you go!

Finally, we went to the UW Cowgirls WNIT game vs. BYU.  Easton LOVES going to ball games and spends the entire time like this:

Halftime is like torture for the poor kid.  He just can't wait for "more basketball!"

Kendree spent the entire game sleeping!  She was startled a time or two by extra loud noises, but would just get a look on her face that said "well, that wasn't very nice!" and then go right back to sleep.  Sorry these pictures aren't the greatest.  You can't use flash when they are televising the games.

New Size

This little one has graduated.

Graduated from newborn clothes!

I can't believe she is getting so big, so fast.  (And it totally goes by faster with the second, so I can only imagine the blur that a 5th or 6th child becomes).

The Camera

This post will make Grandpa Ray proud.

Easton loves the camera.

Loves to have his picture taken...I present you with that evidence:

And loves to take pictures.  Almost all of them are self-portraits, but occasionally he wants to capture another subject.  Like "Kenny."

Imagine him saying, "Cheese, Kenny!  Cheese, Kenny!" over and over.
(I had to show him the right way to hold the camera.)

My New Favorite Accessory

For Christmas I asked for a necklace from The Vintage Pearl. 

The only problem?

I didn't know what I was having, or what we would be naming that baby once he or she was here.

So, my mom got me a gift certificate.

And after Kendree was born, I ordered.

It came yesterday, and I am in love.

You better believe I'll be wearing this bad boy every day.

Just a little something to make you smile

Easton.  Taken by Easton

Silly Boy

Easton has been: Walking around in Daddy's shoes

Seeing how Daddy's suit coat looks on him

And eating enough cottage cheese to produce a milk mustache (he was wanting the camera here, hence the sad face)

The Dresses--this one's for Aunt Aubrey

Our stake had the priviledge of having Elder Quinton Cook of the twelve here for Stake Conference this weekend, so Kendree got dolled up to attend the adult session on Saturday night at the general session on Sunday.

This was her Saturday night outfit.  The only newborn dress that we could get our hands on.  Thanks Aunt Erica for letting us borrow it!

Then for the Sunday session, we put her in an adorable knitted dress made by Aunt Aubrey.  We got LOTS of compliments and more than one person wanted me to let Aubrey know as soon as they are having girls, so they can have one just like it! 

Aubrey also made this adorable matching elephant!

See? He thinks she's a gift from heaven

A few days ago, Easton and I were wrapping a gift for a friend and Kendree was hanging out on the bed with us.  With no prompting from me, I looked over and saw this:

So naturally, I had to document the cuteness.

Kendree had her own feelings on the matter

And don't worry, there was no stickiness on the bow, so no newborns were harmed for these pictures.

Kendree's first bath

We gave Kendree-girl her first real bath last night.  Her umbilical cord took a crazy amount of time to fall out, so this event was significantly later than I was expecting it to be.

She was a not a huge fan of the nakedness.

Once we covered her up a bit, she was much happier.  It's all about modesty around here.

She really wasn't happy until we got some clothes back on her.

Kendree:1 month

This little dear is one month old today!

She is a very good baby, as long as she has a clean diaper, a full belly, and no gas.  She has let me know that I won't be eating any chocolate for the next few months, but I suppose she is worth it!

Kendree is a grunter.  She makes us laugh with all of her little noises.  Sometimes when she makes those newborn sounds that sound like a cat, Easton will "meow" back at her.  It is hilarious.

She is an excellent eater, as evidenced by her one month weight check this afternoon.  She weighed in at 8 lbs 9 oz (50th percentile up from 10th percentile at 2 weeks) and was 20.5 inches long.

She likes her binky more and more everyday, but I seem to remember Easton liking it a bit more at this stage.  It's funny how I just don't remember some specifics that I'm sure my life revolved around when I was at this stage with Easton.  You don't think you will forget, but you do.  I forgive my parents for not remembering things now.  I can't even remember 2 years ago, let alone 27.

By the numbers

18:  Days until I have to go back to work (boohoo!)

2:  Kids I now care for daily (shocker, I know)

1:  Time that Kendree got up last night--now if we can just keep that up!

17:  Diapers that I change every day

32:  Pounds shed (nursing is my favorite way to lose weight)

1:  Month old--can you believe she's that old already?

10:  Long fingernails (apparently 2 kids = no time to bite my nails = the nicest nails I've ever had)

Kendree's Photo Shoot

When Kendree was just 10 days old, my favorite local photographer, Carolyn, took her newborn pictures. I just adore them! I would apologize for the length of this post, but I know you all want to see each and every picture, so I won't waste my breath (or actually my typing). :)

If you make it all the way to the bottom, there are even some with "the quilt."