Kendree - 19 months

Nothing like being a few weeks late.

Kendree has become a little girl in my eyes.  I don't know how that happened exactly, but darn her for growing up!  She has quite the personality and lets you know right away when something is not the way she wants it to be.

At 19 months:

• Kendree continues to sleep through the night like a champ.  She gives kisses to the entire family and then toddles into her room to find her blanky (which sounds like baby when she says it).
• She takes one nap a day for 2+ hours.  The length is getting more consistent, although she rarely pulls an "Easton" and naps for over 3.
• Kendree got one new tooth this month.  On September 6th, the bottom right tooth next to the middle two broke through.
• We had Kendree's developmental screening this month and despite my worries that her speech was slow, she didn't have any noticeable delays.  In fact, her fine motor and gross motor skills are off the charts for her age.  The tester lady couldn't believe what she could copy with a crayon on paper and that she holds her writing utensils correctly. She is also a mean "thrower" and "kicker" but having an older brother helps with those skills.
• Kendree is fairly certainly right handed.  All pencils, pens and crayons go directly to that hand.
• Kendree's speech really exploded this month.  She can say many, many new words including: fi (fish), mow (meow), moo, quack, baa, ruff, seep (sleep), ny-ny (night night), mine, ba-tha (brother), potty, Meem-o (elmo), Ma-ro (mario), may-da (Mater) [can we say her older brother influences her?].  I know I'm forgetting a million more, so I'll add to this as I think of them.
• Kendree loves all food and will really try anything.  A new favorite is dill pickles (a girl after her mother's heart). She loves to dip things in ketchup or ranch dressing and will eat even more things if dipping is an option.
• She continues to love nursery at church but has been labeled as one of the "escapees."  Apparently someone has to have their eyes on Kendree anytime the door is opened, as she has bolted a few times.  This was surprising to me as she doesn't really act that way around the house, but then I thought about how she has no natural "boundary" of how far she will run from me in stores, etc. and understood a little better.
• Kendree continues to bite.  For no reason. And leaves significant marks.  So far she has never bitten another kid (aside from Easton) that I know of, but I know it is inevitable.  I really don't know how to stop it.  Most times she bites for the attention (ie. biting Easton while he is watching a cartoon because she wants to play with him) and sometimes out of anger.  Either way she gets her mouth slapped and sits in time out, neither of which she seems to mind.  Do I need to start biting her? (kidding, kind of). :)
• Kendree loves to be running and doesn't care if it is outside or inside, she just likes to move. 
• She is starting to be more attached to her blanky and must take it out of the crib with her after naps and in the morning.  I can usually sneak it back in her crib (if she doesn't see me) after about 30 minutes and then she doesn't ask about it for the rest of the day. 

We sure love her!

Now on to the pictures:

Messy face, but genuine, crooked smile.

 One day Kendree wanted to be Buzz....she wore the costume for HOURS and loved every minute.

And now for the official 19 month pictures.  These were taken after church and a walk around the block (hence the pants under her dress).

 Serious mint sucking going on.

32 weeks

Whew! Another two weeks have come and gone...now to figure out where exactly they went!

I feel like a broken record, but I continue to feel really good.  I still haven't had a lick of heartburn and my ankles are looking skinny.  My feet are definitely a bit more, shall we say--spread, than normal, so not every shoe in my closet is comfortable.

I'm getting lots of "Wow, when are you due?" comments from total strangers now and I'm excited that instead of saying November (which sounded like forever in September) I can say next month.  It has a much better ring to it.  They don't need to know that it is not until the 30th. :)

I thought that the wonderful massage was the fixer of my sciatic pain, but alas, it is back.  If I get up in the middle of the night (inevitable at this point) I basically drag my left leg wherever I am going.  During the day, I don't have nearly those issues, just occasional pain.

I have to admit that when looking at the picture this month, I started to understand why people ask me if I'm sure I don't have twins.  Ah well, it's all part of the process. 

As for the names, we have gotten approximately nowhere.  I've decided to take a new approach and am in the process of compiling a "master list" for myself.  I'll then give it to Ronnie for his editing and we'll whittle it down from there.  The goal is to go to the hospital with 3-4 names for each gender so we'll see how close we can get. 


Curious to compare? 30 weeks, 28 weeks, 26 weeks, 24 weeks, 20 weeks, 18 weeks, 16 weeks.

Martin's Cove

Over Labor Day weekend (I know a month ago now!), we visited my grandparents at Martin's Cove.  They were serving a 6 month mission there this summer and couldn't pass up the chance to see them.

We arrived early in the morning, ate breakfast in their trailer and then headed over to see the sites (we also visited last year, so this year we focused on things we hadn't done in the past).  Easton loved riding in the rover up to the cove.

Kendree thought it was pretty neat as well.

We also took the kids for a spin in a handcart (just around the shortest track they have). 

Look! A picture of the whole fam!

Easton even tried his hand at pulling one of the mini handcarts they have for kids.  He did actually pull it (although I don't have a picture of that) and I was impressed because those things are way heavier than you think they are going to be.

Next, we headed back to the trailer for a nap for Kendree and a little BYU football viewing as well.  After Kendree woke up, she played in the pebble rocks for FOREVER!  She would get a handful...

 and then deposit them on the stop next to where I was sitting.  Every time she set them down she would say "tank too!" (thank you).

 While Kendree was busy with rocks, Easton threw balls...sometimes to no one and sometimes to Daddy or Grandpa or Mama.

 I always forget about taking pictures until the very end of trips, so we have to take what we can get.  Easton with Grandma Great.

 And sorry Grand Dad, but this is the ONLY picture I had of you...I think that Easton took it. :)

We sure had fun and it was great to see them!  Now we're just waiting anxiously for them to make a trip up for hunting season!

Baby #3 Quilt top #3

I'm sure a few of you remember the Ruffle Strip Quilt I made for Kendree.  I love that thing, but learned a few things in the process of making it purely from what I could remember of a quilt I saw in a quilt shop 4 years prior.

I decided that I love the quilt too much to not make it for this next little one as well (if she is a girl of course).  I made just one change.  Instead of roll heming the sides of each ruffle, I decided to make each ruffle a tube of fabric so there would not be any wrong sides of the fabric showing.  Each strip was 3.5" wide by the width of the fabric (44" in this case) and each ruffle was 5" wide (sewn together and flipped) by 88".

And here's the end result:

Don't worry, those edges will be trimmed.

I'm happy to be done with quilt tops for a while.  Now on to crib bumpers and crib skirts!

One other quick note if you are making this....do not iron the seam of the tubes in the middle of the back so that you are sewing through 4 layers that you then have to gather.  It was a PAIN!  Move that little seam over to one side or the other a bit and no one will see it anyway.

30 weeks

And here we are, with just 10 weeks to go (CRAZY!). I went to the doctor this week and was weighed on the scale I normally am weighed on and what do you know?  I have gained 4 pounds in the last 4 weeks, not the 10 that last week's scale reported.  That lines up just right with my scale at home and the doctor said that they are officially taking me off of "weight watch" so now my appointments should just be the normal spacing (every 2 weeks until 36 weeks and then every week after that). I've finally seen every doctor that delivers babies in the office, so at least I know that I won't have a stranger with me (although for me, I don't know that it would really matter...as long as they can get that baby out as quickly as possible).

I'm feeling really good.  I have some sciatic pain on my left side, but if I keep moving, then it is easy to forget about. I got a massage this week (thanks Ronnie for the gift card last December!) and laying on my stomach felt amazing.  You forget how much you miss it!  The massage was nothing to scoff at either.

I haven't had any swelling yet and my heartburn has also been non-existent so far.  I'm feeling like I can be ready for a little someone to come in 10 weeks, but not much sooner than that. Baby is moving all of the time and doesn't let me forget there is a person in there for long.  I'm still able to "sleep" through the night but am using pillows all around me and turning over requires me to completely wake us (which is, I think, my least favorite thing about pregnancy).

Kendree now thinks that all belly buttons are called baby and if she sees one (hers, mine, Easton's) she must see every single belly button in the house.  Luckily these little events are all happening in the privacy of our home. :)  Easton reminds me occasionally that I can't run because "you have a baby."  Our "races" have pretty much stopped and I think he has to console himself a bit since he is now winning against a lady who can't even run.

Wanna look back? 28 weeks, 26 weeks, 24 weeks, 20 weeks, 18 weeks, 16 weeks.
Pregnancy with Kendree at 30 weeks.
Pregnancy with Easton at 30 weeks.

Hanging at the Ranch

The last Saturday in August, Ronnie had some training thingy to do for Leadership Cheyenne (a program run through the Chamber of Commerce) so the kids and I headed to Laramie for a fun filled day.

We visited Sarah's new house (she moved in for the school year) and finally saw Adam and Alicia's digs as well.  Then, we loaded up to head out to one of our favorite places on earth, the Snow Flea Ranch.

I wasn't sure how the kids would do...we hadn't been to the ranch in a year!  Our cousin Alayna was there a few weeks prior and didn't enjoy some of the fun (the loud stuff like 4-wheelers, etc) and I was sure Kendree would be the same way.

After a delicious BBQ meal, we started with the fun stuff:

To say that Easton loved the Rover, 4-wheelers and go-cart would be a gross understatement. He kept all of the willing drivers VERY busy.

 Kendree didn't want to be outdone.  She would cry and scream when it was time to get off, but the entire time she was riding, she had a look on her face much like the one below...not quite happy and not quite sad.

 The go-cart was awesome, especially when it was Ad-man powered and the kids could steer. (when this thing runs it is way loud and without shocks provides a little too bumpy of a ride for the kids).

 Easton begged and begged for Jordan or Adam to push him in the "Mario Kart."  I also learned that he actually know what left and right are since he would turn the right way when Adam and Jordan shouted out commands while pushing.

 Perhaps Kendree's favorite part of the trip was the super fine dirt that exists in the pole barn (that structure behind her and Grandma.  She was COVERED in it by the time we left.  This picture just focuses on her face, but imagine that film all over her clothes as well and you get the idea.

  She also loved sitting on the 4-wheeler (this time it wasn't actually a ride, just sitting there).  Anything to keep up with brother.

We had a fantastic time and will definitely be going back often.

Easton's First Day of Preschool

We enrolled Easton in a very low-key preschool this year (which we love!) since he still has two full years before he will start Kindergarten.  He goes one day a week for three hours.  He was thrilled to take school supplies in his backpack and go to school.

Kendree enjoyed the alone time with mama (and lunch with daddy as well---shhhh! don't tell brother!).  Mama enjoyed going to the store and doctor's appointment with just one kid (albeit the one that is harder to control). :)

We are so excited for all that Easton will learn!

28 weeks

And another two weeks have passed!

A little too quickly if you ask me.  As I've entered the third trimester, it is as if my body has decided to remind me that I am pregnant on a regular basis.  Waking up to turn over in bed? Check.  Starting to walk slowly and with a slight* waddle? Check. Strangers touching my belly? Check.  Questions about how many I am going to have and how full my hands will be? Check.

Gotta love it.

In reality, I am still feeling really well.  I continue to avoid heartburn and my ankles have not started swelling (knock on wood).  I assume that the A/C we installed has quite a bit to do with that second one. At the doctor this week I gained 10 (TEN!) pounds.  The doctor was a bit confused about that one, until we all realized that I was weighed on a different scale than the one that they have used for all of my other appointments.  At home, I've gained 4...so I think the weight worry is about over.  I continue to measure right on and the baby's heartbeat and my blood pressure are good.

The kids are starting to get more excited about a baby (most likely due to the arrival of several new little ones in our ward at church).  Easton asked me today if we could get a hint about whether the baby was a boy or a girl. That one made me smile.

On the naming front, as was the case with Kendree, we have about a million boy names that we like, but are unsure which ones are our favorites (well, we both have our favorites I think, but they don't necessarily line up).  Don't worry, I'll share a few (but remember you are basically looking at our brainstorming list so we may end up with something different all together).  Here they are in alphabetical order: Brecken, Bridger, Brock, Bryson (like Br names much?), Caden and Tate**.  As for the girl names, we have names, but I have yet to have a favorite...which is so frustrating for me!  I just can't find one that I love enough to name a baby! Here's the girl brainstorming list, also in alphabetical order: Brielle, Brynlee, Brynn, Camryn, Devyn, Isabella, and Kamille***.

Suggestions are appreciated.  Seriously.  I like unique names that are easy to pronounce and while different, don't cause people to go "What the heck!?!?"  Not too much to ask, is it?

*I like to believe it is a slight waddle.  If you see me in real life, humor me.
**Ronnie really doesn't like Tate at all, but I love it so much that I leave it on there just to see if maybe, someday I can get it in there.
***Ronnie and I struggle with C and K at the beginning of girl names.  I ALWAYS favor the K, as it seems more feminine to me (though I suppose a girl named KaLee could be biased on that) and he usually favors the C.  If you see a C or a K, just know we are debating.

Wanna look back? 26 weeks, 24 weeks, 20 weeks, 18 weeks, 16 weeks.
Kendree's pregnancy at 28 weeks
Easton's pregnancy at 30 weeks

Another reason to love Wyoming

You can leave your '55 T-bird in the university parking lot, with the top down and the key in the ignition...

Let me repeat that.

Key IN the IGNITION!

...for over 4 hours and walk out to find it sitting just as you left it.

I think my dad breathed quite the sigh of relief, none the less.

Oh the Random

Last week we dog-sat for one day.  I would have volunteered to do more, but going into this little adventure Kendree was terrified of dogs.  Even this sweet little one.  When we have gone over to our friend's house before she has required that either Ronnie or I hold her the ENTIRE time and even then is whining or crying.

I was hoping that dog sitting would help cure the fear, but since I didn't know if it actually would, I didn't think I could do more than one day of holding Kendree.  Little did I know that after about 15 minutes of whining, we wouldn't have any more issues.

Buster loved hanging out under the piano and Easton spent some time laying with him.

 There were times when both kids felt like Buster should be "doing something", this was one attempt to play.

I think I'll just continue to dog sit when I feel the kids need some animal exposure.  Saves me from actually getting a dog...

Also last week we hit a milestone with our Mazda:

That's right.  50,000 miles.  Crazy that when we drove this baby off the lot, there were 32 miles on it. :)

We were also able to go to the Rockies game last weekend with our good friends.  The kids did remarkably well.  Easton wanted to know the name of every batter and Kendree was her normal crazy self.  We had a lot of fun though.  Perhaps the most fun was when Chelsea (who is having her 3rd child in 2 weeks) and I walked halfway around the stadium with our pregnant bellies and a kid in each hand.  Oh and it was raining as well. We got not just a few stares. Good times, good times.

Easton Lately

A few things about Easton I don't want to forget.

He calls the laptop, the flat-top.

All "th" sounds are replaced by a "p".

He loves to talk on the phone.  To pretty much anyone. For a LONG time.  Several times after 15 minutes of talking to Uncle Jord-man I've had to essentially take the phone away.

And now for a few pictures:

Hanging out, waiting for daddy to lock up the church:

In his Sunday best (he wouldn't let me tuck in his shirt before I took this picture).  He LOVES wearing his suit and matching his daddy.  I need to start looking for a good deal on a suit the next size up.

26 weeks

I try to keep these lovely updates to just when I visit the doctor, since I figure more than that is boring for you and me. Because the doctor's office is monitoring my weight, I had another appointment this week.

I'm happy to report that I gained 2 pounds and it was as if the weight issue never existed since it wasn't even mentioned in my appointment.  I do have to go back in another 2 weeks though, so I suppose that means I'm not off the hook yet.

Other than that it was a very uneventful appointment.  Baby's heartrate was good (150 bpm), my blood pressure was good and I continue to measure on track.  Kendree was not as content to sit in the stroller for this appointment so she spent the time sitting on top of me while I laid on the table.  The hardest part was trying to keep her away from the gel they use for the doppler.  Easton was just excited that it was blue gel and then made a noise just like the heartbeat as we left the offices (yes, all the way down the hall, and out through the waiting room).

I continue to feel really good.  I'm starting to actually notice that I have a belly that gets in my way (the nerve!).  I have bumped into a few people accidentally when I stop, but don't account for the extra inches out in front and can't fit through anything sideways that I can't fit through frontwards.  No heartburn yet and I have yet to find something that I crave consistently with this pregnancy (unless having ice in all of my drinks counts).  I realized the other day that we are just a bit over 3 months away from this little one making his/her debut and that caused a minor panic attack, but I'm just taking it one day at a time.  What gets done will be done and what doesn't will have to wait until, well, when my free time emerges again (so like FOREVER).

Looking back: 24 weeks, 20 weeks, 18 weeks, 16 weeks

Cousins

I'm [not so] patiently waiting for more pictures that I know my sister has, but the kids really enjoyed having their cousin Alayna around to play with the last two weeks. These are some pictures of the time they spent figuring out grandma's remote control school bus.

And then some pictures of the morning before Erc and Alayna got on the plane.  Getting all three of them too look and smile was impossible, but I got a few good ones.

Kendree - 18 months

At 18 months Kendree:

• First official stats:  Kendree is 22 lbs. 9 oz (25th %tile) 32.5 inches tall (75th %tile) and looking very healthy!
• Tries to run everywhere.  I love this stage of movement as she usually can only get one hand pumping along with her legs and then gets busy watching her feet and totally runs into something (don't worry, I only laugh if she isn't actually hurt).
• Really wants to be a big girl on stairs.  She just wants to walk up and down them, thankyouverymuch.  She will crawl up them, but if she feels like she has a sturdy enough handhold (like on the door frame coming up the three steps into our house from the garage) she'll attempt to walk up by herself.
• Recently decided that Ronnie and I are Mommy and Daddy instead of Mama and Dada.  This can either be the cutest thing ever, or the most annoying depending on her mood and tone of voice.
• Is not afraid to stand up for herself, but as a result can be a little bit of a bully.  We are especially working on hitting and biting (Easton only bit a handful of times in his entire life, so this one is a new one for me).
• Went to nursery for the first time on Sunday and LOVED it.  Was completely entertained even when the other kids were leaving and seemed surprised to see me standing there to pick her up.  Ronnie and I LOVED having our hands a bit free-er (we have to take advantage of our next 3 months as we'll be right back at it after that).  I found myself looking around for her during the 3rd hour of Primary (the time I am usually on Kendree duty).
• Takes one nap a day and now that I can stretch out her awake morning to after 12:30 p.m. she's becoming a much better napper (better meaning longer in my world).  She usually sleeps at least 2 hours and leans closer to 3 hours several times a week.
• Loves her big brother with all of her heart and wants to be JUST like him.  This usually drives him insane.
• Likes to give my belly hugs and kisses although she has no idea what that belly will do to her little world in 3 short months.
• Loves to read books but MUST be sitting on your lap to do so.  Not next to your lap, or standing near you, ON your lap. period.
• Got three new teeth this month (her top right tooth-next to the front teeth on July 22nd; her top left molar on July 24th; her top left molar on July 25th).  Those were a rough couple of days. In case anyone is keeping track (I know you aren't) that brings her tooth total to 6 on top and a very lonely 2 on the bottom.
• Loves babies.  We visited a good friend and her 2 month old and Kendree fully believed that she should be holding that baby all by herself.  The baby also needed her pacifier at all times and the baby wanted her own baby doll to play with as well.  I have a feeling that setting this new baby on the floor while Kendree is awake will not be an option.  Easton was completely oblivious to Kendree when she was little, but I don't think that will apply.
• Has started throwing herself down when having a fit.  Most times this only serves to hurt her.  Like the other day when she did it on the tile kitchen floor and discovered how good that feels.
• Really likes to color with crayons.  She finds the container of crayons at least once a day and brings it to me so I will pull out the giant pad of paper from under the couch and she colors to her hearts content.
• Is a "picker."  One of her favorite activities is to cover a paper in stickers and then spend the next 30 minutes (no joke) picking every single sticker back off of the paper.  She also loves to pick at her many mosquito bites while we ride in the car.  No band aid or tape can keep her away.
• Lights up our lives.  We love that girl!

Modeling the outfit from China that Grandpa Cali bought her:

 And now the outfit from India:


Swimming (picture stolen from our friend's blog):

On Kendree's official 18 month "birthday" I neglected to take pictures until after dark when we were waiting for Daddy to lock up the church.  With the need for flash, I got some pretty fantastic photos:

And this one from our trip to see Rockies is pretty great too!

So, we're going to go with this one as the "official" 18 month picture.

 Now for some videos: Kendree showing off her India outfit:

And Kendree dances.  Please ignore that saggy bum diaper she is about to shake off.