Sunday, August 12, 2012
Long time coming!
Maybe, just maybe, I may be able to find time to blog again. I have used the blogging from Kara quite a bit to see how her and Olivia compare, so I know I should blog to remember how crazy and chaotic life feels at times.
On March 9, 2012 we welcomed Olivia Lynn to our family.
She couldn't have been prettier, and her sister couldn't have been prouder! This is the start of my soon to be frequent updates!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
For Kelsi... a three month update!!!
So, it has been quite awhile since I last updated the blog, and a good friend took a moment to remind me that I need to be putting these moments on here for Kara to read when she’s older. So here is our 3 month update!
November came and went with some exciting news! Donavan got a full time teaching job as an Expanded Learning Program teacher at Central Middle School. Not exactly his department, but it is a job and helps the bank account out! We were very thankful and blessed for this opportunity! November was filled with many birthdays in Donavan’s family; himself included! I let him celebrate by getting a big screen TV the day after Thanksgiving. Yeah, I think he was happy! Speaking of day after Thanksgiving, the night of Thanksgiving I think we did the dumbest thing of our lives! We went and stood outside Toys R Us for 2 and half hours in the bitter cold at 10:00 at night to get Kara a kitchen. Just to find out, they were all sold out! That’s okay though, she still got one!
December was another fun month for us. Kara’s first Christmas couldn’t have been better!
She got her kitchen along with many other great toys that she loves!
We both enjoyed the fact that we were off together for two whole weeks! Wow! What is summer going to be like? Since we were off together, we decided to take a small trip. We went to Minnesota for a two day trip. First we went to the Mall of America and stayed at a really nice hotel, and then went to Noodles & Company before heading back home. It was a really great time and Kara enjoyed getting to explore new areas... like the suitcase!
Here she is at the Rainforest Cafe. We were right by the big aquarium and she thought it was pretty cool!
January has been pretty much the most boring month there is, but that’s okay we’ve made it fun! It’s cold outside and bundling up a kid and dragging her everywhere is so much work and even more when it’s this cold. So, we’ve done a lot more playing at home!
Kara loves bath time now! She crawls into the bathroom every chance she gets and pulls herself up on the tub and yells at us to come turn it on. Then, when she’s in we can’t get her out!
Some Kara updates:
She loves to read, and will sneak off to her room to read her books alone!
She has a bit of a 'naughty' streak in her as well. She loves to get into things she knows she's not supposed to and will give this sly grin right before she does it.
She likes to steal Donavan's glasses of his face and she's not supposed to do that either!
She can feed herself... and Bocephus, too!
She can hold her own bottle! That is amazing!
And, she sleeps like her mom! All over the bed!
Does she look more like Daddy, or Mommy?
We think Daddy!
November came and went with some exciting news! Donavan got a full time teaching job as an Expanded Learning Program teacher at Central Middle School. Not exactly his department, but it is a job and helps the bank account out! We were very thankful and blessed for this opportunity! November was filled with many birthdays in Donavan’s family; himself included! I let him celebrate by getting a big screen TV the day after Thanksgiving. Yeah, I think he was happy! Speaking of day after Thanksgiving, the night of Thanksgiving I think we did the dumbest thing of our lives! We went and stood outside Toys R Us for 2 and half hours in the bitter cold at 10:00 at night to get Kara a kitchen. Just to find out, they were all sold out! That’s okay though, she still got one!
December was another fun month for us. Kara’s first Christmas couldn’t have been better!
She got her kitchen along with many other great toys that she loves!
We both enjoyed the fact that we were off together for two whole weeks! Wow! What is summer going to be like? Since we were off together, we decided to take a small trip. We went to Minnesota for a two day trip. First we went to the Mall of America and stayed at a really nice hotel, and then went to Noodles & Company before heading back home. It was a really great time and Kara enjoyed getting to explore new areas... like the suitcase!
Here she is at the Rainforest Cafe. We were right by the big aquarium and she thought it was pretty cool!
January has been pretty much the most boring month there is, but that’s okay we’ve made it fun! It’s cold outside and bundling up a kid and dragging her everywhere is so much work and even more when it’s this cold. So, we’ve done a lot more playing at home!
Kara loves bath time now! She crawls into the bathroom every chance she gets and pulls herself up on the tub and yells at us to come turn it on. Then, when she’s in we can’t get her out!
Some Kara updates:
She loves to read, and will sneak off to her room to read her books alone!
She has a bit of a 'naughty' streak in her as well. She loves to get into things she knows she's not supposed to and will give this sly grin right before she does it.
She likes to steal Donavan's glasses of his face and she's not supposed to do that either!
She can feed herself... and Bocephus, too!
She can hold her own bottle! That is amazing!
And, she sleeps like her mom! All over the bed!
Does she look more like Daddy, or Mommy?
We think Daddy!
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Loving Life at Seven Months!
Kara has been a VERY busy girl this past month! For starters, we now have a total of 6 teeth. Four more came in on top. They were not near as easy as the first two. Truthfully, there was nothing easy about them at all! They came in in a goofy order, apparently just like I did!
She also got to experience her first trip to the emergency room, which was not the most fun! The little boy's house she goes to during the day had been in the hospital for dehydration from the stomach flu on the weekend. So, Monday, Grandma was going to watch Kara and mom and dad were going to work. Well, that was the plan until Dad went to feed Kara her fruit for the morning and got thrown up on. We then decided that Kara was staying home with Mom and taking a trip to the doctor. We went to the doctor that day and he told us to do everything that we already were doing. Tuesday went by fine, Wednesday... not quite as fine, threw up twice.... Thursday, threw up twice and the second time was 8 at night with dry heaving, we hadn't seen any tears, and she hadn't had hardly any wet diapers. She was extra tired, also. All the signs were there that she was becoming dehydrated, so we loaded her up and took her to the emergency room. (We were also a little nervous about the not peeing with her kidney.) After waiting for 3 hours, we found out that she was fine; no dehydration. But, decided the next day Mom and Dad would split a half day each home with Kara. Mom and Kara took a three hour nap curled up together in mom and dad's bed. Something we haven't done in months! It was the best nap ever! I love snuggling with her! After that, she started to get a lot better. No more puke, and happy smiles.
This last week was a learning curve for Mom. All week long, Kara was just crabby. For reasons we couldn't figure out. Marcia, her babysitter, was having problems figuring out was wrong, too. Then, after Friday night, Mom has an epiphany. Friday, Marcia gave Kara two back to back bottles of 6oz and then we got home and she took another 9oz for me. So, I went on the Gerber website and discovered that Kara wasn't getting enough calorie intake for the day from other solids. So, we increased the foods she gets in a day and have a much happier baby who is now back to taking two hour naps! I guess she was hungry!
She also had her first trip to the Pumpkin Farm. She went in the Jump-A-Tron with mom (there was no one else there!) and got to meet the cows, rooster, and pony. We also picked out 2 pumpkins. A baby pumpkin and a bigger pumpkin. It was fun!
Just this weekend, we carved Kara's very first pumpkin! It was the best 'first' experience we have encountered! She knew to reach in the pumpkin and grab stuff out. I had to continuously take pumpkin seeds out of her had so she wouldn't eat them, but it was so much fun! We made the pumpkins into a 'K' for Kara, a Kara jack-o-lantern... to look like her teeth... and Bocephus! I am so excited she was this age at Halloween to be able to experience this at this age!
This next weekend is Halloween and Kara is a Ladybug. We're going to do a little trick-or-treating, but I really want to be home to see how many kids we get at our new house!
7 months update:
She can sit up all by herself unassisted for long periods of time!
She can wave 'byebye' when prompted to.
She can roll all over the place to get to things she wants.
You can constantly see her brain working to try to learn new things.
Current favorites:
Bonnie... the bunny
Her caterpillar rattle
Playing blocks
Carrots
Apples
Riding on our shoulders
Books
Mommy!
Loving Life with a 7 month old EVERY day! I'm gonna miss this!
She also got to experience her first trip to the emergency room, which was not the most fun! The little boy's house she goes to during the day had been in the hospital for dehydration from the stomach flu on the weekend. So, Monday, Grandma was going to watch Kara and mom and dad were going to work. Well, that was the plan until Dad went to feed Kara her fruit for the morning and got thrown up on. We then decided that Kara was staying home with Mom and taking a trip to the doctor. We went to the doctor that day and he told us to do everything that we already were doing. Tuesday went by fine, Wednesday... not quite as fine, threw up twice.... Thursday, threw up twice and the second time was 8 at night with dry heaving, we hadn't seen any tears, and she hadn't had hardly any wet diapers. She was extra tired, also. All the signs were there that she was becoming dehydrated, so we loaded her up and took her to the emergency room. (We were also a little nervous about the not peeing with her kidney.) After waiting for 3 hours, we found out that she was fine; no dehydration. But, decided the next day Mom and Dad would split a half day each home with Kara. Mom and Kara took a three hour nap curled up together in mom and dad's bed. Something we haven't done in months! It was the best nap ever! I love snuggling with her! After that, she started to get a lot better. No more puke, and happy smiles.
This last week was a learning curve for Mom. All week long, Kara was just crabby. For reasons we couldn't figure out. Marcia, her babysitter, was having problems figuring out was wrong, too. Then, after Friday night, Mom has an epiphany. Friday, Marcia gave Kara two back to back bottles of 6oz and then we got home and she took another 9oz for me. So, I went on the Gerber website and discovered that Kara wasn't getting enough calorie intake for the day from other solids. So, we increased the foods she gets in a day and have a much happier baby who is now back to taking two hour naps! I guess she was hungry!
She also had her first trip to the Pumpkin Farm. She went in the Jump-A-Tron with mom (there was no one else there!) and got to meet the cows, rooster, and pony. We also picked out 2 pumpkins. A baby pumpkin and a bigger pumpkin. It was fun!
Just this weekend, we carved Kara's very first pumpkin! It was the best 'first' experience we have encountered! She knew to reach in the pumpkin and grab stuff out. I had to continuously take pumpkin seeds out of her had so she wouldn't eat them, but it was so much fun! We made the pumpkins into a 'K' for Kara, a Kara jack-o-lantern... to look like her teeth... and Bocephus! I am so excited she was this age at Halloween to be able to experience this at this age!
This next weekend is Halloween and Kara is a Ladybug. We're going to do a little trick-or-treating, but I really want to be home to see how many kids we get at our new house!
7 months update:
She can sit up all by herself unassisted for long periods of time!
She can wave 'byebye' when prompted to.
She can roll all over the place to get to things she wants.
You can constantly see her brain working to try to learn new things.
Current favorites:
Bonnie... the bunny
Her caterpillar rattle
Playing blocks
Carrots
Apples
Riding on our shoulders
Books
Mommy!
Loving Life with a 7 month old EVERY day! I'm gonna miss this!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Just Like Me!
We went to the doctor for Kara's 6 month check up 2 Mondays ago. Everything was great! She weighed exactly 16 pounds and was 27 1/2 inches long. She is scared to death of Dr. Musgrave and screamed during he entire check up! He said that was a good sign though, it told him she was ahead developmentally. She got shots and the flu shot, but she was a trooper about it. Then, we went to see her new cousin Jayden who was just born that day. It reminded me of how small they are when they're first born! Having a six month old who wiggles all over while you hold her and weighs twice as much as a new born is quite different from the newborn she first was that I held 6 months ago.
The Sunday before we went to the doctor, we were enjoying breakfast with Donavan's family at the casino's buffet. Kara was in her carseat in the highchair thing to hold her up to the table, and a little boy knocked her over and she fell out. Thankfully she fell out belly first and only got a bruise on her top gum. She didn't hit her head or anything. However, it scared the crap out of all of us! To top it off... the people never apologized. How RUDE!
The next Monday, Kara was back at the doctor for a rash that she developed all over her body. Turns out, she had Roseola. The rash seems to finally be going away now, but not without a fight!
Aside from all of this, we appear to have a very healthy, very happy 1/2 year old. Who I've just noticed happens to look JUST LIKE ME!!!
Friday, September 17, 2010
Half way to ONE YEAR OLD!
This Sunday will mark Kara's sixth month here with us! It has gone so fast I can't believe it! She has changed so much! She is working on sitting up. She can do it for about 30 seconds on her own, before she faceplants and constantly tries to sit herself up from laying on her back. She gets mad at her jumper when she can't get toys off that she wants. She says "mama" "dada" and "baba". She doesn't quite yet have it figured out what they mean, but she says them! She waves 'byebye'. When she feels like it and giggles very loudly when she is being tickled. And, our most exciting news... we have our two bottom front teeth! :) The teeth happened with no fussing. I just stuck my finger in her mouth Sunday, and we had two teeth! It was pretty amazing!
Kara weighs 16.2 pounds (here at home on the scale). We'll see what the doctor's office says Monday. She also gets shots then, which I'm not looking forward to, because the three month ones were horrible!
She eats all of the 1st baby foods, rice and oatmeal cereals, and a little of the Gerber banana puffs. Her absolute favorite is CARROTS! She does not like prunes, and will only tolerate pears and peaches. It has been fun introducing each of these foods to her and watching her make preferences.
She is also into grabbing EVERYTHING within reach, but she hates being on her belly. She can roll over, but doesn't like to. So instead to get places, she lays on her back and bends her neck back to scootch across the floor to get wherever she's going. Its apparently working for her, but I don't think she'll ever crawl!
We'll update after our doctor's appointment! Have a good weekend!
Kara weighs 16.2 pounds (here at home on the scale). We'll see what the doctor's office says Monday. She also gets shots then, which I'm not looking forward to, because the three month ones were horrible!
She eats all of the 1st baby foods, rice and oatmeal cereals, and a little of the Gerber banana puffs. Her absolute favorite is CARROTS! She does not like prunes, and will only tolerate pears and peaches. It has been fun introducing each of these foods to her and watching her make preferences.
She is also into grabbing EVERYTHING within reach, but she hates being on her belly. She can roll over, but doesn't like to. So instead to get places, she lays on her back and bends her neck back to scootch across the floor to get wherever she's going. Its apparently working for her, but I don't think she'll ever crawl!
We'll update after our doctor's appointment! Have a good weekend!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
5 months and family vacations!
Oh my! Where has the time gone? It has been over a month since my last post! A lot has happened in this month!
(This is going to be mildly boring, but at a later year, I want it for Kara to know all about her first two vacations.)
For starters, we went on vacation to the Wisconsin Dells with my parents and brother. It was both Kara and Donavan's first time to Wisconsin, and Kara's first out of the state! Kara was a champ on the 4 hour drive. We stopped on the way there about an hour out, because she was hungry. On the way home, Donavan just fed her while I drove down the road and we didn't have to stop at all. We went to Noah's Ark and Mount Olympus. We tried eating at Moose Jaw, but Kara wouldn't have that! She was a very good baby the entire trip, except her little (okay, maybe not so little) meltdown at Moose Jaw that made Grandma and Grandpa get the order to go as we quickly headed back to the hotel! At Noah's Ark we tried getting Kara to go in the water, but she didn't want any part of it. This surprised us, because she loves being in the pool! Donavan, my dad, and my brother all were very excited to ride the only upside down water slide in the world. They waited in line for over an hour for the ride, but they enjoyed it! At Mount Olympus, the boys all went on the amusement park rides, while us girls did some shopping at the gift shops and just tried to keep cool. When, they were finished at the amusement park, I joined them for some water rides. It was a hot day, and the heat got to be a bit much for Kara, so we headed back to the hotel where we swam in the pool (since that's the only way she'll get in water!). Then, we did some goofy golfing and then Kara and Grandma headed back to the hotel while the rest of us went back to Mount Olympus to do some Go-Cart riding. There was one track that I barely made clearance for height. It came to my eyes. Pathetic, I know. Then, the next morning we did some shopping at downtown, before we ate at Famous Daves and headed back home.
Then, school started back up. I have 26 third grade students this year. Eleven girls and fifteen boys. I have some very, very sweet little kids and they make me excited for a fun year! I have a few others, who wear me out everyday, and I'm pretty sure I say their name in my sleep, because I say it so much during the day! The, there are a few more that I think God gave me to remind me of myself as a third grader and keep me on my toes! (Lots of tattling, talking, and blurting!) All, totally me! I feel much more relaxed this year, since I've had a year under the belt and don't feel like I'm being watched every move I make. I understand now, how come most teachers like to come early and make sure they leave by 4:30... you miss your kids! I have also come to join this world! One of my teammates is due September 1st with her first and it is a girl. So, it has been exciting to watch her go through these last few weeks and watch the anticipation grow!
After school had gotten started, we took a weekend vacation to Des Moines with Donavan's family. We went to Adventureland and Jordan Creek Mall. Our drive there was a little more eventful, in the fact that I am a horrible passenger since this last accident I've been in. So, I made Donavan slightly anxious and caused him to punch the steering wheel. Oops! I was much better on the way home! :) Then, at Adventureland, Donavan, Lucas, Alexander, and Kimmy went on many rides. I don't do roller coaster rides! But, Donavan thought he had to make me go on a ride, so we went on the Falling Star. BAD IDEA! I think Donavan now understands not to make me go on rides! We also went to the water park there, but it was too crowded! People were literally on top of each other. It was hot, though, so I FORCED Kara to get in the water. I didn't care if she screamed, I wanted her to get cooled off. Then, she took a nap laying on my chest. We weren't there long and then went back to the park. Kara rode her first two rides, she rode the Covered Wagons with dad and thought it was cool that she could see the trees. For some reason this child is fasinated with trees! Then, she went on the semis with both mom and dad and she put her hand on the steering wheel like she was driving it the entire time. She also went fishing, and caught an octopus which won her a fish. We closed the park down at 10 and Kara was a trooper the whole time! Then, we stopped at McDonalds for food and had a small scare that Donavan lost his wallet and then that Lucas did, but we found them both and headed to our hotel. The next morning we went to the mall, and we spoiled Kara a little bit. I still can't believe I spent as much as I did on one outfit for her as a 6 month old, but I don't normally do it, so that make me feel a little better! Then, we came home and Kara fell asleep immediately!
5 month update:
Weight: 15.6 lbs
height: 25.5 inches
Teeth: Working on them, but still none!
Milestones: We regularly roll from belly to back with no problems anymore, however, we are still struggling with back to belly. Kara gives kisses and is no longer afraid of her Grandpa Shane. She also reaches for you when she wants you to pick her up.
Thats all for now! Pictures later!
(This is going to be mildly boring, but at a later year, I want it for Kara to know all about her first two vacations.)
For starters, we went on vacation to the Wisconsin Dells with my parents and brother. It was both Kara and Donavan's first time to Wisconsin, and Kara's first out of the state! Kara was a champ on the 4 hour drive. We stopped on the way there about an hour out, because she was hungry. On the way home, Donavan just fed her while I drove down the road and we didn't have to stop at all. We went to Noah's Ark and Mount Olympus. We tried eating at Moose Jaw, but Kara wouldn't have that! She was a very good baby the entire trip, except her little (okay, maybe not so little) meltdown at Moose Jaw that made Grandma and Grandpa get the order to go as we quickly headed back to the hotel! At Noah's Ark we tried getting Kara to go in the water, but she didn't want any part of it. This surprised us, because she loves being in the pool! Donavan, my dad, and my brother all were very excited to ride the only upside down water slide in the world. They waited in line for over an hour for the ride, but they enjoyed it! At Mount Olympus, the boys all went on the amusement park rides, while us girls did some shopping at the gift shops and just tried to keep cool. When, they were finished at the amusement park, I joined them for some water rides. It was a hot day, and the heat got to be a bit much for Kara, so we headed back to the hotel where we swam in the pool (since that's the only way she'll get in water!). Then, we did some goofy golfing and then Kara and Grandma headed back to the hotel while the rest of us went back to Mount Olympus to do some Go-Cart riding. There was one track that I barely made clearance for height. It came to my eyes. Pathetic, I know. Then, the next morning we did some shopping at downtown, before we ate at Famous Daves and headed back home.
Then, school started back up. I have 26 third grade students this year. Eleven girls and fifteen boys. I have some very, very sweet little kids and they make me excited for a fun year! I have a few others, who wear me out everyday, and I'm pretty sure I say their name in my sleep, because I say it so much during the day! The, there are a few more that I think God gave me to remind me of myself as a third grader and keep me on my toes! (Lots of tattling, talking, and blurting!) All, totally me! I feel much more relaxed this year, since I've had a year under the belt and don't feel like I'm being watched every move I make. I understand now, how come most teachers like to come early and make sure they leave by 4:30... you miss your kids! I have also come to join this world! One of my teammates is due September 1st with her first and it is a girl. So, it has been exciting to watch her go through these last few weeks and watch the anticipation grow!
After school had gotten started, we took a weekend vacation to Des Moines with Donavan's family. We went to Adventureland and Jordan Creek Mall. Our drive there was a little more eventful, in the fact that I am a horrible passenger since this last accident I've been in. So, I made Donavan slightly anxious and caused him to punch the steering wheel. Oops! I was much better on the way home! :) Then, at Adventureland, Donavan, Lucas, Alexander, and Kimmy went on many rides. I don't do roller coaster rides! But, Donavan thought he had to make me go on a ride, so we went on the Falling Star. BAD IDEA! I think Donavan now understands not to make me go on rides! We also went to the water park there, but it was too crowded! People were literally on top of each other. It was hot, though, so I FORCED Kara to get in the water. I didn't care if she screamed, I wanted her to get cooled off. Then, she took a nap laying on my chest. We weren't there long and then went back to the park. Kara rode her first two rides, she rode the Covered Wagons with dad and thought it was cool that she could see the trees. For some reason this child is fasinated with trees! Then, she went on the semis with both mom and dad and she put her hand on the steering wheel like she was driving it the entire time. She also went fishing, and caught an octopus which won her a fish. We closed the park down at 10 and Kara was a trooper the whole time! Then, we stopped at McDonalds for food and had a small scare that Donavan lost his wallet and then that Lucas did, but we found them both and headed to our hotel. The next morning we went to the mall, and we spoiled Kara a little bit. I still can't believe I spent as much as I did on one outfit for her as a 6 month old, but I don't normally do it, so that make me feel a little better! Then, we came home and Kara fell asleep immediately!
5 month update:
Weight: 15.6 lbs
height: 25.5 inches
Teeth: Working on them, but still none!
Milestones: We regularly roll from belly to back with no problems anymore, however, we are still struggling with back to belly. Kara gives kisses and is no longer afraid of her Grandpa Shane. She also reaches for you when she wants you to pick her up.
Thats all for now! Pictures later!
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