I'm 1!

I turned 1 last week! It's been the fastest year of my life...and the slowest. The first four months were really, really slow...painfully slow, but the last eight months have been a blur.

Here are some pictures from my birthday parties. The first three pictures are from my actual birthday. Mom and dad had a little party for me with meme and da. The rest of the pictures are from my big birthday party with the rest of my family and friends. Here are some initial pictures. I'll post some more as mom and dad get pictures from my aunts and uncles (I think a million were made).

Here's my first taste of sugar at the birthday party with mom and dad. I liked the way the cake and icing felt. I didn't care for the taste.




Here I am at my big party. Everyone wanted me to dig in, but the cake was too pretty to eat. All those people singing happy birthday was also a little startling. This time around, I liked the sugar a little more. I even started using a fork!







Here I am opening my gifts (after a quick change of clothes). My five cousins (all boys), really helped me :).



Avery gave me some cool blocks that I like to throw behind me. I think dad is going to like building towers for me.


Grammy gave me a doll.


Cousin Jacob gave me my first car. I love it. Mom and dad can now push me around for hours and hours.

Almost 1!

I'll be 1 in just three weeks! Here's what I've been up to lately...

Here I am in my Father's Day dress. Daddy was very proud of me



I'm so close to walking. I pull myself up all the time now and can stand against a table or chair with no problems


I love to be chased around by mommy. Here I am right before she catches me


I've been hanging out at the pool some



Here I am with my best friend, Avery


Here I am in my jogger. Sometimes I fall asleep, especially if dad takes me right after my bottle


Here I am with my uncle Matt and Nicole celebrating Matt’s graduation from college! Speaking of college, mom and dad would probably love any help with my college fund


See you soon!
(I bet there will be picture of me eating cake posted in a few weeks.)

My first swim and some other things that have happened in the last month

I turned 9 months old last week. Here are some recent pictures of me...

Here I am with Uncle Mark. He gets to live in Colorado, so I don't see him very often. (I hope my daddy moves me to Colorado some day :))


I'm standing up a lot now



Here I am in my high chair. I have to wear this big bib now that I'm eating more. Yes, I make a mess


My new favorite toy is Tad the frog my Meme gave me



Here I am with mom. Isn't she beautiful?


She's the best mom ever!


Here I am for the first time in my bathing suit


I wasn't so sure about the pool my dad brought home from Walmart on the top of the Honda, holding it through the sun roof :)



But then I started liking it.


It's pretty cool


See you soon!

Kailey is 8 months old!

I turned eight months old last week. A lot has changed since you last saw me. Here's a quick update...

I got to hang out with my cousins Winston Alan, Clayton and Logan


Here I am in my Easter dress


I had tubes put in my ears...this is me going to pre-op. I was pretty excited to be getting rid of my ear infections


I hate taking naps. I'm hoping crying will help mom and dad figure this out


Mom and Dad took me to a baby dedication


Here I am with mom during the service


This water bottle was my favorite part


I got this cool bouncy swing


Copper still isn't interested in me


I started crawling last week. I love to chase Copper's tail


Almost...


Here I am sneaking up on him


Success!


Here I am helping dad update the website


I'm getting cuter by the second

Kailey playing, eating and taking a bubble bath

Kailey's "firsts" continue to stack up. She's now eating...a little (I think we're mostly feeding her bib).
She had her first bubble bath :).
She's starting to sit up in her "exersaucer" (see below). She's good as long as she's leaning forward. Once she sits back, she loses balance and over compensates and lurches forward, which startles her, so she quickly leans back, starting the whole thing over again. It's really funny...looks like she's getting hit by bumper cars (yes, we laugh at her expense!).

She has been battling an ear infection for a couple of weeks, but got the all clear from doctors today.

She has started teething, so is always looking for something to "gum."

She's quick with a smile, which I love. There's nothing like having your daughter smile when you walk in the room. She's almost six months old! Time is flying.

Loving the bubble bath!



Playing in the exersaucer



What's this!?!

It's not terrible...

Maybe this good!


Chillin' with cousin Jacob

Kailey's First Snow

Kailey got to see her first snow today. It was only about two inches, but it was the biggest snow we've had at our house since we moved here in 2000. I hope it isn't eight years before we see another one!



Kailey's first snow ball


Our back yard

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Kailey sees Santa

We took Kailey to see Santa this week. Special thanks to Gina's mom for standing in line for us. Kailey was more interested in the hustle and bustle around Santa than in Santa. She did great. Our first Christmas together!

Kailey will be four months old on Christmas Eve. Can you believe it?

Kailey putting on a show on the way in to see Santa






Kailey with Santa

Kailey early December

Kailey's first day of preschool

Kailey started Preschool Tuesday. It was an emotional day for mom. As the three of us walked down the hallway to Kailey's room, I looked over to see tears streaming down Gina's cheeks. It has only been 12 weeks since her birth, but already Kailey is growing up. Such a long but incredibly short 12 weeks! I know it will be the first of many tearful transitions, as we let Kailey grow into the person God has planned for her to be.

It's Thanksgiving, and along with the obvious, we're thankful Gina can stay with Kailey part time. We're also thankful that when Gina is at work, Kailey is on the campus and in such capable hands.