We are blessed, but sometimes...

Today was a wonderful day. Kiera was feeling better after a stomach bug sent her home early from daycare yesterday, I got to spend time with her for a whole day and Josh was enjoying his time as an insurance agent-which make me SO happy! Then someone decided to break the window of our CRV and steal Josh's bag, which he NEVER leaves in the car. I really hope whomever took it is happy they now have the video footage of our daughter's 1st birthday and a coin holder Josh got from his grandpa, among other things. I know these are just things, but lately it feels like the odds are against us. It just makes me sick to my stomach and feeling so violated. Here's to hoping life can only get better-sometimes I wonder.

Tea and Cookies!

What a nice weekend at home. Kiera enjoyed almost a 3 hour nap today. After her nap we decided to make cookies, I am so glad we did. I often don't do things because I think it will take time away from our little girl. Today gave me the confidence to do the "to do" list with her. She makes everything so much more fun!

Tea for mommy, daddy, elmo and dolly.

Baking cookies.

The mixer is neat.

Washing the dishes, the fun part!

Enjoying a cookie!

Winter has arrived!

Love these snow pants,  I want a pair, seriously!

Snow, interesting...

Knocking off all the snow on our railing, the best part of our time in the snow.

Daddy, I would like this toy and this one and this one...

Sweetie!



Our awesome fire at Phipps Bed and Breakfast in Hudson, WI




Awww, a nice relaxing stay.




Playing with the multi-shot function on the self timer and having a little fun :-)



A beautiful 1884 home.  We stayed in the bridal suite on the second floor.

A few highlights from the weekend...

Scott after a nice climb.

Dad and Scott (and the 2 random people who got in the shot at the wrong time)

Loving the backpack!

After a good race!

Dancin'!

Our little puppy trick or treating at Michelle's

A sad puppy :-(

Puppy's and Cowgirl's are good friends!

Our friends - Whitney and Claire

Just hanging out.

Yum pickles!

Eating with Grandma and Grandpa Sabol at the Wienery in Minneapolis.

We love our Kali!

Eating an apple with dad just like I did when I was younger.  Dad peeled the apple, ate the peel and cut pieces off for us to eat.

A year and a half!

Our beautiful little baby is turning into a little girl right before our eyes!  Happy 18 months Kiera Catherine, mommy and daddy love you!

Here are just a few things going on in her 18th month:

likes pineapple dipped in ketchup

broccoli or tomatoes dipped in yogurt

cleaning

reading - to herself and stories from mom and dad

jumping on the bed

she takes the two staris from upstairs without hanging on to the wall

loves babies

repeats words


thrives on routine

loves the playground

loves snacks
likes to color with crayons (markers are WAY more fun) and likes playing with playdough

Enjoy some pictures from this evening.

 

Silly look out of the corner of her eye!

 Concentration...

 What her hair likes after taking it out of a ponytail!

 I think this game may provide hours of entertainment in the coming weeks.

 I love my playdough!

 

Is it a sign?

After her bath, after brushing her hair, I went to the bathroom upstairs. Kiera proceeds to go downstairs and run to the bathroom, specifically to the toilet and won't leave. So, I go with it.

I set her on the seat cover, she's not having it. I open the cover and set her on the toilet, still not having it. I set her on the floor and she points at her shorts. Her shorts come off, I set her on the toilet, nope. We take her diaper off...now you're getting it mom. I hold her on the seat because as you may know, that hole is big for a little bottom! She wants to do it by herself. I get by with holding her leg. (She didn't actually go potty, but that's not the point) She then points to the counter at the toilet paper. Josh gives her a square and she proceeds to wipe. At this point Josh and I are baffled. She then throws the paper in the toilet, shuts the lid and flushes...this with our prompting. She then agrees to put her diaper on, put her shorts on, wash her hands and have a snack.

WHAT, she's 17 months!?!?!?

I think we may be headed to the store with a training potty on the list!

On her 17 month birthday...

...she learned how to drive!

Kiera wears some 18 month clothes, but mostly 2T and size 6 shoes. 2T, really?!?!

She only needs 1 flu shot, because she had 3 last year!

We are beginning to be able to reason with her. For instance when she doesn't want to put on her shoes. "Let's put on your shoes so you can go outside."

She already seems to be a perfectionist and can get somewhat frustrated. She will place a baby blanket on the floor and if it isn't "perfect" she gets mad, but also doesn't want help from us.

She has begun to point. Especially at airplanes in the sky!

She can spend many minutes coloring or playing with play dough.

Loves broccolli and milk.

Bed time snack is usually sitting on the big brown chair with mom and snuggling...I may have started this routine :-)

She mimics everything...soon the words will come.

If you haven't seen Kiera in awhile we hope you do, soon! She is turning into our little girl, with a great personality!

Kiera, thank you for tonight.

I just put my "bugger" down for the night and am a little overwhelmed with how much I love my little girl. Mom is away for the weekend on the MS 50 mile walk, and we miss her a ton. Although I do have to say I've been looking forward to this Daddy/Daughter weekend for quite awhile. It is just fascinating to watch Kiera while we play. You can just see things clicking in her little head as she does them. She is so proud when she accomplishes her task, she immediatly runs over with a huge smile and squeal of delight to show you watch she did. I am so blessed to be a part of her life.

HOW TRUE!!! I just remembered something Rachel told me she had overheard the other day. Something to the effect of "Stop to bend down and look at the rocks and ants from a few inches away, it reminds you of what it is like to view the world from a child's eyes". That was me tonight. Playing peekaboo with the dinner plate (sorry mom), laughing histarically at every bite as we shared in frozen peaches, changing all the dolls' imaginary diapers while constantly giggling, coloring at the desk while sitting side by side in a big office chair, and bulidng a fort out of the kitchen table. There is nothing that can melt away the stress and pressure of everyday life like the joy of being a kid again.

So walk well Mom, know that your husband and daughter will be eagerly awaiting you at the finish line on Sunday, maybe a little goofier than when you left them. And for tomorrow.....in the words of Marva Dawn....I can't wait to get up in the morning and join God in the day!!!!

Sorry about the quality of the pics...I had already converted them to be sent via MMS.

All in a week night

Ever since our beautiful little girl entered the world I have often wondered how Josh and I filled our evenings pre-Kiera!

Tonight.
After daycare we had supper, immediately, there is no waiting for this hungry, growing girl! Then we went up stairs so mom could change out of her work clothes and jumped on the bed a little. Then we decided we better take Kali out, because it had been almost 11 hours! Kali was happy! We played outside with the trike, stroller and football while Kali ate sticks, silly dog! Kiera then thought it would be silly to try and eat rocks...she was having a blast while mommy tried to stop her all in fun, we laughed alot! Then it was time to take a quick walk around the block. We also met our littlest neighbor a 4 month old baby boy! It was a gorgeous night, but the mosquitos loved Kiera's face as much as I do! They seem bad this year, or maybe we are just outside more this fall :-)

When we came home Josh was home, so we ran upstairs to greet him, all smiles! We played downstairs for awhile. Then a dirty diaper called which is a nice transition to bathtime! Kiera loves giving her "bath" baby a bath. (We have designated one doll a "bath" baby, Kiera is pretty good about setting her other babies on the counter while she gives the "bath" baby a bath.) At one point all 4 of us were in the bathroom, bathtime is fun, if Kiera isn't exhausted :-) Kiera has many toys but the toy of choice tonight was the empty baby shampoo bottle. She was busy screwing on the lid and taking it off. I love watching this girl figure things out, but boy-o-boy does she get frustrated when something doesn't go her way. (I have no idea where she gets that ;-)) Then she had an "A-HA" moment, she saw her "non-bath" baby on the counter looked at the shampoo bottle and then got a huge smile on her face as she looked at the baby again. She then stood up, dumped all the water out of the shampoo bottle and wanted to get out and wash her "non-bath" baby. It was priceless, but you maybe had to see it :-) Then we got her super cute/comfy pajamas on (I want a pair) and went downstairs for snack-milk, goldfish and animal crackers!

She got a little second wind. Proceeded to chase Kali and throw her the ball, jump on daddy, tickle daddy, get tickled by daddy, laugh uncontrollably, pull her infant carseat all the way from the kitchen to the living room so she and her dolls could play in it and concentrate very hard on putting her shoes on baby brite.

Then she was ready to give Kali and daddy goodnight kisses, but wasn't quite ready for bed. She enjoyed part of a cereal bar and milk while she and I cuddled on the big brown chair, alot like we did when she was just a little baby. I wonder if she was remembering just like I was:) Only this time we were having a conversation! She was whispering right along with me and at one point copied me when I said "bless you" to Josh, after he sneezed. Adorable! Then it was time for bed and good night kisses again. In her room the fan and music were turned on, she smiled and giggled at her self in the mirror, I turned off the light and she layed down in my arms. Then in her crib for a good night sleep!

Now it's only 8:15 p.m. off to get a few more miles on my shoes before the upcoming Challenge Walk. I'm kind of nervous about getting blisters with these new shoes! Josh is hard at work helping his clients and doing a fabulous job! Tomorrow we will wake up and do it all over again...Love it! What a beautiful night with our little family!




Side note-no where in here do you read that clothes were put away, dishes done, house picked up and cleaned, tv shows watched, dinner was made from start to finish, etc. That's probably what Josh and I did before our little Kiera arrived:-) I am glad we are where we are now!

It must be the change in seasons

I have become extra productive these last 2 days. Is it because fall is in the air? I don't know, but it's nice. Life feels a little less chaotic and I actually get a chance to breathe even while accomplishing tasks!

Here's a little glimpse of things that are making me happy, right now :-)

Writing a post with some of my thoughts.

Visiting a new church.

Using the list feature on my new phone. (I think this makes Josh happy, too :-))

Planning time off for Christmas.

Sorting through clothes and donating items I haven't taken off the hanger in 3 years.

Switching Kiera's summer clothes to fall clothes.

Josh and I spending time together thanks to Kiera's aunts and uncle.

Football and Baseball at the same time.

Making plans for fall activities.

Reading (and finishing) books.

Giving a home to random objects that haven't been put away over the weeks.

Watching Kiera "run" up the stairs to greet me after a day at childcare.

Writing thank you notes.

Spending time with my family.

Here's to wishing you a glorious fall!

Our little girls

Here's a little update on our growing girls!

Kali
68.8 pounds
Needs a little improvement on brushing her teeth. She'll get an E for Excellent, next year!
Dr. Howard says "she looks great!"

Kiera Catherine
22 lbs 13.5 ounces - 50-75%
32 1/4 inches - 95%
18 1/4 inches - 75%

2 immunizations - she was a trooper (her shoes were a great distraction :-))
This was the first visit we could sense she wasn't too excited about. She doesn't need to go in until she is 2, that seems so far away, but yet right around the corner.

We are one day shy of 15 months, but I thought I would post some of her new developments...

Kiera mimics EVERYTHING...sounds, actions, facial expressions, etc. It's so wonderful to watch her. One recent bath involved her moving around shampoo, conditioner and shower gel bottles for a good 15 minutes, quite fascinating to watch her figure things out. She makes us laugh out loud many times a day as well as make us wonder what we can do to support her in her tantrums! Daily she suprises us in what she knows and understands...we love her so much!

*sign language words:
more, please and thank you

*loves to give good night kisses

*dances to music

*can Moo like a cow

*8 teeth

*Words: (not all of these words are very clear, but words none the less)
juice, shoe, dad, mom, duck, hi, dog, up, Josh (I must say his name alot!)

*winks (with both of her eyes)

*shows you how STRONG she is

*enjoys reading

*climbs on the couch and dining room chairs.

*she shows no fear of heights when a person is near by. She will simply run off two steps or the couch or the bed...she is very trusting and gives us mini heart attacks!

*she cleans - she will see a wash cloth pick it up and start wiping everything. We saw this in action when she had a little accident at Aunt Sarah and Uncle Scott's apartment...it's too cute!

*loves being outside and getting Kali and Shiloh ready to go on a walk

*she is still (thankfully) a wonderful eater. She loves grapes, strawberries, raisins, beans (any kind), cereal bars, pickles, really anything you put in front of her!

Stay tuned for pictures...a lot has happened in the last month!

How Duey found out he was getting a new puppy!

Look at those faces!

It is so fun to see what Kiera will come up with next. She has quite a personality...she makes us laugh often. Take a look at some of her common faces and emotions!
Tantrum...after she carefully placed herself on the floor :-)



MOM, I can't get it!!

She looks like a big girl!

There's that tongue.

Eating like a big girl.

I LOVE PB toast.

and my new water table!

Bonding on Father's Day. Look at their faces...the same!



So.Excited!