23 Months

My sweet Kyndall,


I can not believe that in just one short month, you'll be 2! My how time has flown.

What are you up to these days?

Height: 31 1/2 inches

Weight: 21lbs 8 oz

Hair: Its getting longer, that's for sure. I braided your hair for the first time last night! And I'm a little sad I didn't get a picture of it.

Teeth: 16!!

Clothing Size: mostly 9-12 and 12-18 month. You need 12-18/18 month for length in both pants and dresses. The problem is your waist is so tiny that 12-18 almost fall right off!

Diaper Size: 3...and I don't see us getting to size 4 before you're potty trained

Walking: yep, for 10 months now

Running: yes, almost everywhere

Climbing: Yep- on just about everything

Talking: up a storm! You add new words to your vocabulary everyday it seems.

Understands Commands: understanding? yes. obeying? not always

On the Bottle/breast: weaned off the bottle at 13 months, weaned from the breast at 14 1/2 months

Paci: Not since May 27

Utensils: Pretty much all the time, yet for somethings you still enjoy to use your hands

Tantrums: Oh yeah

Hobbies: dancing, jumping, reading

Others: You know many body parts including: chin, back, knees, and shoulders along with the basic parts like eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. You know(for your age) a ton of animals and the sounds they make. You LOVED Minnie Mouse and frogs.

I look forward to watching you grow and learn more each day.

You are my life.

All my love,

Momma

Day 8

Day 8 of Aly and Molly's challenge is your least part of the holidays.

Mine?

-Feeling bad because you can't get someone what they really want because you don't have the money for it.

-People becoming selfish and rather materialistic.

- Trying to make everyone happy and mixing and creating traditions.

Day 7: Holiday Craft/DIY

Day 7 of Aly and Molly's Blog challenge is all about holiday crafts/DIY items.

I can make tutus, and that's about it...I'm not very crafty!

Day 6: Gift Ideas

Day 6: Gift ideas- What do you want?

Lets see, what do I want?

1. Money. I know that's pretty generic, but living on one paycheck for a whole year is tough.

2. To be able to go to the grocery store, and not worry about how much I'm spending.

3. New clothes. I need ones that fit.

4. Gift Cards- Old Navy, Lane Bryant, Target, Brookshires/Super 1 Foods, Wal-Mart.

5. A new car, or the be able to fix the one I have. One that has good tires, windshield wipers that work, and a windshield that doesn't have a crack in it.

6. Guitar Hero for the Wii.

Thanksgiving/Black Friday

I know this post is a little late, I'm sorry...

Thanksgiving morning we slept in until about 9, just in time to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, while Chad was cooking. Kyndall really enjoyed it. She would dance to the music and wave to the people waving on TV.


After the parade it was time to EAT! We had turkey, mac and cheese, green bean casserole, homemade mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and rolls. Kyndall's favorite- the cranberry sauce.



Then, it was time for PIE! Kyndall only ate the whipped cream off hers...

That evening around 8, my brother and I went and stood in line at Toys R Us. I ran into several people that I know, mostly from work so the time went by pretty fast. For me at least. I'm sure my brother's story will be different.

Why did we go stand in line for 2 hours before the store opened? Well, for one thing, any later than that and we would have been behind the building, but the main reason we went was to got Kyndall's gift from her great grandfather.

He's giving her this:

I'm pretty sure she's going to have a blast with it!

We also got her this:

She likes to help us clean, but being only 31 1/2 inches tall, the adult size broom and vacuum are rather big and awkward for her.

I really can't wait for her to open her gifts. I'm sure this year will be a ton more fun than it was last year to see her open gifts.

Day 5

Day 5: Favorite Holiday Movie/TV Show Special

My favorite holiday movie is probably Miracle on 34th Street, followed closely by It's A Wonderful Life. I also like both of the Chipmunk movies.

The TV show special is a little harder. I enjoy watching the holiday decorating shows on HGTV, and I'll sometimes watch something on the Hallmark channel.

Day 4

Day 4: Tips/Tricks to a Budget Friendly holiday season

I will try, though I'm not sure I have to many so I'm interested to see what others have to say.

1. Watch sales ads. Wal-Mart price matches, but most of the time(at least from my experience) I have been able to find a substitute from Wal-Mart that is cheaper then the original item from another store.

2. Coupons. I'm really bad at using them. When I do go to use them, they have expired.

3. Instead of spending a whole lot of money on gifts, make something homemade or have a friend take family pictures and get cheap cute frames and give those as gifts. We did that once, and the pictures cost us about 15 cents to print, and we found frames 2 for a dollar at Wal-Mart.

See, I told you I didn't have many. Sorry!

Day 3

Day 3 of Aly and Molly's challenge: Most meaningful gift/best gift you've received.

Meaningful gift: Probably the gift of becoming a mother to my wonderful daughter Kyndall and a wife to my husband Chad. Another gift, my engagement ring, and then a necklace I got from a friend that is a 3 layer charm. The bottom layer says "Kyndall," the middle "12-30-08," and the top layer is a cross. I love it.

Best gift: This is a hard one...My new camera, any gift from Chad or Kyndall, or the gift of forgiveness and eternal life in heaven from my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I mean, what would Christmas be without Jesus?

Wordless Wednesday

Day 2

Day 2 of Aly and Molly's challenge - Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks

-The best piece of advice for Black Friday shopping: have a team of people with you, tell each person 1 or 2 items they are responsible for getting, give each person an ad with their item(s) circled so they know what they are looking for, and get to the store early.

-Save. save. save. That way you aren't freaking out 2 days before Black Friday trying to figure out what money you're going to spend to get the good deals.

-Start shopping early. I keep saying I'm going to start shopping in March. I haven't yet...

-General: Check sales ads when they are sent in the mail. Wal-Mart price matches. Get a Sunday paper and use the coupons.

12 Days of Christmas Blog Challange: Day 1

This year, I think I'm going to try my hardest to do a 12 day blog challenge hosted by Aly and Molly.

Day 1: Christmas/Holiday Traditions

-Growing up, my brother and I would get to have Santa on Christmas Eve Eve because we were "one the super nice list and Santa brings those gifts a night early." After we did Santa, my mom would go to the church and set up the Lord's Supper. Then it'd be cinnamon rolls for breakfast and then gifts as a family of 4. Then we'd load up in the car and head to Grandma's house. Christmas Eve night, we'd do gifts and dinner at Grandma's house. Christmas Day we'd head to Granny's house for lunch and gifts.

-Since getting married, Chad and I have only really started one tradition. We eat IHOP for one of our meals, normally lunch. However, this year we will be starting our own family tradition.

Bloggers Unite: Fight for Preemies

November 17th is National Prematurity Awareness Day. 1 in 8 babies is born too soon and often, very sick. I love one of those babies!

This year, I decided to participate in the Bloggers Unite: Fight for Preemies blog day. There are currently over 300 bloggers signed up to blog about fighting for preemies. Isn't that amazing?!

The reason is this: Every year, 20 million babies are born too soon, too small and very sick-half a million of them in the U.S. That is 20 million babies too many!

You may have heard of the March of Dimes. Their goal is to one day eliminate premature births. Make preemies extinct. I think that is a very good goal. However, we have to fight for that. Preemies fight a battle every day just to survive.

Here is our story:

Its not a super scary one, nor is it a painful one. We were extremely blessed with how healthy Kyndall was when she was born.

It all started Nov. 21, 2008 when I had a kidney stone. I was at work, but got off early because my boss was worried that I was going to have the baby right then and there on the gas station floor. I got home and Chad took me to the hospital. We went straight to L&D, even though we knew what it was. They kept me for the weekend. Thinking back, this is when I think I started showing signs of preeclampsia, but all the signs were chalked up to the fact that I was in pain and had a stone...

A week later, my doctor took me off my feet for more than 30 minutes at a time in hopes to keep the pain at a minimum and to keep my blood pressure down. That didn't work, and a week later I was on complete strict bed rest and going to the doctor twice a week.

The week of Christmas, I spent more time in the hospital or the doctors office then I did at home. Monday the 22nd I went in for a ultrasound early that morning and then to the doctor a couple of hours later. That visit to the doctor ended with spending the rest of the day at the hospital for testing. Christmas Eve we were back in the hospital for a couple of more hours. Friday the 26th, I went back to the doctor, and then back to the hospital. To stay.

Kyndall was born on December 30, 2008 via emergency c-section at 4lbs 14oz and 17in long.

Her only issue: Keeping body temperature and maintaining weight. Had she lost another half an ounce, she would have had to stay longer.

Here are some pictures from that day:

Right after delivery. It'd be almost 8 hours before I saw her again.


Getting weighed. Why Chad got a picture while the scale was in kilograms instead of pounds and ounces, I'll never know.

Here she is all cleaned up.

Here is my sweet little girl now:

Playing with daddy in her tunnel.

Such a happy girl.

She's so funny sometimes and keeps us entertained!

Again, I know that we were and continue to be blessed with how healthy she was and what little fight we had to battle, and I pray for and think about other preemie parents who had a harder and longer battle. I have several friends who have gone through this and have a couple who are going through it now. It is not a fun ride, and I would not wish it on anyone.

My family has done the March for Babies the last two years and plan to continue to do so until the fight is won. Why? Because prematurity does NOT discriminate. It does not care your race, religious views, how much money you have...It can happen to anyone, and it is NOT the mothers fault! Just because we had a healthy baby last time, does not mean we will next time, and I know that if we need the March of Dimes, they will be there to help us through.

Bloggers Unite

Tomorrow is Bloggers Unite Fight for Preemies.

Find out more here.

Check out my story tomorrow.

Kyndall's Bathroom

Every week Kelly over at Kelly's Korner does a "Show us Your Life" post. I have done it a few times before, but I haven't in a while.

This week's theme is bathrooms. We've got two, but the master bath isn't that impressive at all. Think early 80's split bath where the sinks are separate from the toilet and tub/shower, and you've got the master bath. So, that being said, I'll show you Kyndall's bathroom.

It was Texas themed, but we re-did it back in January to make it a little more "kid- friendly."

So without further adieu, Kyndall's bathroom:

It's not all that impressive either, but I think its pretty cute.

(If you found me via Kelly's Korner, welcome. Feel free to check out the rest of my blog and follow me if you'd like.)

Help a fellow blogger out?

OK, so I really don't know how many people actually do read my blog on a regular basis, but if there is anyone out there that does, I need some help.

We are having Kyndall's Christmas and Birthday pictures taken on Sunday. I have 2 Christmas outfits and bows and shoes picked out. One is an adorable Reindeer shirt with her name and red pants with white polka dots, and the other is a little fancy dress.

A friend of mine is making her a Minnie Mouse pillowcase dress for her birthday party, and we're going to use it for pictures. However, I have no clue what to do for birthday pictures. What poses or props or anything? This is her 2nd birthday so I don't want to do the "cake pictures" since that's traditionally done for the child's 1st birthday.

So, what I am asking for is suggestions for birthday theme pictures. Thanks!

Wordless Wednesday- Art Time Edition

22 Months old

OK, so forgive me in the fact that I am a little over a week late in this post...

Kyndall, Oct. 29,2009:

What are you up to?

-You weigh 22lbs and are 31.5inches tall.

-You wear size 3 diapers.

-You wear some 9-12 month and some 12-18 month clothes.

-You are a bit of picky eater when it comes to meat, but you will eat fruits, veggies, and dairy without a fight.

-Your favorite foods are: "nanas"(banana), "ish"(goldfish), cheese, french fries, waffles, yogurt, corn, green beans, and corn. You eat others, but these seem to be the favorites right now.

-While you still use a sippy cup, you love to drink with straws and big girl cups without lids or straws.

-You love playing dress up and will put on your glasses or hats or headbands all by yourself.

-You love to put socks on your hands. Your teacher told me that if someone is missing their socks, your hands are the first place she looks.

-You have a pretty big vocabulary and love to talk, despite that we can't understand half of what you say.

-You know the sounds of most animals and where most of your body parts are.

-You are independent in the tub and like to wash yourself in the "baff."

-One thing for sure, you never cease to amaze me with what you learn daily.

Kyndall, Oct. 30, 2010:

Fun Friday Follow

I haven't participated in one of these in a while so I figured, why not do one again.

And what better way than to do Fun Follow Friday hosted by Simply Stacie and My Wee View?

Head on over to those blogs and see what you can find!

Thoughtless Thursday

Thursday means "Thoughtless Thursday" over at Life in the Fulmer Lane!

I figured that since Katie will soon become a mom, I'd post a picture of Kyndall's very first bath at home.

While I was still pretty drugged and in pain, I remember it pretty well. Kyndall wasn't too happy about the whole situation and pretty much screamed the whole time, but she now LOVES her bath so much that she'll climb into the tub(with or without water) while fully clothed insisting that its "baff" time.

So Katie, remember while Baby C may not enjoy his first bath, he'll learn to love them!

Wordless Wednesday- School Picture Edition