A Suck, Smile or Growl!

Kynlee turned 7 months on Saturday, and what a fun 7 months it has been!

I am amazed every day how different my little children are. I don't think a day goes by that Kynlee doesn't wake up with a great big smile on her face...wether it's first thing in the morning, or we're waking her up late at night from Grandpa and Grandmas (on one of those nice evenings out for Kevin and I). Smiles, smiles, smiles...always smiling!

Lately her little grin, has turned into an open mouth growl as well. If someone is holding her, she'll open her mouth nice and wide, let out a great big growl, then lean in for the "kill"...aka, the slobber attack! She growls at her toys, at her brother, at the dog, and of course at anyone who strikes up a conversation with her. I keep trying to tell her she's not a lion...but she doesn't quite get that yet!

We're not crawling yet, but she's started to figure out that if she pushes off with her feet she moves...fancy that! Therefor, I guess we're in the beginning stages of the "army crawl". She's much like her friend Dawson, and would rather walk than anything! She'll walk all over the house with us holding her hands if we'd let her (I'm trying to keep her down and not let the walking happen until WAY later in life..hahaha). Anyways...she's just a joy, and we're so blessed to have her in our lives!

The stats (for my future reference)...16.8 pounds, 27 1/2 inches...and some pictures we describe as the 3 faces of Kynlee:

The "Finger Suck"...

The "Growl"...
and the good ol' "Smile"

Kallen 7 months (to compare!!!)

Blessings,

A Helping Hand

In our kitchen, we have 2 sinks! We have your everyday Kitchen sink...

...and a smaller bar/prep sink...


...a.k.a Kynlee's Bathtub!

Bathtime is her favorite part of the day, and aside from his own bath, helping sissy take hers has quickly become one of Kallen's favorite times well!

He makes her laugh...

...rinses the soap out...

...and helps scrub the craddle cap off her head!

Thanks for the help Kal!

Blessings,

45 Minutes...

...That's how long our "power struggle" lasted before Kallen gave in and ate his lunch yesterday. Now, I understand that many of you out there have had similar meal time battles, that may have even lasted longer than our short bout...but do understand, that for us...45 minutes was an eternity!

You see...Kallen tends to be a 2 second eater, and in fact, I'm pretty sure he may hold a record for the shortest amount of time sitting in his seat for a meal before he is done! If we get two bites out of him, it's a good meal! People ask me, "is he a picky eater", and the answer used to be "no". He will take a bite of almost anything you put in front of him, but that may be it...a bite. I never thought of it as him being picky, until a recent lightbulb went on.

Sometime the beginning of January, he started pushing his plates away saying "I no like it". Sometimes he would take a bite, and sometimes just look at the food, before pronouncing his disgust. I tried every food possible to see what he might like, and no matter what was put in front of him, the response was the same "I no like it".

Kallen mind you has a choice for breakfast and lunch. When he gets hungry, he comes to me and says "I need eat...me pick". (There for a while I thought maybe he wasn't hungry the times I thought he ought to be eating, so now he lets me know when he's hungry and that's when he eats). Dinner is dinner, and we eat as a family, so he has no choice there, but the rest of the day is all his!

Well...I've gotten so tired of throwing away food after he asks for it, that I finally got fed up, and put my foot down. (I know, I know...I'm a little slow). Anyways. He went to the fridge and asked for an egg. No problem. It was a hardboiled egg, so I cut it open and turned it into a deviled egg (one of his favorite things). Well...as soon as I got it made he started throwing a fit that he wanted to pick something else...No way mister...sit and eat your egg! So, I put him at the table, egg in front of him, and went on my merry way. He basically screamed at the top of his lungs for 45 straight minutes that he "didn't like it" and shouting "no", when I told him he could get down as soon as he ate the egg! One silly little egg!

I kept ignoring him, and finally about minute 44 or so...he gave in. He wasn't happy about "losing" the battle, but it was obvious I wasn't letting him off the hook! Man...Just eat kiddo!!!

Blessings,

A New Me...scratch that...A Healthier Me!!!

Last week I was reading a post by MCK Mama over at My Charming Kids, and realized If I'm going to be successful (like her), I need to share my journey with others who can support and encourage me, instead of trying to do it on my own "behind the scenes". What journey you ask???

Well...Tomorrow, February 4th 2008, I am beginning a program called Body-for-LIFE! It's a LIFE program that involves eating healthy and exercising...novel idea...though something I haven't been doing! Kevin's college roommate did this proram back in the day, and we all thought of it as a "body building" program. However...after devouring the website and reading through the book, I realize it is not that at all. I even have a friend who successfully completed the "challenge" and looks and feels great several years later! So...

After seeing some current pictures of myself, and examining the person who was looking back at me in the mirror, I realized that my body just wasn't the same as it used to be. My weight is the same as it has been for the last 10 years or so...however the saggy, flabby, skin, and tight fitting jeans, just arn't! (Truly a realization that the numbers on the scale don't mean as much as the way my clothes fit!) Anyways...this program (though I heard about it years ago), was put in front of me just at the right time. I'm making a commitment to change...for me, my husband, and my kids!!!

This was a hard decision for me to share this with you all or not, because I tend to be the person who wants to change before anyone knows I'm trying. The problem is...failure tends to be my middle name, and if no one knows...then there's no one to keep me accountable! So...I'm letting you all know, and I'll be posting about my progress each week for the next 12 weeks (and hopefully beyond), and I would love all the encouragement and support I can get!

Come back April 28th for the results, and each week in between for my progress!!!

Blessings,

Why is the Ground All White?

Here in our neck of the woods, we generally don't get harsh enough weather conditions to complain. Tornadoes...not unless the dust cloud in the farmers field next door counts. Hurricanes...um, can you have a hurricane with maximum 20 mile-an-hour winds? Tsunami's...well it would have to be one big tsunami to get over the mountains that stand between us and the coast. Blizzards...Don't you have to have snow in order to get a blizzard, etc. etc.


Yes, it's true...we rarely get snow around here, and if we do get some...it's a fine dusting! Now rain on the other hand...YES...we get rain, but snow...not so much! Well...We woke up to an inch or so, and you would have thought it was a foot! People complained! Those who needed to go to work complained, and drove paralyzed with fear. Kids complained because a two hour delay turned into a full cancellation all too late...they could have slept in longer! Customers complained because our 2 wheel drive vans needed to wait a while before driving down the street, therefor pushing their appointments further into the day...now Kallen...well Kallen was in heaven!!! No complaining for him!




Blessings,

Sweet Potatoes...With Fingers on the Side, Please!

For those of you who don't know...Kynlee is a finger sucker. She doesn't really do binki's, and the same goes for her thumb. If she's got the first two fingers on her right hand...she's happy!



Well...we just recently started feeding her solid foods, and her dear finger sucking habbit doesn't stop at the dinner table! Every time we give her a bite...she instantly brings her fingers to her mouth...sucks on them for a few seconds, then opens up for another bite! It's probably the funniest (though also annoying) thing we've ever seen. Needless to say, feeding her a tiny bit of food, takes FOREVER. We've tried holding her arms, but she only thrashes about until she can get those fingers in her mouth. Maybe she's savoring the flavors!!! We'll take a video one of these days and show you all, cause the pictures just don't do the "routine" justice!






Blessings,

A Little Somethin' from Kallen

I was sitting down to post something this afternoon, and got called away for a phone call. I left my computer open on the table, and this is what I found Kallen doing. I guess he had some words to share with you all as well!!!

zzzx nnnn qwsdjjjjjjjjjkjjjkkjjjkkkjjj'iiujo';;ojoio;lkjjlkjjjljjlkjjjjjijijjjsjdlijljhjlkjjjfjjffjfksllajdks
kjjk
jkjlkkjjkljkl


Blessings,

& Kallen

Humbled

Kim posted about this family, and I am in awe of their faith and trust in the Lord!

I have been sitting here for the last hour or so, reading, weeping, praying and more weeping...sorry to my children that I've basically been ignoring them!!! I am so humbled by what they are going through, and as I sit here cuddling with my beautiful, healthy babies jocking for position on my lap I realize how truly blessed we are! The occasional two year old temper tantrum from Kallen or the crying fit thrown when I set my daughter (whose experiencing some separation anxiety) down on the floor is NOTHING. Some people would give anything to be able to hold their children!!! Please say a special prayer for the Lawrensons, and check out their story!

Blessings,