8 Year Stats

Feel free to not tell me what kind of mother I am... As I was scanning the pictures in so I could share them with you, I was looking through all my information so I could post Kari's height and weight at her 8 yr check up.  Guess what?!?!  I didn't take her in!  I remembered to get her pictures done.  I scheduled and carried out a fabulous baptism.  But I failed to actually take her to the doctor and make sure that everything was actually, physically ok....  Oy.

 

Story behind this picture: Kari saw the props over on the shelf and decided she wanted to use them, even though baking is not exactly her most favoritest thing to do.

However, Kari loves to craft.  She loves to make anything or paint anything or bead anything or knit or crochet.  Interestingly, she really isn't all that into coloring.  She likes to make lists and tables and charts of things she knows. 

We took this one specifically so you could see the remnants of her manicure.  Again, way to go mommy...  Way to pay attention to the details.

Er, I mean, Kari is very smart in school.  She has tons of AR points and does well on spelling tests and things.  She does her own projects without any help from me.  And the one time a year (so far) that she has gotten a warning sent home for behavior, she has punished herself more than I would.

Kari is into all things sports.  She has started soccer practice and wants to do softball in the fall.  She is not scared of making a fool of herself, which I am actually quite jealous of.  

I know this one is silly.  But I really couldn't help it.  I even ordered some!

She is the peacemaker in our home.  Or else she is the entertainer.  I suspect that she may just be so busy at playing, and her siblings so busy and trying to keep up, that no one ever has a chance to fight.  She also loves to read.  Which is awesome! :)

This one is for daddy.  He wanted a great big "gape tooth grin" picture. To date she has lost 6 teeth, 5 of which are showing in the picture.  She also got glasses shortly after these were taken.

And this one is my own invention.  Kari brought some of her collections to take a picture with, including her newest obsession with Ninjago in the form of the alarm clock she got for Christmas (like that run on sentence, didja?).  My contribution to the set up was having Lloyd the ninja (what kind of name for a ninja is THAT?!?!) holding Woody and SpongeBob hostage.  Kinda works out perfectly :)  If you didn't know, she is a collector.  Once she has one thing, she wants all the rest.  She also has to be fair about everything.  Taking turns even if she clearly has a preference to a certain thing.

Kari weighs 61lbs 6 oz and is 50.25 inches tall.  She is right in the 50% all around.

She is the best first child this mother could ask for :)

Gamer

When Kelsey grows up, she is totally going to be a gamer.

Actually, I sincerely hope not.  We aren't (currently) all that big on video games at our house, for which I am thankful.

These pictures just needed to be posted, ya know?

And yes, that is the old school, one and only, original Nintendo.  Maybe, if she falls in love with Tetris or Dr Mario I could stand it :)

My Favorite Luxuries

I know I have mentioned my favorite luxuries on here at one point or another.  But every once in a while, I figure they are worth re posting.  Especially if I have a few to add.

 

My most recent acquisition to the list: my wireless printer.  As we speak, my laptop is broken.  The battery is being retarded and the charger also doesn't always function.  So, every time I wanted to print something, I would have to shut down the computer, plug it in next to the printer, and restart the dang thing.  Pain.  In.  The.  Rear.  Also, the scanner on my previous "All in One" stopped working (which is how I do my deposits for the bank).  Enter this little guy.  A Black Friday Special from Wally World, although I actually purchased it later online.  Same deal, just didn't have to wait in the store.  The print quality seems to be great for all I need it to do, and the convenience...  well, it is hard to beat.  I do find that I go through a bit more paper, since I no longer have to make the laborious trip down the 8 stairs into my basement to physically hook it up to the printer.  I know.  Spoiled.

Next on my list is my SpotBot.  Not a picture of my exact model, but whatev.  With a dog, 4 kids, and 1 big kid, I have used this so much already, I am kind of in love.  The best part?  The hands free option.  I DO have to fill and dump out the water, but I put it over the spot, push a button and voila!  Its like magic :)  It is also a fabulous cleaner.  It gets out some pretty nasty looking stuff, and thus far, doesn't seem to attract any more dirt to the area later.

My next "best invention ever" is the automatic van door.  I cannot tell you how much I love love love opening the door from elsewhere and telling my children to go get buckled.  Most of them are not big enough to open the door by themselves, but they are big enough to be able to get buckled.  Saves tons of time and is quite lovely.  I used to think that vans were lame.  But, brother, lemme tell you.  I have seen the light!  I am converted!

When eBooks first came out, I did quite a bit of research on which one I would "one day" want.  My Super fabulous SIL took matters in her own hands and that "one day" became my birthday.  Couldn't love her more :)  I picked this kind because (at the time it was the only kind that) I could get library books from.  Now kindle has jumped on that band wagon, so I am not sure I would make the same decision now, were my current "book" to die (kindle being so available and the basic model being so cheap).  I AM, however, glad that it is not back lit.  Good choice there.  I was at first afraid that I would miss holding an actual book.  But I was fairly certain that at some point I would want to go digital for storage reasons.  I am glad I did.  This "book" is so much easier to hold in bed, easier to carry, and easier to get books on (for those lazy hermits among us who never leave the house).  Do I miss holding an actual paper book?  Not one bit.

Speaking of things I can walk away from, I also find my stand mixer mightily convenient.  I own an Kitchenaid Stand mixer (it is actually the heavy duty professional version, but that is just because it is what I could find on sale).  And lemme tell you, my cakes are much lighter and fluffier, because now when it says "Beat for 2 minutes on high" I totally do it. :)

I believe that is my round up of things I could technically do without, but that certainly make my life easier.  Feel free to mention your favs in the comments.  Maybe give me some new ideas :)

Dishwasher Talkin' and maybe a bit of Frenching....

I started out to take this video because she was talking with herself in the reflection from the dishwasher.  When she started licking it, I felt like maybe I should redirect her to a more positive form of activity: dancing (which Aunt Pickle taught her while she was out here).  I also love her tentative little hand grabbing thing on the handle.

The End.

Pbbbbbbbt

My friends mother taught Kelsey how to do this.  It is especially humorous when she does this in the middle of church.  :p

You also get a feeling for just how loud the child is.  When she wants to be heard, there ain't no stopping her :)

Random

Herein follows a collection of random pictures, which don't belong together, but don't really merit their own post.  Observe:

 

Smiling baby in a high chair.

Attentive baby in a high chair.

Handsome fella in a backwards baseball cap.

Sleeping baby in mommy's bed.

Smiling baby in high chair with sah-weet red hairband.

A sneak peak of "the eyebrows".  You get these when you get in trouble with Kelsey.

Sleeping Kaitlyn after night of staying up too late and a hard day of playing.

See?  Nothing cohesive about it.  But pictures totally worth sharing! :)  Right?  RIGHT?!?!

 

The End.

Pulling Up

Because I am really super great at staying on top of things and posting right away, like, right when things happen, I am sure you will be surprised to know that I have been holding onto these pictures and am therefore posting them a bit late.  Note the Christmas tree in the background.  Amen.

 

Right around Christmas time, Kelsey started pulling up on things. 

She was pretty happy about it.  I love the chubby legs and going up on her toes :)

It soon branched out to everything.  Which included stairs :(

Luckily her siblings were around to make it look more inviting to go up them.  Er, or to keep her from going up.  Yeah.  That's it.

This is why I don't put her in pants and shirts very often.  Because I frequently find the baby on one side of the room, and the pants on the other.  

I expect she will be walking any day now.  I love my little menace!

Continuing Yesterday's Theme

I don't believe that I was reading in kindergarten.  In fact, I am pretty sure I wasn't because I remember my first grade teacher, Ms. Bennett, and Dick and Jane.  I am telling you this because I am sure this information is vital to your existence. 

Aaaaaactually, this is a long winded introduction of the video of Kaitlyn.  Reading.  Mostly for grandparents who are far away, and for my own purposes in remembering. 

Such a proud little reader!

Reading

I am a reader.  My mother says I always have been.  I enjoy escaping to another place where problems are not my own, no diapers need changing, and nobody is hungry.  Also, where in most cases, no matter how improbable it is, things usually end up magically working out.  I also enjoy re-reading books sometimes.  I get involved with the characters, and like revisiting them.  It feels like catching up with an old friend.  So pictures like these make me happy.

And this:

Now, if only I can get Kari to put the book down long enough to walk, we'll be in good shape. :)

Hi

I apparently didn't take any pictures of Aunt Pickle's visit, but I got her in a few videos :) 

I consider this Kelsey's official first word.  She uses it in appropriate places, and on a semi regular basis.  Sweet Baby :)



Grandpa's Visit

Our Christmas break concluded with a few visitors.  My sister Pickle and Grandpa came out for Kari's baptism and to spend a few days with us.  Ironically, Grandpa is spending the day with us today on his way home from a business trip. 

 Is it weird that now that he lives on a different continent, I see him more often?

Kelsey got used to Grandpa fairly quickly....

 I am sure it had nothing to do with Grandpa bribing her, er, I mean feeding her :)

Grandpa is such a good toy/entertainer!

Silly Grandpa :)

When the time came for Grandpa to leave, we were all pretty sad :(

Such a handsome group!

We are so glad to have Grandpa come and visit!  Until next time!

 

Oh, and Happy Valentines Day!  :)

9 months

Today is Kelsey's birthday.  She turns 1 year old.  One whole year of cuteness and cuddles.  And, in honor of that, I am posting her 9 month pictures.  :)

She was Tinkerbell for Halloween, which also just happened to be right around the time these were taken.  And, Heaven help me, I just think they are sooooooooo cute!

"Eh?"

I don't often do nakie baby pictures, but the fancy struck me, so she is.

In naught but her skin and a smile.

And these...  We have had this dress since Kari.  Each of the girls have worn it.  And the bonnet is always a hit.  Old fashioned, but dang cute!

Or maybe it is the baby under the bonnet...  I can never be sure of these things :)

Happy Birthday Kelsey Gayle!  We are so glad you made it to our family!

Fishsticks

Tomorrow is Kelsey's birthday.  She will be 1 year old.  And, since she is probably my last (notice how I don't say anything 100% definitive? Imma women! Its my prerogative!), I am dreading all these milestones and birthdays.

Did my other children grow up this fast? I don't think so. In fact, I am pretty sure they grew up much slower than this. I would have noticed.



This particular night I sat her in her high chair with a handful of cheerios to keep her busy. Then I fed her her customary jar of cat food, er, I mean, baby meat, and jar of veggies.  If you haven't spent a lot of time around Kelsey, you probably wouldn't know that she is loud. Like, loud loud. In an effort to keep her quite, I started trying to fill her mouth with other things. Like table scraps. She proceeded to eat 2 fish sticks, and several spoon fulls of green beans. After her cheerios and baby food.



  Of all the ridiculous things to make me sad, this did because I realized that she doesn't have to eat baby food any more.  Which means that she isn't really a baby anymore.

"Here mom.  Want some?"

No baby.  I think I'll do.  *Sigh*

Straight Hair

When I had Kari's 8 yr old pictures done, her bangs needed a little bit of work.  I don't own a curing iron (I don't really need one after all), but I do own a flat iron.  After seeing the extra attention Kari got, Kaitlyn decided she wanted me to play with her hair too.  And Saturday night after bath time, I blew her hair dry and used the flat iron.

Can I just say I think the results are awesome!  Look at how long her hair is.  And how it starts to curl at the ends on its own. :)

And if you don't know Kaitlyn, that headband, with a large gaudy flower...  Well, that is just her style.

The next day she wore a super cute outfit to school, with yet another headband.

I then persuaded her to let me take a few pictures.  No.  It wasn't hard.

She is a pretty natural little model.

Dontcha think?