We're still here...

Just wanted to let everyone know that we are still here. I know it's been awhile but life has been crazy with 2 kids. Although I feel like we have a pretty good routine now-a-days. Getting Tyler up and ready for school and Kenna and me out the door and to work by 9, doesn't seem too hectic anymore. Although I have a pretty good husband that helps and I don't know what I would do without him. I bow down to any single parent because I don't know how they do it.

We are also patiently waiting for spring to arrive. We are ready for these nasty germs/colds to go away. Everyone in this household has come down with something in the past 3 weeks; whether it be the stomach bug, bronchitis, ear infections or a sinus cold. There has been a couple of warmer days this past week and I am hoping it's a sign of spring to come.

And of course, I can't post something without posting a picture. So here ya go.

And here is another one, but let me tell you something first. I have always had a hard time getting good pictures of Tyler. He typically is looking the other way, not smiling or his eyes are rolled up. And now having 2 kids to look at the camera is going to be an even bigger challenge. So I love having a setting on my camera that rapid shoots. And it is also very comical when you go back through the hundreds of pictures just to get that one good one, because sometimes you get one like this.

Just to point out, Tyler did NOT hit Kenna. Kenna was yawning and Tyler was scratching his head and just happens to have a mischievous smile.

Happy Valentine's Day

Tyler and Kenna would like to wish everyone a

Happy Valentine's Day!

Kenna - 3 months

I know I've said this before, but where has the time gone. I can't believe I am already pulling out the 3 month sticker to do these monthly photo shoots. However I am excited of the milestones ahead. Kenna is growing so fast and she has really began smiling more often when you talk to her. She also laughed for the first time this past month. It was one of the sweetest sounds. I love these moments and cherish every one of them. Especially when she is lying in her bassinet early in the morning and she begins laughing and kicks her legs like she is running somewhere. I just wonder what is going through her little mind.

Happy 3 Months!

Sit to Stand

One of Tyler's goals in therapy is going from a sitting position to a standing position. He has been working extremely hard on this for several months. In the beginning, his therapist has even used a massager/vibrator on his legs to help activate his muscles. He HATED that. His therapist usually needed some assistance since Tyler didn't help much in the beginning. So she would have the secretary come in and have her place the massager on his legs. The first time she did it, Tyler gave her the look of death. This broke her heart and pretty much refused to do it again because she hated to see that face. But he would usually do it. Now any time you mention the massager or vibrator, Tyler gives you "The Look".

Now we don't even need the massager or even have to mention it. He pulls himself up into a standing position with minimal assistance for extra balance. He also needs a little help to initiate the move. Take a look for yourself.

The next step is to actually take steps. You can tell he wants to because every now and then he will lunge forward.

A New Skill....well not so much new anymore.

I think it's time to clean out some of my unpublished posts. I tend to start writing a post then something would interrupt me from publishing. Last year was one of the busiest years we have ever had. Between building a house, working full-time, taking Tyler to therapy, the exhaustion of pregnancy, having a newborn in the house, and all the other things that go along to running a household, my blogging got put to the side.

So it's time to do some cleaning. This post is from August.

One of the things we have been working with Tyler on is his eating skills. Tyler is not a picky eater and will eat anything as long as YOU feed it to him. Any time you place a spoon in his hand or give him his cup, he immediately drops it like it has the plague. I know he has the capability to feed himself because he brings toys to his mouth all the time and chews on them. But you place a spoon in his hand and he wants nothing to do with it.

So I wish I would be telling you that his new skill is feeding himself but it's not. Don't worry he will get it some day. But I am super excited about this new feeding skill of his. Now, he can bite a piece of food. For example, before when feeding him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich we would have to tear off pieces and feed it to him piece by piece. But now, we can put the sandwich up to his mouth and he will bite a piece off. It is so much more convenient.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for another new skill :)

2 months

I can't believe Kenna is 2 months old already. She has grown so much in this last month. We are getting a lot more smiles but of course when the camera comes out, I usually get nothing. She loves being talked too and her most happy time is in the morning.

This is also my last day of maternity leave. I have enjoyed staying home with her and wish I could stay home with her like I did with Tyler for 8 months. But there are bills that need paid :) They change so much in their first year, I hate to miss anything.

Happy 2 months!!
Look at those cheeks. Can you tell she hasn't missed a meal :)

2011 in Review

What a year it has been!

I think this has been the most life-changing and exciting year yet. We have...

• Welcomed the birth of our daughter

• Built a house

• Moved

• Travis changed jobs

• We attended our 3rd Hydro Walk

• Became IRL (In Real Life) friends with some more Hydro families

• Tyler started 1st grade

• Tyler had eye surgery

Those are the big highlights of the year in addition to the regular day to day stuff. Tyler continues to go to therapy and is getting stronger every day. His biggest achievement is voluntarily putting weight through his legs. He will stand with a walker for 2-3 minutes with you balancing him at the waist (I will eventually finish my post about this). He is also getting much better about lifting his head while laying on his belly.

After all of that, I am ready for a laid-back and relaxing 2012. I'm not sure how that will happen with 2 kids but that's what makes it exciting.

Wishing everyone a
Happy
and
Healthy
New Year!

Christmas 2011

Tree
Family Skip-Bo
Kenna's 1st Christmas
Presents Nerf-gun battles
Friends Abundance of Food
Over-night guests Wii playing
Movie watching Fun
Scrabble
Laughter

Girlfriends

I was wondering when this day would come, but I really didn't think it would be this soon. Tyler has been coming home from school with several notes from girls. The notes usually have hearts all over them with Tyler's name in the middle. They are so precious. The kids in his class adore Tyler, but especially the girls. His teacher always tells me the kids argue who gets to push Tyler's wheelchair to recess and then they all take turns pushing him around the playground and that Tyler has a smile on his face the entire time.

But when I saw this one, I cracked up laughing. I love kids imaginations.

A band-aid with Tyler's name on it, that fixed a broken heart.

Aren't boys and girls at this age, still suppose to think that they have cooties?

The Weekend

This past weekend, Travis and my dad went deer hunting. So while they were away, the kids and I spent the weekend at my moms. Most of our time was spent baking Christmas cookies with several breaks for snuggle time.

Making Cut-out cookies

Taking a break for some snuggle time

Here's the finished product of a few cookies we made.
Chocolate Gooey Butter cookies
Cut-out cookiesOreo balls & chocolate-covered pretzels