Learning to Swim

Today I have felt like singing "The Circle of Life" from the Lion King. When I was 9 months old, a 16 year old girl named Lori Lovett gave me swimming lessons. Fast forward 14 years, and my mom and her client Lori Tradup are in the car driving down the road. My mom drives by this swimming school and says "my daughter Shay used to take lessons there when she was little". Lori proceeds to scream with excitement that she gave a baby girl lessons at that school named Shay...we all go home and my mom finds pictures of Lori teaching me to swim. Small world, huh?

So, I feel an instant bond to this woman and start babysitting her 6 month old son on a regular basis. Then she has another one; then I'm going on family vacations with them; then to all family weddings; then I practically move in because they live only 15 minutes from my tiny dorm room; then her kids are both in my wedding...she and I are like sisters now. In fact, I know that God gave me her as a special gift. She has been through it all with me (her sweet husband too). They are family. They are WONDERFUL!

And today, she began teaching Kensington how to swim. 27 years later...it's the circle of life.

Ethan and Ellie, my first kids :)

There she goes!!!

Not a huge fan at first.

But we keep trying. She learned quickly to close her mouth.

After tasting her first pizza flavored gold fish cracker...

Ellie Kate and Kensington Kate

Winston...the cutest dog ever (good thing Tulip doesn't read my blog)

Ending the day chewing on pool toys...

Where is Kensington???

Where is Kensington?????

There she is!

I snapped some pictures of Kensinton playing peek-a-boo this morning. She pulls the towel off of the towel rack and then puts it over her head. She keeps it on her head until you say, "where is Kensington" a few times, then she rips it off. We just got back from lunch with Erika and Ebby Lee and she put my napkin on her head and played the same thing with Miss Erika. So cute!

PS: I haven't been sick yet today! It's only 2:00, but I'm hopeful!!!!

Our new play room!

Last weekend, we decided to turn our 4th bedroom from Andrew's TV room into a play room. I had no idea how much we would love it. This makes the room much more user friendly.

We got rid of all of the existing furniture...we took the two chairs from the family room and put them in here and then bought a new chair for the family room.
This gives Kensington much more room to play with her toys.

Or drink a bottle while watching the big TV.

She started doing this lately...I think it's because she sees Mommy lying down on the floor like this A LOT, so she's going to do it too.

And I just posted this picture because I love the hair. That is how she woke up...I didn't "fix it" like that...so cute!

PS: I didn't get to go to church AGAIN this morning because I was too sick. I hate missing church. I miss my friends, the fellowship, the message and music. Andrew said he went for both of us...maybe next Sunday I'll be feeling better. I only had one good day this week, that was Thursday. We spent the afternoon with Erika and Ebby Lee in our play room. Maybe they need to come back??? They seemed to cure my problems.

Michael Jackson

Here.

Showing You Where We Live Part 5 (with a PS)

My Kitchen...

I love this coffee pot...I have one here and one at our office...they're WONDERFUL!

Anyone who knows me, knows I should own stock in Circle E Candles. I buy 2 a week...yes...they burn all day, every day at my house.

Where Tulip eats...I painted those bowls for her last summer.

PS: So, after every post, I'm going to add a PS for Pregnancy Sucks (or Pregnancy Stuff...it's not all bad...or so I'm told). In my PS, I will mention some things that are going on with me and the pregnancy...mostly for my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt V and such to read...

So, today's PS is why I think Pregnancy Sucks (that's going to be the title of the book I'll write some day. My husband has eagerly asked to write the forward). Only 9 1/2 weeks into it, I am already throwing up multiple times a day. I don't know why I wouldn't expect this...this is my third pregnancy and I was sick during the other two. My mom asked me to remind her today how long I was sick with Kensington...21 weeks Mom! And that's why I think PS. :)

Little Tidbits...

I don't have any pictures, but here are some things you might not know about Kensington...

1. My mom got her this cow book with a button inside...when you get to the word "moo" in the book, you're supposed to hit the button and it "moooooooos" like a cow. This sound scares Kensington to death. For some reason, she does not like the mooing...which is unfortunate since her other grandparents live on a farm with a lot of cows...

2. My parents were playing peek-a-boo with her in the back of the car. She covers her face with a cloth diaper and they say "where is Kensington", then she takes the cloth diaper down and smiles really big while they say "there she is!"....they were playing over and over, then suddenly, she didn't take the cloth diaper down. She had fallen asleep holding it against her face...playing with Lovie and Papa Jay literally put her to sleep.

3. At the end of January, Kensington is going to be a big sister! Yup...these two will be 16 1/2 months a part. God has blessed our sweet little family so much! We have already seen the little thing with its strong heart beat...God is so good.

4. And so, I will be the proud owner of two large tonsils for another 10 months or so until this baby arrives...my surgery date had to come and go.

Little tidbits for your Monday!

Showing You Where We Live Part 3

So, this is our master bedroom...

This is my little sitting area...great for reading.

The best part about our house is the view...here is the view from our room.

View looking over our patio.

Next week, kitchens!

Another Day in the Life of Kensington

Yesterday, Kensington turned 9 months old...how is it that the first 9 months to bring her here took FOREVER, and this past 9 months with her has gone by TOO FAST! I love my little girl so much! Every day, we set out for another adventure together...here is what we did yesterday...

Good morning! Time to bust you out of jail!
Breakfast

She is really good with her shape sorter. She loves to pull the shapes out of their spot and try to stick them back in.

A quick snack before Baby Boot Camp

It was windy at Baby Boot Camp!

She was all smiles at the grocery store (I forgot to take pictures of that!), but then as we were leaving, she marked on her face with my pen and I had to take it away...not happy.

The people at Kroger probably thought I was nuts taking pictures of my crying baby on the way out.

But then she had a nap and life was good. That's her bee...her daddy bought it to help her with her animal sounds.

Lunch...greenbeans with rice and crackers.

Then we played in the little pool in the backyard.

So, Andrew and I are getting her ready to be in the circus (she should keep her options open, right?). We see how long she can balance things on her head. (Please don't call CPS) Sometimes I can get her to balance a toy and bite on another one. She grins really big. She likes our "circus" play.

All of that playing makes a girl need some juice.

She then jumped in her exersaucer...she jumps so hard that it's difficult to snap pictures.

Time for another nap...

Dinner time!

Daddy's home!

Playing with her learning table (the legs have proven to be too dangerous)

Kensington and her daddy practice animal sounds and recognition at least 5 times a day. She loves the animal sounds!

I think we're saying "buzzzzz" here when Daddy points to the bee.

Every night, Daddy gives Kensington her bath while mommy cleans up after dinner. She likes to watch the water come out of the faucet.

All clean and ready for bed! Good night!