Kennedy Marie Crandall 9.15.06

May 2009

2009-06-17T15:53:00.005-05:00

At our nieces wedding in Temecula, CA
The Winery that they where they got married

Paige, Jen and Shirley

Our niece, Hannah, and her maitron of honor

At my niece, Hannah, little girly reception in Temecula, CA the day before her wedding. Kennedy with her cousin Amalia.

Brushing Kailyn's hair at my friend Terri's in Huntington Beach, CA

April 2009

2009-06-17T15:47:00.003-05:00

Easter 2009

Rachel and John

Drew and Dana

Making Blueberry pancakes with Daddy!

Feb/March 2009

2009-06-17T15:37:00.003-05:00

Painting in the kitchen... I made her wear one of my old t-shirts as a smock:)
St. Patrick's Day

Playing with stickers!

Valentine's Day!

After eating sugar! That cookie was good!

Skiing Video

2009-02-10T16:51:00.003-05:00

Crystal Mountain Ski Weekend Photos

2009-02-10T15:24:00.011-05:00

My First Professional Haircut

2009-01-26T16:44:00.003-05:00

Kennedy had her first professional haircut this weekend. She did really good and sat still pretty well. The cut cost $7.00. If only I could get mine done for that!

This past weekend she has thrown up once a day for the past three days. No fever, no complaints. She just hasn't been eating well either. Today Grandma Simon came over to stay with her for the day. So far she hasn't thrown up. We will see tonight!

Her vocabulary has gotten extremely large these days. Yesterday she was marching around saying hup two three four. She loves puzzles and reading books.

A couple weeks ago we had to go to the urgent care and she had a breathing treatment. She has been fighting a cold for what seems to be at least a month now. I guess that is what you get when you send your kids to daycare!

Getting Ready for Christmas

2008-12-06T21:29:00.005-05:00

November 2008 and Potty Trained!!!

2008-11-24T14:59:00.005-05:00

Here are some recent photos of Kennedy. Who knew that eating one small piece of chocolate could turn into this?

When I got back from Miami, I spent two full days working on potty training Kennedy. She seemed to pick up super quick and we continued on with big girl panties to day care. She still has accidents, mostly #2, but is doing SO well with it.

Happy Halloween

2008-10-30T06:52:00.004-05:00

Drinking and Driving:)

Missing Her

2008-10-18T08:28:00.001-05:00

I have been gone and in London now since last Saturday... I am missing my baby girl.

Kennedy Turns 2!!

2008-09-23T21:06:00.007-05:00

Sophie loves CAKE!!

Auntie E and Uncle Aaron

Looking at all the candy she gathered from the Pinata

Blowing out her candles. She actually burnt her lip by getting too close and after she blew the candle out, she touched the wick to her mouth. She didn't even say a word and we didn't notice the blister until later that evening.
From left to right: Sophie, Amallia, Paige, Kennedy, Meadow and Sam

Opening presents

She enjoyed when Meadow read her the cards
Rody the Pony bouncer
We had to pull strings on the Pinata as it was too rainy to go outside and wack it.

Dora Pinata
Dora Cake
Decorations!!
All the cousins playing hide and seek
Getting ready to open presents

Weight: 32 lbs

Height: 34 1/2 inches

Kennedy can now count to 18 on her own, she knows all her shapes and colors. She had a great birthday party the weekend of all the rain from the Hurricane. We had 20 people in our tiny house, but we made the best of it. She was a little overwhelmed with all her cousins wanting to play with her (more like maul her) She is really enjoying all her new toys and has been role playing with the dolls in her new playhouse. She is now enjoying her kitchen more than ever too. She makes us dinner or tea every night. She experienced her first bonfire the other night and when I asked her if she could see the stars in the sky she said Stars are way up high. It was really one of her first full sentences.

Last week I received a call from day care that Kennedy had had an accident and had put a tooth through her lip. She had fallen off the merry-go-round in the room and landed on her chin and mouth. Jason ended up going to take a look and found that it had started to close up. She was tough and had seconds on lunch that day. It really didn't seem to bother her that much. It just looked awful.

Weekend in Tawas

2008-08-05T12:22:00.005-05:00

Kennedy is now jumping into the water on her own. She has no fear! We bought this new headband from the Dr.'s office to hold her ear plugs in. It works great! She even will kick and swim to me or the ladder in our pool.

On Friday we headed up to Tawas after work and I had Jason's van and locked Kennedy inside the van, strapped in her seat at daycare. It was so embarrassing. We had to call 911 and the cops came and opened the door. I thought I was going to get a ticket. I was okay until I called Jason after the 911 call and then I lost it and started panicking a little. There was a huge thunderstorm that came through and it was raining cats and dogs and I had to stand inside the building at day care and couldn't even see in the windows of the car because it was raining so hard. When the cop got the door open, Kennedy looked at me and said Mommy!! She wasn't even upset or crying or anything and I was so scared that she would be because of all the thunder and lightning.

Yesterday after work I picked her up from day care and I didn't have a pacifier, so all the way home I told her that pacifier's were for babies and that big girls didn't use them. So when we got home I quizzed her in front of Jason. I asked her, Kennedy - who uses pacifiers? and she said Babies and I said, are you a baby? and she said No, I'm big girl. It was pretty darn cute.

Here is the new video of her jumping in.

Big Airplane

2008-08-01T13:12:00.002-05:00

We just got back from Colorado Springs to visit Jason's sister and brother -in- law. We sure had a great time and it was so great to have Kennedy get to know her Aunt and Uncle. She wasn't to sure about their dog, Daisy, as she was bigger than Kennedy was. She liked to look for her and throw the ball for her, but didn't want to be on the ground next to her.

It was quite interesting that her favorite toy while at their house was Shirley's yellow and red brooms. I don't think the outside deck could have got any cleaner.

During our visit we went to the Lodge and Spa at Cordillera which is near Vail as I needed to look at the property for my work. Jason did well with Kennedy on the flight out there all by himself as I was meeting him there from San Francisco. He said it was absolute hell, but I am always so impressed with him that he is willing to be so involved in her life and take on such great tasks. We even survived his horrible packing skills. (He isn't the greatest picking out outfits for her to wear)

Shirley took us to the Colorado Springs Zoo on Monday and Kennedy was especially fond of the bird house. We bought a popcicle stick with birdseed on it for $1 and then you could put it out for the parakeets and finches to land on and eat from. It was so cute to watch her run around that try and catch the birds on the stick. I seemed a little weird that Kennedy was more fond of the rental stroller with the steering wheel than the animals, but I enjoyed it.

The flight back was too perfect. We were lucky enough to get all three seats in bulkhead. Jason said that it was so different than his flight when she had to sit on his lap, not to mention the double parenting power.

Summer Days

2008-08-01T12:49:00.004-05:00

Kennedy LOVES playing in the pool.. she is constantly saying "I want to jump in"

I know that you are wondering what is with the Aunt Jemima do-rag? We started using this to keep Kennedy's earplugs in (due to her tubes).

My Sharona

2008-07-03T07:47:00.002-05:00

Weekend in Au Gres

2008-07-01T07:50:00.009-05:00

We had a great weekend up north in Au Gres at my Aunt Gail's and Uncle Dave's cottage right on Lake Huron. The water was freezing, but that didn't keep the kids out of it. The whole family came up to celebrate my dad's 60th birthday.

We took Kennedy's crib matteress with us and she slept on the floor in the room. One time I went and checked on her and she had rolled off under the bed! It was pretty funny.

We recently took the railing off Kennedy's crib. Last night, Jason had fallen asleep on the couch and woke up at 3 a.m. and Kennedy was on the floor sleeping in the living room. The other night I went in her room before I went to bed and she was sleeping on the floor, I put her back in her bed and in the morning I found her on the floor again.

She is starting to learn her colors a little. We have been eating otter pops as a treat when it is hot out. I ask Kennedy what color she wants and we go through them all. For some reason, yellow got stuck in her head and now she goes to the freezer and asks for "a yellow"

Yesterday we went to the doctor because she has a bad cough (since daddy went swimming with her without her ear plugs for her tubes!!) but they said everything looked good. She was 30 lbs and was 32 1/4 inches tall.

Pictures from the weekend with Baby Ryleigh

2008-06-23T12:58:00.003-05:00

Sophie Turns 3

2008-06-23T12:42:00.004-05:00

We helped Sophie celebrate her 3rd birthday on June 14th at my brothers place in Kalamazoo. Kennedy was a trooper that day as she didn't nap the entire ride to Kalamazoo. I had just gotten back from Blackberry Farm in Tennessee on Friday at 7 p.m. and had to turn around and go to Kazoo for the night at 10:30 a.m. the next morning. Wow, what a crazy weekend.

Kennedy is getting her two bottom eye teeth and has been pretty upset by this over the past couple of days. It is finally nice that she can tell us what is wrong now. This morning she told Jason "mouth hurts" although sometimes her talk is kindof crazy... like the other day when she said... Hi playdoh, how are you?

I babysat one of my coworkers baby this weekend. Although I really enjoyed it, I am not ready for another child. Kennedy also got a bit jealous. Jason was in heaven and even said, maybe we should start thinking about another one...

New Videos

2008-05-30T13:57:00.005-05:00

New photos

2008-05-30T13:35:00.004-05:00

Kennedy's new swingset

Mother's day with cousins Paige, Amallia and Meadow

The box my new suitcase came in!

Oh Me Hobbits

2008-05-30T13:12:00.003-05:00

Pictures from my surprize Birthday Party that Jason threw.
Kasey and Mike

Tracie and Brian

Amy and Chris

Rachel and Marisa

Okay so funny story, Jason and I for the longest time would hear Kennedy say this and had NO clue what it meant. We finally figured it out that she was copying Swiper the Fox from Dora and saying Oh Man, Pirates, from a video that they have at day care.

Kennedy is starting to learn her shapes and colors. She is really good at star and the color yellow. She got a huge rug burn on her nose at day care the other day. I guess she was pushing a truck and fell, but thank God it wasn't another bite from another kid. We have been having issues with this but it seems to have gotten better.

My chatter box

2008-05-21T18:49:00.003-05:00

I just returned home from Grand Cayman and Jason and Kennedy met me at the airport. She was so excited to see me! She ran right for me, which was a first at the airport. When we got home that night she actually snuggled with me on the coach and fell asleep by my side. When I went to pick her up to take her to bed, she woke up and hugged my neck and said, no, no, no. So I let her fall back to sleep on my chest. It just melted my heart.

While I was gone she visited my parents for the night in Alma. Apparently she is still very fond of her Pa Pa and won't let him out of sight.

It seems like she has learned SOOO much while I was gone. She is perfecting her ABC's, counting to 10 (she always misses 8) and is starting to put two words together.

Jason built her a swing set before I left and she LOVES to swing on it. I will have to download the picture and post. He did such a great job and has even landscaped it with some mulch, pea stone and brick pathway. He said she was swinging and pointed up in the sky at the moon and kept saying a ball, a ball.

Some of her newest words are:

See ya
starts
moon
sun
truck
cookie
snack
chair
ouch
sad
happy
flashcards
color
shapes

Basically she tries to say anything that you say and she is getting really good at it!

19 months... going on two years

2008-04-18T09:59:00.005-05:00

Jason had to build this sheet for the steps to the pool ladder. She was trying to climb them and was almost to the top when Jason noticed...

We finally had some great weather the other weekend. Kennedy loved taking advantage of it!

I really feel like perhaps Kennedy is hitting the terrible two's early. She really seems to enjoy throwing fits all the time. It is silly but when she doesn't want to go somewhere or do something (like go to bed, brush her teeth, go inside, get in her car seat, etc, etc, etc.) She starts screaming No, No, Mine, Mine, Mine and dropping to the floor no matter where she is. This happens at Dr. office waiting rooms as well as our driveway.. It stumps Jason and I as to what to do about it. We do try time outs, but those usually end up with her screaming and crying and throwing a fit in the corner of the room.

She also has started to become a really good copy cat. She loves to do everything that her daddy is doing. See pictures above...

At the doctor's office this week she was 32 1/2 inches and weighs almost 29 lbs. She is also getting I think all four molars at the same time. Some have poked through and others are just a big bump that feel like they are going to pop through at any time.

Roll her Up!!

2008-03-26T12:08:00.003-05:00

Click here

Easter Photos

2008-03-26T11:51:00.004-05:00

The Potty stool that daddy made before it was painted. I think she likes it!

Bathtime Songs

2008-03-04T11:09:00.002-05:00

Click here for the cutest video. Kennedy thinks she can sing along...

Lastest photos

2008-03-04T08:50:00.005-05:00

Peanut butter and Jelly sandwich on my head! That sounds like a fun time!
This is what happens when you take your eye off of kids!

This weekend at Grandma and Grandpa's house

She gets up in this chair all by herself
No afternoon nap leads to this....

18 month report

2008-03-03T14:30:00.004-05:00

Kennedy has been doing really well lately. Her vocabulary is getting better and better each day. We think by her behavior this weekend that she is getting in some more teeth (finally, she still only has 8). Two weekends ago I took her swimming at the YMCA. She loved it. The hardest part was trying to get both of us dry and dressed afterwards. I mean I was changing her dripping wet and freezing so that she would be warm. Then after I got her ready, do you think that she would wait and hang out with mom while I got dressed.... Absolutely not. Thank God we were the only ones in the locker room at the time.

This past weekend we spent the day with Grandma Simon while dad and Grandpa (Pa pa to Kennedy) went skiing. It is amazing how much she adores my mom and dad. She is so good and snuggling with Papa and when he leaves the room, she is constantly looking for him.

She is definitely mastering their stairs at their house. I almost don't even think we need the gate anymore. She gets to the top of the steps and lays on her belly and then slides down the stairs.

The other night I was sitting on the couch with her and Jason was sitting in the chair next to us. He passed gas really loud and out of nowhere Kennedy said "Daddy stinky" and waved her hand over her nose.

She still enjoys going pee pee on the potty. At my mom's house she actually did a number 2 in the toilet. She also can reach their door handles at my parents house, so she spent most of the weekend opening and closing doors.

My mom and I were shopping this weekend and I was trying on some things. Kennedy was exploring the dressing room and went under the door to another person trying on clothes.

Yesterday Kennedy refused to nap, during dinner she actually fell asleep. I caught it on camera and we post it when I can. It was too funny.

New Words and things:
Climbing up on the dining room chairs
Trying to sing along to ABC's and Itsy Bitsy Spider (although it sounds like she is just baby talking)
Knees
Belly Button (and she knows where it is located too)
Outside
Time Out (she also knows where this is located in our house)
Night Night
Ouch (Comes out more like ouwww)
Diaper
Messy

The last time I checked she was weighing in at a whopping 28.5 lbs.

Animal Sounds

2008-03-03T14:18:00.001-05:00

Here is another great video of Kennendy. Click here.

My Daddy is the BEST!

2008-02-06T15:29:00.000-05:00

Tabbagon Run Video- Click here

Jason built this run for Kennedy.

January Photos

2008-02-06T12:39:00.000-05:00

My first sled ride....

My first piggy tails!!

New Words:
Potty
Elmo
Please (in sign language)
Ee Aww - Donkey sound
Bye Bye
cheep cheep - chic

15 Month Well Visit/Christmas Photos

2008-01-08T10:14:00.000-05:00

Playing in the boat that daddy made for Grandma and Grandpa's family room

My new chair

With cousins Sam and Sophie

My new Care Bear

Yesterday we went to Kennedy's 15 month well visit (Although she is almost 16 months). She weighed 27 lbs and was 31 inches long. Sill in the 90th percentile but back on the charts for her age.

We had another ear infection during the Christmas holiday after the tubes were in. The doctor said the tubes don't prevent the infection, they just help with the pressure and drainage.

On January 22, Kennedy will move into the toddler room at day care.

Some of her newest milestones

Words:

Turtle

All done

Down

Socks

Hat

Meow

Ruff Ruff

Tweet Tweet

Roar

Nose

Eyes

Rachel

Grandpa

Actions:

She is climbing EVERYTHING

Has major temper tantrums when she doesn't get her way (following in mommy's footsteps)

Pulls on highchair when she is hungry

Signs more when she wants more of something

SNOW DAY

2007-12-02T14:37:00.001-05:00

Helping dad shovel the snow! I never thought when I bought this snow suit last year that she would actually fit into it someday...

Getting Ready for the tubes

2007-12-02T14:32:00.000-05:00

Here is Kennedy in her pretty gown and cap as we await going into surgery to have the tubes put in her ears.

We arrived at the sugery center at 6:45 a.m. We registered and prepped Kennedy and then they took her in at 8 a.m. for the proceedure. She was really crabby in the recovery room but the nurses said that was normal. We were home by about 9:15 a.m. After she woke up from the nap in the car ride home, she was back to her normal self.

Surgery Tomorrow

2007-11-28T08:16:00.000-05:00

Generations photo from Kennedy's birthday. Grandma Voorheis, my mom, me and Kennedy.

Tomorrow Kennedy is going to have surgery. We have been battling ear infections since the summer and the doctor finally decided to send us to the Ear Nose and Throat specialist. At the specialist they found water behind Kennedy's ears that was going to affect her speech development, so they opted to put tubes in her ears.

We go in tomorrow for the outpatient procedure at 6:45 a.m. The procedure should only take about 5 minutes, but she has to be put under, so that is what will take most of the time.

Please think of her tomorrow and keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Apple Orchard

2007-11-05T20:40:00.000-05:00

These pictures are from when we were in Kalamazoo a few weeks back and went to the apple orchard with Sam and Sophie.

New Videos

2007-11-05T20:37:00.000-05:00

Halloween Costume

Baby doll stroller in kitchen

CAUGHT ON FILM!!!

2007-11-05T11:14:00.001-05:00

Is she just small or is my butt really that big?

Happy Halloween!!

2007-11-05T10:58:00.000-05:00

Below are the pictures that I took at Kennedy's party at daycare. After the party we made an appearance at Morley and then we went to Great Grandma Voorheis' nursing home. Boy did we brighten up her day. Then we went out to Great Aunt Nadine and Uncle Steve's house where Kennedy sure showed them how "busy" she is these days. She loved watching the cats from her portable highchair and loved all of Nadine's knickknacks. I told Nadine that we were just giving them a taste of what Christmas will be like. We laughed about putting all the tree ornaments 3 ft or higher.

Newest milestones:

Says (Although we are the only ones that can distinguish the word!)
Yucky
All done
Thank You
No (way too often!)

Throws her own diaper away
Goes to her room when you say that she is stinky and we need to change her
Goes to her room when we ask if she wants to go "night, night"
Flips onto her stomach in the bath and kicks her feet like she is swimming
Goes to her highchair and puts her arms up when she is hungry
Goes to the coat rack and points to her coat when she wants to go outside and play
Makes an "S" noise when she sees shoes or socks
Will find or bring you her baby doll when you ask
Will find or bring you her ball when you ask
Loves playing "come and get me"
Zerberts mom's belly.

1 year well check

2007-09-23T19:04:00.000-05:00

Kennedy's new stats

Weight 24 lbs 12 oz - 95th percentile
Height 29 1/2" - 70th percentile
Head Circumferance: 46.2

Get this.. she actually LOST weight from her last appointment when she was having ear infections. They are making us go back in 1 month for a weight check... Her ears were clear of infection so she was able to get her shots. It was heartbreaking to hear her scream like she did.

Over the past couple days we have been switching from a bottle to a sippy cup. It has been a rough couple of days, but I think we are succeeding! Next to go is the pacifier, although she only gets it at night as it is. I hate giving up all this stuff that makes her a toddler and not a baby anymore.

Kennedy's Big Day!

2007-09-17T12:25:00.000-05:00

One Year Ago

2007-09-14T14:06:00.000-05:00

Can you even believe it? It is such a bitter sweet day for me. Last year on this date, I was scheduled to go into the hospital to get induced to have our little baby. What a year it has been. On one hand I can't wait until Kennedy starts talking and can tell me what she wants and on the other, I don't want her to grow 1 more day older. I look back at these pictures and can't even comprehend that they were a year ago. I can't imagine our lives without her and have never felt more complete. I truely love being a mother and anytime I look at her, she puts an instant smile on my face. No matter how bad a day can be, she keeps me going.

New milestones:

Enjoys feeding mommy cheerios

Learning to use a spoon on her own

Will point to mommy or daddy when asked "Where is ...?"

Can point to mommy's nose

Plays ring around the rosie and falls down at the end

Waves bye bye

Working on learning to say baby, meow and cock a doodle do

Learning to stack cups, put blocks in the toys, etc.

Loves to look in the toilet

Eating all people food

Next week we have shots and our 1 year appointment. I'll update with her stats then. Here is a recent summer pictures

1 Month and 1 week from 1 year

2007-08-07T21:16:00.001-05:00

Can you even believe it? Kennedy will be turning 1 in a month and a week.

Today we went to the doctor for our follow up appointment regarding her double ear infection that she was diagnosed with a couple weeks ago. Oh yeah, and with that she also was diagnosed with pink eye. I of course also caught it. Anyway, the doctor found today that the infection didn't go away. They put her on a stronger antibiotic and we have to go back for another check in 3 weeks.

Today she weighed 24 lbs. 7 ounces. I didn't catch what she wrote down for height though.

Kennedy continues to get better at walking each and every day. Last weekend she attended her first wedding ceremony. She didn't sit still very well and wanted to play with the runner that went down the aisle. After the ceremony Cindy Pace babysat while Jason and I attended the reception. On Friday, Kennedy attended her first baseball game. We went to the Loons game, which was an outing sponsored by my work. She did really well, although I don't think I watched 1 inning of the game!

Her stranger anxiety has gotten more severe these days. When she is put into a new situation or with a group of people she doesn't recognize, she gets VERY clingy to me. Oh well, I think it happens to most kids.

No new teeth lately, although by the way she has been chomping on her pacifier and fingers, you would think she would pop another one soon. It is hard to tell if she has been crabby because of the ear infection or if she is teething.

She now can give high fives as well as can point out mama's nose. She also loves to give big open mouthed kisses.

Here is a current favorite photo of mine:

10 month update

2007-07-12T07:26:00.000-05:00

Kennedy went to the doctor on Monday for her 9 month check up (well it was closer to 10 months because of scheduling conflicts). At this appointment they evaluate her motor skills. No shots, Yeah! I had to fill out a questionaire and I answered all yes when it asked if she did certain things yet. While I was waiting for the doctor to come in, I read the questionaires for 10 months, 12 months and 14 months. I could have checked yes to everything for all those evaluations, except a couple questions on the 14 months like: Does your child listen to a command like, go get your shoes. She weighed a whopping 24 lbs, 7 oz and was 29 inches long. Still over the 95th percentile for weight and she moved into the 75-90 percentile for height.

As you can see in the video that I just posted, she is walking! Well 5-10 steps at a time before she falls down. Over the weekend she started cutting in two teeth on top. It is weird because they aren't her two front teeth.

Last week we went to Gaylord as Shirley and Howie (Jason's sister and brother-in-law) were in town. We drove up on Tuesday and left on the 4th (Wednesday). I took off Thursday and Friday from work, so we decided to take one of Jen's kids for the weekend. Amallia stayed with us from Wednesday night until Sunday. On Saturday, we all went up to Tawas and stayed on the boat. Kennedy really loves the water!!

Here are the latest pictures:

Walking on my own

2007-07-12T07:23:00.001-05:00

Click here for video

Baby Steps

2007-06-28T20:54:00.000-05:00

Today our baby girl took two steps in a row! She has been lunging forward with one foot and then falling for the last week. Tonight she actually took a step with each foot before falling down and she did it more than once, so I know it is not a fluke. I can't believe she is growing up so fast.

Tonight for dinner we had green beans chopped up, Turkey and Rice Vegetables (3rd foods), Banana, Apple and Pear baby food and a graham cracker. She does really well with her sippy cup now too. She actually sucks the water out!

New Tooth

2007-06-20T20:31:00.000-05:00

Kennedy now has another tooth showing through on the bottom next to her other one. She was not a very happy camper with this one. It came in on Monday, June 18th and she was really crabby on Sunday.

Dunkers

2007-06-20T20:30:00.001-05:00

Playing in the pool... click here

My new toy

2007-06-19T20:47:00.001-05:00

Click here to see the new video. Sorry it is so dark.

She is on the move!!

My first trip to the zoo and merry-go-round ride!

2007-06-17T15:06:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we went to the Children's Zoo in Saginaw for a Morley sponsored function. Kennedy and mom went on the merry-go-round. She was a little scared at first, but seemed to enjoy it. After that we had Tina, Vic, Faith and Claire Breinager over to swim in the pool.

Definitely NOT practicing on her future career!

2007-05-28T16:16:00.000-05:00

Click here to see the video.

Newest Pictures - Mother's Day and Memorial Day

2007-05-28T15:27:00.001-05:00

When I got home from Scottsdale from my 8 day program, I was so excited to see Kennedy! I picked her up from day care and then I had taken the rest of the week off of work to spend with her. (Well on Wednesday she went to day care because I had a dentist appointment). It is now coming to the conclusion of the vacation (Monday) and I have to go back to work tomorrow. I have had so much fun at home with her. On Thursday we went into visit my work and then to Lowes to pick up some plants for the garden. On Friday we drove to Mt. Pleasant to have lunch with Jason's Aunt Nancy and Uncle Bob, his Great Aunt Peg and his parents. After lunch we went to Island Park in Mt. Pleasant and Kennedy had her first swing ride. She LOVED it! She giggled the whole time. After our time at the park, we drove to meet my parents in Tawas with their boat. We stayed Friday night on the boat. On Saturday, Kennedy took a 3 hour nap in the morning on the boat. I thinked she enjoyed the rocking motion. After her nap, we went to the craft show in Tawas and later that day Jason drove up to meet us. We went out to eat with my parents to celebrate our 7 year anniversary. Yesterday and today we have spent time playing with Kennedy, opening up our pool and today we planted the garden. Kennedy was a great spectator. On Saturday morning I noticed a white spot on her lower gum... I think

she is finally getting a tooth!!

Hanging out with Dad at Aaron's and E's house. They had a brunch for Mother's Day!

Sweet Sophie Pie!

Sam helping with tearing the deck down in his back yard. The contractors were coming the next week to start the installation of the new one.

Sophie and Aunt Rachel swinging in the back yard at A and E's house.

My newest trick... look mom, no hands!

One of my favorite toys... Dad's sunglasses.

Pole Dancing!!

More recent photos and phots of when the cousins came to visit

2007-05-06T18:40:00.000-05:00

With cousin Paige

Cousin Amallia feeding Kennedy

After Meadow's turn feeding Kennedy
Bathtime!!

What a big girl!

2007-05-06T18:21:00.000-05:00

Check out this new video of Kennedy crawling and pulling herself up on the coffee table.

Click here for the video

Must be holding her back

2007-05-04T06:16:00.000-05:00

I got home from South Carolina last Friday and Kennedy had learned so many new things. She now is able to crawl,pull herself up to a standing position,pick up food off her tray on her highchair with her finger and thumb and feed herself, and the greatest of all.. Sleep without her SwaddleMe through the night. She now flips to her stomach after we put her to bed on her back. Jason says I must have been holding her back becuase she did so much while I was gone. I had to take her to the doctor on Monday because she had thrush (yeast infection in her mouth, caused by a bacteria unbalance). We got medicine for that and then the following day she came home from daycare with a horrible cold and a cough that sounds like it is coming from her toes. It makes me so sad to hear her cough.

I am on my way to Minneapolis for another short program returning on Sunday. Jason is going to take Kennedy up to Gaylord for the weekend to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa Crandall. He has to attend a bachelor party on Saturday night. Last night, Grandma and Grandpa Simon came to see her to celebrate my birthday. They were excited to see all the new things that she could do. They couldn't believe that in one week she had learned so much.

By the way, when she was at the Dr.s on Monday, she weighed a whopping 22 lbs. 13 oz. She is such a ham!

Easter photos and Sam's 4th birthday ~ I know really late

2007-04-24T15:10:00.000-05:00

Gone Fishin'

2007-04-24T14:53:00.000-05:00

Kennedy spent Saturday night with my parents this weekend. They went out in their fishing boat.

My mom said that one time during the weekend Kennedy was playing on the floor in the living room and my mom walked into the kitchen and when she came back Kennedy was standing up holding onto the Lazyboy. She hasn't done it again since, but she sure is getting interested and strong enough to do it. Jason also called and told me that Kennedy slept through 2 nights now without her SwaddleMe. Thank the Lord! We are getting there.

I miss her like crazy and am bummed that I am onsite on my birthday today, April 24... What a happy 29th.

I know it has been awhile

2007-04-19T11:32:00.000-05:00

I know I haven't updated in awhile.. things have been really busy in our lives. I leave to go on another program this weekend to South Carolina for 7 days. Kennedy will be staying with Grandma and Grandpa Simon Saturday night to give Jason a little break before the full week of me being gone. Again, I am really sad about leaving. I hate to even think about it as I get too emotional about it.

Kennedy has become so active. She loves to play with her toys and she LOVES to stand up either holding on to our hands or up against the coffee table or on her toys. She still is having a really hard time sleeping at day care and we still can't seem to get rid of the SwaddleMe. She has been waking up a lot more in the night or early morning when we don't put her arms in the contraption.

We have been working with some Gerber Puffs to try and teach her how to pick things up with her finger and thumb. When we give her a Saltine cracker, she does really good with it and gums it up well and knows that it goes in her mouth. Not so much with the puffs. She likes to play with them but doesn't really get how to feed herself with them yet. We are also working on waving bye bye and saying MAMA... she says dada all the time. Yesterday she tried her first yogurt. She seemed to really like it.

Last weekend Jason's mom flew in for a training meeting for her church and stayed with us from Friday until Tuesday. It had been about 4 months since she had seen Kennedy and I think she noticed a ton of changes. We were happy she could spend some Grandma time with her. She even picked up Kennedy from daycare on Monday afternoon. Jason's sister and our three nieces also came down to our house on Saturday. They were so good with Kennedy. Paige especially. Her and Amailia fought over her a lot, which was really cute. They all fed her and helped change her diaper. Amailia scared me a little when she picked Kennedy up and tried to walk around with her. She only weighs about double what Kennedy weighs. Kennedy loved all the attention. I know that they were sad to go because they were having such fun with her. I will try to get some pictures up of the weekend soon.

6 month checkup

2007-04-07T10:33:00.000-05:00

Kennedy went to the doctor on March 30th for her 6 month well visit. She was 27 inches (90th perecentile) and 21 lbs. (95th percentile). I took her alone this time and was really nervous about the shots as the first time she got them, I did worse than her. It actually went fine and she barely even cried. We also learned at the appointment that she can start eating baby food meats. We tried some the other day and I thought it smelled and tasted like wet cat food. Kennedy didn't like it either. I finally had to mix it with some vegetables to finish it.

Last week I had to sign my first ouch report at daycare. Kennedy fell over onto a toy and bruised her cheek. Oh well, this will be first of I am sure many as she learns to crawl and walk.

She has also learned some more consenants. She now babbles da da and ta ta with her tongue.

Rockin'

2007-04-01T19:51:00.000-05:00

Kennedy started to get up on her knees today and start rockin'... Click here for the video.

I love to talk... just like my mom

2007-03-29T20:18:00.001-05:00

Click here for video

new phone with new features

2007-03-28T21:17:00.001-05:00

I got a blackberry the other day and I am seeing if I can blog from the phone.

MIrror Mirror on the wall..

2007-03-28T18:24:00.000-05:00

I like to give myself kisses! (or maybe just lick the mirror anyway)

It was so funny to watch her play with herself in the mirror

At Grandma and Grandpa Simon's house on Saturday

Patty cake with Grandma

Kennedy is feeling much better these days, but still has a little bit of the cold left and has had a hard time breathing through her nose at night. For the past two nights, she has been up at 3:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. respectively.

She is learning how to clap and copies dad when he claps with her. We have had to switch to a sleep sak at day care now as they won't allow blankets in the crib anymore. Newborns have to wear... drum roll... SwaddleMe's. Can you believe it? This is why we are getting rid of the SwaddleMe because day care originally wouldn't allow it. Oh well, we are still working on it.

K's newest thing is to grab on a chair, table, crib, toy etc. while she is sitting and pull herself to her knees. I wonder if she is going to skip crawling sometimes when she does this.

Here we go to the doctor's again

2007-03-21T22:05:00.000-05:00

Kennedy was up in the middle of the night again last night. She was having a hard time breathing with her really stuffed up nose. While at work today, daycare called and said that she had a fever again of 101.6. Of course I was given instructions that if she got a fever again I was to take her to the doctor's. So off we went at 3:30 p.m. The doctor thought that she contacted a different viral infection from the one last week, since she didn't have a fever or any of the symptoms again until Tuesday and was fine all weekend. Poor little thing. I feel so bad for her, but it is to be expected when starting day care to catch all those germs. I wish I could keep her in a bubble for the rest of her life.

On a better note, here are some great shots of Kennedy in her new Hope chest that St. Lorenz Lutheran Church dropped off in honor of her baptism yesterday. It is so beautiful and Kennedy loved it too!

What a week

2007-03-19T20:27:00.000-05:00

Kennedy and Megan. It definitely was appearant that Kennedy is going to be the rebellious one!

Aunt Kasey and Kennedy

Is this a donut?

Last Tuesday Kennedy's rash got really bad again. She also had a fever of 102. On my way home from work that night a light went on in my car stating that my brake pads were low. So I ended up taking Wednesday off and going to the doctor and the car dealership. They nurse practitioner said that the rash was typical diaper rash and told me the fever could be from the cold that Kennedy was getting (she was sniffley too). She told me to go to the pharmacy and ask for Calmeseptine ointment which is a barrier that they use for feeding tube site leakage, wound drainage, fistula leaking, rashes, etc. It is thicker than Desitin. So we began to try that. The car dealership told me that nothing was wrong with my brake pads and that they cleaned up some wiring to the sensor. That evening I drove down to Auburn Hills and met Kate, Megan and Kasey for dinner. Kate was in town visiting her parents for the week and I wanted to meet Megan for the first time. What a little peanut she was. I can't believe that Kennedy was ever that small. When we got home, Kennedy had a fever again.

On Thursday night she had another fever and Friday morning her fever was up to 103. The nurse told me that if the fever persisted that I needed to call them again. She couldn't go to day care so I had to take another day off. That morning she saw the doctor. They decided to take a blood sample and a urine sample. Because she still was fighting the rash they wanted to get a sample of the urine by a catheter so the rash wouldn't contaminate the sample. Well, the nurse messed up and she peed all over the table. At that point, they just decided to bag her to catch the urine. I had to wait in the doctors office and try to feed her a bottle so she would pee again. She wouldn't eat. So I told them I had a few errands to run while we were waiting for the sample. I swear it took forever for her to finally pee again. The results of all the tests showed that it wasn't bacterial, so they sent us on our way. When she woke up on Saturday, she didn't have a fever anymore and was back to herself.

The rash is doing SO much better. We also switched diapers to Huggies to increase the absorbency per the doctor's instructions. Today she went back to day care.

Her new thing is to speak in Lamb. She constantly babbles "Baa, baa, baa". She also is squirming around more on the floor to get things out of her reach. We are working on trying to teach her how to sit up from being on her stomach. Everyone says that you don't really want them to start crawling because then they are all over the place. I say, at 20 lbs, 5 oz., she needs to start walking tomorrow. I can't carry her very well anymore!!

Babbling Baby

2007-03-11T18:31:00.001-05:00

Click here for the video

Newest Pictures

2007-03-11T15:28:00.000-05:00

Having fun with dad

I love my Grandma

Bath time!!
Peek a boo! Are you coming to feed me?

Ready to go to daycare.

Rash update:
I called the pediatrician on Friday and they prescribed some ointment for Kennedy's diaper rash. It isn't gone as of today, Sunday, but it is much better. On Saturday morning I gave her an oatmeal bath as well, which seemed to help.

Last night we tried to put Kennedy to bed without her SwaddleMe. She woke up every hour until 2 a.m. at which point I gave up and put her in it. She slept for the rest of the night without making a peep... Ugh! I guess we will just keep trying.

Cousins

2007-03-08T09:16:00.000-05:00

Kennedy with her favorite Simon cousins

Daycare Update:

Kennedy has been doing pretty good at daycare. She doesn't like to sleep there though. For the past three days she has only taken two 30 minute naps. When she gets home she crashes and I have to wake her up so that she will still go to sleep for the night. She tends to be crabby because she is so tired as well. Yesterday wasn't such a good day for me. When I arrived to pick her up, they informed me that she had 4 BM's throughout the day and that her little butt was really red from a rash. They also showed me a little rash on her chin that they said showed up after her afternoon nap. When I laid her down to put her snowsuit, she had a big booger along with some dried squash from lunch on her nose. That took me over the edge. I know that I probably am taking it out of proportion, but I freaked out about it and cried all the way home. I had a really hard time leaving her again this morning.

I also asked how much they were feeding her at each session because I felt that they were going through the food I sent too fast. They told me 2 containers of 2nd foods at each session. Kennedy has never eaten 1 whole container of 2nd foods in one sitting. Therefore, the reason for the multiple BM's throughout the day. Today we went over the amount that she should be eating and hopefully that will help things out. I also plan to make a surprise visit today on my lunch hour to check up on her awful rash.

I know I need to allow her to adjust and for them to adjust to her, but I am completely worried that they aren't changing her diaper enough (therefore the rash) and they aren't wiping off her chin enough from her drool (therefore the rash). Although their logs show that they are changing her diaper every two hours. I guess I am just feeling super guilty knowing that it would be better if she were in my care.

This weekend we go to get her 6 month pictures. I hope she performs better then she did for her 3 month pictures!

To Whom it May Concern

2007-03-05T13:02:00.000-05:00

To my little secret pal,

Thank you so much for the flowers. I know that my little Kennedy did not send me flowers and I would like to appropriately thank you. Please identify yourself.

This morning went well. Kennedy didn't cry or fuss when I left. I was brave and didn't start crying until I left the center. I called and checked in at 11 a.m. They said that she had been a good girl, but hadn't taken a nap yet. I wanted to say have fun trying to get her to sleep, but I didn't. It can be difficult at times. The bad news is that Grandma Simon's crocheted blanket has too big of holes in it to have in her crib according to their rules. Oh well, we will just have to use it at home. Jason will pick her up at 5 p.m. today and get the skinny on how the rest of the day went.

T minus 3 days

2007-03-01T16:02:00.000-05:00

3 days until Kennedy goes to daycare. We decided on Lollipops for daycare which is on the corner of Bay and Kochville in Saginaw. I went there today and dropped off the paperwork and talked with some of the girls that will be watching Kennedy. They all seem really nice and asked a lot of questions about what milestones Kennedy has hit, if she still used a swing etc. They even had her binder and name on several things!! Auntie Nadine agreed to be Kennedy's local emergency contact if Jason and I are not reachable. We are so happy she excepted. We have included her, my mom and dad, Jason's mom and dad and Mike Ford (upon his request, isn't that super cute?) as people who are allowed to pick her up.

I'll report more on Monday when my heart breaks when I leave her there.

Two New Videos

2007-02-26T22:21:00.000-05:00

Click for Teething Toy

Click for Excersaucer

The weekend project

2007-02-26T21:29:00.000-05:00

The new paint job in the Living room. Although it looks a little blue in the picture it is actually Vintage Gray.

Where are the pictures?

2007-02-26T16:55:00.000-05:00

I know, I know... it has been awhile since I have posted new pictures. I hopefully will try and get some tonight to post. I just have been so busy. When I got home from Mexico on the 19th at 12:30 a.m., I picked up my baby girl still asleep and brought her into my bed and snuggled with her. I just laid there and smelled her. She didn't wake up and eventually I returned her to her crib, but boy was I so happy to be home.

This week I think Kennedy started teething... on Thursday night my parents came over to stay the night as they were leaving out of the Flint airport on Friday morning. Kennedy woke up at 3:30 a.m. and was up until 5:30 a.m. This weekend she had a little fever and runny nose and constantly needed attention. She would take out her pacifier and chew on the plastic part around it.

I put a bowl of green beans on the highchair yesterday and went to go get the bib and when I turned back around, little miss K had grabbed the bowl and dumped the green beans all down the front of her. I guess it serves me right for leaving it there unattended.

Jason painted our living room this weekend too. It only has taken us 6 years to determine what color to paint it.

Kennedy now eats pears and green beans. Next up either carrots or prunes... hmmm so many choices.

Jason took a new job with Medler Electric in Bay City and starts next Monday. So Kennedy will start day care next Monday! I have already warned my coworkers that I will probably be late every day next week and it will take some getting used to taking her there. It is so hard to believe that someone else is going to watch her. We have been so fortunate that Jason was able to stay home.

Missing her in Mexico :(

2007-02-14T20:41:00.000-05:00

I am currently in Mexico on a program for 8 days. I am missing my baby girl like crazy. Today Jason called to tell me that Kennedy rolled from her back to her stomach!! It was really hard to leave and last weekend I wanted to spend every minute with her. Jason said that she continues to do well and started eating peaches and seems to like them.

Today I sang three blind mice to her on the phone. When Jason came back on the phone he was laughing and said that she was eating the phone.

Hasta manana!

Our big girl - 5 month update

2007-02-10T16:58:00.000-05:00

Kennedy is now 19 lbs and will be turning 5 months on Thursday. I can't believe that it has already been that long. She is growing up too fast. I have to go on my first program since maternity leave on Monday. 8 days! I have been an emotional basket case this week and I am sure tomorrow and Monday morning as well. I really don't know how I am going to do it and I feel completely guilty that I am leaving her. Just thinking and typing about it makes me tear up.

Some of her newest milestones are sitting up unsupported, holding her own bottle and now eating all of the following fruits and vegetables: bananas, applesauce, peas, squash and sweat potatoes.

She is still sleeping through the night and takes a good 1 1/2 to 2 hour nap in the morning. She is down to 1 big nap and 2 or 3 additional cat naps (20 min - 1 hour) a day. She eats rice cereal and fruits after her morning nap and vegetables and some more fruit at around 6 or 7 at night.

Here are some new pictures of her new milestones.

Peas.... She isn't so sure about the texture!

Family Vacation Pictures

2007-02-10T15:50:00.000-05:00

We tried to take a family photo, but as you can see, none of them turned out the greatest.

Taking a bath with mom in the Jacuzzi tub!

Sam feeding his favorite baby cousin
Eating rice cereal at the condo. Good thing E brought her portable highchair, because I had forgot mine.
Sophie and Grandma with her stylin' hairdoIt looks like fake snow, but it wasn't for sure. They got like 10+ inches while we were up at Crystal Mountain.
Sophie tackling the stairs

Give us a big kiss, Soph!
Not behaving for Grandpa and Grandma
Cleaning up after our tippy cup game. Sam was a great ref.
Jason loves to tickle Kennedy
The new sweatshirt that Grandma and Grandpa bought for Kennedy

Sophie and Kennedy in their matching PJ's that Aunt Gail got for them for Christmas

Rachel staying warm
Playing poker

Sam giving Kennedy a kiss
Sophie trying to give Kennedy a kiss

Our angel taking a snooze with Jason's hat above (she is thinkin' Arby's)

If they only knew 10 years ago...

2007-01-28T19:02:00.000-05:00

where they would be today... Jason and Sam Vansickle with their precious baby girls... Kennedy and Riley

Jason, Kennedy and I went down to Sam's in Tecumseh yesterday to visit baby Riley and see his new bar that he soon will own. She was born 1 week ago. 8lbs. 3 oz 19 1/2 inches long.

I couldn't believe how much they change in 4 months!

Jumpin on the farm animals

2007-01-28T18:50:00.001-05:00

This is so funny. Kennedy was jumping on the buttons of this toy to make it make farm animal noises.

Click here for the video

Sitting up on my own

2007-01-28T15:24:00.000-05:00

What a surprise! I looked up one day and saw her doing this... her new thing is to sit up in her bouncy seat... I get so scared that she is going to topple over forward and fall out so now we strap her in.

Yum, Yum.

New Milestone ~ SQUASH

2007-01-25T23:47:00.000-05:00

Kennedy LOVES squash. She tried her first bite about 3 days ago. Boy does she gulp that stuff down.

Aunt Nadine and Uncle Steve babysat tonight while Jason and I went ski racing at Apple Mountain. She gave them a little bit of a hard time at first but I think warmed up a little after that. They must have worn her out as she fell asleep before we even pulled out of the driveway!

4 months and growing like a weed

2007-01-25T23:28:00.000-05:00

Jason took this picture for Mike Eichner... Kennedy is still LOVING her jumper!

Cross Country Skiing with DAD! I fall asleep every time!

Kennedy loves to try and pull her socks off... too bad these are tights and they don't come off as easy!

Kennedy fell asleep in dad's arms like this..

4 Month Well Visit and Immunization

2007-01-18T12:00:00.000-05:00

Weight: 17 lbs 15 oz - 95th percentile
Height: 25 inches - 75th percentile
Head Circum: 42

She is hitting all of her milestones early so we have been advised to start thinking about child proofing our home.

We also were told to continue with the rice cereal and we can start adding veggies and fruits! This way she will probably drop one of her bottle feedings and start to thin out. The doctor was not worried about her weight. She told us that she will thin out.

We also asked about at what temperature Jason should NOT take her on his back cross country skiing. She had never been asked the question, but she said anything below 20 degrees. This is the standard for recess for elementary schools as well.

Oh, and I left after that since I don't take shots well, so I don't really know how she did.

Miss Razz

2007-01-14T21:23:00.001-05:00

Click here for video

I Rolled Over!!!

2007-01-13T15:36:00.001-05:00

On Thursday, January 11, 2007 Kennedy rolled over from her stomach to her back for the first time!

Click here for the video.

My new purse

2007-01-13T14:59:00.000-05:00

Aunt Gail bought this cute little purse for Kennedy this week. It is way too cute and Kennedy's pacifier fits perfectly in it!

Getting Closer Video

2007-01-11T22:53:00.001-05:00

Click here for the video.

January 10th photos

2007-01-11T22:42:00.001-05:00

My first taste of cereal

2007-01-11T22:29:00.000-05:00

Not bad for the first time!!!

Jumpin video...

2007-01-10T23:40:00.000-05:00

Click here for the video.

It is kindof dark, sorry.

I got no strings to hold me down

2007-01-09T19:55:00.000-05:00

This is a new toy that Mike Eichner bought for Kennedy when she was born. She absolutely loves it and I think she looks like a little puppet.

Kennedy survived her first nights without Mom and Dad just fine. On Saturday, December 31st we dropped Kennedy off with really detailed intructions at with my mom and dad. The title of the intruction document was: Baby care 101 refresher. My mom and dad said that she did really well (like they would tell me any different!) however, my mom didn't have the greatest skills with the SwaddleMe and Kennedy was an escape artist each night. Jason and I proceeded to Detroit to one of his friends wedding and I think I only cried a few times on the way down. The wedding was beautiful and after the ceremony we stopped by Nelson and Kristin Roepke's house to visit with them. The reception was also extremely nice and it was held at the War Memorial in Grosse Pointe. We wished we could have stayed at the reception longer than we did, but I felt like I was getting the flu and was achy and had the chills. The next day we left and went to Kalamazoo to Mike and Kelly Howes' house where we had a great little New Year's get together with the gang (Jay, Sarah and Jack and Amber and Kris). I think all in all I only called my parents a total of 4 times in two days, not bad for the first time I would say. Kelly is looking great and tiny for being as pregnant as she is with her little boy. They said that they were thinking about the name Maxwell for him... Maxwell Howes.. ha ha

Kennedy had another cold when we picked her up from Alma. This time snot was dripping out of her nose and I felt so bad for her. She even had a little fever but it was gone the next day.

I just got back from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on a site inspection. The program is in February for 8 days.... I don't know if I will survive being gone that long from my baby.

Next week Kennedy goes to the doctor for her 4 month check up. She still hasn't rolled over on her own, but she is really close. When we put her on her belly she pushes her chest off the floor with her arms and also crunches her knees up so her butt sticks up. She still loves to chew on her hands and puts everything in her mouth.

More 1st Christmas Photos

2006-12-28T15:47:00.000-05:00

My Christmas outfit from Aunt Cynthia Wellman. It fit perfectly!

Sam got new skis for Christmas. He told us that he already knew how to ski!

My little Vegas Showgirl

Hanging out with my cousin Sophie... I can't wait to play dolls and house with her!

Pictures from our New camera!

2006-12-27T11:21:00.001-05:00

Playing on the floor!

Playing with my new toy from Auntie E and Uncle Aaron

Hop Hop Hop... I'm a little bunny!

Taking a walk on Christmas with Grandma Simon and Mom in my new snow suit from Grandma and Grandpa Simon

Mom and Dad bought me this new Bumbo Sitter for Christmas

We finally got a digital camera so I will be able to update the blog with more pictures on a regular basis. We had a great holiday. On Saturday we went to Aunt Nadine's and celebrated Christmas with my mom's side of the family. Sam came down with a stomach virus and got sick all over the kitchen floor. The next day Rachel and I went to church in Frankenmuth with Kennedy and then went to my parents house in Alma to celebrate Christmas with our family and my dad's parents. Sam was still really sick and wasn't even interested in his presents. He barely would even talk. Poor guy. Yesterday he was admitted into the hospital after going to the doctor's so that he could be put on an IV for his dehydration. He is doing better and will be released this afternoon. I think he has even began to eat a little bit again.

Kennedy got some great gifts for Christmas. She got clothes from Aunt Nadine and Grandma Voorheis, pj's from Aunt Gail and Uncle Dave, a snow suit, a small CD player, a lullaby CD, a baby Einstein DVD from Grandma and Grandpa Simon (my mom and dad), a couple outfits from Aunt Rachel, some outfits and great toys from Uncle Aaron, Aunt E and Sam and Sophie.

Our favorite gift was the gift that Sam shopped for by himself with his own money from his piggy bank at the dollar store. Our family got a plastic Knight's Axe. It was way too cute.

On Monday afternoon Kennedy Giggled!!! I was giving her zerberts on her belly and she totally laughed out loud. It was so cute!

Yesterday Nate and Terri Radcliffe (my friends from collage who live out in Huntington Beach, California) stopped by to visit and to see Kennedy for the first time. I think they fell in love with her too.

Kennedy also had her first bite of rice cereal last night. She did pretty good.

One last thought..... 1 year ago today it was confirmed that I was pregnant with a blood test at the doctor's office. I also believe that it was my first entry into this blog. I can't believe how fast (and slow) that year went by. I also could have never imagined at this time last year that I would ever have so much love for another human being. It is so amazing to be a parent. I am truly enjoying every minute of it and feel like I could have 18 more children. My amnesia has definitely set in!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

2006-12-21T14:56:00.001-05:00

Most of you have already seen this picture from our Christmas cards, but I thought I would put it out there for the rest who haven't seen it yet.

Kennedy is doing really great. I weighed her the other day here at Morley and she weighs 17 lbs!!! What a chubber. She is getting SO close to rolling over and she LOVES to sit up supported and stand up while we hold on to her hands. She also is reaching for her toes when she is sitting up too. She is so strong. When we pull her up from a laying down position her head stays even with her shoulders. She also has become a lot more vocal and likes to baby talk while she is looking at and grabbing her toys. All of which go directly for the mouth. Jason named most of her toys. We have lambers, sassers, fuzzers and elephante. All of which are some sort animal rattles.

I am back to work and Jason is easliy adjusting to being the stay-at-home dad. Recently he started keeping logs of their everyday activities including when and how much she eats, sleeps and relieves herself. This helps me so that I don't ask thousands of questions when I get home from work.

Kennedy will spend the night with my parents on December 30th and 31st while we attend a wedding and visit our friends in Kalamazoo for New Year's Eve. I know that my mom can't wait!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Kennedy in Tucson

2006-12-15T16:11:00.000-05:00

Spending time at Grandma and Grandpa Crandall's place in Tucson, Arizona on her first vacation! Yesterday she grabbed her toes as well as the toys on the swing for the first time!

I am SOOOO Big!

Family Picture time!

Kennedy's First Swim

How cute are her hands?

Bouncy Seat time with Fuzzers (a new rattle Grandma Helen bought for Kennedy and Jason named)

My first vacation!

2006-12-10T17:48:00.000-05:00

Well Kennedy made it to Arizona just fine with Jason. He said that he even got an applause when the plane landed because Kennedy was so good. The lady next to him even held her for awhile while she slept on the plane. (Yeah, I am not too sure about this... but there is nothing I can do about it now!!!)

On Friday we drove from Phoenix down to Tucson to my in-laws house. On Saturday we attended the 4th street fair which was a HUGE craft show. Grandma Helen bought Kennedy a ornament and so did I. After the fair Kennedy went down to the retirement community pool and went swimming for the first time. She seemed to love it and cried when we took her out. I also swam 40 laps in the lap pool while Kennedy hung out with dad. Then after our swim we went out to eat at a fabulous Mexican restaurant. She slept all day at the fair in her stroller, all through dinner and from 8 p.m. until 5:30 a.m. Then she fell back asleep from 6:30 a.m. until 10 a.m. I think she must be going through her 12 week growth spurt. Today I went for a jog and then we drove up to the Picture Rocks and took some "desert" photos with Kennedy. Tonight we are going to visit Amy Loomis at her house. I can't wait for her to meet Kennedy.

Tomorrow we fly home from Phoenix at 3:42 p.m. and don't arrive in Flint until 11:01 p.m. I hope the trip home is as smooth as the trip here! Until next time...

Thanksgiving picture finally!

2006-12-02T20:50:00.000-05:00

My mom and dad just got back from Jamaica on vacation. They left the day after Thanksgiving, so I had to wait to get the picture emailed to me.

Waiting for Santa

2006-12-01T20:14:00.000-05:00

Yesterday we went to visit Autie E, Uncle Aaron, Sam and Sophie. Thier new house is beautiful!! Here is a picture of the outside before they moved in.

Kennedy got so exhauted playing with her cousins that she took a nap on the couch with daddy.

We left to come home and it took us 3 1/2 hours due to the icy bridges and all the traffic from the accidents on them but we made it home safe and sound. On one overpass we started to fishtail, but Jason's driving skills got us out of it. We both turned white after that close call.

I went to the doctor's office on Wednesday to get my blood pressure checked and it was 124/74 without meds, YEAH!!! Kennedy also got her 3 month pictures on Wednesday. We had them done a little early so we could have them back in time for Christmas. She didn't perform or cooperate very well, so we didn't get a lot to choose from.

I am SO SMART!!

2006-11-26T19:58:00.000-05:00

Okay, so Kennedy has this activity gym that Kate bought for us. Kennedy started kicking the ball before she was even two months old but just yesterday I had her laying on it looking at the fish and mirror that hang down and I glanced up from reading my magazine and saw them moving. I thought, hmm that is funny how are they moving? But as I continued to watch Kennedy was reaching up for them and playing with them!! She had never done this before. It was quite exciting as we have been waiting for her to start grabbing for toys. Accourding to my book, "What to expect the first year" she may be able to reach for an object by month four and definitely supposed to be able to by month five. Well our Kennedy is just way too advanced for that book.. ha ha.

We had a great Thankgiving at Aunt Gail and Uncle Dave's house. Kennedy wore her cute thankgiving outfit that Cynthia got for her. I had to wash it in hot water and put it in the dryer on high the day before as it was size 6 months as to try and shrink it. It fit fine. I swear, I don't know how on earth she grows so fast. I put her in a couple of outfits that I thought were going to be huge on her and remember when she was first born looking at them and thinking, she will never fit into those, and come to find out that they do fit and are even becoming snug. I will hopefully post pictures from Thanksgiving this week.

Two nights ago she slept in her crib all night for the first time. I thought it was going to be hard to not have her in the bassenet next to me, but I did alright.

I saw my family doctor last Monday. He is letting me go off Procardia XL to see if my blood pressure is back to normal. So far, so good. I have been off of it since Tuesday of last week and seem to be doing fine. I check it at home and I have to go into his office once a week to have it tested. I still am having headaches, but once I even went to Rite Aid to check my blood pressure to make sure my one at home wasn't off and the headache wasn't from high BP, but it was fine there too. YEAH!!

One last thing.. this is my last week home with Kennedy before I have to go back to work :( I am not ready. I want to spend every second of every day with her for the rest of her life. I just can't believe how much love I feel for her and it keeps growing every day. I finally know now the thing that I couldn't understand while pregnant... It is and was all worth it! I would do it over again a thousand times for her.

2 month checkup

2006-11-16T15:24:00.000-05:00

Kennedy had her doctor's appointment today at 9:20 a.m. Here are the stats:

Weight: A whopping 13 lbs 9 oz (90th percentile) 4 lb 3 oz increase from 2 weeks
Height: 22 1/2 inches (70th percentile) 2 inches longer than 2 weeks
Head Circumference: 39.5 (50th percentile) - 2.5 mm bigger than 2 weeks

We also asked the doctor about her flat head on the right side and her favoring looking to the right. She told us to vary the way that we hold her and also vary the direction that she sleeps in and it will eventually even out. There was no problems with tight muscles in her neck.

Everything else checked out well and then we got her shots. She received 4 needle shots in the leg and 1 oral dose. She did really well and only screamed when the needles were going in. We gave her some tylenol at the doctors office and will continue with it every 4 hours today to prevent discomfort and fever. Jason held her on the table as I turned away and of course it was SOOOO hard for me to listen to her. I cried. It was aweful. She has been pretty sleepy this afternoon but not too fussy. Our next appointment is January 18th for her 4 month well check and she will get another dose of immunizations...YUCK!

2 Month Picture

2006-11-13T11:08:00.000-05:00

This week Kenendy has her 2 month well check. I think she will also be getting 4 immunization shots. YUCK!

Kennedy is going to go on her first airplane trip in early December. I have to go on a site inspection to Pheonix December 6th, 2 days after I return to work from my maternity leave. Jason and Kennedy will meet me out there when it is over and we will go visit Grandma and Grandpa Crandall and Amy and Chris Loomis for the weekend. I hope Kennedy enjoys the pool! It will be nice to be in some sun for a couple of days.

This weekend Sandy Brooks (Bench) was home and got to meet Kennedy for the first time. We had a little get together at Mike Ford's house on Saturday night. On Sunday Kennedy went to Grandma and Grandpa Simon's house to spend time with them.

I will update after the doctor appointment on Thursday.