Aleshire Family

Autumn

2010-11-02T12:47:00.007-05:00

One warm October weekend we ventured to Marble falls to visit Sweet Berry Farms. What a great place! There was a huge pumpkin patch, a hay ride, a field of zinnias and marigolds with a $3 all you can fit into a plastic cup rule (my happy place) not to mention the HUGE mazes. We did the kiddie maze and it was enough to make me slighgtly nervous and caustrophobic, so we skipped the larger one in the shape of Texas. The kids had a good time (K tried some pumpkin ice cream that I hear was delicious!) This Halloween Kennedy dressed as a bride. For the record, Daddy wasnt happy about it. But, we had a flower girl dress from Jared and Tressa's wedding that was perfect to re-use. She wore it to 3 parties and I have to say she was pretty darn cute! Beck was a garden gnome though we spared him the beard and other accessories. We had a great time trick or treating in the new neighborhood with K's friend Hampton. A very different experience than our old neighborhood where too-old-to-be-trick-or-treating hoodlums were bussed in and showing up on our door step entirely too late at night. Instead, hoards of princesses in fluffly colorful dresses poured onto the streets. (and K is dressed as a princess or ballerina at least once a day, so kindo fnice to mix it up a bit) Oh, the lucky man is Christopher Robbin, by the way. It's all been arranged. Mowgli (from the Jungle Book) will be an attendant.

Beck and Kennedy are big buds these days. He just laughs and laughs at her while she bounces around doing her Kennedy thing. Some really funny things coming our of her mouth lately too. The other day she said "mom, I dont have an iphone...I have an ear phone". Smart girl. And when she was up more than an hour passed her bedtime I went up to check on her - and found her playing with various things in her bookshelf. When I asked what she was doing, she ran and hopped in her bed and said "I'm just up here". Hmmm. SHe likes to help me cook. Beck is a love bug and such a snuggler! He's been rolling a while and is now doing pretty well sitting on his own. He eats rice cereal, bananas and prunes. (and LOVES to eat!) His sleep has been off lately - waking every few hours at night for a few weeks. He had a cold so that was part of it, but we're also suspecting some teeth (aren't we always?) and also jsut thinking his little brain is busy with all this rolling, sitting, etc. He has been really "talking" a lot too - enunciating syllables and lots of precious babble! He loves the excersauccer too! K had loved it so much and mommy esp loves it because it buys me a little hands free time.

We;re getting our landscaping done currently and Kennedy has had a lot of fun talking about the garden we'll have. She said she wants to make gardens for people when she grows up. I like it!

Cousins!

2010-11-01T22:39:00.002-05:00

In September, we were able to get all the kiddos together from the Aleshire side of the family. From left to right (in the couch photos) Bridget Mangano (Tami & Rob's baby girl), Lily Jane Aleshire (Jared and Tressa's baby girl) and of course Beck and the Big Cousin Kennedy! Bridget is about 1 week older than Beck and Lily Jane is about 6 weeks younger. It was so fun to see them all together. Beck handled all the girliness pretty well, but did spend a lot of time trying to eat Bridget's hand. Sort of amazing that we were able to coordinate (or skip) all those naptimes, feeding times, diaper changes, etc and still end up with photos of happy smiling babies! Pretty cute crew, don't ya think?

In Sp

Rest in Peace Brodie Dog 3/25/98 - 10/11/10

2010-11-01T22:34:00.003-05:00

beck pics 4.5 months

2010-09-26T22:44:00.000-05:00

Kennedy's School Campout and Beck's 4th month

2010-09-26T22:05:00.003-05:00

This weekend we (sort of) attended Kennedy's school camping trip at Pedernales State Falls Park. We went out Saturday and Jon got the tent set up and everything ready for our first night camping adventure since kids. Then we went down to teh river where there were lots of kids and parents and had a nice time. (me playing "mermaid sisters" with Kennedy and her friend Phoenix, Jon strapping Beck to him and trying to catch some fish) Then aournd 6 there was a big pot luck dinner followed by guitar playing and singing then a fairy hunt. Kennedy played with a few boys from her class - they were "bad guys" with dump trucks. She was upset and said she need a truck too to be a "bad guy" but decided that she could be bad enough with her butterfly net. (evidently Kennedy and Jack are pretty good buds - her guide Toni confirmed this and said that acutally they are a bit disruptive in the classroom! I would have never known this since all Kennedy reports is that the boys chase the girls) Anyway, after collecting some "fairy rocks" the fairies left behind, we began to see lightining and hear loud thunder. Right around this time my otherwise fussless baby began to fuss (a lot). Kennedy was offically off-her-rocker-tired (but still spinning out of control). We tried to bunker down in the tent, but there jsut wasnt a hint of a breeze - that paired with the baby crying, Kennedy bouncing about wrecklessly, thunder adn lightning, we called the dogsitter adn told her we were on our way home! It was so much fun though and we'll definately try again - and knwo better what we need/dont need/are and are not capable of next time... THere's antoehr campout in the spring.
(I failed to mention here that we went out the the campgrounds last weekend to scope it out and I nearly stepped on a coiled up rattlesnake. Which means Kennedy and Jon nearly did too since they were in front of me on the narrow trail. I recovered from that and am glad I didnt let it spoil the weekend - but was thankful for the "gentle reminder")
Beck is still a complete angel. A rolling, turning angel. He's really got a lot of momentum, that one. At his 4 month appointment witht he pediatrician he was 17 lbs 11 oz. Generally, he is so smiley and happy - everyone comments. (on that and his bald head and his big bright blue eyes ) The last few days have been rough with him though. I suspected a tooth, but nothing... and the way he's beent he last 24 hours, Jon and I both are suspecting a dairy issue again. I had done a loose dairy elimiation but have been cheating a bit more than usual this past week. So, looks like we'll try a real elimination diet again and see how he does. If he gets a tooth anytime inthe next week or so though I'm going out for ice cream.
I'm sure there's much more to report since I've been bad about posting, but this mama is TIRED. (his fussiness kept us up almost all night last night even though we were sleeping in the bed and not the tent!)

August

2010-08-25T21:57:00.006-05:00

As we wrap up August, I am filled with mixed emotions. It's incredible how fast time is passing. Beck is 3 1/2 months old - and although I feel like I've known him forever, I just can't believe that he is growing so fast and so many milestones have already been reached. He is rolling over (from tummy to back), and I have a strong suspicion he's teething. He's laughing and blabbering, reacting to all of us, and generally starting to show his personality. And he's BIG. Tonight I put him in a 9 month sized pair of pajamas and it FITS!

Kennedy starts Montessori school next week. And although this will not be her first school experience, this one feels so much more like a rite of passage. We've attended a few orientations and such for the school and we are so excited about it though. Even today when I was dropping off some of my volunteer work (researched the proper way to clean and shine aluminum cups and did so with over 30 cups, experimenting with the best vinegar/lemon juice solution along the way) I noticed a note on one school room door said "have a great summer kids. we love you". I wonder how many teachers tell their students that they love them these days. I doubt very many. This school feels so love-filled and that the guides and staff show genuine interest in each individual student. Evidently, the guide calls the parents every day for the first 2 weeks to let them know how the day went.
It feels good to know that after so much research and trial and error with the school setting, I think this will be the right place for Kennedy. At least for a while. And it will help so much in determining where Beck should go. So much of the past three years I've been researching, reading, questioning, digging, re-organizing, re-researching ...on so many different parenting subjects from schooling to diet to behavior and discipline techniques, toy safety and educational value, medicine and recalls, childcare options, attachment parenting, fostering independence, montessori vs traditional vs waldorf vs reggio-emilia... it makes my head spin. And now I'm starting to feel like I've waded through a lot of it and made some sound, educated decisions. Maybe even more valuable than the knowledge that I've gained is that I've learned that I can't possibly have all the answers to all the questions and certainly not in advance. Parenting and motherhood is not stagnant, it's ever-changing, and being able to feel and anticipate the touchpoints makes it simpler, but staying present and grounded in the midst of it all makes it richer.

The pics above were taken this Sunday. It was so hot, but Kennedy really wanted to play outside. So, Jon was such a good daddy and set up her easel on the back (covered) porch and filled a big bucket with cold water. She had so much fun moving between the two. (and created quite the oeuvre d'art) Beck and I were in and out... and he enjoyed his first skinny dip in the kid pool. I was reminded of the days of my childhood when we stayed at Meme and Papa's farm and Meme bathed us in buckets and everything was come-what-may. It was the cherry on top of this summer with our two delicious children!

Weeks 9 and 10 Mister Man and MotorMouth

2010-07-13T23:09:00.002-05:00

Kennedy's new nickname is Motor Mouth. Yes, I still call her "the Boo" and "Noonie" but lately, Motor Mouth is very fitting. She is in the "why" stage. "Mommy, why are you a girl? Why is Beck a baby? Why does Brodie bark?" Other funny Kennedy comments:" Mommy, I dont know my husband's name! Who is my Prince Charming? Tinkerbell is my daughter. Christopher Robbin is my husband"

she has also started being shy. Never for long, but consistently to new people for about 2 minutes.

Beck is doing great. The last few nights he's slept for 7 hour stretches. He's smiling a lot, cooing and is jsut a really sweet, even tempered little guy! He weighted 13 lbs 9.5 oz at his 2 month appt. He was in the 95% for weight, 85% for height and 50-60% for head circumference.

Kennedy is really sweet with him and loves leaving big wet kisses on his little bald head.

We are so lucky to have them both andour family feels complete now!

Kennedy turns 3!

2010-06-20T22:55:00.002-05:00

More text to follow...

Kiwi the clown (or today she was pink fairy princess) did face painting and balloon twisting

Julie made delicious chocolate chip polka dot cake w/ brown sugar cream cheese icing

Very hot at the park but everyone had fun!

Kennedy received lots of great gifts and saw lots of friends and family

Beck Six weeks

2010-06-20T22:45:00.002-05:00

Will add text later...

Smiling, cooing, a little snuggle man!

Big Sister loves him so much and is so sweet!

Beck - Three Weeks

2010-06-20T22:17:00.001-05:00

Ever since Beck was born Kennedy has had quite the nursery set up in the front living room. Sometimes up to a dozen baby dolls are laid out on the couch, chairs, etc, each one with a pillow (anything from a coaster to a real pillow) and a blanket (dish towels, cloth napkins, fabric samples). It makes it a bit difficult for us to sit in that room since all surfaces are "baby beds" and we get an earful from Kennedy if we move them.

Beck is a great baby. Poor guy - from the pic you can see that he's going to need a special amount of tolerance and a sense of humor! We are so lucky to have these two!

Welcome Beck Vance!

2010-05-28T11:30:00.002-05:00

2010-04-07T23:42:00.000-05:00

Spring 2010

2010-04-07T22:58:00.002-05:00

Last weekend, we went on a wildflower hunt. We ended up off 71 near Spicewood and found some gorgeous flowers. (they are everywhere!) Kennedy really enjoyed the bluebonnets and I felt homesick for the ranch in Karnes City. The smell of the wildflowers just felt like home. We are sticking pretty close to home these days. I'll be 37 weeks on Monday (this is when Kennedy arrived). Kennedy is very excited about her baby brother getting out of my tummy. We recently took her with us to the hospital for a sibling preparation class. She was able to see where the new babies are taken and learned about where I'd be staying, how to swaddle and diaper a baby, etc. She even raised her hand when the nurse asked "can anyone guess why a baby might cry?" When she was called on she said "maybe he pooped in his diaper". The nurse was very impressed with Kennedy's attentiveness and participation! We were too!

She is enjoying school. It's pretty free form and she gets to jump on a little trampoline for long periods of time. The houses is coming together. Still need some more furniture, but we are getting there! We love the neighborhood. There are kids all around us. Kennedy is able to play with a friend in the yard just about every day. In fact, the 10yr old girl Olivia who lives across from us has become a "mothers helper" and comes over to play with Kennedy for an hour or two after school so I can relax. Of course Kennedy just adores her!

K says the funniest things. Lots of "really really" added her and there. She said she couldnt see her baby brother (in the ultrasound at the dr's office) because it was "really too dark in mommy's tummy". She's still all about princesses, dress up and dessert. The drama is pretty high around here. If I pick out the wrong shoes, I can get in some serious trouble. She also pretty much will only wear skirts or dresses and right now there are only 2 acceptable night gowns. (NO pajamas with shorts or pants!) We've been encouraging her to clean up her toys when she is done, put her shoes in the coat closet when she comes inside, etc. and it has really been working out well.

2010-01-25T21:24:00.000-06:00

The Move, Christmas 2009 and a New Year!

2010-01-25T20:53:00.004-06:00

Wow, have we been busy since last post. We moved Dec 19. It was such a hard decision for us to leave our home on Kenwood. Although we like to believe we aren't the type of people to get emotional about our real estate, everything about that property was special to us. Mainly, it was Kennedy's first home and the room where we first laid her down when we brought her home from the hospital will forever be in my clearest and best memories. The tree in the front yard shaded so many fun day parties and lit them up at night. The landscaping was all such a labor of love... I remember being about this pregnant with Kennedy and digging holes for the tiny plants that in such a short time grew to be so lush and beautiful. All that said, we loved that house and are so thanful for the 3+ wonderful years we shared there, but are so happy in our new home and don't regret the decision at all. We were very quickly unpacked but are still re-organizing and furniture shopping to fill some blank spots. It is so nice to finally have enough space! The play room has been an absolute God-send. Kennedy has all of her toys accessible once again and we've really been enjoying having space to spread out and get messy. When we moved, Kennedy moved into a big girl bed. ("new house, new bed") and that has gone very well. Only a few nights she's asked to sleep in her "baby bruddahs" baby bed and that has been fine with us. She's really cautious on the stairs (my first 2 story house ever, so lots of anxiety from me on the subject). The doggies dont seem to mind the reduction in yard space. We look forward to landscaping it and making it feel like our creation... and it's basically a blank slate again, so that is nice.

Kennedy had a really nice Christmas. Lots of visits with family (spread from Dec 18th thru January 23!). Lots of nice gifts. Baby dolls GALORE! which is great... I wondered if I'd regret saying "she can't have too many" but for now, I still don't because she does love them all! Also a toy piano, her own rocking chair, lots of educational toys like latch boards, lacing boards, etc... many books (and I know I will NEVER regret saying she cant have too many books!)

She started dance classes 2 weeks ago. it's a weekly combo class where she does tap, ballet and tumbling. I'm not 100% impressed with the instruction, but Kennedy seems very happy - and, no doubt, loves her leotard and tutu.

We recently had a nice 1 night trip to Gruene for Jon's birthday. She loved dancing at Gruene Hall (of course) and really enjoyed the neat house we rented. (and there were 3 cats there, which really got her excited!)

We've also had lots of play dates with friends. It's so fun to watch how differently she interacts with her diffferent friends. With Brooklyn, they run around in circles the ENTIRE time and literally never stay still. With Magnolia, they do "ring around the rosy", play with babies and toys & hop on beds. With Tanner, they play outside with trikes and boy toys...She and Ava play outside together a lot too but also like to bounce on beds and wear dress up clothes. She and Ellie tend to go for the babies and strollers.

We talk a lot abour her "baby brudda" on the way. A while back I asked her what she wanted to name him and she said, with all certainty "Pessy". I asked her a few questions, trying to determine what she had said. "Presley?""Percy?" Nope. Pessy. And she's sticking to it. Well... Jon and I told her that she can call him Pessy, but we'll give him a different real name. Funny girl. She also talks about what all she is going to do to help when he "gets out of my tum". She'll bring him bottles and pacies, and change his diapers and hold him and rock him. Then she'll ask "when i'm a tiny baby will I get in your tum?" If only we could rewind time... it's going by too fast! (though I think I'd like to keep her out of my "tum")

She is very excited about being a flower girl in Uncle Jared and Tressa's upcoming wedding. She talks a lot about wearing her "white princess dress" and throwing petals.

Duffy and Ann's Wedding 11.7.09 (1 of 2)

2009-11-08T21:53:00.004-06:00

It was a beautiful and very touching wedding in a gorgeous location with weather to match. We are all very excited to call Ann family now and to have inherited her fabulous extended family as well. Duffy and Ann both glowed all weekend and exchanged very touching vows.

It was also a great time to catch up with family. Kennedy loved meeting her second cousins Miley, David and Lee and seeing aunts and uncles, grandparents, etc. Many people referred to Kennedy as "The Energizer Bunny" by the time the night was through. Many promised me that she was falling asleep in their arms while dancing, but as soon as an upbeat song came on, they saw why I looked at them the way I did! And boy did she love Ann this weekend! She was THE princess and Kennedy just couldnt get enough! She was also very passionate about the cupcakes and peacocks.

Duffy and Ann's Wedding 11.7.09

2009-11-08T21:11:00.001-06:00

Hawaii - October 2009

2009-10-24T20:31:00.004-05:00

We just returned from a great trip to Hawaii. Two major things spurred this trip: Jon took the final exam for his CCIM designation (and passed - yay! Jon!) and we wanted Kennedy to meet her cousins. Jon's CCIM designation is quite an accomplishment. He spent the frist few days in Honolulu taking a prep course and the exam while Kennedy and I spent time on the North Shore with my cousin Leilila, her husband Jon and their daughter Lili who turns 4 in January. We had so much fun. Kennedy and Lili got along fabulously and Lei and I really enjoyed some quality time with eachother and the girls. We both bonded over our current states - both pregnant! I'm about 13 weeks and Lei is a few weeks behind. The girls had fun at the beach, where we saw sea turtles and at Waimea Falls Park looking for peacocks. A few days into the trip we all packed up and headed to Maui together to see my aunt Becky, Uncle Ed and Cousin Ali. We stayed at a great Marriott resort at Wailea (thanks Lou!) that had a really fun kids pool, a calm beach and
gorgeous scenery. (and an adults only neg edge pool that was absolutley beautiful that we took turns running over to for a short chill) We had some great food (jsut can't get papayas or apple bananas like that over here!) but mainly just spent a lot of good time with our family at a beautiful spot. Becky, Ed and Ali recenlty refinished a house and moved in near the fun town of Pai'a. (super cute house w/ great views of the beach) and Becky made a delicious traditional Hawaiin meal to send us off on the long plan ride home.

Kennedy really had a great trip and will have some great memories of our time there. She loves "her pousin" (this is what she calls her cousin Lili) and all the other family members she met on this trip (who are second cousins or third? Aunties and Uncles) For the most part, she enjoyed the plane rides (Jon and I - not so much) and we are all very proud of Daddy, CCIM.

Rosemary Beach, Florida August 2009

2009-10-24T20:05:00.005-05:00

In August, the three of us took a wonderful vacation to Rosemary Beach, Florida. It's a small planned "new urbanism" community in the panhandle of Florida. The town is designed for pedestrian traffic, with quaint cobblestone streets and wooden footpaths. There is a small town center with a handful of cute shops and nice restaurants and multiple green areas around the town. Gorgeous architecture - described as a mix of West Indies and New Orleans. Of course the highlight is the beautiful Gulf Coast - I dare say the most beautiful stretch of beach I've ever visted - sugar whiste sand, crystal clear water. Everything was very child friendly. We had a blast. We canoed out into the ocean and were feet from a school of dolphins. Kennedy could safely wade into the ocean to fill her sandcastle buckets. The house we stayed at even had a radio flyer wagon we used to wheel Kennedy around. (her "waggen!") We had great food (a grouper sandwich with candied pecans that I still dream about). All in all, a fabulous getaway that we plan to make an annual tradition!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Kennedy!

2009-06-22T21:12:00.002-05:00

Almost 2!

2009-06-09T22:09:00.002-05:00

Time does fly. We can't believe that Kennedy will be 2 years old in a matter of weeks. She is learning so much and growing so fast!

Last week she went to yoga camp for a few days. She LOVED it! She really enjoys the interaction with other kids and according to her yoga instructors, she is very willing and eager to challenge herself.

We hear new words from her - several a day lately. A few of my recent favorites are "statue" and "yucky pits" (arm pits).

She is very sassy and opinionated. Which tends to be so cute that I have to turn around so she doesnt see me laugh when i should be stern.

One thing she has gotten opinionated about is her clothing. The pajamas with matching hat were her idea. She also is somehwat obsessed with a yellow top because I once told her she looked like a bee. Now, she screams "BEE! BEE! BEE!" if she wants to wear it. She likes to hug and pet everyone. ("Pet Daddy! Hug Daddy!" means come here, Dad!) The pic with her lunchbox was her on her way to her first day of yoga camp. We're battling a cold now, so off to sleep!

Easter, Sprinkler Park, Sandbox

2009-04-26T21:14:00.002-05:00

So many new words! Please "peas", cook, book, egg, raining!, boom boom! (referring to thunder) "choo choo", bug, apple="apoo", fries, cookies, rocky! (rocking chair), bubboos (bubbles)

We hear something new every day around here! Kennedy also counts her fingers. It goes something like this: (tew, tee, tew, TEW!!!) She has started swimmming lessons and finds it very amusing. She laughs and laughs, especially at the bubble blowing. (this is something she and daddy are doing together) Still doing yoga. She has started to do handstands in class and sometimes tries at home. Still dancing at the slightest beat - she has a couple of hilarious moves that a verbal descrpition just would not do justice! She talks about her friends and family, listing their names and telling stories of last time they were together. (Ann, raining, boom boom! ruff! ruff! baby wah!) helping in the garden and enjoys trying veggies and herbs. Loves her new sandbox...

She amazes us!

2009-04-26T21:00:00.001-05:00

Spring Fun

2009-03-19T21:19:00.003-05:00

Kennedy has been enjoying carrots from the garden. She eats vegetables we take from the garden, but does not necessarily eat others. Last night she was refusing to eat and when I told her the chard was from the garden, she tried it. (but one taste of chard was enough for her!) We've been enjoying other fun outdoor activities - the kite festival was fun a few weekends ago, garden festival coming up, and friends over to play outside. We've been trying more play dates and that has been interesting. The kiddos don't quite understand sharing at this age, so it is always interesting to work that out. She was obsessed with her friend Ellie's baby dolls earlier this week and was really sad when she took them home with her! Even the next morning she was fussing, saying "baby dohs! oh baby doh!" and when I offered her her own baby doh's, she would refuse them! (but we love them again now!)

We went to the Austin Zoo. Kennedy really loved that. I think she was more interested in the chickens (bop bops) and sheep (ba) than anything. I was surprised how uneffected she was by the huge growling lions and tigers. Of course new words...she has said "i love you mommy" and "I love you daddy"... the "i love you" part isnt really clear, but we knew! And she is speaking in full sentences, most of which we dont understand, but when it ends in an emphatic "arf arf!" we know she was telling Brodie or Bailey something. The other day JOn was having a hard time getting her shoes on, and he said "I'm having issues". Well, now Kennedy calls shoes "issues"! It's so funny. She also puckers up her lips first, waits a few seconds, then says it. Boo is interested in "pee pee" and "poo poo" now. Mainly talks about it, but she does try out her big girl potty from time to time. Lots of dancing. Lots of kisses.

2009-02-24T21:10:00.001-06:00

Wow, it's been a while since I posted. So many new things to report. A quick rundown:

Dance - Kennedy still loves to dance. She has started doing an elemental tap dance and she will copy your moves! (though she has some great ones of her own!)

Singing - I hear her singing the sweetest little songs to her babies. They mainly go "baby, baby, baby!"

Babies, Baby Doll! - still loves those babies! And has been changing their clothes (they have new homemade outfits from grandma!) and feeding them.

Yoga - we started going to yoga together and she loves it! Once a week we take a class together that teaches basic fundamentals of yoga to the kids (but is very loose in structure) and a few other days she can play in a group in the room next door and I do a real class next to her. When I came in the first day to see how she did, she was sitting on a mat with a little girl who was about 4 named Kyle, both in all pink, holding hands!

Sounds/Words - Kennedy has great answers for "what does the (fill in animal) say?": including: dog (arf), cat (beow!), cow (goo!), sheep (ba! (with a side to side head shake)) goat (ma!) owl (hoo hoo) fish (makes face, sucks in cheeks) lizard (sticks out tongue) alligator (chomps) pterodactyl (screams), karate kid (he-ya hee-ya(w/ karate chops))...sure there are more...

Shoes! We find her shuffling around in anything from dad's work shoes to mom's heels, to my snow boots!

Words - "Get go!" means "let go" and we still crack up every time she says it. (she says it with such feeling!) "knee" "Baby bop" means tricycle (I think she was trying to say Bike) "elmie" = helmet "Yets!" = yes

also, i managed pig tails on her the other day for the first time. She kept walking over to the mirror to look at herself! (but pulled them out before we had any witnesses) We have managed to leave a Bam Bam 'do in for a day.

We've been spending a lot of time outside working in the yard and garden. She'll pull some arugula or broccoli off the plant, chew it, say "yum yum" then spit it out.

She's big buds with Brodie. Bailey still likes her a lot better from a distance.

She's so much fun! And such a love bug!!

Christmas 2008

2008-12-25T21:25:00.006-06:00

Merry Christmas! We had a quiet day at home since we are all recovering from colds we've had for over a week. Santa was very good to Kennedy and brought her all kinds of goodies - her favorites are her trike and carriage for her baby dolls. It was a very special morning with our little angel, and we made the best of it...sniffles, snot, coughs and all! It was such a joy to see her beautiful little face light up when she saw her goodies under the tree!

Also, one of Kennedy's shots from our holiday shoot with Suzanne Reiss. If anyone is looking for a great photographer, we loved her! More pics can be seen at http://www.suzannereiss.com, then go to client proofing, then enter password "aleshire1208"

More Kennedyisms

2008-12-11T14:10:00.003-06:00

A few more Kennedyisms to note...
She calls me "my-me" which I think is precious. (also mama and mommy, just depends..)
She refers to herself as "baby"
When she is hungry, she says "baby'num", and when she offers me some of her food it's "mamma'num"
When I sneeze, she says "Mamma!" real loud with the same intonation as one would say "bless you!"
She says "cak-cak" for backpack, and "ca-ca" for oatmeal and chipmunk!
The other night while reading to her, I realized she was really messing with her hands in her mouth. I thought her mouth has jut hurting from the canines coming in, but as I watched her longer, I saw that she was then turning the pages...she was mimicking me wetting my finger to turn the pages in her book!! (but she was VERY thoroughly wetting her whole hand! and was very serious about it!)
And, today, while driving in the car with daddy and Kennedy, I said "groceries" in discussion. In the back, I hear, clear as day, little Kennedy say "groshries!" then she said it all the way home! Now, she laughs every time I say it!

New Tricks

2008-12-07T19:15:00.005-06:00

Kennedy's Newest Tricks:

Ba-Bum!

In music class, the kids say "ba-bum" (somewhat musically) when they are putting away the instruments. We've used that at home and ithas been so successful that all we have to do is say "ba-bum" to Kennedy and she knows to put away whatever it is she is playing with. We also say "ba-bum your ball", etc and she knows what we mean.

At night when we are reading her books before bed, she is very clear about which books she'd like to read and which ones she would NOT like to read. When we pull out a book that she likes, she calmly participates and we have a nice time. If, however, we have made a bad selection, she says "ba-bum". And if it is a book she is really tired of, the mere sight of the book will result in Kennedy shouting "ba-bum,ba-bum, ba-bum!!! It is really funny. (and so clear!)

Ba-Ball!

Kennedy REALLY likes football. (which she calls "ba-ball") She often wanders into the living room, grabs the remote and says "ba-ball, dadda!" If we put it on something other than football, she does not relent until she sees the helmets! She also brings us a French-English book that has pictures of sports and says "ba-ball" and thumbs through it's 20+ pages until she finds the drawing of the football player.

Baby!

Kennedy likes to look at the photos of her that Jon and I have saved as the backdrop on our phones as well as the pics on the playback feature of the camera. This is very sweet, except that now, almost all the pictures we have taken of her recently are pictures of her fussing! When we pull out the camera or phone to take a picture of her, she starts saying "baby! baby! ohh da baby!" which means, "let me see those cute pics of myself and right now please!!" So, we can't take a picture of her because she stops doing what she is doing so that she can see a picture of her!!

Dancing

This little girl still loves to dance! So, we've made a routine out of turning the music on after dinner and all dancing around the kitchen together. Tonight, we didnt have the music on when she got out of her high chair, so she just started stomping her feet and dancing in front of the IPod until we got the hint! (and she really does dance - she twirls, claps, moves her head and shoulders!)

New Words

Although she has been waving bye for a while now, she just recently started saying "Bye-bye!" (which is almost always followed by a wave and a kiss blowing session)

She loves her little green frog robe. Now, after her bath she says "RO, Mamma, Ro!"

Kisses

Oh, how they are delicious. She is very generous with her big, wet, sloppy kisses. It is so sweet. She normally says "mmmm" as she purses those precious lips!

Eating

Our little eater is getting picky. She still eats pretty well, but I never really know what she will like and what she will refuse. Some days meatloaf is her favorite, and the next she will turn her nose up at it. We are normally pretty safe with spaghetti, fruits, breads...but I am always challenged to find protein, vegetables and calcium sources for her.... which leads me to her allergy. We decided to test her again. I figured we'd go easy with something with small amounts of dairy this time (since last time she reacted to the full-fat yogurt I tried after some reading on the subject) So, yesterday we had banana pancakes that had some buttermilk in the mix. (it was, I think, the 9th of 9 ingredients) So far so good!! And BOY did she like those pancakes! I've also given her some almonds. Some sources suggest waiting until age 3 for all nuts, but since we had her tested for a nut allergy and it came back negative, I decided to give it a try. That also was a success. So, I am happy to give her almond butter to get some calcium and protein in her diet. (but of course still avoid whole nuts since they are a choking hazard and peanuts for now)

Teeth

She is getting her canines in. Seems like they have been coming in for weeks. She hasn't been too uncomfortable, just a little more drooly. And we keep the Motrin nearby.

Playing

Kennedy is really into pretend play now. She uses her little kitchen, carries around bags like purses, and takes such good care of her baby dolls! She feeds them (saying "mmm mmm"), tries to change their diapers, tucks them in...she is very sweet with them. The other day we went to Terra Toys and things got a little crazy when she spied the baby doll section. Kennedy made a mad dash for the baby doll stroller and made laps around the store.

Mama and Dadda took an anniversary trip to Scottsdale in November. We were away from Kennedy for 3 nights and 4 days...and I survived to tell the story! We had a really nice time and really did concentrate on relaxing. Slow meals, laying by the pool, napping, golfing, horseback riding... And Kennedy did great with her Grandmere (who she calls Ma and Mom-Mom). We really liked Arizona.

We are looking forward to Kennedy's 2nd Christmas. She has been asking about the various figures she's been seeing. (and to be more specific about "asking about"...she points and says "uuhr?") So, we've been talking about Santa, Rudolph & Frosty.

Did I mention that I think she gets more beautiful by the minute? She is such an angelic little girl who is loved enormously by her Mammadadda (this is what she calls Jon and I collectively ...sometimes Daddamamma).

Halloween Strawberry

2008-11-05T21:27:00.003-06:00

Our little strawberry had a very fun Halloween with her leprechaun dad and witch mom. Some of our guests included Brooklyn the Giraffe and Hailey the Pumpkin (Kennedy's friends). And WOW did we have a turn out of trick or treaters. Maybe 100's. They were getting dropped off by the truckload in our neighborhood. Some had to be old enough to vote. Fun was had by all. Even more fun was that we had the costumes out for the next few days, and every morning Kennedy would bring me either my witch hat or a fro wig (a bin of various costumes) and take daddy his leprechaun hat and beard - and insist that we wear them. So, imagine me shuffling to get my first cup of coffee to find Jon typing an email looking like a leprechaun! Or me toasting English muffins with a fro. (the costumes have been put away now so the shenanagins are over!) Last night Kennedy said a new word - "wa-wa" for Chihuahua! She also says "oiya" which either means "hola" or "Maria" or maybe "Hola, Maria!" (she only says this when Maria is here!) Pictures above was a mean face she made at Daddy when he told her that baby doll didnt need to sit at the table with us for dinner. Last night, she "fed" her baby doll a fig newton - she crammed it in her mouth saying "MMMM!" and we used toothpicks to get all the sticky stuff out! She is playing with her dolls a lot - wanting to put diapers on them, hugging and kissing them, covering them with blankets and laying them down. Our new (ish) sitter Elaine (who we love) always comments about how maternal Kennedy is towards her babies - so loving and nurturing! She is giving us some pretty impressive hugs and kisses too! Yay!

Halloween Preview and Cheesy Smiles

2008-10-28T22:30:00.002-05:00

This little munchkin keeps us laughing! Even the most unpleasant tasks are such a joy with Kennedy by my side. Yesterday as I was sorting endless amounts on laundry, she nestled down into a pile and was being so silly. I grabbed the camera to take a pic of bright little rainbow and before I took the shot I said "smile for the camera" and she shot me this smile! It is a scrunchy nose, teeth showing kind of combo. Now she loves to "smile for the camera" everywhere we go!

Also a pic of my punkin picking out a pumpkin for daddy to carve. He did a mean witch in one the other night. Wow, give this man a challenge and he's ready to go! We'll post pics of if after Halloween. Also, a little preview of our Halloween Strawberry. She really likes her costume. As soon as I got the whole thing on her she started twirling around the room.

Have I mentioned that she also now distingishes between "baby" and "baby doh" (doll)? (with prettty much everything cute falling into the category of "baby" and just her dolls in "baby doh"? So cute. Her new favorite book is "Don't let pigeon stay up late". i think she relates to the pigeon's sense of humor.

And she's still dancing every chance to gets. She has several choreographed routines in her repertoire now, including dances to a few songs from her Music Together class: "see how I am jumping", "Open and Shut them" and certain songs make her just twirl around the room like a ballerina.

More pics and tricks

2008-10-12T20:37:00.001-05:00

"1" in mom's shoes, goofing around with brodie and "fish"

Dress up, Mimicking & pointing

2008-10-12T18:07:00.005-05:00

Kennedy likes to dress up! The pic above is her wearing mommy's first ballet recital dress. As soon as she put it on, I think her behavior changed. Dare I say she started "prancing" around? She was a real trooper last weekend - we spent Saturday morning on a tour of gardens around town, then we went to the family music festival at Pioneer Farms. That was a lot of fun and she really liked the Biscuit Brothers (a silly band for kids). This week we've all been battling the sniffles - maybe from all the outdoor activity and allergens in the air or maybe a cold. We're hoping that this week is sniffle free. Kennedy has started mimicking us. If I clear my throat she copies me...she even tried a fake sneeze the other day! She has been watching a lot of football with Daddy... and she finds it to be very funny. She whispers "buh ball" as she's watching it. We've started having spaghetti at least once a week around here. She LOVES it so I can even sneak in some broccoli or squash and she goes for it. She still LOVES "nanas" and has recently discovered banana bread & pumpkin bread. YUM. Tonight she tried Butternut squash soup and that was a hit! Mom's been running out of non-dairy recipes! We will re-test her allergy sometime soon when everyone is feeling 100%. Kennedy has really been enjoying this session of Music Together. This instructor is a really animated, silly man who makes the class very goofy for the kids. One song has the kids jump and when Kennedy wants to listen to it at home she starts bouncing around and clapping her hands. Also, when we ask her how old she is, she puts up one finger (sometimes 2 hands with 1 finger each, but, hey, close enough!!) She points to things when she wants us to tell her what it is. So, that can be a long, fun game sometimes! (can you just hear Jon: "that's a dog, plate, bowl, banana, stove, something of mamma's...I really dont know that is Kennedy, ask mama...cup, spoon, ask mama..)

She is still very affectionate. She really puckers up when she wants a kiss - I have to get a picture of that (been trying!) and she comes up and hugs us, normally accompanied by a pat on the back and a sigh. So CUTE! She's also been sleeping really well. 830ish to 730ish. She takes one nap in the afternoon. She thrives on routine. As soon as she is done with her bath, she opens her mouth points her finger then moves her head from side to side (brush my teeth!)

WE LOVE THIS BABY GIRL!

Spaghetti, new dance moves, sequined shoes

2008-09-17T21:56:00.002-05:00

Kennedy had spaghetti for the first time tonight. I was a little worried at first, because all day (and for the last few weeks) she has been insistent upon bananas. But, it was a hit! YUM YUM! She had a hilarious new trick too! Out of nowhere the other day, she did the ballet-inspired twirl for Jon and has been repeating it lately. She rounds one arm out in front of her and has the other out to the side and runs around the room (tonight, the kitchen) and eventually gets a full circle or two. And she knows it is SO FUNNY because she giggles as she goes! She has also been picking out her own outfits lately, but is most opinionated about her shoes. She always grabs these sequined "fancy shoes". So, that's what we where to the grocery store, park, around the house with her birthday suit! Kennedy also knows "shoulders" now, since we have been working on the "head, shoulders, knees and toes" song. (she already knew the rest, but shoulders was a little more difficult!) Last weekend, we moved her room. So, now she has a larger room and more space to play. I think she likes it!

Still our little angel, making is laugh and smile all the time! (and really being generous with the kisses, hugs and pats!) YUM!

The Pitter Patter Days

2008-09-03T22:28:00.002-05:00

It is such a wonderful sound - to hear Kennedy's little feet across the floor. She's a very busy girl, always trotting from room to room with such sense of purpose. Today she brought a plastic briefcase (that used to store baby toiletries) into our room and began to take various pairs of shoes in and out of it. So funny! Today she sucessfully blew bubbles on her own too! And she finds it very amusing when mommy pops the bubbles with her nose.

It has been a bit of a melancholy day for me today. I put away all of her bottles and all the pump accessories (not so sad about the pump getting stored!) She hasnt used a bottle in a few weeks, but to be officially putting them away to store is such a real symbol of her growing up. She is doing so well and has adjsuted to all of the changes in her life flawlessly. She is such an easy to please, outgoing little angel. This morning we went to a local farm and watched vegetables be picked, bought some fresh arugula and watched the chickens and baby chicks cluck around. Kennedy has been enjoying play time in the yard and in her baby pool. Of course, she still loves hats! Grandmere found a cute little rasta skull cap for her to try! (pic above)

We've had a bit of a hard time finding a well qualified babysitter since the 2 we liked have had schedule changes. Hard to find one worthy of a princess!

Kennedy has learned some new words. "Hot" she can say and sign. (I assumed for a while that it was business as usual and she was just saying "hat" until she signed it too!) She can point to her: nose, eyes, brows, ears, mouth, fingers, toes, knees, feet, hands, belly botton! She still loves balls (we've purchased a few replacements since Brodie evidently does too!) And she is recently into the moon. (mainly in books since she goes to bed before it is out...most of the time!

Other pics are at Butler Park, we call "sprinkler park" with her friend Brooklyn. She loves it there! Water shoots up out of the ground and there are also some shallow pools. Fun fun!

Dancing and Blowing a Kiss

2008-08-27T20:25:00.003-05:00

Month 15 pics

2008-08-27T20:13:00.003-05:00

I forgot to mention in the last post that she is really into belly buttons! Hers, mine, yours...and she is not shy about asking to see them!

the picture in the yellow striped shirt is when she does her fussy 'I'm not getting my way" face. She has discovered manipulation and is definetely testing it out on her momma!!

And the pic with the phone - I'll jsut apologize now for any past or future prank calls you may have received from the Aleshires. Kennedy really likes to play with the phone, so I do occassioanlly indulge her. (today we listed to the hold message on Time Warner's line for a while...talk about entertaining!)

Kennedy

2008-08-26T22:39:00.003-05:00

This pic may acutally be a month old, but I just had to share. This Radio Flyer has gotten a lot of use! Whether Kennedy is pushing Bailey, her dollies, or if she is in it and mama or dada pushing her, it is a popular item around here. HATS are still discussed frequently, as is Dada and "BayBay" (baby doll). Kennedy uses quite a few words these days and speaks them fairly clearly. She is very quick to pick up new words (spoken and signed). We also have little tricks we do to go along with Kennedy's many books - for example, when she sees a kangaroo, she does a hopping motion with her hand, or a bee, she moves her hand around erratically through the air with a "brm brm" sound (this sound works for car, bee and other things that move around quickly). Anything round is a "BAH" (ball). She has started running around which is hysterical! She kind of flaps her hands around (like a monkey) and kind of jogs on her tip toes. When Kennedy eats something she likes she says "MMM" with a lot of excitement. When she doesnt like something. she says "UH-OH" or shakes her head "no".

We are still enjoying our music class and will start a new session soon. (oh, of course I should mention she still dances all the time!)

Kennedy is sleeping well though she does tend to object to going to bed for a while each night. I think she is getting her molars becuase is seems that mouth has been bothering her lately. But, she is still an absolute angel and so sweet. She has been giving big hugs (with pats included) and kisses! She blows kisses a lot too.

I am sure there is a lot I have left out, but I will try to post more again soon. Things have been very busy around here with Jon busy with work and mom working some. I've closed a few deals and completed a few projects so I hope to be posting more often again.

14 months

2008-07-31T23:14:00.003-05:00

Contrary to what these photos suggest, Kennedy has done a lot more than just sit around scrunchin her nose at everyone! Mama is very tired, so I will not fill you all in completely, but here are a few things we've been up to:

Hat making - "hat" is her favorite word- and she must wear one at almost all times! Kennedy's new babysitter, Tara, picked up on how much Kennedy loved hats and they had craft time making K's very own artistic interpretation of a "hat"

Music Together Class Session 2 with mommy on Monday mornings - this one is mixed age (not just infants) and verdict is still out on whether this one is fun or too wild with rowdy 4yr olds

trip to the lake - Marble Falls area to see Ellie - so much fun and the doggies even got to come along!

Splashing. Lots of splashing around in the baby pool in the yard

Running. Yes, sometimes that waddle turns into a trot!

Modeling. We auditioned for a Pampers casting and were asked to come take photos. We spent a few hours earlier this week and are going back for more on Saturday. It pays well and Kennedy loves all the attention!

Kissing. Kennedy is very generous with the kisses. Yay - I take all I can get! and even a few extra blown to me!

Will post more pics and tell more about our angel soon.

More 13 month pics

2008-07-10T21:46:00.003-05:00

We have a walker!! In fact, it really happened this Tuesday (July 8). Kennedy had been taking steps - as many as ten at a time, but Tuesday she began traversing rooms. She still looks a little surprised by herself! She really likes having her teeth brushed. She has a yummy Strawberry Banana flavored toothpaste and her brush is a little clear thing we slide our finger into that has really soft bristles on the end.

What about that pose in her swimsuit? Watch out Sports Illustated! I think she was doing her elephant impression in this shot (she hold up her arm and makes an "buurrr" sound). She had so much fun in the kiddie pools at Tanners party and enjoyed being around so many kiddos her age.

I am not sure if I have mentioned the Music Together class she and I have been taking at Austin Lyric Opera. She LOVES it! And is such a ham. She always crawls straight to the center of the circle and dances to the beat! This "semester" just ended, but we are signing up for the next class too. We've also tried Gymboree, which she really loved. Kennedy really is active and these kinds of activities are so good for her!

I never got around to posting text for her birthday party pics, so I'll do it now. Jon and I are so thankful for this little angel in our lives. She really is such a miracle. Watching her grow and develop has been incredible for us and we have resolved to take time each day to just be grateful. And as our friends and loved ones who read this blog, we want you all to know that we don't take a second with her for granted. (not even those seconds when she doesn't want to be put down, so I take her to the toilet with me!) I try to think about how crucial and formative these days are for her and to put love into every interaction. We want her to remember that imperfect though we are, our love for her is perfect and pure. Yes, I have become that sappy parent who thinks everyone wants to hear my raving!

So, about Kennedy, she is walking. She also has a growing vocabulary. "dada, mama, bebe (baby, referring to her dolls), hat (emphasis on the "t"), dudu (dog), hi, nana (banana)". And she does some sign language - "more, all done, milk" and I think I've seen a "water" and a "please". She blows kisses!! And she gives kisses to everything!! Mama and dada get a lot, so does Brodie (Bailey runs from all kiss attempts), books get kisses, blocks, dolls, mirrors, stoves, floors - all get kisses. She loves to eat. There isn't much that she refuses.

Kennedy has also been "training". The night before she started walking, she was spinning about in her crib, up and down and trying to run from one end to the other. Daddy says that she was practicing her "dive roll" today. They were on the bed and she was leaping, face first, over a large oblong pillow.

So many more adventures to be had!

Kennedy Laughing

2008-07-02T11:49:00.002-05:00

Kennedy Laughing

2008-07-02T11:23:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday Kennedy!!

2008-06-25T17:19:00.001-05:00

text to follow...

11 months

2008-06-04T11:44:00.006-05:00

Pics of: Kennedy playing in a big bucket in the yard, using her radio flyer to learn how to walk (and she really zooms around!) and playing with bubbles with Brooklyn Baylor and Ellie Hemingson at a play date last weekend. She loves pushing the radio flyer around - it so cute to see those chunky little legs hard at work! In this pic she is wearing an outfit my mom sewed for me as a baby. She looks fabulous in it, of course! She has a new baby doll that she really loves too. She has one that is all fabric and didn't care too much about it. Her new one smells like vanilla, has a plastic face and eyelashes - her favorite part!

She loves the doggies (Brodie allows her to crawl all over him but Bailey keeps his distance most of the time!), she loves it when I crawl around behind her, saying "I'm gonna getcha!" - she speeds up and zooms away on hands and knees.

Kennedy is saying words now! "dada" is still her favorite. Depending on her intonation it can mean "daddy" (most of the time) or "doggie" or, more generally, "fuzzy thing that I like". She says "ha" for "hi", still a big fan of "uh-oh!" (after throwing cheerios on the floor). "Mama" is used occasionally and I beleive "na-na" means "night-night".

She is sleeping really well. Normally 8pm to 7 am ish. She takes a morning nap and normally will do an afternoon nap with a little fight. It's really sweet to hear her wake up and play in her crib with her toys. Such a big girl!

I've been giving a lot of thought to what to give her for her first birthday. It's hard to know, since she has so much and is loved by so many. And just like I always heard, she often likes the box and tissue more than the gift itself! So, Jon and I have decided to set up a College Savings Plan (a 529 Plan). We've done some research and listened to Clark Howard on the radio enough to think that this is a good idea. So, that is her big birthday gift for birthday #1 but shhh! it's a surprise to her!

So much to report, so little time....WE LOVE THIS BABY!

Weeks 45-47 Talking, Standing, Art

2008-05-12T22:15:00.003-05:00

For Mother's Day, Jon bought Kennedy some fingerpaints to make her first oeuvre d'art for Mama. It was a beautiful day, so we went outside and she painted up a storm! We went to Zilker park after to hear the symphony, but the music was cancelled, so Kennedy played at the playground where Daddy grew up playing. She has been talking a lot lately! We've heard "dadadada", a few "mamas" (although dada is used much more frequently!) and "woof". THe other night it was so funny - Brodie was barking at us while we were eating dinner (common occurence) and Jon pointed at Brodie and said "hush, Brodie!" then Kennedy (who was in Daddy's arms) pointed and Brodie and unleashed a string of instructions for him very emphatically! She points to her doggie art on the wall and says "woof". She is standing on her own for a few seconds here and there and is still a very speedy crawler. She has started lowering her head while crawling, rounding off her shoulders and charging ahead - she starts giggling as if she knows it is just so silly and cute! Her personality is really begining to show - she scrunches her nose, claps, dances and does lots of silly things to elicit attention. And boy does she get it! It's hard to believe she has been gracing our lives for almost a year now. We love her SO much and treasure every moment with her. Time really does fly when you are having fun!

Weeks 43 and 44 First Vacation!! And Ellie Hemingson visits!

2008-04-18T22:41:00.003-05:00

Kennedy had many firsts recently. She took her first vacation to Marco Island, Florida with mom and dad. She loved flying and made many friends on the planes and in the airport. She was not very happy about the sand or the ocean immediately, but felt less upset about them as the day went on. We only spent one day on the beach since it was really windy, had a really nice second day at the pool. It was very kid-friendly, so Kennedy really enjoyed sitting in the water with Daddy and watching all the big kids around her play. (they also had a nice snooze pictured above!) Jon and I both got pampered a bit in the spa which was really nice - and I did NOT miss cooking or cleaning for a few days. The third day we were there we decided to drive to the keys since it was too windy to really enjoy the water. We didnt have much of a plan, but are glad we saw it. The water was gorgeous.

Ellie (who is 3 days older than Kennedy) is visting from Wisconsin (although she is moving to Texas soon - yay!) THe girls had a fun time playing with eachother the other day and are looking forward to spending more time together.

The five of us are happy to be home together though. Brodie and Bailey are doing well - Brodie recovered from his cataract surgery and Bailey is still spunky. We have been enjoying the beautiful weather, working in the yard, Kennedy swinging in her swing. She is also waving (a lot), clapping, and mimicking funny sounds we make. And she is a super speedy crawler. She has stood on her own for a few seconds here and there.

With all these "firsts" I should also mention one very exciting "last": we all took our LAST rabies shot today! Boy are we glad to have all of that behind us. Oh, and our neighbor has had a family of opossum living under her house - she refuses to kill them - so Brodie and Bailey have been doing the honors. When we returned from our vacation to find the FIFTH dead one in our yard we made another phone call to her. She had promised to have them relocated.

So, bats have been "excluded" and opossum "relocated". Looks like the vacation is over for all of us on Kenwood Ave!

Week 39 and 40 - Bats

2008-03-24T22:41:00.003-05:00

that's right, bats. long story short - we had a few bats in the house last week and removed one withough incident, the other we beleive removed itself the way it came in (presumably the chimney). it was somewhat comical at first, since jon acts a bit sqeemish around them, but not funny in the slightest now. a girlfriend in the medical field adn whose husband is an e.r. doctor gave us some literature on bat exposure and urged us to get postexposure treatment. evidently, there has been a case where a sleeping baby who had a bat in its room contracted rabies and died. research shows that bat bites can go undetected (esp by sleeping babies) and that also rabies could be spread via contact with guano or bat urine. the cdc recommends that anyone who has found a bat inside their home while they were sleeping should get postexposure treatment. well, we thought this seemed a bit drastic, but after researching it more and getting more opinions, we decided to do it. jon and i both feel very certain that we would have known if a bat bit us, but we just could take a chance knowing how high the probabilty that the bat had rabies and also knowing the 100 % chance of death in humans with rabies. so, saturday night the three of us spent 9pm to 2 am at the e.r. downtown (luckily our friend was able to pull some strings and we didnt have to wait with all the drunks and crazies). The fun part is, not only do you get a rabies shot, you also get immune globulin (which is doses based on weight, thick like pudding and very painful). So, Jon received 5 shots, me 4 and sweet Kennedy 2. We all have to get 4 more rabies vaccinations over the course of the month. SO there you go. Learn something today? I am so not charmed by these little creatures like the rest of Austin apparently is. Sure, they eat mass quantities of insects and I thank them for that. But, you will not see the Aleshire family on Congress bridge watching these rabid mammals fly.

Brodie did get cataract surgery last week and is recovering well. He was almost blind within a month of developing cataracts but since the surgery is seeing very well. He finally is able to take off the "lampshade" around his head, so we are all relieved about that. (he was clumbsy before that thing!) Jon has been great about doctoring him, building some pretty impressice excel spreadsheets to keep the myriad of medications and dosages straight.

Also new is Jon moving his office out of the house. While we are woorking on getting bids and making decisions about the studio we plan to build out back, Jon is renting a similar studio from a neighbor. So, he can walk or ride his bike to work, still not have to get dressed up unless he has meetings, but has some peace and quiet to work.

Kennedy and I have been enjoying this beautiful weather. Last week we went to the botanical gardens and have spent a lot of time in the yard and at the park. She has been an absolute doll. She's saying a lot of "babab dada mama", crawling up a storm, and still really loves to dance! We took her out to eat with some friends (with a baby her age) Friday night and there was a live band. Kennedy jsut danced in her high chair and had a ball.

We were all pretty wiped out on Easter due to our late night at the ER, but enjoyed some gorgeous weather outside with Opa Thompson and laid low.

Hoping that all this craziness is behind us and looking forward to some r & r!

Weeks 37 & 38 CRAWLING, Pulling up, Bubbles and another tooth!

2008-03-11T22:24:00.002-05:00

just too darn tired for text right now, will update soon...

Week 35 Dancing, more sling photos and clearly expressing likes and dislikes!

2008-02-20T15:33:00.005-06:00

This girl is a DANCER! Even at the faintest beat she starts shifting from side to side. (the sound of the dryer, phone ringing, mom pumping!) I catch her in her crib sometimes just dancing!

She has started to express "I WANT IT!". Sometimes she'll get zoned in on the phone or something like that she wants to put in her mouth and when we take it from her she does a little whine/cry sound. Cute now. I'll look back fondly on these days! I bet it has to do with her development of object permanence because now she knows that the item she desires still exists and she just cant have it!

The gals from Zolowear asked us to take some more pics the other day when a model had to cancel last minute. Kennedy was a little shy at first, then started to ham it up. She has started doing a really precious scrunchy nose/giggle/panting combo when she is excited.

Still just the one little tooth poking through and still a lot of scooting but no official crawling.

I almost cried the other day when she was at the grocery store with me and a guy looked at her and said "I hope my baby never gets that old". WHAT?!?! She's just a little teeny baby and always will be. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. (his baby was 1 week old)

Week 34 A Tooth and Waving!

2008-02-11T11:42:00.000-06:00

A couple of days ago a little tooth started pushing through! Kennedy has been an angel. A teething ring or some homeopathic teething gel has been all she needs. (the teething tablets are made with milk sugar, so we are staying away from those! Who knew milk was everywhere!) Occassionally it seems to bother her a bit, but she has not been very fussy at all and has been sleeping well. She has even started to get more regular about a nap. Although it isnt really scheduled, she has been taking a nap sometime around noon most days.

She has also been waving, which is hilarious. Her hand is really limp and she flops it around very quickly. Kissing the baby in the mirror is another new trick. Who can blame her?

Although she still isnt "crawling" she is getting up a lot and making some progress. She has been doing some fabulous yoga moves- downward dog and plank pose!

She really is into Daddy right now. He can just pass through the room and she laughs. Brodie gets her giggling too!

We watched a little bit of Barney today - she loved it! Mommy doesnt think she should watch much TV, but this was very entertaining to her!

This Little Piggy...

2008-01-21T23:51:00.000-06:00

I know, I know. So silly. But really, how cute can she get? She loves her big stuffed pig (Truffles) and well, the girl does love to eat! She is really entertained by snorting noises which I sometimes find myself doing in public to make her laugh. (along with clucking my head like a chicken, dancing, fake coughing...I can be a bit embarrasing in social situations these days!) So, the outfit from Oma and Opa Thompson was just too appropriate. THE TAIL!

7 months! Duckies, Peas & Scooting!

2008-01-20T22:34:00.000-06:00

Our precious little angel has been busy! In the past two weeks, she has been trying new foods, the latest of which was peas. She loved them (as you can see from the pics) and also loves avocados, sweet potatoes, bananas, rice cereal (her fave) and teething biscuits. She is a big girl and sits in a high chair at restaurants (so everyone can stop and comment on how cute she is). I really think she has been trying to wave in the past few days. She also really loves her baths - she still mostly bathes in her little tub inside the big tub, but occassionally we bathe her in the big tub with just a little water for her to splash in. Her rubber duckies from Great Grandmere Marshall are very entertaining to her. In fact, she squealed with delight when she eyed some in the grocery store the other day. Kennedy also was able to meet my friend Liz from Boston who came for a short but sweet visit this weekend.

Kennedy is trying very hard to crawl. She has mastered getting up on her hands and knees and scooting. She does make forward progress, normally by propelling herself mouth-first towards the object of her desire. It is so hilarious. She does this mouth-first "shark attack" on a number of things, including our faces. She successfully latched on to my lower lip the other night and she and I ended up laughing hysterically at eachother while she was attached me, mouth to lip!

Sleeping is going very well. There have been a few nights that she has had a hard time getting to sleep, I think due to her sniffles (but some baby vapor rub works miracles), but apart from that, she has been sleeping really well- the past 2 nights she has slept from 9pm ish to 7 am ish. Naturally, I wake up wondering where my baby is and check on her, sneaking in a few kisses. Hmm, that sounds like a good idea...

Week 29

2008-01-07T23:50:00.000-06:00

OH MY GOODNESS! Is she cute or what? Please notice the wrist rolls in photo #1. And it was hard to choose 3 out of the p'tit singe (little monkey) series. She was a ham that day! And this pic is of Kennedy and her friend Tanner who lives a few blocks away. They are just 9 days apart in age, so it was so fun watching them both try to crawl around! He is a cutie!

More Christmastime Photos

2007-12-29T23:10:00.001-06:00

Christmas, Weeks 27 & 28

2007-12-29T22:54:00.000-06:00

What a fun 2 weeks! Kennedy was able to see a lot family and meet some family she had not met before. And OH the gifts! Santa was very good to Kennedy this year and she received many gifts that she loves (and will love). But, she REALLY enjoyed the unwrapping. Tearing paper and mouthing bows was a gift all of its own.

This little angel is growing way too fast. We cant believe she has been here with us for half a year. She is now sitting on her own, trying to crawl (mainly scooting backwards!), and just started eating BANANAS! She has been so interested in our food that we decided it was time. So this week we have added bananas to nursing and rice cereal and she was pretty happy about it. Some pics here, but will add more - there are just too many cute ones.

Weeek 25

2007-12-14T17:25:00.000-06:00

This week Kennedy has become very interested in Brodie and Bailey. She has been reaching out to pet them and laughing at them when they act silly. She alsy thinks it is really funny when mom brushes her teeth. She loves her rice cereal and is pretty serious about eating. She lunges forward to get the spoon if I'm not fast enough! This was also the first week that she put her foot in her mouth. She isn't doing it a lot and still prefers her thumb, but it is pretty cute when she does! She helped us put the Chrsitmas tree together last weekend and seems to enjoy looking at it, especially at night with the lights on. Kennedy is trying to crawl, but only ends up inching backwards! It is hilarious and SO precious (butI think it frustrates her!) Won't be long...
I finally started to consider that maybe I was crazy for having diagnosed her with a dairy allergy. So, after some testing I decided to add a little dairy back to my diet and, sparing you all the details, her symptoms worsened. I spoke with our pediatrician's nurse, who believes that my diagnosis is accurate now, and she referred us to a pediatric gastroenterologist. Although we cannot get it until mid-January and a nurse can't give me advice until we come in to the appt, the receptionist made a comment that her symptoms sounded like classic symptoms of a cow milk protein allergy. So, I feel certain this is the case. Just a few days withough dairy in my diet has improved her comfort significantly. So, there you go. Another case of trusting mother's intuition and taking your care into your own hands... a lot like what we learned with Brodie this summer.

Video

2007-12-05T17:41:00.000-06:00

Week 24: Sips of water, spoonfuls of rice cereal!

2007-12-05T17:10:00.000-06:00

Kennedy started eating rice cereal last Friday. That was so amusing for mom and dad the first time especially! She seems to really like it (and it is supposed to help with her reflux). She also has been enjoying little sips of water out of big girl cups. She has been eyeing all of our food and beverages lately and even grabbed for daddy's beer the other night!!
Her pediatrician insists that she will soon grow out of the reflux. I do think that some of the things we have been doing lately have helped. (adding rice cereal, making some changes to our nursing patterns, still undecided on whether the dairy elimination has helped...)
Jon and I are excited about Kennedy's first Christmas. We even have a wreath on the front door and Christmas songs on the stereo...just knowing how much fun it will be for her all these years to come is so cool. Pic above is of her helping daddy decorate the tree and Aleshire grandparents' house.

Week 23

2007-11-29T17:34:00.000-06:00

Kennedy celebrated her first Thanksgiving in San Antonio. Above, pic with her 2nd cousins Claire and Annie Marshall. We have so much to be thankful for this year. Kennedy has made each day so much more important and meaningful.
We are stll really battling the reflux. I have removed gluten from my diet now as well in the hopes that it will help. No dairy and no gluten means a lot of soy, so now I am begining to suspect a soy allergy! Maybe the docs are right and we just have to let her "grow out of it" -
i'll believe that once every other avenue has been explored!

The Most Pleasant Thing a Child Can Do

2007-11-19T21:59:00.000-06:00

Weeks 20 & 21 Laughing, Rolling, Swinging and Possibly Teething

2007-11-19T21:18:00.000-06:00

So much to report! Kennedy is growing so much, it is exciting and sad all at the same time! We suspect she might be teething. The last few nights she has been fussier than normal and she is putting everything into her mouth! She loves sucking on a wet washcloth, but she is also happy to mouth her hands, toys, carseat, my face...She had started sleeping 8pm-4am with a quick snack then again until 730 or so. The last two nights have been a little different, but still pretty good. She's still not much of a napper. Today, we ventured to the outlet malls with a friend and her little boy Tanner (who we kid is Kennedy's boyfriend, younger by 9 days) to get some Christmas shopping done and beat the holiday craze. She was a total giggle-box. She laughed at me while we were shopping and then was hysterical over daddy when we got home. She has also been "talking" so much. In her crib, in her carseat, to me, to dad, to anyone who will listen. So much to say! Her reflux is better now that I have completely eliminated dairy from my diet. We aren't 100% sure of the diagnosis, but based on our trial and error, this seems to be helping. Rice milk anyone? Poor Jon is now not only being denied beef or pork at home, but also is getting very little dairy. I dump some cheese on the finished product sometimes, and that seems to make him happy. Kennedy has also been trying to roll over and sit up. She has rolled a few times, in fact I found her sleeping on her belly the other night! (she goes to sleep on her back). And she is really cute when we put her in a seated position how she puts out her arms to try to balance. Kennedy tried swinging in a real outdoor swing in Fredericksburg last weekend. She didnt know what to think at first, but then she decided she liked it at started laughing!

Primary Colored Plastic Toys all over the house

2007-11-05T22:28:00.001-06:00

we swore we wouldnt do it. werent we naive. although all these baby must have's are bulky and taking over the house, we wouldnt even think about letting her go without something to stimulate and entertain her! this is kennedy's new exersaucer. it's stimulation overload! she likes it and has barely scratched the surface of what noises it makes and things she can turn, press, swat at... she has been talking SO MUCH the past few days. it may be that she is bored since we've been house-bound for a week with this cold! it's so cute though, she has SO much to say~ video has been uploaded with a little snip.

Video: Crib Talkin'

2007-11-05T22:05:00.000-06:00

Little Pumpkin

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

Well, Little Pumpkin and Mama Pumpkin weren't feeling well this Halloween, so it was pretty uneventful. We did put the precious hat and top from Great Grandma Marshall on her though and she looked rather cute as you can see. Daddy handed out candy to some kids - the 2 years we have been here, we have had a pretty good turnout. We turned out the lights early, had some chicken soup, saline nose spray and went to bed. (Kennedy does NOT like saline nose spray, for the record). I think we are on the mend, but this cold has not been fun.

some more cute pics

2007-10-31T22:45:00.000-05:00

one of those times she took the soothie...
swinging outside...
some thumb sucking...

Fun at Chari and Paul's house a few weeks ago poolside while the boys watched football.

Weeks 17 and 18

2007-10-30T23:14:00.000-05:00

My Aunt Becky from visting from Maui and my Grandma Marshall with Kennedy
Post-bath and SO CUTE!
Hanging out with Uncle Jared on the hammock on a beautiful Sunday.
Precious in her PJ's from Oma and Opa Thompson - this is her most common sleeping position.

Over 4 months old!

2007-10-25T17:32:00.000-05:00

We cant believe how quickly time has been passing. I cant imagine life before Kennedy now. She is so sweet and getting more fun every day! She has been having some problems with acid reflux and after an unsuccesful 2 wks on one medication, we are trying a new one starting today. It's so hard to see her be uncomfortable and not be able to fix it for her. We hope this will help. Bedtime is getting more regular. We start the routine around 7 or 730 and she is normally fast asleep by 8. That has been nice to rely on so we can get some things done in the evenings - and maybe Jon and I have a conversation with eachother in a normal pitch of voice! We have lots of pics to download, so stay tuned for some new posts coming soon.

Kennedy's First Modeling Job!

2007-10-12T13:15:00.000-05:00

Kennedy and I modeling Zolowear Slings. They are a local company and the ladies who run the company live in our neighborhood.

We work cheap - we got 2 free slings in exchange for our time!

www.zolowear.com

Week 15

2007-10-09T12:23:00.001-05:00

This week, we went to the new park by Auditorium Shores. Lots of fun time with Kennedy visiting friends & family and hanging out at home.

Week 14

2007-09-27T10:34:00.001-05:00

I have to take back something I said in a previous post. I thought she had been laughing, but now I know she didnt have her first laugh until last Tuesday evening. Before she had made some cute sounds while smiling, but this was on all-out crack up. Jon and I were both with her and she must have thought about a funny joke she heard, because she just starting giggling like crazy out of nowhere!! We didnt know what it was at first, but were delighted to figure out she was laughing!! (I cried!) Some more thumb sucking, lots of cooing. And she is getting pretty chunky! Watch our cousin Lili, Kennedy is trying to steal your crown!

Week 13

2007-09-16T22:40:00.001-05:00

Lots of laughing, cooing and snoozing this week. And she really enjoys mirrors! (and she should, she's so fun to look at!) We read some new books and had some fun baby play dates with babies close to her age. (a cute boy named Tanner who is about a week younger than her and sweet Alayna who is about 3 weeks younger and shared her due date! Both have parents who we met in our childbirth classes)

Week 12

2007-09-08T20:33:00.000-05:00

A cute smirk and the family all together.

Weeks 10 and 11

2007-09-04T14:51:00.000-05:00

Things are returning to normal at the Aleshire household. Brodie is responding well to the insulin shots, although we are still trying to perfect the dosage. Bailey did lose vision in his right eye, which makes us all very sad. You wouldn't know that these guys had such a bad week though - their spirits are high and both are acting healthy and happy.
A few pics from the end of week 10 and some of week 11. Kennedy watching her doggie mobile. Us with K's great Papa Thompson.
K in a cute green floral outfit, precious while playing with her silver rattle from my mom, and Jenn and Ellie. Ellie and Kennedy hung out a few times while they were here, but we didnt get any shots of them together...First girls shopping trip to the mall! I think Jenn and I stopped to nurse them 3 times in a 2 hr trip,but had a lot of fun. Sad they left.
Kennedy has become a lot more vocal in the past week or so. A lot of cooing and what we believe to be her first exclamation- "Unga hey!" (can anyone translate?)She has also become very aware of her hands in the past few days- she's been putting them in her mouth a lot!

Weeks 9 & 10

2007-08-26T15:11:00.001-05:00

Kennedy met a lot of family over the last 2 weeks and had her 2 month ped. appointment. She weighed 10 lbs 9 oz and was 23 inches long. She met Raetta's parents (so her great step grandparents) and a lot of the Thompson clan at the Meme/Mary/Jerome/Yoli Birthday Party in Kerrville. (my paternal grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins)

The doggies had a rough week. Brodie was mis-diagnosed as having liver failure - and we had prepared to say goodbye to him as suggested by our vet. After many rough days and appointments at the vet, we took him to a specialist who found that he was diabetic and basically in diabetic shock. After 1 night on insulin, Brodie was knocking down vet techs and terrorizing the hospital in search of food. We will get him back on Monday and start insulin treatments, and look forward to years with him.

All the while this was going on, Bailey was hit by a motorcycle speeding between the speed bumps we have in front of our house. We brought him home after a night at the emergency clinic. He has some pretty good lacerations and some damage to his right eye. He is seeing a specialist tomorrow and we should be able to better determine if the eye will recover.

So, a rough week in the Aleshire houseshold. Kennedy was an angel through it all and has been to the vet now so many times we think she may bark before she talks. We look forward to better days ahead and are very glad our little family will all be back together.

To end this post on a happy note, Kennedy's friend Ellie also is in town visiting. They are 3 days apart in age (Ellie was born this father's days). We will post cute pics of them together later this week. (Ellie and Kennedy's moms are friends from studying abroad in France).

Week 8

2007-08-18T21:23:00.000-05:00

A few cute pics of Kennedy week 8. Notice the scrunchy nose. This look is to express concern/dis-satisfaction & is normally accompanied by some huffing & puffing . (still not much of a fan of tummy time!) but I do think she likes her new cloth diapers!

Week 7

2007-08-15T00:09:00.000-05:00

Week 7 is coming to an end. This week, Kennedy discovered the pacifier! We had tried a few in the past, but she didnt like them. Now, she is quite happy with her new "Soothie" and she looks so cute with it! She is still sleeping really well at night and is starting to have more regular naps. (MORE being the operative word, our days are still a surprise!) We went to a neighborhood mom's group and met some neighborhood moms. We are looking forward to week 8!

Click on the Picasa link below to see a full album of week 7.

http://picasaweb.google.com/jonandfair

Week 6 Video Kennedy and her doggie mobile

2007-08-12T17:09:00.000-05:00

Watch her wiggle while she watches her mobile!
http://picasaweb.google.com/jonandfair/Week6Video02

More Week 6 pics

2007-08-10T13:30:00.001-05:00

This last pic just cracks me up. I am so glad Jon caught this look on camera - it's a face she makes often. As if she is thinking "Very interesting, very interesting indeed!"

Week 6

2007-08-06T14:42:00.000-05:00

this week we had some tummy time and a fun day outside (the mosquito net, a fan and a cooler day made it possible). Kennedy is making lots of facial expressions - we caught a smile on camera! She's more vocal now too - lots of squeaks and vowels. And she is getting pretty good at holding her head up! She has started acknowledging her mobile, looking at her art cards, and making faces when we babble a bunch of silly baby talk in her face! An absolute angel!

Week 5

2007-08-03T18:26:00.000-05:00

week 5 consisted of smiling, (not consistent yet, but it is very rewarding for mom and dad!)lots of eating (another growth spurt?), strolls around the neighborhood, joining mom and dad for a dinner out!, lots of snuggling & mommy is reading le petit prince to kennedy in french. mommy caught kennedy and dad slow dancing once too. i believe it was to elton john.

Week 4

2007-07-23T18:59:00.000-05:00

Sucking Thumb and Pond Tour

2007-07-16T21:32:00.000-05:00

That's right - she has started sucking her thumb! We've caught her doing it on 2 occasions now. (and she is an old pro at flippin' the bird). And, we have finally ventured out of the house! (briefly) The 3 of us went to see a few homes on the Austin Pond Society's pond tour after eating brunch on South Congress. I think she enjoyed it, but we were all pretty pooped when we got home.

Week 3

2007-07-13T12:32:00.000-05:00

Four Generations - Kennedy with her Mom, "Grandmere" Mary Marshall Thompson, and Great Grandmother Rebecca Quirin Marshall.

Week 2 was fun!

2007-07-10T08:14:00.000-05:00

"Big Daddy Thompson" came to visit. Kennedy at 2nd bath. Look at that face! Daddy and Kennedy snuggle up after bath. And Uncle Jared and Kennedy spend some quality time together. I can see some red in her hair in that pic!

Funny faces...

2007-06-30T18:00:00.001-05:00

Day 10 - First Bath

2007-06-30T17:45:00.000-05:00

Everything ready for a clean baby!
Taking the plunge...
This isnt so bad!
Daddy drying her off.
All clean and cute in bubble outfit!

Day 9, an evening photo shoot

2007-06-29T20:33:00.000-05:00

Daddy's Hands
We call this look "milk drunk". A little glazed over, totally content! A lot like Blue Steel.

2007-06-29T20:20:00.000-05:00

Brodie takes his shift seriously. No one gets near the crib without proper security clearance.

2007-06-29T18:05:00.000-05:00

Bailey notices Kennedy when she comes home. He has not left her side since. He is especially attentive if anyone other than Jon or I are holding her. He makes sure everyone knows big brother is watching.
Sniff, Sniff.
Kennedy on her car ride home. She slept most of the way. Her cute "take me home" outfit was huge on her! She's so teeny!
Uncle Duffy holds her for the first time. This was at 3 days old.

Happy Family

2007-06-27T13:33:00.001-05:00

Day 6 - And baby makes three! (or 5, with Bailey and Brodie, who we have not forgotten!)Kennedy had her first well baby visit and it went very well. She has gained an ounce since she left the hospital. We really like her pediatrician.
Our world has changed in such an amazing way. Jon and I laugh about how protective we are. On the car ride to the doctor, we drove so slowly and freaked out about large trucks with trailers miles away. Oh how dangerously we used to live before we had such precious cargo.
Kennedy is eating and sleeping well and is a real love bug. The doggies and very interested in her, but have been good about respecting her space.

2007-06-26T21:36:00.000-05:00

2007-06-22T14:40:00.000-05:00

More pics - Kennedy

2007-06-22T14:32:00.000-05:00

Uncle Jared brought this sweet rose to Kennedy on her first day in this world. He had a rose bush that he had been waiting to bloom ( he thought it had red roses). Finally, Wednesday morning (June 20), when he was leaving for work, he walked outside and found this one sweet pink bloom. Jared also gave Kennedy that blanket in the pic - it was the first gift she ever recieved (last Christmas). At the time, we still didnt know if she was going to be a girl or boy, so he bought the pretty green. (A welcome departure from all the pink!)

Kennedy Fair Aleshire - 6/20/2007; 2:23 AM; 6 lbs 6 oz; 18.25 in

2007-06-21T17:54:00.000-05:00

Miss Kennedy decided to join us! She suprised us early Wednesday morning. Baby and Mommy are doing well. We'll keep you posted.

The Nursery

2007-06-11T21:37:00.000-05:00

We're getting there! It appears we will need some more storage space, so a chest/changing table is in the works. My mom made the bedding and we love it! Duffy and his girlfriend Ann gave us the adorable wall art. Jared was very sweet and helped Jon put the crib together. Bill and Raetta found the perfect mobile for us - labradors! (if only it was Cairn terriers biting labrador's ankles!)

Shower at Joneses 6/10/07

2007-06-11T10:46:00.000-05:00

Joi, Mercedes and Chari hosted a very nice shower for us at Joi's house.

We've learned that the little one is breech and is very unlikely to turn at this point. So, at the last dr's appointment, we scheduled a C-section for July 2. Mom has been ordered to stay in bed as much as possible so we can make it to that date!

Mother's Day

2007-06-09T22:20:00.000-05:00

Mother's Day Dinner at Eastside Cafe. 29 Weeks.

3/31/07 Fair with Doggies at 25 weeks

2007-06-09T11:12:00.000-05:00

20 week Sonogram - It's a GIRL!

2007-06-08T20:23:00.000-05:00

Jon thought she was a boy since she seemed to do be doing some serious karate-chopping in mom's belly ( like one would expect of an Aleshire boy!) My Grandma Marshall told me that when she was pregnant, my grandad and his friends would all place bets on the baby's gender. She makes good on her bets though, because she had thought it was a boy too, so I won $10!

Hawaii December 2006

2007-06-07T20:51:00.000-05:00

Lei, Jon, Lili, Jon and Fair December 06 - end of 1st trimester, just starting to show...

We had so much fun meeting little Miss Lili. She is a sweet baby and a total ham! Enjoyed our time in Maui with Becky, Ed and Ali too! Ali is growing like a weed (tall and thin - with new braces!) Ed and Jon did some golfing while us gals did some shopping.

San Miguel d'Allende 6/06

2007-06-02T22:39:00.000-05:00

San Miguel d'Allende

June 2006

We went on a nice trip with Dad and Helen - and met Helen's mom, Carol, there. Carol rents a house every summer and we made the invite list! Great food, nice weather, fun family time! The best moon ceremony ever! (a story worth asking us about!)