Kaylee is 2!!

sob sob sob, boo hoo, sniff sniff

I was talking to one of my cousins tonight about how sad I am that Kaylee turned 2 yesterday. It has nothing to do with wanting her to stay a baby, it has everything to do with her growing up...does that even make sense? I have no desire to have another baby to fill my "nest". I am so in love with Kaylee and I have fully enjoyed every stage she has gone through so far. I know that the next stages will be just as great, but turning 2 is a bit more "grown up" than I'm ready for! Go ahead and laugh at me, I'll just wallow by myself. ;)

On the other hand, Kaylee has welcomed 2 with open arms. Little Miss Independent only wants to push the grocery cart herself and she wants her food put on the table so she can pick it up herself.

Even among the bouts of independence, she is still the sweetest little girl I've ever met, and I'm really not just saying that because she's my baby! She is a Giver...She's not possessive of her toys, she'd rather share than play with it by herself. She loves to share her food with anyone who will take a bite. And her latest thing is requiring family hugs before bedtime. Who doesn't love a good family hug before bedtime?!! And did you know that loving monster trucks and power tools are genetic traits? They must be because Kaylee will choose anything with wheels over any other toy in the room and "oom oom oom" it all around the floor. She is drawn to all of John's tools too and tries to use them correctly. She loves to "help" him construct things. :)

Anyway enough about my ramblings, you're all here for the cute pictures not my emotional blabbering. ;) We had a BBQ on Saturday with friends:

The kids had a picnic in our living room:

This was our dessert! (Check out the Kayteedids blog for this story!)

Then we had a BBQ on Sunday with our neighbors but I forgot to take pictures! For someone who wasn't wanting her baby to turn 2, I sure have celebrated quite a bit already! Then Tuesday, her actual birthday, we went to Applebee's for dinner. That's the "biggest" restaurant we have in town. We told our waitress that it was Kaylee's 2nd birthday so they came to sing to her. She didn't seem to know they were singing to her but she was certainly happy that they brought an ice cream sundae bigger than her head!

Sharing with Daddy!
And just so Monday didn't feel left out of the party, we had Starbucks Birthday Cake Pops! mmmmm

Kaylee got a kitchen for her birthday! (Thanks Ed & Michelle!!) She loves to "cook" in the big kitchen so this is perfect for her. She works in her kitchen while I make dinner.

Look at that big girl pony tail! Ahhhhhhhh, she's 2!!!!!!!!!!!! sniff sniff

Happy Belated Father's Day

In the jobs I've had over the years I've seen many different types of dads. Most of the ones I dealt with in social services with were the ones who didn't take the time to cherish the children they helped bring into this world. Those dead-beat dads are the bottom of the barrel in my opinion.

There are the dads who are there, but not really there. Luke warm, if you will. The ones who are present but have no true relationship with their children. They meet their children's physical needs - food, shelter, clothing - but there is no emotional connection.

Then there are the dads who lead by positive example, support their children through life's journey, and have a true and specific relationship with each child.

I count myself very blessed and fortunate to have THAT kind of dad and more specifically, having the dad that I do. I remember going to the electronic flea market with him on Saturday mornings and getting to eat at McDonalds afterwards. He and I rebuilt my VW Bug from junkyard pieces. He flew to Oregon to drive with me back home after my college years. Just to name a few memories! He had an equal part in raising me and if I do say so myself, I think he did a great job!

And what a great Grandpa he is too! We Skype daily with Grandpa even if it's just to say hi and bye. :)



Another thing that my dad did well was role model to me and my sister what to look for in a husband. I remember a teenage memory vividly...someone had "broken my heart" and I yelled "BOYS SUCK!" as I ran to my room. My dad calmly but loud enough for me to hear said "Not all boys suck." It was so true, not all boys suck. :)

When John and I started dating I knew that he would be a wonderful father. The way he treated (treats) me, his fun-nature and the way he was raised...all good signs that this boy "didn't suck"! :) Now watching him actually be a dad just blows my mind. Yesterday Kaylee bumped her head and she wanted Daddy. Those moments I just stand back and admire the love they have for each other. I am completely and utterly blessed to have John as my husband and as Kaylee's dad.

Eskimo Kisses

Rad Like Dad! - Father's Day dinner at Ruckus

Daddy, I definitely "pick" you!

Thanks Daddy for being my Daddy so we could go out to dinner and I could eat delicious mac n cheese with 2 forks!

And I'm lucky to have a wonderful father-in-law too! The way John was raised is an important piece to who he is today and I can't thank his dad enough for loving him and for welcoming me into their family with open arms.

Happy (belated) Father's Day to the 3 dads in my life!

Favorites

I'm sorry it's been so long since I've blogged! Blogger wouldn't let me sign in for more than a week! So to anyone who kept checking with bated breath for the latest updates and had to keep looking at squirrels and lizards, I'm sorry. :)

However, there isn't much to report! It's been 95 degrees with 80% humidty on average for 2 weeks now...where did Spring go? We went from 60 to 95 in a blink! So we try to stay inside.

Let's see...you probably want some cute pictures. :) Prepare yourself, I've gone a little crazy. I just think Kaylee is the cutest thing I've ever laid eyes on. She and her daddy are my favorites things on this planet!

Kaylee is obsessed with books and would rather read than do anything else. In fact, after reading no less than 3 books before bed she continues to read to herself and Puppy in her crib. When she wakes up in the morning, she reads to herself for who knows how long. One morning I woke up at 9am (she has been my alarm for 7:30am for a solid 18 months now) and went running to her room wondering why she wasn't awake yet and she was contently reading to Puppy. I have no clue how long she had been awake.

Story time with Daddy before bed.

More Daddy time!

Have I ever mentioned (complained) about the fact that our hose is a far distance from the house, and is located in the well "house" along with mice, bugs, spiders, and probably snakes? Not to mention the redbug infestations hiding in the pathways to the well house. So that explains why I prefer to fill up a storage bin in the house with a few buckets of water and call this a pool:

John and I were working on projects in the house and needed Kaylee to stay entertained. Give this girl a corndog, goldfish, milk and Madagascar and she'll sit for hours...well, however long the movie is.

Happy Memorial Day!

Watching the dogs

Kaylee's newest skill is brushing her teeth all by herself. I usually brush them after she does just to make sure, but she's pretty good at it.

Ha! I couldn't pass up one more nature shot. John saw this bunny sitting by Kaylee's tree. I hope he/she stays in the front yard though...Gauge has been known to catch bunnies.

Today's Nature Sighting

Science Lesson

So yesterday I wrote about the mama skink and today I watched again as "she" slithered around on the deck, so I googled "oranged headed skink". They're officially called Broadheaded Skinks. And lo and behold, SHE is a HE! That little "cute" head poking up in my picture is the actual mama Skink. The male Skink was protecting the female because he has impregnated her and he didn't want anybody messing with his woman! He has an orange head because it's "reproduction season" to put it mildly....hey, this is a family blog!

The Broadheaded Skink is one of the only skinks to actually stay with her eggs! What a good mama! The babies are due in July and will have blue tails! So Happy Mother's Day to a pregnant Skink (I really have to make sure I spell that word right! ha!) and good job to the Daddy for protecting his brood. :)

And there is your science lesson from The Woertman Outdoors Camp....don't expect too many of these, I'm pretty anti-outdoorsy! But it's amazing what you see sitting on a porch swing in the woods.

Mother's Day part 2

John amazingly squeezed in all his husband/daddy duties in this morning before he had to work tonight. He let me sleep in until 10:00am! While I slept away he and Kaylee had a fun morning playing. Then he made his famous french toast for breakfast and we went out to build my swing! We finished the swing just before he had to leave for work.

After Kaylee and I ate lunch we got ready to head into town. I honestly didn't realize that Kaylee and I even owned the same clothes until after I was dressed and was headed to dress her too. Black shirts, jeans, and (fake) black Converses! So of course we had to take some matching mother-daughter pictures! These pics were timer self-portraits which is very hard to do with a 22 month old, but aren't we just the cutest? ;)

Then we went to Home Depot to get a potted plant for the corner of the deck by the swing! I ended up with a small rose bush...we'll see how well I keep it up. An herb garden, a coffee tree, and now a rose bush...I really hope I keep them all alive!

This is how I ride at Home Depot...shh, don't tell Jimmie Johnson that we went to "that other store".

Then we went to Taco Bell for dinner. If it were up to Kaylee, we'd eat Taco Bell for every meal. Yes, that is an empty Mexican Pizza box...and yes, she ate the entire thing.

And here is the swing with the new side table, rose bush and citronella candles burning to keep the bugs away!

Don't you want to come visit and swing with me? A cup of coffee? A glass of sweet tea? A good book? Oh, the possibilities! It folds out flat...maybe I'll go sleep there tonight. ;)

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Everytime all 3 of us go to Walmart we check out of the garden center and while John does all the "checking out" Kaylee and I sit on the porch swing. So this morning I was presented with our very own swing!! I love it!!! I love you John!! Thanks for knowing me so well!

Here Daddy, let me help you get all the pieces.

I'm so smart...not only can I read at 22 months old, but I can read in Spanish!

Okay Daddy, it says you need to put piece B into piece A...got that?

Momma got a swing, I got a box!

Just a swingin'

And Happy Mother's Day to the Skink who was protecting her new baby Skink from us during the swing construction! I wondered why she never moved even with us being inches from her at times, then this little "cute" face peeked up!

I hacked the Haaks...

come on over to Mandy & Seth's blog to see my "guest blog"...okay, so I hacked into their account.

http://mandyandseth.blogspot.com/

Coffee, Chimpanzees, and Cake, Oh My!

We have been working on getting our house ready to sell...slowly but surely. John's latest project was to put a new railing on the deck which included blocking off the holes around the two oak trees. He did a wonderful job!! My husband is very handy and crafty!!

I planted some herbs in pots...my first "herb garden"!

He also won a Coffea Arabcia Coffee tree at a Starbucks meeting. So we're now in the business of growing our own beans!! haha kidding It takes several years to produce beans. I'll let you know in a few years how that goes. :) I have a "brown thumb", not a green one.

Today while running errands we went to a Starbucks (not John's). Kaylee saw the cake pops through the pastry case and just HAD to have one...okay, okay... I had to have one. ;) She had the first couple bites for the photo op.

My friend who made Kaylee's Easter shirt also made this shirt for her!! "I love you a-latte" is a common phrase in our house. Also, "I love you Venti", "Have a Grande", and "See you latte". I know, we're cheesy. :)

Last week Kaylee and I went to the Ashboro Zoo with 2 moms from my MOPS group. One of them has twin 4 year old boys, and the other mom has one 4 year old boy. We spent 6 HOURS at the zoo, plus the 3 hours in the truck (round trip) which made for a long day, but we had a great time! The boys entertained Kaylee which helped her push through the "I'm so tired but refuse to take a nap because I might miss cool animals" phase. Once we got back to the truck she fell asleep before I even had her buckled into her carseat.

Watching the Chimpanzees...well, Kaylee is watching the boys!

Riding in Style!