18 Months Old!

Today I am taking a moment to reflect on a post with a similar title, while sharing that the big news today is that Penny is now 18 months old!  Though its a bit of a parent cliche, I can't help but express that I don't know WHERE the time has gone! It really sort of startled me when I sat down to write this post, when I realized that my last baby is a full-blown toddler.  Sometimes I still think of my first baby (now a very big boy) as being this age.  At any rate, here's the low down on Miss Penny:

Penny is quite the talker!  She says so many words these days I am hard pressed to remember them all.  Basically she can and will repeat just about anything we say.  Her most common words include Mama, Daddy, Buh-Puh (Cooper), hi, nana (banana), apple, boo-bear (blueberries), Ma-Mas (Grandma), Go-Gur (yogurt), cracker, sucker, diaper, duck, Ralph (our dog), truck, fish, ball, bebes (baby), gang-kit (blanket), Elmo (from Sesame Street), Elmo (also says this for the Disney Nemo character), in-cess (princess) and star.

Really though, she CAN say anything...just last night her and Cooper were playing and she started exclaiming, "Bust my buffers!"  (This is a Thomas the Train expression that Cooper uses all the time.)  Penny knows a lot of animals and the sounds they make.  The duck says "Gack Gack", the horse says "neigh", the cow says "moo", the puppy says "wuff"...all of this she knows.  What makes this so Penny is that while she knows all of this, her favorite sound is the duck sound.  A lot of the time if you ask her what an animal says, she will say, with an impish grin, "Gack Gack".  This is her version of being funny, and we love it!

Recent trip to the aquarium...but the first time Penny enjoyed it like a kid...no stroller riding for this big girl!

Penny loves to play with her babies, work wood puzzles,  ride on her Dora ride-on toy, especially when Cooper is flying around the living room on his ride-on, and play with any toy that her big brother is playing with including blocks, trains, cars, or in the playhouse outside.  She also loves to push buttons...she drives Cooper crazy with her button-pushing, quite literally.  If we are watching one of his shows, she turns off the DVD player.  If he is playing on the iPad, she likes to push the home button.  If I accidentally leave my phone in reach, she is trying to text someone.

I don't have Penny's growth stats yet...both her and Cooper have been under the weather for the last week and I didn't really want to take her in to see the doctor and get any shots while sick.  Hopefully the congestion et al will be cleared up next week and we can go in to see how she's doing physically, though after looking at pictures of Cooper at this age, she seems to be right where she should be and doing great!

Miss Penny with her first ponytail...I slave to keep all that HAIR out of her face!  I don't mind, her wild hair seems to suit her.

So, I Sewed!

 For several years now, I have had a personal goal of learning to sew.  Before Cooper and Penny came along, the task of learning to sew never seemed important, as I had a career, a husband, and a very old house to attend to.   Once Cooper was born, I had even less time to consider taking up a new hobby but it occurred to me that sewing could be useful in my career as a mom.  Fast forward a couple of years and add another kid to the mix. Learning to sew was pushed even further down the list of priorities.  Then came Halloween of 2011.  I didn't have the ability to make a costume for Penny, so I ended up, through gritted teeth, buying her a costume that every other kid her age probably had too.  This REALLY bothered me, and since I had always wanted to learn to sew ANYWAY, sewing became one of my prioritized goals for 2012.  David got me a sewing machine for Christmas and I let it sit on a shelf for two months, completely intimidated by it.  Then last week, armed with a cup of coffee, a how-to you tube video, and some cheap fabric remnants, I set to work.  Here is what unfolded...

I don't have a true workable flat surface anywhere in my house!  All of my table and desk tops are "distressed".  I also didn't have real sewing scissors or measuring tape at first.  I wasn't sure this sewing thing would stick so I wasn't willing to spend much money to start, however I was not going to let lack of proper tools stop me.  I used the top of my dryer as a work surface, regular old paper scissors, and a ruler...

I watched a you tube video on how to make an envelope pillow cover (an easy first project), and set to work cutting and pinning the fabric. I also used a pen to mark where to cut...I don't know why, I guess I just figured the marks wouldn't show from the inside of the cover. (They didn't.)

My sewing space...the kitchen table.  I set to work and it took no time at all to sew a mattress cover for Penny's doll bed. I was sort of disappointed how quick and relatively easy it was, so I kept going.  Over the next few days, I made a pillow and blanket to go with the mattress cover.  My stitching got better as I got a feel for the machine.   This is fun!

The finished product...what you can't see is the slight uneven stitching on the back side of the cover...

Penny's baby trying out the new bedding...I'm not sure Penny likes it because she keeps pulling out the bedding to put her babies to sleep!  Oh well, at least I now have the confidence to move on to other things.  On to recovering my couch pillows and maybe curtains (finally) for Cooper's room!

Where We've Been

Have I ever discussed how much we dislike winter?  Well, we do.  We like to be outside and generally speaking, we don't like to wear shoes.  (Flip-flops are fine, of course.)  Ours would not be a.happy household if we lived somewhere colder.  We usually all go a little stir crazy through the winter because we just can't go outside as much.  The evenings seem long because it gets dark sooner and we spend it indoors.  The last few weeks, despite the season, have gone relatively fast.  Why?  Well, there are two reasons.  One, we were considering the idea of moving away from the coast and making plans and preparing to do so.  We are not, however, moving. (More on that later.)  Two, we have filled the void with several things.  Home improvement (as usual), two quick trips to the Ranch, Valentine's Day and David's birthday, and of course our regular routine.  I've tried to blog through the last month.  It just hasn't happened.  Either I wasn't feeling particularly inspired when I sat down to write, or I didn't have any good pictures to share.  (I like pictures in my posts!)  At any rate, we've been relatively quiet here in the blogosphere, but where we've been has given us a place to go.

Another Afternoon at the Ranch

A Mama's Toolbox

Every day I pull from what I am beginning to think of as my mama toolbox.  What I am calling a mama toolbox is simply the collection of things mothers (well, dads too!) use to navigate through parenthood.  I realized there are countless objects, ideas, pieces of advice, and resources I use on a daily basis to help us get through the day and/or any particularly difficult phase in our life.  Some tools, like advice from my mom, I've had stored for years, even before I had kids.  Other tools pop up on the fly...as in, sometimes I make this stuff up as I go. (Like this blog, for example...having a space to express my thoughts helps keep my ol' mama head on straight.)  I think from now on I am going to throw in a post here and there about a tool I've used, especially if it makes me look like an innovative, got-it-together mom!

A tool I used recently...the POWER OF SUGGESTION...

Lately Coop thinks pajamas make him look like a prince.  And he wants to be a prince at school.  That's cute and all but the tantrum that ensued when it was time to get dressed for the day was getting old...So after several days in a row of fighting with him (I'm a quick learner), I suggested he be a cowboy instead so he'd quit fighting me, get some clothes on, and GET IN THE CAR SO WE CAN GET TO SCHOOL ON TIME! Then I insisted we take a picture in order to drive the point home...Cowboys at school are COOLER than Princes.

What do you have in your mama toolbox?

Where Do We Go From Here?

Hello family and friends!

Yes, I am talking to YOU, oh reader of this blog.  Firstly, thank you thank you thank you so much for following along our little life!  I first started this blog for the sole purpose of keeping our family, specifically David's parents, updated with the latest and greatest of our new, precious baby boy.  I felt sad that they didn't live close enough to share in even our weekly  happenings with baby Cooper, and everything baby happens so fast!  As time went on, I not only discovered that I enjoy writing for the blog, but my regular posts will be priceless to us one day when the children are grown and we are in a different season of our lives.  I have come to really cherish my job as our family's historian!

So, in 2012, I want to keep writing!  I am happy to continue as I have done over the last 3 years by posting periodic growth and milestone updates, our fun times, and of course tons of cute pictures.  Lately, however, I have been itching to do more.  The journey of parenthood so far has left me with innumerable memories, insights, wisdom, and inspiration that makes me feel as if I should be sharing.  So my question to you is, what would YOU like to see on this blog in 2012?  (Or what are you sick of?  I am craving any and all feedback.) If you get a chance today (or any day) leave me a comment or shoot me an email (leslie@kirkresources.com) or Facebook message.  I would love to hear from you!

Living in the Moment...

Celebrating the New Year at the Ranch

Our friends Becky and Ryan and Leighton and Jenny and kids all trekked up to the Graham Ranch to celebrate the new year with us.  It is hard to tell who had more fun...the kids or adults!  Cooper and Penny had a blast showing their new friends how to go ranchin', which included digging in the big dirt pile, swinging on the tire swing,  feeding the fish, calling to the cows (yes, cows...a neighbor's fence must be in need of repair.), and generally just taking advantage of the wide open spaces and gorgeous weather by running around EVERYWHERE!  The adults amused themselves by smoking some bar-b-q, shooting clays, relaxing, sitting around the fire pit, playing giant jenga, and of course ringing in the new year  with a bang, once all the little ones dropped from exhaustion.  We couldn't ask for a better way to start the new year...All the kids were good and played well together, and the adults were able to relax and create some hilarious moments we will remember for a long time.  

Ma-Mas and Pa-Pa were at the ranch for a little bit when we first arrived.  

Cooper, Penny, and new friend Raeleigh played in the dirt for hours!

Just having toooo much fun!

Cooper kept giving me a rock and saying , "A surprise for  Mama!"

Penny, MJ, and Cooper playing "Cornhole".

MJ, Cooper, Leighton, and Penny call to the cows.  

A Year in Pictures

As we come upon 2012, I thought I would take a minute to reflect on 2011. We had a good year but we always expect the coming year to be even better. I believe what made 2011 so significant in the unfolding history of our life was that 2011 was the bulk of Penny's first year. We watched her transform from a tiny baby to a vivacious toddler. In the meantime, Cooper went from a cute, cautious toddler to an active, fluent, and free-thinking kid. So without further adieu, here is 2011 in pictures.

January

Penny, so interested in Coop!

Strangely, one morning a deer swam across Nueces Bay and went running through our neighborhood.

February

March

First trip to the zoo!

April

Penny's first swim

Easter

May

June

July

At the Splash Park

On the 4th

August

Penny turns one!

We spent lots of time in our own backyard.

September

Football!

School Days!

October

The "birthday season" is upon us!

Cooper "helped" with the baking of goodies for  Halloween.

November

December

Cooooold Day at the Ranch.

Um, define "good"...

Here's to 2012! 

Christmas 2011

JOY!

I hope everyone's holiday was merry and bright, just as ours was!  We filled the days leading up to Christmas with holiday prep, but we made it fun!   The kids' school was closed and David took a little time off work so we spent the week mostly together.  One day we divided and conquered...Mom and Penny grocery shopped for the two meals we would be serving at our house while Daddy and Cooper ran some "secret" errands.  On Friday morning the four of us went out for breakfast together.  Afterwards, Mom and the kids made jokes in the car while Daddy shopped in a thrift store to find an ugly Christmas sweater.

On Christmas Eve Eve, we kicked off the weekend with what we call "Friends" Christmas.  We recognize that most (us included) reserve the holidays for family.  We like to have a chance during the holidays to acknowledge our friends by including them in our holiday celebration too.  Many of our good friends came over for fondue and an ugly Christmas sweater competition.  (Congrats, Becky.)  The kids ran wild up until bedtime, after which the adults played giant Jenga.

On Christmas Eve, Daddy prepared the chili to be served with tamales that evening (a South Texas tradition) while Momma made dessert to take over to Grandma's the next day.  The kids took luxuriously long naps and Nonnie arrived in the early afternoon.  We spent the latter part of the afternoon relaxing, and the kids watched the fluke $5 Christmas song DVD I picked up over and over.  Ma-Mas, Pa-Pa, and Uncle Clint came over, as per tradition, to help us eat tamales and play elf...Uncle Clint put together the new playhouse, Daddy set up the electric train, and Momma stuffed the stockings. We fell into bed tired but satisfied with what was sure to come the next morning.

The Elves' hard work...

Christmas Day began early...as in 5:45 a.m. to be exact.  (The song doesn't go, "All I Want for Christmas is Some Decent Sleep" after all...especially with little kids in the house.)  With the video camera rolling, both kids seemed overwhelmed by all the splendor at first and didn't seem to know where to start.  They quickly figured it out and dove in.  Both kids seemed happy with both their gifts and each other's gifts.  We had many, many hilarious moments that I couldn't sit and describe because it would take all day.  It was just simply a sweet, magical morning.

A Thomas train that moves by itself!

New playhouse!

Penny was skeptical...

It was cold Christmas morning!

Cooper enjoying Nonnie's (er, Santa's) gift...He has already mastered the crash move.

After we  had tried out all the new toys and gotten dressed, we all trooped over to Ma-Mas and Pa-Pa's house for more presents and Christmas dinner.  We received a lot, gave a lot, laughed a lot, and ate a lot.

Coop takes off on his shiny new fire engine.

Again, Penny is skeptical...

Uncle Clint shows the kids a thing or two on the keyboard...

Our cups ran over this year and we are truly grateful.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!