on the fly!

Snow Day... Sort Of

2012-02-13T16:08:00.000-06:00

We had just a bit more than a dusting of snow today, but it was enough to get this girl excited. After a night of very little sleep, Annie decided to take a long nap this morning which was perfect timing to allow McKenzie and I to enjoy the snow. Once I opened the blinds and showed her it was snowing, she immediately wanted to go outside. I could tell she was excited because she, for once, didn't fight me on a single thing I asked her to wear. I just told her she had to wear it because it was snowing and she let me put it on her. Amazing.

So, we bundled up and headed outside. She yelled "snow day," sampled a few bites, slipped and fell a time or two and then decided to head back to the warm indoors just before the wet snow turned into sleet. All in all, a perfect snow day outing!

Who Does She Look Like?

2012-01-31T15:49:00.000-06:00

Annie

McKenzie

Much like with McKenzie, I don't see any resemblance of myself or Brant in Annie. But her round little face and button nose do remind me of another baby in the house!

Big Sister Fatigue

2012-01-21T11:06:00.001-06:00

Earlier this week we had newborn photos taken. The photographer couldn't come until 2:45, which is smack dab in the middle of McKenzie's nap time. I was nervous to say the least. But as it often happens, McKenzie surprised us by being fairly agreeable to the pictures. She held her little sister for a few minutes and eventually sat down with us to get a family shot. After about 45 minutes though, she was finished. She didn't throw a fit or anytthing, but just asked to go upstairs and watch Lion King. We continued with pictures for a bit and when Brant went up to check on McKenzie, this is what he found:

Completely passed out!

Just Perfect

2012-01-19T11:05:00.000-06:00

Little Annie had her one week check-up yesterday and all is well. She had surpassed her birth weight by five ounces, so the doctor was quite pleased. As of now, she's about average in length and tiny in weight. In our eyes... perfect.

Weight: 6lbs, 14oz (17th percentile)
Length: 20in (53rd percentile)
Head: 13.5in (23rd percentile)

At Home and Happy

2012-01-13T11:54:00.000-06:00

Everyone said it and it was easy to believe, baby number two will be totally different. So it hasn't been too much of a surprise that Annie's first night at home was actually quite pleasant. Yes, I was up most of the night trying to nurse a hungry baby, but because I knew that was going to happen, it wasn't too bad. I'm sure I'll eventually hit the wall with this sleep deprivation thing and it will be EXACTLY like McKenzie's first few days. But for now, things are going pretty well.

I keep thinking that if McKenzie ever reads through this blog, she's going to think that she was a ton of trouble those first few weeks and her little sister was easy. For her sake, I want to clarify that idea. McKenzie's arrival was like a slap in the face... quick, painful and totally unexpected. I think all first time moms can agree that you just cannot be prepared for the first days of a newborn no matter how many people try to tell you how it's going to be. McKenzie was a pretty easy baby, but I just was not ready to enjoy her. I was too busy surviving.

This time, it's more like a playful punch in the arm. You know it's coming, but you are ready for it and can respond accordingly. Oh Annie, you're crying? I got this. Here's your... diaper, food, swaddle, etc. You know exactly what to do and those cries don't cause quite the pang in your stomach. Thankfully, I've been making up for those moments that I didn't get to enjoy McKenzie as a newborn by soaking in her big sister moments.

Oh No! What is happening?

Getting some photo time with GranCarter

The Fast and the Furious

2012-01-11T15:05:00.000-06:00

Annie has arrived and she made it into this world in record time! I figured I would go ahead and get the birth story down before getting home from the hospital. For some reason, once I get home, I'm thinking I might have my hands full.

Now, because this birth was incredibly fast, so too will the story be quick.

Brittnee called me at 5:38pm just to check in and say hello. When she asked what I was up to, I told her I was cooking dinner (a delicious meal of chicken spaghetti that I never got to eat!) and trying to decide if I was having contractions or just stomach issues. By 6:00pm, Brant was home and I called Lana to see if she would come over and hang out with McKenzie so we could go to the hospital and just get checked out. After calling my parents for the second time and telling them to head to town, Brant and I hit the road. At this point, my contractions were about 3 minutes apart, according the iPhone app we looked at later. Once I got to the room, the nurse checked me and confirmed my suspicions: this baby was on her way. I was at an 8 and contractions were increasing in strength and frequency. The epidural was ordered STAT and I was looking forward to the relief it would offer. Unfortunately, epiduals don't always work. I had heard this rumor, but had such a great experience with McKenzie that it never crossed my mind. Now, natural childbirth was crossing my mind and I was a bit concerned, to put it mildly.

The next thing I knew, it was time to push. The nurse didn't want me to push because the doctor had not arrived, but there was no turning back for me now. It's incredible to think that a female body is made specifically for childbirth and having the epidural fail helped me see that. I literally could not keep from pushing, despite all of my efforts. The nurse grabbed a random doctor off the hospital floor and brought him in just in case. Minutes later, my doctor made it in and within probably two minutes, baby Annie arrived.

I later learned that the cord was wrapped around her neck and there were a few tense moments while the nurses worked to get her airway cleared. But she is just fine now and I can assure everyone that her lungs work just fine.

Annie Marlowe 6lbs, 9oz, 19.5in

Sweet Big Sister

Even after a night of no sleep, today has been pretty good. Annie is nursing well and I think I'm still on a little bit of a high thinking of what my body was able to do. McKenzie has been a very sweet big sister and I hope to post a few more pictures of that sweetness later. For now, I plan to enjoy a few more moments of silence until little Annie rejoins me in the hospital room.

A Christmas to Remember

2012-01-01T17:21:00.000-06:00

As I sit here on New Year's Day, I'm thinking about just how peaceful the house is right now. McKenzie is asleep on the couch. Brant is reading the paper. The dogs are snoozing. And I'm going through Christmas pictures for the blog. We are 12 days away from Annie's due date, so I'm relishing these few quiet moments.

The quiet time is in stark contrast to the last several days, especially all the Christmas celebrations. McKenzie had a blast this year! She was a little unsure about opening presents on Christmas morning with Brant and me, got a little more into it later at Dandy and LaLa's, and was pretty much a pro by the time we had Christmas with my parents, Chris and Rebecca. She seemed to really love most of her gifts and it's been fun watching her put her new toys into actions. For the sake of memories, I wanted to comment on a few of her favorites:

The tent: Chris and Rebecca gave her a little tent that looks like a whimsical tree trunk. We put it in her room and she loves playing in it. She also loves making Brant get in there with her, even though he barely fits. Tent activities include laying on her sleeping bag from LaLa and giving shots to Daddy with her doctor's kit from Chris and Rebecca. I think Brant has been given about a thousand shots since Christmas day.
Rain boots: My mom got her rain boots so we could wade in the creek at the end of the street. I walked down there with her yesterday and she had so much fun. She fell in the water and I thought we were headed home for sure. Nope. She continued stomping and splashing until she was completely drenched and didn't care to come home until she fell in the gravel and hurt her hands a little.
Guitar: She got a Barbie guitar from Dandy and LaLa and it has certainly been a hit. She puts it around her neck, lets a song play and then insists that everyone in the room clap for her. Then, she pushes the "applause" button on the guitar and bows her head. This happens after each and every performance and it's hilarious!

There are more toys, big and small, and we certainly appreciate all the gifts for her. I hope to have some time to go through videos tomorrow and pick out a few fun moments to share. It was a great Christmas, probably only to be outdone by Christmas 2012!

Choosing her plan of attack.

Opening with her new apron.

That's one way to do it.

Her beautiful skirt... wore it all day long!

Keeping an eye on her other gifts.

Testing out the sleeping bag.

She actually sat down for a minute!

The cousins munching on popcorn.

Watch out world!

With Choo-Choo PaPa

Early Christmas Present

2011-12-20T14:35:00.000-06:00

Jenny, Eric and Emmett stopped through yesterday on their way to Fayetteville and surprised McKenzie with an early Christmas present. I must admit that I was a little nervous as to what McKenzie's reaction would be to her hand-knitted hat, even though I knew I would love it. Well, it's pretty much her favorite accessory so kudos and a big thank you to Jenny for an awesome gift! Little Annie also received the same hat, but smaller and with colors opposite of McKenzie's. Can't wait for the newborn pics with those, because McKenzie actually wanted me to take pictures of her wearing the new hat...

Lovin' the new hat!

Another silly face.

She got super serious with the bear.

Christmas Festivities

2011-12-09T15:13:00.001-06:00

Last Saturday McKenzie got to spend some time with LaLa, Aunt Erin and her cousins. They went to see Santa, did some Christmas crafts and enjoyed the annual Christmas parade downtown. As you will see, she had lots of fun. And we were grateful for the opportunity to get some things done around the house while she enjoyed time with her cousins. A big thanks to LaLa and Aunt Erin for providing such great weekend entertainment!

All smiles vs. Why are you taking my picture?

No tears!

Let me just give this a little taste.

So surprised she allowed this to happen!

Directing the bands at the parade.

Parade watchers.

True sign of a great day!

Dressing with Daddy

2011-12-06T14:25:00.005-06:00

If you want a no-fuss morning of getting McKenzie dressed, there are two options: put clothes on her as soon as she wakes up when her will to fight is low or let her choose every single clothing item. On this particular morning, Brant chose the latter of the two. Fuzzy black boots with a sparkly red skirt (no tights) would be an ok choice, if not topped of with an orange and white striped shirt. It really was worse than the picture shows, and I'm certain it won't be the last time she leaves this house looking a little less than stylish. That is, by the way, her official donut shirt. For some reason, when we go on Saturdays to get donuts, that is the shirt she always wants to wear and asks for by name (i.e. I want my donut shirt).

Can you believe Daddy let me wear this?! Sucker!!

Carnival Fun

2011-11-30T14:26:00.001-06:00

This post should have been written about a month ago, as the carnival we went to was for Halloween! But I was looking through pictures on Brant's phone when I came across these and wanted to share. We headed out on a chilly Friday night to a church that had a huge Halloween carnival. I was excited about corn dogs and funnel cakes. McKenzie was just excited because we were going to a castle... yes, every church with a steeple she says is a castle. Sometimes it's her castle, sometimes it's mommy's castle, sometimes it's daddy's castle. This one happened to be her castle and by the time we missed the exit and had to go on down the interstate, passing right by the castle, she was DYING to get there.

So was the carnival fun? Well, not exactly. I think most parents refuse to admit that events like this are not a whole lot of fun for us. Sure, it's great to see your child delight in things they have never experienced before, but otherwise it's a lot of chasing around said child, standing in lines and bargaining when it comes time to leave. I haven't asked him specifically, but I don't think Brant's ride in the two feet per hour purple car topped his list of exciting things to do. Although, he does look pretty happy in the picture below. Overall, I must say the best moment of the night came when McKenzie gained a little confidence and a lot of speed in the hall of mirrors. One thing she has now experienced: plexiglass, in the face! She was stunned, but not hurt, so we laughed. A lot. I guess the night wasn't a bust after all!

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas!

2011-11-28T12:01:00.000-06:00

I love the sophisticated Christmas decor that I see in magazines. I love the simple, handcrafted looks as well. Unfortunately, I can't seem to pull off either in my own house. What I end up with is a mismatched look scattered throughout the house. Our tree isn't covered in fancy ribbon and perfectly matched ornaments. Instead, we have shiny white lights that are surrounded by random ornaments, some that have great meaning, some that were on sale at Target last year. I've decorated my own house for the last seven years and I think this is the first year that I'm just going to own my mismatched, sometimes sloppy, always full of color Christmas style. I don't expect Pottery Barn to show up wanting to take pictures, but I do think McKenzie will fondly remember decorating with her Mommy and Daddy, parents who don't care if every single one of her ornaments was hung within about a foot of each other at the bottom of the tree. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Purple Tree Pride

Artistic shot of the purple tree

Our Tree for 2011

McKenzie prefers the cluster look

A few of my favorite random ornaments

Christmas Tree Pickin'

2011-11-27T16:51:00.000-06:00

When Brant and I moved backed to Little Rock, we began a tradition of heading out to a tree farm to get our tree. We both prefer real trees over fake and we always have a good time at the tree farm. The first time we went, it was just the two of us and we picked a great tree. We did not pick a great tree loader. We veered off the interstate onto a somewhat sketchy exit just in time to see our tree fall to the side of the Tahoe. Brant shoved the huge tree in the back of the Tahoe and we went on our merry way.

This year, there was no such drama, but we did have lots of fun. McKenzie ran all around the tree farm searching for wooden reindeer and snowmen that were all over the place. She insisted on riding the cow train and I was happy to ride with her. The joy and excitement I got to see on her face far outweighed the very bumpy ride. And just before the rain came, we loaded up the tree (with guys that knew what they were doing) and headed home. We still have some decorating to do, but pics of the fabulous tree are coming!

She's a Thinker

2011-11-07T19:16:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago, Brant and McKenzie were reading her bible at bedtime. Her bible is basically a board book with lots of pictures that highlights a few bible stories. One of those stories is that of Moses as he treks across the desert and eventually parts the Red Sea. That's where we'll pick up the conversation:

McKenzie: What's he doing?
Brant: Parting the Red Sea.
McKenzie: Whyyyy?
Brant: So he can take his people across.
McKenzie, pauses and considers: Why didn't he take the boat?

Valid question, especially when you know that just a few pages before Noah had a huge boat full of animals.

Very Happy Halloween

2011-11-01T09:09:00.000-06:00

McKenzie had a GREAT Halloween this year. She went trick-or-treating for the first time and we were amazed at how easily she caught on to the concept. After just one house, she had no hesitation following the kids to the other houses and getting her treats. She was very polite, although she did linger at times on some porches and I wondered if she was hoping to get another treat for being so darn cute. We had several friends over and walked all around the new neighborhood gathering candy. It was such a perfect night for the little fairy! And yes, she is wearing her fairy costume right now, the day after. Somehow I convinced her that trick-or-treating was over because she really wanted to grab her bag and head back out this morning.

Come on guys, we have more houses to go!

Friends Always Help

2011-10-26T13:21:00.028-05:00

Now that we have pushed through 90% of this move, there are so many things on my mind. Annie's room needs to get painted, other rooms in the house need to get painted, I need to find some garage sale furniture pieces, pictures need to be hung...

I could go on. Luckily, I have great friends to take my mind of stuff and help me to just enjoy this great new house and yard and the incredible weather we've had lately. Spray paint parties with Kelly are not only productive, but loads of fun. I actually kind of fell backwards when I tried to stand up at one point. Don't worry, there was never really even a risk of injury, except maybe from laughing too hard. Picture an egg wobbling and then rolling over. Now picture my head on that egg and try not to laugh.

Then there are the days when McKenzie has friends over as well. She and Brinley found a jungle in the backyard and ran through the bushes like little monkeys. Finn showed her how the little purple shopping cart actually rolls just perfectly down the slide. And my heart skips a happy beat when I see McKenzie bend down and ask (or demands) to hold baby Harper. All the while, I get to relax and talk to Kelly, Jennifer and Brittnee about the crazy thing that is motherhood.

Little Annie has a lot to look forward to!

Thinking about everything she needs to do...

And saying "Forget it, let's have fun!"

Been a While

2011-10-21T13:20:00.000-05:00

Wow, I didn't realize it's been almost a month since I last posted. I guess we've had a little thing called moving going on. We have been in our new house for about a week now and have settled in just enough to have company over. Earlier this week I made the first pot of chili for the season on a cold, rainy day. Chris and Rebecca joined us and as you can see, McKenzie had fun playing with Chris and her iPad. I'm actually quite surprised she's letting him hold it, but for some reason, she actually lets Chris play the iPad with her.

And why is she dressed in her fairy Halloween costume? Why not?!

Randoms

2011-09-21T14:58:00.000-05:00

Just a few random thoughts on this Wednesday.
-This cooler weather is incredible. It's nice to be outside!
-McKenzie is becoming tougher at bedtime. She does anything and everything she can think of to put off going to bed: read a book (recent choices include Barbie book and the Bible, interesting combo), asking for her iPad, crying for her iPad, giving up on the iPad, asking to poo-poo (no she's not potty trained), asking for each and every stuffed animal. You get the idea. It's frustrating, but hopefully will pass.
-The girl loves apples. Just don't try to cut one up for her. She wants to hold the whole thing and gnaw at it.
-She's excited about our new house. Although, she always tells us it's Sandy's house. He's our realtor and he was there when she first saw it. Hope she doesn't expect him to be there when we move in.

And a recent conversation, if you could call it that:
Brant: McKenzie, Mommy and I are saying a prayer. You can either say it with us or not.
McKenzie: Not.

It's really hard to pray when you are laughing at your child. Obviously, she was not happy about being put to bed, so she expressed herself pretty clearly.

Pinnacle Mountain State Park

2011-09-12T15:41:00.000-05:00

With Ben and Mary Elizabeth, after a sweaty morning playtime!

Pinnacle is probably one of my favorite parks in town. They have a brand new playset that McKenzie has almost no trouble navigating. And recently, she has enjoyed walking the little half mile trail which is great exercise for me and great to wear her out! On Labor Day, we met my parents at Pinnacle for lunch before they headed back to Fayetteville. And a few weeks ago, McKenzie met her cousins out there one morning on her usual Daddy/Donut/Park Saturday morning extravaganza!

Enjoying a fudgesicle with Mom after the long walk.

Showing off at the top of the ladder.

Cheesing with Daddy at the big tree.

It was a bit windy that day!

It's Still Summer

2011-09-08T15:37:00.000-05:00

And the girls want to have some fun!

Labor Day Fun

2011-09-05T15:37:00.000-05:00

We didn't have much to do this Labor Day weekend, and it was actually quite nice. We got all of our household chores done on Saturday and Sunday, just in time to enjoy the absolutely beautiful weather on Labor Day. We decided to take McKenzie to the zoo, because even though she's been several times, she's never been with her Daddy. For whatever reason, she really wanted to see the giraffe and the fishies. We pointed out lots of other animals and she just said "ok, find the giraffe" or "ok, go see fishies." She also yelled at the train to "COME BACK!" when it passed right on by her. It was the perfect outing for Labor Day! On account of trying to enjoy the moment, rather than snapping pics, I didn't take my camera. But I had to pull out the camera phone for a few cute photo ops!

A True Big Girl Bed

2011-08-28T16:36:00.000-05:00

Several weeks ago, we turned McKenzie's crib into a toddler bed. From what I recall, we did this because we had just gotten rid of the pacifier and we were trying ANYTHING to make her feel better about her sleeping arrangement. Also, I think we saw her throw that long leg of hers over the crib rail...

After finding out that Baby Owens #2 was another little girl, we decided to use the nursery furniture for little Annie and get McKenzie a new bed. Thanks to Mom, she has a very cute quilt that matches her room perfectly. Thanks to Carter, she has her favorite purple fleece blanket and big, fuzzy pillow. And thanks to McKenzie, she has adorable flower sheets that she picked out all on her own. So, here it is! When we first showed her the bed, she had a pretty funny look on her face... part excitement, part "what the heck is going on?!" She pretty immediately got in it and covered herself up. I guess the true test will come this evening.

And after two minutes, filled with all of her goodies!

Besties

2011-08-27T16:11:00.000-05:00

Like it or not, these girls are pretty much best friends. Although it may be by default since Kelly and I hang out so much, they really do seem to have fun together. Even if fun sometimes includes a fit or two because that toy that hasn't been played with or even noticed for the last two months is suddenly "MIIIINE!!!" But once we get through the reminders about how to share, Brinley and McKenzie generally have a great time together.

Brinley's house has the best (and most!) riding toys.

Fun with hats.

We have aprons, now what? Oh yeah, riding toys!

Brinley getting right in my face.

Ma-dy

2011-08-23T14:56:00.000-05:00

After a long day with Mommy, McKenzie is usually quite excited to see her Daddy. Unfortunately, her transition to calling him Daddy can sometimes take quite a while. For the better part of two hours, she refers to him as "Ma-dy." It's as though she remembers mid-word what to call him, but decides to just go with it anyway. It's quite hilarious.

By 9:00 last night however, she had his name down. We had a long night at the softball field and were playing on the bed as we attempted to put pajamas on McKenzie. Brant gave her a gentle push into a pile of pillows and that did not sit well with her. She expressed her feelings pretty well by saying, clear as day, "that's not nice, Daddy."

Today brought the second day of Mother's Day Out. Because Annie's arrival is closing in each day, we want McKenzie to get used to either of us taking her to school. So, Daddy took his turn today. Brant called me after he dropped her off and said he thinks she only cried because the little girl that went before her cried. Based on what I heard when I picked her up, I don't think that was quite right. Before the door even opened, I heard her crying, "Dadddddyyyyy." It was very pitiful. Once she saw me, she said "I miss Daddy. Daddy don't drop me off." And as we pulled into the driveway, "Daddy doesn't miss me." Heartbreaking! I guess when she's used to Daddy taking her to donuts and the park on Saturday mornings, it's a rude awakening when he drops her off and leaves.

Got a Minute?

2011-08-15T15:35:00.008-05:00

At the very end you can barely hear it, but she calls me over and says "take a picture." Guess she felt like her spinning efforts deserved some recognition.

A Little Break

2011-08-10T14:35:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, we finally had a break in the heat. So for the first time in a while, we headed out to play in the back yard. McKenzie had fun swinging on her own. And I had fun taking a few pictures and relaxing outside. With baby #2 inching closer each day, I'm really starting to realize how precious this time is with McKenzie. I just hope it stays cool (and by cool, I mean not 100 degrees, which doesn't seem to be asking a lot) so that we can continue to get outside and have fun.

Love those little curls!

She never fell out of the swing!

Whistling on her way to see Daddy!

Movie Time

2011-07-27T13:44:00.000-05:00

I snapped this picture last Saturday afternoon. I guess McKenzie was more into "Despicable Me" than her Daddy!

Big Sister in Training

2011-07-20T14:56:00.000-05:00

What's going on in this picture, you might wonder. Well, I took McKenzie's dirty diaper off, but she would not let me put a fresh one on her. Instead, we had to put one on Monkey first. She spent at least ten minutes trying to put the "biper" on Monkey before letting me do it for her. Finally, she allowed me to put one on her. Diaper changing is tough these days! I really want to start potty training, but I just don't think she's ready for it yet and I don't want to push her. It is nice to see her want to help me do things, even if it's just with the Monkey for now.

Just like Mommy

2011-07-17T14:53:00.000-05:00

If McKenzie is in the closet when I'm getting ready for the day, she generally comes out like this...

She wanted a "bar" and my shoes.

Then she walked towards me making this weird face. Do I make faces like that?!

Out of My Kitchen!

2011-07-14T14:53:00.000-05:00

Getting out her secret ingredients.

She kicked me and my camera out.

I caught McKenzie wearing her adorable apron from Jenny and wanted to snap a few pictures. I got a grand total of one picture before she figured out what I was doing. As you can see from the pictures, she did not want me in her kitchen! Guess she was whipping up some secret recipe.

Two Years Old

2011-06-29T15:37:00.000-05:00

As of yesterday, McKenzie is officially two years old. I almost can't believe it. Two has come with so many challenges, but just as many reasons for joy. About a month ago, we took McKenzie's pacifiers away. That has been quite a challenge. She has only asked for it a few times since then and never really cried about it. However, she is having to re-learn how to soothe herself when it's time for bed. Slowly but surely, the time it takes her to fall asleep is getting shorter but we have a way to go still. I'll be quite happy to report to the doctor that the pacifier is gone at her next appointment.

Another challenge is that instead of meeting a baby's needs, we now have to get along with a little person that has their own personality, own wants and own ways of doing things. There is such a fine line between meeting every need and raising a child who understands that they can't always get exactly what they want every minute of the day. I think this, above all, is what exhausts me each day. Usually, it's easiest to just give in, but I know to be a good mother, I can't always give in. Luckily, I see McKenzie's maturing in this area every day. As long as she's not super tired, I can normally explain to her why I'm not allowing something and she goes along with it. This is especially helpful in Wal-Mart when she wants to ride the little airplane a dozen times. I explain to her that we can ride it again next time and she hops off and heads to the car with me. Note to everyone: take 50 cents if you plan to enter Wal-Mart with this child.

Other challenges we have are like so many others out there: getting her to eat healthy food, having her take a good nap so mommy can rest, teaching her to share, changing her diaper (she hates us doing this now!), getting her to change into pajamas or into new clothes for the day, etc. Most of the challenges are approached with a healthy amount of bargaining and usually we get the job done.

Amidst the challenges, there are most certainly joys. McKenzie is a huge talker and it's amazing to hear her pickup and use new words that are now turning into sentences. I love the random moments in the car when she asks me to tell her stories about Kelly, Brinley and Brady. Just when I'm in the middle of a great story, she usually changes things up by saying "hippo," at which point I have to work a hippo into my store about dragons and fairies. It's just fun to communicate with her when you know that she understands what you are saying.

Another joy is watching her interests grow. Anyone that is around her knows that music and dancing are probably her first love. She will break it down anywhere: car, restaurant, church, anywhere she hears music playing. Coming from a mom who was only ever interested in sports, I'm a little nervous about the possibility of raising a daughter who wants to take dance. But then again, she shows a lot of interest in Daddy's softball games and she loves the trains that she got for her birthday so much that she takes them to bed with her. So, there's hope yet!

All in all, two is tough. But just when I'm close to putting her in timeout for using the dog's brush to brush the walls in the house, she grins, gives me a look and says, "where Bailey Boo?" You can't put a child in timeout when you're laughing. At just two years old, I think she already knows that truth.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Freezing Motion

2011-06-22T12:49:00.000-05:00

I'm learning how to change my shutter speed in order to freeze motion and still get a great exposure. Here are my most recent photos taken for class. I'm fairly certain I would have never been able to get a clear shot mid-swing if I hadn't taken this class!

Social Bug

2011-06-17T13:20:00.000-05:00

These past few weeks have been so fun to watch as McKenzie has turned into a super social little girl. Just a few instances:
-She kept walking up and saying hi to a little girl in Wal-Mart.
-She sat in my neighbors lap in our driveway. We talk to this neighbor every now and then, but I was completely surprised when McKenzie walked over and just plopped down in her lap.
-She runs up, hugs and screams "Telly!" whenever my friend Kelly comes around. This isn't too surprising because we are with Kelly a lot, but it is a valid example.
-She walked over and sat in my friend Jennifer's lap last week at the park and was content to just be held by someone other than me.
-She had to go to a new room with new caregivers at church last Sunday and she didn't blink an eye.
-The last two weeks that I kept Lucy, she ran up and wanted Jill to pick her up when she came in to get Lucy.
-She wanted to hold Lucy and give her a bottle!
-She actually played with a few kids in her tumble class.
-And just this morning, she said hi and by to almost everyone that walked in the door at Shipley's.

I don't know why but it's just really fun to watch her interact with people without me pushing her into it. As a shy person myself, it's cool to see her reach out and say hello to random people with no hesitation. But it's also interesting to see how she is like me in certain instances. When there is a larger crowd, she tends to hang back and see how things are going before jumping in and socializing. She's becoming her own little person and that's just neat to watch.

Bike Safety

2011-06-14T12:05:00.010-05:00

McKenzie really wants to ride a tricycle. She has tried a few times at home, but just doesn't have the leg strength and/or coordination to push the pedals around. Fortunately, Dandy has given her all the safety instructions necessary and equips her with a helmet when she's at his house.

Learning the rules for bike safety.

Ready to ride!

More Water Pics

2011-06-12T20:57:00.000-05:00

I'm posting these for two reasons: 1. McKenzie always looks pretty dang cute and 2. I took these photos with my camera on manual mode and I'm kind of proud of that. I'm taking a four week photography class so I can take pictures without always having to be in auto mode. These are my first attempts and I hope to get much, much better.

Summer is Here

2011-06-09T16:31:00.000-05:00

And this summer has started with a heat wave! Although, as long as I keep her little pool filled, McKenzie doesn't mind the heat too much.

First Camping Trip

2011-06-02T12:55:00.000-05:00

On Memorial Weekend, we decided to pretty much invite ourselves to the George's camping trip for a night. Luckily, they were gracious enough to accept our invitation and we joined them on Friday night for McKenzie's first camping trip. It was... fun? brutal? exciting? crazy? I can't find just the right word. We had a great time grilling hot dogs and letting the kids run around like crazy on Friday evening. Finally, by 9:00pm, they all settled into bed and the adults enjoyed great conversation around the campfire. If only the story ended there and began again the next morning. Instead, it began again at 3:00AM!!! McKenzie woke up and was extremely fussy and whiny. She wasn't hurting, hungry, thirsty, hot, cold, nothing. I think she was just out of sorts. I, on the other hand, was annoyed. So at 3:30am, McKenzie and I headed home and went back to sleep in our own bed. We got back out to the campsite the next morning, just in time for breakfast. Speaking of breakfast, there was no French toast that had been promised to us. What's up with that George's? Anyway, we spent a few hours at the park and came home just in time for McKenzie to take a four hour nap. Overall, it wasn't a total loss and I think we might actually try again soon.

Hydrating for evening activities

The kids love me!

High-tech camping... watching DVDs in the tent!

Not my kids, but I love this picture

2011-05-27T14:03:00.000-05:00

Box on head while sitting...

...and while standing.

I'm easy to entertain!

What was most funny about this little play experience was that she got me out of the living room by telling me she had a hat. I was definitely interested to see what kind of hat she had found. And I was definitely laughing at her new hat!

That's My Girl!

2011-05-25T14:03:00.000-05:00

McKenzie and Brinley had a play date a while back and guess what game they decided to play...

The NITE-NITE game!!

It was very cute because they each had to have a pacifier and some kind of blanket. Once Brinley noticed a heart pillow, they both had to have a pillow. They never did fall asleep, but there were lots of giggles!

My Little Girl

2011-05-18T10:45:00.000-05:00

I love her. That is all I have to say today. Love her to pieces.

Fun with Kelly

2011-05-13T13:46:00.010-05:00

I'm quite lucky to have a friend like Kelly. For one, she doesn't work so we get help each other pass the days away as we talk and laugh while our kids play together. And two, McKenzie LOVES her. Every now and then, McKenzie hangs out with Kelly when I have something to do. On this day, she was loving the trampoline!

Let me see...

2011-05-09T13:44:00.000-05:00

I'm not exactly sure what's going on in this picture, but I would guess McKenzie is saying "Hmmm..." while she figures out what she wants Dan Dan to give her.

More Easter

2011-05-06T13:42:00.002-05:00

Just wanted to make sure we got a picture on the blog of McKenzie in her pretty Easter dress. It's far from the kind of thing that she usually wears, but I think she looked adorable.

Easter Egg Hunt

2011-05-04T13:42:00.000-05:00

All I got was fake, pink grass.

Let me just get an egg or two from Brinley.

No eggs, but I sure am cute.

Mommy is ridiculous!

I finally got an egg!

McKenzie participated in her first Easter Egg Hunt a week before Easter. Our friend Jill was very excited about setting up a hunt for the kids, and it turned out really well. All the kids had a great time, and I'm pretty sure once the adults got involved in the spoon race, good times were had by all. Thanks to Jill and Bradley for a great Easter dinner and we look forward to the second annual hunt!

Sunny California

2011-04-29T13:11:00.000-05:00

Brant's butterfly friend at the Academy of Sciences

After a day of wine tasting in Sonoma Valley

Click HERE if you have any interest in seeing more pictures.

Brant and I recently returned from a trip out to San Francisco. We had some airline miles to use or lose, so we took the chance to head out West and explore San Fran. What a great time! It was tough leaving McKenzie for five days, but I'm glad we did it. She had a great time with all of her grandparents (pictures of that soon), so I'm thinking she didn't miss us too much. As much as we love McKenzie, it was nice to have some time together to actually have conversations and spend longer than 15 minutes eating a meal. Still, my heart leapt when I saw McKenzie waiting for us at the airport and Brant actually teared up a bit.

No Time to Blog!

2011-04-12T12:50:00.002-05:00

I realize I haven't posted any pictures or updates in a while and I took a moment to think about why. Then, McKenzie started crying because she couldn't open the front door. And there's my reason... I have a full blown toddler. Not only that, but one who is so close to two that she has entered that "terrible" phase you always hear about. Well, the terrible twos are hitting us hard around here. McKenzie is completely irrational about almost everything these days. I can't pick out the right clothes, the right shoes, the right toy, the right ANYTHING for her. And the way she chirps "no" every time I offer something makes me think that she is completely playing me. UGH!

For those of you that doubt McKenzie could be anything less than pleasant, here's proof. She walked around for about 30 minutes like this until I finally forced a dress on her. I think her face says it all. And yes, she is at the door to the garage ready to get in the car like this.

Just a bit of static...

2011-03-29T16:50:00.001-06:00

If you would like a hairstyle like McKenzie's, just get yourself a granddaddy that will buy you a mini-bounce house. Then run around it for a few minutes, until you get just the right amount of static.

I Got This!

2011-03-21T10:46:00.019-06:00

The smile in this picture is not so much sweet as it is "knowing." And why is she smiling that way? Well, she now knows that she can do this...

Yes, she can climb to the top all by herself. Things get a little questionable as she nears the top, but when I tried to help her she screamed, "NO!" Alrighty then. I'll just step back and watch you grow up way too fast.

The Finer Things

2011-03-17T10:43:00.000-06:00

On Valentine's Day, I introduced McKenzie to one of the finer things in life... microwaved M&M's. So delicious. Yes, I heat my M&M's in the microwave. It all started in high school on a fateful day when I ate lunch outside. I had a bag of M&M's that sat in the sun while I enjoyed my lunch. When it was time for dessert, the M&M's were heated through and I enjoyed the delightful crunch of the candy shell followed by smooth, melted chocolate. Been heating them in the microwave ever since.

Videos at Your Leisure

2011-03-14T12:44:00.000-06:00

Brant and I had fun recording McKenzie a few nights ago. There are several short clips that McKenzie actually took herself. If you're interested, click on the links below to check them out. If you don't have time to watch a few videos, please simply enjoy a few pics from the daffodils at Wye Mountain. While Brant and I helped our friends with a garage sale, McKenzie went out to enjoy the flowers with everyone. Thanks to Dandy, Lala and Aunt "Ernie" for taking McKenzie on an adventure!

Laughter Video

Cheeeese Video

I'm Slow (Turtle) Video

Smile Video

See ya later!

Funny Face

2011-03-13T12:42:00.000-06:00

We had the Flip camera out last night when McKenzie decided to tear up a piece of paper into little bits and pieces. As you will see in the video, the first rip was a tough one. I'm glad we finally captured this face on camera. She has been making it for quite some time, when she's trying really hard to do something. And in case you're wondering, at the end of the clip, "it heaby" means "it's heavy." The actual meaning of the word heavy escapes her.

Visit from Papa and Lil

2011-03-10T12:06:00.000-06:00

Papa with the grandkids and great-grandkids

McKenzie seeing what's up after church with Lil and Ben

Reading time, which Brant seems to enjoy as well.

Last weekend, Papa Jack and Lil made the drive from Sherman to visit. On Sunday, they got to spend all day with the great-grandkids and the evening with everyone else. McKenzie was able to say "Papa" very quickly and managed to say "ill" for Lil. When I was driving her over to Dandy's on Wednesday morning, she told me who all would be there and included Papa in her list. Hopefully, we can see them again soon!

New Toy, New Trick

2011-03-02T20:24:00.000-06:00

Granddaddy Carter bought McKenzie a cool little toy while we were in Fayetteville. She had lots of fun watching the little discs fly in the windy air. And bonus, sometimes she would go pick them up for us!!

Off to School!

2011-02-28T15:14:00.000-06:00

Thanks to an awesome 2nd birthday present from Kelly, McKenzie now has a great backpack to take wherever she goes. No, you guys didn't miss her 2nd birthday. Kelly is just really on top of her game! So, McKenzie LOVES the backpack. When we first opened it, she immediately turned her back to me so I could put it on her. Then she walked around the house repeating "Backpack, backpack" in a sing-song manner. Now when we leave the house, she knows to load it up with her sippy cup, stand patiently while I put it on her and then head out the door. Very cute! Here's a great picture that Kelly was able to snap of McKenzie and Brinley deciding who should open the door.

Hey Brin! Get that door for me, would ya?

New, Old Toys

2011-02-25T14:04:00.000-06:00

Recently, we stashed several toys in the playroom closet. Some were put away because she was too old for them and others just to rotate through the house. This particular toy seemed to be past its prime for her, but again (and this is a recurring theme these days), we were wrong. She L-O-V-E-D getting in and playing with all the little attachments. I think she enjoyed it now more than when she was tiny!

November 2009

February 2011

Thanks for the NEW toy!

Mid-bounce shot.

Bathroom Talk

2011-02-20T13:51:00.000-06:00

When she was very tiny, we talked about McKenzie's bowel movements quite often. As new parents, it was amazing how much we cared when she pooped, how much she pooped and what it looked like. What's really funny was that this kind of talk wasn't really gross; it was just normal, and we talked about it like we might discuss the latest episode of The Office. After a few months, once we were pretty sure her insides were all functioning correctly, this talk subsided. Until now. It's back and better than ever. Why?

One guess about this picture!

Well, McKenzie will be two this summer and not long after that I hope to start potty training. To prepare for that, we have to talk about #1 and #2 a lot right now. Never did I think I would announce my intentions to use the restroom. Now, I tell McKenzie what I'm about to do and where I'm about to do it. Those of you with kids hopefully understand that I'm not crazy. Those of you without kids, at least I can tell you she's learning. When I tell her what I'm doing, she goes straight to the restroom, opens the lid and tells me to sit "here" in her funny little way of saying that word. When I'm finished, and sometimes a little prematurely, she flushes for me! So, I guess all the bathroom talk is working. I just hope I never have to go in public!

Snow Day #??

2011-02-16T13:49:00.001-06:00

After all the snow we've had this year, McKenzie is going to grow up thinking that she lives in a place where snow is normal every winter.

You mean we don't get snow all the time?

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T13:49:00.000-06:00

Ready for church.

Yummy!

Yeah, it's all over our hands!

I know you didn't just make a comment about MY hair, Benjamin.

McKenzie decided to celebrate Valentine's Day for two days this year. She wore her cute little heart sweater to church and then spent the day with her Dandy and LaLa. After dinner, she enjoyed a delicious cupcake with her cousins. Today, after going to workout, we headed to the zoo where she really enjoyed seeing and naming all the animals. Now, we just have to wait for Daddy to get home and enjoy dinner together!

Another Snow Day

2011-02-09T08:29:00.000-06:00

Yeah, you just handle that Granddaddy.

Cheeeeeeese!

Here's my snow ball.

Are we done yet?

Mini-Snowman

As we settle in today for yet another snow day, I thought I would post some pictures from last Friday. After a four hour drive from Fayetteville, my parents made it to the house just in time to have a little snow fun with McKenzie.

Get Outta My Face!

2011-02-04T10:37:00.000-06:00

The problem with actually having a little bit of hair means you can now have a bad hair day. Yes, she had just woken up. No, I never could get those hairs under control that day.

Super Helper

2011-01-30T12:39:00.000-06:00

Here, Dad.

McKenzie is a great little helper these days. What? It's time to empty the dishwasher? YAY! I'll be reminding her of her excitement for this chore when she's about 12 years old and hating every second of it. But right now, she loves helping Daddy unload the dishwasher. She starts by handing him each piece of silverware and once the bottom shelf is unloaded, she gets her stool so she can help get the top shelf cleared. I snapped a few pictures of the little helper doing her thing!

Stacking her bowls neatly.

Isn't this fun?!

No Bows, But...

2011-01-24T13:19:00.000-06:00

Maybe a barrette or two! I'm not saying McKenzie will never wear a hair bow, but I doubt she will wear them often, especially if she continues to keep her hair so short. On the other hand, I think little barrettes and ribbon covered clips are super cute! In this picture, where she appears to be eating an Oreo (it's the lens cover) with really strange/large hands, she is wearing my barrette. I wear it to workout to keep my bangs under control, and she's kind of obsessed with it. Last weekend at the Toggery, I found lots of cute barrettes from felt covered tiny owls to larger flowers. All of them were adorable and if they weren't $8-$10 a pop, I would have bought more than one!

Snow Day Summary in Pictures

2011-01-10T19:10:00.001-06:00

What's happening Daddy? (pic taken Sunday night)

So did that snow stick?

The roads don't look so bad.

Pretty cool day!

Minute to Win It - Gosnell Style

2011-01-06T13:28:00.001-06:00

Brant and I decided to spice things up on Christmas Eve with my family. After watching a few holiday versions of the show "Minute to Win It," we were inspired to play a few of the games. At first, everyone was a little hesitant, but after we got started, it was fun for all! Here are a few of my favorite pics.

Dad attempting the Christmas Tree Unicorn game.

Mom playing Junk in the Trunk.

Rebecca on her way to winning Junk in the Trunk.

Yes, he did fall on his butt!

Chris and Rebecca couldn't do it...

We pull it out in a fast 15 seconds!

Cookie Face game!

I never got the cookie in my mouth.

Oh...

2011-01-04T07:55:00.029-06:00

McKenzie wants to talk. No wait, McKenzie talks. All the time. Just not in English. She has several words that we understand, but so many more that we don't. One word that she's been using the last few days is "oh." It's funny because we know that she understands what we are saying to her.

Where's Bailey?

McKenzie: BaaaBaaa! BaaaBaaa! (calling for Bailey)

Brant: Bailey went outside.

McKenzie: Oh.

The cuteness of it probably doesn't translate, but it's really adorable.

I haven't taken the time to write down all of her words, so I'll do that now:

NO! (her personal favorite)

Dada (probably her second favorite)

Momma

Meemee (Mickey Mouse)

Elmo (that one is perfectly clear!)

outside

ba (bottle)

nana (banana)

this (and points to what she wants)

nite nite

bye

bath

I'm sure I'm leaving a few out, and there are several more sounds she makes for certain things, but I can't bring myself to classify those as words just yet. She loves trying to repeat words that people say to her, and I guess she's just storing those away until she's ready to speak English.

Who needs words when you're this cute?

Ringing in the New Year

2011-01-01T19:54:00.001-06:00

Somehow, we managed to stay awake til midnight and ring in 2011 with friends. Two minutes later, McKenzie woke up screaming, obviously wanting to join the party. So, here's our first family pic of 2011:

Now, for our resolutions. As a family, we want to get to church as much as possible. That means doing our best to not miss two Sundays in a row. With McKenzie, it's easy to find excuses to not go, but now that she goes to the nursery with little fuss, there's just no reason to not go.

Personally, I would like to keep a diary and one of my Christmas gifts will help me do that. I received a Simple Diary and I love it! I'm hoping to at least use it two or three times a week. Also, I would like to watch TV less and engage with my family more. I don't think my TV watching is excessive, but there's always room for more family time.

Brant's resolution is a typical one, but I think he will actually do it: work out and lose weight. He's been going to the gym pretty regularly, but has only gained muscle rather than losing weight. With a few tweeks to his workout routine, I think we'll be seeing a healthier man in no time!

McKenzie mentioned a few things she would like to work on as well. First, getting rid of her pacifier. She only uses it in her crib, but she would like to get rid of it completely before the year's end. She also wants to learn how to say "no, thanks" or "nah" or just "no" with a little less anger. Not only is the answer to every question "no" but it's with a certain attitude that's becoming less and less cute. She's agreed to work on it.

I can't wait to see what's in store for our family in 2011! And neither can McKenzie!

Christmas 2010

2010-12-31T14:05:00.001-06:00

ELMO!!

Hey Granddaddy, is this mine?

The girls in their matching PJs!

Daddy, please brush my hair... and yours!

Is this a gift for me too?

Playing the couch game with Chris and Rebecca!

The only way I could get us together in our matching PJs!

A good pic of everyone on the Owens side.

Bubbles!

Can I get a taste of that?

What? This isn't mine?

Feeding her new baby doll.

What a great Christmas! Brant and I had fun, but McKenzie was definitely the most excited. She LOVED opening presents. Any presents, whether they were hers or not. And if you got her something she didn't like, she would simply try to rewrap it. After the presents were opened, she had a great time playing with all of her gifts. From the Elmo toys to the iPad to the baby doll and bath toys, McKenzie really made out good this year. We are blessed with such great family that love her and want her to have the best! These were a few of my favorite pics and you can go here to see the rest. Now, it's on to the New Year!

Just a sec...

2010-12-31T11:14:00.000-06:00

McKenzie is getting serious about doing some blogging. She even put her glasses on! Stay tuned for lots of Christmas pictures, a New Year's post and maybe a few videos!

Happy 18th!

2010-12-28T18:05:00.000-06:00

Today McKenzie turned eighteen months old. We celebrated with a 18-month check-up at the doctor. I know, special day! The doctor said she looked great. She asked if McKenzie was making any animal noises and we got to show off our favorite one.

What sound does a turtle make? I'm slooooow.

McKenzie has given this response hundreds of times (Aunt Rebecca!), but I was surprised that she did it on demand for the doctor. She didn't have any shots on this visit, so it was pretty quick and easy. Her stats are as follows:

Weight: 23lbs 2oz (32nd percentile)
Length: 32.5 inches (75th percentile)
Head: 18.25 inches (45th percentile)

Since her weight percentile creeped up just a bit and her length didn't, we are going to pay a little closer attention to her milk intake. The girl LOVES milk. The doc said 24 ounces a day is ideal and McKenzie is close to 30+ ounces a day. More water, less milk was our only advice.

Lollipops offer a great distraction!

No mullet in sight!

After seeing the doctor, we headed to a salon for our little girl's first haircut. Yes, she actually had a few hairs to cut. She was dangerously close to sporting a mullet, so we decided to take action. As you will see in the pic, she now has an adorable little bob that will hopefully grow in less mullet-like as the hair continues to sprout.

What happens...

2010-12-23T14:38:00.000-06:00

when you play in the pantry? You get stuck in a box of Cokes. Bummer.

Bounce, Bounce, Bounce!

2010-12-20T14:37:00.000-06:00

McKenzie went to her cousin's birthday party a few weeks ago and she had a blast! By far, the most fun she had was on the trampoline! The party was at a gymnastics training gym and what a perfect place. McKenzie is always wanting to climb all over everything and at the party, that's exactly what they wanted the kids to do! Thanks Mary Elizabeth (and Aunt Erin) for a great birthday party!!

Fabulous Finds!

2010-12-11T12:01:00.000-06:00

My friend Kelly and I have recently started doing some garage sale shopping. Well actually, we started back in September and garage sale season is pretty much over for us now that it's cold. In truth, we began hitting up garage sales as a way to get out of the house for a few hours and have some much needed girl time. We were guaranteed a hot cup of Starbucks and didn't really care if we found much more. But now, we're kind of addicted. The time spent together laughing and chatting is most certainly my favorite, but I've found a few great things that makes me excited for those first few weekends of Spring when the sale signs start popping up again. Aren't there sales even now, in this cold weather, you ask? Well, yes. But as Kelly mentioned one day, we are in no way hardcore garage sale people. I mean, if I have to dig in a box for something, forget it. So, thirty degree weather is also out. Here's a picture of McKenzie enjoying one of my best finds... a nice, sturdy card table with two chairs for $5!

Obviously, she will be in the accelerated reading program.

Thanks Mom!

Speaking of independence...

2010-12-08T13:11:00.000-06:00

Yes, I realize this is crazy.

As of Thanksgiving, McKenzie is officially OFF THE BOTTLE!! I would like to say that after buying a ridiculous amount of sippy cups, I finally found just the right one to make for a smooth transition. But actually, the sippy cup had nothing to do with it. This was a battle of wills (the first of many, I'm sure) and I WON! Although I dreaded this situation for months, it was much easier than expected. McKenzie had just one major meltdown, before caving completely and using a sippy cup for her milk. Up next: the pacifier.

A happy mommy!

Happy Place

2010-12-05T13:17:00.000-06:00

Workout pants from Target make me happy. Why? They come in short/tall lengths. Now, I can work out or walk around the house without looking like two inches of my pants got cut off. Thanks Target!

I haven't slept great in a while, and many nights I can't even blame on McKenzie. To help remedy this problem, I bought a memory foam pillow. One word: LOVE.

Miss Independence

2010-12-03T14:44:00.001-06:00

McKenzie wants to do everything on her own these days. Obviously, I knew this day was coming, but I had no idea how messy it would be!

You don't need that...

2010-11-30T14:35:00.000-06:00

This is what happened when I tried to take it away!

I brought home a couple of milkshakes the other day for Brant and myself. I should be watching my waistline and I guess McKenzie feels the same way. She stole my milkshake and would not give it back! Oh well, made for some cute pictures!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-24T15:23:00.000-06:00

Guess what we're thankful for...

Hope everyone has a great holiday!

It's that time of year...

2010-11-21T10:50:00.000-06:00

Almost time to send out Christmas cards!!! Personally, I enjoy sending out cards. Yes, there is the hassle of addressing the envelopes, buying the stamps and getting that perfect holiday pose. Still, I love doing it year after year. I usually save some of my favorites each year and sometimes frame them to use around the house during Christmas time. And I always enjoy getting photo cards of people I see often or people I see rarely... basically, everyone!

I've looked around a lot and decided to go with Shutterfly for my cards this year. Why? Well, I've received a variety of special offers from them throughout the year and have been very pleased with all of my products. Most recently, I made the Halloween photo book. I haven't received it just yet, but the process of making it was so easy!! I love photo books but the ones I've made through other sites have always seemed to take forever. Shutterfly was super quick, yet the book still has a very custom look.

After seeing the variety of card designs they are offering this year, I was hooked. I would point you to the one we'll be sending out, but I'm not going to for two reasons: 1) I want it to be a surprise when you open it a few weeks from now and 2) there are so many great designs that I haven't been able to decide on one yet! Check it out yourself. I dare you to spend less than five minute finding just the right card for you. It's impossible!

Halloween 2010

2010-11-17T17:24:00.001-06:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Phone Pics

2010-11-14T07:45:00.001-06:00

I don't always have my camera on me, but I usually do have my phone. I was looking through some of my phone pictures the other day and decided they needed to be shared. Enjoy!

Don't you wish you were this cheery at breakfast?

A shopper knows no limits.

Playing "dirt" with Bailey.

Gulley joining the dirt party.

A pensive moment...

Fun with Daddy and Photo Booth program.

Piece by Piece

2010-11-12T10:26:00.001-06:00

Sometimes when I'm making dinner, there's really just no choice but to let her do it. I mean, look how happy she is in that picture. Can I really say no? On a positive note, she doesn't eat the dog food as much anymore. She just hands it to the dogs. Please disregard her hand in her mouth in the second picture. I'm sure there's not a piece of dog food in it.

Another Razorback Look

2010-11-06T10:14:00.001-06:00

McKenzie borrowed this Hog dress from her cousin, Mary Elizabeth. Here she is with her daddy, calling the Hogs!

Relaxin'

2010-11-04T10:10:00.000-06:00

Chris and Rebecca were over recently to spend some time with us. I'm so happy they are moving back to Central Arkansas, so that McKenzie will get to know them better. Although, as you can see, she seems pretty comfortable with her Uncle Chris already!

Chris was holding her and she wanted my water bottle. As soon as I gave it to her, she leaned back against him and just relaxed in his arms while drinking some water.

Little Ladybug

2010-11-01T12:31:00.000-06:00

Love that hand on the hip!

Last year, McKenzie was a pea in a pod. And to be honest, she was kind of boring. I mean, at four months old, Halloween isn't much of a holiday. But at 16 months old... FUN!!! McKenzie was a ladybug and she had lots of fun spending some time with her cousins, Little Pumpkin Ben and Princess Mary Elizabeth.

A little unsure about the firetruck.

Not thrilled about the costume at first.

Ladybug and LaLa

The Flying Ladybug!!!!!!!!

What are you lookin' at?

Ready for Halloween

2010-10-29T10:13:00.003-05:00

We had lots of fun carving a few pumpkins last night, and now we're ready for Halloween!

Customize your own free picture slideshow

What a weekend...

2010-10-27T10:16:00.001-05:00

We drove up to Fayetteville last weekend for the Ole Miss game. My brother decided to catch a ride with us, something he may never do again. Why? Molars. McKenzie was cutting her second molar and she wanted all of us to know that she wasn't happy about it. She fussed and cried for almost the entire three hour trip. And she didn't stop there. For almost the entire weekend, she was not a happy little girl. Although, once we got her on a strict Tylenol/Motrin schedule, things got a bit better. Well, better for her. I was struck with a virus on Friday afternoon that included throwing up and some of the most painful body aches I've ever experienced. And for the trifecta, Brant caught the virus on Saturday morning and was out pretty much all day. It wasn't until Sunday morning that all three of us were feeling better. Brant and I were over the virus and we finally saw McKenzie's molar poking through so she was almost pain free. I'm sure my parents can't wait for us to come to town again!!

And this picture is from a lake weekend earlier this summer. A look back at happier times!

Bath Time Fun!

2010-10-25T10:06:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Aunt Rebecca, McKenzie has some great bath toys! These spongy things stick to the side of the tub, as well as other places. While McKenzie has a great time sticking them all over the tub, Brant and I have a great time sticking them all over her!

Fifteen Months

2010-10-08T09:52:00.002-05:00

She won't stop growing!!!!!!! We went to the doctor this week, and McKenzie had an excellent check-up. You can see her stats below. At fifteen months, I think her favorite thing in the world is to be outside. She will grab anyone's finger and lead them to the door. And she will throw a fit if that door is not immediately opened.

Weight: 21lbs, 6oz (25th percentile)

Height: 31.5in (80th percentile)

Head Circumference: 18in (45th percentile)

Go HOGS!

2010-10-06T09:27:00.002-05:00

Well, the Razorbacks lost against the Crimson Tide, but we still had a great time during the game. Our friends from Memphis, Will and Christy, came to town and McKenzie warmed up to them quickly. As you can see from Will's shirt, they are Alabama fans. But that didn't let McKenzie stop her. Click on the slide show to see how it all went down...

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I think once she realized that Will was a great guy, she was ok with his t-shirt. Or maybe she knew that his wife could make an excellent elephant sound? Either way, I think she won them over!

Happy Place

2010-09-29T12:14:00.000-05:00

This blog is primarily to share pictures and stories about McKenzie. However, now that I'm staying at home, I want to expand it just a little bit to include things that are on my mind. So, I'm going to steal an idea from my friend, Jenny, and start a new series: Happy Place. The idea is to share things that make me happy. Could be products, could be TV shows, could be something Brant did, but don't count on that. Also, don't count on any regularity for this series as my happy place thoughts strike randomly. I just wrote a long post espousing the benefits of each product and guess what? It was boring! So, I'll be brief in my Happy Place posts, telling you why each thing makes me happy as concisely as possible.

The first edition of Happy Place is all about cleaning, because I seem to do a lot of that these days.

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Bathroom Scrubber:

Removes soap scum so I don't feel like that person who cleans their bathroom about once a month. And I'm being generous when I say monthly.

Method Detergent:

Small packaging takes up less space in my laundry room.

The pump dispenser means I no longer have to clean up blue drops of detergent, although the Magic Eraser worked wonders for that!

Method Surface Cleaner (Cucumber):

It's non-toxic, so while I won't be offering it to McKenzie in a sippy cup, I won't freak if she gets a hold of it one day and sprays a few drops.

It smells fantastic!

Rubbermaid Reveal:

The scrubber is effective and washable.

I can use any cleaning solution in the bottle.

It's the one product that inspired me to mop my hardwood floors. I haven't done that since we moved in to that house.

For Today

2010-09-27T10:41:00.001-05:00

Just a cute picture!

Razorback Bling

2010-09-25T10:31:00.002-05:00

Everyone that knows me could probably guess that I wouldn't wear a shirt with bling on it. So it even surprised me a little when McKenzie received this Hog shirt for her birthday and guess what... I LOVE IT! It's easily one of the cutest shirts I've seen and it looks great on her. We have a few Razorback outfits for her, but I can guarantee this shirt will make multiple appearances. Much thanks to Sheri for getting McKenzie such an awesome shirt!!! And hopefully, I'll get a better picture of her in it next time she wears it.

She was on SALE!

2010-09-23T10:25:00.001-05:00

How could I not get her? I believe it was Granddaddy Carter who first put her in the shopping cart. And I believe all of our backs hurt just a little from pushing her around. Yeah, once she rode around for a little while, she decided that she LOVED being in the cart. She looks a little upset in that first picture, but I can assure you that when I got her out of the cart, she stood next to it and cried until I put her back in. Also, please note the back wheels. Pretty sure the cart wasn't made for 2olb toddlers!!

Shopping with Sambo

2010-09-21T10:14:00.002-05:00

Or should I say, shopping for Sambo. McKenzie got a shopping cart from her grandparents, and she decided to test it out. Get ready for picture overload because once little Sambo got put in the cart, every picture was cute. In a few days, I'll post pics of what else we were able to find while shopping...

The Hardest Part

2010-09-11T21:39:00.007-05:00

Do you think I'm sick?

I could come up with about a million answers for the question, "What's the hardest thing about being a mom?" Well, delivering the baby wasn't exactly a Caribbean vacation. Putting a onesie on such a tiny little wiggly thing is no picnic either. The explosive diapers aren't fun and three months of sleepness nights is just insane. But without a doubt, the hardest thing is this: deciding when to go to the doctor.

McKenzie has been to the doctor, and once to the after-hours clinic, to be diagnosed with vomiting, teething and a cold. All three of these basically mean that nothing can be done. I imagine the doctors probably laughed at us as we were walking out. But she has also been diagnosed with three ear infections, which require medication. It's a weird feeling to think "I knew it! I knew she was sick! In your face, nurse that told me not to come in!" I'm not happy that she's sick, but then again I kind of am because then I feel like I knew what I was doing by taking her in. It's such a fine line between being that mom who goes to the doctor when her child sneezes and that mom who waits until the child is running a fever, covered in snot and coughing wildly. You feel stupid when the doctor says it's just a cold, but you feel kind of ashamed when the doctor says that's a pretty bad infection.

So there it is. The hardest part. I don't want to see my baby suffer, but I don't want her to suffer through a needless trip to the doctor either. And for all you experienced moms out there, please understand that when I look back at this being the hardest part, I'll wish we were back here again. I'm certain my answer to this question will change when she's six and headed to kindergarten, thirteen and talking about boys, sixteen and wanting to drive, eighteen and leaving for college... Ok, I have to stop thinking about all that. Those teenage years are doing to be tough. For now, I'll just hold her, hug her and take her to the doctor when my gut tells me to!

Parenthood

2010-09-10T09:14:00.006-05:00

As of yesterday, I officially entered parenthood. How do I know? Because my solid food eating child got sick and threw up all over me. Gross, I know. Rite of passage into parenthood? I think so. Although, my wise friend Jennifer said it's the cleaning up that's the worst. And you know what? She's right. In the moment, I was too concerned about McKenzie to worry about the grossness that was all over me. After everything had settled down, the clean up came and that was probably the least fun thing I've done in quite some time.

So everyone, no recent pictures today. Sorry! McKenzie fell asleep on the floor after being sick and she looked really cute, but I didn't dare risk waking her for a picture. She doesn't seem 100% this morning, but she does seem better. Here is a picture from a few weeks ago during much happier times!

Cranky Pants

2010-09-03T14:56:00.002-05:00

On Thursday morning, McKenzie woke up on the wrong side of the crib! There is no other way to describe it. She woke up around 6:45, a little earlier than usual. She needed to go back to bed immediately, but of course that didn't happen. Instead, she piddled around the house getting crankier by the minute. So despite how cute she may look in the pictures, I can assure you that her Oscar the Grouch shirt was quite fitting for the day. In her defense, we've all had those days when you wake up and you're just plain cranky. Brant can certainly attest to that fact about me!

80's Night

2010-09-02T14:50:00.005-05:00

This blog is mostly about McKenzie, but I had to post a few pics from a recent evening. McKenzie's Aunt Erin turned 30 in August and celebrated with an 80s themed party. Brant and his dad decided to go as the Blues Brothers. I think their costumes were pretty spot on!Randy showing off his dancing skills... McKenzie is fairly unimpressed it seems.
I told them to "mean mug" the camera.
Nice moves!
Randy, you can smile again!

Dog Bed Dive Bomb

2010-08-28T21:46:00.002-05:00

McKenzie LOVED falling face first into the dog bed. That is until we tried to get a video of her doing it. Here's what happened...

Little Traveler

2010-08-27T09:50:00.002-05:00

McKenzie and I have been on the road for about a week now. We went to Dallas with my mom to visit some family and then we headed to Fayetteville for a little while. McKenzie was a great little traveler, both in the car and sleeping in all new places. Mom got this shot of her on the way to Dallas.