Kinley, You're 18 Months Old

Dear Kinley,
I've contemplated when exactly I should stop writing these monthly posts to you.   I've decided that this is not the month and that when it's time to stop I'll know.  The truth is, that the 23rd of each month comes faster and faster these days.   You're into everything and growing and changing at an alarming rate.   This past week I took you to see the doctor because I was concerned about a lingering cough you've been suffering through.  You were so cute when you stood alone on the big scale and weighed in at 22 pounds.  That's down a little since your last visit, but you've not been feeling well for a few weeks.   Turns out that your lungs are clear as a bell.  But your left ear looked pretty nasty and required some antibiotics.   Next time you're feeling so yucky it would be nice if you gave me some indication!   Everyone around you agreed that you certainly didn't act as bad as that ear looked.  I'm not really surprised though.  You're hilarious and challenging and loving all wrapped up into a cute little package.  You're reserved, though.  You definitely spend some time checking things out before you jump in.  
We all delight in you on a daily basis.  You make us laugh with your sweet little "hi" in the mornings and the way you say "hug" with open arms every night.     But my favorite is how you say, "Okay" in your cute little sing song way.   It melts my heart instantly.   Your strong willed side has been showing a little more lately.   Just this morning you didn't want to leave the library.  Since I couldn't let you stand there and scream, I scooped you up and carried you out into the lobby.   I knew you were extra upset with me when you began to tug on my necklace.  When I corrected you and reclaimed my necklace you went for my hair.   Lucky for you, and for me, you thought better of pulling my hair and began to calm down.    Good idea!   I know that as you grow you will begin to test the limits more and more.   I've been through this twice before you but I don't think it will make it any easier to go through it again.   My experience does tell me that we will all live through the difficult days and that this is just another season that I'll someday miss.

You remain loyal to Elmo, though you still affectionately refer to him as "La-La".  This morning you helped me go through some of our toys.   While I was putting some of your baby toys in storage I came across Tickle Me Elmo.  The very Elmo that Pappy Richard proudly brought home when McKenna was a baby.  You and I sought out some new batteries for Elmo and before we knew it he was falling on the floor laughing.   And you LOVED him!!!   You've hugging him and enjoying his giggles over and over all afternoon.  

 Silly times with Kenna and Coop

One year ago

I love you, my sweet girl.

Hard Work

Last week McKenna and embarked on a new project.   Mrs. Catherman had assigned each student to make a parade float using the information they had learned while researching a state for their book reports.  McKenna's had chosen Virginia.   With the instructions close at hand, McKenna sketched her idea for the float and listed all the necessary elements that needed to be included.   After that, we started brainstorming how we would incorporate each detail.  All I can say is thank goodness for my mom and her cricut machine.   The cricut was beyond helpful for cutting out things like the tree and the boat and waves.   But my moms most valuable lesson came in teaching me long ago to use things around the house for special projects just like this.  Thanks Mom!    McKenna crafted several things out of clay and scoured the playroom for a small toy horse.   We used a large amount of modge podge to glue everything from dirt to sandpaper to little leaves on the tree.   We worked for days!   But, I think that it turned out just how McKenna imagined it would.   And I'll admit, we had a fun time.   Great work, McKenna! 

Just One More

Tonight I was looking ahead to the weather forcast for the first weekend in March. One of my best friends, who also was my college roommate (poor girl) and I have plans for a quick girls weekend away. We are praying for no snow or ice or any other form of inclement weather to get in our way.
As I glanced through the high and low temperatures for the next two weeks, I discovered that spring really might be just around the corner. And though I am ready for sun and warm temperatures, I have to admit that I could really deal with one more big snow.
Yes, it's true. This girl who hates to drive in bad weather would like some more snow. Just one more weekend to cuddle up with my family, bake, sled ride and watch movies. This winter had its share of snowy days but only one weekend where it amounted to much. One weekend to get the sleds out, dress In layers until it was difficult to walk, and share in the delight of the kids as they trudged around in the snow.
So, even though I will be singing praises when I begin planting flowers or taking the kids to the pool, even though I'll be glad to shed winter coats and clunky
boots - I will be secretly wishing for one more snowy weekend to share with a 9, 5 and 1 year old.

Things That Go Bark in the Night

This post is brought to you live from the rocker in Kinley's room, sponsored by croup and the common cold.
Ah, yes, despite being a hermit this winter in a vain attempt to keep our family healthy, we seem to be having a rash of sickness at our house this week. I started it last week with a good old fashioned case of the twenty four hour stomach flu. Add that to the fact that we had no water for about 9 hours and it's a recipe for a wonderful weekend. Earl persevered, lugging water from my parents house so that we could at least flush when needed. And he took the kids for a yummy breakfast at Country Cupboard. I heard yesterday that tey also watched a movie and as some of upu know, I made a little movie of my dear hubbie and his dance moves!
By Monday morning I was feeling half human again and we were back in the swing of our busy week. It took me until about Thursday morning to get my energy back, which is good because that's when Kinley decided to get sick. As soon as I heard the tell tale barky cough over the monitor I knew we were in for a long night.
Croup Is never fun and the way it sneaks up Is just plain rude. After sitting in this very chair for over an hour it became apparent that things were not getting better. Kinley's breathing was becoming more labored and the coughing jags were increasing in frequency. This is probably the point at which a "normal mother", also read "good mother", most likely would have packed up and headed to the nearest emergency room. But the. Nurse in me really didn't want to do that. So, I decided to try the old steamy shower trick. I headed to the smallest bathroom in the house, turned the hot water all the way up and blasted the shower. For the next 25 minutes I sat on the edge of the bathtub, holding a sleeping Kinley while simultaneously trying to gauge what would cost me more - an ER copay or my next water and electric bill. Soon though, Kinley was barking a little less, breathing a little easier, and so was I. Our good fortune lasted an hour or so before she was up whimpering again and needing some more tylenol and TL. In recent nights the coughing has lessened but the sleeping continues I be an issue. There's a shock. I fear we have taken two steps back in the slumber department and I am certainly starting to feel the effects. But we trudge on and hope for more time in our beds and less time in the chair each night. Although, I just might be able to catch up on my blogging if this keeps up. That is, if I can stay off of Pinterest!

Love is in the Air - Valentine's Day 2013

Love is in the air this week as we've been celebrating Valentine's Day with activities for each of the kids.

 Lucky for me, the festivities were spread out over the course of an entire week.   I did manage to get all three kids in a frame for a picture on the 14th, though Kinley wasn't really feeling the love!

 Cooper's class exchanged Valentine cards and shared "Friendship Fruit Salad" as their special treat.   I love that his teacher has the kids each bring in a piece of fruit to contribute to the salad.  What's even better is that the kids love it. 

 

 McKenna participated in her last Dragon Dash at Kelly Elementary on February 14th.  Dragon Dash is the school's sole fundraiser and all the kids take it so seriously.  Picture Relay for Life but on a much smaller scale.  Looking back on these pictures, it's now evident that Kinley was starting to not feel so well.  By Thursday night we were sitting in a bathroom full of steam fighting off a bad case of croup.  I'm hoping that tonight I will get to spend a little more time in the comfort of my bed and will save a little on my water bill!

 Because the Dragon Dash took up so much of the school day on February 14th, McKenna's class held their Valentine Celebration today.   We had a special jello and pudding treat, compliments of Pinterest!  

 Kinley, Cooper and I celebrated this holiday of love with our play group last Friday.  Kara hosted and let me tell you, she went all out!   There was food, dessert, finger painting, Valentine's and even cute bags to put them in.   The babies had fun but the Mom's have a better time.  I'm so glad that Kinley and I have a fun group (dubbed #thecoolmomgroup by our friend, Erin) to hang out with. 

 So, as you can see, our Valentine's celebrations were a little bit like this post - all over the place.  But the fact is, we love each other every day, no matter where we are!    Happy Valentine's Day!

Misc.

We continue to lay low around the Mowry house, enjoying one another's company and doing lots of playing.   We've got quite a new routine since the first of the year that mostly impacts our evening hours.    McKenna is the busiest of us all these days.  She arrives at school early every day.  On odd numbered days she attends math club.   On the even days she is tutoring a kindergarten student.   She takes her new "job" so seriously and absolutely loves it.    She continues with her Spanish lessons on Tuesday afternoons and plays field hockey on Wednesday nights.   We miss her when she's not with us but we understand that this is part of growing up, too. 

 Kinley is growing and changing so, so fast.   She has a new found love of the ipad since she now realizes she can watch "La-La" (aka Elmo) on one of the apps.   That's probably my fault....well, it's most certainly my fault, but she loves it.      We've also entered a new era of iPad flash cards.   Certainly a change from the ring of tattered Baby Einstein flash cards that McKenna and Cooper used.   

 Cooper had his yearly well child check up this past week.  I have no idea how or why we go for yearly check ups in February.    He was 42 pounds and has jumped to the 50th percentile for his height.   All his systems checked out wonderfully and everyone in the room was happy with the fact that we have not had major asthma issues in over a year.  Yeah for that!    We had finished all immunizations at the last well child check and were soon on our way to bigger and better things.   I offered Cooper a milkshake or trip to McDonalds for being such a good boy at his appointment.  He must have had an idea that I would offer a small surprise because when asked he said, "I'd rather have a Skylander."   So off to Wal-Mart we went.

 Later that day I picked up some photos I had framed.  The framed photos turned out wonderfully.  The paper they were wrapped in was even better.   Kinley and Cooper had a blast stomping on the paper and making lots of noise.

 This kid cracks me up.   I think she's destined for an acting career.  She busts out her serious face at a moments notice. 

 Then springs this smile on you!   I could just squeeze her!

 

Tomorrow we have a play group Valentine party on our schedule.   Unfortunately we are also expecting some bad weather, too.  Small, nuisance snow falls seem to be a theme this winter leaving us all a little tired of the white stuff.  Just enough to mess up our plans but not enough for sledding or snowmen.    At any rate, we are prepared for whatever comes our way tomorrow.  We've stocked up on books from the library,  the Anne of Green Gables video series and ingredients to make a yummy Valentine's Day treat a little early.    I guess we will continue to hunker down and enjoy our time together.