Jeremy Leffel Photography Session

We just did a family photo session with our wedding photographer, Jeremy Leffel. He does an amazing job and is super reasonable. If you are looking for someone to do your pictures, I highly recommend him. There are tons more on our photo website. We are so excited to have these treasures. We took all of these pictures in Wright Park, where we also took a lot of our wedding photos. We tried to recreate some of the pictures from our wedding with our expanded family.

Kenzie's Getting Herself Where She Wants to Go

The Wall

Before (2 pictures above)

(After)

The Wall...I can't believe I haven't mentioned the wall. A bit ago, I mentioned to Jeremy that I thought it was time. Time for what? A wall. Our master bedroom has been open to the living room since we bought this place. It makes no sense, but that's just the way it has been. Therefore, we haven't had an oasis...a place to escape if we want to nap or be alone. I told my hubby that I was ready to take this step, and he literally came home and began tearing up carpet. My ridiculously talented husband has now finished this fabulous project. Why did we not do this ages ago? We haven't purchased the blinds for the french doors yet, but they are coming. I have posted a before picture too so you can see the amazing skills Jeremy has. It looks like it has always been there.

Thanksgiving Art

This is just a little Thanksgiving art project we did. We went hunting for pine cones (in the cold and dark mind you) and traced her hands. Each hand she said something she is Thankful for. In this order: sister, rain, daddy, mommy, Abby & Ben (Miller).

Bath Time

Girls' Night Out

Last Friday night we went out while 3 or our husband watched 12 kids. The kids survived...maybe even thrived, and we had a great time. We went to Mexican food and then went go-cart racing. I was a tad competitive and fairly aggressive on the track, and I had a blast. Thanks, Guys, for orchestrating this.

Candlelight Dinner for Two

I tricked Jeremy. I told him he had to be home early so I could do happy hour with a girlfriend. Instead, he came home to this and no kids to be seen. I was all dressed up and had a little Michael Buble playing. The meal consisted of New York Steak with Borsin and a Merlot sauce, garlic red potatoes, homemade rolls, roasted asparagus, wine and strawberry cheesecake for dessert. He was surprised, and we had a fabulous evening eating, dancing and reading some from a marriage book we have been trying to get through. It was a wonderful time to get to know each other even better.

Things I Want to Remember

This is a section where I'm just going to list things I want to remember. Others may find this section uninteresting, but this is for me.

* Abby always wants to inform Kenzie about what's going on. She says, "Look, Kenzie, I have a banana." "Kenzie, it's cold outside." I absolutely love Kenzie's look as Abigail sits and talks to her.
* She calls flip flops "slip slops."
* When trying to take her flashlight away, Abigail said in the most pathetic voice, "No, I NEED my flashlight. I want to see everything that is going on in this life. "
* Abigail has an obsession with shoes. She'll be upstairs forever, and I'll go up to find her taking shoes on and off. When other people come over with shoes on, she'll put them on. If she's at someone else's house, she'll find other shoes and put them on.
* Sunglasses are another obsession. It's November, and she wants to wear them everywhere. She wears them while watching "The Little Mermaid," while reading books, when we go out in the rain. She loves them.
* She always wants to go get Kenzie from naps, running up yelling, "We're coming, Kenzie." Then, she climbs up into Kenzie's crib, says, "Watch, Kenzie," and begins jumping.
* I wouldn't be surprised if Abigail was interested in medicine. She is obsessed with the doctor's kit and the "bump bump" thing at grandma's house. Jeremy cut his finger, and she wanted to see and know all about it. She loves going to the doctor and watches carefully everything that is going on.
* When I ask Abby a question she's not really sure the answer to she says, "Because I love you soooo much."
* Jeremy said, "Abby, Mommy is not feeling well today so you need to be good." Abigail replied, "I will pray for her," and proceeded to say, "Dear God, Please help Mommy feel ALL better."
* Her grown up phrased like, "Actually, Mommy..." or "Should we...?"
* Abby has a total sweet tooth. She never looks forward to eating unless it is clocalate, candy, cookies, ice cream, etc. She does also like fruit - but that's sweet too.
* Abigail has always quickly figured out how things work. She is observant and inquisitive. She has always known (with make-up, pens, bottles, etc.) whether to twist, turn, push, pull, etc.
* Anytime she sees two of something she comments on her age. "Two birdies, like me two!"
* Abigail has a really good memory. She saw a piece of paper with a "Kidgits Kid Club" logo on it from the Tacoma Mall. She pointed to it and immediately said, "I did that early (earlier). Santa Claus was there." We signed up for the Kidgits Kid Club a year ago (age 1 1/2) when we sat on Santa's lap.
*Another memory thing is that I was making Jambalaya last night, and Abigail was helping me. She asked what it was, and I told her. She said, "We had that on the boat." She's right! We did have that on the boat at the beginning of the summer - about 5 or 6 months ago. We've had it since, but she remembers it from the boat.
* Abby insists on doing everything "all by myself."
* Abigail loves: shoes, lip gloss, puzzles, hats, gloves, sweets, singing, family and race cars.

Waving

On November 10th, at 7 months and 8 days, Kenzie waved for the first time. We were at the Durr house for family dinner and movie night. Kenzie was leaving with daddy so she could get to bed. Everyone was saying goodbye and started asking about when Abigail first waved and said they couldn't wait until Kenzie waved. They all started waving at her, and she started waving back. They'd stop and she'd stop. They'd wave goodbye again, and she would start waving. So, she's a waver now.

Abigail in the Fall

Kenzie at Seven Months

Kenzie is officially seven months old, and she is wonderful. She loves to bounce, smile, be around people, and laugh. She rolls quickly to get where she wants to go. She can be up on her knees and hands and is beginning to rock a bit. She likes to interact with people and definitely is most content in a crowd. Daddy makes her laugh the most. She is eating breast milk, formula and beginning foods. She's a good little eater. Talking is fun for her now, and she has recently discovered her tongue. Her two bottom teeth are making an appearance. Despite that, sleeping habits continue to be good. After her 6 month turn over in sleeping habits, she's been sleeping full nights consistently (11 hours). She normally always wakes up happy. On a side note, Abigail loves to go get her from naps. She says, "We're coming, Kenzie," and crawls up into her crib and begins jumping. Kenzie smiles excitedly. They love each other. She loves to grab at all of our necklaces, quickly pulling them into her mouth. She has an opinion if you take it away from her too. It has been fun to see her interacting with toys more and sitting up to play with things. She wants to grab everything! She has a funny little interaction with me where she avoids looking at me. It's a game we play where I try to get her to look into my eyes, and she'll look for anything else but me. This past month has been the discovery of the Johnny Jump-Up, and she loves it. She laughs and bounces. Although she doesn't like to be too independent for too long, she is easy to cheer up and please. I love this kid.

Harvest Carnival

Halloween was fun! The 30th we went to a costume party at the Holmes. I always look forward to the creative costume ideas there. The Harvest Carnival at church was on the 31st. Our daughters were race car drivers, Jer is the mechanic, and I was the pit crew who obviously was a bit damaged by the little ones. Abigail was super excited about being a race car driver like her grandpa. Abigail enjoyed the games and activities at the carnival, but I think she was still a tad overwhelmed by the whole thing.

Interpretive Dance

Abigail's Version of Interpretive Dance. I just purchased Abby another dress up outfit that is a bit too big. Jeremy assured her, "It will work better when you're older," as the dress was falling off at the shoulders. Abby turned to me and said, "Mommy, can I be older, please?" Nope! I always tell her she has to promise me that she'll always stay as sweet as she is right now - even when she's thirteen. She promises. We'll see!

Abigail Writing

Abigail, at 28 months, is beginning to do some pretty good tracing. Her auntie Shannon bought her this educational kit for her birthday, and her favorite thing to do in it is to do "wipe writing." She traces her number and letters and is doing a pretty darn good job.

Jumping

Kenzie is a jumper. Abigail was never interested and is really just learning how to jump. She always just hung or turned in the Johnny Jump Up. Kenzie has loved it from the get go. She sits in it and jumps and laughs. She also is very quick and strong. She grabs on to things seemingly out of reach and holds on for dear life. Based on these couple observations, I'm wondering if she'll be more into sports. We'll see! I do have dreams about being a soccer mom.