14 Months!

Kennedy is officially 14 months. Here are some of the things she is doing now. Her favorite toy is her baby, or Bobby! She loves other babies almost the same, but Bobby lights up her world! She has a huge vocabulary and is starting to use two word phrases. She says lots of gibberish sentences that don't make sense yet! She loves people, especially her friends from Miss Michelle's. When we see them out and about she giggles with excitement! She loves to be around other kids! She is getting better and better at walking everyday. She can get around pretty good now! Her new thing is going to sleep all on her own with out Mommy rocking her. I guess it is a good thing, but I miss our snuggle time. We say our prayers and I lay her down and she says night night to me. Too grown up! Her favorite thing to do is read books. She will bring you book after book, saying "book" in the sweetest voice, hand it to you and then raise her hands so she can sit in your lap and listen. She will listen intently to the entire book! She has a love/hate relationship with her best friend Drew. They love each other but fight like brothers and sisters. They have started kissing and making up. They leaned in for a big smooch today! So, all in all, I think life is pretty darn good for my little 14 month old! Her bubbly personality makes our lives so much more full!

When did this happen?

When did my baby turn into a little girl? It amazes me how grown up she is every day. She is using so many words now. You hand her something and her reply is, "Tank you!" I put her down and tell her to go get her baby, and off she goes to get her baby. Sounds like simple things, but for me it is huge! I have stared at this child more than I ever thought I would ever stare at something in my life. Every little stage she has gone through has been so much fun! It is just amazing for me to see her go from little infant to this little girl with an amazing personality! I know I constantly talk about how much I appreciate this baby, but lately I am more and more reminded of how blessed we are. I hope I never forget this feeling of knowing how God gives you things in His time and how perfect it is when He does. I've learned to cherish life, almost every minute, and appreciate all that comes our way!

So, I guess you can still grow, my Kennedy. Time is flying by and you have no idea how fast! Enjoy every minute of your precious life. I know I will!

Dedicated to Miss Kittie :)

Miss Kittie told me today she would like me to update my blog daily. So not to upset her, :) here goes! :)

We had a nice weekend in Darien. Kennedy had lots of fun with MeMe and Pop Pop (Pops is his real name, Kennedy changed it). Mom and I went shopping on Saturday and it wore me out! We shopped in Brunswick and headed over to the island for my all time favorite place, the Bailey Boys outlet! Kennedy was getting hungry so we went to the village for lunch. This story will make more sense to those of you familiar with the island but if you are not I will try to fill you in. Mom got out of the car and went to Brogan's to get a table. It turned into a 90 degree day (not really, but I felt like it was) and Kennedy had poured milk all over her while in Bailey Boys, so I stayed in the car and changed her into something cooler. We walked down to Brogan's to find it was packed! So we walked down to Barbara Jeans and they were also packed. Keep in mind, I am carrying Kennedy this whole time because I hate taking strollers inside these tiny restaurants and they make you leave them outside and I am not leaving my nice stroller on the street for someone to snag. Ok, so we decided to walk to the 4th of May, my favorite place. This is a long walk with a 20 pound baby, a diaper bag and don't forget I am pregnant while having heat stroke in my long sleeved shirt! We got a table and had a great lunch. Kennedy was in a great mood. Well, we were leaving and I wanted to take K to the beach for some pictures. Then all of the sudden Kennedy threw up all over her shirt! Toddler throw up makes me sick, I miss the days of breastfed baby spit up. At least it doesn't make you gag! So I went ahead of Mom to the car. So here I am again, carrying this baby on the long treck to the car, having a heat stroke and gagging from the throw up smell! I pass 3 white four runners thinking they were mine and finally made it to mine! I throw her in the car and search for more clothing. We are on the 3rd outfit now. I had bought a little white t-shirt at target thank goodness so I put that on her. Then I go to change her diaper and find poop!! AAahhh! Again, still having a heat stroke, don't forget that! Mom gets there, gets the stroller out because I am still determined to take her to the beach. I clean the poop and get her dressed. I was looking for her shoes and could not find them anywhere! My mom is laughing, there is an old man in the car next to us watching my every move, poop and all, and I begin to have a breakdown! It took me 10 minutes, I swear it was that long to find her missing shoe. We finally made it to the playground and beach and Kennedy had a big time. That is the story of the trashy outfit she is wearing in the pictures. So much for the cute one we started in that day! I went back to Mom's and took a nap!

That is just a glimpse of our weekend! All in all it was a great weekend and wonderful winter break! I went back to work today well rested with a good attitude. I LOVE whoever invented winter break. They are so smart!

MeMe's Swing

I thought I would post this especially for MeMe. She posted about her swing (check out her blog) and I thought she would like this one. I took a nap on Saturday and awoke to Kennedy cackles coming from the front yard. I went out and this is what I found! She was having so much fun! Here is proof MeMe's grandchildren already love her swing!

She walks!!!!

I know I am obessively talking about Kennedy's progress walking so if I am boring you I am sorry! I am proclaiming today the day Kennedy learned to walk. She can now cross a room and follow us around! She still has a hard time with the balance at times, but tonight she was a champ! 13 1/2 months and walking! :) Congratulations Kennedy! The world is now at your feet....

Is is Spring?

I love this weather! It was so nice out this morning I asked Kennedy if she wanted to go see the ducks. She got really excited. So off we went to the pond. She spends her time cackling at the ducks, saying quack quack and is amazed at them. It was fun! I of course took my camera. :) So here'a a glimpse of our morning. I am enjoying this week with Kennedy!

The words of a genius!

I have been meaning to catch Kennedy talking for the blog. We tried a little today and this is what you get. She was not focused on me at all, but you get the point! We also spent tonight walking around a lot! I'll catch that on video tomorrow! I have time this week! :) Enjoy!

I LOVE vacation!!

First, I would like to say I love vacation! We are on Winter break this week. Whoever invented winter break I would like to give them a big hug! It is nice to be home with Kennedy. I am spending the week getting things cleaned out and playing with Kennedy! I got the bright idea to paint our bathroom. I wanted it to be more child friendly yet still function as a guest bath, since it has to serve as both. I mentioned it to SuSu and she signed up to help! Yay! So today was spent painting and getting the bathroom ready. We are striping the walls with a green on green tone, so tomorrow is striping day. I think it is going to look really good! I think SuSu might need to hire herself out for painting on the side. :)

We had a busy day of visitors today. SuSu came over to help paint. Kennedy was practicing saying SuSu and said DuDu instead. I will spell it with u's to make it look better SuSu! :) I thought it was funny. I don't think Susan thought it was so funny! Banks and Sarah came over for lunch. the picture of Kennedy with Banks is so cute! She kept leaning in his carrier telling him hi! She of course was expecting a response. Greg is also now known as the baby whisperer. Banks was crying the other night and Sarah handed him to Greg. Banks sighs and calms down the minute Greg takes him. The pic I took today proves it! He has a talent!

Then tonight Uncle Patrick came by. I had food. That is the only way you can get him to come around! :) Kennedy was a little scared of him at first, but then she realized he was a fun uncle and played and played with her Uncle Patrick.

So, our first official day of winter break was wonderful. Spent with family and friends, you can't get much better! We would like to send a shout out to sick Aunt Courtney! She has the flu! I hope you feel better soon!

Baby Brother is kicking around right now! How sweet! I can officially feel him move now, which I love. Have a great week everyone!

Daddy's little girl

Kennedy and Dada had some fun at the neighborhood pond on Saturday. We fed the ducks. K loves a duck! She is fascinated with them! Greg caught a fish and tried to show it to her. She was much more interested in the ducks swimming around. She also took some time to eat pinestraw. She likes the dirt. :) I thought these pics were cute. Here are two of my most favorite people! They are fun to photograph. I was trying to get Kennedy to look at me with the one of her and Greg. She was too busy smiling at her DaDa. Too sweet!

a LOVEly evening

Many, many years ago when Greg and I were newlyweds, Chad and Greg decided to have a sweet valentine's dinner for Jen and I. They cooked us a nice dinner and dressed up with bowties. It was very sweet. So this year, the two decided to be sweet to us again. Five years later! We were forced to have our children go to the grandparents and have an adult dinner! It was nice! They cooked us a wonderful dinner. We took some pictures to document the evening. We never take pictures of just us anymore! We did the prom pose in this picture. :)

Her First Steps!

Ok, so she is not officially walking our way, but my precious Kennedy is taking small steps toward a new world for her! She took about 4 steps to me tonight a couple of times before Greg and I wore her out. One time she was holding her cup, which gaver her more balance and she just walked up to me and stopped and looked at me. I of course made a huge deal out of it and she was like, "whatever mommy." We took this video right before bed to document, it is a little wobbly, but you get the idea.

In baby brother news, I swear I felt him move twice today. I am on edge waiting to feel him. There is nothing as special as getting those first signs of life from your baby. It makes it all the more real. I like to spend those moments getting to know my little one before I have to share him with the world. It is something special only the mommy can share. I didn't feel Kennedy until 21 weeks or so because I was just stupid. I had to wait until Greg felt her too and she high fived us and I was like, "oh, that is her!" I say I am a little wiser now and will be able to notice sooner. I felt a little flutter and stopped in my tracks today. Maybe it was him, maybe not! We'll see! I am enjoying being in the fun phase of pregnancy as I call it. All went down hill for me at 28 weeks last time, but I am hoping to be a happier pregnant woman this time. At least my friends and dear husband are hoping that!

Crazy MeMe

Ok, so I would officially like to let you know my crazy mother has created her own blog. She is very computer illiterate so this is a big deal for her! She loves to write and would like to have some readers, so I would like to announce her blog is now under my blogging friends. She has been complaining to me everyday that I have forgotten her. I mean all I do everyday is think about her blog. I have nothing else going on do I? Ha! Ha!

So check out MeMe's blog. Leave a comment, see how truly crazy my family is! :) I get it honestly!

She stands!!

13 months old and we know stand alone! She is also getting really good at squatting down and picking up things and then standing back up. She still seems shocked that she is all on her own. Then you ask her to come to you and she looks at you like, "You are crazy, lady." So for now, this is Kennedy's world. Standing, walking holding hands, and a whole lot of happiness!

I took these after church. I love this one! Her crazy hair was in rare form today!

That mean, mean DOG!

Riley has been in some serious trouble around the homestead lately. She has never reallly bothered Kennedy's toys, except her duckies in the bathtub. She has a thing for rubber squeaky toys! The other night I was searching and searching for Kennedy's hippo for the bath. It is her favorite bath toy. We found it, in the chair in our room, with no resemblence of ever being a hippo! Then on Thursday night, I was giving Kennedy a bath and we went in my room after we were done and found Riley eating Kennedy's baby's face off! She had already successfully devoured the baby's arm completly off, and was working on the face! I was so mad, I spanked the dog and picked up the baby, and Kennedy started crying when she saw it. I wasn't sure if it was the baby or Riley spanking that made Kennedy cry. The next day I got the baby out to save the dress before I threw it away and Kennedy saw it and started to cry again! Poor thing! Kennedy's Great-Grandma got her that doll and it was her favorite! Greg of course blabbed to Grandma that Riley killed the baby and she of course went out to get her a new one. The funny part of the story is that she is crazy attached to this new baby. We named him Bobby, because when she says Baby it sounds like Bobby..:) So Kennedy and Bobby have not been separated in 3 days. We had to tuck him in my bed last night so she could go to bed. She couldn't figure out how to hold it and suck her finger while I rocked her last night so we had to put him to bed first! Who knew a 13 month old could be this attached? I guess I deserve it....my blankie is still special to me! Here a few pictures of K and her Bobby. They go everywhere together now!

It's a BOY!!!

We are having a BOY!! I really cannot believe it. I went in today thinking it was a boy. We went in for the ultrasound and I got nervous! I really didn't care what it was, it is just weird to actually know! Kelly, the ultrasound tech, (whatever you call her) whom I love, zoomed in and started smiling. I said, "Do you know?" She says yes and then zooms in a little more and asks us if we can tell. Then she says, "It's a boy!" I was overwhelmed at this point and started crying. I don't usually cry at exciting times in life. Like to day we found out we were pregnant I was too excited to cry! I am usually caught up in the excitement to cry! This just overwhelmed me though! I think maybe the fact that we weren't planning this baby, the worry that we would never have another baby, and then getting this baby and being amazed everytime we went back that it was still ok, has been a longer road for me that I thought. Just to see him and know that we will hold a little boy in our arms is just so amazing! Taking the path we have taken makes you appreciate your little ones a little bit more than the average couple. What a miracle! So welcome to the Olliff home my precious baby boy! We can't wait to meet you! I have a lot to do. Nursery? Greg's office? What ever will we do? :) Things will fall into place.

We would also like to announce we are not announcing the name until he is born. We do have some quality names picked out, we haven't settled on one yet. We will refer to him as Baby Brother until he gets her. I tried it out on Kennedy and I swear she said brother tonight on the way home. Maybe I am imagining things...

I tried for 45 minutes to post the ultrasound and it would not let me. I will work on that later. I am too tired!

It's a ........

Ha! Ha! We don't know yet! Tomorrow is the BIG day in case any of you forgot. We go to find out what we are having. I am not as in suspense as I was with Kennedy. If we can't find out tomorrow it will not crush me. I am so 100% not caring about which it is. I would love to have another little girl. It would be fun to have two girls growing up so close together. I say that now but in 12 years I might take back that statement. Then on the other hand, I would love to have a little boy. A boy and a girl would be a perfect little family. So, who knows? God gave us this gift and we will take whatever He chooses for us! Greg has been sweet about it. You would think he has his fingers crossed for a boy, and maybe he does behind his back, but he says he wouldn't mind two girls. He loves his kennedy so much! I think girls can break their daddy's hearts early on! I am always laughing at how boys deal with a pregnancy. I think Greg forgets I am pregnant a lot. I keep reminding him the reason I need to eat immediatly or why I don't feel good. He will say, what is wrong with you? My reply, "I AM PREGNANT!" Really, how can you forget that? Then the day before we had Kennedy, Greg realized he was actually going to be a dad. The moment he laid eyes on her he was a goner. Tomorrow should be a little reality check for him and then I will have to wait until this baby is born to make him realize we are really and truly having a baby!

Check back tomorrow for the news!!!

Dedicated to MeMe

We had lunch at MeMa's today I thought it would be a good place for a photo shoot. We spend hours a day walking Kennedy around holding her hand. She is down to the one hand hold, but when you let go she's down! My mom got her this dress for her birthday and I have been promising her I would send some pictures. Here you go MeMe!

Where are my toes?

I know I am posting lots of pictures today, but I took so many cute ones this weekend! I asked Kennedy where her toes were last night and this was her response. She is a genius right?

I call this her devilish grin....I wonder what she was thinking...

The miles will never separate us!

When Sarah and Jonathan moved so far away I missed them! But the miles will not affect our friendship! We went over today for our first walk with Banks! He of course has walked with us plenty of times before while in his mommy's belly. Sarah and I have had many good walks figuring out life. We've pondered life's mysteries, we've complained, rejoiced, and announced the arrival of our little ones all while going on our walks. So how perfect is it that now our precious hold it babies can now stroll together in style, in their matching strollers no less, and enjoy this world with their mommies! God's gifts are truly amazing!

And I was worried...

When Riley saw a child for the first time she barked like she was going to kill them. Then Drew came along and she sat pretty for him, like she was getting a new toy. Then little Kennedy came into our home and Riley learned really fast that she was now not the shining star of the Olliff family. She had some hard days, but I think she is starting to see the benefits of having a little sister! I pulled out her old polo and made her look like a spoiled dog again. Kennedy thought it was really funny, so she and Riley had a little playtime this morning. Don't get too grossed out that I let my dog lick my baby's face...she LOVES it!! Maybe Riley feels appreciated now....they are both napping away dreaming of the fun they had today....