Brother Sister Love

A year ago Whit was a vegetable baby. All he did was eat and sleep. Here we are one year later and his goal in life is to be the perfect little brother. How do they know to do this from the very beginning?!! Here are a few examples of Whit in action. It is really funny to witness. There are times where Kennedy enjoys it and others that she wants him to just go away. Poor thing, if she only knew how long he was going to be around bothering here.....sorry Kennedy! :)

A nice morning in their chairs

Hey...what are you doing over there?!!
Kennedy is pushing Whit because he climbed up in her chair. Can you tell how he feels about this?

He thinks it is hilarious!! The harder she pushes him the harder he laughs!

Then he pushes back...still laughing!

Who won that fight?!!!

My, my, this is not going to be easy on me is it?

Goodbye Summer!!

Clearly it is still a million degrees outside, which means it is still summer. But our summer break has come to an end. Sad! :( I return to work tomorrow and my kids go back to Miss Michelle's. It is going to be an adjustment for all of us, but I know they are in the best hands and I am ready for life to resume on a schedule. Who knew I would love a schedule so much?!! :) We spent the day doing lots of fun things. I took the kids to the park. It was Whit's first trip to the park when he could play so I had to snap a few pics. It was a big moment, you know! Kennedy climbed up the ladder for the first time since her big break . It was a big moment for her. She was super excited about it!! GO K! :) Whit played and played in the tunnel. He loved it! It is going to be even more fun when he can walk!!

We went for an evening swim at Mema's tonight. Kennedy was jumping in a as usual when she decided she would go for the diving board. She has avoided it all summer. She walks onto it and JUMPS OFF!!! YAY for Kennedy!! I was in super shock. She popped up and swam right to me. My two year old...jumping off diving boards. She did it about a million more times and I got my workout for the day catching her. A perfect end to an absolutely perfect summer. Thank you Kennedy and Whit for slowing my life down. You show me the important things in life. Life is not about if my classroom is ready. It is not about having everything all perfect in this house. It is not about getting things done. Those things don't matter in the huge scheme of life. I watched the world through a 1 and 2 year old's eyes. I got to give you experiences that are molding you and making you who you are. I got a million and one kisses that belong just to me. That is what matters. You two are what matters. So, goodbye to our summer, but we have a lot of fun ahead!! No rest for the weary around here!! :)

Pretty Girl..:)

My sweet girl and her million dimples...

KISS!!

Whit is giving away kisses like crazy these days!! Come over if you want one!! :)

The Best Summer since I can remember...

I think I would call this my favorite summer is many, many years. Let's review back to my past few summers. Summer 05: That was the summer I couldn't get pregnant and was so upset....not my greatest moment in life. Summer 06: Kennedy was on the way! I was just a little pregnant so I could still enjoy summer. Now that I think back, I wonder what I did with myself all day long. What did I do? Summer07: Kennedy was here! This was a harder summer because Kennedy was still little. It was still so much fun to show her all the things I love about summer. :) Summer 08: Waiting on Whitfield...:) I was SUPER preggo...but K and I still took advantage of the pool everyday and then naps in the afternoon. I just had to nap as well. Then we got to meet Whit!! Then I was fat again....yuck! Which leads me to Summer 09, my favorite summer! I am not near as fat. Ha! :) My kids are a year, and 2 1/2 so they are so into my favorite summer things. I love the pool. My kids get that after me. Whit is so tan it is embarrassing. People are in shock when they see him. I put 50 sunscreen on that baby but he just gets so tan! This is the first summer in forever that I have had no agenda. I have no list of projects to finish. I had no timeline for things to accomplish. I just wanted to spend it with my babies. We took them to the beach, the pool, to visit lots and lots of family, to the lake, and played and played at home. We celebrated Whit turning one. We took lots and lots of naps. I cleaned out one closet. I have a lot more to clean, but I don't care. I have 100% spent my summer playing and enjoying my life. For that, I am truly thankful. I can go back to work now refreshed. I am filled. And now, due to the lovely furlough, I get two more days with my babies. I'll soak up a little more sun and enjoy my babies for a few more days before I have to say goodbye to my wonderful summer. :)

Here are some pics of the past few days....

Breakfast at the kid table. Whit is so big now!!

Playing with Whit's birthday present...a sand and water table!

Playing some more!

I learned how to make bows!!! Yay!!! This was my first one. Not my best work...they got much better. I will post more later. I went a little crazy.

What a big boy!!

What's Your's is Mine

Maybe we should change their last names to Prosser-Olliff. They might like that! I said today to Jen, "What's yours is mine" as I wiped Drewbie's face. It is funny how these two little darlings feel like just as much mine as my kiddos. They truly function like siblings. We are one big messed up family!! :) Ha! I love our life. I wouldn't want them growing up any other way. You need someone to get your back...well they have that in an instant! Here are some pics from after lunch today. Poor Lorelei was not so into the sun blaring down into her eyes! Maybe, just maybe, someday I will get the perfect shot of the four of them. :) Until then, enjoy these pics of the Prosser-Olliff's!! :)

All in an hour...while K naps

In the past hour the following things have happened.

1. I discovered my home is no longer baby proof. It was Kennedy proof, but we now need to make it Whit proof. I caught him banging a glass lid on the floor and two seconds later he had dishwashing liquid in his hands about to eat it.

2. Whit walks about 3 steps to me...arms held up so excited!!!

3. Then he leans in, mouth open and gives me a BIG slobbery kiss!! He proceeds to give me a hundred more while going..mmmmm...as he does it. My first kiss....so special!!! And he saved it for his mommy....this little boy loves his mommy! I love that!

4. He is playing with a farm puzzle, picks up the duck and says, "QUACK, QUACK" with a huge grin on his face. He was proud of himself!

All in an hour....my son is changing so fast! This mommy is proud, happy, and full of mommy tears today.

Gotta go...he is going to fax something now! :) He..he...

1 Year old!

I just realized I have like a million pictures of his birthday that I didn't post. Here are a few! Enjoy my boy on his day!!! He was just precious and enjoyed it so much!!!

WOW!!

I have been a bad blogger this summer. Facebook has taken over my life. I need to let it go. It is a serious problem! Ha! This has been a fun week. Monday, Greg and I celebrated our 7th anniversary!! WOW!! I am so thankful for him. He might not realize that all the time, but I really, really am. I think if you can survive in a marriage with two kids 2 and under, you can survive anything. Here we are still going strong...7 years later! We tried to go out and celebrate and Whit decided to get sick on us. He woke up from his nap with a HORRIBLE cough. I was worried about his breathing. It sounded just like croup and I thought it couldn't be because it is summer! Off to the doctor we go, and come home with steroids to treat his croup. So nix the movie we had planned. We finally go to dinner and do a little celebrating! Life never works out as planned does it? Thank you Greg for loving me despite our crazy life. I love you!

The doctor visit leads me to document my Whitty Whit's progress. He weighed in at 20 pounds 7 ounces!! WOW!!! Woo hoo!!! My little eater is finally gaining some weight. He still has long skinny legs, which I love, but I don't care. He is healthy and growing and that is stinking fabulous.

Guess who took 4 STEPS today?!!!! Oh, heck yeah, Whit is also working on the walking front. WOW! (Are my wows getting on your nerves?) :) He took 2 steps yesterday to Greg to get a baseball. I cried. I got a little teary today at the pool when he took all those steps. When he walks, he becomes a toddler. I am so not ready for that!

I promise to post pics soon...I have some cute ones of the kids with Whit's birthday present. Happy rest of the summer!!

Kennedy

I've done a lot of blogging on Whit lately so I thought I would catch you up on Kennedy. She is such a fun little girl. Last Sunday, she found her cheerleading outfit in her closet and insisted on wearing it the rest of the day. How cute is she? She is constantly amazing me with what she talks about lately. She held my hand the other day and says, "Mommy, I'm your little girl?" Yes, my sweet, you are! My favorite is, "Mommy, I lubj you." I lubj you too my Kennedy.

Here are a few of her interests at 2 1/2
* Princess anything. Cinderella, Snow White...whoever..she loves them!
*Books. She loves to read.
*Drew...still obsessed with some Drewbie!
*Pretend anything. She makes up all kinds of things. I love that!
*Story telling...she tells lots of make believe stories about a mean Queen...wonder where that came from?
*Babies...the girl loves a baby. This includes the real variety and toys.
*She will only wear dresses unless I trick her and call the shorts bottoms to the beautiful dress. She is also very particular about which dress she wears, how she does her hair, and what shoes she wears. Am I in trouble here?
*She can swim!! And she loves to swim, which I love!
*She is a good big sister. She kisses all over him and only steals toys from him when she really wants them! :)
*She is not the most athletic kid on the block. I am worried about Greg's hopes of her being Tiger Woods. When you see her run, you might laugh, but don't let her see you. It is pretty funny.
*Although she can't run well, she can dance!!! This is a girly, girl in training I fear!
*She is POTTY TRAINED!! YAY for me!!

She makes us laugh everyday. I love my little spicy girl. She makes this mommy very happy and proud. I am proud to be your mommy, Kennedy Susan. So, so proud!!

Whit at a year

I totally forgot to document Whit's accomplishments at a year. So here goes...

* He can stand. He will stand up in the middle of the room for minutes at a time. He has put one foot forward but I would not call it a step yet. Still waiting...take your time Whit. I feel that once you learn to walk you will run.
*He is an expert crawler. He is extremely fast. You think you know where he is and then you can't find him.
*He smiles 99.9% of the day. This is a true fact.
*He loves to bother Kennedy. It is one of his favorite things to do. He also loves Drew. I think he already looks up to him. So sweet! He could care less about Lorelei...still waiting on him to love her! What's up with that?
*He loves to eat. I can only think of one thing he doesn't eat and that is green beans. That makes me happy.
*His favorite thing in the world is a ball. That is also his favorite word as well.
* He loves Riley. That is a true, true, love...I guess we can't get rid of her!
*He loves trucks, cars...anything with wheels really. How do boys know this from the beginning. Kennedy was saying baby at this age and he could care less about a baby. If it has hair he might like to pull it but nothing more than that!
*He loves his mommy...He needs me to hold him when he is in a new place. So sweet! He really genuinely loves his entire family. You can tell he appreciates us.
*The only thing he hates is church. That stresses me out!!

He is a chatter box! He is learning about a new word a week and that makes me happy. I love when they start to communicate. Here are his words at a year.
1. MaMa
2. DaDa
3. Bye
4. Dog
5. Ball
6. Duck
7. Bite
8. More
9. ALDA: that is all done
10. Ka: Sometimes...this is Kennedy
11. Car
12. What's a duck say? KAKA
13. What's a dog say? hughhhh we say woof..he always replies hugghhhh..ok, Whit, a dog does say that...:)
14. Poppa
15. Good

That' all that comes to mind now. I am sure I left some out. Oh well!

You've made quite a change in a year Whit! We look forward to watching you grow and grow!!

ONE!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY WHITTY WHIT!!

A year...it is only 365 days, right? I look pretty much the same every year. Well, you would have to take out the last 3 years, but you get my point, right? My baby turned a year old today. I am a super emotional person. I have only cried a little today. :) Let's look back for a moment...Whit, one year ago today. We met you. You were sweet from the very start. Just beautiful....

Our first moments together...

AND TODAY!!! Now I cry...looking at how much you have grown. It is just 365 days, right? My, oh my, how that many days can change a baby. You are turning into a little BOY!! We spent the day doing your favorite things. That started with a nice pancake breakfast with your sister. Then you had a nice morning nap. Then we were off to the pool with your friends!

You played with the big kids.

You loved on sweet Lorelei, your soon to be bestest friend. :)

You went home and napped again. You woke up and helped Daddy with some yard work. Then we took you to eat. That is your favorite thing in life, eating. You got to hear the Happy Birthday song in Spanish and wear the Sombrero...don't think you liked it much...:)

Your sister and Drew made you some delicious cupcakes. Way too many sprinkles if you ask me, but who is counting right?

We sang to you. Daddy got too close to you with the fire and I yelled at him. He blew your candle out. I think he thought you knew to do that. :)

You tested the waters....

And decided a birthday is pretty stinking fabulous!! :)

I hope your entire life is as happy as this first one has been. You were born smiling I think. You cry only when you are really upset. You "crawl" through life with such joy. You are truly our little ray of sunshine. You were once called that because you were completely yellow, which mommy does not like to remember those days. I see you grow each day. Most days we just walk through life, but some I like to hold you a little longer. I love when you fall asleep on the way home from the pool and I get to hold you all snuggly. You never snuggle. I hold you extra long those days and I thank God in those moments. I thank Him for blessing us with you. Our home was missing a huge piece before you came. I wish I could adequately describe you in words, but mine don't do it justice. It's a mother's love that can't be described until you are one. I have that mother's love for you my Whit. I love you to the ends of the earth. I love you more than I could ever have imagined. May you always know that you are loved from the start. So, today, we celebrate you. We celebrate the gift God gave us. And I will be thankful for these 365 days I have had with you. I will pray for millions more together. I love you so much, my sweet Whitty Whit!!

On this day...

On this day, one year ago, I walked out of Dr. H's office with a date. A date to meet my sweet baby boy! I knew I had 2 days until I would see him! On this date, one year ago, I was HUGE. I was uncomfortable, ready to meet my baby, and maybe 30 pounds or so heavier than I am today. Today, on this day, I appreciate that it is today and not last year. Man, I am happy I am not pregnant anymore! :) I love having both my babies here.....now time to PAR-TAY and shower that ONE year old!! :)

1,215 days...

This blog has been in my head for a very long time. I could not imagine what it would feel like when it got here. And when it did, it was not as life transforming as I thought it would be. I have officially been nursing or pregnant, at times I was both, for at least 1,215 days...give or take a few. I nursed Kennedy for 13 months and Whit for 11 1/2. Kennedy was 10 months old when I got pregnant with Whit, so there is the pregnant and nursing part. That is a total of 3 years and about 4 months. WOW! I am finally, all to myself again. I pictured it being liberating. I would be free. I could do whatever I wanted!! It is pretty freeing. It is quite liberating. I do miss it a little...not much..just a little. I am forever thankful to my nursing friends and my sweet husband for helping me through to a year. I don't think it is something that you can do without support. It was hard at times. It was a joy and privilege at others. I think back and wonder if it was all worth it. Hmmm...Let's see...does it look worth it?

I am truly blessed to be their mommy. I prayed for so long for just one baby to hold. I just wanted one healthy baby that would make it here to earth. I wanted to hold him or her and look into their eyes and tell them how much I loved them. God answered that prayer. He answered in a huge way. My life changed when I became a mom. Katie changed into a new Katie I think. I like how it changed me. My heart, my soul, is new. It is my privilege to call you my children, my sweet babies. Each choice I have made I have tried to make for you. I hope that you see when you are all grown up how much you both mean to me. I love you!!

Summer is WONDERFUL!!!

Don't you just LOVE summer? Mmmm....endless days of nothing but water activities and naps. I got a new sprinkler for the kids and our big kids wanted to play in it this morning. Look at these potty trained babies in their "big kid undies!" :)

Even Chad wanted to play...you know he loved dancing in the sprinkler! Here he is before he danced....sorry I didn't capture it.

The daddies and our babies

Whit and his Lorelei...all too soon they will be loving on each other!

My little BOY...playing with boy toys!

K and Drew...who is going to win?!!!

I hope you are enjoying your summer days! We are definitely doing that around here!!

She can SWIM!!

I wouldn't say it if it wasn't true. My little 2 year old can officially swim!! :) GO K!! She doesn't know how to stop and breathe yet which is a hard skill for one this young to learn. I know from my years of being a professional swim lesson teacher, you know. :) But this little girl can jump in and swim a pretty good distance all by HERSELF!! This is one proud mommy...here are some pics of her showing off...

Life

Life is not always easy. Throw in two kids under 2 and my life is really not easy. I get overwhelmed at times, but for the most part my life is just how I want it. "They" say that kids grow up so fast. I don't think you realize it until you have children of your own. These infants, our babies, are placed in our arms for the first time and depend 100% on us. A year later, they are saying..nananana (Whit's version of no no) when you tell them no. They are the same eyes, same smile, but with a better understanding of the world each day. I am utterly and completely in awe. I know that sounds silly because I have seen other people grow up. It is just not the same when it is your child. My little girl, my baby, is now a girl. She is truly a girl, not a baby. I have long conversations about everything with her. She in constantly asking questions and learning each day. She amazes me.

My son...wow. One week from Friday he will turn one. One....my BABY turning one. I can't even stand the thought of the Happy Birthday song. That one makes me cry so hard! And the first time you sing it to a baby...oh my goodness I can't hold it together! It is a proud moment for me. A year...we have nurtured him, loved him, and he has given us so much more in return. What a wonderful thing to celebrate...our first year with our son.

Life....it is hard sometimes. I am overwhelmed some days. I cry sometimes. I laugh a lot of times. I yell at Greg sometimes...(ok maybe a lot) My children make me cry sometimes. They make me laugh so hard I can't breathe at times. My house is clean sometimes and sometimes it is just not. Such is life....and I am so thankful I have such a good one. Thank you God for blessing me beyond anything I ever asked for! This life you have given me is just perfect...just perfect in the non perfect way. And that is the way I like it.