Collins Xmas

Uncle Adam

Dad shows Kendall how to open presents.

Grandpa Great

Aunt Kathy made some blocks for Kendall - which she loved.

Lunch at Rays - Kendall tries and likes Cheeseburger soup.

We had a great time with the family playing celebrity, opening presents, and of course eating. Kendall had her first real experience with a dog - Taylor. She was scared at first, but it didn't take long for them to get used to one another.

Redmond Xmas

Shopping with the girls.

Aunt Leighanne.

Cousin Carmen

Cousin Maria

Cousin Isabel and Kendall's new "fred"

Breakfast

Transporting the ham via sled from the neighbors house to mom and dads - hey you do what you have to do.Kendall looks on as Gpa Bob plays in the snow.

The stairs - one of Kendall's first that she got to experience on this trip home. She also went sledding for the first time.

Since I forgot my camera battery charger, this is unfortunately about all the shots I took with my camera - but, please check out the Redmond and Denja blogs for more great pics of our time in Traverse City celebrating with the fam. More pics still to come...

Christmas 09

Here's the big girl standing up in her crib. She started this about a week before we left for vacation.

Kendall reading in the car.

Dad consults the map.

SNOW!

Well after a 21 hour car ride we made it to Michigan and have successfully completed almost all the family Christmas celebrations. Post of pics coming soon.

Kendall taking her lumps...learning to walk.

It's beginning to look like Christmas

Well it was another nice weekend - thank goodness for the weekends! - it began with a trip to Lexington Carolighting where we listened to some caroling and watched Lexington light the big Christmas tree. We missed Santa, but had fun anyway. Wrapped up the night with Taco Bell and Big Love. Don't you like my Shaft jacket? Picked this gem up in a thrift store in Traverse for $20!

Kendall loves the pom poms on her new boots. By the looks of things on mom and dad's blog she will be able to experience a white Christmas after all. I can't wait to see her reaction to snow!

On Friday - I don't remember Friday. Saturday we spent the day running errands and watching football of course. Watched the ol' Chippewas beat the Bobcats. Dad asked if I was torn in terms of choosing who to root for - no way, Chips win everytime. Excited to see them play in the GMAC Bowl against Troy on January 6th. How far away is Alabama? Oh, and the Chips are ranked 25 in the AP Poll - Go Fire Up!

We started off the Sunday pretty lazy - just watching movies. I did make it outside for a quick run and later met the Weidners in West Columbia for their Christmas parade. It was cold, but I think Kendall enjoyed all the lights. Kendall and Aunt Erin on a walk earlier today. If you look really close, you can actually see a sliver of Kendall's face under all her layers.

Kendall's reaction at the parade. I promise she had a good time...it's the hat - it squishes her face. Note the mitten - it really threw her for a loop when she couldn't find her thumb.

The Shriners - all lit up!

Kendall has started to try several new foods. Here she is munching on some meat sticks.

Erin finished one test Saturday and will take another tomorrow morning. Aaron only has 9.5 days of school left and we leave for Michigan in t-12 days! Can't wait.

Turkey Day

My parents joined us for Thanksgiving, arriving on Wednesday afternoon. After I arrived home from work we decided to go out for dinner to a local favorite (Lexington Wings and Ale) where we ordered our favorite wings and wing chips. As you can see we did pretty well.
On Thursday morning, as is our tradition, we participated in a 3k walk to benefit Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Columbia. Upon returning home we readied the house for the arrival of friends (the Weidners) who helped us celebrate Turkey Day. We had lots of food and enjoyed games after dinner.
On Friday, dad and Erin got right to work on the bathroom. Erin had decided to make a bathroom remodel by bday present. So with Dad's help they painted, installed new fixtures, sink and concrete counter top. On Friday night, the Aaerins and I headed to Main Street Cafe to watch our favorite band play while mom and dad babysat Kendall. After lots of drinks and dancing, Saturday morning was a bit slow going...in fact we pretty much spend the day laying around and watching movies (Twilight). On Sunday we visited a nearby flea market to take in some some local 'culture.' There we lost one of Kendall's favorite toys - Fred, but picked up a rider/walker for Kendall for $4. Erin and Dad continued work on the bathroom while mom and I went out searching for a swing and playset that they wanted to get as an early birthday present. We ended up finding a cute little house complete with ladder and slide that Kendall is sure to love. Later we put up the outdoor Christmas decorations. Monday morning, Aaron headed back to work while we took in a local cafe for breakfast. We then headed out to pick up a swing that Dad later installed along with a new doorbell. Later we headed to Olive Garden for lunch before saying goodbye to mom and dad.

We had a great time with family and friend and are extremely lucky and thankful to everyone. P.S. Dad beat me to the post, so check out their blog for more pictures.

I can see clearly now

We had a fairly uneventful weekend. Just hung out with friends and are now ready to prepare for turkey day and gma and gpa Redmond. Below are some random photos with the new camera...it rocks!

Great Weekend

Well it was a great weekend! We got up early on Saturday and headed to Gaffney to shop at the outlet malls. It was a beautiful day and Kendall handled herself quite well in the car. After some shopping we met up with friends Brooks and Brandi and had lunch at Cornbread to Caviar in Spartanburg. Brooks was nice enough to buy my birthday lunch. It was very good and we finally found some chicken and waffles. After lunch we shopped some more and then visited DQ before heading back home.

Aaron bought me a new camera - sony cypershot. I haven't played with it too much, but it looks to have some really cool features...one being the setting to automatically capture smiles. Erin bought me a cool dress from Etsy and I learned that she also ordered a new concrete countertop and with the help of mom and dad plan to remodel the quest bathroom at Thanksgiving. Erin also made a homemade carrot cake. I swear I ate almost the entire cake in one day - it was scrum-didilly-ump-tious! Of course I received so many great calls/texts/email from friends and family. It truly was a great day!

On Sunday I worked a bit outside sanding a side table that I hope to finish up with some stain. Aaron got the truck washed and we watched Watchman and GI Joe.

Kendall is getting very close to crawling - she actually already is, but I'd say it's more of a inch (like an inch worm) than an actual crawl...nothing motivates her more than a cell phone or remote control!

The Big 30!

So Saturday marked the big one…30! Lots of folks have been asking how it makes me feel - this milestone. I am not really sure. I don’t feel that old. I think the most troubling thing has been all the grey hairs that I am noticing of late. I have been trying to think back to when I first noticed my mom going grey. I don’t remember her being grey this early – of course, maybe that is just because it’s hard to think about being as old as my mom once was. But then, I am a mom now.

All in all, it really just felt like another birthday…another day. I used to get so excited about birthdays (literally counting down the days in anticipation) – it seems like the last few have just been dulled to the status of “just another day.” And, I am okay with that.

I feel like you get to a certain point and certain things that did matter, somehow don’t anymore. When I find myself shopping now, I seem to spend more time looking for things for Kendall than for me. When asked to make a Christmas list, I am much more hard pressed to think of things to put on the list…and, it seems those that do make the list are appliances, or dishes, or gift cards. It is weird how things change - how perspectives change.

As much as I think my outlook has changed, I also struggle with the thought that I don’t want to loose myself either. I mean I love being a mom now!…but, what about my other titles of wife, women, friend...where is the balance between sweat pants and wiping your child’s nose on your shirt (for fear you can’t get to a Kleenex in time) to still wanting that pair of fun high heeled boots (while wondering – will I really wear these?) and considering a fun new hair cut…maybe even some color to cover up that grey?

Even with these thoughts, I have to say – if this is all I have to worry about than 1) I am extremely lucky, and 2) maybe 30 isn’t that bad. I mean I have a good job, an okay husband (just kidding), a great family, a beautiful daughter, a house, a way to get from here to there, my health, good friends, my graying hair, and not a whole lot to complain about. Yeah, 30 isn’t bad…I might even say that 30 is good – I mean I certainly didn’t have this all when I was 20. Yup, I’m in a good place and have a lot to look forward to. So cheers!

On the mend

Well after a trip to drop off the old computer at an electronics recycling event, a stop-off at Walmart for every drug known to man (yes, I was that mom in the store stocking up on vapor rub, little noses, a vaporizer, etc) and finally a good night's sleep (with virtually no interruptions) Kendall is doing much better today! We started out with a bath this morning, followed by a trip to Ryans for breakfast (waffle house was too busy), and football this afternoon. Here is the before - Kendall on Thursday night eating garlic bread with Aunt Erin. And...
...here is the after - look at those sad little eyes! I've discovered that having a baby who is sick is much worse than being sick yourself.

Kendall in the bath with Grammy.

Looking much better and ready for breakfast in her new hat that Grm Rose made.

Watching football. We might try to catch a local Veteran's day parade yet this afternoon and then grilling for dinner.

Pay Backs...

Well Aunt Erin arrived safely in NYC and the Masons arrived safely in SC.

Kendall had a very rough night...for all of you out there that said we were/are lucky to have such a good baby, rest assured, we are paying for it now. She woke up about every 2-3 hours last night. Poor little thing can't breath and she looks like a train wreck. Her eyes are a constant run, when she sneezes bubbles form - but, no fever and you can tell she tries to remain in good overall spirits. I only hope she can make up on some of the lost sleep today.

Not sure what is on tap - I do know that the krispy kremes just arrived and it's time to evaluate the day's plans...

Will post again later with some photos.

You are my sunshine!

Thanks to Great Grandma Char and Grandpa Jack for the duck for Kendall. Shortly after opening it we took a video of Kendall dancing with her new friend.

Kendall and I will drop Aunt Erin off at the airport tomorrow after lunch. She is headed to New York City to meet some friends for some much needed adult girl time. Grammy and Grandpa Rick will arrive late tomorrow night and stay till Monday.

We are looking forward to seeing them - I just hope Kendall doesn't keep them up. It seems she is either a bit under the weather (just congestion, no fever) or cutting teeth...or both, but either way bedtimes are suddenly not so fun. The most frustrating thing is that I wish we could do something for her. She just cries and begs to be held. Even her trusty old friend (a.k.a her thumb) doesn't work so much lately as she can't breath through her nose with the congestion.

And to think she only has two teeth so far...

Halloween

Well we had a great visit with the Redmond/Denja family. It was short and the weather was crappy, but it was so nice to see them and just hang out. I won't post too many pics here, as both Leigh and Gma/Gpa already beat me to it.


Leigh models her new gloves.

Dad and Gma Redmond at the SC State Museum.

Peter borrows Kendall's coat - he looks good in pink!

We had a blast learning new games, eating, and celebrating bdays! It was fun to see Kendall and Peter together and always great to just enjoy family. We were very sad to see them go on Wednesday.

The rest of the week was pretty boring - just work. This weekend we celebrated Kendall's first Halloween. Everyone made fun of me, but I just kept saying how much I couldn't believe that this time last year Kendall was still in my belly. Amazing!

Aunt Erin carves her pumpkin.

Kendall gives her a round of applause. She is so proud of her ability to clap her hands!

Mom and Kendall prepare for trick-or-treaters.
A shot with Daddy and Aunt Erin.
Kendall is spooky! We didn't get many trick-or-treaters, but had fun just the same.

I have also decided that I selfishly do not want Kendall to grow up. She is so much fun right now...her expressions, her excitement as she discovers new things, the fact that I can still cuddle with her.

Aunt Erin cuddles with Kendall.

Just have to get through this week at work and then Aunt Erin visits friends in New York City and Grammy and Gpa Rick come to visit for the weekend.