Working Mom

Yesterday was take your daughter to work day...at least for me. I had a meeting and conference call for work yesterday that I wanted/felt I needed to attend. So, I attempted to get Aaron to take the day off so that I could go into work. Of course, he had a field trip and couldn't. All week I stressed about what to do...do I take Kendall with me to work and give her to someone in the office to watch? Do I take her to the meeting? Do I skip the meeting all together? Do I attempt to get a babysitter (although I have no idea who)?

As it was I took her with me to the meeting - deciding I would take a look at the agenda (which hadn't been provided prior) and decide from there...only there was no agenda (big pet peeve and note to self - always have an agenda & whenever possible provide it before hand). I decided to just hang out in the back with Kendall - posed with the pacifier in hand and the idea that if she gets too fussy, I'll just leave. Well, Kendall delivered. She remained quiet, content, and mostly slept the entire 2 hour meeting (never even needing the pacifier). She is the best baby in the whole world - as I know and nearly everyone remarked.


After our day in the office, we met our friend Val at the riverwalk and went for a nice long 5 mile walk. Again, Kendall was an angel and let Val and I catch up and catch some rays. She is truly the cutest and best little girl...all this after sleeping for 2 five-hour blocks the night before AND sleeping 8 hours again last night. I only fear we will pay for this sometime in the future, when she decides to pay us back and be a terrible toddler or intolerable teen. Oh, I pray she stays this way forever!

In other news, Kendall has again discovered her fist. Some of you may remember she had quite the 'suck blister' on her hand when she was born. At least she is self-sufficient. God Love Her!

Great Day

Yesterday was a great day all around. Aaron made us banana pancakes for breakfast. It turned out to be such a trying task that he and Kendall had to go back to sleep after. Together these two are peas in a pod. Since it was so beautiful out (sunny and nearly 90 degrees), Kendall and I decided to pack up and walk to the park for Kid's Day. This was the first year we attended (for obvious reasons). Although geared for older kids, it was a lot of fun...lots of booths set up with freebies and games from places around the community.

Here is a picture of a real crocodile/alligator on display.Next, Kendall and I walked to our favorite used bookstore (Rainy Day Pal Books) in the Old Mill and picked up a few books together. Oh, on the way home we walked past a local boy scout troop who was having a bbq. I had to stop and snap a picture of this truck's bumper sticker.
Quality stuff huh? You have got to love the south!

While we were gone Aaron mowed the lawn. It is amazing how much nicer a mowed lawn makes the back yard look.

Inspired, we headed to Lowes to pick up some necessities for the garden. I filled it in a bit this year with soil from the compost bin and some store bought miracle grow stuff. This year I planted red/green peppers, tomatoes, green beans, lettuce, and sweet potatoes. It doesn't look like much now, but I am committed to making this year the best!

The rest of the day was spent together just hanging around the house. Since we finished The Wire (I would highly recommend it...McNulty is dreamy) we started our new HBO series - Rome.

The best part of the day though - Kendall slept for 8 hours last night! She went to bed at 8 p.m. and then didn't get up till 4 a.m. What a little angel!

Say Cheese!

Kendall has a new trick.

Growing up fast!

Today was Kendall's 2 month doctor's visit. She now weighs 11 lbs. 15 oz. and is 23 inches long. She is just starting to coo and try and make noise. She is also doing very well holding up her head.

Here she is smiling at Gma. The Doctor said she should soon start laughing.

She was also baptized this past weekend. Gma Rose, Gpa Bob, friends the Weidners, and God-parents Aunt Erin and Uncle Adam were on hand to help celebrate.

After the Baptism on Sunday we had ribs and cake with the Weidners before heading to Charleston for the night. We said goodbye to Aunt Erin on Monday after a nice day in Charleston site-seeing.

Tuesday morning Kendall and I also said good-bye to Gma, Gpa and Adam. Check out the Redmond blog for more pictures.

Now we are all alone and trying to make our way in the world. It has been really nice here the last few days and Kendall and I have been enjoying our daily walks. Maybe we'll convince Daddy to take us all out tonight to pick out some veggie plants to start the garden in honor of Earth Day.

Family

There is an old saying that you can pick your friends, but not your family. If I had a choice I would pick my family as friends! I love them all.

We continue to have a great visit with Erin and had a great time with Leigh, Maria, and Peter this past few days. They arrived on Monday night and left this morning. Check out the Denja blog for the run down. In short, we ate BBQ, visited the beaches in Charleston, had pedicures, and enjoyed each others company.

Today Erin and I dropped off the Denjas at the airport and then ran to Big Lots of some more dark chocolate mint candy bars that we found there - yummy! We then met some of Aaron's coworkers for dinner at Eric San Jose's before Erin and I split to have facials. What a great way to spend an hour!

Tomorrow we'll attempt to hang some pictures and paint our bathroom. Tomorrow night I'll help prepare for a friend's wedding shower on Saturday afternoon before picking up Uncle Adam at the airport. As God-parent he is coming in for Kendall's baptism on Sunday, as are Gma Rose and Gpa Bob.

I don't know what I will do once all our visitors are gone. As mom and dad posted, we are so very lucky to have the time and resources to spend with our family - who are also our very best friends!

Happy Easter

Well it's been a great visit with Aunt Erin so far..

We've gone out to eat at all her favorite junk food emporiums that California doesn't offer (nothing like Bojangles fries, Taco Bell, and Sonic).

On Saturday, we also all braved the mall to get Kendall's first pictures taken at JC Penny's. I think they turned out cute, but we won't know for sure until we pick them up on the 20th. Here is a cute photo we snapped here at home.
Yesterday we celebrated Easter with our friends Megan, Scott, Jackson, and Aida over ham and mac-n-cheese. We had an Easter Egg hunt in the backyard.

Here we are dressed in our Sunday best.
This morning it's back to work for Aaron. Erin, Kendall, and I have to pick up the car this morning (after new tires) and then it's TJ Maxx on our list.

Aunt Leighanne and cousins Maria and Peter are headed south tonight for a short visit. They'll stay till Thursday morning. Then Uncle Adam and Gma/Gpa Redmond come next weekend to help celebrate Kendall's baptism.

Visitors

Aunt Erin arrived on Thursday morning. Kendall and I picked her up in Charleston early in the morning. After a quick lunch we proceeded to hang out and watch baseball and play our new favorite game "celebrity."

Aunt Erin coming off the plane.

Grandpa Rick and Kendall.

Thursday night we dined at Cafe Strudel and came home to watch a movie.

This morning Gma and Gpa Mason headed home, while Aaron ran some errands, and Erin Kendall and I went for a walk and then Good Friday mass.

Opening Day 2009

Gma and Gpa Mason arrived on Sunday night after visiting the Biltmore Estate on the way. Today Gma babysat so Aaron and I could meet with our investment man. We set up a mutual fund for Kendall to start her on her way.

Now we are watching some opening day games with the Tigers soon to start.

Below are some pictures of her in her new outfits from Aunt Erin and the Denjas.

Not sure yet what tomorrow day will hold, but tomorrow night Aaron and I will go to our baptism class while Gma and Gpa babysit again.

Cover Girl

Too Cute for Words!

Really?

It's been awhile since I wrote about something other than my new baby girl...I mean what could be more important? However, today I have to get something off my chest.

Okay, so as we speak I am watching the Today Show drinking my morning cup of coffee and wondering what is wrong with the world...the news media just devoted a full 10 minutes to what Michelle Obama would wear during her trip to Britain. Seriously?!? How about what she is doing, who she is meeting, what is being discussed? Are we really that shallow? I mean I know that she is expected to represent the U.S.A and it can be argued that image does communicate certain important aspects of a person's character...but, really who cares what she is wearing. I suppose I am guilty of contributing to this by sitting here watching...