Daddy Must Need Blessings

Last night we said a family prayer. Kora was saying it and Kelly was helping her. Here is how the prayer went:

Kelly: "Heavenly Father, Thank you for this day"

Kora: "Father, Thank You for Day"

Kelly: "Please bless the Prophet,"

Kora: "Bless Prophet...and Daddy"

Kelly: "Please bless our Bishop"

Kora: "Bless Bishop...and Daddy"

Kelly: " Please watch over our family"

Kora: "Watch our family...and Daddy"

Kelly: " In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen"

Kora: "Amen"

There was more but that was my favorite portion. Kora is such a Daddy's girl. She loves her Daddy. A few nights ago she was crying so I went into her room to calm her down. She immediately told me "No, I want Daddy!" I guess she knows that if Daddy comes in there's a small chance she may not have to go to bed, where if Mommy comes in there is no chance. Kelly went in to calm her down (and didn't let her stay up) but the crying stopped and she eventually fell asleep. Ever since Kora was a little baby she has always been a Daddy's girl. During the day she's all mine but when Daddy's around I'm pretty much chopped liver.

Wanted...

Position: Kitchen Towel Replacer

Duties: Pick up kitchen towels and replace them neatly folded on island rack.

Hours: 24 hours/7 days a week.

Break times: 10:00am and 2:00pm (also known as Mylie's nap times)

Pay: Gratitude of a very thankful Mother

Additional Comments: Yes, this really is an all day task. I can almost never go into my kitchen and find my towels where they are supposed to be. If Mylie is in the Kitchen while I'm cooking or cleaning up the kitchen, the towels are on the floor. There have been times I have folded them and put them back and turn my back no more than 1 minute and they are already on the floor again. She wont even be around when I put them back up. I think they call to her..."pull me down, pull me down, pull me down."

Culprit: Yes, she may be cute but kitchen towels beware!

Death Grip

Kelly and I went out to the Improv on Friday night to see John Pinette. We celebrated Valentines day a day earlier because tickets were cheaper. We had a really good time and John Pinette was hilarious. It was nice to spend time with my hubby. Thanks Kelly!

While we were out, the kids spent time with my parents. They ended up going to my parents ward Valentines party. Each child brought home a red heart balloon. Originally they only got one for Hunter and Kora thinking Mylie wouldn't want one. I guess Mylie had gotten a hold of Kora's balloon and when they tried to take it away from her she refused to let it go. Once they pried it out of her death grip she cried...and cried...and cried until they gave it back to her and got Kora another one. When we arrived to pick them up we had to take the balloon out of her hand to buckle her in her car seat. She wasn't a happy camper. She has since claimed Hunter's balloon as hers as well and crawls around the apartment with one in each hand. Surprisingly never letting go. Proof is this last picture below. She fell asleep holding onto her balloon.

Is it Tomorrow Yet?

Kora has been talking so much lately that it's almost shocking. When I used to take her for her exams the doctor would ask if she was saying so many words and she was never speaking as many words as she should be. Those charts always drive me crazy because my kids never seem to be doing what all the other kids are doing. Especially when it comes to gaining weight and getting taller. It wasn't until she was 18 months that she was actually putting 2-4 words together at a time. She completely skipped the one word speaking and went straight to speaking partial sentences. It was amazing but showed me that those charts are just a bunch of hooey. Kids will go at their own pace!

Within the last few weeks she has been talking like crazy. Her favorite phrase lately is "Wha 'bout ah-morrow Mom?" Usually she'll say this after I say "No" to something. When she asks if she can do it ah-morrow (tomorrow) the answer is usually a yes or a maybe...but not a no. She talks so much, I just love it. Nothing is cuter than hearing your little ones talking. I love it when she tries to explain something because she tilts her head and shakes it a little as if she's explaining that this is the way things are and she is right no matter what. Sometimes you just want to nod and say "Okay" because the little head shake is just so convincing.

As I am writing this she has walked over to me, smiling and said "I'm wearing your shoe." The little stinker wanted to get chased...and so I'm done chasing and back to typing. I guess what's so amazing about her talking so much is that she actually never really talked that much. She did when she wanted to, but never really wanted to. I guess she has decided it's time to talk.

Dear Mylie,

Exactly one year ago today I was getting ready to go to the hospital to deliver you. I was scared to death because I would be delivering you Cesarean. You were due January 28th but like all delivery dates it's just an estimate. I had a doctors appointment a few days after your due date and found out that you had turned breech. This meant that a normal delivery wouldn't be an option. So, there I lay in the hospital bed waiting for your planned birth on February 2nd, 2008. Everything about the experience was frightening. The cold room, tying my arms down, the doctors covered from head to toe in blue/green suits, the blood tests to see if I was able to have a spinal. The hardest part was having to be separated from your Dad while I was given the spinal and prepped for surgery. When he returned I was able to breath again. He was my strength throughout the procedure. The moment they cut into my stomach your little hand popped through. The doctors told me that because you decided to do that it made the process of getting you out all that much harder.

Once they finally got you out I didn't get to see you until they cleaned you up, weighed you and made sure that you were healthy. It was almost agonizing to not be able to see you. All I could do was hear you crying. When they finally showed you to me I only got to take a brief glimpse as they put you to my face and then walked you out of the room. Your Dad went with you and got to spend the first few hours with you while I was taken to a recovery room. Slipping in and out of consciousness I recall thinking about you and remembering your little face. After two agonizing hours I was taken to my room and the nurse sent for you and Dad. When they brought you in and I got to hold you and see you I was finally at peace. I held your tiny little body in my arms and knew that you were mine and I instantly fell in love.

This last year has been interesting. Your first few months of life had been a little difficult. You cried a lot. I believe that you may have been slightly colicky for a few months. After those months passed you had immediately transformed into the perfect, sweet, happy little baby. You have brought much happiness into my life and your Dad's life. I am so glad that you are my daughter and look forward to watching you grow and develop your sweet little personality. Just last week you took your first steps. I am not anxious for you to grow up too quickly but I am excited to be here with you and for you as you experience all the new things that your little body can do. I can't wait to hear you talk, see you walk and watch you play. Always know that we love you. Happy 1st Birthday my sweet little Mylie!

Love Always,

Mom

Kelly's New Hobby

Since visiting Bryan in Arizona the beginning of this month Kelly has developed a new hobby. There is a new store in the Ontario Mills Mall called the Lego store. It's actually pretty cool. It's amazing what they can do with Lego's now a days. When we visited Bryan he had put together the Death Star, hope I got that name right. It was actually pretty amazing and took him I believe 22 hours to put together. Kelly had purchased Anakin's Jedi Starfighter while in Arizona. The picture above is Darth Vader's Tie-Fighter that we got a few days ago. With the kids "help" I think it took him a little over an hour to put together.

I had to go to the grocery store last night and when I came home Kelly had finished building his Tie-Fighter and was playing war with Hunter who had his Batman Helicopter. The little red spots on the Tie-Fighter is actually a gun that shoots out when you push a button and Kelly...err, Darth Vader was attacking Batman with his gun. It was funny to see but also very cute. Wish I took a picture of them playing.

Few Weeks in Review

The last few weeks have been somewhat of a blurr. The excited energy of Christmas had come and gone so fast that we almost missed the opportunity to enjoy the season. To enjoy the lights, the shopping and the festive moods of those around us. The week before Christmas however seemed to put us in a Christmas mode as we prepared to enjoy the day that so rapidly approached. We had the pleasure to see family from out of state and enjoy the company and friendship of both families that visited. While we were enjoying family on Christmas Eve we had a brief visit from Santa himself who told the kids that if they went to bed when they got home he would make another stop at their house. He was true to his word for when the kids woke up he had brought Hunter a bike, Kora a new baby doll (daw-wee) and Mylie a musical train. It was a very fun day that was unfortunately hampered by rain. Hunter had to wait till the day after Christmas to finally break his bike in.

The week following Christmas was also a blurr. In fact, I can't really recall much of what happened. Kelly had 5 days off for Christmas, which we mostly lounged around and enjoyed each other's company.

On New Years Eve Kelly flew up to Arizona to visit his brother Bryan and go to a Bowl game while the kids and I drove up. It took me almost 8 hours to get up there. With traffic, 4 stops and losing an hour it really added up. When we finally got there the kids were so anxious to get out of the car and play with their cousin Bryce that they almost made it to midnight to ring in the new year. The adults had a different plan. We put the kids to bed and played Rock Band until a little after midnight. We were in the middle of "Highway to Hell" as midnight came upon us. We had a wonderful time visiting the B Kerr's, so much so that it made it hard to leave because we were having such a good time with them.

So, here we are in 2009 with much to anticipate. Mylie will be turning 1 in February. We have a new niece to be born in May. Kora will be starting Preschool in August. Hunter will be starting Kindergarten in September. We hope that each of you had a wonderful Christmas and New Years and are excited to hear about your 2009 adventures as we share you ours.

Happy New Year!