Christmas

I've been so bad at updating this blog.  Things have just been so busy here but it's a good busy! We enjoyed a really cold day yesterday and snowfall for about a half hour.  It didn't stick but none the less was really fun to see.  Definitely makes it feel like Christmas!  

Kara is talking like crazy and it amazes us how much to picks up on.  We are starting to learn what we can and can't say in front of her.   She decided she can climb out of her crib, resulting in a black and blue eye the other day.  The transition to a big bed will definitely be happening soon but Mommy is not looking forward to that!  She also figured out how to get on the barstools and onto the counter which is very scary to see, so we may be saying goodbye to the barstools soon too.  

I'm in the third trimester now which seems crazy!  I'm still feeling really good so I'm thankful for that.   Tom finally went to a Dr. appt yesterday with me so he got to see the baby.  My Dr. does ultrasounds at every visit which is kind of fun but hard when you don't want to know what the sex is!  The baby is weighing at about 3 lbs according to the Dr. and everything looks good.  We feel so blessed!  

Happy Halloween

I would have to say that Kara was the cutest little Dutch girl ever!  After Kara realized the attention she was getting with her cute hat on, she decided it wasn't so bad to wear it.  It never lasted long but at least we got some fun pictures of her in it!  

Kara, Dayna, and David went trick or treating to some of the houses nearby.  Kara wasn't so sure about it after the first house we went to the neighbor lady was dressed like a witch and bats came screaming out above our heads, of course making Kara cry.  Poor little girl, it was scary!  So the next few houses she cried when someone tried putting candy in her bag but quickly figured out it wasn't such a bad thing.  Maybe she thought they were trying to take out the candy?  It's funny how quickly she realized what candy was.  Good thing she's forgotten about it today! 

Kara showing off her new boots that she gets to wear to church.  If only she left them on for more than 10 minutes! 

More "mum mums"  (aka pumkins) pictures taken at a local garden nursery.  

It finally feels like Fall!

Today we took Kara to a pumpkin patch.  It finally feels like Fall so why not?!  I'm sure we'll go again but it seemed like a fun outing today.  Kara was more interested in the the bed of corn and cotton seed that they had but none the less, we got a few fun pictures!  

I know it's been so long since I've updated this blog.  It's so hard lately to sit by the computer for more then 5 minutes without Kara getting into every possible drawer or climbing on top of the desk and actually sitting on my keyboard!  So I'll try to give you a quick update on what's happening here!  I've been feeling really good lately so I've been busy painting some bedrooms and working a few extra days.  Work is going great and am really thankful I found that job.  It's perfect for a Mom with a 1 year old and one on the way!  Tom is enjoying the dairy life and is very busy with that.  We have three weddings to look forward to in the next 6 months, Tom's three brothers are all engaged, so we begin with one in two weeks out in Milwaukee.  We are really looking forward to heading out there, especially during this time of year!   Kara on the other hand just keeps on going and is one active little girl.  She talks all the time now and is learning new words every day and most of the time everything begins with Mom or Mommy, like she has a story to tell me. She's actively climbing onto everything but surprisingly, she is very cautious about getting back down....thank goodness!  I love this stage though, well I've loved them all, but just how quick she picks up on things truly amazes me.  I definitely need break time once Tom gets home from work!   Here are just a few random pictures of her this past week.  

Kara's new face, well Daddy taught her that. 

Imitating Daddy!

She loves to eat her snacks in her new rocking chair.  

For those of you that knew me growing up, I always walked on my tippy toes.  I see Kara doing this all the time now!  

Week with the family!

Last week all of Tom's family was able to get together for the first time since Christmas.  Lots have changed since, Andrew was born and 3 of Tom's brothers are engaged.  So the family is growing!  The cousins all had a great time together playing in Grandma's pool.  Kara likes to test me by the pool, she walks right along the edge and once in a while dips her feet in.  I'm surprised she hasn't fallen in yet.  On Thursday we went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium which was a lot of fun.  So here are just a few pictures of this past week.  

I also started work a few weeks ago and I am really enjoying it.  I'm working in the recovery room and only working 8 hour shifts instead of 12.  I'll probably just work 1-2 days a week which will be perfect!  It's a lot different than the ER but it's a good different.  The people I work with are so nice and mostly Christians which is a HUGE change from my last job.  Hopefully I continue to like it! 

 Also I'm sure you all know that Tom and I are expecting another baby due around February 25!  So I have about 6 months to prepare for that and then things will get a little crazier.  We feel so blessed though!  Kara I'm sure will have a little hard time adjusting, she's definitely spoiled being the only one around.  I like to think she is preparing herself because lately she is obsessed with babies and walks around with her doll almost all day.  She even insists on bringing it to bed.  She can have her baby and I'll have mine!  

A first time for everything!

For the first time tonight Kara told me "no."  I know this is the beginning of it all but it kind of took me by surprise.  She was pretty crabby this evening and the routine is bath before bedtime.  Well lately she hates the bath, she stands at the edge with her head hanging over trying to get out.  It's very frustrating.  Regardless everytime I say lets go take a bath she heads right to the stairs and starts heading to the bathroom.  Well tonight when I said, "lets go take a bath," she flat out shook her head and said "NO" and walked the other way.  Little stinker!!  I know there is so much more to come but the first time is kind of shocking yet funny.  

This is Kara's surpised look.  She does it all the time, when she drops something, hears something new, and even when she toots!  It's quite entertaining.

Kara loves to walk around the dairy.  She likes to moo at the cows!

Well it's almost been a month since we've moved already.  It goes by fast!  Tom's busy working on the dairy now and we are adjusting to the new lifestyle.  He's putting in long days, everyday, so that takes a little getting used too.  I'm just thankful I'm not the one waking up at 5am every morning!  I'm still looking for a job but there is just not a lot out there right now.  So hopefully something comes up.  Kara is doing great and loves to jabber now.  She has a lot to say I think! She is a little social bug too and says "hi" to everyone now.  I almost would rather not take her to the grocery store just because I can't get out of there without talking to 25 random people.  I have to say it is very cute though.  She definitely is not afraid of anyone right now.  

 Last week I made cookies and she thoroughly enjoyed watching t

hem in the oven and LOVED the cookie

 dough.  That was a mis

take to start!   

This is one of Kara's 10 whining faces.  It's the most pathetic look ever and it doesn't work!

We've moved!

Sorry it has taken forever to update!  We have officially moved and we are busy getting settled in the new house.  So far the we have adjusted very well and we are loving our new home.  The move went very smooth other then the fact it was A LOT of work!  Thanks to everyone who helped, we couldn't have done it without you!  It's been so wonderful having family close by now.  Kara is really getting to know her Grandparents which is so great.  

Kara has adjusted very well and was very busy exploring the new house the first week.  We have stairs now which really made me nervous at first but thanks to Grandma K, she taught her how to go down on her tummy the day we moved in.  So that's been a relief!  She still likes to go upstairs when I'm not looking and then I hear her little feet upstairs.  She's very very active and it's hard to keep track of her!  I pretty much had no choice but to unpack as soon as possible just so she would stop getting into everything.   

Here are some recent pictures of Kara from the past few days.  I know some of you would love to see pictures of the house but I don't really want to advertise my house to some stranger out there!  That just means you'll have to come visit and see! 

 Tom and his brothers had to get the eliptical upstairs.  This is the most heavy and awkward thing ever!  I thought for sure this thing would fall on someone.  

This is supposed to be Kara's new play area, it's actually supposed to be a formal dining room.  I have yet to see Kara play in there for more than 2 minutes!  

Kara and Bruin busy exploring.

Kara's favorite spot, the middle of the stairs.

The people that lived in this house before us left this fun sandbox. Tom insisted this was a litter box but after some thinking, why would this huge litter box have a lid that went over it?  Plus we found a bag of play sand next to.  

Good bye party!

Last Friday night our friends here threw us a good bye party before we move.  I was kind of dreading it because I didn't want to say goodbye quite yet!   We are going to miss all of them so much but hopefully we'll still see them here and there.  We had a great night and we were all very busy keeping track of the kids.  Thanks to everyone that helped, it was so special to have everyone together before we leave. We have truly been blessed by all of the friendships we've made here.   

All the girls together!

Kara enjoying a watermelon.  Kara decided to sit in a puddle so her outfit got dirty pretty quick that night.  I blame that one on Daddy!  

Late Birthday Pics

Last weekend we went up to my parents to have a little birthday party for Kara with the family. It was fun to have most of the cousins there but we definitely missed Ryan, Jenny and her new cousin Andrew.....and we missed Grandma K. too!   We actually got a picture of all of them together!  Kara is walking all over now and I feel like she's about ready to run.  It's amazing how fast she can get away from me now!

Dayna and Kara kept hugging eachother, it was adorable!

Kara's 1st Birthday!

Wow, my baby is 1 year old today!  People always say to enjoy it because it goes so fast and it sure does!!  We had a great day today, Kara was even excited as she decided to wake up at 5:45am this morning.  She must have sensed it was the big day or something!  Her party started at 10am and my house turned into complete chaos as  14 kids under the age of 3 were in my house!  It went very well though and I'm glad I did it.  We had a great time and after about 2 1/2 hours the kids were done I think.  Kara fell asleep instantly after they all left.  There was no way we were going to get all of the kids together to take a picture so I took a few action shots!  Overall we had a great day and we especially thank our Heavenly Father above for such a beautiful and healthy child and the wonderful year He has given us!  God is so great!!

I let Kara have at it with a cupcake.  She was very clean with it, she doesn't like sticky fingers... I understand!  

Brayden was opening Kara's gift from him while Kara was busy opening up the card. 

 It was safest to have the older kids eat their cupcakes outside, even though it felt like a 100 degrees out there! 

Look Who's Walking?!

Over the weekend Kara decided to start taking steps and each day she's doing more and more.  It's so exciting and so adorable!  I didn't think she would be walking by her 1st Birthday and I think she will be!  We have a fun week ahead, a birthday party tomorrow morning at 10am with her little friends and another small party for her on Saturday at my parents for just the family.  It should be fun....probably more fun for me as she has no clue what's going on!  

Swimming

We went to our friend Eda's today to go swimming.   Kara is a little fish and she loved it!!  She was in the water for almost 3 hours.  Mommy loved it as well since I got to float and get a nice tan!  

Addison Brock, Rhett and Kara.  Kara would not just sit so Rhett had to hold her.