Rock Face.

Happy Thanksgiving!!  Hope everyone had a great holiday and a great long weekend.  We got lucky and had perfect weather driving both ways, but Dominic was very disappointed with the lack of snow.  First things first though, as much as Thanksgiving is great, it is now over.  So that means... time for Christmas stuff!! Starting with Kayden... =D 

She tolerated the hat pretty well.  The reindeer outfit, she wasn't so sure of.  But I loved it! =D

Kayden did really well on the drive up... and back for that matter.  We stopped to feed and change her a couple times, and then stopped on the North side of Denver to get a bite to eat and let her stretch for awhile.  I would say over the entire trip driving up and back she cried maybe an hour and a half.  Not bad for about 16 hours of traveling.  Traveling with Dominic is the best, so I'm glad to know that it is great with Kayden as well.  We spent a lot of the trip doing this.  Playing with Grandma and Grandpa.  Kayden had a blast.

She was just in a great mood one night when we were going somewhere..snapped this one.  Little cutie.

One night while we were up there, Grandma and Grandpa babysat.  We took a date night in Denver.  On the way down we stopped at a strip mall to go to a movie.  The movie wasn't for awhile, so we went to a restaurant nearby and were pleased to find that it was happy hour! =) (This is very exciting for us because it is very rare that we get to go to a movie in the first place, much less be able to go get a couple drinks and walk to the movie!  Dominic was very happy about the situation! =) )  We enjoyed our grown-up movie, and went to Cheesecake Factory for dinner (my fav!)  

 We got lucky that hotels were having holiday specials, so ended up getting to stay in a fancy hotel--whoo hoo!  17th floor, not the best picture, but very exciting! 

Playing "Don't touch your toesies to the lava".  Kayden has no idea what's going on of course, but she's very good at the game! ;-)  And moments like these just make me so happy that I have Dominic has the father of my daughter.  He is such a great dad!

Grandma got her a new toy while we were up there.  She loves these.  I love this series.  Focus Kayden...

Go for it...

Notice the drool.

Om nom nom!!

So precious how she's staring up at him.

Went to a hockey game while we were up there! Go Eagles! 3-0 =)

She loooved this game on Thanksgiving morning.  She would squeal and squeal.  We could hear her all over the house while the rest of us were getting ready

.

This picture does not do it justice.  She was extremely happy.  =)

Sweet Leo on Thanksgiving. 

 Four Generations.  That is wild to me.  Wish Grandma was here though.

I love this picture of Grandma!  She is the best.

The rest of these are from our "First Family Vacation Night".  Yes...technically it was the last night of our vacation but it was still our first night on vacation as a family by ourselves.  And it was Kayden's first night in a hotel...and it was...lots of new stuff ok ;-).  We played and played on the bed in the hotel room.  She loooves to play with her Daddy!  

When we went up for our trip in May for the baby shower, we stayed in Denver for a few days on the way back and went to the Cheesecake Factory.  Then we went to Colorado Springs for a few days, and went to Joe's Crabshack.  So we did the same again.  =)

We used to drive back and forth from New Mexico to Colorado, Colorado to New Mexico, when I was a kid.  We started this when we were really little, visiting grandparents in both of the states, and then driving back and forth between Mom and Dad's during the summers and such.  I always loved this freakin awesome ice cream cone.  I now have the authority to decide to stop (instead of begging, when we had just stopped to get gas, etc.)  and boy do I love that authority!  ;-)  I think it's cool.  And I think Kayden will think it's cool too.. someday.  Haha!  I am trying to find fun things that she will like while she's young, and remember when she's older.  I love traditions.  And now I get to make things a tradition.  Love it!  When we were driving back, I caught myself thinking about how lucky I am.  Kayden was in the back sleeping like an angle, and Dominic was in the front lip sync rockin.  He's rockin out and rockin out and looks over to me and cracks up.  He then says, "That's my rock face!"  Noooo! ;-)  He is such a goofer.  We ate junk food the whole way home and reminisced on the fun we had all week.

This was from before we left.  Kayden and Uncle Chris.  I love this one.

These three always make the best photos for some reason.  I really enjoyed photographing them in San Francisco last year.  These are from last weekend, having a ball.  =)

It has been crazy trying to get back into the swing of things.  The house is a crazy mess, half way decorated, half way just has boxes of decorations everywhere.  Something keeps coming up (food ;-) ) so that we "will get the tree tomorrow" since Sunday.  But we are going today.  Seriously.  And we were going to get one from Wal-mart, but they are wrapped up and you can't tell what you're getting.  What fun is that.  Wow we've decided that we will go to a little place and pick one out.  So it works out even better.  Hopefully soon we will make another tradition to go cut a tree down each year.  But we'll hafta work on that one =).  

Kayden has been loving her Bumbo.  And her ladybugs still too.  She really loves to sit up and play with other toys now too though.  Grandma got her a little hippo squeezy squeeker and she loves to suck on those ears!  We also got her a froggy, she loves to suck on his feet.  Today we watched Baby Einstein on YouTube.com.  (I looked into getting those for her, but they're outrageously expensive, so youtube it is! haha).  She was entertained for awhile, but soon was over it.  I'm not sure if it was the video, or that she was tired.  Maybe we'll try again tomorrow.

I've been working on many projects too, one of which that had to be done by today (December 1st)  for Dominic.  Hence why this has gotten pushed back as well.  I will post some pictures of those soon possibly.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hahaha, oh Kayden.  We've been spending time up at Grandma's in Fort Collins.  Shrek came on TV and Kourt ran to get this Build-a-Bear hat that she has.  Just so happens, Build-a-Bears, and Kayden, have about the same shaped head ;-).  Love this of Donkey, and that face kills me.  She's like, "alright Mom, what is this crap??"

  

This is an old one, from Halloween.  All of these pictures are from my camera phone--I forgot the cord for the camera -> computer, so camera phone has to do for the moment.  Anyways, this is from Halloween week, carving pumpkins with Uncle Chris, and our friends Kalen and Emily.  We had many obstacles this night, first including Emily's pumpkin rolling off this counter and breaking into many little pieces.  We pieced it together with toothpicks, and got all set up.  We finally got all of our pumpkins and all of us, all squished into this little area.  Ready to go?  We thought so.... turns out..camera was dead.  So we got this picture, on my phone, with Dominic and me both cracking up so hard that our heads are down because of all the obstacles we were having.  Turns out, I love this picture.  I think it shows how much fun we were having, with everyone squished and laughing.  Now that it is Thanksgiving, I might as well be cheesy, and say that I am so thankful to have these people in my life.  They are the perfect mixture of family, friends, support, laughter, shoulders, hugs, memories, and more.  

The rest are from my camera phone as well, over the past few months.  Not the best quality but oh well.  

Kayden playing with her toy in her carseat. 10/4/10

Precious baby.  10/6/10

 

I hate this picture of my face, but I have to keep it.  I looove when she snuggles like this with me.  She's starting to want to hold her head up when I hold her these days, and will rarely snuggle my shoulder anymore.  So I cherish when she is in a snugly mood =)

Love this one.  10/13/10

This goofy ball was making these funny faces on 10/13/10

Sorry these pictures are kind of irrelevant...I'm glad I got them off of my phone though.  And now I will be more inclined to take them, knowing I can actually get them to my computer.  

We're all in jammies watching the parades.  Kourt is baking cookies.  Daddy and I just gave little missy a bath and soon we will head to Great Grandma Knox's for delish food!!  Kayden's first holiday season.  I am so excited! =)  I can't help but to be already thinking about Christmas though.. decorations, presents, crafts, etc.  I've got a lot to do!  Ey yi yi!  I should just slow down and enjoy the holiday that is today.  I am so thankful for too many things to list, but I guess I should list a few of them.

I am so so thankful for my Family.  Especially my new family.  I so thankful that I am a Mommy, and a partner to the most amazingly sweet, generous, understanding, patient, smart, witty, whole-hearted, loving, compassionate, studly, (the list could go on) man.  I am so thankful that he is my best friend, and that I get to spend everyday with him.  I am thankful that he came up to Colorado with me for the holiday, I know it is a big deal for him.  I am so thankful for the beautiful house we have, and our great pups.  Thankful for the support we have from our family and friends.  Thankful we are able to come up to Colorado.  Thankful we have all the things that I take for granted--food, heat, blankets, coats, shoes, etc.  Thankful I am able to be with my family for the holidays.  Thankful that Kayden is healthy, thankful everytime she smiles.  Thankful I have such great friends around me.  I am thankful for so much, and have so much to be thankful for, that I could never finish.  But I am so thankful that we are enjoying spending this first holiday season together as a new family!  Many more to come... Yay! =D

Dominic is a trooper with all my crafts, projects, blogging, picture editing and such.  Rarely, very rarely, I can talk him into putting his two cents into it.  Rarely.  He reluctantly agreed to write a lil some'n some'n today, for the holiday spirit and all.  I am just glad we will have a little of his input, when I print this into a book next year, and each year.  (Little does he know he will have to write at least once a year ;-)...thats not so bad dominic... we'll work something out ;-) )  Here goes nothin...lets see what he's got.  

Well lets see here.. Kayla wants me to write about something that I am thankful for.  I am so so thankful for her.  I can not believe all the things she does for me and for us.  She is the best a man could ask for.  I am also so thankful for the most beautiful little girl in the world; Kayden, I love you so much.  My family that I am missing back home for the first time, I love you so much I can't tell you how thankful I am for all of you.  And to my new family that I get to spend Kayden's first Thanksgiving with; I am thankful to be here and so so thankful to be invited into your house to enjoy Thanksgiving together.  And last but not least to all my friends thank you so much for all the support and love you have given to me and my family we love you so much.  Thank you everyone.  Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so impressed!  (And flattered.  You're the best babe.)

We've been enjoying our visit and doing lots of eating, lounging, eating, sleeping, eating, etc.  Those pictures however, are on the camera, and will have to wait until we get home.  Have no fear though, I have pictures of Kayden in Christmas gear, to come tomorrow!! =D  

P.S.  The Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade is playing Christmas music...I'm not the only one excited! =)

Tomorrow is the day.

A few pictures real quick from my moms camera.  The first two when she was down here when Kayden was first born.  And the last one is from her visit last month.

She is preciously sleeping.  She didn't get an afternoon nap today so she is pooped.  As is daddy.  And the dogs.  I'm the only one awake and my mind is running with all the things we need for our first family trip tomorrow.  I like the sound of that -- first family trip.  Nice lil ring to it.  ;-)  We are going to feed her when she wakes up and leave asap so hopefully that will go quickly rather than not.  This should be interesting.. I wonder how much we'll have to stop.  I love road trips.  Especially with Dominic, and now our new family.  =)

Kayden update... hmmm.  I need to weigh her again.  We don't have a scale so it is a special treat when we're at Grandpa Steves lol.  She has been sleeping in our room in a pack and play that has a little bassinet.  She outgrew it =(.  On Wednesday we took the bassinet part out and have her just in her pack and play now.  We've thought about moving her to her room a few times, but it always seems like a bad time...first my Mom was coming, and then Tara and Ryan came, and I didn't want her up there screaming by them.  Now we're going to Colorado and taking the pack and play so... annnnnnd I'm just chicken/just plain don't want to put her in there cause she's my baybay.  I am proud to say that she doesn't sleep in our bed though.  Although she thoroughly enjoys laying in bed with me/us (depending on the day) in the mornings!  She gets so excited.  She has now figered out that she can fit her ENTIRE fist in her mouth.  Loves that too.  Still loves her mobile.  Everytime you go in there to turn it on she squeals with delight! =D  She also has a new love for her ducky that hangs on her carseat.  It has glitter in its belly, feet that crinkle and crunkle, and a handle that vibrates when she pulls it.  I think it might vibrate her whole seat, and she loves that too.  She has a vibrator on her pack and play, and her bouncer, and we got lucky and got a vibrating mattress from Aunt Chris and Uncle Ralph as a gift so that was awesome.  Shout out- thanks guys =).  Love that thing, and so does she.  I don't know how people survive without them!

I always think to myself "I should put that in the blog" about her, and then I forget what it was.  I've gotta find a solution to that.

I got a penguin soap dispenser the other day, and snowmen candle holders today.  I am so excited to put them up, but Mr. Grinch over here says no Christmas stuff til after Thanksgiving.  I understand, but I like to make fun of him because he's so die hard about it.  And just because I like to tease him.  He says the world is forgetting Thanksgiving.  That stores skip it.  Go straight to "Christmas Crap Everywhere". Haha!  That "Soon, they will skip Halloween, and then labor day, and then.. all the holidays and it will just be Christmas all year long."  Don't get me wrong, he loves it when it gets here.  We always have fun getting trees and decorating and apple cider and such, but he is serious about his fear of losing all the holidays haha.  It's ok though, I think it makes me that much more excited about the day after Thanksgiving, for I get to break out allllll da stuff =).  This year it won't be until we get back, but I sure can't wait.

You know what else I can't wait for?  Tomorrow!  See you then Colorado.  Goodnight.

Count Down!

Hahaha!  She is so silly.

"Cut it out mom!!"

Being silly today.  I had her halloween shirt as an undershirt for her today because of our lack of long sleeves.  Anyway, she spit up.  Of course.  So I was in the process of taking the top shirt off and she started cracking me up, so we played with her shirt on her head like this for awhile.

Shoving ALL FOUR fingers in her mouth, like she loves to do.  And this doesn't show best, but she was also reaching for her toesies.  Om nom nom, those fingers are good.

No one ever sees our dogs like this.  And no one probably ever will.  They are only like this with us.  Alone.  No distractions.  No sounds.  No smells.  It is rare, and it is precious.  It is also ruined with the simple sound of a car door, or the latest; the daily squirrel that hangs out on the roof next door, right next to the living room window.  Anyways, our dogs are great.  Even if they are super duper hyper when we have guests.  She is waiting for Dominic to tell her what to do next.  She didn't move. =)

Some from Tara's camera during her visit.  Tara, I had so much fun with you and your delightful hubby. (Yes, that's you Ryan, I had fun with you too. ;-D )  Thank you so much for coming to visit and meet Kayden.  I hope you guys can come back soon and often!

Silly girl!

We picked up Daddy for lunch and met up with Uncle Chris today.  We ate at Lumpy's-a delish burger and fry place here in Albuquerque.  They were taping a Food Network show, Uniting America, or something of the sort.  So that was exciting.  They filmed our table for quit some time--I found this out at the end of the taping, and was probably shoving food in my mouth like a crazy person the whole time.  So keep your eyes peeled--I'll be the fat kid in the corner ;-p.

Tomorrow is "Burrito Nite", aka Thursday.  Then comes Friday.  Then comes Saturday.. which is nice yes, but more importantly.. is the day we go to Coooolorado =D.  See you soon!

Sweet Thang.

Love this face.

Hanging out in her little hoodie.

Not sure about her hat lol.

Not too much going on.  These are from the past few days just hanging out.  Spent Sunday at Grandpa Kitt's watching football and eating =).  Just counting down the minutes til we can go on vacation on Saturday.  The week can't go fast enough.  I can't wait.  First family vacation.  Cheesecake Factory we're on our way!

Kayden's been working on her sitting and talkin a lot.  She still loves her music crib toy and has been playing with her car seat toys more and more.  She loves to watch the dogs, and they love to watch her, so that works out well lol.  She's getting close to sitting up and crawling it seems like.  I better start making sure there's nothing on the floor.  That should be fun & easy with Dozer constantly taking his toys out of the basket.  She still sucks on her fingers like crazy, and sometimes so hard that she'll gag herself.  Gag or not though, she always manages to get extremmmely drooly.  She also has discovered her toes and loves to try to shove them in her mouth too!

Hope everyone has a good week.  I will hopefully find some time to update before/during our trip in between all the packing/fun.  Anyone have any packing tips with an infant for our travels ;-) ?

I ♥ Martha.

Martha Stewart.  She's amazing.  I've come to love to watch her show, which is conveniently on at Kayden's "nap time".  I use "'s because she ultimately decides, but I try to make it a routine.  It makes all the difference in her mood for the rest of her day.  Anyways, a couple of weeks ago she had this Jim guy and his adorable daughter, Allie, come onto the show and make these great pancakes.  I kept thinking and thinking about it and how badly I want to make them for Kayden.  She won't appreciate them yet, but I can hardly wait, so I may just make them for us anyway ;-).  I finally looked him up and found his blog and wanted to post this to 1. remember to make them and all the great ideas he has and 2. to show everyone how cool they are.  Check it out, so cool! =)  He used ketchup bottles and colors everything with jam, fruit, cocoa, etc. but I might have to be lazy and use food coloring.  It's how I roll.

Jim's Pancakes.

Time's a-flyin!

Alright.  I'm a slacker.  Well.. not exactly a slacker, just super busy.  But here's the update.

Halloween! Came and went.  Quickly.  We couldn't figure out costumes for the longest time.  The morning of the 30th (the day we were going to a baby halloween party with our friends), our friend Stephanie, who has a baby boy 5 days younger than Kayden, texted us saying her mom would so kindly make Kayden a little girl toga outfit.  She matched with Isaac, and it was stinkin adorable.  I wish I would have gotten more pictures, especially of them together.  We ended up being Twister, I was the board and Dominic was the spinner.  Also, here's a picture of the pumpkin we carved for Kayden =).  It was one of those that come in a bag of 3/$1 or whatever, I had them out as decoration, and we decided that she must have a pumpkin too!! =)  Not the best carving ever but it did the job ;-).

Here's one of her 3 weeks ago already, trying to sit up.  Not happy about it haha.

And some of Grandma Kristi's visit.

Passed out with Daddy.  I love this one, she looks so comfy with him.

Tummy time and learning to feed herself. =) And just some randoms.

Looove this face. =D Mama loves you punkin.

And this one cracks me up.  Daddy trying to make her do the YMCA. =-p

Her in her new little chair.

And how she feels about her new chair. lol!

Whew.  There's the picture update.  I have got to keep up with this.  We've been very busy lately.

Daddy has been finishing up the YAFL little kid football so we get to spend more time with him which is so great.  He moved up in the company at work and we are so proud!  He has been working so hard, and is sucha trooper.  None to mention the coaching, playing football, housework, baby time, relationship time, friend time, errands, etc.  I don't know how he does it, but he does.  And he deals with me in the mix as well.  We're very proud of him for working so hard at everything he does, as well as being the best man, and daddy ever!

We had Grandma Kristi here last time I posted, and really enjoyed that time with her.  It was so good to have her here.  We just did lots of hanging out, and shopping, and snuggling ;-).  Grandma would barely put Kayden down.  The visit went fast, but we are excited we get to go up there in just a couple weeks!  Kayden's first trip =).  The drive should be interesting...

Halloween was fun.  We went to the little baby party and enjoyed our first venture into the new world of baby parties haha.  There were a couple older little girls there, that made me very excited for what is to come.

We weighed Kayden on Oct. 31st and she was 13.5 pounds!! I can't believe it!  And measured her today-24 inches!  She is growing so so fast.  She's been practicing her sitting up and trying to crawl and roll over.  She's too much fun when she gets talkin and giggling.  I need to figure out how to post videos soon.  Not much else is new.  Just been hanging out and enjoying our time together.  I will have to go back to work.. asap really.  And school hopefully soon too, so that will make things crazy.  Im sad to leave her. =(

I can't wait to go on our first trip as a family.  We will have many obstacles I'm sure.  Tara and Ryan also came to visit last week.  It was so much fun to have them as well.  Lots of shopping, and walking, and eating, and laughing.  They're too funny.  I had obstacles while they were here too--making me sure we will have many on our first trip.  We were at the Mall and I quickly learned that they only have the auto sinks that only give you freezing water.  Why is this a problem you ask?  Ice cold water sure doesn't work for a bottle.  Neither does absolutely no water, which is what I came across at the Uptown (outdoor) Mall.  Anyways, we got it figured out with the help of the sweet lady at the coffee shop at the Mall, and the nice friendly old man at the Apple Store.

Anyways, I'm babbling.  Sorry such a long post. And sorry I'm such a slacker.  Off to hang out with Uncle Chris and play some Mario Wii.  Soon Kayden will be able to play soon =).  Happy almost humpday.. we're almost half way through the week!