He's a great one. So is she.

 Just a few quick ones from my phone lately.  Don't have any new one's on the camera yet, since I did the world's longest blog yesterday.  Just a few of her playing with toys.. as that is what she is usually doing if she's not sleeping or eating.  =)  She absolutely loves this frog.  Her face lights up every time.  It is connected to those little hook things, that allow you to move toys to hook onto pretty much anything.  (Totally amazing).  I hook them on her toy for the floor, her car seat, the top cabinets and put her in her bumbo when I'm cleaning the kitchen and they dangle.  I put them all over, anyway, they get moved around, so when lil froggy comes into sight from where ever it was last, she is very excited! =)

When we went Christmas Tree Shopping, we thought it was going to be freezing, so we tried to put her in this.  She quickly got frustrated because it was so hot while we were still in the house, trying to get her in her car seat.  We ended up taking her out of it because her car seat had this padding this-for when she was a newborn- to help support her head.  I finally took that out of the car seat the other day, so we'll have to try this cool little baggy thing again.  I had to take a quick picture with my phone before we took her out of it though.  Too cute!!  I want to go some where freezing just so we can really use this.  I love how I caught her looking up at him too.  That look she does is precious.

This was a couple weeks ago, watching educational YouTube.com Videos =).  

And this little cutie.  I just had to put this one up to help myself remember just how sweet, and handy, and amazing he is.  He even is smiling when he's doing things that I know aren't his favorite, but he does it.  =)  Up on the roof doing one of the million things he has to do on the roof.  (We've had a LOT of issues with the roof lately, not to mention getting the cooler ready for summer (when I was a crazy hot preggo lady), and getting the cooler ready for winter.  This guys is such a trooper.  Gotta love him! =) )

I've been in a mood of admiration towards him lately.  I don't know if that's the right word exactly...but I just think he's incredible.  I feel like we just started dating again for some reason.  He makes me so giggly, and silly.  Anyways, the story I am getting to, that is another one to add to the list, just happened today.  It's Friday, it's been a busy day for both of us.  A busy week, month, year.  Anyways, Kayden was in quite the mood.  Quite the horrific mood.  To say the least.  He was being so patient (as always) and trying to put her down (for a looong time--she was being very difficult).  I had just been sitting in the living room, doing...nothing particular.  Enjoying the quiet finally, I suppose.  And he came out, relieved, and then suddenly...embarrassed.  He quickly looked for the monitor and sheepishly asked, "Were you listening to me??"  Right away I knew; I wished I had been.  I asked what he was up to? (That silly goose is usually up to something, I've learned this.)  He replied with a big 'ol smile, "I was singing to her. =D" And without me even having to ask...he broke out in example.  "You are my sunshiiine, my little sunshiiine..."  Boy I love this guy =).  I am so lucky to have him as the father of my daughter.

Once again, I had something else I was going to write about but now I've forgotten.  We've decided we're starting a new tradition.  (We were reading a list of them, and picked this one)  That each year we will get little missy a special ornament and jammies.  I think it should work out well =) because we will be having family day on Christmas Eve.  "She" will open her jammies on Christmas Eve evening, put them on, and put her ornament on the tree.  This will hopefully happen every year, and when she moves out she'll have her own collection to start her tree with. =)  I think it's a cute idea.  That and that when we have more little kiddos, I think it's a fun idea to have them all sleep in the same room on Christmas Eve, and they must complete the puzzle we give them before they can wake us up for presents. =) (I'm getting the 5000 pieces, I don't care if they're only 4.  Haha, juuuust kidding.)  I am very excited to start having these family traditions, and fond memories.  I hope the kids think they are fond memories.  I suppose time will tell...

Family trip to River of Lights.

Oy freakin vey.  I have a hard time starting posts.  I feel like I will get interrupted...or something else comes up.  Anyway.  I have like a zillion pictures to post so here it goes.

We went to the River of Lights this weekend.  It is so cool.  But soo packed.  So tricky with a stroller, thank goodness Dominic is so patient.  We went and got hot chocolate =) but it was gone by the time we got through traffic.  We parked, and rode the little train that goes between the zoo and aquarium and botanical gardens.  Kayden's first train.  That was fun.  It was freezing so we had to bundle her up, and I of course, had to take a million pictures of her sucking on her fluffy glove.  She would suck on it and then realize that it in fact was not her fist, but a floof of fur, and make the funniest faces.

What are we doing mom??

Here's just some of the chickadee playing with her toys.  She's a crack up these days.

She has to have a little blanket folded up underneath so she can reach to bounce.  She loves this thing.  It makes lights and noise, and is very entertaining =)

I really wonder how I will feel when I look back and read these in the later years.  Anyway.  Here's a couple "samples" of the awesome ornaments that Dominic's mom made.  Sadly, many are wounded, and I am on repair duty.  I need to get on that.  They are too cool.

 

And our tree topper/angel.  In loving memory.  (I wish I had met her, but I hear a lot a great things about her)

And our little family trio of snowmen.  I love them.

We also have all the other home-made ornaments from my room-mate days with Carol, from Grandma's, from friends, from all over.  I just thought, I need to take a picture of the whole tree!  Silly me!  Probably on Christmas.  We have decided we're staying here for Christmas (sorry Colorado family).  Dominic was a trooper and traveled to Colorado for Thanksgiving.  It was his first holiday away from his family and I know it was really hard on him.  (I saw those tears filling up your eyes when you said you missed them babe.)  I couldn't do it to him two holidays in a row.  He was trying to be a trooper again, in planning traveling again, figuring out what we're doing, brainstorming ways to make it all work.  (Dominic's dad's bday is on the 23rd, and Annette's is on the 24th, so it adds to the calender as well.)  He is so sweet, and always tries to make sure I'm happy.  But I know that it was hard.  And he compromised with me about Thanksgiving, so I can compromise with him on this one.  I also want to have our own family time, as our new family.  We've decided we are going to have our own little family time on Christmas eve.  All day.  =)  I can't wait.  

 Cool, now that all the ornaments are documented.  Haha.  This past weekend we enjoyed a rare moment of everybody in the bed.  Every body.  Literally.  Usually Dominic is ready and rearing to go, or Kayden is hungry, or ready to be changed, or the dogs need to go potty, or we have somewhere to go so we've gotta get showers, or...something.  So I love the moments when we can just hang out in bed.

Ohh the puppy!  She loves to grab and yank on them right now.

 Got her! =) Riley is so pretty.  And sweet.

I took this last week I think.  She is 1. SITTING THERE BY HERSELF! and not toppling over.

And 2.  She looks tiny on that big 'ol couch, and adorable.

This is a craft I did for Dominic.  Each day of December has a love note, a service (backrubs, etc), or a date (River of Lights, Christmas movie night, Christmas Light tour (driving around w/ hot chocolate as a family) etc.)  I took a picture of it because a blog that I follow was accepting pictures of Christmas Crafts as an entry to a contest.  Unfortunately I freakin missed the time.  Oh well.  We also have a ribbon of cards that have been sent to us.  I love it.  (Thank you those that have sent us cards and presents!!  I will try my hardest on Thank Yous, but right now I am focused on Christmas cards, and getting pictures out, so know that I am thankful.  Thank you.)

Our family stockings.  =)  I love the look of this, and the sound of that.  I used left over glitter glue from last year and didn't have enough, so used silver and blue for the dogs', and I'm not very fond of them.  I'll have to make new one's next year.  Also, if we ever have anymore kids, we'll have to venture out of Walmart apparently for a different design.  We now have them all.  Dominic said they need to make a reindeer or something.  How can they only have three designs? ;-)

Uncle Chris came over last night for tacos.  I was taking pictures, as usual.  Dominic told him to "pinch her cheeks a little so she'll smile".  This is what we got.  HAHA!

This little guy.  Ohhhh, this guy.  He's a rascal.  The picture is bad because I had to zoom so much.  But anyways, this little fellow terrorizes the dogs.  Every single day he comes up to the neighbors roof that is right outside the living room window and has a staring contest with the dogs.  They hate him so much.  He knows what he's doing.  And what he's doing is making my life more loud lol.

Kayden is about to wake up from a nap, I have a feeling.  The dogs have been sleeping in her room with her.  They follow her everywhere.  She is getting really good at sitting up, not quite there though.  We took pictures this past Sunday, and she is freakin adorable.  I can't post them yet though, because last time I posted them right away, and no one was even excited when I gave them the actual picture.  So build up the anticipation people.  You won't get a picture until you're dying to have one this time suckers.  ;-)  I've been working on all my projects, and Christmas presents still.  I do this to myself every year.  I can't believe Christmas is only 10 days away!  And the year is almost over.  That is so crazy.  2011!

Dominic is at work and has a football game later tonite so we are just hanging out in our pjs today.  It's super gloomy and rainy out.  Gross.  I stay inside if I have the choice.  And I do today.  So that is what we will do.  I'm working on starting a new blog, about my traveling, so I can make it into a book, and just have it all put together to remember them.  I will try my hardest not to let it put a damper on this blog.  I may need to start another one just as a journal ... sometimes I catch myself typing things on this blog that probably shouldn't be on this blog.  I am getting very stressed and bothered by all the hands pulling my arms in opposite directions.  Especially with the holidays.  We will, obviously, try our hardest to make everybody happy.  But this year, I am determined to make our family happy first.  Kayden, Dominic, and me.  It's a lot to handle, a lot of pressure.  Hopefully the holidays will go over smoothly.  If not, next year we will go to Costa Rica and dissapear.  ;-)  But seriously.  Not sure what else there is to update... I'm having writers block.  

Toodles.

Video Day!! =D

Oh my!! She started laughin today! =D  Sadly, you can't hear her very well on this video..but it was the best!  Hopefully I'll get some of her louder soon.

Dang it!! I tried to post one of her jibber-jabberin today.  She's a crack up.  She loves to gurgle right now.  Buuut..apparently it doesn't want to do that.  I will try again soon.

She was is SUCH a good mood today.  Dominic came home for nachos and we all played =).  I looove that he can do that now.  I posted about how he got a promotion right??  I am so proud of him! =)  He gets an hour for lunch now, and has been totally bragged about by everyone at work, customers, etc.  He's doing so great!!  Anyway, lunch times are great! =)  I am trying to totally enjoy them right now, cause I know they won't last for long.. going back to work in the day and school at night.  Our time will be limited =(.  Kayden is too funny, she is so much fun to watch when she discovers a new toy.  She is so amazed by the sounds, lights, etc.  She loves to look at the tree too when it's all lit up.

Dozer loves to sit by her and be bodyguard.   "Ms. Kitts, is the paparazzi bothering you?"  And out of all these toys on this thing..

She loves her froggy the mostest I think.

Oh hey adorable punkin.  I could die for those cheeks.

Haha.  This one cracks me up, looks like she's using the arm rest. =)

(I did this post in two separate days, it's now Thursday) I've been sick today so we're just hanging out in our pjs.  Maybe we'll snuggle up and watch some Christmas movie's later. =)  I made her stocking last nite (and when I say made, I mean glitter glued her name on. haha!).  Maybe before Christmas 2054 we'll make her ornament.  It keeps getting pushed back.  That's ok.. =) We've been having lots of good family time.. just hanging out, playing, playing video games, all that jazz.  Dominic is coming home for lunch soon, better run n get it ready for him.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Lil miss chompin on her froggy.  She loves this lil guy, we got him for a couple bucks a couple weeks ago and I'm glad we did.  =)  He hangs from her car seat and vibrates when she pulls his feetsies but she likes it more when she can just hold him and eat his feetsies.  She gets them all soggy and it makes the funniest noise when she sucks, sucks, sucks.

We took her to the Dr. yesterday.  Well actually we took her last Thursday but when I got there they said that all the Dr's had left...!?  Who does that?!  They called me the day before to "remind me of my appointment and let me know that I would still have to pay for the visit, in the case that I did not make the appointment."  Oh nice to know, thank you for not letting me know that you were taking the afternoon off to skip through the park.  Just kidding, it may have been an emergency or something of the sort, but I was very frustrated that I had showered, Kayden had a bath, we got all ready, set, fed, napped, and drove all the way down there.  Out of the car, through the building.  And then...back home.  Haha, I know-I'm being a cry-baby about it but I was really irritated.  So irritated that we went yesterday with no bath ;-).  We showed them.  We did change our Dr. though.  We have been four times now, and the Dr. that we had, has only shown up once.  So I just went ahead and switched us over to the Dr. that we have met more anyways -- Dr. Gladwell.  She's great.

Anyway--Kayden's Dr. Update: She weighs 14 lbs. 12 ounces.  My precious chunky monkey.  Everyone likes to call her fat.. and I just don't get it.  And don't like it.  Fat seems so...gross. and mean. and not cute.  Chunky on the other hand.  Oh, so cute!  She's in the 60% for weight..which really means she isn't all that chunky I suppose.  She is 23 3/4 inches long -- 40%.  (Surrrrrprising to me.  Everyone kept saying how loooong her fingers and toes are, and how she is so big.  And the fact that Dominic is her daddy.  I'm just so surprised she's in the bottom half.  But.. we "remeasured" her to the little marks that the nurse makes on the paper, at her head and foot.. and she was much bigger than that.  She must have moved or something..so who knows how big she really is lol.)  And last but not least.. her head. is. 16 1/2 inches.  It's in the 75%!!  Holy crap kid!!  Maybe I'm lucky I got a C-section ;-).

Here's some of her enjoying her beautiful cradle again.  =)  She loves that thing.  She just hangs out in it. Feeeeeeeels the sides.  Looooooks around. ;-)

Wahoooo =).

I like this one cause her arm =) moving so fast cause something is so exciting.

HAHA!  Ohhh man!!  We bought these little glasses when we were pregnant.  We tried them on her when she was a few days old... and clearly they were wayyy too huge then.  Obviously they are still way too huge.  I put these on her again on Sunday and just put the camera back there and took a picture. This is what I got.  Hahahah oh my god.  It kills me.  I guess they should still fit when summer rolls around.. if they aren't still huge! =D  (I better knock on wood, I hope she doesn't outgrow them lol.)

On Sunday we went to Dominic's Stepmom's (Annette) side of the family's house for their Christmas celebration.  They play White Elephant and there's like 30 people, and it is so much fun.  I love it, I can't wait to start traditions with my family.  =) Dominic and I are deciding on them asap!  Here's some of her in Grandpa's lap chewing.. of course.. on her blanket, and "unwrapping" her first present. =) (Which was really Grandpa's.) ;-)

The other day she had woken up from a nap right when I had to get ready to go.  I laid her on the bed with a few toys next to me and she was totally content!  For like 20 minutes!!  Awesome!  She just played with her toes and gibber-gabbered.  We would smile at each other and she would go back to gibber-gabberin and toe grabbin.  Repeat.  She's too funny.  And such a good baby.  Tara told me that you only get one cute baby and one good baby, Kayden is both, so no more.  I think I might have to take that into serious consideration.

The girl rolled over!  On Saturday.  We were all just hanging out on the couch and over she went.  I'm glad Dominic was there for the first one! =)  She also got her first stocking this week.  I will soon be glitter gluing her name on ;-p.   We still have to do her handprint ornament.  We've been busy with decorating the tree, getting back into the swing of things after vacation, laundry etc, not to mention all the everyday stuff.  And I've still been working on way too many crafts.  I have that habit.  I do crafts the same way I do everything.. last minute.  It's ridiculous, but for some reason I can just do it no other way. I'm working on that.

We went to pick out a tree, when we got there we realized that we didn't like them as much and they were outrageously expensive.  And when I say didn't like them as much, we totally knew, we just did.  The fact that the Walmart one's were wrapped up and you had no idea what you're getting, and the one's we were staring at you could see, study, poke, touch, did not stop us from simply knowing that the one we got from Walmart would be beautiful.  Ok I'm joking, we basically walked in, they guy chillin by all the tree's said, "Hey, hows it goin?  Nine bucks a foot tanight 'kay guys."  We looked around.. for like less than a minute.  Said "Five foot tree for $45 bucks, nah we'll go to Walmart."  Haha.  Hey what can ya do.  More Christmas presents. =)  Our tree is, in fact, beautiful.  Just like we knew it would be.  It is beautiful because we decorated it together, with all our combined home-made ornaments.  With a trio tree topper.  A tree topper consisting of;  a weird silver thing, that I'm not even sure is supposed to go on a tree, Dominic's "first home"ornament, and (my favorite) a "best teacher" ornament that was his mama's, our little angel ornament for the top (it is on the tippy-top...we have a weird tree this year, it has many tops haha.)  =D Underneath this weird top of our beautiful tree, we have our little family ornament trio.  We have a "Most Loved Dad", "Mom", and "Baby's 1st Christmas", little snowmen that I got for us, and that I love =).  We put each of ours on a branch, and the baby one on both branches, so they all hang close together.  Cheesy, I know.  But it's so cool.  =)  We also have our ornament - "Today, Tomorrow, Always."  That we picked out our first Christmas living together (last year).  I love that thing too.  Most of the home-made ornaments are from her too.  I'll have to post some soon.  Adorable little penguins made with almonds as the body and popsicle sticks for skies.  I love them.  The other ornaments, Carol and I decorated our first Christmas together.  I crack up at those silly painted things.  We're apparently not the best painters! =D  Well, now that I've explained all the ornaments...I'll decide in 20 years when I come back to read this if that was necessary haha!

Welp, I think that's the update.  I already have more pictures on the camera and am thinking of pictures that I need to take.  But for now..crafts take precedence ;-) .. (Kayden is taking a nap.. and Dominic is playing video games.  This is my life, and I love it =).)

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.