Moving….. January 27, 2010

No,  don’t worry… we’re not ALL moving…. I’ve just decided to move my blog. 

You can now follow my blog at:

http://acharlesblog.blogspot.com/

See you there!!!!!!!

Reason for the Season December 23, 2009

I have been wanting to sit down and blog for about a week now.  I am sure most everyone can understand, at this time of year, I have not been able to find a spare minute!  Well, I have found my “minute” and wanted to share some interesting things I have been thinking about in regards to this Christmas Season.  We have all heard the saying… “Jesus is the reason for the season”.  A few weeks ago at church our pastor really gave a new meaning to this statement and although there is a lot of truth to Jesus being the reason for the season, have you ever thought that WE are the reason for the season too?  Now before you think I’ve gone crazy and have gotten all caught up in thinking about what presents I better have under the tree this year, let me explain.  Christmas is about a lot of things… it is about remembering Mary’s willing heart, it’s about a very understanding Joseph, and about the birth of Jesus.  All of those things are extremely worthy of celebrating every year.  But another reason we have Christmas is because of sin.  God showed up because we were  (and  still are) jacked up, messed up, and screwed up! Matthew 1:21 says, “And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins”   God showed up to adopt us into HIS family. He did not need Christmas, we did!  It makes me really think of Christmas a little different this year.  Jesus is the reason for the season, but the reason he showed up was for me.  That is the best gift I will ever receive!!!

Growing, Growing, and more Growing December 7, 2009

I know I have probably said this more than 100 times over the life of this blog, but our sweet Kinley is a baby NO MORE!  She turned 17 months a couple of weeks ago and is growing way too  fast.  Her personality seems to develop more everyday and is such a sweet, fun-loving little girl.  She loves to talk, dance, and has turned into quite the social butterfly. 

Some of her favorite things to do are play with her cousin Levi….

Pick flowers…

Walk the dogs…

and play with her toys…

She smiles constantly and it is a rare occasion for her to cry.  (Except when she sees a big fat man in a red suit with white hair and a white beard!) 

 Her vocabulary amazes me…  She will hear a word one or two times and will remember it and call things by the correct name.   She loves animals and babies and is very nurturing to other children.  We will be attempting potty training in the next week or so.  I have been told by many mothers who have gone before me that when they can tell you they have potty’d in their diaper it is time to get them started on the potty.  Kinley is doing both!!!!  I have to admit, I am not really ready for this, but I know she may be!  I will keep you all posted!

Just like everyone during the holiday season, things seem to be getting pretty busy. 

 We went on a stroll the Botanical Gardens to see the Galaxy of Lights….

We’ve watched the Auburn/Alabama game….

We decided to get a real Christmas tree this year.  We bundled up and went to a Christmas tree farm to pick out the best tree and had so much fun! 

 Kinley had a lot of fun helping put the ornaments on the tree. 

We’ve even had SNOW!!!

Christmas will be here before we know it.  I hope that we can all slow down during this very busy timeand remember what Christmas is truly about!

Fall Creek Falls November 11, 2009

Last weekend we spent out time at the Fall Creek Falls State Park in Tennessee.  We had so much fun hiking, relaxing, and sitting around the campfire!  Kinley loves being outdoors and had fun picking up sticks and rocks and collecting leaves!

Kinley was wore out from all of the riding!!

Her daddy kept telling her she looked like a Teletubby!!! 

I guess she kind of did!!!!!!!!!! HE hehehehehe

My man can build a MEAN campfire!

On the way home……….

Fun on the Farm (and no I don’t mean funny farm!!) October 29, 2009

Last week we took Kinley to Tate Farms to find the perfect pumpkin.  We went with my sister and her family and our friend’s Pat and Alyson and their twins!  It was a gorgeous day and we had a blast.  Kinley was so excited and enjoyed swinging, playing with the pumpkins, going on a hayride and her most favorite part was playing in the corn!!!  We enjoyed pumpkin pie and the most delicious pumpkin slush!  I know, it didn’t really sound that great to me either, but it actually tasted more like apple cider and was really yummy.  Kinley wasn’t too thrilled with the petting zoo part, but she was a trooper and at least tried.  I had heard horror stories of Tate Farm being packed and really crowded but we picked the perfect time and it wasn’t that crowded.  We really had a great time!

I don’t recommend taking a stroller through a maze, but Richard AND Kinley were both up for the challenge!

Kinley with her cousins and friends Savanah and Payton.  I’m not sure why all the babies look frightened!!!

For some reason Kinley really wanted to lay down in the corn!  Hehehehhee

Why do they call it Blue-grass?? October 15, 2009

We packed up the truck last weekend and headed out of town.  Richard’s family has a reunion in Maysville Kentucky just about every year and this was the first time Kinley and I were able to go.  It poured down rain the whole way there on Friday but the scenery was amazing even in the rain!  I could not get over the rolling hills, the green pastures, the barns full of tobacco, and all of the horse farms!  It was absolutely breath taking.  We had a good time and Kinley did so well on our 7 hour road trip. 

snuggling with Grandpa

barn full or tobacco

castle in Lexington

On our way home.  The only question I have left to ask is… why do they call Kentucky the Bluegrass State????

I’ve stuck with it! October 8, 2009

Today is my one year blogging anniversary and I am so proud of myself for sticking with it!  Here’s a look back….

Kinley was almost 4 months old!

And here is Kinley at 15 months

I am planning on using this blog and making a baby book for Kinley-  has anyone ever done this before and if so, who did you use and was it easy?

I hope everyone has a great day!  We are getting ready to head to swim class and then coming home to start packing.  We are leaving tomorrow for a family reunion in KY.  Fun Fun!!!

Rockin’ New Hair Do

We took Kinley to get her first hair cut last week.  It wasn’t like her hair was out of control or all that long, but it just needed shaping.  Let’s put it this way… she didn’t donate anything to Locks of Love yet.  We took her to a kids salon called Spoiled Rockin’ Kidz Salon and it was the CUTEST place.  Kinley did great and didn’t shed a tear!!

Before the hair cut

 

 

And when she was all done they gave her this really cool certificate with some of her hair!  It was so sweet!!!

If she quacks like a duck is she a duck? October 1, 2009

We have been playing the cutest game with Kinley.  I say it’s a cute game now, but have been warned by many that we may have started something that may be hard to turn off.  Almost a month ago (maybe longer)  Kinley figured out how to fake cough.  Let me just tell you… it is the cutest thing I have ever heard!  Over the last few weeks she has really gotten good at it and even crinkles up her nose and tilts her head like she’s really sick!  We go on and on with her…. “oh no!  Are you sick?  Poor baby!!!”  You know, that sort of thing.  I guess to spice it up a little bit my loving husband thought it would be extra cute to have her pretend like she is throwing up.  Her re-enactment sounds more like a squeal mixed with a grunt, but we get the picture!  Believe me, she bends over like she were actually throwing up when she makes the sound.  I told Richard I didn’t really think the puking noises were that lady like so we haven’t been using that one lately.  Yesterday I was in the kitchen and Kinley was playing in the cabinets and she sneezed.  I responded to her sneeze with the typical “God bless you!!!”  I went on with what I was doing and she walked over to me so I could see her and worked up her very first fake-sneeze and it was GOOD!  Yall, she makes me smile, she makes me giggle, she makes me throw my head back and laugh.  She has the ability to make all things better!!!

Walk This Way… Talk This Way September 17, 2009

It has finally happened!  Our little Kinley is WALKING!  She started a few weeks ago standing on her own… then she’d go between the coffee table and the couch and then on to the chair.  Then when we were in Gatlinburg she started taking steps and of course I would squeal and she’d collapse! But now…. now she’s WALKING.  As in walking across the room.  Sometimes I think she may forget that she can do it, and she is still using crawling as a method of getting places she wants to get to quickly, but our sweet baby girl is doing her best to make it happen and use those little legs!!! 

In the talking department she is excelling!  She will try and repeat just about anything you ask her to say… IF no one is paying attention.  She will not perform on command (she gets that from me).

Here she is in action…

Kinley’s personality is showing more and more each day.  She loves to “help” us do things and is a very hard worker.  She is always on the go and loves to go bye-bye!  Everyday I thank God for blessing us with such a sweet, loving little girl who loves to cuddle!  She manages to keep me laughing!!!!!!