Weekend of July 4th!

What a blast. We spent a lot of time with family. Brian, Austin, Keziah and I left for the river Friday morning. We arrived in time to eat some lunch and put Kezzie down for a nap. Every time Kezzie needed to take a nap or go to bed she did so well. We had a box fan that we set up in the camper and we would just put it on high to drownd out any noise around her. I brought all her comforts from home and we set up her pack-n-play in the back of mom and dad's camper. She slept so good. Even Saturday, when fireworks were going off all around us, she continued to sleep. I was so amazed at how well she did! Even in the morning with the sun shinning in, she stayed asleep. Both mornings she slept until 7 or 8 am. Sunday morning I rolled over and checked on her (her bed was in between Brian and my bed) and I was just getting comfortable and opened my eyes one last time before dozing off and all the sudden she was there, staring right at me! It was really cute! Austin played a lot with my cousins. My aunt Cindy and Uncle Perry along with their four kids were there also. The oldest, Joshua is 3 years older then Austin and the second oldest, Alicia is just 6 months older then Austin. The three of them along with Josh's younger siblings, get a long really well. They swim, canoe, and dig for shells and creatures. Austin also does a lot of fishing off the dock. I hardly see him when we are there. We do a lot of sitting by the campfire after dark and roasting marshmallows and talking about nonsense! Kezzie spent most of her time digging in the rocks and putting them in buckets or in someones hands. She also found an old squirt gun and got a kick out of squirting people with it. It was easier for her to squeeze the trigger with her thumb though so she often ended up just getting herself in the face! Brian did a lot of relaxing in the chair and reading a magazine. Him and Keith did take a break from 'roughing it' and went to a local bar for a couple drinks. Austin got to go out in the boat with one of my other Uncles (Gary) and they ended up catching a lot of fish. When they got back Gary taught Austin and Joshua how to clean them. I can't believe how much Austin is growing up. I grew up watching my dad clean fish on that same table (see picture) and now my son is doing the same (sniffle sniffle!). We pass the time by going on a lot of walks and just sitting around talking and relaxing. It's so incredible to be there with family and to be able to spend so much time with them. My grandma Smith was up there too but she keeps herself pretty busy doing her own things! On Saturday, it rained in the morning so we all hovered under the canopy of my parents' camper and listened to the rain fall around us. That is until the canopy got a leak in the middle and we had to come up with a solution of stacking some coolers on top of each other and standing a broom on top to make the water run away from the hole (see picture). That's what you do when there isn't a 2x4 anywhere to be found! Kezzie really enjoyed seeing all the boats and water and did a lot of pointing! I would have loved to take her out in the water to swim but it never got quite hot enough! Sunday we woke and ate a big breakfast and started packing things up to go home. Before we got in the car though we went for a quick boat ride. Kezzie hadn't been out in a boat since last year so I wanted to take her out. Dad, mom, Austin, Kez and myself went. Austin and Kezzie loved hanging over the side and sticking their hands in the water. Kezzie sat next to grandma most of the time and I caught a cute picture of her itching her nose because the wind was tickling it! She didn't know what to think of it all but I definitely think we have another camper on our hands! Maybe if I have enough kids we can form an alliance against Brian and go live on the river!! Just kidding! We love you honey...even if you aren't one of us!!

A new look!

6/20 So while Brian was away a good friend of mine came to visit (see previous post). While sitting in the living room (on the day Brian was to come back), we were watching the home improvement channel and I stated that I wish I had a project to do around the house but that I never seem to have the proper supplies to accomplish the home improvements I want to do. Angela so nicely and jokingly stated "well, I'm pretty tired of looking at these white walls!" I was so happy she said something because I knew she was really good at decorating and I had meant to talk to her about what colors she would suggest throughout the house. We have lived here for over 2 years and had hardly painted anything because I have been too afraid. After taking a walk to the local hardware store and grabbing a hand full of paint swatches, we proceeded to pick paint colors for both the living room and kitchen. Brian arrived home that afternoon and with a plan for convincing him of our ideas, we approached him with the subject and he approved!!! After Kezzie went to bed that night it was go time and we didn't stop until almost 3am. We just had to finish. Angela was set to leave the next morning and she really wanted to be able to see her hard work pay off. The finished product was beautiful!

6/23 Now to paint the kitchen...this was something I had to do on my own. It took me two days to complete but it is now finished also! Kezzie was very patient with me and has probably seen more Elmo then I would like to admit! She really enjoyed climbing the ladder and 'helping' paint with a clean paintbrush. I mostly worked on it while she was napping and in bed though! I love it! And I got to surprise Austin too...after going to the river with my mom and dad he then went home to Cedar Falls with them where his dad picked him up on Sunday and kept him until today 6/24. He got home at 2:30 pm just before I was able to finish painting! He right away said how much more cozy and warm the house felt now that it was painted. I think he is right!

(the red is just on the one wall with the cupboards and appliances and the rest of the kitchen is in the cashew color)

PEE PEE!

Ok, so I'm not getting too excited, but this is certainly a start...This morning I changed Kezzie's diaper at about 7:15. I laid Kezzie down for a nap about 9:00. She didn't need changed. At 10:30 Kezzie woke from her nap and I got her dressed for the day. Before putting her pants on I went to change her diaper only to find it was completely dry! I had a quick thought to just stick her on her little potty just to try it out and see what happens (I have lazily been toying with the idea of starting the process of potty training). SHE PEED! I stuck her on there and then went to her room to get some books to read and by the time I got back I heard some trickling. SHE PEED ON THE POTTY! And yes, I had to photograph this very momentous event! I do believe Kezzie is definitely ready. She tells me every time she is pooping and even gets irritated if I don't promptly change it. And she has stayed dry like this before for a couple hours at a time. I am so nervous to attack this huge task, but I think I better go with it before it is too late! Say a prayer for me (and our carpet)!! It's time to get naked!

I'm so excited...and I just can't hide it!

Ok, so you all know the song I am referring to...it's been stuck in my head for weeks now ever since we found out we are adding another addition to our family! That's right...we are getting a new puppy!!! Just kidding...you guessed it, we are having another baby! Brian and I are so thrilled! Austin is excited and even Kezzie screamed about it! We found out on April 3rd! Over Easter weekend we told our families and now I am telling you! There is some hesitation though since we aren't very far along (maybe 8 weeks) but it's too hard to keep to ourselves! The baby should join us in this great big world just a couple weeks after Kezzie's second birthday (December eighthish)!! Say a prayer for us and wish us luck! It's gonna get busy around here!

A No Good Very Bad Day!

Brian went in yesterday for a scope on his left shoulder. We were asked to be there by 1:40 for surgery to begin at 2:40. They were moving right along in the beginning and saying he was going to get in early and then all the sudden the doctor was behind so we had to wait...he went in at 3:30 and came out at 5. The doctor came to speak to me and said they found something that needed repaired so they repaired it. This was good news since we knew something was wrong (his shoulder pops out of socket if he moves it in a certain direction-definitely not normal) even though nothing was previously found on the MRI. They found his labrum completely torn so they put in a couple suchers and pins and sent him on his way. With his arm in an immobilizer, he won't be able to move it for 6 weeks. Then there will be some PT. He has one thing on his mind...getting better so he can golf at some point this season! What a horrible time to be laid up!

Dying Easter Eggs!

I guess I have forgotten how messy dying Easter eggs can be...but we quickly found out! Kezzie had fun coloring her eggs with crayons but as soon as she saw what Austin was doing with his eggs she wanted to do it too. She threw her egg into the nearest cup full of coloring and splattered blue all over the table and her hands (the picture does no justice!). I thought, oh it will wash off so I let her play in it, sure enough, she was blue all over and I had to literally scrub our nice wood dining room table! Austin had fun making different designs with the different dyes. I just think next year I will be laying out some newspapers or doing it in the garage!! Live and learn!

Cousins!

I'm not really sure how we got so lucky to have the kids all in one area but it turned out pretty good! Austin (10), Ethan (2.5), Keziah (16 mo.), Bennett (11 mo.). We really do have a fantastic bunch of kids!

New Car Seat

A part of me feels guilty knowing that Kezzie's infant seat can technically hold her for another inch or so, but honestly, I am tired of the rear facing seat as much as she is! At 22 pounds Kezzie doesn't even come close to the 30 pound mark that her infant seat supports, but she's really close to exceeding the height so we decided to get her a new seat! When we got it all put together and had it sitting in the living room, she couldn't get enough of it. She would get in and out of it and play with the buckles (she is in a buckle loving phase) and say 'bye-bye'. I even tried to put her in her high chair for snack time and she threw the biggest fit (arched back and all) while pointing at her car seat indicating she wanted to eat her snack in there! Needless to say she didn't love it as much when it was sitting in the car and we were on a half hour trek to Waverly Wal-mart. She assumed that since she could see me I was available to play with her and her toys. I think it will just take some getting used to!

Sunday Fun!

Every Sunday after we go to church, we get to eat lunch with the family at Mom and Dad Smith's. It is so much fun to get the kids together and have good food and great conversation. Ethan and Austin always have so much fun together. Here's Austin playing a car racing game on his PSP and Ethan watching!


Grandpa has been wanting to give rides on the snowmobile for a while now. It is finally warm enough to be outside so today was the day. Although we didn't remember until the Thilges' had already left, Austin was still able to enjoy it. Kezzie stood at the sidelines watching and when she realized it was grandpa and Austin on there she started shaking and she stuck her bottom lip way out...she was so frightened they were going to get hurt. She just kept calling out 'Ah-tin', 'pa-pa'...it was really sweet. (This also happened a couple weeks ago when we took Austin to get a haircut...Kezzie was very concerned for his well being!) She loves her brother so much! I really wanted a picture of the three of them on the snowmobile so what does a loving mother do but stick her ever so scared one year old on the very thing she is afraid of and take a snapshot of that priceless moment, tears and all! Fun times!!

Spaghetti Os!

For lunch the other day, Kezzie ate Spaghetti Os and Meatballs...which she loved! I picked out all the meatballs and cut them up for her but for the most part she was on her own! This is the end result...I'm probably not going to be doing that again any time soon!

14 in all!

Kezzie's top eye teeth have started coming in now...that brings the total up to 14. She hasn't been very fussy with these, thankfully. She was up one night this week several times, but that's it! Maybe they get easier as they get older! Let's hope! They aren't very far through yet either so we'll see how she does as they start pushing through further! She will be chomping carrots in no time!

Yeah! Kezzie can stand!

As you know, Kezzie has been walking for a while now. But as soon as she falls, she has to resort to crawling or walking on her knees until she can get near something to help her stand up...that is not the case anymore! Today she taught herself to stand up without anything to hold onto! I am so proud of her! And she is so proud of herself every time she does it. She plants one foot on the floor and you can see it in her eyes that she is concentrating on her balance as she lifts the other leg out from under her to a standing position! It's so adorable!

Weekend Fun!

It was a very busy but fun weekend. Originally we were just going to sit around and relax on Friday evening and thankfully we were doing just that when my Aunt Cindy and Uncle Perry and their four kids (plus a friend) showed up in their mini van that was having trouble. They live in MN so on their way to Cedar Falls, to celebrate the Smith family Christmas this weekend, they realized they were having some car trouble. It was a good thing they were in our town when it happened! We pulled it into the garage and he proceeded to find the problem only to find out the part he needed was in Cedar Falls. So my dad went and picked up the part and brought it to New Hampton. Him and my dad were able to get it fixed and they were all back on the road by about 9:30pm. I was really thankful for their misfortune because then I got to see them since Saturday we were unable to be at the Smith Christmas. We had plans of our own to drive to MN to attend Brady's first birthday party! It was a blast to hang out there and see Brady and Mat and Steph! Brady is getting so big...he is standing and walks while holding onto one hand. For his birthday he got some books, clothes and cute jammies. His Grandma Coyle brought over an old keyboard she had and Kezzie and Brady loved jamming out together! It was a short visit but a good time! We headed back home about 2:45pm and after battling the weather we arrived home about 6:15.

Austin was busy having a great time with the Smith's since my mom offered to watch him so he wouldn't miss out on the Christmas! My Aunt Jill always gets a hotel room when she comes to visit so that all the kids can go swimming together at the pool. Austin loves to swim so I am sure he was in heaven! Sunday morning Brian and I woke up to do our regular routine of church and then dinner at mom and dad's. We wanted to squeeze in some time to visit my Grandma Smith since she had just had surgery. So before going to church we stopped at her house! My grandma just adores Keziah and Keziah really loves playing catch with her dog!

Kezzie is going to be a piano player someday, I think (and I hope)! She right away saw Grandma Smith's piano and wanted to play it!

Sunday afternoon was different then usual. We headed back to the church because Kezzie and Bennett were getting dedicated at 3pm. There were several other kids being dedicated also! It was a special time for us to profess our faith and to commit ourselves to raising Kezzie to believe in Jesus and what he did for us on the cross. We are so blessed to have an awesome and loving God! I love the dress Kezzie wore because a friend of the family made that dress for me when I was Kezzie's age.

Kezzie is walking!

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Kezzie walks everywhere. She really started to walk a lot the week after Christmas. She is doing such a great job on her balance and can catch herself from almost any fall! She does still have one problem though...once she's fallen, she doesn't know how to stand back up if there isn't anything near by to assist her. This causes her to resort to walking on her knees...it's a pretty funny sight, but it gets her where she needs to go. At least until she can get near something that will help her get back on her feet! I still smile every time I see her waddling across the room...it's so precious!

13 months!

I can't believe Keziah is 13 months today. So when people ask I can't say, 'oh she just turned one'. I have to say, 'she's thirteen months'! What a big girl. I love being home with her and enjoy every minute of joy that she brings. Her laughter brightens my day! She is jabbering so much lately. It seems like she is pretending a lot and carrying on a conversation with herself. She is such a copycat too. She will try to say almost any word you say. And the sweetest thing she does is she will give you a hug and kiss if you ask for it. The best is when you don't ask for it and she just comes and gives you one (she loves her mommy!). Also if she hits you and you say 'ouch' she will give you a kiss to make up for it! Sometimes I think she hurts you on purpose so she can make you happy again. Some of Kezzie's newest, besides copying everything, is she can now sign 'baby', 'more', 'eat', 'sleep' and 'bed'. Still not choosing walking but could if she wanted to. And she has gotten another tooth-her last of the four molars (bottom left) 12/19/08

No more Santa!

This marks the first year that Austin doesn't believe in Santa Clause. At least not as the man who magically falls down the chimney bringing lots and lots of presents. I can't believe he finally came to his senses! It actually happened because he figured out the tooth fairy isn't real! The last time he lost a tooth he left the tooth fairy a note as he had done many times before and just like all the other times the tooth fairy wrote him back. However, something struck him this last time, as not right. I must have used too familiar of hand writing or something. He approached me about it and there wasn't any way I could lie to his face so I told him he was correct. It wasn't until later that day he asked me about the Easter Bunny and Santa. He was very devastated and felt really stupid for believing it. I honestly don't know how I will handle Santa with Kezzie. Watching how Austin felt and him being amazed that I have been 'lying' to him all these years, I don't know if Kezzie will ever think of Santa Clause as anything more than a jolly nice old man who gave out gifts to kids. It was heartbreaking to see Austin hurt and worst of all he was right that I had been lying to him in a sense. I'm just glad there aren't anymore secrets and we can stop pretending that Santa is watching him year round!

The flu...

Kezzie had her first true sickness. What a horrible day we had yesterday...We went to mom and dad's after church to have Keith's birthday dinner. Dad was doing a fish fry. Luckily Emily and Adam and the boys had other plans so they weren't there. Kezzie got the flu. She threw up every 3-5 minutes from about noon until 7ish. It was misery. I felt horrible for Keith and everybody else too. While Kezzie and I were in the living room, everybody else was trying to enjoy their dinner. We ended up taking her to urgent care where they suggested anti nausea medicine and said she wasn't getting dehydrated. We had to stay the night at mom and dad's because there wasn't any way I was going to be able to get Kezzie home through an hour drive. Brian had stayed home that morning because he still wasn't feeling well so I would have had to drive. Brian came to mom and dad's to see how she was feeling and to take Austin home for school today. I am home now as Kezzie hasn't thrown up since this morning. I just pray none of the rest of us get it...

Kezzie is walking???

Ok, so the hot discussion in our house is what is really considered walking? Is it when they take their first couple steps or is it when they never go back to crawling again? Well, if we are talking about Kezzie's first steps, they happened about a week before her first birthday when she took about 3-4 steps toward the garbage to throw her dirty diaper away (one of her favorite 'chores' to do!) But, if we are talking about several consecutive steps as being considered walking, Kezzie is up to 7 steps in a row (12/8/08). I know that isn't considered full blown walking yet, but she is learning her ability more and more and is definitely on her way to seeing things on a higher level. I've noticed where she will stand up more often rather than sit and do something. And if you put your hand out she will grab it and start to walk rather than get back down to crawl. And if she's in the right mood she will let you take a few steps back and proudly walk toward you. I know she can do it, but she's still not confident enough yet. I'm gonna wager that in the next week or two she will be a walker and I will have some video to share with you!

First Snow!

Austin dug a little hole in the snow and is putting snow balls around it to make a fort. Kezzie was enjoying hanging out in it and watching him work!

Here is Kezzie and Austin sitting in his fort. I can tell he is enjoying her more everyday. It was actually his idea to put her on his lap and take a picture...I used to have to make threats to get a picture like this!
Kezzie looks so cold and helpless with no hands and feet. She would just sit there and stick her arm out toward where she wanted to go. And although you can't really tell by looking at her, she really loved being outside with the snow! It will be a fun winter!

Keziah's First Birthday Party!

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What an awesome party we had for Keziah! There were so many family members that came and a few friends. It was great to see everybody and really nice of them to come. We ate a great meal (pulled BBQ beef sandwiches, deviled eggs, seven layered salad, snicker salad and cheesy hash browns), opened gifts and watched in wonder as Kezzie and her cousins played. We appreciated all the gifts she got. I'd like to be able to tell someone in secret that she loves their gift the best but honestly she has played with them all equally. She is having a blast with all her new toys/movies/books. She got quite a few stuffed monkeys (since monkeys are her favorite), some Baby Einstein movies, several books, a walker, a little people bus and plane and several other things. She is not bored around here that's for sure! Thanks to everyone who came to celebrate her first year of life with us...it was such a special time for our family!