What a Year!

The year is almost over, but for us 2010 brought us a miracle from above and many many joys and memories.  Kiley is our little angel and I know my PaPa is her guardian angel.  I've been thinking about him lately and especially with the holidays you can't help but miss his presence.

For Christmas, we were surrounded with love from friends and family.  Yes, it was tiring, and I am relieved that it is over, but it really was a great experience getting to see what Kiley sees for the first time.  The excitement she feels when she just sees a present.  To quote Kiley, "AHHH." We don't even care about the toy, just the beautiful paper and bows! Such a simple thing that can bring such a beautiful smile to our daughter!

Every month is something new, all her firsts are passing by, but we can always cherish the memories.  Thank you God for such a wonderful year and I know what you have in store for us in 2011 will be even better! Everything I do now is better, because Kiley is here to share it with us!

I've uploaded a ton of pictures so this is a long one, but I couldn't just choose a few when this is Miss Kiley's first Christmas! Besides she decided to go all out everyday and wear her special Christmas clothes.  She said that you better take notice of them!   I also figured it would be easier to tell about our Christmas days with pictures.

December 23, 2010
Santa decided to show up early this year for Kiley's first Christmas.  I figured he had to be overloaded this year and knowing that Kiley would still be a good girl for one more day, he gave her the presents ahead of time!

Kiley was dressed up and ready for Santa's presents!

Everything Santa gave Kiley for Christmas! Wow you must have been a VERY good girl!! To quote my Dad/Pops, "That Santa!"

December 24, 2010
Kiley got up super early for Christmas Eve, she had to take her first family pictures with Mama and Dada for Christmas.  Ok, so this was pretty tricky to say the least.  We had the camera on timer and when Dada was standing at the camera setting the timer Kiley would smile SO big! But, the minute he runs over by our sides she would get distracted.  20 tries later (ok maybe a little exaggeration) we get the photo! YEA! Notice how Dada is holding her now...that's because I set the timer and ran over there and then she decided to actually smile. Not exactly looking at the camera, but who cares!

Mama loves this photo! She is in her special Christmas dress at her Nana and Papa's! Makes you want to squeeze those cheeks doesn't it?

 December 25, 2010
Dada worked this day for the Bryan Fire Department.  So, Mama had Christmas at the house with Nanna, Pops, and Gigi and later that evening we went to go see Dada.  Before we left to go see Dada, I prayed she would sleep and that once we got there he wouldn't get called out.  Lucky for us, she slept on the way there and all the way home and no call what so ever while visiting Dada!  Eventhough Jason had to work that day, he got to see his baby girl and that I was happy about and I'm pretty sure they both enjoyed it as well.  Kiley can be a Daddy's girl sometimes...especially when he has been gone all day. 

 December 26, 2010
Christmas at Nanna and Pops' house! We played, made steaks on the pit, and took family pictures.  Enjoyed every minute of it! Always do!

Don't blow this picture up! LOL We have the infamous runny nose problem and Mama didn't know!

I had to end with this last picture! Just goes to show that yes, Kiley does have an attitude...just like her Daddy! 

Thank you to everyone for the presents! We enjoyed every minute spent with our little one during Christmas.  We hope that your Christmas was filled with as much joy as ours! God Bless, Gig em', & Happy New Year!

Kiley's Been a Good Girl...

Well, Christmas began for Kiley last week starting with Saturday.  We spent the evening at Jason's Mommo's opening presents and spending time with family.  Kiley received lots of gifts, we were thankful for all of them, but Kiley especially liked the bows and wrapping paper that came along with the gifts.  I think I have previously mentioned that the best toys are the simple and cheap ones that are not suppose to be toys at all.  Kiley enjoyed all the younger cousins there.  They played with her and she had a lot of playmates.  Mommy and Daddy got a little break from entertaining which is always a plus! The part Kiley didn't like? Santa.  He showed up with toys in bag and when it was Kiley's turn to sit on his lap, she got upset pretty quickly! Daddy saved the day and just held her instead. We did receive the pictures of Kiley sitting on Santa's lap curtosey of KB Photography, but I still haven't gotten a chance to scan them into the computer.  Promise I will put them up!

On Monday, Kiley's friend came over for a visit and to open up their gifts that they gave each other.  Kanzie is 2 weeks younger than Kiley and they had a blast playing with their toys on the floor.  It was so cute to see them putting everything in their mouths, pulling on each others socks (yes, socks), and chewing on spoons! LOL We (the parents) had a blast watching them and catching up on what the girls were doing new these days.  Once they opened up their gifts, the girls were tired and Kanzie, Ricky, and Kara headed home.  But, not before the girls gave each other kisses and hugs! I included pictures..the first one is of Kiley opening one of her gifts from Kanzie and the second one is of Kanzie opening her gift from Kiley.  Such cuties!

After all the Christmas action Kiley was pooped! So tired in fact we fell asleep drinking our bottle...

Fortunately for us, Kiley is now feeling a lot better than she did last week.  Darn allergies.  Mommy couldn't be more relieved that she will be happy and feeling great for the festivities!  More Christmas stories and pictures to come! Until then, Merry Christmas, God Bless & Gig'em!!



Over the Hump..

It's hard for me to believe that Kiley is 7 months old. I think I go through this every month when it's her "birthday." It just amazes me how time seems to fly by with an infant. I always have this feeling that I'm going to miss something. I am with her pretty much ALL day yet, I feel like she is slipping away from me, she just keeps growing like a little weed everyday. In the mornings I look forward to seeing her smiling face, full of giggles, and soooo ticklish! Why does that have to stop? But for now our little baby girl is only 7 months old, she's "over the hump" of being half way to one and all I can do now is take many many pictures (800 or so at this point) and take many many videos and most importantly cherish every moment of her innocent life. We've changed many diapers at this point, washed a lot of clothes, and gone through a whole heck of a lot of formula! Everything she does now is a memory for me and I want to make sure that we (Dada and I) don't miss a thing.

On a happier note! I got this crazy idea to do something different for Kiley's pictures this month. Before Kiley was born I began to decorate her room and somehow or another the theme of giraffes was created. Her stuffed toys are giraffes, blankets have giraffes on them, you get the picture. Well, when Jason and I went to St. Joseph to check out the rooms we stopped by the gift shop as well. What was the first thing that caught our eye? A huge giraffe almost as tall as me! We knew we had to get it, but wanted to wait until Kiley was born. Fast forward to May 9, Kiley was here and Pops (my dad) walks in with Jeffrey a.k.a. the huge giraffe! We were ecstatic and come to find out Kiley has a thing for giraffes too. Seems like everytime we go somewhere where there might be a stuffed giraffe or a picture of one it catches her attention and she squeals with delight! So, back to my point of this long drawn out story, Jeffrey went on an excursion to our front yard this week to take pictures with Miss Kiley! It went great! Kind of embarrassing for me (even though it was my idea, I prayed no one I knew would drive by), but definitely fun and memorable!

If you look closely you can see her little tooth coming (by the way that's her second tooth coming in now).

Kiley is going to have her first Christmas experience this weekend at Mommo's (Jason's grandma Siegmund's house).  Should be an interesting experience for her...but until then, Gig'em & God Bless!

Let's go visit HoHo!

This last week went by in a flash!  There was so much to do and hardly anytime for it! Let me begin, by telling you that Kiley is now feeling better.  We still have somewhat of a stuffy nose, but the voice is back.  This could be a good thing or a bad thing.  Good, because of course it means that my little baby is feeling better.  Bad, because it means that she can scream really loud again in public! especially in church! Last time we screamed in church everyone turned around and gave me the "Control your child" stare.  I don't understand this.  Am I suppose to reason with her? She's 6 months old people?!?  Anyways, back to Miss Kiley. 

Last Monday went fabulous by the way! Kiley was a wonderful baby and such a joy.  Mama got all her work done for that day because Kiley played and entertained herself.  It was great and we decorated Nanna's yard for Christmas.  Kiley loves being outdoors and I think she was quite entertained by what we were doing and she was really interested in a little box that Nanna gave her to play with.  How is it that anything that isn't a toy, Kiley loves it?  People go out and buy all these toys for their childern (us included) and then their favorite toys are paper, a napkin, a box, or even a water bottle!

So, the worst part of the week?  Definitely going to have to be that Kiley is now getting a tooth! Mama is not happy about this at all! This just means that my baby is not going to be a little baby for too much longer.  We did hurry up and rush into Wal-Mart that night to get Baby Orajel because the last thing I want is for her to feel pain.  The tooth is really starting to come out now..Dada likes to stick his finger in her mouth and feel around all the time to see if another tooth suddenly appears or how much the first tooth has progressed.  Me? I just try to forget that it is even there!

Friday was also a big day for Kiley and I.  She went to daycare for the first time!  We decided that Kiley would go to daycare once a week.  This way she would be able to play with childern her age and I would get some much needed work done.  So, on her first day I was extremely nervous and well Kiley? She was acting like she knew something was different about that day.  I took her to the room where the other children her age were and sat her down on the playing mat.  Did she care that I left? Heck no! She started playing right away! and when I told her Bye Bye? She just looked up for a split second and smiled.  Kind of like, "See ya Mom!" No big deal for her, broke my heart! I couldn't wait to pick her up! but they said that she had a blast! and well as for me and getting work done? I wasn't as productive as I had hoped...doesn't it always seem to work out that way?

Last, but not least, Sunday! We went to go visit HoHo, as Jason likes to call him, at the public library! Bethany Behrens, a good friend of mine and a photographer of KB Photography, set up the event to have Santa come and take pictures.  I was a little bit nervous about this one.  Kiley does great with most people she is unfamiliar with.  I like to call her a social butterfly, but Santa could be a different story.  I mean he looks WAY different from most people.  When it was our turn for pictures, Jason sat Kiley on Santa's lap and I thought from the look on her face she was about to burst in tears! Poor thing! But, instead of crying she turns and just stares at Santa...eventually, deciding to pull on that beard of his.  Finally, once she got comfortable with him she looks at the camera and smiles! PERFECT!  Pictures to be posted later once Beth gets them to me...Now, next year? That should be interesting.  I'm placing my bets on no smile just tears! LOL

Afterwards, Jason had his firefighter gear at the house so, we decided to take pictures of Kiley in them.  Last time we did this she was 4 weeks old.  She could fit in his helmet! Not anymore.  This time we had to be more creative!

Those are just a few of my favorites! I just love this one where she is in Dada's pants.  She was actually having fun "hanging" out in them!

Well here's to another week and another month birthday for Kiley! It's seems as if every week with my baby just gets better and better! She is such a blast!  Gig'em and God Bless!!

Where to Begin?!?

It's been way over a week since I have updated you about Kiley.  I was waiting for Thanksgiving to be over and before I knew it..it's almost Sunday! Life flies when you have a baby!

So, where to begin? Lets start with some positives.  Remember how I had asked you to pray last time for a better week for Kiley and I? Well, apparently he heard you, because it worked! Kiley was such a happy and loving baby last week (November 15-21)!  She took naps (so unlike her still) and she entertained herself in her high chair while we ate lunches and suppers.  She gave Mama a break for a week and for that I am grateful.  What I didn't realize until now was that she was preparing me for this week. 

That weekend (20 & 21) we packed ourselves up and headed to the Riverwalk with my parents and a couple of friends.  By the way, packing for a 6 month old is terribly hard to do! How is it that after I was done I had, a bag for the camera, blankets, and an ice box for food, her diaper bag, her own bag filled with clothes, bottles, and formula, a high chair cover, stroller, and most importantly her car seat.  Then I spent most of the day Friday thinking that I was forgetting something! Finally, I broke down and made a list.  Thank goodness I did because sure enough I thought of more. This was going to be the first time Kiley has stayed away from home and slept in a hotel.  Another first for us was that she was going to be sleeping the same room as Jason and I.  Kiley has always slept in her room from day 1 when she came home.  We knew this was going to be different for ALL 3 of us!

After enjoying the Riverwalk we put Kiley to bed and after crying for about 30 minutes she fell asleep.  The night went perfect and the next day was even better, shopping all day with Mama and Nanna!

Before we knew it, Thursday rolled around and it was Kiley's first Turkey Day! Mama was excited and went on etsy again to get Kiley a turkey dress...the minute I saw it I knew it was going to be hers! So cute and festive.

Bib provided by Aunt Kay! Thanks Kayla she looked so cute in her bib.

                    

Playing with her toys and entertaining herself for the most part at NaNa and PaPa's house during Thanksgiving preparations.

I thought this photo was so cute because she got to sit with the big girls! : )

Kiley's NaNa sitting outside with her. They look so sweet!! We love you NaNa!!

So when I said that Kiley was being a good girl last week so I would be prepared for this week, I was talking about what happened after Thanksgiving.  The poor baby of mine got sick! No fever, but as of tonight she has lost her voice and is sooo tired.  Now I understand when Mother's say that they wish they could be sick and not their child.  That's all I kept wishing for yesterday.  She couldn't keep anything down, couldn't sleep well, and was so congested that her voice was disappearing.  The only funny part, she liked to hear her scratchy voice and kept trying to babble...

Mama bundled Miss Kiley up while we decorated for Christmas outside yesterday.

I put her to bed last night with the plan that we were going to College Station today to take some pictures of Kiley on campus.  That is if she was feeling okay.  Well we are happier today, but the voice part - totally gone! The best part? We got awesome pictures of Kiley (eventhough she didn't feel the best, she is such a trooper) and she took a 2 1/2 hour nap this afternoon (some much needed rest)!

Underneath the Century Oak at A&M.  Mama walked by this tree for 2 years and never put it together that this was the famous tree where everyone proposes! I must have been in la-la land again..

Future Class of 2032! Whoop!

Now, Mama is working on making Kiley feel better - she has a handy dandy humidifer set up in her room and Vicks baby rub on her chest.  Keep your fingers crossed! but I think it will only get better from here. Looking forward to next week when Kiley gets her picture taken with Santa, but until then, Gig Em' and God Bless!

More Pictures!



This is from a couple of weeks ago already, but she just looks so darn cute in that Barbie Jeep!

This is the first time Kiley sat in a high chair! Mommy and Kiley's lunches/suppers were a lot more pleasant from this day forward.  Kiley was so much happier because she wasn't in that darn car seat that she hates so much and she can see everybody from this height!

 Kiley sitting up in her play pen at the office.  We are actually happy to be in there for once! and Mommy got some work done!

Kiley tonight eating at the restaurant with Nanna and Pops! I thought she looked like a cutie in that hat so, I had to get a picture!!

TGIS..

TGIS..Thank God It's Sunday!! I'm thinking about whether or not I should recap this week or not, just because it was beyond tiring for Kiley and I!

I love when people ask me, "She must never cry, is she always this happy?" My answer? Well first I want to laugh because Kiley definitely cries.  She may not be crying then, because she knows how to put on a show, but believe me when I say that Kiley cries...

So, the only positive I have of this week is that it is over...YEA! And that Kiley is now sitting up on her own..pictures will come soon.  Mommy is happy and sad about this new development.  It just means that she is getting bigger, but I should be happy because she is making progress.  We can sit up on our own, but no rolling over or holding the bottle - did I mention that Kiley is a pretty lazy baby? 

As I have previously written we got shots on Wednesday, Thursday we had a fever and was cranky most of the day (but who can blame her), Friday Nanna, Kiley and I went to Austin to get some things for the office and we were good that day. Now the night was a different story.  Kiley was fussy until she finally got her bottle and went to bed.  Thank goodness for early bed times! Saturday was different for Kiley.  My Papa had a 80th birthday party.  She wasn't really use to being around such a crowd in one house.  We refused to sleep due to the fact that we might miss something! and therefore, we were again fussy (Mommy too) until we got our bottle again and went to bed (that night she went to bed early AGAIN).  Mommy will always love Kiley, but sometimes she sees her a little too long and Kiley goes to bed early!  Sunday, started going down hill from the middle of church and forward.  We slept a total of 1 hour today! (sarcasm)  And tonight when we put her to bed she screamed/cried for about 30 minutes until she finally gave in...Please Help!

Basically, the whole week was spent fighting sleep..what am I to do? I'm trying to teach her about nap times and putting herself to sleep, but she thinks she is going to miss out on something! Too bad Mommy can't take the nap for her! Oh well, wish me luck/pray for a better week starting tomorrow!

From Skinny to Chubby...

Just thought you might want to see how much Kiley has changed from when she was a little bitty baby (6 lbs. 9 ozs) to the present (16 lbs. 7 ozs.) Like I said from Miss Skinny to well Chubby! But like everybody says, babies are suppose to be chubby and she is just so darn cute these days with that round face of hers!

 Birth picture in Mommy's arms for the first time.

 One month old - so sweet.  We couldn't get her to wake up that night, no matter what we did!

 2 months old and starting to smile!

 3 Months old - now we are finally starting to fill out!

 In her little tutu at 4 Months!

 Most of you know this photo from the Gerber contest! 5 months

6 Months - playing with toys, smiling, and now we know how to scream! I don't know what we would do without her in our lives though!

What a day!?!

I wasn't going to type anymore today, but after the day Kiley and I had I couldn't resist.  It started off great! I was actually productive this morning and Kiley slept till 8:30 like she always does.  When it comes time to wake her up though...I go to her crib and she has a HUGE red spot on the left side of her cheek! I'm thinking "oh no, now what does she have? another rash? again?"  Turns out that I didn't have to worry about taking her to the doctor today because she was already going for her 6 month shots.  Yes, I said shots! YUCK!  After we are all dressed, Kiley eats her carrots in between all the yums and the babbling.  I load her up and go to Nanna's to try to figure out just what it is that Kiley has on her cute little face.  Our conclusion? We had no idea!

Fast forward to 2:15 and we are at Kiley's doctor.  Kiley makes her grand entrance sleeping...Once I strip her down though we are awake and come to find out my little baby isn't so little anymore, 16.7 pounds and 25 1/2" later.  We see the doctor and get all our wonderful shots (sarcasm by the way) and go out the door to yet another drive where Kiley falls asleep.  Long day possibly? And the HUGE red spot? Just dry skin from this crazy wonderful Texas weather.  Good thing Mama stopped to get some moisturizing lotion because it is already looking 10X better.

Now, fast forward to the present.  Kiley is sleeping, Zoe (the doggie) is sleeping after drinking way too much pool water at Nanna's house and getting sick once again from it, and Sonni (the other/older doggie) is probably sleeping after accidently falling in the pool and did I mention that he can't swim to well?  It was just a crazy whirlwind of a day. I know that I'm pretty happy that it is over and praying that the next day will be less adventurous!

Is it 6 already?

It is really hard for Jason and I to believe that our little girl is 6 months old.  Last night we were looking at the video camera from when she was only a couple of weeks old.  I didn't realize it until I watched her that she has changed sooo much. 

The other day we showed her a video of her crying when she was 2 weeks old.  She just stared at that video, her eyes were wide as ever! I don't think she had ever heard quite a noise like that before. It was so cute, like Jason said I wish we could do a video of her watching the video!

Every birthday month I take pictures of Kiley.  So far we have taken pictures in our frontyard, Nanna's backyard (my mom), and at the white house by the courthouse (always forget the name).  Anyways, for this month I wanted to do something different and special.  So, me and Nanna went out to CR 200 with a screaming baby in the backseat and set up a place there along the rode.  Meanwhile, I'm praying that she stops crying and will crack a smile for these pictures! Luckily, I had my Mom there to help me out..I would say that we definitely make a good team!!

Did I mention that the toy was the only way I could get her to not cry at first? 

The things we take for granted.  Like Kiley, feeling the grass and dirt.  She also pulled it out of the ground and tried to put it in her mouth! Don't worry Nanna stopped her just in time!

 I know that is a lot of pictures, but I just love them all! She really is filling out looking at these photos.  God has definitely blessed us with a beautiful little girl!