Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down 2012 #43 & 44

Apologies for the super late posting and picture overload! I think I've been in shock the past couple of weeks that my baby is already a year old, so I've been weepy and reminiscent looking back at old pics and trying to keep her from growing anymore. Despite my best efforts, she is growing so much each day.

Up:

• As I'm sure you saw from the post I made last week, Kennedy had a great birthday. She annihilated her cupcake and has loved all her new 'girly' toys. She still enjoys playing with brother's cars, but it's nice to have some more feminine options around now! She was even a champ on her one year check-up. My poor baby had to get 6 shots and have her blood drawn. Though she screamed during the process, she was super happy the rest of the day - it didn't slow her down at all! Her stats were 30" tall (92%) and 20.4 lbs. (36%) - tall and skinny just like brother and daddy!

• I hosted my first baby shower last weekend with my friend Amy for our good friends Brent & Heather. They will be having a little boy in mid Nov. and I can't wait! We lived with Brent while  he and Mike were in EWO training for 6 months in San Antonio. We've they've had the pleasure of being stationed at the same bases thus far! Anyway, it was a co-ed shower and was a lot of fun! There are something like 8 babies being born in our squadron before the guys deploy next year - crazy!
• We just made our final trip to the pumpkin patch this weekend and Mike got to go with us. It was definitely colder than last time, but I don't think we really noticed 'cause we were having a great time. All the pics are on Facebook, but here are a few highlights:

Jackson with his friend Annalise on the barrel train. He threw a fit when Mike was going to ride with him, but had no problem sitting next to a pretty girl!

• Last year after Kennedy was born, we put her in a pumpkin to snap a photo for her birth announcement. I couldn't help but do it again this year and she enjoyed it much more than last time!

Last year...

Much happier this year in the pumpkin

Daddy carved Mickey in the pumpkin this year, but to Jackson this is Toodles!

Down:

• It seems like this time of year (every year) fills up so quickly; like we aren't super busy the whole year until the final quarter of the year when everything happens. I'm not complaining too much 'cause I definitely like to stay busy. I just wish we had more hours in the day so I didn't feel so rushed to get everything accomplished!
• Jackson has developed quite the attitude over the last week and has started to 'talk back' as my Mom used to call it! Time outs are helping, but he is so bull headed it's hard to get through to him when he's in that state of mind. Pray that he reverts back to my angel boy - I miss him being so sweet :(

More Pics:

Fun with Mr. Potato Head mustaches!

Mike decided to keep his on after the photos were finished! 

My beautiful sunflowers from Brent and Heather!

The afternoon after the shots -someone feels better!

Silly kids!

How do you sleep like that?!

Kennedy in her cute puffy coat! It keeps her so toasty in our cold weather out here.

The kids were playing in the coat closet trying on all the hats. Jackson said look mommy a fashion show - I think he's been watching too much Minnie's Bowtique!

Favorite Thing:

As I've mentioned before, Mike has an obsession with smoking meat in his electric smoker. The kind he has also lets you smoke cheese too. We bought this block of cheese - Tillamook Medium Cheddar Cheese - for him to smoke, but needed some shredded cheese for something else, so thought we'd just use some of it since we already had it on hand. Oh my gosh, once we tasted the cheese we were hooked. It is the best cheese I've ever tasted. We  have been buying it ever since just to munch on and shred for other things. It is so good that we couldn't even think of smoking it. Sorry folks, this is just one for the locals!

For a block this size it's about $7.50, but it lasts a good while.

Kennedy's First Birthday!

On October 19, our baby girl turned a year old. Time couldn't have flown any faster this past year and it is very hard for me to believe she could already be this big! She had a great day, we went to tot-time to play in the morning then did the usual routine. Shortly after Kennedy woke up from her nap, Mike got home from his TDY. They hadn't missed a beat, she was back to being Daddy's girl! After dinner my neighbor and her daughter came over and we sang Happy Birthday and opened presents. All in all I'd say she had a wonderful birthday! Here are some pictures of her special day. Sorry the videos are too long to post:(

She loved everyone singing to her!

Yep! She's her mother's child - definitely has a sweet tooth!

This is where we finally cut her off!

Abby enjoyed her cupcake too!

We'll have to work on Kennedy and holding babies! She loves to play with them and her new stroller from our neighbor!

Hanging out with Daddy after bath time! So happy to have him back home!

Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down 2012 #42.5

Up:

• Whew! Only a few more days until Mike returns and we can have him around for a while! You would think that TDYs would get easier as the kids get older, but honestly I think they've gotten harder. Thankfully I have a fabulous neighbor and we keep each other entertained which keeps our mind off missing our other halves! This week we took the kids to the pumpkin patch up in Meridian called Linder Farms. They had a fabulous time! Then she made cookies for the kids to decorate. Here are some of the pics, but all of them are on facebook too!

Abby and Jackson hold hands everywhere - church, tot-time, you name it!

My neighbor Becky and her daughter Abby. Couldn't have done this trip without her. The kids had a blast!

Jackson found the smallest pumpkin ever! We've already had to throw it out because Kennedy decided to try to eat it!

Decorating cookies!

Kennedy was the taste tester!

Mmmm...sprinkles!

• We ordered new nightstands for our room that match our furniture set. They had to special order them, but they arrived this past week. I was super proud of myself, I unloaded them from the van and carried them all the way upstairs by myself. That may sound minuscule to you, but these nightstands are pretty massive. It also took a well orchestrated serious of opening and closing baby gates! I didn't however have enough man strength to move the huge king bed to fit the new nightstands in place, but Mike can help me with that when he gets home!
• Jackson has been taking some initiative to clean up after himself this week and has even been using his manners most of the time. I generally have to remind him to say please, thank you, or sorry, but not this week!

Sharing Cheerios!

Kennedy in her pumpkin dress for church on Sunday. I think it's big enough it'll fit her next year too!

Kennedy decided to put syrup in her hair after she finished her waffle!

My artist!

Down:

• You may not know this, but October is National Bully Awareness Month. I didn't think I would have to deal with this at my childrens' current ages, but apparently kids are starting earlier these days. I'll admit, my kids aren't angels, but they are pretty well behaved most of the time. It frustrates me to no end to see kids hit, kick, or throw things at other kids and their parents do absolutely nothing! Do they not realize that if you allow the behavior to occur, it's just going to continue?! 
• I'm having trouble coming up with kid friendly meals for the whole family. I don't remember my mom ever having trouble coming up with dinner ideas, but I've always struggled. I have a billion recipes, but they all seem like the kids need to be just a little bit older before they eat them. Does anyone else struggle with this? I would love any meal ideas! (I'm mainly referring to Kennedy because Jackson still really doesn't eat at meal time!)

Favorite Thing:

   So my absolute favorite meal to eat would have to be Chicken Spaghetti. My Mom always made it for my birthday meal growing up and it's great to make and take to friends or freeze and save for later. My favorite version of this recipe, and there are a lot out there, is Paula Dean's! It makes enough to fit into to 8x8 pans and eat one and freeze the other. I highly recommend trying it.