Snow and Ice!

Sunday night we were hit hard with a snow storm. We got about 4 inches of snow through the night and as the week went on it all turned to ice. Schools were closed all week. Kayla and I stayed home together for three days and it was great. It was nice not having to leave the house for anything and we got to spend some time together.

We played in the snow a little but weren't able to make a snowman. Kayla got cold pretty fast but I think she enjoyed herself.

Wednesday I braved the roads and took her to my parents house. Well today the roads are way worse than yesterday so Kayla is now snowed in at my parents and I'm here. Outside my house 4 vehicles ran off the road or got stuck. I'm very thankful I made it safe and sound. My car is actually parked at the top of a big hill and I had to walk home. Again, thankful I wasn't with Kayla during that!

Happy New Year!

I briefly tried to explain to Kayla the concept of New Year's. I guess she got it because Monday night she slept in her bed all night but called for me over her monitor in the middle of the night. When I went in to check on her she was sitting up and happily pronounced, "Happy New Year!".

It was too sweet for me to even be annoyed so I tucked her back in, smiled, and went back to bed :)

Saying Goodbye to 2010!

I really wish I had done better at updating! So much has happened...

One reason that I haven't is because Kayla's Dad and I have divorced. The past few months have been rough and I wasn't sure how everything would end up. Right now we get along just fine and Kayla seems to be adjusting OK. I know she will struggle with her parents not being together but I hope to show her that we both love her very much and want what is best for her.

Let's see...Kayla is still enjoying pre-school. She does lots of painting and crafts and is has lots of friends at school. Kayla knows all of her shapes and colors, can count to 20, and speaks like a four year old! She loves puzzles, coloring, books, and of course her Nemo blankets! She is full of imagination and silliness.

Halloween (Kayla's birthday) was lots of fun. She had her birthday party at Chick-fil-A and had friends and family. The highlight of the night was when the big cow came out. She really loved it! I made her cake and of course Chick-fil-A handled the food. Kayla dressed up like Blue's Clue's this year and we went trick or treating twice. She was still a little timid this year but I think she thought getting candy from people was pretty cool. I'm pretty sure I ate all the chocolate.

Thanksgiving came and went and we had a great time celebrating.

Kayla had a follow up visit for her heart murmur. The defect is still there and we have another appointment in June 2011 to see if it has been resolved. As of today she is in great health and besides a couple of sniffles, she has been free from sickness this year!

Christmas was great fun for Kayla this year. She really enjoyed her Advent calendar (I put jelly beans in each box), and she of course had fun opening presents, baking cookies, and looking at Christmas lights. She was able to spend Christmas Day at my parents and at Cary's parents. Christmas morning she "wrapped" two presents up for herself...her two Nemo blankets!

Kayla spends a lot of time at Nana and Papa Shu's house and loves that. She also enjoys when Mimi comes to visit. She's not much a phone talker...just like me!

As we say goodbye to 2010 I am amazed at how time flies. I really cannot believe my little girl is 3! It makes me sad that she will be grown up before I know it, but I am also so thankful for her budding personality and can't wait to see what type of person she becomes. She is already very sweet and tender-hearted, loves to share and see everyone happy. So far so good!

Bring on 2011!!!

Long Time Coming

Wow, I really let time get away from me! We are alive and well and Kayla is almost 3! I cannot believe how time flies. I have to say the older she gets, the more I enjoy her and am amazed by her personality. She is a little ball of energy, excitement, and curiosity, and silliness.

I will try and recap some summer highlights:

-Kayla stayed for a week at Nana Shu's while I went on a mission trip to Honduras. She did great!

-Kayla made a few trips to the pool and really enjoys swimming like a big girl with her arm swimmies on

-She is completely potty trained! She has an accident once in a blue moon at night but I am so proud of her!!!

-We took a trip to Mimi's in August and visited the fair

A major change we have undergone is that Kayla is in preschool three days a week. She goes to Chapel Hill Christian School and so far I am very pleased. She adjusted pretty well and I think the interaction with kids and new activities has really helped to stretch her and help her mature. She learns little songs and is so proud when she gets to carry her backpack!

We still go on walks in her stroller but she is getting almost big enough to walk alone :( I get a little sad when I think about the big girl she will become and eventually long for complete independence. It's a great reminder to enjoy what time I have with her.

Here are a few summer pictures:

Kayla "milking a cow" at the fair in MD.

First day of preschool!

Getting her first ever pedicure!

Getting her Egyptian makeup done at Vacation Bible School.

On a ride at Six Flags

Happy Easter 2010!

We had a great Easter despite Kayla having a terrible cough/cold. We woke up to a bright sunny day and went to Easter breakfast at church. We had our Easter service and then went to my Dad's house for lunch. We had ham, macaroni & cheese, green beans, carrots, fruit salad, and deviled eggs. We also made an Easter basket cake for dessert. Kayla hunted for eggs and we had a nice day sitting on the porch and enjoying each other's company.

The arrival of spring

We are finally starting to thaw out a bit. It seems like it's been a long, cold, and rainy winter! We recently had a fence built in the back yard and it's nice to let Kayla out when the sun is shining and let her explore.

We recently dyed Easter eggs and Kayla had a blast decorating the eggs with stickers. Stickers are still her number one obsession. Who knew they could be so entertaining?!?

I signed Kayla up for a preschool that will start in the fall. It is called Chapel Hill Christian School and they go up to 5th grade. I'm not sure how long she will attend but I was very impressed with the facility. Kayla seems excited.

She is doing well with potty training. Almost 100% success at home during the day but I don't quite trust her at night or out for long stretches of time. She went through a spell of waking up and wanting to come to our bed and we let her for quite some time. I decided I wanted my sleeping space back (three in a queen is a tight fit) and we made a treasure box with cheap toys for her to go to if she stays in her bed. It works for the most part but she still occasionally wants to come sleep with us.

Kayla is really starting to interact with other kids and people. She's very friendly. She also got an adorable haircut - a little bob. I really like it and it makes her look so grown up.

Kayla's favorite place to eat is Chick-fil-A - a girl after my own heart. We go weekly for some nuggets, fruit, maybe some fries, a little ice cream cone, and a ride down the slide. So fun.

Applying stickers to the dyed Easter eggs:

Checking out the process:

A trip to the zoo:

A good pic of her new haircut:

Some Funnies from Kayla

Me: Kayla, do you what animal honey comes from? (I guess I should have said insect)

Kayla: Pooh Bear!

Me: Oopsie Daisy!!! (Donna has two dogs named Daisy and Peanut"

Kayla: Oopsie Peanut!!!

Kayla takes my bra and tries to put it on and says, "Look Mommy I'm wearing your boobies!"

Kayla pottied on the floor and said, "Look Mommy it's a circle! We can make smiley face!"

Instead of saying "I don't know" she says "I di bon't know"...it's the cutest thing ever

While at the church nursery she was given a small cup of water (no lid or straw). She looked at Mrs. Julie (her sitter) and said, "Help me get the water out!"

While saying prayers she will often pray for Nemo - her favorite blanket

She has made up a game called "Puddling". It involves taking our belts out of the belt drawer and sitting on them, tossing them around. I don't really get it.

We lost one of Kayla's shoes at a local restaurant called The Lazy Donkey. I told Kayla we would need to call Lazy Donkey and find out if they had her shoe. She put her hand to her mouth and said "Lazy Donkey!!!!" I guess she called him!!!