Kairis Turns 2!!!

Happy Birthday, Kairis! It's hard for us to believe how quickly 2 years have passed by...it feels like just a few months ago you were my squishy little baby girl who I rocked to sleep each night. You have grown up so quickly. Your daddy and I feel so blessed to be given the privilege of raising you. You enjoyed a birthday party at Nana's house, especially for you on August 8th. Nana made a special birthday lunch for you, and GG and Grandpa and Aunti Linda joined in the festivities. You were given SO many fun toys and clothes. Some of your favorites included your new tea set from Nana, and Mama's old cabbage patch doll named Sally. You like Sally's hair a lot. :)

A few things you are doing these days...you are basically potty trained. We are starting to get you used to using the potty outside of the home too, and practice wearing panties while we're running errands around town. You have quickly picked up on using the potty at an early age--you have amazed quite a few people with your ability. :)

You still love books, just like your mama. You are quiet around new people but very rambunctious and happy when around those familiar to you. You are very polite. You use "please" and "thank you's" appropriately. You like trains, baby dolls, play dough, and talking on your scoutey phone from Grandpa and Grandma Thomas. You love to help me in the kitchen with just about anything--stirring, cracking eggs, washing dishes....you are very helpful. When we go shopping, you like to put things in the grocery cart and then on the conveyer belt. You LOVE your daddy. (he's pretty fond of you too, I might add) Almost every morning, you wake up, look at me and say "daddy?" I usually say "daddy's working" and you reply "school?" or "work"? You are always thinking of daddy and care so much about him. You love animals. You are very compassionate toward people. You love playing with your best friend, Solana. When we pray together, you ask to pray for "lana" most of the time. You also enjoy the library and talk about "teacher Karen" our librarian. You love Jesus. You love to read your Bible with mama and point to all of the pictures of Jesus. I could go on and on....this is just a glimpse into Kairis' life.

Kairis' second home...first move...

We were blessed with being able to rent our condo out and find a nicer, more "outdoorsy" home to rent in the area. Kairis did wonderful with our transition to our new home. I think she's thoroughly enjoyed being able to spend more time outdoors, feeding horses on our property, picking apple and blackberries and watching the mailman deliver mail to our front door. We love our new home and feel incredibly blessed.


Kairis now thinks we have two homes...and in a weird way, we do! Whenever we drive by or near our condo, she yells "home!" and says the same for our new place.

Silly Daddy and Kairis!

I have been begging Tim to get rid of these silly hair clown pieces for years now...he keeps insisting they will come in handy for school props someday. *Sigh*

Looks like he has already found a purpose....:)

July 13th, 2010

Love You!

Kairis started saying "love you" toward the beginning of June, 2010. It's adorable to hear her voice this to us, all day long. Love you! Love you! Love you!

Poop in Potty!

June 29th, 2010 marks the first day Kairis went poop on the potty! :) And of all places....my mom's house while I held her on the big toilet seat! She had been talking about doing this for quite awhile but hadn't mustered up the courage to take the leap...or the dump...but she did! So proud of our little girl!

By June 30th, just the next day, she was in full swing, using the potty for pee and poop at least 80% of the time. What a smart girl we have! :)

May 18th...

I have been so behind in blogging and keeping up little K's blog....about the only thing I have going for me is that I have a "notes" section on my blackberry phone that I keep track of the "little" things I want to remember to blog about for Kairis.

May 18th was one of those days.

She said "garlic" for the first time. But not just "garlic". "gar-leek." Just like that. So cute to hear her say this! :)

The Beach!!!

My mom, Kairis' "nana" as she endearing calls her and Tim and I enjoyed a wonderful week at the Oregon Coast--Seaside specifically. Tim and I had the best of both worlds during this week--we got to play and love on our little girl lots AND enjoy lots of one-on-one time together, just the two of us. Bringing my mom along with us was a huge blessing for us, and I don't think she minded vacationing with us too much either. ;)

We enjoyed participating in our first ever parenting conference at Cannon Beach Conference Center. Dr. Tim Kimmel, founder of "Family Matters" was their guest speaker and he presented materials from many of his books, including Grace Based Parenting, Raising Truly Great Kids, Little House On The Freeway, Why Christian Kids Rebel, and many, many others. He's a family psychologist and public speaker and advocate for children, and families. Tim and I left the conference (we were there for two meetings each day for 3 days) feeling very encouraged and supported in our roles as parents, as well as confirmed in our efforts we've put into raising our little girl. My mom stayed with Kairis in Seaside for two hours each morning and two hours each evening while Tim and I were away, and they enjoyed lots of time playing in the sand, swimming, and just spending quality time together. My mom was a God-send and we really appreciated having her tag along with us. We wouldn't have been able to enjoy this conference without her help. Thanks again, Mom!

I should also say that we enjoyed some of the nicest weather we've ever encountered along the Oregon Coast....one of the days we were there, it was nearly 100 degrees!!!!! Unfortunately, our little peanut wasn't too thrilled with the heat and got overheated, (we think...) hence, this sour expression on her face in some of these pictures. We had ocean front accommodations in Seaside and were absolutely spoiled by my in-laws timeshare.



Tim and I's favorite place in the world-Pacific Way Bakery in Gearhart, Oregon. Love, love, love this French Cafe! We spend every year here writing and examining our yearly goals together and writing our annual "letters" to one another. It's been fun bringing Kairis to our special spot from time to time.







Anyway...as you can tell by the pictures, we all had a really enjoyable, really relaxing vacation.