A Quick Jaunt to Augusta

Just before Thanksgiving, Kenly and I went to Nana and Papa's house for a quick visit. We stopped to pick up Grandma on the way, and we had a multi-generational visit. It was fast, but it was fun.

We watched a little Lala with Papa.
We snuggled with Grandma.
We took several trips to the mailbox.
We visited Aunt Linda and Uncle John's dogs.
We dressed up for really girly for church, but our tomboy side got us, and we had to stop and play with a truck.

Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving with the Brands. Mops and Pops brought Kenly's Christmas present to her a little early. She loves Rocky. This is the Mac Daddy of Rocking Horses. His head and tail move. He makes really horse noises. He even makes a galloping noise. Thanks to Mops and Pops, Kenly can now make a very realistic horse noise.

We ate a ton of food. We still have some sweet potato casserole in the fridge.
Kenly and Jason danced until they could dance no more.
We went on a short hike and explored some art.
We took time to be thankful for the beauty all around us.

Dada is FUN

New found love for the Princess Chariot

Back in the day, when Kenly was a mere babe, we took her on a hike using her "princess chariot." She pitched a fit, flung her binky in the dirt, and asked to go home. On attempt number two, we tried a different tactic since we're so brilliant and all. We took Kenly on a morning hike and let her walk at her leisure, stopping to pick up rocks, sticks, and leaves. She walked over bridges and up hills, and then she got tired. We put her in the chariot, and she squealed with glee. She LOVED it (and that might be the understatement of the year)! So, when we went on an afternoon hike to High Falls in Dupont State Forest, we tried the same tactic. This time she demanded to ride in her chariot. Forget walking on her own. A princess's shoe should not touch unclean ground.

Can you tell she's having a good time?
Hasn't stopped smiling yet...I think she's grinning because she already wants to break the rules and climb on the dangerous rocks at the top of the waterfall. Yikes.

Look Dada, there's a waterfall over there.
Ooooohhhh! It's so pretty.

Sniff Test

Adam and I were enjoying a dinner before I ran out to Bible study a few weeks ago. I was giving Adam the daily update so there would be no surprises or questions when I left. In the middle of all of this, Kenly started clamoring to get down from her high chair. She'd eaten well, so she got down to play. We continued our conversation.

Adam: Has she had her reflux medicine?

Me: Yes

Adam: Does she need Tylenol tonight before bed?

Me: No. I think she's feeling a bit better. Oh...be warned. She's eaten a ton, and she hasn't had a poop all day.

Adam: Great!

About this time, we hear a strained groan coming from the corner. Kenly is in cop-a-squat stance, gripping a chair for support. She is turning purple. Adam says, "I think it might be poop time."

She walks across the kitchen to the baker's rack, resumes the stance, and proceeded to turn beet red.

I say, "I think she's done Daddy, but you should check to see if she was successful before you walk across the house. She's fooled me a few time."

Adam picks her up, sniffs her hiney, and says, "All I smell is blueberry."

In the daily run down I forgot to mention that she had about 30 blueberries with lunch.

I peer in her diaper, and all I see is blue.

It was a two man job that required my assistance even though it was my night off. :)

1-2-3

Today I was on the toilet when Kenly decided to pay me a quick visit. She opened a bathroom drawer, which are off limits, and scooped out a bottle of eye drops. Since I was indisposed, I asked Kenly to return the eye drops immediately. Here's how the whole thing played out....

Mama: Kenly, put those eye drops back. They are not for you.

Kenly: (Giggling) Runs from the bathroom with the eye drops. Stands and looks at me from the full length hall mirror.

Mama: Kenly, you need to put on your listening ears and put the eye drops in the drawer and then shut the draw.

Kenly: (Giggling) Shaking her head no.

Mama: Don't make me come over there (said from the toilet). I will take them away. I'm going to count to three. One.

Kenly: (Smiling) Two

Mama & Kenly: Three

Mama: Hauls her lily-white behind off the toilet to get the eye drops all the while trying to keep a straight face instead of falling to the floor in peals of laughter.

...and she's not even 16 months old. Boy do I have my work cut out for me.

Colors--The Big Box

Kenly is learning her colors at an alarming rate. She's been identifying/saying "llellow" for a little over a month, but here recently, she's been naming colors at every turn. I'd like to film her and send a tape to Ellen. Maybe we could get on the show. She's not always accurate, but now she can identify green, blue, purple, and pink. The other day we were riding in the car and Kenly kept yelling "pikt" at the top of her lungs. I looked back in the mirror and said, "What are you trying to say?" She looked at me like I was "slow" and said, "Pikt" while holding up her pink pants. I nearly died laughing.

Today we had fun exploring a BIG BOX of colors, Kenly's code word from Crayons. She poured them all over the floor, put them back in the box, and even tried her hand at coloring with a little crayon.