I want a cat...

...and I've never been a cat lover. I'm more of the dog type, but when I saw this cute little cat, I just knew that I had to take her home and love her forever.

Wordless Wednesday--Maybe?

Does adding a video make me a "cheater cheater pumpkin eater"?

Not Me Monday

Are you feeling guilty for watching your child eat the crumbs from a Milk Bone? Did you stay in your PJs for three days straight? Is your kitchen floor so sticky it could qualify as fly paper? Well, head on over to MckMama's and get it off your chest. Maybe take a little time to read what everyone else hasn't been doing too.

I did not allow the crash my husband's razor made as it hit the shower floor to cause sheer panic in my heart. It did not take me a full hour to recover from such a silly incident.

While at the germy doctor's office, my daughter did not pick up tissue off the bathroom floor and then proceed to put it in her mouth. That would be gross. At least the tissue was given to her by me, and not leftovers from the day before.

I do not allow my child to run on the furniture or to annoy the dog by frolicking on his couch. Nope. Kenly's feet are always firmly and safely on the ground.
After putting a fresh diaper on Kenly, she did not go in the corner and proceed to squat and grunt to produce poo in her fresh diaper. Upon inspection, I did not find two tiny round poopies that didn't even leave skids on the diaper. I did not remove the two teeny, tiny poops and flush them so that I could keep the same diaper on Kenly. I'm not that cheap.

Finally, I am not feeling like a tub of lard thanks to one of Kenly's toys. It seems that every time I walk past the Leap Frog Fridge Farm, the noise that ensues is a moo or an oink. I'm a rational human being. I know that the toy is just calling out for attention. It is not commenting on the size of my thighs, but still...I'm getting a complex.

What have you not been doing this week?

Cute, Funny, AND Scary

Kenly had learned a new word. This word can't be mistaken for anything else. This word can be understood without Mommy or Daddy translating.

In the past few days, Kenly has been trying this word on for size. Right now her use of the word is funny and cute, but I'm scared.

Last night when Kenly was about to put her hand in the dog's water, I said, "Kenly. Don't touch it. Chance's water is not for you." She quickly turned around, wearing a rather stern face, and said, "No. No. No."

When she was about to touch the dishwasher, I said, "Kenly..." She turned around and said, "No." This time she performed an emphatic bounce to illustrate her point.

Any time she gets busted about to do something wrong, she turns around and says, "No." I use every ounce of my energy to keep from laughing out loud. We don't want to encourage the use of that word just yet.

It's like she's telling herself no before I have to. But, all too quickly, the tables will turn. Before I know it, I'll ask her to sit down, and she'll say, "No." When that happens, it won't be funny any more.

Laugh of the Day

So this morning I woke up on the wrong side of the bed, but not without provocation. Kenly had a rough night. I held her from 11:00-12:40, and she was really pitiful. It broke my heart. She'd get to sleep and then wake up crying or whimpering. When she wanted to get in her bed, I put her down. I collapsed into bed around 1:00 and then heard her crying again at 4:30. I gave her a second bottle and some Tylenol and then went back to bed at about 5:30. She was a noisy sleeper until 6:30 when she woke up screaming due to a horribly large gas bubble that she burped in my face as soon as I picked her up. You gotta love gas.

I say all of this to let you know I was in a mood. I looked rather zombie-like, and I was speaking in monosyllables.

Kenly was going 90 to nothing around my feet playing a purple keyboard that Nana and Papa gave her. She was creating a rather dissonant, deep, Halloweeny sounding song. Adam looked at her and said, "That's a beautiful song you're playing. What's it called? "

He paused for a moment and said, "On Mommy's Last Nerve."

I died laughing. You know my husband is good if he can make me laugh before 7:00AM and after the night we had.

Miracle of Motherhood

As a mother, I'm amazed that you can love your children with a fierce, undying love when they are unbearably sweet and when, well, they are slightly sour. The love never wavers no matter how stormy the tantrum. That kind of love can only be designed by God.

Mia Hamm?

Kenly picked up this huge soccer ball a few weeks ago and brought it to Adam. He put it on the ground and started kicking it around. Kenly squealed, got really excited, and started kicking and dribbling the ball all on her own. Adam just showed her how to do it, and she is now an addict. She can't get enough. If she sees any ball, she wants to dribble and shoot. She'll even give you a high five when she's proud of herself.

She bounces with joy when Adam screams, "GOOOAAAALLL!"

Do they have a soccer league for 14-month-olds? The quality is grainy because I shot the video on my cell phone, but you'll be able to get the picture.

14 Months

Fourteen months ago today you entered our lives, a bundle of perfection and a dream come true. Today you're on the go more than you're still. You're hiding and running more than you're snuggling, and you still make us marvel every day. Thank you for making us a family.

This month you're fond of eating only what you want to eat....thank you very much.

You love your shoes. If you find them on the floor, you come running saying, "Shoos."

You have even Dr. Mustoe shocked/amazed with your "understood" vocabulary. You know the names of rooms, foods, and countless other objects. Your spoken vocabulary is increasing too. You say about 20-30 words when prompted, but Mama and Dada often are your interpreters. Too everyone else, you're speaking in tongues.

You love your Benny Bunny with a fierce love. And don't think about taking your Binky on a bad day.

You're on whole milk now, but you're still using your bottle. You and your Mama are still a bit set in your/our ways.

You love to "flop" when you're angry. You often get more angry when you flop on a hard surface.

You like to hide, especially when you're naked and on your way to the bath tub.

You love to be outside.

Every morning when I dress you, I'll ask, "Does the baby look pretty in her outfit today?" This is where you go after I ask that very question.

I'll ask, "Do you love that baby?" This is your response.Whenever I try and take your picture with a flash, this is the response I get. I say you're channelling your inner Earl Hicky from My Name is Earl.

You want to know how everything work. You'll puzzle something over for 20-30 minutes. Today you wanted to know how the top fits on the Nalgene bottle.

To celebrate your wonderfulness, we gave you a bubble bath. Your very first bubble bath. I'd say you're a fan of bubbles, but I knew that already.

Thanks for 14 months of love and childhood wonder. You are priceless.

Love me?

He loves me?He loves me not?
He loves me?

He loves me not?

He loves me! I know it's true!

You know your husband loves you when he's in the store to pick up the milk you forgot and he buys you flowers just because he knew you'd love them.

How did I get so lucky?

I love you Adam Brand!

Who loves the playground?

Kenly does, of course. You'd never know that this 30 minutes of the day was the only 30 minutes she wasn't a total bear. You'd never know she had a virus by looking at these shots. The playground can cure anything.

Kenly won't go down the slide by herself yet, but she will slide down if I put her on the side about halfway down. Can you believe how much hair she has now? What a big girl.
I love the windblown look in this picture and that her shadow appears to be waving to her.
She climbed the stairs of the playground equipment. When she was at the very top, she lost her mind. She squealed, laughed, and waved at the kids below her. She must have felt like Queen of the Hill.

Look at Kenly channeling her inner Marilyn Monroe.

Never mind that the step is almost as tall as she is. Kenly's motto is "Me do it me own self."

Heart Attack

This morning I was snoozing while listening to Kenly make sleepy noises and soft moans. She's a noisy sleeper when she's sick. All of a sudden, I heard a loud squeal and a horrible crash. I was on my feet in less than a second and across the house in under three. I've been having these horrible dreams about Kenly climbing out of her crib and hitting the floor. I was sure I was going to find Kenly screaming on the carpet beneath her crib. I ran into her room calling her name. I flipped on the light, looked on the floor, and got really confused. My eyes went from the floor to the crib, and what did I see? My darling daughter smiling brightly with a look that said, I thought you'd never get here.

My next thought was that someone was trying to get in the house. I grabbed Kenly and made Chance follow me. We looked at all the doors and windows. Everything was shut tight...no sign of forced intrusion.

At this point I was sure I'd gone crazy. I started an investigation, and what cause the terror I still haven't wholly recovered from?

My husband's razor. Oh, and a well timed squeal from Kenly. Yep, you read that right. A razor and a squeal. His razor started my day off with a jolt of adrenaline when it fell from its perch in the shower.

Aunt Nonie

Adam came home from work yesterday and gave me some sad news. Aunt Nonie passed away in her sleep last night. For awhile she's been struggling with COPD and cancer, diseases that really cramped the way Nonie liked to live. Ever since I've know her, Nonie has been one of those carpe diem sort of women. You know, a take life and live it kind of gal. Nonie was not a person who sat around and thought, I wish I had ________. I'm sad that Kenly won't remember Nonie personally, but I'm relieved that Nonie left peacefully and without months of struggle. I'm glad she left this world with her independence and dignity firmly intact.

When I think of Nonie my mind swims with stories and details. Some stories I witnesses first hand, others are tidbits handed down. So, when I think of Nonie....

...I think of a young woman begging my husband (as a toddler) to let her change his diaper.

...I think of an adventurous, world traveling wonder. She could go out wearing a T-shirt that reads, Been there, done that. But she wouldn't because she's far too classy for such a shirt.

...a well dressed, well read, well spoken woman.

...a fierce Democrat who volunteered and supported causes near and dear to her heart.

...a picture taker and picture lover.

...the best stewardess an airline could hope to hire.

...a woman who loved her family and adored her nephews and those who married them.

...a generous person. For our wedding, Nonie gave us our silverware and an eight piece setting of our dishes. When she saw the little cups and little bowls the set came with, she got on line and ordered bigger cups and bigger bowls because the others just wouldn't do.

...of the furniture in our house. Without Nonie's generous gift of furniture, we'd have a nearly empty house.

...a woman who'd win a new game and retire as permanent champion.

...a lover of fine food and wine. She knew how to treat her family to some fine food.

All in all, when I think of Nonie, I think of a loving, generous woman who spoke her mind and told it like it was. When I think of Nonie, I think of a woman whose absence will create a hole in the Brand/Satterfield family.

Bye Aunt Nonie! You'll be missed.

Not Me Monday--Too Many Nots to Count

Welcome to Not Me Monday, a blog carnival created by MckMama to celebrate what we haven't been doing all week. Come on and admit your imperfections--free your mind of those less than stellar moments in motherhood. Don't forget to head over and read what the rest of the world has not been doing.

This past week I've been way off my game, so hold on to your hats. The windstorm of "Not Mes" could knock you right over.

* While trying to make dinner from what was left in the pantry I did not find some horribly expired food lurking in the back corners. How bad could it be, you ask? Well, I found Chicken Helper that should have been used by November 2001 and some Northern Bean that should have been served by January of 2006. Don't fear. The food made its way to the trash and not our mouths.

* Last Tuesday I did not dash to the car and speed down the driveway only to screech to a halt before I ever left the driveway because I realized I had never put on a bra. I decided to be late for Bible study instead of going without. These ladies are my close friends, but it was cold, and I didn't want them to notice, well, you know. My husband did not announce...that's a Not Me Monday moment when I returned to right my wrong.

* The Mama Bear in me did not come out when I picked Kenly up from a nursery on Wednesday. I did not want to make a scene because I felt she had not been taken care of well. I'm always calm, cool, and collected. I'm not still hot under the collar about the incident. I never hold on to things. That kind of behavior is poison.

* On Wednesday afternoon the bug guy did not show up to treat the house only to find me asleep, in my pajamas, again with no bra at 2:00 in the afternoon. I'm always doing something productive around the house while Kenly naps. I was not really bummed that my snooze was interrupted.

* Kenly did not pee the floor AGAIN this week while taking the short walk from the changing table to the bathroom. I mean really. Couldn't she wait until she was in the tub so I'd never know?

* I did not wait until the last minute to order $100.00 of diapers online only to realize they will never arrive on time. With only three diapers remaining, I did not drag my sorry self to the store to purchase more diapers even though the mother load is on the way.

* While at the store this morning, I did not forget to buy more milk for my precious daughter. I always remember to write everything on the list.

* I did not allow Kenly to watch hours of TV on Friday because I was sick and miserable. I always suck it up and do the right thing even when I don't feel good. Sesame Street and Sid the Science Kid can't be that bad, right?

* I did not sleep most of the weekend while leaving Adam to care for the house, Kenly, and Chance. I can keep going even when my head feels like it is going to blow up.

* I did not say out loud and in public...."Your child behaves so much better than mine." I know that type of behavior is not acceptable or healthy.

See. I told you. Don't you feel better about yourself. What have you not been doing this week?

Building Something Lasting

This weekend Kenly learned that these blocks are more than colors. They're more than objects to scatter throughout the living room. To her amazement she learned that these blocks build things. These block fit together to create things. And she was hooked. Adam and Kenly built towers and houses and dinosaurs until they were both exhausted. But the Mama in me couldn't help draw some parallels. You see, they're building more than houses.They are building a strong relationship that is built on a firm foundation of trust and mutual adoration. They are learning to work together,to share, and to play nicely. All qualities necessary in a daddy-daughter relationship.

The bond is growing stronger every day--one block at a time. And the beauty is, their relationship will be much stronger than any block fortress they could ever build.

Real Men Wear Glitter

On Saturday, Adam took Kenly and me to the Scarecrow Festival. Kenly had her first "face painting" experience while there. She sat in Daddy's lap while a very patient lady painted a pumpkin on her arm. She did remarkably well. I thought there would be wiggling and screaming, but I think the intrigue kept her glued to her seat. She wanted to know what in the world was happening to her arm.

After the pumpkin was perfected, the sweet lady added sparkles. What girl doesn't like sparkles? Kenly loved the sparkles. She grinned from ear-to-ear.

We walked down to the lake and watched the geese. Kenly and Daddy played, giggled, and played some more. In the end, Adam was wearing all of Kenly's sparkles on his face. He looked good in sparkles. Some men would have washed their faces immediately or squealed like little girls....get them off of me. Not Adam. He wore his sparkles with pride--a badge of honor announcing that he's a proud daddy to a sparkly little girl.

Kenly and Adam will be tight. I'm sure he'll do a million things he never imagined just to see her smile. That's what strong men do for their girls.

Scarecrow Festival

We went to the Scarecrow Festival on Saturday to get out of the house and distract me temporarily from my head cold. It was fun to see all the different scarecrows competing for prizes. Adam and I were fond of the tribute to Gulliver's Travels and the Land of the Lilliputians. And of course there was the tribute to American Gothic by Grant Wood. Not bad if you ask me.

And what would a festival be with out Kenly hiding/playing peekabo with a clown behind Mama's legs.

Don't forget McGruff the crime dog. Kenly flirted with him unmercifully. She wouldn't get very close, but she shot him some killer smiles. Pun intended.

No festival is complete without Daddy trying to steal a bite of your food.

Just because....

....she's so dang cute. I couldn't help myself.

The other day we went outside to play in the crisp fall air, and I decided to take a few pictures.

Kenly loved playing with the rocks in the driveway. She'd pick them up and say, "wok." Every "wok" was a treasure to behold.
She was watching the wind blow the leaves all around in this picture. Notice the "wok" in her hand.

She's making noise like the wind in this photo. Can you spot two "wok" treasures in this picture?

Kenly has become a super soccer star at 13 months. She can dribble and kick. She loves to chase the ball. On occasion she picks it up and throws it. The funny thing is the ball is almost as big as she is...

You have to love fall....