Signing and Cheesing

We have been working with Kendal to start signing some things so we can understand what she is wanting. We do not understand what screams mean yet, so we needed extra help. She has kinda adapted some signs for her own preferences, but it is so much easier to uderstand her during feeding time. She can sign "more" for more food, "drink" for water, "please," "thank you," and blows kisses for goodbye. She still needs prompts most of the time, but she responds really well and is starting to initiate sometimes. It is great to watch her learn and grow.

That sour face that Kendal is giving through the video is her "cheesy" grin. We are not feeding her anything sour, she just pulls these faces when the camera comes out. She is a funny little girl and we love her!

Recognition of Excellence

I have to brag here for a minute. My husband is a GENIUS! Today he received an award for getting a very high percentage on the Praxis exam (very hard test to become a teacher). He hasn't even received his scores or results, but he figures he passed since he's got an Recognition of Excellence award. I've always known i am married to a smart guy. Casey does so well in school, and has such a vast knowledge. I'm very proud of Casey and all the work he's put into his schooling this semester. He's worked so hard, and next semester it finally comes to an end and he gets to graduate after his student teaching.
Since i won't be by a computer this weekend. I want to wish my Papa-in-law, and my Husband a very Happy Birthday. Casey's dad's birthday is tomorrow and Casey's is on Saturday. These two men are such wonderful guys, i feel very blessed and lucky to have them in my life.
Casey turns 27 this Saturday and doesn't have to take a final on his birthday for the first time in five years! I love my husband so very much and can't believe i got to marry the man of my dreams. I feel very lucky and truly thankfull to have Casey and Kendal in my life.




Happy Birthday PAPA D, and CASEY!

Traditions

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and i feel that we are truly in the midst of the holiday season. We had a good Thanksgiving. We celebrated with some of the Loosle side of my family this year. Kendal had a good day, eating random food from everyone the whole day (Didn't take a proper nap though). I am very thankful for the wonderful family that surrounds me. Casey and i feel so blessed with the family we have.
This weekend marks the first tradition of the holidays for me. It is when the Christmas decorations make their way out of storage and the tree goes up. When i say tree i'm being kind. My tree is actually smaller than the stockings that hang on my wall. When Casey and i were first married space was too precious to put a tree in our already crammed apartment so we got a small tree that has done the job well for us until we get the room to accommodate a real tree. Ornaments are always a given for tree decorating, and my Mom has a sweet tradition where she gives us each an ornament every year. However my small tree won't accommodate very much, and some ornaments though awesome are too heavy. So until that bigger tree comes along Casey and i have found other ways to decorate the tree. Every year we've done something different; for example we've done holiday candy, decorated gingerbread men, paper snowflakes, and tiny ornaments. This year we are doing pictures. It's been fun coming up with different ways to decorate our rather small tree.

Well, i cannot wait for the rest of the holiday traditions to come around. Family Christmas parties, Christmas eve, etc. This is Casey's favorite time of year; he's pulled out the music always has the holiday spirit about him. It definitely is a good time of year, i'm excited to continue our wonderful traditions and maybe start some new ones with Kendal.

Thought i better add a picture of our Sweet Pea; Enjoy!

ONE - derful

It's hard to look at my little Kendal and believe it's been a whole year, but it's true. Today Kendal officially turns one, and i am so happy she is in my life! It's been quite the year, and in my opinion has gone by way to fast. Lately i've been looking back and reflecting on this past years events and happenings. I love to look at pictures and remember the wonderful times we've had with Kendal this year.
I just love this little girl from head to toe.
- I love her wonderful crop of blond hair. It took some time to come, but Kendal has a lot of hair now and it's so much fun putting piggy tails in it.
- Kendal has some sweet eyes; She has her Grandma Loosle's eyes, and i love how you can see her sweet spirit through them.
- Kendal has a pretty cute nose. When she gets a big smile going her nose will crinkle up and it's an adorable site to see.
- Kendal has a great cheesy smile. (Pretty sure it comes from Casey). She has two teeth on the bottom and a third making an appearance on top.
- Kendal has a little belly, that Casey and i just love to tickle.
- Kendal is always using her hands, whether to eat, crawl, grab, play, clap, wave, etc.
- Kendal has always been a kicker, and her legs haven't stopped moving since she was born.
- Kendal has some petite feet, with cute little toes (i think she got those from me). They're so ticklish, and we can never seem to keep socks or shoes on them, especially when we're in the car.
Yep, we love this little girl from head to toe!

This past weekend we celebrated her birthday with family. We had all of my family there, and were happy that all of the Darringtons were able to come too (except Cody of course). Kendal is surrounded by a wonderful and loving family. We feel blessed and thankful for the love and care that our families give to us and especially to Kendal.
It's been such a great year, and i'm so happy to have such a ONE - derful little girl. I love you Kendal, and i can't wait to see what this next year brings.

A Boo

Today we took Kendal out for her first ever Trick or Treat. We had Kendal dressed up as Pebbles from the flinstones, and her cousin Campbell was Bam Bam. Kendal enjoyed visiting family, however the car rides in between were another story, she wasn't to happy to be put back into the car every twenty or so minutes.
Kendal can say "A Boo"; i'd like to take credit and say that i taught her that for Halloween, but really she learned it from many games of Peek a Boo. She can't say the whole phrase, so she just says "A Boo".

Well enjoy the pictures of the little one, and enjoy your Halloween!

That's right, Eleven months BABY!

Since i forced my husband to do homework all day yesterday, Kendal's eleven month update has been pushed back a day.

I'm finding it hard to believe that in only a month i'll have a one year old. Time has gone by way too fast in my opinion. I miss the days where my sweet little girl would just sit there cooing at me, kicking her feet a lot. Now she is everywhere, into everything, and babbling a lot. Kendal has turned everything into her phone these days. She puts her play phone, the remote, or even a block up to her ear and starts talking to it. It's funny because when she has a real phone to her ear, and someone is actually talking to her she just stares at it and wonders where that voice is coming from. Kendal still loves her books, and loves to open them and babble as if she's reading them to me.

This past months big milestone would have to be the fact that she Finlay went from her army crawl to a full on crawl. I still believe walking is a ways off, but i'm glad to see her up off of her belly (it was a lot of laundry). Kendal is a good eater most of the time, she doesn't hate any food, however she can be picky about how it's prepared (a bad habit i think i passed on). Unfortunately she still throws up somewhat often. I think that her horrible acid reflux that she had as an infant has affected her, and these days she tends to throw up easily. We're constantly switching formulas and trying to keep her calm and not fidgeting while she eats. Yes i switched to formula, i had a very hard time from the start of nursing, and figured once teeth came around i could finally have an excuse and switch, so when her teeth popped out, i jumped at the chance. (She also eats 100% better from a bottle, because of her reflux she'd either cry at most feedings, or throw up). Kendal loves playing right now she likes to discover things whether inside a box, cubbard, or toy she loves it. I can't keep a pair of socks on this girl for too long. A summer without socks has made her dislike them (honestly i think she's just taking after Casey, if he could he'd where sandal's as long as possible throughout the year). Kendal has a good crop of hair on her now, so i've been having fun with pony / piggy tails. She won't keep a headband on anymore either. I'm still so grateful everyday for the blessing that Kendal is in mine and Casey's lives. We are privileged to have such a wonderful little girl!

Update on Casey and i. Casey is in the middle of his busiest semesters of his entire academic Carrier. He's constantly at school, studying, at his practicum, or at his clinical. It's a little hard some days when i see him for two minutes in the morning, and a short time in the evening, but i know we're both doing what we need to right now. He's got so much to do and only so many weeks left, but i know he is working so hard, doing his best, and he can accomplish anything he wants. I get to spend most of my day with Kendal. We play and have fun, then she spends the afternoon with my wonderful family members while i work. I was able to go back full time to my After School job, i'm now a manager which is making me more money than before :). I enjoy the short break from home and Kendal, it's a wonderful job, but can have it's up and down days.

Well that's our life right now, a bit chaotic, but we're all doing well! I'll post a few pictures on here, and the rest on facebook.

Weekend Review

Friday night kicked off our weekend with the USU / BYU game. Casey's parents came down to watch the game with us, and enjoy some time with Kendal. Kendal spent the whole game going back and forth between all of us, and begging food off of anyone around us. Surprisingly USU won 31 to 16. I honestly expected a closer game, or BYU to win, but i won't complain that my awesome Aggies beat down those BYU bugs. I know Casey's dad was a bit disappointed in his team, but i feel that BYU needs some humble pie since they think they're all that to go independent.
Saturday Casey, Kendal and i went up to Idaho to spend some quality time with the Clan. Everyone except Jordan and Cody were there. We had fun together, and trying to watch conference (not so easy with two very active little ones stealing your time and attention away from conference). I have to say my favorite talk though was Elder Hollands talk, i felt inspired and uplifted from the whole conference. It was good to see the family. I love them and really enjoy our time together, it is sad that our visits tend to be spread apart so much though. David who is three months younger than Kendal is outshining her with how active and mobile he is. David has been crawling for a bit now, and Kendal had Finlay gotten up this past weekend. They're both so cute together, and it was funny to watch them.
All in all it was a wonderful weekend. I'm so grateful for our family and think the world of all of them!