one: part two

Dear Kiley,

For your first birthday we gave you some toys you'll soon forget about. But more importantly, we spent a lot of time with you, showered you with love, hugs and kisses, and had all your friends and family over for a super fun party. I hope these blog posts will someday mean more to you than any party or gift, or piece of paper with dollar signs on it. You certainly don't appreciate it now, but hopefully someday you'll recognize the value in me sharing your personality in pictures with the web.

You have blossomed into quite the young lady. Your dad and I were trying to think of the right word to describe you... grumpy? No. Independent? Not quite. Sassy? Getting close... You certainly are vocal about getting what you want, particularly when it comes to food and things Jaxon has. Otherwise you are generally the cutest, brightest spot of the day with a smile that lights up the room, melts hearts, and makes people want to bite you (grandma walker in particular).

I find myself just watching you... you're catching on to things now and starting to tease your brother quite a bit, playing peekabo on your own, working on standing all by yourself, walking with toys or along furniture, climbing up all the stairs, hiding in my clothes in the closet with a very mischevious grin, saying 'nigh nigh' and 'yum yum'. You can eat a whole cheeseburger from McDonald's all on your own- we now have to buy another meal when we go out instead of sharing because well, you just eat a lot. You are so desperate to be able to run around and play, go down the slides at the park, play catch, and do all the things the other kids are doing. Sometimes it leaves some nasty scrapes and gashes on your forehead right before a big party weekend and family pictures. I think you're going to be a handful someday...

But for now, I'm just going to stare at you and soak you up. Take way too many pictures of you, and give you some big squeezes just to make you giggle. Listen to the silence as you eat (because you eat so much!). And enjoy your constant wonder at how things work. You are such a sweet little girl. I can't wait to get to know you even more. We love you. Happy 1st birthday.

Mom and Dad

Enjoy these pictures from your party!

Checking out the monkey hand puppet from Carol and Jeri.

Am I supposed to laugh? 

 What else is in here? Opening presents from Grandma and Grandpa Walker.

 Before everyone got there on Sunday for the birthday party, Jaxon and Zoe took a spin in the driveway. Neither of them is a very good driver.

I can't wait to show them how to drive...

 Mmmm... Can't beleive mom worked so hard on these! Oh wait, that's right, she bought them. And they were good.

Showing everyone how you topple mountains at the water table.

And in the third outfit of the day... we did the Chinese tradition of having Kiley pick something on the tray. Each item represents her future somehow (calculater= smart, pen= writer/creative type, candy= like to eat/ foodie, toy= like to goof off, money= wealthy).

She picked the pen! Atta girl!

Then she picked that little piece of wrapping paper...

 And a cupcake to top it all off.

Approved.

 Double approval.

one

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

 You've gone from this...

 to this....

What a difference a year makes...

We love you Kiley and can't wait to celebrate with you this weekend!

three, part two

Hard to beleive our little boy is three. What a fun weekend we had celebrating. Jaxon's birthday party was on Sunday. The cupcakes were frosted, the party hats were on,
the friends and party guests had arrived. There was the obligatory cute baby sister, scrutinizing... watching... taking notes for future birthday parties.
Pretty sure the birthday boy had a good time. How could you not when everyone you ask for a cupcake thinks it's your first one? Dear Jaxon,

You are the most amazing little boy with the biggest heart.

On your third birthday, I want you to know how much your parents love you. How we think about you throughout our day. Even though we can't always be with you, we wish we could.

Tonight as I was hanging out downstairs watching GLEE and updating your blog, listening to you sing Jingle Bells in your crib when you should be sleeping put the biggest smile on my face. It reminded me of myself as a kid. Hearing you tell me that you can't use the cucumber melon soap because it has pickles on it, has me cracking up. The fact that you told me you weren't going to hurt anyone today at daycare made me a a little nervous, but at least you didn't say the opposite.

And the sweet boy in you that is so thankful for his mommy and daddy, makes me just want to squeeze you tighter, hold you longer, stay up later, and be with you more.

I know why my parent's (your grandma and grandpa) always said, 'just you wait till you have kids'. They said that about a lot of things, but it's so true, that you never quite know what it will be like until you dive in. I am beyond grateful for you and could probably gush for another paragraph or two, but I won't.

I'll just hug you a little tighter tomorrow, hold you a little longer, stay up a little later with you.

We love you, Mom and Dad

Happy birthday to me!

Happy birthday to me!

Thanks Carol and Jeri for the gifts earlier this week. I really like the boat in the bath and the book makes really fun noises!

But mostly, I LOVE the card! Mom and dad like to play with it too and we dance around to the music together.

Wish you could be here for my party. Can't wait to see you both soon!

~J

ah, vacation...

Wow, it's been awhile since I've posted. I've been on a much needed vacation.

But I suppose it's time to get everyone up to speed on what I've been up to! In the past few weeks, I've been spending lots of time with family-- my daycare was closed for a week so I got to go stay with Uncle Eddy everyday while mom and dad were at work. Then, we had aunt Jenny's birthday - happy birthday Jenny!

We took dad to McDonald's for breakfast on Fathers' Day, and then my mom's friend Krysten Halek took a bunch of pictures in Minneapolis. Then dad was gone for a few days, I got sick and cut some teeth as they say, and manipulated mom into staying home with me (Nice!).

Then, we left on a really long car ride to Canada where we stayed for a whole week. We had an even longer drive home, but we got to shoot of lots of fireworks when we got home, making it all worth it.

Here's some photos for you to enjoy from the past few weeks!

"Is there more of that yummy frosting? More? More? and More?"


Dad, you're crazy! I'm not eating that minnow!

Can't wait for my boat ride! Here we are going to feed the duckies. Duckies!!
I can hardly turn my neck, but this boat thing is so fun! More?

So, what did you think of that muskie I caught? Yeah, it was pretty big, but whatever. I mean, I'm gonna go outside now. And have more. Outside. Bye!

I see you!! Okay, well maybe I see better withouth these on, but they sure are fun to play with!

Oh, I just love the 4th of July!