Memorial Day at "Grampa's Pool" (apologies to Gramma)

Ever since we stopped by my parents' house a couple months ago and Kaylee saw they had the winter pool cover off and the bubble cover (to warm the water) on, she's been wanting to go swim at "Grampa's Pool" (apparently Gramma has no claim to it??) - as in asking at least 3-4 times a week when we're going to Grampa's Pool. We went today for a Memorial Day cookout/swim, and there was a 90% chance of rain/thunderstorms all day, but a huge downpour had ended just before we arrived this morning around 11, and it was hot and sunny for us the rest of the day! Kaylee probably got in about 4 hours of pool time (with a super 2.5+ hour nap in between) and we all had a great time.

Here's Kaylee in her patriotic outfit (check back July 4 for a repeat of the outfit!) with Daddy, Mommy (w/matching bows), Grampa & Gramma. She started out the day with a flag band-aid as well, but it fell off just before photos (the band-aid lasted about 24 hours, so it had a good life).



Pool time! She started off the day in her swim ring, but then we found out G&G had bought some arm floaties, and Kaylee did super amazing with them! She was able to move about more on her own than with the big ring and really loved swimming all over the pool with them. I think it was easier for her to get in and out of the pool without the big ring around her, as well. Yay, floaties!



The other day after I took some photos, Kaylee told me, "no pictures today! You already take pictures!" and she refused to pose for any more. She did the same again today at the pool! I was trying to get her to pose for the last one I posted here and she wouldn't stop playing to smile, then without looking up she yelled at me, "no pictures today!" She finally did pose for the one when I bribed her with some balloons - luckily I got the picture with one take, as she was not willing to stick around for any more tries!

Local Fair

A traveling fair was set up locally last weekend and we took Kaylee on Saturday. We were only there an hour and a half or so, but she definitely took full advantage of her unlimited ride pass! (Jamie and I just shared a bunch of tickets, as we took turns riding things with Kaylee. The only one we all rode together was the Ferris wheel.) Kaylee rode the Ferris wheel, elephant and train once, carousel twice, slide and cars 3 times and lady bugs 4 times, plus got some photos taken with Elmo. Whew!

She did not like the carousel - she rode it first with Jamie and he said she was asking him, "I like this? I like this?" while they were on it. She did say she wanted to go again with me, so we rode it and the whole time she was telling me she did not like it. Both times she had one hand on the carousel pole and the other clutching Jamie or me. After the second time on it, whenever we'd walk past it, she would make a point of saying, "I don't like the horses," and try to steer us away. At one point we were just waiting in the shade of the carousel for the train ride to stop and her eyes got big and she backed away saying she didn't want to ride the horses again. We had to explain we were just waiting for the train to stop and promise we weren't riding the horses again before she'd come stand with us again.

Overall, she had a blast and LOVED the lady bug ride! She rode that and the train on her own, but we had to ride everything else with her.



Kaylee was excited about seeing Elmo...until we got up next to him and he was 6 feet tall. She wasn't quite sure what to make of such a big Elmo. She sort of smiled for the photo, and reluctantly hugged him. Luckily she remembers it fondly, as when she saw the photos of her and Elmo together after we got home she got a big smile and said, "we see Elmo!" so it seems she wasn't scarred for life.






Too worn out on the way home to even eat her "special treat" - and that is saying something!!! She didn't fall asleep, but was on the brink.

Hot Fun in the Summertime

Yesterday we all went to the pool for the first time this season, and went back again today. Kaylee still loves it! Still using a swim ring like last year, but she's doing really well in the water and today even held her breath, pinched her nose and willingly dunked her face under a few times. Photos of the bathing beauty...

Fashion (Non)Sense

Kaylee picked out her entire outfit on Friday...red/white dress, polka dot tights, yellow hair bow and pink/orange shoes. Throw in her green frog (and the banana for breakfast) and she was quite the sight. :) The other photo is from a morning at the park on Thursday.

Don't Forget

My sweet Kaylee - I love you just the way you are...whenever that is. :) Here are some random things I don't want to forget (well, I don't want to forget anything, but these are a few of the cuter recent things I want to remember)...

You used to call your "Little Quack Counts" book "oh, no-bees!" (as in, "Read 'oh, no-bees,' Mommy") because there's a page that says, "5 bees! Oh, no!"

If you didn't understand what we said you'd ask, "What are you talking to-bout?" Likewise if someone else talks to us and you don't understand you ask, "What is he/she talking to-bout?"

You say, "Bye-bye! See to later!"

When you want to have or do something (such as candy or going on the swings) you tell us, "I probly like that." (Of course it actually sounds more like "I probby yike dat" at the moment.)

Your "Skip to my Lou" lyrics:
Lou Lou Skip a Lou
Lou Lou Skip a Lou
Lou Lou Skip a Lou
Skip a Lou for Darlin'

You LOVE infant/children's medicine (yikes!) - just the other day I heard you knock into something and I heard, "Owie! I hurt my armpit! I have a headache! My belly is upset!" Then you ran in and wanted medicine for all your ailments.

When you ask, "what is that?" about something you don't know (e.g. a wrench) and we tell you, you say, "Oh. Yeah. It is a wrench." as though you knew it already and just needed a reminder.

You just stared saying, "awesome." It was pretty funny, a couple days ago you tossed a toy frog in the air and when it landed you said, "good job, frog, that was awesome!"

When your pillowcase would slip off your pillow a little you used to say, "what happen my pillow?" (But pillow sounded more like "pih-yoh" since you couldn't say L's.) Your L's are getting better, and you still worry about your pillow, but now you say, "what happen to my pillow?"

Speaking of not being able to say L's...months ago, you would say things were "too little" (like when you'd try to put one of your tiny bracelets on me), but little sounded like "yittoh" - you still say that, but it's sounding more and more like "little" as we've been working on L's with you lately (yateyeh?).

For the past month or so, you love pretending to be asleep (you did before, but it's gotten more prominent recently). If I tell you it's time to head up for naptime or bath, or even sometimes if it's just time for a diaper change or a meal, you'll run into another room, make yourself fall onto the floor and then lie there with your eyes closed. If I don't come in to get you right away, I hear you yell, "come find me, Mommy! I'm sleeping!" Then when I come in you're making your snoring sound and you (usually) stay "asleep" as I pick you up and carry you off.

I'm sure there are plenty of other things I could add here, but I can't think of more at the moment...check back for a "Don't Forget #2" at some point, I'm sure. :) I love you, Kaylee!

Little Gymnast

Kaylee's last gymnastics class was today, and there were a bunch of new activities for them to try/do. Kaylee did surprisingly well today! She managed to avoid the "high bar" the entire class, but there was plenty otherwise to keep her engaged, including a roller coaster ride! The instructor had the roller coaster base out, but kept the car hidden until the end. At the beginning of class when she was telling us about all the available activities, she said she'd bring out the car and the kids could do the coaster at the end so they didn't just line up and fight over that the whole time. Kaylee turned to me and said, "I probly do that," which made me laugh. She tells us all the time, "I probly like that," about things she wants to do/try, even if she's never done it before. She especially tells us that about going on the swings and any candy she sees. Well, she did get to ride it three times and would have gone plenty more if we'd let her!

There was a station with a spring board where the kids were supposed to jump off the board onto the mat, then walk across the mat and put their legs up on a barrel while their hands were on the mat (see 1st photo). I held Kaylee's hands as she did her first jump and thought I'd have to help her get her legs on the barrel, but she'd just watched another girl do it and she did that on her own. After that I didn't even have to help her do the jump - I think that was her favorite activity of the day (roller coaster aside), as she did it at least 5 times (that's a lot for that class).

There were 3 things they were told they could do on the ladybug chair - sit on it backwards and hold their knees up in a "tuck" with their arms, put one knee on and lift their other leg off the floor, and straddle it and lift both legs. Kaylee did all of the above; I got pictures of two, but

There was also a "cartwheel" station where the kids were supposed to put their hands on a long piece of equipment and jump their feet from one side to the other. After showing her, Kaylee did very well with that on her own, too. Maybe she did get something out of this class, after all! :)




That last blur is our neighbor Caroline whizzing down the roller coaster. Outstanding, Caroline!! :-)

"For the Neighbors"

We had a block party in our cul-de-sac a week and a half ago and Kaylee and I made cupcakes (everyone brought food to share). Kaylee had one after they were made and of course wanted more, but I told her that we had to save the rest for the neighbors. Ever since then, whenever she offers me "food" (she has some little toy cakes that came with a tea set, or she'll pretend other toys are food), if I say I want more than one she'll tell me, "no, Mommy! It's for the neighbors!" Yet another reminder that we have to watch what we say as she doesn't miss a beat!!

Family Visits

Last week we had dinner out with Kaylee's Uncle Robbie, Aunt Brooke and Baba (Jamie's mom). Kaylee loved the swing outside the restaurant; we sat in it both before we went in and after we were done with dinner. The picture of her in her crib was when I went to get her one morning. She was so quiet, I thought she was still sleeping, but she was just tricking me! I thought the expression on her face was funny.



We visited with my cousin and his family to see my aunt and uncle before they head home (Maine) again - they leave for their journey home today. They've been here a month, so it's been great to have seen them a few times since we don't see them too often! My uncle Sedge's birthday is tomorrow, so we had an early celebration for that, too. Kaylee really wanted to hold baby Emily (3 weeks old), but as you can see Emily was not too thrilled about that.



We needed a second carseat for carpool this fall, so I bought a used one for a great price. It's the bigger model of our current seat; this one holds kids up to 65lbs. Our current seat goes up to 40lbs, so it'll still last a while, but figured I might as well get the bigger one anyway. I washed the cover and put it back on this morning, and had Kaylee climb in it to make sure the straps were in the right spot before I put it in the car. She thought it was funny to sit in a carseat on the couch.

oldie, but goodie

I don't think I ever posted this photo, but I just came across a printed copy of it and I still find it hilarious. Kaylee was a day shy of 18 months old. Her expression, stance, tattoos and cockeyed sticker (even if it does say "you are special") all seem to say, "don't mess with me!" ...but her pink sippy cup and baby doll give away her tender side. ;)

Okay

Most nights Jamie or I read Kaylee a book before she goes to bed. It was my turn tonight, so Jamie said goodnight before he left the room. Their conversation...

Jamie: Night-night, Kaylee. I love you!
Kaylee: Okay. (without even looking over at him)

We thought it was pretty funny, but she did say (after some prompting), "I love you, too, Daddy," before he left. So they're cool again.

Mother's Day 2010

Kaylee and me on Mother's Day

Kaylee and Grampa

4 generations on Mother's Day


I made both the dress and hair bow Kaylee wore that day!

Kaylee loves blowing and chasing bubbles!