A Fun Christmas Craft

Yesterday while we were on potty training kitchen restriction we did a fun Christmas craft.  I had seen several people do this hand paint Christmas tree and decided to try it with Kenlee.  She loved it.  I was originally only going to have Kenlee make one but she insisted that I join in on the fun so I made more of a bush then a tree with my big hands.

Here are some of the few good shots I got when I got a chance to snap one or two:

 The finished projects, they turned out so cute and now our fridge has its own festive decorations.

28 Weeks

Well we are all most down to the single digit count down, yep only 12 weeks left til Baby Girl Daines should be here. The last week and a half I have started to feel really big.  I had my appointment yesterday and she is a really healthy and happy baby.  I am now measuring at 31 weeks but my doctor laughed and said it was probably because she had her foot shoved into my rib and stretching things so we shall see what I measure next time.  I was supposed start the two week rotations for appointments but that would put me right in the middle of the holidays so she said where she was such a healthy baby and there were no worries that we would do one more four week.

This pregnancy has been really different in a lot of ways, one obvious thing is that fact that I haven't been sick this time.  But another one is that this little girl is a lot different in her movements too.  Kenlee was always punching and kicking me and so I felt a lot of sharp hits.  This one has been more about rolling and pushing so that I just get weird bumps but very little pain.  

Also in preparation for babies arrival we have started the lovely task of potty training Kenlee.  I wasn't sure I really wanted to push the issue during the holidays with all the ins and outs of parties and family time but her interest peeked again and I wasn't going to miss another opportunity. She did really well for a couple of days and only had two accidents on Sunday and that included the fact that I felt silly going into nursery to ask her if she needed to go potty.  So that one was my fault.  Then all of a sudden Monday she lost total interest.  I tried and tried all day with her and she would not cooperate at all.  Tuesday and Wednesday was about the same and I was about ready to through in the towel till January when I decided to try one last tactic.  We went straight to panties, she wasn't aloud to wear diapers or pull-ups, which meant spending all our time in the kitchen so that we didn't have to clean carpets. Thursday afternoon it clicked, she has fallen in love with some puppy panties and now she goes all the time.  We haven't had an accident (minus night time which I will deal with after we get good at day) since 4:30 yesterday.  I am so proud of her, I have even given up the kitchen restriction. I hope things keep going well and that we can get her potty trained in the next few weeks.

Meeting Santa

This year I really wanted to try the whole meeting Santa thing.  I had considered it the last two years but never really had a good opportunity to do so and didn't really force it.  My parents were planning on watching Kenlee so that Blake and I could got the The Christmas Carol that was put on by the Four Seasons Theater Company but the had there ward party that same night.  They were totally willing to take her with them but one of the other advantages was that Santa was making an appearance before the party began.  Blake and I took Kenlee over early to meet my parents and so that we could witness this occasion. Knowing Kenlee's personality I completely expected her to cry and crawl up the persons face who was trying to introduce them.  I was pleased that she at least talked to him.  He was not aloud to touch her but she had been practicing all day what she wanted to ask him for and she was able to do it.  She got really excited when he gave her a candy cane too. 

                                       

All in all it was not a bad experience and we will definitely be trying again next year and maybe eventually getting her to sit on his lap and take a good picture.

Gingerbread Houses

As a tradition, we all got together and decorated gingerbread houses with Blake's family agian.  This year Kenlee was really into decorating the gingerbread houses. She and daddy made a great team.  Kenlee would tell him where to put the frosting and then Blake would help her make sure the candy she had chosen would stick to the frosting.  It was so cute to watch her face light up every time she put a new piece on the house.  She really focused on the roof, which makes sense since that is what everyone could see.  We really had to talk fast to get her to put any on the sides of the house and even then only got two decorated.  I think she ate more candy then she actually put on the house but I guess that's all part of the experience.  

 I got so many of these cute shoots that I didn't know which ones to use.  They are so photogenic.

The finished produced, isn't it just the most wonderful house you have ever seen.  She has quite the artistic eye........or maybe she is just two, only time will tell.

24 Weeks

Glucose Test, that wonderful sugar coma orange beverage. Yep that's where we are at, yesterday I went in for my 24 week appointment and had to do the gestational diabetes test. Other then that everything was really good. Baby girl is looking really good and getting stronger by the day. My exciting moment was when they told me I am measuring right on with 24 weeks. With Kenlee I was always measuring BIG. They did an early ultra sound to see if I was pregnant with twins I was so big with Kenlee so I was excited to be smaller this time around. We only have one more 4 week appointment and then we are on to the two week appointments. We are getting to the last few months here. I feeling pretty good, tired which is to be expected but feel pretty good other then that. My hips are finally starting to bother me a little but its not even close to slowing me down yet so we will just keep doing what we are doing and hope that it doesn't hit to bad.

And now for the lovely pictures:

Batman's True Identity

We have recently discovered Batman's true identity.  Can you tell who he is?

Halloween 2011

This Halloween was a lot of fun because Kenlee finally understood what she was supposed to do (for the most part.) This year we asked Kenlee what she wanted to be for Halloween and she would say "No Just Me."  Finally she picked to wear her purple tutu (her purple dress) so we went to the dollar store and got a purple crown and jewelry and she was a Purple Princess.

Our first stop for the days festivities was the annual Trick or Treat at Lee's Marketplace.  We found Waldo (Blake was Waldo at work again this year) and then went through all the stops.  Kenlee had a great time, even though she was a little apprehensive about all the costumes. 

After trick or treating at Lee's we headed home so that Kenlee could get a good nap before heading out to trick or treat again. At around 6 we meet with our friends the McKenna's to go trick or treating around our ward.  Kenlee and Cameron had such a great time running up to all the doors.  Good thing Cameron would say trick or treat because Kenlee just wanted the candy to go in her bag.

After Blake got off work we headed to both parents houses so that Kenlee could do a little more trick or treating.  All in all, I think she really enjoyed her Halloween experience.