Christmas

Another blessed Christmas for us and we still have another one! We are very spoiled! Here is a picture of Taylor before church. One of her with a few of her presents from mommy, daddy, and Santa. Then one with her Elmo apron on from Grandma with her "Dora dress up back pack" complete with sunglasses, phone, and a little attitude. Hope everyone had a great Christmas!

Baby Sister

Taylor has recently started to let us know that she would like a baby sister. When we ask her if she wants a baby sister or a baby brother she says "sister." And if we ask her if she wants a baby boy or baby girl she says "girl." So the pressure is on to give her a baby sister. Its no secret that I would like it to be a girl too, but of course would be just as happy with a boy. Here is a video of her telling us about her baby sister.

Dance!

Taylor loves Dora and Diego right now. Any time they come on TV this is the dance she does. She is very excited!

A Big Girl

We converted Taylor's crib to a "big girl bed." This is a sad day for mommy and daddy. She is growing up too fast, but we are trying to prepare for the baby. Hopefully she won't fall out of bed. Next step...potty training.

A little funny--Part II

Tonight Zach asked Taylor "what is in mommy's tummy?" She replied "baby." Then he asked her where her baby was. So she lifted her shirt up and pointed to her tummy and said "here."

Boy or Girl?????

I had a Dr appointment the other day and it went well. Note to self though...don't schedule a Dr appointment where they will be weighing you after a major holiday! The Dr said the baby seems to be growing well and the heartbeat was in the 150-160s. It has stayed in that range. I can't remember what it was with Taylor. I think it was always high. Some people say that a high heart rate is a girl and a lower is a boy? My Dr said that isn't always true. Darn--no insight on boy or girl!! We can't decide if we want to find out what the sex is. The eliment of surprise would be fun, but it would also be nice to know and plan. Either way at either time it is a surprise, right???

Will she stay this sweet always?

Last night I got home from work and felt horrible (I'm having all day sickness, not morning sickness). I had felt sick all day and it was a VERY long day because of it. So when I came home, Zach being the wonderful husband he is, made me something to eat, gave Taylor a bath, cleaned up, and let me lay on the couch complaining. Well after Taylor's bath she came over to me on the couch and said "Mommy sleep?" Then she gave me a kiss and with her small little hand started rubbing my back and saying sweet Taylor talk. I wasn't sure what she was saying at that point, but her tone of voice was very sweet and I think she knew I didn't feel well and was trying to make me feel better. I hope she is always that sweet to her mommy, even when she is sixteen.

A little funny

So I'm not sure if I should "post" this or not, but here it goes. Lately Taylor has been saying "baby in mommy's tummy." She will point to my tummy and everything like she is understanding. However tonight Zach and I got out the video camera to catch a few growing and fun moments of her. So I thought it would be cute to ask her what is in mommy's tummy. Her reply was "poo poo." Totally caught us off guard!

Seseme Street Live!!

Today we took Taylor to see Elmo Makes Music. She danced and waved to Elmo the whole time. It was so cute! She was like a 16 year old seeing her favorite boy band. Hopefully the videos aren't too dark to see.

C'mon Boy!

Yesterday I took Taylor to the mall to look at some winter coats for her. At the mall they have a play area that she loves to play at, which comes in handy for cold days. So of course when she saw it she wanted to play. I didn't go to the mall prepared because I forgot the stroller and trying to carry a 30lb child around through a mall by a play area is not easy. So I put her down and let her play. It was so funny because she met a little boy there, who I am guessing was about the same age as her. They kept copying eachother in what the other one would do. So Taylor would run around and then he would follow her and do what she would do and vice versa. Then if he wasn't right behind her she would yell out "C'mon Boy" It was so funny. Then when I asked her what his name was she looked at me like I was dumb and said "boy."

Pumpkin Patch

We went to the pumpkin patch this past weekend and had so much fun. Taylor loved it and played all day there. She kept looking at all the pumpkins or "pumpkicks" as she calls them. She would try to either pick them up or climb on them. Then she would pick at the dirt on them and say "dirty mommy." When we got home we all painted a pumpkin and Taylor even painted one for her baby sibling. She thinks she got 2 pumpkicks though. Happy Fall!!!

Talking

Taylor is talking so much now. She is always saying something new and cute. I can't believe she is 20 months old! Before we know it, it will be her 2nd birthday. She discovered "Dora" the other day. So now she always wants to watch Elmo or Dora on TV. She is just growing up so fast! She now says "where is baby at" or whatever she is referring to at that time and then will pick it up and say "right here mommy." She also like pumpkins right now--being fall and everything. She pronounces it "pumpkick" though, so cute right!? She is saying new words every day and her mommy is just a little sad about how big she is getting ;)

Baby Kindler #2

Well we are expecting baby #2. I am about 10 weeks pregnant now and we are due in May. The actual date is May 15th but the Dr said it will be at least a week before that. We had a sonogram today and everything looks fine they said. The heart rate was 176. We are excited to give Taylor and sister or brother and it will be fun/interesting to see what she thinks of the baby when it gets here.

I recently joined a group at our church called MOPS. It stands for mothers of preschoolers. It is a group that meets every other week for a few hours and we have guest speakers or do crafts, talk about our kids and husbands in positive ways, pray, and just learn how to be better wives and mothers. It has been a great experience for me and I look forward to it each time. Today we had a speaker from Parents as Teachers come. Our MOPS leaders and the speaker focused on how to be better moms and how and what to teach our kids, etc.

It is so bittersweet for me at this time with Taylor. I love to watch her learn and grow and see her develop into a little person, but at the same time my first little baby is gone. I will never forget the way I felt when I held her for the first time, or when she first said mommy, or when she gave me a kiss for the first time. Now she is doing different exciting stuff which touch me just as much, but somehow it is different. She still needs her mommy but it is in a different way. She has her own opinions now and ideas--which are different every day.

Today at MOPS they focused on how as moms we need to keep our childs "love tank" filled. So when we are busy in our day and household chores, etc and our kids are always at our feet or needing our attention to take the time and focus on them. They are at our feet because they need our attention in a special way. I have experienced this with Taylor and I do try to stop and see what I can do to help her, but maybe not always the way I should. They also said to be their biggest fan and cheerleader no matter what. If they are involved in a sport or something and are the worst player on the team to always keep cheering them on so they have the confidence to keep trying and will always know how much you as a mom support them. They said several different things today but a few that stuck out in my mind is to just take the time to make them feel special and loved no matter what you might have going on at the time.

Our MOPS group this semester focuses on the different "hats" we wear as moms such as nurse, teacher, chef, maid, taxi driver, policeman, etc. It is so true how many things you can do as a mom. I can complain about some things sometimes that go along with these "hats" but really I enjoy them, I enjoy being a mother and love every day I have with Taylor. They said a quote that I think is so true too. "These days are long but the years are short." How important is that to remember. I just wanted to share with all the other moms that might read this because I was touched today at the things they told us and it made me think just how much I do love being a mommy, no matter what "hat" I have that day. :)

"You talkin to me"

Taylor learned how to say a new phrase along with a complete facial expression. Its pretty funny the things she comes up with. Just thought we would share.

My Friends

When I was a little girl I remember having to have at least one baby doll with me at all times. Well Taylor is turning out to be the same way. Grandma Morton made her a bed for her babies, which baby Elmo spends alot of time in. She can carry it around with her. She carries him and other babies if they are special that day and will feed them, etc. She even takes them with her when we play hide and seek (as seen in the second picture). Then at night when she goes to bed she has to have every single Elmo and baby doll she owns in her bed with her. She hands them to me or Zach one by one to carry to her bed since she can't carry them all. Then when we get into her room she puts them in her bed one at a time. There is barely enough room for her! Then in the morning when she wakes up she has to carry them all out one by one to the livng room for the day. It is so funny that she is wanting them with her and doing what she is doing already.

ME AND DADDY

What is it about daddy's? In our houseTaylor will hear the garage door open when Zach comes home and immedietly runs to the stairs and waits with a big smile for him. Then when he comes inside she yells "daddy!!!" in the happiest voice. It is so cute. I guess maybe they are more fun then mommy's. They can tickle and throw the kids more than the mommy's. I love to watch them together. It makes me fall in love with my husband all over again to see him be such a good daddy. There truely is a special bond between a daughter and her daddy. I look forward to the years to come to see them together and what he will teach her.

THE POTTY CHAIR

So we bought Taylor a potty chair so we could teach her how it works and what it is for. Also her cousin is in the final stages of potty training and so she has shown interest since he is in the big boy potty club. Well she likes to sit on it but hasn't put any prizes in it yet. However she likes to pretend with her dolls and feeds them, carries them around, etc. Well one day she thought her baby and Elmo should try to use the potty chair, not only try it out but also try it at the same time. It was pretty cute and funny! She even said "Baby and Elmo pee pee." I think she is grasping the consept of sitting on the potty chair but actually potting in the chair. But it will happen one of these days and until then it will always be available for her baby and Elmo.

The Masterpiece

So today we finger painted. She really likes to finger paint. I am not sure if it is the actual painting or making the mess that she likes best. But here is a picture of some of her best art work so far. When she was done she said "pretty."

Ouwie

So today was an interesting day so I thought I would share. Taylor had an ouwie day today. This morning we were playing outside with her coupe car and she was pushing it and fell down and scraped her knee. She pointed to it all morning saying "ouwie." Then we went to a garage sale and she was sitting in a little chair and fell forward and got her hand stuck in the chair, another "ouwie." However this one was bigger than the knee. Then tonight we were playing hide and seek. She finds these hiding places and hides there over and over, but gets super excited about how clever she is in her hiding spot. So tonight her spot was in the shower downstairs. However it is a stand up shower with no tub so she fell forward in her great excitement and bit her lip. Blood went everywhere. So now she has a fat lip. Another "ouwie." Poor girl! (Insert sad mommy and daddy face here)

Happy Birthday "T"

Today Taylor is 18 months! So hard for Zach and I to accept that our little baby girl isn't a baby anymore. Here are a few pictures from birth to today, one for each month of her life. It has been fun to watch her grow and change. Next she'll be turning 2. I think I'll cry on that day...

PICNIC IN THE PARK

Tonight we went on a picnic and then played in the park. We all had fun! Taylor played on every "wee" they had there!!

I HEART ELMO

For those of you who don't know, Taylor loves Elmo!! She is a big fan! Her whole world evolves around him. She will even wake up in the night and say his name. Last night I gave her an Elmo sticker I got from work and she put it on her night gown. Well then she refused to take it off when she went to bed. So when Zach and I went in to check on her, this is what we found...the Elmo sticker on her forehead and an Elmo in each arm. I don't know if anyone could love him more than her!

Tagged!!

Taylor was tagged by one of my friend's little girls, so we are answering the questions back with help from mommy of course...

Taylor is good at:
*dancing
*talking
*giving kisses

Taylor likes to do:
*play outside
*play with her wee's (wagon, slides, coupe car)
*read books
*watch Elmo

Taylor's favorite toys:
*mommy's tupperware, spoons, cell phones, other random household objects (things that aren't really toys)
*Mr Potato Head
*Little People

Taylor likes to eat:
*crackers
*cheese sticks
*fruit snacks

Taylor doesn't like to eat:
*Hamburger
*some veggies and fruit

Taylor's favorite sport team:
*The Minnesota Vikings
*The Royals
*The Chiefs
(Whatever daddy likes)

What Taylor wants to be when she grows up:
*Not sure at this point and she obviously can't give an answer, but possibly something drama related.

Taylor's favorite songs:
*Anything with Elmo in it
*The Itsy Bitsy spider
*Old MacDonald

Taylor's nick names:
* "T"
*Ta Ta
*honey

Where did it go?????

Taylor's new thing is to play "where did it go?" Basically she takes some kind of cloth and hides something, then she asks us "where did it go?" Kind of like hide and seek with objects. When she does this though she puts her arms out and really ends the sentence with a big question. Then she likes us to ask her where it went so she can reveal the big hidden surprise! She gets very excited when you find what she was trying to hide. Its funny. So in the video in the bath that is what we are doing. Sorry about the nakedness.

The joys of parenting

Oh we wish children came with an instruction manuel!! To share some of Taylor's oneryness I thought I would tell about our day today. Taylor has discovered biting however has not discovered how naughty it is. She will sometimes say "I bite" before she bites you and then you know it is coming and can stop it. But today she bit Zach when he was helping me cut her toenails. So we put her in time out. Of course she cried and was saying "mommy". Oh so heartbreaking! Then after her time was up we explained to her it was naughty, etc and I told her tell daddy she was sorry, which means give a kiss, etc. Well she went over to Zach gave him a kiss and hug and said "sorry". Oh even more heartbreaking but so cute at the same time!!?? Its hard to be serious but not laugh or give her the biggest hug when she does something like that. Then after her nap I heard her laughing and talking in her crib, having a good time with Elmo and her bunny. So I went to peek through the door and noticed she was holding her diaper in the air and then trying to put it back on. It was so funny yet not funny. Oh the joys of parenting!!

Summer

Hello to all!! Hope your summer is going as well as ours. We have been enjoying time all together and staying busy. Zach taught summer school the month of June and my work is going well as usual. Taylor has been having fun in her pool, playing with her cousins, and doing anything outside. She is usually full of misjif and enjoys saying "NO". Zach and I went to Vegas a few weeks ago and had a blast and now we are starting to prepare for our Lake of the Ozarks trip. We have had a great summer so far!! Miss you all and love you! God Bless! XOXO

We took Taylor to Deanna Rose Farm on Mother's day which is a free petting zoo with lots of fun stuff to do. She had a blast. She feed every goat big and small I think. She also paid a lot of attention to the "moos" which are cows in her world. She had fun that day and we can't wait to go back!

update

Just a quick update on life. Some exciting news is that Zach got Coach of the Year for his women's track team. This was very exciting of course and came as no surprise. Taylor and I are very proud of him. His team goes to Nationals at the end of the month and hopefully they compete very well. Taylor of course is keeping us busy! A few of her new favorite words are "mine", "I love you", and "snack". She can tell us what a puppy says, a cow, a horse, a kitty, a tiger, and a fish. She can also jump now. Well it is more of a tippy toe stance, but she thinks she is jumping and is very proud of herself. Zach and I are taking a trip with Josh and Jennifer to Vegas in a few weeks and we are excited for that. Then we will go to the Lake of the Ozarks in July for a week with Zach's family, which will be fun too!! We are ready for sunny days to go to the park and pool!! Hope all is well with everyone! Miss you and love you!! God Bless! XOXO