Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!!

Or in other words, Let the Good Times Roll!

Kendall received her first King Cake today to help celebrate her first Mardi Gras. It was addressed to her from her D with a note that said to share it with her parents. She has some advise to help you celebrate Fat Tuesday as well...

Look really cute and really pathetic, and someone might give you some beads...



Smile really cute to show off your beads...



Share your King Cake with your parents. And look carefully for the hidden baby. Finally, a baby smaller than Kendall!



Smile with Mommy, who is the Keeper of the King Cake!



And don't party too hard! The ill effects are self evident here...



Guess that's what happens when you are 5 months old and barely take naps during the day. Nothing like squash and carrots to lull a baby to sleep. And she actually slept like this for 30 minutes, long enough for Mommy and Daddy to enjoy a meal with both hands free.

Ah, yes, let the good times roll!!!

Hello, It's Your Vitameatavegamin Girl!

Hello, it's your Vitameatavegamin Girl!

I'm never tired or listless...

And I poop at parties...

And I drink bittle lottles...

And I'm very popular!


Huh??? For those of you who are just not quite sure what I'm talking about, this entry is an ode to all my fellow Lucy fans out there, any of whom could quote the entire Vitameatavegamin episode for you.

My friend, Jennifer, gave Kendall this Lucy onesie and I've been waiting a while now for it to fit her. We couldn't resist a photo session. Kendall was supposed to have been Little Ricky this past Halloween but our church didn't have the annual Harvest Festival. It'll have to wait until next year. Kendall will beat a drum and yell "Babaloo!" by then. That's IF we can convince Daddy Gabe to let his little princess dress up like a boy. That'll be a hard sell.

Anyway, Kendall will be a Lucy fan just like her Mommy, Aunt JuJu, and Aunt JenJen. Can't wait until we can sit down and watch episodes together!

Techno Savvy

Working hard, or hardly working? Hmmm...





I think Kendall will become a little blogger, just like her mama. Lately she has been fascinated by my laptop. Nana and Grandpa bought her her very own laptop for Christmas, and now she is loving it. Why in the world is it necessary for a baby to have a laptop?? And even more so, why would I consider her deprived if she didn't? What has this techno savvy 21st century come to?

I remember punching out codes on the mammoth brown Comodore 64s in high school computer lit class. Throw one of those keyboards across the room (if you can lift, it that is!) and you could knock a cinder block wall out. And watch out for those pesky read/write windows on the floppy disks. A drop land on them and you've lost all! (Rebekah - I know you're laughing!!) And here is my child at the ripe old age of five months mimmicking me on her very own toy computer! She'll look at me like I'm from another planet if I ever mention card catelogs or Encyclopedia Brytannicas. She'll have a world of knowledge at her fingertips.

Gabe and I have already begun too many sentences with, "When I was growing up, we didn't have blah, blah, blah." Oh, what will she think of her parents who are - literally - from another century!!

And I don't want to start on the "getting ahead" bandwagon that so many parents are on these days. Kids are rushed and pressured to "get ahead" and "get an advantage" that sometimes they lose out on the pure joy of being a kid at times. But, I will find a balance and not go off the deep end. This little computer, or cell phone, or whatever toys are sure to come next, isn't hurting her at all. Besides, she looks so studious and smart typing away and clicking her mouse that is literally a mouse. And cute, too, I might add!

Thoughts From a Still-Kinda-New Mommy...Part 2

I posted "Thoughts From a New Mommy" back in September when I REALLY was new at this. Now, I'm not a seasoned pro by any means, but I'm starting to figure a few things out.

One thing I've learned for sure: this is all going by WAY too fast! Now, I remember getting pretty ticked when I was only weeks pregnant - feeling like I had been hit by a truck - and well-meaning friends told me that she would be here before I knew it. Don't mention that during the midst of a nausea wave, please! But, "they" where right. Then, upset once again when at a few weeks post-birth, I - being bleary eyed, hormonal and sleep deprived - was warned yet again that she'd be big before I knew it. Well, I hate to admit it, but once again - bingo! Maybe I should start listening more??? As a dear, dear friend is quoted, "The days are long, but the years are short".

I mention this because we (that would be Gabe and me) took a big step tonight - drum roll...- we put Kendall to bed UN-SWADDLED! Some of you are thinking, "Huh?? What the heck is she talking about??". Others of you are roaring with laughter, while a few of you in the vast minority are thinking it's about time! You see, Kendall has had this little issue since birth. She could not sleep unless she was swaddled. Her poor little arms would flail uncontrollably and she would inevitably whack her poor little self upside the head. And the crescendo of crying would begin with no end in sight. So Gabe and I got smart and read all about swaddling and borrowed a flimsy little velcro swaddler from a well-meaning friend. Will little Baby Hudini could bust out in no time. Long and short of it: we invested 40 well-spent dollars in a "Miracle Blanket". This fancy little piece of cloth was a life saver. Kendall couldn't break free from this one. I called it a little "baby straight jacket". The person who invented this aptly named invention needs a Congressional Medal or Honor or something! Kendall was soon sleeping through the night. Well, as she grew bigger - and stronger - the Miracle Blanket was no match anymore. So we did as the books suggested and swaddled her one-armed in hopes of beginning the weaning process. With crossed fingers and many prayers, she still slept all night. And so now, my friends, we have graduated to sleeping totally "arm free". It's 10:10, she's been asleep for almost two hours, and I think all is well.

As I see my child becoming more independent I am reminded that all is as it should be. My job as Mama is to love her to pieces, and teach her to become gradually independent of me (very graudually, of course, as I try not to leave skid marks on the road of life), yet totally dependent on God. After all, I am. I couldn't do this whole "parenthood" journey without His strength and wisdom. I'm doing her a disservice if I fix every problem even though it's tempting to want to do so. But I won't be able to heal every scrape, wipe away every tear, mend every heartache or solve every problem. How I would love to protect her from all hurts in life, but I know it's during those times that we grow the most. I rest in the fact that our Heavenly Father is perfect. He created Kendall; He knows every part of her. He has a purpose and plan for her life, and He will be faithful to complete the work He started in her. He knows every pain she will ever experience, and His grace is sufficient to heal all wounds. My job as her mom is to point her to her Heavenly Father, to teach her to trust Him and to follow His ways. That's it. I can't do it for her. I can't make it happen because it's beyond my capability. That's where my efforts and prayers stop, and God steps in. How grateful I am that God says, "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit". And my dependence on God increases more and more as she begins watching me. May my life be a living testimony. I'm reminded of a song I heard once, "I want to be more like you, because (she wants to be like me".

That's my prayer. May my actions line up with my words. May I be all Kendall needs in a mother - no more and no less. May she see Christ in me. Which leads me to my second discovery in this journey called Mommyhood: Parenting is full-time ministry!

Back to the whole swaddling thing - I'll letcha know how it went!

Doin' What She Does Best

There's only so many things Kendall can do that I can get pictures of. And looking cute is what she does best. She now loves the camera and just stares at it when I have it posed and ready. It's hard to get pictures of her playing and not staring at me, trying to figure out what in the world I'm doing and why that shiny thing flashes in her eyes while Mommy makes crazy noises in hopes of conjuring up a smile.

I was successful here...


Not as much now...figuring out the camera again...


Gotcha!


Multi-tasking (what we women do best).Once again playing while keeping a close, watchful eye on Mommy...


OK. Seriously. Done looking cute. Can't Mommy see she's trying to play here! Mommy's just all up in the way.


Now, the crazy thing is, while I'm (attempting) to post this entry, Kendall is sitting (actually - propped) next to me in the chair "typing" on HER baby laptop. Oh, yes, Kendall has a laptop computer. That should be another post in and of itself. Can't believe that now even babies have their own computers. Stay tuned...

Mommy Octopus

Well, as my Facebook status says, sometimes I wish I were an octopus. Therefore I could hold my baby and still have free hands to get things done. Of course there are times that I feel that way, but these days it's by far the exception and not the rule. I mention off to the side of this blog that I am a busy little bee who is learning to slow down and prioritize things in her life. Well right now it's all about Kendall and Gabe. And it's really true for those of you who just had a "yeah, right" little chuckle to yourselves. Some of you know me a little too well.

The most precious and coveted time of the day is when I'm holding Kendall. I know all too well that this little Princess will all too soon rather be down on her own and will be saying, "Me do it!" and "Down, Mommy!" She already tries to wiggle herself free from diaper changes; my lap is sure to be next. So now I am eating up every second with her that I can. I was reminded again this weekend in a special way the answer to much prayer that she is. So what if she's spoiled and wants constant entertainment. So what is dinner often consists of leftovers, something pulled from the freezer or drive thru. And so what if I have to always wear socks so as not to step on all the crumbs(thanks, Sophie, for all your contributions!)and dirt. Everything else will always be there. But my baby as a baby won't.

And I must also mention that Kendall has her first cold. I knew it had to happen sooner or later. I really think I'm suffering from it more than she is. She's definitely a little trooper, unlike her mother who still whines and complains when she's sick. So she has really gotten many deserved extra hugs, kisses and cuddles.

So if you'll excuse me, I'm going to check on the Princess once more before I'm off to bed myself. And as for the Mommy Octopus? Well, she can keep her eight arms. I'd much rather be sitting on the couch doing nothing else than holding my sweet baby. I sure wish life had a pause button at times.