Growing "Up"

It is so hard to believe that in exacly one month, we will be celebrating Kaelyn's 1st birthday! At 11 months, Kaelyn is pulling up on everything and pushing her baby stroller as if she is running behind it. She finally said her first word, "up" (other than "da-da") but will only say it when she feels like it. When daddy is gone to work, I find Kaelyn looking for him and saying "da-da." She loves to play ball with daddy and swim with mommy. She is absolutely fascinated with Bama, our golden retriever. We can't get over how much she smiles when she's doing what she wants to be doing, and how she is starting to throw temper tantrums when she's tired or we tell her "no." She eats just about everything we put in front of her (she'll try anything at least once), but loves bananas, grapes, chicken spaghetti, water from her sippy cup, goldfish, and blueberries. Sometimes when mom isn't looking, she even gets a sweet treat from daddy. She is forming attachments to her toys, but we don't quite understand how she makes her selections. What an amazing 11 months we've had as a family!

11 month stats

Height: 28 inches (poor baby is going to be short)

Weight: 20 lbs. 14 oz.

Kaelyn used to hate the grass, but now likes to eat it!

Into everything...Emptied her wipes while Mom was cooking

Forming new attachments, our crazy yellow bath toy

Splish, Splash! Our Little Fish

The month of May has been super busy. With several trips to Longview for graduation festivities for Kylen, this month has felt like a whirlwind! Last weekend we took Kaelyn to the lake and she rode in the boat for the first time. Let me tell you how much she loved crawling around inside of it. It was like a big padded room and she could pull up on everything! She also liked it when Uncle Keeton turned up the music so she could show off her dance moves. I was a little worried that she wouldn't like her life jacket, but she was a champ and even used it to float on her back in the water.

Jamming to the music in the boat

Kaelyn really likes her float

We finished up our "mommy and me" swimming lessons yesterday, and Kaelyn has learned so much and is finally putting it to practice. Robbie and I are excited to keep working with her in the pool this summer. She's becoming a little dare devil in her baths too.

Kaelyn's Froggie Dive

Splashing kickers and back rolls

"Mom, I'll kick, kick, kick anytime if there is a toy in front of me!"

Our underwater picture! Yeah Kaelyn!

All finished with our lessons

Kaelyn also started brushing her 3 little teeth! We got an Abby Cadabby toothbrush with some baby toothpaste (thankfully, it doesn't hurt her to swallow it). She usually will let us brush her teeth and her gums first and then she takes over. We can't believe how big she's getting!

"This toothbrushing is super fun!"

Kaelyn pushing her baby (We are so close to walking)

A Perfect 10!

Happy 10 Months Kaelyn! It seems like yesterday your daddy and I were holding you for the very first time! Your personality is really starting to shine and we love the little person you are becoming! You are so independent (always wanting to be let down when we try to hold you), and you are starting to find your voice and are quite the "social butterfly" (boy, are we ever in trouble). You make us laugh each day, and we love how you like to explore your surroundings (even if it means chasing you down to keep you from being injured). We think it's funny that you don't like the grass (not sure where you get this from since mommy and daddy love the outdoors), and find it amusing that you are becoming a picky eater. You have your Daddy wrapped around your little finger, but at times you are still a mommy's girl. We love you so very much and are so proud of you!

10 Month Stats

Length: 28 inches

Weight: 20 lbs. 4 oz.

Kaelyn and I started "Mommy and Me" swimming lessons on Tuesday and are having a blast! They teach you to ask your child if they want to get in the pool before doing so, and when I asked Kaelyn, she started kicking her legs, waving her arms, and smiling! I'm not really sure if she completely understood me, but I took it as a resounding YES! In our class, we are learning how to blow bubbles, swim to the wall for safety, float on our back, submerge our heads under water, and how to kick, kick, kick. I am so excited that we found the Cusack Swim school and that it's at the teacher's house in a more intimate setting. There are 5 other kids and mommies in our class. We will continue our lessons each Tuesday and Thursday during the month of May which should help Kaelyn be ready for the pool and lake by summertime!

"I'm ready to go swimming, Mommy!"

"Ahh...This sun is bright. I need my sunshades!"

"Got my sunscreen lotion too."

"Bama, are you out there?"

Kaelyn's New Favorite Spot in the House

Trying pancakes for the first time

"Yummy!"

10 Month old Pics

"I found mommy's tupperware cabinet!"

Race for Ryleigh Grace

This past Saturday, we walked in the March for Babies (March of Dimes) at White Rock Lake in honor and support of Ryleigh Grace Cox along with 35,000 other DFW residents. Our church small group showed up in huge numbers and we all sported our lime green "Race for Ryleigh Grace" t-shirts. We even won the t-shirt contest! Ryleigh is doing so well and hopefully will get to come home soon! It was so wonderful to walk in honor of all the babies that are born prematurely each year. On our walk there was a "Path of Life" with posters honoring or memorializing local children which helped open my eyes to what March of Dimes stands for and fundraises for. What an amazing organization! We are so thankful for everyone who committed to walk and didn't let the rain scare them away, and for all the donations our team received!

Here's Robbie accepting the t-shirt award on behalf of the Cox's

They wanted him to model it as well! How funny!

Kamara, Rod, and Aubrey Cox

Rodney and Patti Cox (Rod's parents)

Our Journey Begins!

The Hudson Clan

Lisette, Bentley and Paw-Paw

The Feekes and Robbie carrying Kaelyn

(She had enough of the stroller and the snacks according to Daddy;

I think he just wanted to carry his sweet girl)

A few of the little supporters on our team

Our Family Team

Can you tell Kaelyn was tired at the end?

Rod and Kamara with the t-shirt award

Roses, Orchids, and Two-Lips That Wouldn't Smile!

The weather has been so nice in Dallas these past few weeks, so Robbie, Kaelyn and I decided to head out to the Dallas Arboretum to spend the day on Saturday. We were excited about capturing Kaelyn's cute smile with all of the beautiful "Dallas Blooms." Needless to say, Kaelyn was not in the mood for picture taking (we were able to steal a few cute photos though), but Robbie and I still enjoyed the day together. 

"I'll just touch the flowers instead of smiling."

                                                    

Finally got that sweet smile.

Using our sign language for "More"

(Did she mean MORE pictures?)

Waving to the crowds! This is our new trick.

Since Kaelyn wasn't enjoying the pictures, I had a great time taking pictures of the beautiful flowers. We may even use some of these photos in our house someday in the future. Look how beautiful the scenery was!

The rest of the weekend was spent "child-proofing" our house. We researched and ordered gates for the stairs, rearranged the gameroom (poor Daddy had to move his ping pong table to the garage), and hung curtains to block the sun in Kaelyn's room so she will take longer naps in her crib. We are pleased to say she took a nice long nap on Sunday in her crib with her new curtains. We hope to go back to the Arboretum soon because it was so nice and relaxing! What a great weekend!