Kentucky trip...Kailyn's first sleepover!

This month, we went up to Kentucky to see Tony’s family and celebrate his Papaw’s 80^th birthday. All his relatives came in from all over the states; it was a wonderful family reunion. We were only able to stay for a short visit, but it was such a great weekend. Over the weekend, Kailyn had a new “first” happen. We were visiting Uncle Kevin, Aunt Jeannie, and Anna (Dee’s daughter) at Dee’s house and the girls were playing wonderfully together (especially seeing as they had only met one time before). Now, Kailyn doesn’t really have a hard time making friends…as long as you are between the ages of three and ten and if you’re a girl that is even better! Anyhoo, after a good couple hours of playing I informed Kailyn it would be time to leave in just a few minutes and she just said, “I don’t want to go. You and Daddy go and I’ll see you tomorrow.” What?!? “Yeah, can she spend the night,” asked Anna. After a few minutes of debating, we decided it would be okay and that we’d see Kailyn tomorrow. Her first spend the night!!! I know, I know…I am ridiculous! But come on, she’s our only child and as previously stated I am REALLY attached! The few minute drive to Tony’s grandparent’s house (where we were staying) seemed so long and I did shed just a few tears. As we were getting ready to go to sleep Tony asked, “You gonna be okay?” Of course I would be okay…right? Actually it wasn’t like I didn’t trust who she was with (by the way they are the best!), but I just miss her when she is gone. Looking back I am really glad she was able to spend the night, and there is no one else I would have rather had her have her first spend the night with! So thank you Uncle Kevin, Aunt Jeannie and Anna…according to Kailyn (and us), “You are sooo awesome!”

We are going to get a Lucy one

Now that the school year is in full swing, I have started to watch Carrie, one of Kailyn’s little friends. Since Carrie’s mom had a baby this past June, we have a new addition to our house on Wednesday and Friday mornings. This darling sweet baby is a little girl whose name is Casey Ann. I was a little worried how Kailyn would do having a younger child around, and was pleasantly surprised by how sweet and gentle she has been with her. (I have to inject here, that I am SO happy Casey Ann is a girl!) Kailyn, too, loves the fact that Casey Ann is a girl and that mostly everything she wears is pink. Therefore Kailyn has become very fond of playing with her and even making sure I am taking very good care of her. Since this is the first baby Kailyn has been around for an extended period of time, she was very curious at first. She would ask me about everything from why she couldn’t go on the potty by herself to why she sucked on that weird thing I kept calling “the passy” and even why Casey Ann couldn’t eat anything besides her bottle. One particular incident that was extraordinarily cute happened about a week after I started watching Carrie and Casey Ann. We were driving home from the store and Carrie said something to Kailyn about how Casey Ann was her sister and she loved her so much. Kailyn’s innocent little response was, “Yeah, we are going to get a Lucy one.” I did all I could do from laughing and crying at the same time. She then proceeded to look at me and say, “Right, Mommy?” I explained to her that it was up to God if we were able to have a little “Lucy one” someday, but for now we would just have to pray and see what happens. So, now especially when Carrie and Casey Ann are here Kailyn makes sure to remind God she would like a “Lucy” someday.

A weekend with daddy

The last weekend in September, I went on a women’s retreat and left my wonderful family at home. Despite missing them dearly, I knew they would have a blast! Tony had actually been looking forward to this weekend for awhile and honestly so had Kailyn…she does LOVE her daddy time! If I simply said they had a good weekend I think it would be an understatement…they had a blast! Movies, pizza, ice cream, staying up late…all the fun stuff! Oh, and don’t forget the trip to the store with daddy! When I called Saturday night to talk to them, Kailyn was so excited! Not only did she have a ball, but she had been spoiled! Her favorite toys at the moment are littlest pet shop. So of course they took a “quick” trip to the store and guess what they found…pet shops! When I came home on Sunday, I asked Kailyn if she had fun and as she played happily with the enormous pet shop toy daddy got her she said, “I had lots of fun. You can go again mommy.” Now, even though I was a little sad to hear that, it made me really happy to know that she had so much fun with here daddy…I mean who wouldn’t he is the best daddy ever!!!!!!!

My Buddy

I do believe that kids and good wine have something in common. I know it sounds kind of strange to compare the two, but the more I think about it the more I believe it! Wine as most anyone knows grows better with age; I believe the same is true of children. As Kailyn has grown from so little to rather a big girl, I realize she too is growing “better” as the days, weeks, months and years have passed. Just as I begin to think she is about as much fun as she can be, she changes and totally surprises me! I can still remember when she first started going shopping with me, when she started playing board games, when she learnt how to play hide and seek, when all these little enjoyments were brand new. Now, they seem so common place and new accomplishments have taken their place. One particular instance that will inevitably stay with me forever happened about a week ago. Kailyn and I have always enjoyed our little lunches and short, but fun shopping trips. However, on this particular day I decided to schedule a little “Kailyn and mommy time,” because I had been rather busy lately and felt I had neglected to just spend time with my darling daughter. I decided to let Kailyn sleep in and then after a good bit of snuggling asked her what she would like to do. Her reply was no surprise to me...go to the coffee shop. So, after getting dressed we headed to Starbucks to have breakfast together. After this I decided we would do a bit of shopping, because I needed a dress for a wedding that I was going to that weekend. Well, needless to say my “little bit” of shopping ended up spanning almost 3 hours. Kailyn hung in there like a real trooper! Actually, she is the one that found my dress! We used the thumbs up or thumbs down system to decide if we liked each dress and I don’t think she gave not even one dress a thumbs down! She was such an uplifting audience to have! I felt like I was hanging out with one of my girl friends! To me, this is what motherhood was all about! After our shopping excursion, we headed home for lunch and an afternoon of Lego Star Wars…Kailyn’s favorite video game!!! She’s actually not that bad at it! This day reminded me of something…not to take our little coffee trips or mornings of snuggling for granted…they will be gone far too soon!

My Bad

As I sit here and review all of the many journal entries I’ve written and am totally overwhelmed by all those that have yet to be written, I can’ t help but get teary eyed. Looking down the page so many memories flash back and as I get to one of the very first entries I realize so much time has passed! Where did all those months, years, go? Who said time could go by so quickly! Kailyn is a far different child now than she was when I first started writing. She is no longer our little darling baby…she is a big girl…getting ready to start kindergarten next year! (Which, something I have way too much anxiety about!) It’s funny, I remember the first time I dropped her off at her Mother’s Day Out program and cried for almost ten minutes, because I felt like I had just lost my dearest friend! It actually isn’t getting any easier to drop her off either! Take today for example, she woke up and said,” Mommy, do I have to go. Can’t I stay with you?” “Of course you can!” Was all that I wanted to say to her, but then I was quickly reminded that next year I can’t keep her home merely because I want to! I just had to reassure her she would have so much fun today and that yes I would miss her…little did she know how much! So, off we went and here I am writing about her, because I miss her…so much! Yes I know I am pathetic! I honestly think that my doctor forgot to cut the cord when she was born! Is this how I am going to feel when she is 18 and heading off to college! I guess I better start praying for grace from God now!

Sorry to get off track, but the point of writing this article was to apologize for dropping the ball and not writing and for not posting the ones I did write…I am very sorry and hope to stay up-to-date from now on!

Too cute!

I have to say that Kailyn has said some of the cutest things lately! The other day, we were driving down the road and she said, “Hey Mom. Do you know how much I love you?” I looked at her through the rearview mirror and said, “How much?” Her response of was simple and amazing, “To the moon and back!” My eyes filled with tears and all I could say was, “I love you too, baby.” Since that she will just randomly come up to Tony or myself and say either, “You know I love you” or “Love you to the moon and back.” What a sweetheart she is!!!

Another really cute thing Kailyn has started saying is “My B, yo,” something she picked up from Tony and I. In English that translates to, “Opps, my fault.” The other day I accidentally dropped something and she said, “Opps, mommy. You have to say, My B.O.” To me all I could think of was B.O. standing for body odor. So, I was a bit baffled by her saying, “Mom my body odor.” I soon put it together and she was really trying to say, “My B yo.” Too cute! These are just two of the funny things Kailyn as said… and as she keeps growing, I am realizing that she is cuter than ever!