Let me Hold on Longer

My Sweet Kinley. I wish we could freeze you right where you're at. You are so sweet and smart and always doing something funny. Your nap and bedtime routine right now is to read books and then we cuddle and talk. During nap, you get to sleep in Mommy and Daddy's bed. I've been snuggling you in my arms until you fall asleep and I love it. Words can't even describe. You tuck your feet in between mine and wrap your arms around my neck and give me lots of kisses. You say, "I love you mommy" in the sweetest voice I've ever heard. I wish those moments with you would never end. Mommy had to go to the doctor this week because she was sick and when I came home you hugged me and said, "Mommy, I glad you're home from the doctor." and another time you said, " I glad you're holding me."
Lately, you've become very emotional and were crying about anything and everything. I've been trying to talk you through these times and teach you how to ask for something politely rather than whine and cry when you don't get what you want fast enough. It's been working great and you're starting to understand you're emotions! I feel like God is growing our relationship through this so much as I'm learning more about your evolving personality and you're learning to trust me with your thoughts and feelings. I pray that this is the beginning of an amazing mother daughter relationship.
Today you were playing with Elsie and pretending her Sully monster was growling and she was laughing so much at you. I love it! You also sat with her and shared puffs and juice. That baby girl adores you. I'm praying for you as a leader for her, because she will surely be following you!

Some of our favorite recent quotes:
After falling, "Daddy, help me! I can't walk. I fell and my leg is broken!" You were running to him as you were saying this.

While snuggling you in your bed, you put your finger in your nose, then in your mouth and said, "Mmm, I like to eat the boogers!"

You lately

You are growing and learning by leaps and bounds! We were working on potty training and you were going days without accidents, then you decided it wasn't fun anymore. I'm pretty sure you're just very stubborn! I am amazed at how much you know at only 26 months. You can count to 10 as well as count up to 10 objects. You know your abc's and are starting to recognize individual letters. You know all your colors and can name most shapes. You talk in full sentences and have an amazing imagination. You still have your imaginary green monkey as well as an owl that you see.
I love watching you with your sister. It's a good thing that she's so solid because you love to play with her! Whenever she cries you say, "I'm coming Esee Mae!" and you bring her a toy. You also like to be the first one in her room when she wakes up from naps so you can climb on her crib and talk to her. She absolutely adores you and will laugh at anything you do. We have a great video of you spinning her around in her exersaucer while you are both giggling. So great!
You have been having bad dreams lately and it's been waking you up during the night. You had a bad dream about Mommy leaving on a red boat and there was an octopus you had to save me! You also dreamed there was a big red spider in your bed. We're not sure where you're getting this from other than your crazy imagination!
One of the funniest things about you right now is how easily you gag! You gag when you go poopy, when we change Elsie's diapers, when she spits up, etc. You pretty much gag at anything!
Some favorite quotes:
When I asked if you can bring me a towel you said, "Yeah, sure I can!"
"I don't think so" When you don't understand what we're saying
"I love Christmas!"

And now you're 2!

Kinley,
Mommy is so behind on posting! You recently had a birthday party...you had lots of friends here and you loved being the center of attention, unlike last year! You were so cute while everyone was singing you "Happy Birthday" You loved opening up all your presents too! On your actual birthday Mommy and Daddy took you to ihop for breakfast because that's where we ate on our way to the hospital the day you were born! You decided on macaroni and cheese for breakfast, and since it was your birthday we let you have it! Your dollhouse also came in that day so you got to play with it! You love your dollhouse so much!
Now that you're 2, you think you have to grow up! A few days after your birthday you started launching yourself out of your crib. You didn't care if you fell hard, you were so upset to be left in there! You have been fighting bedtime lately! So we took the side off of your bed and put up a guard rail. Tonight is the first night you went to bed without a fight in days! Last night you climbed out of your bed and were banging on your bedroom door, but we let you cry. After about 20 minutes it was quiet so I went to check on you. I opened the door and bumped something...you! You were asleep on the floor in front of the door, completely naked! We are always surprised by you!
Another big girl thing you are doing now is potty training! You picked it up in a weekend. After 2 days you are going on your own without being told and stayed dry during 2 different trips to the store! You love to pick a dum dum sucker as your potty prize and make mommy and daddy eat them too...we are tired of them!
You have grown into such a sweet big sister. You love to read to Elsie Mae and give her kisses. You are really starting to enjoy her as she gets more active! You won't share your Bumbo seat with her though!
You have quite the imagination! You invented an imaginary monkey that sits at the table during dinner and tries to eat your food!
Here's some of our favorite quotes:

"bye bye, see you tomorrow" to the toilet paper going down the toilet after going potty!
"love you too"
"I touched the moon" (you have such a great imagination)
"Mommy, kiss me my butt" after falling on your bottom

Excuse me

Today you were quite entertaining. You thought it would be fun to use a baby spoon and pretend to feed your sister. You used a welcome sign decoration as a bowl of applesauce (love your imagination) and fed her. She was such a trooper for you and gave big smiles as you came closer with the spoon even though more times than not, you gagged her. You also wiggled her toes and said " this little piggy"

My two favorite quotes for the day... "I fart! Excuse me."
"I fart mouth" after burping at dinner.

Someday you may not be very happy that I posted this video, but I couldn't resist!

Oh Kinley

My dear Kinley,
I love you even though you woke up at 6 am crying and escaped your room when Daddy went in to check on you. You ran down the hall and barreled through the door to get to me, keeping me up for over an hour. When Daddy asked you if you wanted to go watch Barney, you said " ok! bye Mommy"
You also had repeated time outs this morning and in the middle of our battle, through choked sobs, you said, " I need coffee!" That's my girl!
You are starting to sing now which is so fun to listen to! In the car last night we were listening to "Baby" and after you started singing "Baby, Oh" This morning I heard you singing to Coal, "I love you, kiss you" (Your version of the Barney song)
You can be quite the challenge sometimes, but I love you so much and you are such a spunky little girl!

Mommy's helper

You are almost 2 now and learning new words constantly! Here's a list of some of our favorite quotes:

"I almost fell, hold on tight!" when bouncing on mommy's knees

"I see Daddy's butt!" when Daddy bent over to pick something up

"Daddy went back to work again" after Daddy left and mommy was getting out of bed

Your mealtime prayer..."Jesus, thank you food. Mommy, Daddy, Elise Mae. Amen"

"Why not, mommy?"

"Oh gosh, it's wet!" when changing Elsie's diapers

"Mommy, help you quick!" You mean help me!

"What is that sound?"

"Who is that?"

"A green Daddy!" when watching the mowers who do our neighborhood's lawns

As you can see little miss, you are starting to ask A LOT of questions! We think you're advanced for your age, but we're your parents so we're biased.

Today you helped mommy do a lot! We gave Elsie Mae her bath, which you love and Elsie loves even more! She smiles and you and talks to you while you pour water on her tummy and wash her. It's one of my favorite things to do with you two. You also helped me put away Elsie's summer clothes and and take out her fall stuff. That was fun. We also read a lot of book together on the couch and ate dry cereal together, although you took my bowl and gave me your almost empty one! You are napping so we'll see what the rest of the day brings!

To our Kinley

Kinley,
This blog is for you. You are always doing and saying such cute things that we want to remember someday so we want to keep track of it all. We love you soooo much and consider it a blessing to watch you grow up! So here we go...