Our Christmas Card Photo

Taken December 3, 2011

Christmas

Through the eyes of a 2 year old Khloe...

On November 25th we set up the Christmas tree and all the decorations. Khloe said, "Oh, wow!" nearly every time we unwrapped an ornament and explained to her where it came from or who gave it to us. Daddy put up the lights on the outside of the house, and Khloe sat in her camping chair and watched the whole time. She didn't want to come inside. You could tell it was all so magical to her.

On December 10th we celebrated Khloe's Great Grandma's 92nd birthday, Christmas style, in Napa. Khloe kisses "GG" on the lips for the first time that day and she was just thrilled! I love watching how Khloe lights up others lives, and that was a memory-making moment.

On December 15th, Ryan and I attempted to explain to Khloe how we needed to leave one cookie and a glass of milk out for Santa on Christmas Eve. After a 5 minute debate, we decided Santa would bring her a cookie, a glass of milk, and lots of presents :)

On December 21st we went to the last Vistorian Christmas of the season in Nevada City and Khloe was such a good girl when she sat on Santa's lap! She told him, "I'm two!" before Santa said anything to her. He gave her a candy cane and she was just thrilled! (She is too young to notice that the Nevada City Santa had a missing front tooth and looked a little scraggely :) but he was very sweet to her)

Tonight we are going to look at Christmas lights in Nevada City and we are going to visit Eddie the Elf for the first time. (A local legend up here). Then we are spending a fun-filled weekend with our familes.

Here we are, 2 days before Christmas, and I just needed to document how wonderfully fantastic the Christmas season is with my family.

Although these are probably the same traditions as most other families, there are a few daily rituals around here that just mean so much to me: Khloe takes down the stockings and tries them on like socks, She re-arranges nearly every ornament on the tree every single day (and has broken 3 of the glass ones), at 4pm every day we go plug in the outdoor icicle lights so Daddy sees them on when he gets home, before I get Khloe out of her crib she is already talking about the Christmas tree and runs directly to it to turn it on before any other light, she then proceeds to say "CANDY TIME!" and we go to the advent calendar to see which door we can open today (really helping her learn her numbers by the way), before Daddy wakes up we sit on the couch for about 30 minutes and talk about Santa and how we need to be grateful for everything we have every day, not just at Christmas, Khloe kisses my belly and says, "Merry Christmas Sissy," and so much more. We are just so blessed to have such a light in our lives. Christmas makes me appreciate that even more.

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you get to spend it with your family and cherish all the seemingly insignificant moments that fill our hearts with joy and our homes with love.

Here's to my Khloe, to my baby in my belly, and to my husband who makes our world go round.

~Sab

Potty Training and Animoools!

Yesterday, August 19th 2011, Khloe Elizabeth August went pee pee in her potty for the first time! Then she did again this morning! She is so proud of herself! Today we are going to try to put her on the potty every 20 minutes and see if we can get this done :)
Also, Khloe is just obsessed with "Baby Animooools." She calls them by the sound they make, not by their names. For instance, a bird is a "baby cacaa," a horse is a "baby yeehaaw" and a alligator is a "baby roar." It is so cute. Earlier this week we were at Grandma Char and Papa Randy's house and Khloe helped Grandma fill up the bird feeder. She kept saying "Baby cacaa numnums" (baby bird food) and "Baby cacaa, yayaaa" (Baby bird, where are you?)
Listening to her little voice and actually understanding what she is saying is the sweetest thing. We just love her more and more every day.
xoxo

"NO POOP!"

Khloe is 22 months and talking more than ever. I can not believe it! Her little voice is the sweetest thing in the whole world. This week she followed me in saying all of the alphabet, she (usuallly) says thank you after you get her something she wants, she will say "Mommy, no!" if she is displeased, she says "Daddy, night night" when he is laying on the couch. I could go on and on. But the funniest thing happened yesterday... She needed a diaper change so I brought her in her room and changed her on the floor. After she was all clean she got up and ran off before I had a chance to fasten the new diaper. So, bare-bummed, she was running around shouting, "NOOO POOP! NOOO POOP!" She was very proud. I was cracking up.
Just had to share.
Now if we could only get her to use the potty ;)

...returning home

The best part of getting away, is returning home.

Khloe is 19 months and the longest I had ever been away from her was for one night. Until this last weekend! I attended a dear friend's Bachelorette party in Las Vegas and was away from my little buggy bear for 2 full days and nights. Although Vegas is a wonderful distraction, I have to say, I thought of her at least once an hour. Being there with 2 other new mommies, we spent our down time sharing pictures that the daddies were sending us. We had to keep reassuring ourselves that "this is good for them." :) I left one day earlier than the rest of the bunch because I just could not imagine missing out on Khloe hunting for Easter baskets, and all dressed up for Easter weekend. And let me tell you, the feeling a mom gets when she sees her baby after two days away is overwhelming! It is the most joyous moment! Seeing that little smile and hearing "MOMMA" is simply the sweetest. Your heart floods with love, and you can not ever imagine leaving them again.

Saturday before Easter was spent at the August's house with all of my family there too! Khloe found 3 Easter baskets in "The hunt" and the bunny delivered an overflowing one just for her. We went to church on Sunday at Arco Arena. Bayside pulled out all the stops, and it was one memorable church service!

What a weekend! What a life! We are so blessed.

xoxo

~Sabrina

Catch up!

After reading my dear sweet college roommate's blog, I decided to it is time for me to update mine. Khloe is now 18 months! I just cannot believe it. She is running around, saying over 20 words, and just a crazy little girl! She is loud and wild, and I love it! Although it is exhausting at times. And man, deciding how is discipline a naturally rambunctious, bad listener is beyond me. We are working on it. My hair isn't completely grey just yet ;)

Really though, we have so much fun! Khloe is in gymnastics class and excels on the balance beam! But, she isn't too good at sitting in a circle and listening to Miss Jenna. Its so funny how we can feel embarrassed when our child isn't behaving just like the other children their age. Its ridiculous really, and I always have to remind myself that each child is different. I am somewhat comforted when other kids fall down and start balling, but when Khloe falls down she doesn't even glance my way, and just keeps on chugging...everyone has their strengths.

As for Ryan and I, we are still house hunting! Jeeezzz, what a learning process! Finding a house on property, for the cost we want is no easy task! And it sure can be disappointing when you find, "the one" and your offer is one day too late. Heartbreaking. But, we are in no hurry. And we really enjoy spending one day per weekend driving around our beautiful county, discovering new communities, and looking at houses. We will keep you guys posted.

I am still in night classes. Although a very daunting task to stay up after khloe goes to bed and study for hours on end, it is rewarding as well. And I am making new friends, which is always a good thing! We giggle throughout the entire 3 hours lab, as it is hard not to be giddy at 10pm when you are physically and mentally exhausted. :)

I begin volunteering at the hospital a couple days a month starting on Monday, so I am very excited about that!

Ryan is doing well. He loves his job and get complimented on his work, which is nice. He is lucky. His old motorcycle injuries ache in this cold weather and we are just crossing our fingers that summer is around the corner!

Tabasco is still super fun and he and Khloe are BFFs. It is cute. She pats her chest to get him to come to her, and he does. Then she hugs him and kisses him. So sweet.

Alright, that's it for now. Hope everyone is doing well.

~Sabrina

Photos include: St. Patty's Day, Mommy and Khloe Bug Play Time, Date Night, and Gymnastics class!!!

Almost 4 months

Wow...time flies when you have a baby. I can't believe our little angel is almost 4 months old. So much has happened! I will attempt to catch you up...

Khloe's many nicknames include Bug, Monkeybutt, Klo-Bug, K-lo, and Midge occasionally. Just writing this makes me cry. Wow, we just love her so much.

Khloe is growing at an incredible rate. As of last month (when we went to the Dr. because I thought something was wrong since she gets incredibly cranky from 3:30pm-7pm...totally normal apparently) she weighs 12 pounds, 6 ounces. She is in the 95th percentile for length and the 55th percentile for weight. Big girl! And I have to say...the chunkier she gets...the more she looks like Mommy ;)

Khloe's many talents now include: "gossiping" (cooing, and making lots of noises), holding her head up, doing what we call "strong girl" when she stands up and only hold onto our fingers for balance, grabbing at things with her monkey tows, crying big crocodile tears, stroking Daddy's face with her hands when laying next to him, and stroking Mommy's chest when she is eating, giggling the cutest lil giggle you have ever heard, holding onto her teddy, and so much more. She can sit up in her Bumbo, so we prop her up on the kitchen table and she joins us during meals...she is such a big girl.

I have to say, she is not the easiest baby in the world, but she is pretty mellow. Like right now...she is laying on the guest bed behind me just sucking on her index finger and looking at the window. But, she has her moments...she cries for about 5 minutes every time before she falls asleep and she is still fairly cranky in the evenings. Her best time of day is right when Daddy gets home at 5:30pm. She just cooes and laughs and smiles for the first 20 minutes he is home! So precious!

At night she goes to sleep in her crib and stays there until 2am, when she likes to eat a full meal so bring her into bed with me. She eats again at 6am. I would like to get her down to one nighttime feeding, but I figure if she is hungry, then I will feed her. (Hopefully this won't last all through her childhood)

I have been lucky enough to stay home with our darling girl. I work a few hours a day from the home office... as Khloe permits ;). I start evening classes again on January 19th. This will work perfectly, as Ryan will get home, settle in, and then I will leave for school.

I experienced a little post-pardum depression for a few weeks in Khloe's 3rd month, but I am fairly certain it has passed now. It was the strangest thing...I was just so emotional about everything and had a very short fuse. I think my hormones were shifting. Luckily it wasn't too bad and Ryan was very supportive. He would come take Khloe immediately when he got home and give me a little break. He is such a great partner.

I still haven't left Khloe overnight, but I have let myself go out a couple of evenings. Ryan watched Khloe twice and Jan (Khloe's adopted Grandma who lives right down the street) has watched her twice. It is so hard to leave her for a few hours, but I think it is good for both Mommy and baby. I think I will be comfortable leaving her overnight with grandparents once she is 6 months and has a routine down a bit better.

She gets to see Grandma and Grandpa Parker every Sunday for Church and then she goes to Grandpa and Grandma August's every Sunday night for dinner. It is so nice to have grandparents who are do involved.

Ahhh, parenthood has already taught us so much. Who knew you could ever love something so much? She is just amazing.

Here are some photos. Many firsts...first Halloween, first Thanksgiving, first Christmas, and then just some photos of her being so darn cute.

~Sabrina