5 Months…Continued!

Dear Kacie,

A few things I forgot to add in your 5 month old post:

You still like your pacifiers but not as much! Your favorite thing to do with them is to just hold them (even if it's the wrong way) and chew on whatever part you can get into your mouth!

You love to make the most adorable sound. It's starts the moment you wake up and doesn't stop until you are asleep… or eating! And I'm not even sure how to type the sound but it's like you are saying "key" but with lots of bubbles in your mouth and kind of like a...growl? You drag out the 'ke' sound for a while. I don't know, but its the cutest thing ever!

You are just the cutest thing ever. We love watching everything you do!

Love,
Mom and Dad

Welcome December!!

When Kyle and I first got married and went to pick out a Christmas Tree topper, we thought about getting an angel. Both of our families had angels so for us, that was normal. We went and looked at a few stores but didn't find anything we loved. We started looking at other toppers and came across this one:

We decided that we loved it and what it represents. It is a great reminder that Christmas, and the gifts under the tree, are not the best part of the season or holiday.

The best part is that we have a Savior who came to Earth for us. He gave us the greatest gifts of eternal life, true joy and peace on Earth.

Sometimes it is hard to focus on those.

Especially as we are surrounded by ads telling us to "Buy! Buy! Buy!" Or we are pressured to give the best gifts to everyone we've ever met!

So as we enter this holiday season, remember that it's not the 'stuff' that makes it wonderful.

It's the gratitude for a gift we have all been blessed to receive from someone who loves us whole-heartedly.

"Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."

Abraham Lincoln

I'm Sorry, What?

Holy Kannoli dear baby Kacie,

How are you already 5 months old?????????

I mean, for real. Where has the time gone!

I'm sitting here writing this and you are swinging' and bouncing' around in your jumper, happy as can be while you suck on your finger.

And no, you are not hungry because I literally just fed you.

You are very close to sitting up on your own. You basically already do but sometimes you get excited and throw yourself backward, fall to the side or forget to use your abs to hold your back up. But I give it a week. You will master this sitting thing by Thanksgiving.

We also put you in the shopping cart one night! We kind of had to support you with your blanket but it was mostly you holding yourself up!

Then about a week later we did it again and you held yourself up by holding the bars in front of you!

You roll all over the place! It really throws me off sometimes because I will lay you on the ground on your back and then leave the room for a few seconds. When I come back you will be in a completely different spot and direction! I have to remind myself that you can roll.

This is your favorite position to roll in to! Directly under all the toys I suppose is what you're going for.

You LOVE your jumper!

One of my all time favorites of you!

So Halloween was awesome…

Technically we did not cross-dress you for your first halloween. You were Harry-et Potter!

I taught myself how to knit just so that I could make you this adorable scarf!! It only took me like two months…

And your glasses were just drawn on a paper and cut out. Then taped to your nose. You loved them and left them on for like 30 minutes!

We went to the Draegers house and had chili and corn bread and caramel apples and sugar cookies! We watched Monster Univiersity. Sorry that we didn't take you trick or treating… but really, we aren't that sorry...

 

You have the cutest little ponytail! Maybe we should have dressed you up as a Who for Halloween! It's ok to dress up babies for Christmas right?

Grandma Sandra bought you this outfit a while ago. It is a tiny bit too big but obviously we don't care. It is sooooooo adorable! You can bet you will be wearing this on Thanksgiving!

You still basically have bibs on 24/7. Although there have been a few days that I haven't had to put one on you. But it's not safe to do that… more like I'm tired of always putting them on you so I don't!

You looove water bottles! I don't know if you think they resemble your bottles but whatever the case, you freak out anytime they are near you. At dinner when we use water bottles, we have to get one out for you too or you won't sit still.

You are wearing 6 month clothes now. I had some 3 month pants on you the other day and when I say 'pants' I actually mean 'pants that looked like capris'

Your 3 month onsies are fitting perfectly right now so you will out grow them by next weekend.

Sometimes I put my hair in a ponytail so that you can't grab it… ya that doesn't work.

The other day you grabbed my hair at the base of my hairline, in a ponytail, and managed to get all this is out: (look closely)

I tried to paint your nails like mine… you hated it. I never was able to finish painting all of them.

Is it bad that I think you are still adorable when you are crying?

You are still waking up in a great mood in the mornings. It is so absolutely adorable.

Since you've been sitting a little bit lately I decided to see if you would play with your piano.

It lasted for about 30 seconds.

Then you found the blue buttons on the sides...

So I tried being creative by tying a piece of my wrap behind you to hold you up…

That lasted about 10 seconds because you decided to try and eat the buttons.

I look at you and watch you and you are amazing. 

You are learning so much. It is so cool to see you discover new things. You frequently will stop what you're doing and just stare at your hand and watch yourself turn it around and move your fingers.

It's amazing to see you responding to things that are going on around you. Whenever we go out to the store you just look at everything around you and soak it all in. And when people stop to look at you, which they always do, you just stare at them wide eyed, not blinking.

Grandma Gonthier bought you this dress a while ago. I'm so glad it finally fits cause its the prettiest little thing!

You are seriously the happiest baby we've ever had!

And yes, you are the only baby we have ever had but we like it! So here's to hoping your siblings follow your lead!

You have the biggest most beautiful eyes! I am smitten by them. Even when it's 11:30 and I'm trying to get you to go to bed but you just stare up at me like there are no problems in the world.

And that is when I am reminded that you are the biggest blessing.

Sometimes it is so difficult to be a parent. It is exhausting, frustrating and confusing!

Your dad and I get annoyed and stressed sometimes! (not that often, but it happens)

And it doesn't mean that we love you any less. But when you won't go to sleep, or you eat for hours or you cry for no reason, its hard!

We have to take a step back and remind ourselves that you only have one way to communicate. And that it's going to be ok eventually, we just have to learn to have patience in the moment.

But don't you ever forget how much we really do love you! A couple weeks ago we went to the temple so we of course, had to leave you with a babysitter. We took you to the Butler's and we knew you would be fine! I wasn't worried about that, but it was really hard to leave you!

So we went to the temple and when we got done with the session and got to the celestial room, dad said "Let's go, I miss Kacie!"

We went to dinner too but we ate really fast because we just wanted to hold you!

You bring so much joy to our lives! 

If dad could stay home everyday, we would just sit and watch you move. Well, maybe not the whole time. Dad would definitely pick you up and [gently] toss you around for a bit! Just to toughen you up!

We love you soooo much Kacie Jean and can't wait to see what the next 5 months bring!

Love,

Mom and Dad

$50!!

So back when I was probably about 10 my dad and sister Angela started going on runs in the early morning.

I personally thought they were crazy.

But my dad decided that I should go with them.

Again, crazy.

But my dad, being the smart man that he is, convinced me to join them by bribing me with doughnuts.

You see, there was a delicious doughnut shop in the middle of the running course that they took. I was so excited. I got up and started that run with some serious determination.

I was going to get to that doughnut shop.

So we reached the shop.

Then we passed it.

And we kept going.

I, being the patient person that I was, didn't say anything for a few minutes. But then we got to the point where we would no longer be able to see the shop anymore.

And I was concerned. I wanted my doughnut! I deserved it! So I asked my dad when he was going to get me my doughnut.

And guess what?

He lied to me!!

Anyway, he loves to make fun of me for that. I guess he can. It is a pretty funny story…

But you can bet I never went running with them again.

So over the years I've had a love-hate relationship with running. I occasionally went running in my parents neighborhood. I was on the track team my freshman year. And Kyle and I have attempted it a few times since we've been married.

After having Kacie, I knew I needed to get back on a workout schedule. I am still that doughnut loving girl at heart and pregnancy only brought that out in me more.

And if we are being honest, I'm running low on pants that fit!

I had an epiphany one day.

Running one mile can take as little as like 4 minutes. That speed is definitely not up my alley but I am so out of shape, I can barely even run a whole mile. And that's just not acceptable.

So I set a goal to run one mile a day. If lack of time is my excuse and it only takes me under 15 minutes to run a mile, then what I am saying is that I can't take 15 minutes out of my day to take care of my body!

But we were given this gift, a body. And our bodies are amazing things. And not everyone has the gift of using their bodies. Not everyone can walk.

Well, last month when we were in AZ my family got to talking and decided to have a mile challenge thing. So the day after Christmas, we are all going to run one mile. Whoever runs the fastest mile will win $50 (boys and girls categories).

Because right now, we are all at a point in our lives where a mile is a challenge both physically and timely. My parents are busy, my siblings are busy, Kyle and I are busy.

I don't get to the gym every night. Having a baby changes your priorities.

And I might not win the $50 but that's ok. Because I am improving my health. And After I go to the gym and exercise, I feel better! My body is stronger and my energy is higher.

And I know that I am investing in my future. I want to be around for my children for a long time and not just physically being around. I want to be up and active with my kids.

Plus, when I exercise I can eat sugar with less guilt…

So that's a plus!

Anyway, I'm still hoping Kyle and I each win $50… that'd be a good Christmas bonus along with being healthy!

Now we just have to stay motivated to get to the gym…

And eat less ice cream.

Hands, Feet, Bum.

Dear sweet, precious Kacie,

You are 4 months old!! (as of 10-20-13)

You are developing so fast.

We had your four month checkup. You are 25 inches long, 73rd percentile. You weigh 14 pounds 5 ounces, 52nd percentile. And you are in the 26th percentile for head circumference. Long body, average weight, tiny head! 

I guess that's what makes you so adorable!!

You've learned to grab your feet. You lay around and every chance you get, you grab your little toes and talk to yourself.

You discovered your hands. You will be playing or just moving around and then see your hand and stop what you're doing and stare at it. If your arm shifts, your eyes follow it too.

Your depth perception is a wee bit off but you love to grab toys and hold everything! We bought a teething ring at Ross one day because it was only $2. You aren't teething yet but you love to hold it with both hands and lick it.

Actually, you like to lick everything!

You lick my zipper when I'm wearing a jacket. You lick your carrier when I have you in it. You lick your fingers when you are hungry. You lick your bibs when they get close to your face.

You still spit up sooo much! I put an outfit on and if you haven't gotten spit up on it in 15 minutes, then you've exploded out the other end and gotten poop every where!

My cousin Dixon was holding your 2nd cousin Gus Gus. Dixon started freaking out about him spitting up. I walked over to help and there was a little piece of spit up on his chin. I wanted you to spit up so I could show Dixon that he's crazy and that he should be grateful Gus Gus doesn't spit up as much.

You spit up in dad's hair while getting a ride on his shoulders... I thought it was hilarious. Daddy, not so much!

Despite what you thought about your poop-nado, it was not that funny! But your smile is so infectious and I couldn't help but smile and laugh with you.

I guess that if I had that much poop inside me, I'd be in a pretty good mood after I cleared it out as well!

You are almost able to roll over. Your arm still gets in the way.

You are very close to sitting up on your own for extended periods of time. If we sit you up you slowly fall forward. But you did sit up long enough for me to get these pictures!

Your legs are so strong and you love to stand more than sit or lie down. You've also started to lift your head up to look around.

And as always, you have the most beautiful smile and big gorgeous eyes!!

Oh... and a crazy mamma!

General Conference was so difficult to watch with an adorable and happy baby around. But we did it and I am so excited for more to come!

The Cardinal's baseball team made it to the world series! Kacie is cheering them on! 

Waking up in such a good mood for daddy! 

So happy and adorable in your new Lemons and Lace headband!! 

 You love to look at yourself in the mirror... as long as no one else is in the mirror to distract you!

And we just discovered that you like to watch Baby Einstein!

You're adorable watching them and the videos are not as annoying as I thought they would be... I was pleasantly surprised!

We also discovered that if we say words in an escalating tone you do not like it at all! Like saying "daaaaAAAAAD"makes you cry! It is hilarious but I guess it is a little mean as well... so we don't do it anymore! Or at least... we try not to...

If there was a camera recording everything that goes on in this house, people would think your dad and I were insane!

The noises and faces we make to get you to smile and laugh or just react at all are slightly embarrassing... or they would be if we cared!

We love you oh so much sweet thang!

Love,

Dad and Mom