V-Day Fun!

Happy Valentines...one day late! We did not do much. Mckinley and I spent most of the day Wednesday delivering cards a cookies to some of our favorite people. We made these cards that had her handprints on them. She loved dipping her hands into paint...which makes me think that possibly she does have some of my DNA somewhere in her! 

Chris and I celebrated our Valentines on Wednesday night so we could avoid the crowd. We went to dinner, to get pedicures (totally Chris' idea), and then to a movie. He was trying to be nice and let me pick the movie that we went to. Well, lets just say that we ended up walking out, so our night came to an end early. Oh well...we got to spend the rest of the evening with our precious little Valentine! 

Here We Go!

Well, first of all my apologies for not posting anything to our blog in such a long time. The past couple of weeks have been a little crazy. The week before last, Mckinley and I spent the week in Dallas with my sister. We had such a great time. Much of our time was spent shopping, so that meant that Mckinley was in her stroller. She really thought that we were in the middle of a parade for her...everywhere we went. Mckinley is also entertaining everyone with what I like to call the "PeeWee Herman laugh." She sounds just like him, which is really funny now. However, I hope this is something that she grows out of. We also hit another huge milestone this week....Mckinley started walking!!! I am so proud of her. It seriously is the cutest thing that I have seen. Her little legs are so tiny, and yet they move so fast! I really can't believe how fast she is growing up. This week I was looking at all the pictures that we have taken since she was born. Wow! Time really does fly! 

This past week, we have not really been up to anything! Chris celebrated his 26th birthday on Thursday. So I decided to bake him a cake. If I ever mention this bright idea to anyone, please stop me in my tracks. The cake turned out okay, but decorating it....now that was another story. I think that highlight of the day was his birthday card. Let me just preface this story with the fact that I am not a detailed person. So, I was at the grocery and I briefly ran down the card isle. I picked one out and threw it in the basket. The next day, I was reading over it again, and I noticed something....the very end of the card read "to you, the most amazing black man that I know." I could have fallen over with laughter. There was absolutely no indication of this card being race specific anywhere else. I did not have time to exchange the card, so I simple told Chris that he was the most amazing white man I knew. Maybe next year I'll go for an asian theme. 

Goodnight Mckinley!

After a long day, I was ready for Mckinley to go to bed. So, against her will, I got her ready, and put her down. She normally plays for a little while, and then dozes off to sleep. Sometimes she will cry, but only for a couple of minutes. However, tonight was different. In fact, I can still hear her in there making all kinds of noises. There was one point that she would not stop crying. So I gave in. I went back to her room, and this is what I found. Yes, she was completely entangled in her sheets. So much so, that I had to detangle her, and remake the whole bed. Of course, she thought it was the greatest thing ever. 

Mckinley goes back to the dr!

I think that I am just paying my dues. It seems as if our week is not complete without at least two trips to the doctor's office. Wonderful. My mom informed me the other day "Emilie, you were sick as a child too." I guess it is my turn to care for the sickly. Oh well! 

In the mean time, I have started reading a wonderful book titled "Having a Mary Spirit," by Joanna Weaver. The book has been wonderful so far, and left me feeling so challenged and refreshed! The book really goes along with one of our main motto's at church: no perfect people allowed. Joanna Weaver is a pastor's wife, and she talks about one of her main struggles being the fact that she has a tendency to be more like Martha than Mary. I would have to admit that once I became a mom, Martha tendencies are really typical for me. However, this book has helped me to really rethink so many things. I just love it when God uses everything to teach me more about Him. 

On a lighter note, last night offered another bright Chris parenting moment. We had gone to dinner with some friends, and Mckinley was shipped off to Grammy and Paw's house due to her ear infection. After dinner we went to pick her up, and headed home. Like always, she fell asleep in the car. We pulled in the drive way, and I volunteered Chris to bring her inside. He picked her up, and headed in the door. He took her to her room, put her in bed, and turned the lights off. He tip toed out of the room and said "Shhhhh, be quite, she is almost asleep." Not believing this to be true, I walked into Mckinley's room. I looked over in her bed, and there she sat with the most pathetic look ever. She still had her pink jacket on. Mind you it was buttoned up, and her hood was still on her head. "Babe, she can't sleep in her jacket, " I said. "Yeah she can, I don't think she would get to hot in it." I walked over to her bed, and once again rescued her from what would have been some really hot and uncomfortable sleeping attire. Oh my!

McKinley...goes to the dr!

Today we went to Kinley's one year appointment. I always dread going to these appointments for two reasons. One, I know that she will be given shots and two, it is one of the longest hours of my life. Fortunately, Chris was able to go with me today. 

After waiting for about forty-five minutes, the doctor finally came in. As we were sitting there talking, she commented on Mckinley's high energy level. This not only came from the fact that Mckinley was sitting there swinging one of her shoes around by the laces, but also because Mckinley babbled the ENTIRE time we were in the office. Please note that she is only one. I wish I could know what in the world she is trying to communicate. Anyhow, we got a great report. She is in the 10th percent for weight, and 90th for height....tall and skinny. We have Aunt SaSa to thank for that combination. 

Her newest activity....walking for hours behind this lovely lion walker from her boyfriend Levi. Here is a picture for enjoyment!

Coffee Date!

Chris and I are constantly changing our schedule around to see how we can most efficiently use the twenty four hours God has blessed us with. Well, I guess it is more of Chris changing his schedule around. For the most part, I am a creature of habit. I have gotten up early for years (or at least since McKinley has been here). I never understood this concept in high school. My mom is an early riser. I mean not just like seven or eight a.m.. We are talking four a.m. people. And yes, she even wakes up at this insane time without an alarm. Unfortunately, I guess I am prone to this type of schedule because of my genetics. Who knows. 

Anyhow, recently Chris has decided that he thought it would be best to stay up way past my bed time. I am not going to lie, I usually hit the sack around nine p.m.. Anything past this is pretty much considered a late night. He, on the other hand, considered his bed time to be more around the early morning hours. This worked for awhile. However, I would wake up around two in the morning to suddenly realize that all of the lights were on, and I would briefly panic thinking "He is working late tonight." I would roll over and fall back asleep. I would wake up around an hour later to still find all of the lights on. "Man, he must be on a roll." At this point I would have to get up to see what in the world this was all about. I would walk in to the living room to find Chris on the couch with is head back, and his mouth wide open, his eyes closed.  "Babe, how long have you been asleep?"  He would wake up, look around the room and say in a confused tone "Only fifteen minutes."  "Yeah," I would say "and the last time I went shopping was when I was twelve. Come on, time for bed." After this happened several times, Chris decided that he needed to make a revision in his schedule. 

As we went to bed last night he told me that he was going to get up at the same time I did. I acted surprised. He has said this before, and I never saw it happen. I have to admit that this morning was different. He did get up, and his only request was coffee. This surprised me even more. He NEVER drinks coffee. In fact,  he has given me a hard time for years for drinking coffee. So there we sat at the kitchen table with bibles in hand and coffee cups close by. After a couple of sips from his cup, he stated  "man, this stuff will wake you faster than you can think." 

"Finally." I thought. He finally understands why I start each day with some quality time at the coffee pot. We had a great morning...I'll let you know if this schedule lasts.