Happy Helper

Kennedy has been very helpful as of late.  And when I say helpful I mean curious.  And when I say curious I mean in the way.  But very cute nonetheless.  Since she is walking now, we have decided to give her a little bit more freedom to roam the house, and this means baby proofing the cabinets.  So while Brett was making the bathroom safe, Kennedy wanted to help.

We have also let her wander around in the kitchen a lot more.  This means a lot more watching on my part during the day, but this kind of stuff goes in phases.  I had to watch a lot more when she started crawling, and then again when she was walking pretty well, and now again.  But this time it's my fault because I'm letting her in the kitchen.  She has to learn sometime, right?  She gets into the cat food (although she's getting better about that) and sometimes she gets into the pots and pans.  But yesterday, she got into the dishwasher.

She was desperately trying to climb all the way in.  Fortunately I stopped her before she hurt herself.  She also loves to come into the kitchen and throw her balls since they roll so well on the tile.  She's getting so much more independent and so big!

I Feel Pretty

Yesterday I was laying on the floor with Kennedy and she spied my headband.  The first thing she wanted to do was rip it off of my head, which I let her do.  But then, being the bow hating girl that she is, she surprised me by putting it in her own hair and walking around with a huge smile on her face.  Her first attempt was hilarious.

Her second attempt was much neater, and she looked like she had a little crown on her head.  I promise I did not even touch this.  She was walking around like a little princess.  I'm definitely going to have to go and buy her some headbands of her own!

Phone Calls and Phony Smiles

Kennedy has finally caught on to what the phone is for.  Kind of.  As you can see from this picture, she doesn't quite know how to hold it, the mouthpiece is a little bit behind her ear.

Yesterday she sat there and talked on her phone for quite some time, and she even paused to listen for whoever she was talking to talk back.  It was really cute.  She also learned the word "ball" and what it is without me even trying.  The other day she just picked up a ball and said it over and over again.  Her vocabulary is really starting to get big.  And those aren't the only things she's figured out.  She finally realized that she's supposed to pose for the camera, but lately she's been doing this really funny smile.

I don't know if it's a fake smile or what, but she does it all the time now.  She wrinkles her nose and shows all of her teeth.

She still does her regular smile, but this one shows itself several times a day.  She's the sweetest girl there is, even though she's teething and all 4 molars are trying to come through at once.  She's still just all smiles!

Father's Day

I had 2 dads to recognize this father's day.

My dad.  Thanks for always being there and for being such a good example.  I really appreciate all of the things you did for me while I was growing up and all the support you give me now.  Thanks for being such a great grandpa too.  I love you!

Kennedy's dad.  Thank you for being such a great father to our little girl!  She loves you so much!  You are so helpful with her and I appreciate that more than you know.  I love you so much!

Because a Thankful Heart is a Happy Heart

A few of my friends have running lists on the sidebar of their blog of things that they are thankful for.  Today I felt like I needed to start this on my own blog.  Over the past few months in particular I have been struck by how many things I have to be thankful for quite a few times.  I have been blessed beyond measure, and certainly more than I deserve.  Rather than just have a blog post every once in a while about things that I am thankful for, I'm going to keep that running list on the side.  Also, you should look up the Veggie Tales song Thankful Heart.  It is darling and perfect for this blog post, but I can't find it to share it with you myself.  I hope that you can see the hand of God in your lives as well and see all that you have to be thankful for everyday.

You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby

I just wanted to show you how cute my daughter is.  Again.  I can't help it.  I can't even stand how cute she is most of the time.

Cute Bubbo

*Kennedy is walking probably 80% of the time now.  She is getting really good at walking in her shoes, and we go on walks outside now.  I still have to let her know that she can't crawl outside periodically, but she's well on her way to being a full time walker.

*Her newest word that she can use independently of me and Brett is "puppy".  We saw some horses yesterday and she immediately called them puppies.  She loved them!  She was just cracking up as we fed them and even got up the courage to pet one of them.

*She now has 3 molars that have popped through and pretty much has a continuous runny nose.  Hopefully that 4th one will pop through any time now and stop the madness!  She is a trooper though and is generally pretty happy even though she has some big time tooth movement going on.

*Kennedy refuses to eat off of a spoon or a fork most of the time.  If she can't feed it to herself, she won't eat it.

*She LOVES turning the pages of books.  I have to hold down the pages that we haven't read yet, and even then sometimes she looks at the pages we have already read just so she can turn some pages.  She does love to read more than she did though, which is great.

*She dances now.  A lot of her toys play music, and she will press the button and then rock back and forth.  It's really cute!

*I love her so much!  She brings me much happiness and I love being able to be home with her.  She is so cute and sweet and my bubbo!

Anxiety and Grilled Pineapple

Dear UVU Nursing Department,

What is taking so long?!  We are dying here waiting for the letter that will decide our fate for the next year.  Please please pretty please send us that letter now!!!

Anxious wife

Dear Kennedy,

Please sleep.  I hate when  you decide you aren't going to sleep during nap time.  It's very frustrating to listen to you cry in there, but I really need you to just sleep.  Please.

Your mommy

Dear Rain,

I have really enjoyed you the past few days.  I do miss actual thunder, but you have brought nice cool weather Provo way.  It has been nice to have cloudy skies and not burn up every time I step out the door.  Especially since I don't have any capris.

Cloud lover

Dear Tucanos,

Yes, we will be visiting you again tonight.  I don't know why Platinum Protection loves you so much that they decide to have almost all of their work functions there.  But I will pig out as always, and Brett will swear he's never going to an all-you-can-eat place ever again when we get home.  Hopefully, we will get that letter today and this will be a celebratory dinner.

Salad bar girl

Dear UP!,

I want to see you so badly!  I am dying for the chance to go.  I think that opportunity will come next week when Brett and I have a date.  I have heard good things and I am so excited!

Disney obsessor

Dear Dan Brown,

Why did you decide to come out with a new book when I have no money to buy it?  I will probably have to get on a ridiculously long waiting list at the library just to read you.  Boo.  At least I check for Catching Fire every few days.  I will NOT be the 100th person on that list!

Library frequenter

Dear Blog Readers,

I have started a new cooking blog!  Instead of posting pictures and recipes here, I will do it on that blog.  I hope that you will check it out!  www.savingtaste.blogspot.com.  I hope you enjoy it!

Chef in the kitchen

This Show Couldn't Be Any Gayer If Liza Was Voted Mayor

I forgot how much I love the Tonys.  I had a great time watching the awards last night and seeing the performances.  I hardly ever get to go to the theatre anymore, let alone even remotely professional shows.  I miss it a lot and I wish that I could go to Manhattan more often and get my fill of these shows.  I was also highly embarrassed, because I knew next to nothing about most of the shows.  I was amazed by Next to Normal (which won for best score, and deserved it) and by Billy Elliott.  These 3 boys, who play Billy on alternating nights, won the Tony for Best Actor in a Musical.

That's right, boys.  You should have seen what they had to do every night.  Incredible.  Some other highlights:

Best Actress in a Play: Angela Lansbury

Best Revival of a Musical: Hair (which I wouldn't have picked based on the contenders, but then again, I didn't see any of them)

Best Play: God of Carnage

Best Musical: Billy Elliott

I have been inspired to go out and re-acquaint myself with the world of Broadway.  I miss it.  I think I'll start with Next to Normal because the music was incredible, and then move on to Billy Elliott.  Who knows where I'll go from there?  Thank you Brent for reminding me that they were on last night!

Things I Love

Here is just a little list of things that I love/am grateful for.

*Farmer's Markets - even if the only one I have access to is tiny.  I love going on Saturdays and seeing all of the people walk around and all of the fun things for sale.

*Kennedy doesn't drink formula or out of a bottle anymore - so much cheaper and more convenient.

*Friends - I love getting together with our friends and just having a good time.  Who doesn't?

*Scripture study - I have been much more regular about this lately and it has been great.  I have been learning a lot and have been getting much better at it.

*Birds singing - it's such a happy sound.

*Walks with Kennedy - she loves being outside and putting her toes in the sun.  I love telling her about all of the things she is seeing.

*Brett - he's always thinking of me and Kennedy, and is always so helpful.  He's so happy and he never fails to make me happy to.

*Disney Channel - specifically Playhouse Disney.  I love these shows for kids.  They are cute and educational and Kennedy loved most of them.

*Food - food makes everyone happy.  Enough said.  But, I am making spaghetti and meatballs tonight and Mexican chicken soup tomorrow.  I'm really excited for both!

3 Years

3 years ago today Brett and I went to the Salt Lake temple and were married for time and all eternity.

It was a beautiful day and was filled with family and friends, many of which traveled a long way to come and be with us on our wedding day.  And as much in love as I was with Brett that day, I am so much more in love with him now.  He is an incredible husband, a fantastic father, and brings so much joy to my life.

We have a wonderful life together with a beautiful daughter, and I couldn't ask for anything more.  I love you Brett and look forward to spending more time with you and this next year of marriage!

Goodreads Challenge

In March I told you about a reading challenge that I began.  It ended last night at midnight, and while I wasn't even close to finishing, I'm pretty proud of how much I read.  Here are the books that I finished between March 1 and May 31.  I've put an asterisk by my 3 favorites.  I did really enjoy the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan too.

The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

The Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco*

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield*

The Blithedale Romance by Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell

The Green Book

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The Fire Kimono by Laura Joh Rowland

The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins*

The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World by A.J. Jacobs

The summer challenge begins today, and I'm excited to keep reading!  Here are the first 5 books on my list to read.

Atonement

Interview with the Vampire

Angels and Demons

The Woman in White

A Curse Dark as Gold