My Hero and the Birthday Girl

Brandon left today for Iraq. We got to go to the airfield to see him off. It sucks he left today, but at least he got to see the baby for a few hours on her first birthday (literally a couple of hours, we left the airfield after he took off at around 3 am.). She slept through a lot of it, but woke up and we gave her cake and sang happy birthday to her. It was so hard to see him go. But, someone has to do it and I am so proud of him for the sacrifice he is making for us and his country. We are both very patriotic and I am proud to call my husband a soldier and a hero. The hardest part is knowing that he has to go for so long without seeing his daughter. I get anxious if I am away from Keara for too many hours, much less the months he will spend without her. Keara is a mamma's girl, but she loves her daddy. But, if I am around he tends to be ignored. Right before they left they formed up in lines to get on the plane. Brandon was in the front row so it was easy to see him. So Keara and I could wave to him and blow kisses. She kept putting out her arms because she wanted her daddy to hold her. It was so sweet that even though I was holding her she wanted her dad. She had no clue that he was leaving to want those last minute hugs and kisses. It made me feel good that Brandon's last moments with us were of her wanting him. Talk about making you cry though. That about did me in. We did manage to sneak in a few more hugs and kisses as the line moved forward.

We had Keara's birthday party on Sunday (pictures in the next post). Brandon was there for most of it, but he missed singing Happy Birthday and the cake, so I brought some left over cake with us to give her on her actual birthday.

Snaggle tooth and "Poodough"

Here is Keara's third tooth. We have nicknamed her snaggle tooth. The top one is so much bigger compared to the bottom two. This look won't last much longer. # 4 is about to come through. She has been teething really bad the last couple of nights. She has fun grinding the top and bottom one together.

Here is a really funny story about what I like to call poodough. Keara and I took a nap the other day, her in her crib and me in my bed. It was a really hot day so instead of cranking up the AC, I put Keara down for her nap in just her diaper. She woke up about 45 minutes later crying. She usually sleeps about 1 1/2 hours, but she'll wake up if she has a poopy diaper. I was really tired so it took me a minute or so to clear my head enough to get up and go into her room. Sure enough, as soon as I opened the door I smelled poo. Then I saw it. The poodough. Apparently Keara had not been napping. She had taken off her diaper, pooped, and then played with it like it was playdough. She was covered head to toe in poop. It was all over her face, between her fingers and mushed between her toes. It was all over the crib too. She had stamped it into the crib sheet and smeared it on most of the bars of her crib. Of course, I got pictures (blackmail for when she is a teenager!) Well, another lesson learned. Don't leave Keara in just her diaper!!

Keara's First Art Project and Nursery

We finally finished painting the walls and got the crib moved into Keara's room. I think that I am going to take down the blinds that came with the house and put up other window coverings. The blinds are an off white and really show up against the white walls. Behind the crib I am going to put up some embroidery hoops with color coordinated fabrics. I was going to make a flower to go with the quilt, but I don't like how it looks. I'll get some photos of a couple designs and get opinions on what looks best.

Keara did her first (hopefully many more will come) art project with tadoodles markers. She seemed to have fun. And apparently they are quite tasty as well as colorful. They do wash off really easily.

Vacation in Granby, Colorado

This picture was taken from the balcony of the house we stayed in. I love sunsets and this was beautiful. I love the beach the best, but the mountains come in a close second. I hope we get stationed in Colorado some day. It is so beautiful in the mountains and I would love for Keara to grow up close to cousins.

This is part of the Windes Family. We met up to celebrate my mother and father in-law's 40th wedding anniversary. We also got to meet our niece, Madeline (Maddie for short). She is off to the side dozing in her stroller in this picture. She is 3 months old. Keara really liked her and kept petting her like she was one of our cats. She also liked to share toys by dropping them on Maddie. Next time we get together Maddie will be big enough to play with Keara a little more.

Keara had such fun running around at Winter Park. It was nice to see her having fun with her dad. He leaves soon for Iraq and I want her to spend as much time with him as possible. She is such a mommy's girl and usually only wants me. Maybe that will change when he gets back.

Brandon and his brother with their daughters. It is crazy to realize that we are the middle generation now instead of the youngest. Where did the time go, 30 is just around the corner.......

My niece Maddie. She is so cute and adorable. I am glad that Keara has a cousin so close to her in age.

New Header Picture

I know I already posted this picture on my blog, but I love it!!!!!!! She is just the cutest little kid. I think I am going to send this picture in to the Pottery Barn Kids photo contest. They select one picture a month. The winners are posted on the website and they have their photos in the next catalog.

It is so amazing to watch her grow and see all of things she is learning. It seems everyday she has a new noise or gesture. She is quite competent at walking now and never crawls. She gives high fives, and makes a humming noise when she gives kisses. When I sing her lullaby's before bed she sings along with me sometimes. Now of course she isn't saying words and she is usually monotone, but it is just so sweet to hold and rock her and sing together.

Fay's Leftovers

We got back from Colorado on Tuesday night to the remnants of Hurricane Fay. It rained all night and all morning long with lots of lightning and tornado warnings. (Yet another reason I don't care for it here. Give me an earthquake, but keep the hurricanes and tornado's!)
Our pool was okay, but my neighbors didn't fair so well. Water drains from the new houses next to us through our backyard and into the neighbors yard which is a little lower than we are. This is the 3rd or 4Th time their pool has flooded and it is an expensive pain to get it cleaned out.

This is the house that borders our backyard. It is empty right now and I hope the people who move in get warned about how their backyard floods under heavy rain. There is a long sheet of plastic, about 2 feet high, between our yards that helps to divert the water to the drain and mostly out of our yard.
The drain is under 2-3 feet of water just past where the small trees are.

Pictures in the Park

We went to a park near the downtown today. It was fun, Keara got to run around and I got some good pictures. She really seemed to like being able to walk around and explore. And as usual, finding something to eat she shouldn't. This time it was a leaf, but her dad got it out of her mouth before it was swallowed. She did make a funny face, so it probably didn't taste very good. Her newest facial expression is wrinkling up her nose when she smiles. She still likes to snort a lot to. It is a greeting for her, and she snorts pretty much at everyone that talks to her. By snort I mean a quick exhalation of air through the nose that makes a blowing air sound, not a snort like a pig.

She managed to keep her shoes on the whole time we were there.

She loves to clap her hands when she is happy and having fun. Especially when her dad is playing with her.
This is now one of my favorite pictures of her. I just love her eyes.