Rain Rain Go Away

Kenyon discovered the joys of playing in the rain. It came a downpour on Sunday and Hank & the girls were out in it. Kenyon came in yelling it was "Raining, Mommy". After looking out the window and talking about it raining. hank opened the front door and K went out on the porch to "look" (Editorial comment: you see where this is going?)

K wound up dashing out in the rain and standing in the water coming off the roof. She was squealing and dancing and splashing. Utter delight that only a child can possess. She loved it and was totally soaked by the time we dragged her back in the house to get in the bathtub.

Put Your Big Girl Panties on...

This is what a big girl looks like. Kenyon went for her two year appointment and the dr told me she is the size of a three -four year old. Tell me what I don't know. She weighs 34 pounds and is 36 inches tall. She has grown 5 inches in the last year.

She has her "heppie" (helper) chores she has assigned herself. She helps feed the dogs, carefully holding the food bowl with both hands trying not to spill. Same thing when cleaning her plate form the table. At first she would throw the plate in the garbage because that is what they do at school. Now it goes on the counter. She holds her plastic box while Hank picks the "matoes". Every Wednesday morning she collects the paper form the front yard when on her way to school. Finally she walks around the yard and point out the dog poop announcing "YUCKY!" so we can pick it up out of her way. She will be a CEO of a company, I know it because she is already managing all of us in the house - two and four legged.

Two weeks ago she was moved to the Preschool room at school - SIX MONTHS EARLY! Turns out she was more ready for it than me. I have quickly seen my sweet baby vanish and this strong independent young girl develop before my eyes.

In two weeks she can sing her ABCs every time she sees something with writing on it. She can count to 10 and when helped to 17. It is so cute when she says free and furteen. She sings patty cake almost everyday and coaches herself as to the things that she needs to do. If she wants milk we will tell her first bath then milk. Now she will sit around saying bath, milkie...or outside , no bath, milkie. Sometimes she will change the order putting what she really wants first to see if we are paying attention. I swear her vocabulary has tripled in two weeks. Now instead of "NO!" It's "I don't want it!"

The biggest growth has been the big girl panties. As of Monday she has been wearing panties at school. She had one accident on Monday, but has remained dry the last two. She naps in a pull up, but has been doing well otherwise. Yesterday when I went to get her the teacher told her to go potty before she left. She ran into the little bathroom, climbed up on the stool, dropped trow and sat down. I almost cried. She looked so grown up.

With or without me my baby is growing up. Every morning I am greeted with "Good Morning, Mommy how are you?" followed by a huge hug and a squeal and lots of kisses. That she will never be to old to do.

Dinosaur Valley

Sunday we went to Dinosaur Valley in Glen Rose. It was hot but fun. The river was WAY down. Halfway across you could stand up and walk. On the upside Hank was able to get some good shots of footprints that are normally covered. Hard to believe two years ago the camping trip to DV was cancelled due to flooding.

Kenyon had a great time. It was her first time in a large body of water. She loved her floatie and water wings. She thought she was hot stuff and didn't want anyone to touch her. IN the gift shop she picked up every dino and said "Look at this" over and over.

Of course we took the obligatory photos in front of the dinos. I was remembering back how many times we have taken photos with a varying assortment of kids over the years. It all started with Mom & Dad when we took Hunt & Roz to Fossil Rim and DV back in 1998. That was the summer it was 105 degrees and Mom had that damn mafia car that was black with leather seats. We had to sit on towels going through the animal park to keep our butts from burning.

Then there were camping trips, day trips and now Kenyon's first visit of many. It is nice to have a place that will hold family memories just like Concan and the Frio river hold for my sisters and me. Especially the trip when the Scamper almost slid into the river and Mom forgot the eating utensils. I think that was also the same summer that Mom sent Dad to take me to buy Kotex., But that is for another post.

Hunt, Roz, & Sara 2003

She is two!!!!

Kenyon turned two this week. Can you believe it? It just seems like yesterday. We had just got the house put back together after the great flood of 2007. Hank was at NRH2O with the kids when my water broke at home no less than 1 hour after he left. I was two days shy of a scheduled c-section. Miss hardheaded breech baby decided Sunday was a better day to be born than a Tuesday. Besides, 7/08/07 sounds better than 7/10/07. I had a friend rooting for 7/07/07....but that would be too trendy for our Miss K.

So there I was couldn't get Hank on the phone. I am sure he couldn't hear over the 1000 screaming kids. So I called Tom & Lucy our ever reliable neighbors. Well Lucy called the police to get an ambulance to the house. I walk outside and there are seven cute (sorry honey) firemen, an ambulance and a ladder truck form the local fire department all ready to bring my bundle of joy into the world. I told them they we just glad it wasn't another water rescue from all the flooding that went on.

I refused a ride to the hospital to let them examine me. Being big as a house I had not be able to shave my legs. I had all of these June Cleaver thoughts of being having my makeup and hair fixed, legs shaved and cute PJs on to go get my baby. Should have known. That crap only happens in the movies.

So I rode with Tom and Lucy in Tom's new SUV to the hospital sitting on a huge stack of towels. I finally got in touch with Hank and he proceeds to tell me his mom's flight got delayed. I interrupted to tell him my news. Sorry, Jeannette, I thought that kinda trumped your flight issues. He immediately said he would get "these kids" (Sara & Samuel) home and meet me at the hospital.

So, less than two hours after I arrived in L&D we had a beautiful baby in our arms. Only after my poor husband saw all my innards lying on the table in the reflection of the surgical cabinet. Nobody should have to see that.

Ever.

Happy Birthday my Sweet Kenyon. Born two years ago 8.10 lbs. Today is over 34lbs and the light of our lives.

We go for her two year check-up next week. More on that later.