Random January-ness

Not much to report here... other than being cooped up in our condo most of the month due to the abundance of snow mother nature has decided to bless us with this winter! Considering the fact that Kayla is not a fan of playing in the white stuff... we truly are confined to the house (or forced to go shopping which makes Daddy unhappy). We stopped going to gymnastics for a few months and started a new music class at the local synagogue... Kayla likes the class so far. We have also been keeping ourselves very busy with playdates. Kayla officially has a favorite tv show and movie... Caillou & Toy Story (any of them)! She is becoming more and more independent and has started to freak out when you cut something up for her - she wants to eat the banana whole or cheese stick whole... she wants to hold the fork & spoon herself as well. She is officially in 24 month old clothes - tops & bottoms. She is still doing one middle of the day nap (11:30 or 12 - 2ish)... and she still loves her bottle!

"Ma, do we really have to use this to clean, I would rather use it to play!"


Reading at the Dr's office...

Laughing at something on TV... she gets special TV time after dinner

Getting some cuddle time with her big cousin Sean... home from college break!

Enjoying her 1st cheeseburger from Wendy's

Bedtime routine w/ Daddy

Enjoying some Greek yogurt...

Coloring with her best buddy Maddie

Nicely sharing a tiny reclining chair with Ryder

Utensils = Mess

At Kayla's last "well" visit, the doctor told us that we needed to start working on getting her to use utensils like a big girl. Much to my dismay (due to the presumed potential mess) I was reluctant to give in to this... although the idea of not having to do anything but give her food and have her do it all by herself was very appealing! We tried it 1st with a spoon and cereal - in a suction cupped bowl (which did not work as well as I thought it would)... She did great! A few days later, during dinner with Grandma & Grandpa she are ravioli with a fork all by herself! (which we also later got on film)

Wake up calls...

So a few weeks ago when Kayla was home with Daddy (Mommy was running wkend errands), Daddy thought he'd take a little snooze on the living room couch while Kayla was playing nicely. Only was he rudely AWAKENED to have a smiley, giggling 15 month old staring at him at only 2 inches from his very nose. It gave him a major wake up call! Now its a funny thing b/c Grandpa always falls asleep after dinner... see here how Kayla goes to wake up her Pop!

Secretly watching your toddler play...

Lately, I have been watching Kayla play from the living room couch (I am reading my book) or from the kitchen when I am preparing dinner or washing dishes... It's so amazing to watch your child... who used to be this little baby... pretend play. She loves stacking things but climbing is really her favorite thing to do. Unfortunately now she stacked AND THEN climbs the stacks! That is a whole nother story though. Watching her play in her pretend kitchen, feed her baby doll, wash her hands in the sink.... Or go into the hutch in the dining room to hide her toys... when later she finds them and acts if they were never seen before. Most of all I love watching her sing and dance. The later she does when music comes on the tv... But hearing her sing in the car is definitely a secret pleasure of mine these days. She is talking a little more and more and showing her personality everytime you turn a different corner. She loves to find your belly button and then gives it kisses... Tickle time is so much fun. She is a little less interested in books the past few weeks and more into playing with her "little people" cars and trains. I think its just her age and the fact she can't sit still much anymore... she will pick up books and go sit in her chair to look at them every once in a while... Parenthood just amazes me sometimes. Makes me feel so lucky... Brian & I created her... she is the perfect (sometimes irritating) combination of the both of us and she proves that we create marvelous things!

Snow... what's that?

Kayla's 1st real snow storm (where she could enjoy it) came at the perfect time... and considering we bought her a sled for Christmas that she could actually use, it was even better! It started the day after Christmas and lasted almost 2 days. Our front door - mostly b/c of snow drifts - on the 1st night was over 18 inches high of snow. The next day, once it stopped, Brian & I went to his folks to help dig them out. I got to use the snow blower for the 1st time while he shoveled the hard to get area's. It was cold!!! But Mom had some great hot chocolate waiting for us and watched Kayla inside the house while we worked. Not to say it was not a ton of work for her :)

We waited a few days (3) until the wind stopped blowing so hard and then we took her over to where Brian used to go sledding... his old elementary school. She did not seem very fond on the actual snow but loved the sled and loved riding in it. Not a fan of snow angels either so I did the honors this year. We even found an abandoned saucer by the school that Brian & I tried out a few times... Brings back some great memories!

Not a fan of the snow!

Getting ready to go down the big hill!

15 Month Checkup Stats

This photo of Kayla during the holidays really sums up our life right now... She is climbing everywhere and getting into EVERYTHING! She is saying more things: thank you, oh no!, chocolate, juice, snow, go, no, cheese... she can moo like a cow and quack like a duck as well. She follows directions for the most part but likes to play around a little. She would rather walk up the stairs in our condo from the garage than crawl but she still needs you to stand behind her. She knows HOW to open the safety gates but can't b/c she does not weigh enough. She can climb into her high chair all by herself - but can't climb down. She is capable of watching a full movie at one time, as long as it's one of the Toy Story Movies and she has her juice and a snack (just like mommy!) She can take off her onesie, shoes and socks all by herself and can brush her teeth really well too! She now has 11 teeth... we are just waiting for the last molar to break thru... once they are out and showing, we promised her she could try some steak :)

Current Weight: 26 lbs 14 oz

Current Height: 32.5 inches

Holidays 2010

Our holidays this year were definitely so much different than last year... although we DID have to go in and wake Miss Kayla up again on Christmas Day!

Our festivities always begin (as now its a tradition) with a Wilson / Kessler Family get together at Uncle Kevin's house. (Pictured at this ocassion below with Gramma)... This year they kept it simple and I got to have my first piece of pizza that they let me eat all by myself!

For Christmas Eve this year, Daddy did not have to go to work so we hung out until it was time to get dressed up to go to church. I loved my pretty dress! We went to see the Nativity Play that the children in our congregation put on - they are kids that go to the Catholic School attached to the church. It was actually pretty cool but next year I would like to get seats by the aisle so I can see better. After the play, I made it through the actual mass for about 15 minutes... then I decided to scream like crazy so Daddy brought me to the back... shortly after Mommy followed.. I missed her and screamed even louder. I think Father Desmond knew it was me cuz Mommy said he looked right at her when I started crying.

On Christmas morning, after Santa came to my house, I went into the living room to find SOOOO many things wrapped in paper that was covered with Cookie Monster, Elmo & Big Bird... my favorites!!! Once Mommy & Daddy showed me how to "open" the presents... which just entails me ripping this pretty paper off... I was all ready to keep going to see what all the fun stuff was about. When I was done, they let me play with all my toys and then they opened their gifts from me and from Santa! Daddy went out and got donuts and then we just hung around in our PJ's all morning. At lunchtime, I napped for a little bit but then it was time for Grandma & Grandpa's house!!! I got to see my aunts & uncles and open even more stuff! Check out below!

Kayla's usually... "OOOOOOHHHHH... what's that?"

Examining where to begin...

ELMO!!!!

I gave Mommy & Daddy big hugs and kisses!

Grandpa bought her the 1st baseball & mitt

Opening someone else's gifts :)

1st dollhouse

Family Photo

Kayla's awesome new wagon...

The Rockefeller Tree

We took a trip in to visit Daddy at work and take our walk to the big Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Plaza with Kayla. It was in the low 30's and very windy. We bought the toddler "JJ Cole Bundle Me" just for the trip into NYC. It was well worth it b/c it was so cold. We pulled out all the hats and gloves and our big winter coats. It was not as busy as I thought it would be but it was nice that so many people asked to take our photo for us. NYC is filled with rude taxi drivers and business folk who walk faster than some of those taxi's drive but the people for the most part are always so nice. Granted, maybe that is because they are all tourists! LOL We ended our trip with a typical over priced meal of Burgers and Pasta at Papillon... but the quality family time was priceless. The service at the restaurant was great... they got us in and out with a toddler to boot! Next time I think we will go earlier in the daytime and then head back to NJ for dinner (cheaper).

Daddy & Kayla watching the Ice Skaters

All bundled up and warm!

Mommy & Kayla trying to get a close look at the tree

1st Family Photo in front of the tree!

Peanut Butter.... Not quite yet!

Our pediatrician advised that around 15 months (before Kayla's next visit) we should test her for the peanut allergy at home... At first we should do skin tests on her arm and then face... if all goes well, move to giving her some. So we did the tests and it was all ok so we gave Kayla her very 1st PB & J sandwich. It became very messy (as you can see below)... She rubbed it her hair, eyes... you name it. Then the rubbing became more of an irritating thing... Next thing you know she was covered in hives. We got her stripped down and thru her in the tub to get off all the stickiness. Needlesstosay we think that there is some sort of allergy there. We have our 15month Dr. visit on the 28th so we'll see what the Dr. says. At this point, it was nothing that a little Benedryl could not handle!

Visit to Kids Village

My friend Tracy mentioned a new place to take the kids... a place called Kids Village in Kenilworth, NJ. So we met up with another friend and took our girls there on a really cold winter day! These kids had so much fun... They just loved it! They have little rooms with pretend setups: a dance school, a grocery store, a diner, a movie theater and then there is the big slide and crawling thing. They have an area where you can eat and play arcade games as well.

Kayla & Natalie

Kayla, Maddie & Natalie

Doing some grocery shopping

By far her favorite play-room

A Day at the Park

From the moment I took her to the park as an infant, she loved it. In the beginning it was all about people watching. Then as she started "moving" more and more she was eager to get involved with the big kids. Now she thinks she IS a big kid. She runs and climbs... God only knows when the first cast will be put on.

How could you not fall in love with this smile over and over again?

What a big girl - doing this all by herself!

"Dadda - push me higher!"

"Weeeeeeeee"

The big girl slide.... I love this picture!

Happy Thanksgiving

This was our 5th year hosting Turkey Day. While last year it was fun b/c we had a new little baby, this year was more fun b/c Kayla was able to eat the food we ate. Although it was difficult to keep her out of the kitchen at times (with the oven being on and such)... Plus now she can reach over the top of some of the counters... which means we can't have alot on them. With limited counter space and her desire to climb on the chairs or push them to the counter and climb out... someone really has to be watching her all the time! I got her a little turkey to play with and printed out some cute pictures that she was able to sit and color. She had a great time. The normal bunch was here... Brian's immeadiate family. This year was extra special b/c my Uncle Robert joined us. It was nice having my family celebrate with us as well... although it always opens the door for criticism...

My little turkey with her turkey!

Attempting to help me set the table

Helping with the mashed potatoes - putting them in the pot!

More potatoes!

It's not Turkey Day without the Stuffing! She was a great stirrer!

A new way to drink out of her sippy cup... put it in Mommy's Ugh! Creative!

Those are some big shoes you have Kayla!

Kayla and her Daddy!