Not Baaaaaashful

This is the cutest little coat that my girlfriend, Johanna, got Kensley last year. It took her a while to grow into it, no time to grow OUT of it, and now that she is slimming up, she can wear it again! Yes, this is a froo-froo coat, but if you knew Johanna, you would know this is right up her alley and she stuck to Mike's guidelines last year of "NO Pink!" So this is our little cutie in her little lamb coat. She looks so proud to wear it.

Dancin' with Dora

Kensley doesn't get to watch much TV, unless you consider my hour's worth of the Today Show in the mornings, so she doesn't know anything about Dora. Kensley does, however, LOVE LOVE LOVE music and has a bit of soul, might I add. So Nanna and Pop were out piddling around one weekend and noticed that this Dora danced and thought Kensley had to have it. Well, she loved it, and loved all over it and danced with it while she lasted. That's right folks; three days later, Dora quit dancing. Apparently Kensley enjoyed Dora's technical foot more than the other and she shorted out, but not before we got the necessary pictures and videos!

The Joys of Toddlerhood

I just read that some parents consider toddlerhood at one, others when their child begins walking. Either way, we have a toddler, as Kensley's first birthday rapidly approaches. Below you will notice some of Kensley's latest tricks. For a little girl who is so afraid to fall when she walks, she has NO FEAR about climbing all over things. (Maybe it's because I hover more when she is climbing???) Also, Kensley has begun to show her inner nosiness. She loves to know what's inside of things. Once she discovers it, she tosses it all out like a cartoon character and then sits in the box or bag of whatever. We are working on her cleaning up after herself. Kensley is doing well with putting things into its container, but we are surely going to have to keep this habit going without compromise so not to train Mama and Daddy to quickly do all the work ourselves! Uncle Matt and Aunt Jenn sent Kensley some of Lane and Laura Catherine's clothes and Kensley relished the opportunity to pull EVERYTHING from the box and then climb in.

Climbing into a toy basket

Just exerting her inner nosy.

Kensley pushed this box over to the laundry basket (that she uses as a toy) and proceeded to climb up and down and all around. Give me a BREAK!

Nigh, Nigh

Bedtime used to be difficult for us. I was the mom that nursed my baby to sleep or gave her a bottle and rocked when the nursing was done. That worked ok until it gave Kensley the impression that when she woke at 3:30am, all of that riggamaroll was to occur as it did before naps and bedtime. I wasn't under that same impression when it proved to be a habit, so we resorted to Ferberizing after all else seemed to come back to bite us. I still wish I could just rock my little girl to sleep and that be it, but for her, it doesn't work that way, so Ferber it is. Since implementing this new plan, (we had a few tearful nights in the very beginning) our bedtime routine has worked best for us for an extended time. We have alot of B's to check off before bed, (bottle, bath, brush teeth, bed clothes, book, hum (not a 'B'), and bed) but the routine has become so pleasant. So tonight, I go through the B's with Little Miss, and just before her little head hits the mattress and I have whispered, "I love you," she proclaims, "Nigh, Nigh!" I was just floored! She will say "wu you," but has never done good night. Her sweet words just hit the spot tonight!

Pumpkin Picker!

In the true spirit of Columbus Day in New Jersey (it's a holiday for most people), we went pumpkin picking today! We just went to pick up a pumpkin, but got sidetracked by all of the great activities to do at Johnson's Farm! Kensley roared at all of the farm animals (we are still working on matching the right sound with the animals!) and played on the play equipment. She also loved the pumpkin patch. We had to take a hayride to get there and Kensley took it upon herself to stick out her little hand and wave to all of the passersby. Once there, Kensley could play in the dirt and eat the vines. It was a great time with great weather and great memories!

Heading toward the pumpkin patch Showing off her new skill - walking to the playground. I see you! Look! Goats! Funny flower! Waiting for the hayride! Our hay wagonClimbing around on the wagonHey y'all! I mean, yous guys!This one?This one?I like this one!Our family pumpkin