Happy Haunting

from: Buzz, little B, and us too

State Fair

So Saturday my dad took us out to the State Fair for a day of fun and greasy food. After trying to find someone to watch Brooke (my aunt was stranded out in the desert after their rail broke down) we were able to leave her with my other aunt. So off we went. The first thing we did when we got there was enjoy the awesome bar-b-que they have near the entrance. Kempton didn't eat much cause he was apparently distracted by the chair lift above. And since the entire reason for my dad taking us was to spoil this kid, he and my brother took K on a ride. (I love this picture, just wish I could see K's feet too)
He of course loved it, and thought he was flying which is his favorite thing to do right now. He's obsessed with Buzz Lightyear.
Curt and I kept running ahead so we could get pictures and wave. It was so cute to see him light up when he saw us down below.
This kid loves these two guys, I think they are all best buds. I love it cause I've never seen my dad or brother so excited to hang out, run around, and entertain a kid. It's seriously so sweet!
This was the first ride he did by himself. It was a pirate ship that went up and down as it spun around. He thought he was big stuff.
Next was this baja car that did the same thing, but bounced you more like you were 4x wheeling. So Curt had to go with him. If you look close you can see K's white knuckles as he holds on for dear life. It was a bit of a rough ride, but he didn't want to get off when it was over.
By far the best ride of the night (and the only one I was up for doing) was this giant slide. After having to prove (twice) that he was tall enough to sit in my lap, we made the seriously steep climb up to the top. He was so stinkin excited to go down this thing, but I think got a wee bit nervous when we started down cause his grip got a lot tighter. It was fun to hear him "weeing" all the way down.
Kempton loves his grandpa, and we love when he takes us to the fair for rides, bar-b-que, fry bread, and some red neck fun watching the Figure 8 derby. Thanks dad, we had a great time!

Projects

This last month I've been working on a few projects to keep me busy and give me something fun to do. So here are a few of the things I have finished.

Of course when I get really bored, or ribbon is on sale, I make more hair bows. Which meant I needed another bow holder. Found this $2 frame at GW, took it apart, painted it, and strung some ribbon.

Now I have a little one, that sits under the original one. I know, I'm ridiculous, but if anyone wants a bow, pick one, you can have it!

Some Halloween decor, too bad I hate modge podge and it bubbled!

This was a fun super saturday project that turned out so cute. The other side is for Thanksgiving. (Seriously, I wish I had a Cricut if for no other reason but to cut my own vinyl! Anyone want to loan me the $$$)

Another super saturday board

Finally got some new pictures of Brooke for the frames. The empty one and the vertical one are still waiting on pictures of our Grandparents.

Got to love the color scrapbook paper adds to a wall.

More new pictures

Had fun with all these, can't wait to find some creative ideas for Christmas decorations and gifts.

Munchkins

I'll admit that when the thought of having two kids came up, I was scared out of my mind. It's not that Kempton is a difficult child (not in the least) but the thought of having two peeps to care for made me nervous. I remember when K was a baby, the sleepless nights, never being able to go anywhere cause he was always eating, and the crying, there seemed to be lots of crying. At the time, I thought he was a great baby, compared to others I had been around, but looking back, he was a pill. However, being a new mother everything was hard, you didn't really know what you were doing or why they were always crying, and for me, I never knew how much he was getting to eat, which was a big factor in the crying and sleepless nights. So needless to say, I was not looking forward to starting that all over again.

But then along came Brooke, and all my apprehensions went away. She is such a sweet and easy baby. She eats great, sleeps, and only fusses when she's hungry or strapped in her carseat (she hates that thing, but I'm convinced it's because she's stuck on her back). She loves to be on her tummy, which K hated, so she holds her head up great and is even scooting around. Every now and then she gets close to rolling so she's very active. She's very alert when she's awake and is always looking around. She loves to stare at faces and will lock in and focus on whatever it is for a good while. B eats about every 5-6 hours at night (which means I get sleep lots of sleep!!), and 3-4 hours during the day. The two nap at the same time (hallelujah, don't know how that happened) so it gives me a break to relax, rest, or get stuff done.

Unlike what I imagined having two would be like, we've been able to go out, just the 3 of us and it's been manageable. So we go out any chance we get, for all our sakes. I've learned that it's ok for her to cry for a sec while I finish up what I'm doing, as long as I know she's fed, changed and safe from brother. With K I was always dropping everything to tend to him, which meant nothing ever got done. It drove me crazy and didn't help him learn to soothe himself. Now we make it all work and I often get some help from K when she is crying.

So being a mother of two is not as hard as I thought it was going to be. I couldn't have imagined having such an easy 2nd baby when I was under the impression that my first one was so laid back. We've all settled into a pretty good routine and it's almost like nothing's changed. I've definitely been blessed with an awesome (most days) toddler and a sweet, easy going baby.

B is growing like a weed and changing every day. She's been smiling at us for the last few weeks and has started cooing now too. Her face keeps changing, other than those chubby cheeks, and it's hard to tell who she looks like. It's clear that she has the fairer features from Curt's side so she continues to look nothing like K, which is hilarious when they're next to each other. Brooke is such a little doll and I couldn't have asked for a better baby girl.

On a side note, Kempton has been working on his photog skills. He takes our old camera and walks around telling you "cheese". He's gotten some funny photos, and a bunch of the ceiling too. Here are some of his best work.

Got to love kids and cameras!

Big Brother

So everybody always warns you about the issues that come with bringing a new baby home, jealousy, resentment, acting out and all those fun things to make your day cheery and bright. However, I have loved watching Kempton with his little sister. He is such a kind and sweet brother and is also such a big help to me.

He loves to fetch diapers and throw them away, he brings her toys he thinks she might enjoy (Buzz Lightyear), and he dances around in the tub to entertain her while she's chilling on the floor.

If she's crying and I haven't gotten to her, he will either make sure she has a pacifier or snuggle up to her patting her back. He's always wanting to hold her and when he wants me to follow him somewhere, he often tries to pick her up so that she comes too. B is welcome in his secret forts, lays next to him on the bed at night for story time, and is excited to see her every morning when he wakes up. We have had so much fun watching him play with her, talk in really high pitch voices to her, and even helping wash her in the bath. He's the best big brother any little girl could ask for and I just hope their relationship continues to grow as she becomes more able to reciprocate the love. I love my kiddos, I couldn't ask for two better munchkins!

Here are some funny and random pictures of Kempton from the last month...

We went out to the park one night, the first time we had used the stroller, and K was upset that he wasn't sitting in the seat. He never wants to sit in the stroller but apparently he did this night. So instead he got to ride in the basket underneath. He thought this was the greatest thing and wants to ride down there every time. Now he sits in the stroller and she's in a front carrier until we get a double stroller.

At my cousins wedding Kempton kept getting into the punch bowl cups once it was time to clean up the building. He walked around the gym with them over his eyes, and then his 2nd cousin that's his age joined in on the fun. It was hilarious to see two two year olds wandering around with cups for eyes.

This kid loves his grandpa Ken and uncle Brian. They had their hands full watching him during the ceremony.