Happy 52 Weeks!!!

We made it! 52 weeks worth of blog entries (with a few exceptions) of the first year with Kieran! Tomorrow he will be a year old. Unbelivible!

The photos of Kieran in the yellow space man shirt were taken yesterday at Grandma/Grandpa's house because Sheila was sick so he got to spend some quality time with nana and papa. They took a long walk in the park, drove down to Hartsburg and enjoyed the unseasonably warm March weather. Kieran really loved sitting at the grown up table with grandpa and playing in his highchair fort! He didn't nap too much for them but that's only because he was having way too much fun to sleep!

The top two photos (plus the first week photo- thrown in for comparison) mark the end of the weekly owl-pal photo shoots. Of course we will still keep up with the blog but from here on out posts will be made on his month birthday and then randomly as fun things occur- which is quite often with Kieran so stay tuned... there is so much more to come!

Reliving "the moment"

This time last year, I had been in pre-labor for about five hours. I had no idea what was in store for me despite my best efforts to be prepared. There is nothing quite like that first "real" contraction and the sudden realization that today would be quite unlike any I had ever known before. This day, one year ago, marked the end of one part of my life and the beginning of the next- nothing would ever be quite the same and yet how could have I truly understood that then? I didn't. I had heard it said many times by friends and family members alike- but to understand it we have to go through it ourselves don't we?

I remember very clearly laying in our new bed, next to my sleeping husband in our dark and peaceful room, practically holding my breath waiting... waiting for that next singular sensation- painful, gripping... no mistaking and thinking to myself, "Is this it? Are going to meet our son today? Are we ready?" And then the waiting began... we waited, and we waited and we waited some more...

Here is the blog entry from March 11th 2009... I am so glad I wrote a little bit about how I was feeling, it is nice to role around in my thoughts from that morning and soak up those feelings as I reminisce.


"Is this the real deal? Hard to say for a first timer, but I will say these are most certainly real contractions!
We went to the OB yesterday, 3 cm and 80% effaced and another "sweeping" and Dr. Su's announcement: "I think you are going to have this baby tonight or tomorrow." Okay then... so off we go to the mall to have a tire fixed and mall walk with the best of them!
I had quite a bit of cramping and spotting all evening, but otherwise business as usual. But then, at around 1:30 this morning the first contraction hit and boy-howdy- OUCH! Sharp, tight, burning sensation in lower abdomen. This was followed and has followed with similar contractions (although some have started in my lower back) every 9-12 minutes for the past 5.5 hours. Turns out this could go on all day or longer!!
I am of course hoping for a quicker development than that considering active labor is considered 4 cm and we were at 3 yesterday prior to all this fun... in any case I took the day of work (duh!) and so did Rick and so now we wait a little more..."

The bluebird of happiness

Because of Kieran's love of birds, cultivated by Sheila and grandpa Daugherty, we have decided to start a collection for Kieran of these adorable plush audubon birds. The cool thing about them, besides the fact that they are super cute, is that when squeezed they produce a very clear and accurate call of the bird they look like. I took Kieran to Birds-I-View in Jeff City yesterday and he picked out the bluebird- when he heard it's little call he did his signature happy wiggle and that sold me right away ;) I also chose the black-capped-chickadee because it's one of Sheila's favorite birds and was a regular in her backyard this winter. Wouldn't these little birds look too cute on shelves in Kieran's tree mural? Perhaps we are raising a budding ornithologist!

Happy 51 weeks!

In this week's pictures you see that Kieran is finally getting a chance to explore a little more of the house. As we begin to baby proof the downstairs, we have given the little man a little more freedom and he is loving it! Although he is also demanding it now that he knows it's there... bring on the tantrums! A favorite past time down stairs is crawling from one window to the next, pulling up, and peering out.

The other two photos are of KP in his super cute and ultra puffy orange winter coat- that he really hasn't been big enough to wear until now and he will probably be way to big for come next winter- so we are trying to get as much use out of it now as possible! Of course it is way too big for the car seat but it's perfect for these late winter/early spring walks downtown. As you can see, he isn't always a fan of the puffy coat- but he sure does look cute in it... even when he's screaming!

Pretty Presley

These photos were taken of Presley around Valentine's Day... and what a perfect little Valentine she is! The pink dress belonged to her Auntie Susan when she was a baby and then was passed down to her mommy and now it belongs to Presley and I think she's the cutest of us all in it with her pink cheeks and blue, blue eyes.

Happy 50 Weeks!

Kieran was caught on camera leading his double life as Super Baby, weilding his mighty spoon and with his trusty side-kick owl pal by his side!

It seems, knock on wood, that Kieran is beating his most recent cold and that it is getting better instead of worse... yay! Perhaps we will make it without any more doctor visits before his 12 month well baby!

This past week Kieran has been enjoying his time with his new friends at daycare. However, I think caring for three little ones under the age of three is taking its toll on Sheila! Hopefully everyone will get in a more peaceful routine as the days go by- transitions are always a bit rough.

This week. Kieran is still doing lots of talking and is standing better and longer every day. He's even maybe cruising a little bit- mostly around his walker... but we are most surely on our way to a true "toddler"!

Party time nears...

This is the illustration Rick made for Kieran's 1 year birthday party invitation. It's the Itsy Bitsy Spider (Kieran's favorite song) and also the inspiration for his cake!
We can hardly believe we will have a one year old in just a couple weeks... time truly has flown the last 12 months!

If you were wondering what to get the baby boy that has everything ;)... Kieran has a wish list on amazon
Not that we are fishing for gifts, it's just that some people have been asking for ideas.