The not-so-happy Santa Visit!

Well, we went to see Santa Claus at the mall yesterday, and it wasn't quite so fun for Kendall. Prior to getting in his lap, she was content looking at him and saying "hey" from my arms! However, when I put her in his lap, she had a complete "lose her breath-turn blue episode"--you know the one where no sound comes out at all and her lips are purple and you're holding your breath waiting on her to breathe? Yes, that kind of melt down! It was just pitiful, but I kind of expected her to have this reaction. I'm so glad that Chet was there to capture it all on camera! She finally got calmed down once I held her and sat with Santa. So, here a few priceless photos of Kendall's experience with Santa!!


Her first reaction in Santa's lap!

"Who the heck is this furry thing in my face?"

He's thinking to himself, "Please someone get this screaming child out of my lap!!"

The Final Picture...No tears!

It's Official!!

It's official! Chet has graduated from Nursing School! Yippee! He graduated on December 12 from the Advanced Bachelor of Science in Nursing program from Union University. I am so proud of his accomplishment. It was very intense and a lot of hardwork, but he did it and did it WELL! Here are a few pictures from the big day!

Me and Chet before graduation

Receiving his diploma

The Graduate!!!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

I just thought I would post a picture of our Christmas tree and the mantle. I think it turned out pretty, but there is always room for improvement. I was just glad that we got a fake prelit tree this year instead of a real one because I refuse to string lights on a real tree again for a long, long time. I've been doing it for 8 years and it's just too much trouble! Kendall loves the tree...she says "ooooohhhhhh baaaaalllllll" and points to the ball ornaments. She has been really good about not pulling on the tree or the ornaments. However, she is starting to grab at the presents under the tree (yes, I'm aware that there are no presents under the tree in the picture, but there are now!). I'm just hoping that all the presents are still wrapped by the time Christmas gets here!

Bugs, Bugs, GO AWAY!

Well, it's been a while since I've posted, so I'm trying to get up to date on the last few weeks. What have we been doing?? Trying to get rid of the "bugs" that Kendall has...She has had strep, pneumonia, and who knows what else lingering around, and she just can't shake it! She has learned to love the stethescope since it has become a daily routine to listen to her lungs. She actually wears it around her neck like Chet and I do (maybe this means she'll have a medical career)! She takes her medicine so well and is starting to learn to like the breathing treatments (thanks to her daddy who dances around and throws the ball and acts goofy to keep her entertained for the 10 minute treatments!). We have been to the doctor more times in the last month than in the last year! Yuck! Kendall weighs 20.4 lbs and she is getting really heavy toting her around all the time.

Kendall is now walking EVERYWHERE, or maybe I should say running everywhere; however, she still LOVES to be carried!! She started really walking on November 13 and hasn't slowed down one bit. She loves to walk over to the window and talk to Oakley, our lab. She barks at him and says "Hey Oakley" and "good boy" in her own little language. Speaking of talking, she is blabbing all the time. She says lots of words and she has the most fabulous expressions! She is so much fun, and I'm reminded everyday of how blessed we are to have her.

We hosted Thanksgiving this year in our own house!! This is the first holiday that we've spent in Tupelo in the 5 years we lived here. Our families came over and spent Thanksgiving with us. I cooked the whole meal (except the dressing) and therefore, we have NO pictures from Thanksgiving! Where was Chet with my camera?? Who knows, but we don't have 1 picture from Thanksgiving and it makes me really sad. I was so caught up in cooking, cleaning, hosting, etc that I didn't get the camera out. Oh well, we have the wonderful memories stored away in our heads (assuming the alzheimer's doesn't kick in too early!).

I've posted a few pictures of my sick little girl! I'm hoping that the second round of treatment will kill the bugs D-E-A-D! We are tired of being sick!



Mommy listening to Kendall's lungs...

Kendall holding the stethescope on her neck. She's learning from a PRO! :)

She loves to chew on the stethescope...anything to keep her happy during sick times!

Playdate with Kitty and Mitchell

A few weekends ago, we went to Memphis to stay the weekend and Kendall had a blast playing with the Kitty at Aunt Scott's house. She LOVES animals, especially dogs and cats. We may have to end up buying her an inside animal because it makes her so happy. Anyway, we had a great weekend visiting with family and playing with our buddies, Tara, Clay, and Mitchell Holder. The kids had a blast running and chasing each other. Here are a few pictures from the weekend!


Kendall and the Kitty (just after she fell and hit her eye on the glass coffee table. Yes, she drew blood and it was traumatic, but thanks to Kitty, she got better real soon!)

Kendall and Mitchell playing in the pottery barn chair. They loved sitting in it together, but there were a few times that they were trying to push each other out!

I love this picture of Kendall looking at Mitchell. I'm not sure what she was thinking, but it must have been really deep! They were so sweet playing together!

Another sweet picture of the kiddos...Mitchell is having a blast and Kendall looks exhausted!

Happy 13 Months to the sweetest girl in the whole world!

Well, today my little angel is 13 months old. I have no recent pictures to post because she has been sick for the last 2 weeks, and believe me, there haven't been too many happy faces! She battled strep for a week and was just recently diagnosed with pneumonia over the weekend. Poor Kendall...she has been sick more in the last 2 weeks than she was her whole 1st year of life (it seems a little ironic that I quit nursing her 3 weeks ago and she has been sick for 2 weeks!!). Anyway, she weighs 19 lbs and is 30in long (I guessed on the length but that is pretty close). She has started taking steps on her own, but she is too scared to just "go for it" completely. Hopefully, she'll get brave in the next few weeks and start walking exclusively. Maybe if she gets off the floor, she won't get so many germs! I'm hoping for a speedy recovery from the pneumonia (she's much better), but I'm really praying for a healthy, illness-free winter!

More Halloween Pictures

Here are some of the rest of the pictures from Halloween! That sweet little flower and bumblebee are Anna Grant and Caroline Kahlstorf...aren't they precious?