~Kiersten~

It is about time I do a Kiersten update! She is really becoming animated. The boys are amazed at how quickly her attitude can change. She has gone through a pinching phase, a scratching phase, a biting phase and now we are in the midst of a throwing phase. It may never end... she is very creative:0)Lovely:-) Two purses, two babies... and a finger in the nose. Every time I grabbed the camera the finger went in. Every time I put the camera down the finger went out. She hasn't done it since then.

On the positive side... she loves to grab a book and run to me and say "up." Other words are "yes," "wash," "u-o" and "stop." Of course, "dada" is on the top of the list. She has said "mama" only a handful of times and it wasn't directed at me. She also says "hi" and "bye-bye."First braids this morning!

Anytime you ask her a question she says "yes." I love that! "Kiersten, do you want to do wash?" "yes" We start the wash together every morning. She runs to my bathroom to get the dirty clothes.

She knows a little more sign language. "More" is still her favorite. I haven't been too consistent with the other words. She makes a clicking noise and stands by her place at the table when she wants a drink.

She loves her dolls... which makes me happy! She also plays with whatever she can take away from her brothers. Her favorite thing to do right now is color. She colors on EVERYTHING. We have about a thousand pencils all over the place and she is always able to find one. If she can't find paper or a book, she just colors on the walls... or the toilet. I have never dealt with this problem before! Now, she hides behind the quilt hanging in the dinning room and colors on that wall!!! See, she is a creative little girl!!! I found a magna doodle type thing and she is loving that... so am I!!!

Kiersten has started "praying" before meals and during family devotions. She doesn't last long and isn't always quiet, but she is doing well. She often folds her hands before I even say "let's pray."Isn't that the sweetest thing!

She loves the dogs... I don't think they feel the same way.

She loves Aaron. He gets her out of the crib in the morning and brings her to me. He also will pick her up if she is screaming while I'm trying to do something. Yes, screaming... not fussing... it's all or nothing! Aaron even lets her sit on his lap while doing some of his schoolwork.

She loves to play in my yarn, my fabric scraps and my scrap booking tools. Now I know what it is like for Gregg... all those boys always walking away with something he was using:0) I must admit... I love it! She lays the scraps out and plays so nicely.

She is doing much better with keeping bows in her hair, but she still pulls them out often! She will pull it out and come find me to put it back in. If anyone has a tip on keeping them in I'd love to hear it!

I can't believe she is almost a year and a half old already!

~First Haircut~

I didn't want to do it.... Kiersten won't leave a bow in her hair anymore so her hair was in her eyes all the time. I broke down and trimmed her bangs.
She wouldn't look up long enough for me to get a photo...
...until I bribed her with a toothbrush! Much better!

~Happy Fall~

Yes, I know. Fall happened awhile ago. I was in denial. I do enjoy fall... but I know what comes next and I'm just NOT into winter. I've been so busy (I know, nothing new!) that I haven't had a moment to enjoy the smell of fall, the crunching leaves, the cool breeze and the colorful trees.

I looked out my window this morning when I got up and our tree that changes colors first was stunning! It is no longer time to deny... I'll be embracing fall... soup and biscuits for lunch... tights on little legs... maple sugar candles burning... ahhh, much better!

~She's Walking~

Kiersten has been stepping very carefully for weeks but hadn't ventured across the room... until Wednesday. She walked every where all day long! She really hasn't crawled since then. I took her outside today and she did very well in the grass. While I love that she is walking, I have found it much harder to keep an eye on her. She also doesn't like to sit in the shopping cart anymore.

I love hearing the little footsteps walking across the floor... too cute!

~Happy 1st Birthday Doll Baby~

You, Kiersten, are a treasure... a gift from the Lord.What a fun year of pink and purple, ribbons and lace, frills and bows!

We are praying for wisdom to raise you up to glorify God.

We are praying for you to have a soft heart and that your strong will would work out to be a positive character trait.
You are a spunky little girl!!!

We are also praying that you learn to joyfully serve.

You have added so much to our family already.

Happy 1st Birthday to our sweet little Kiersten Olivia!

~Shoes~

This is the first week Kiersten has worn shoes. She is in a size 1. Too cute!

~11 Months~

Kiersten is such a doll baby! She is almost a year old and such a happy little lady! She crawls very well and pulls up on everything. I don't think she will be walking anytime soon but she may surprise us.This month she learned how to drink from a straw and she started eating food. She is really, really picky. She likes any kind of bread/cracker/pretzel thing but doesn't like any veggies and it is hard to get her to eat fruit. I am not sure how to handle this... my boys ate EVERYTHING. Any tips you'd like to share are greatly appreciated:-)Her personality is really starting to show. She is a real tease. She copies things and learns quickly. She still sticks her tongue out all the time. She has her four front teeth and it looks like some more are coming in. She had a really cranky few days and one sleepless night getting her teeth but overall, she didn't do too bad.

Gregg and I had our first date since she was born... and of course she came along. She did really well. She likes french fries.
Kiersten was on the floor in the kitchen when I was cleaning up and she found some applesauce. She poked her two front teeth through the foil lid and was sucking out the juice. She was kicking her feet and giggling so I looked to see what she was in to! Haha! She was really mad when I took it away but wouldn't eat it.

She loves to play with her brothers toys. I have to watch her because she puts everything in her mouth... I think she is getting better at not doing that or at least she spits it out when I tell her to.

I am planning the big birthday party! How fun!

~Nine Months~

I almost can't believe Kiersten is nine months old already! Can you believe it!?!??!

Kiersten is sitting well and often gets up onto her hands and knees. She does manage to scoot a little backwards. She can roll... she just doesn't
Mom is still her favorite person:-) Strangers are still a bit much.


Kiersten finally got one bottom tooth and the two top ones are on their way.

I started giving her biter biscuits when I'm fixing meals. It keeps her busy... and happy! I haven't started her on baby food yet. I am going to try to skip that whole messy step!


Even though she isn't mobile, she still gets into mischief. She can find the littlest things to put in her mouth. I also had her on the floor in the bathroom so I could brush my teeth and she managed to unroll the toilet paper.


She takes two naps a day... normally. She loves to sit in the stroller for our daily walks. She is starting to copy things and tries to clap. Peek a boo is becoming a favorite game. She doesn't like the entertainers anymore so I'll be putting those away. She does well in the pack n play so I do have a "safe" place to keep her!

~Eight Months~

Can you believe it!?!??! Eight months already!

Kiersten is sitting fairly well
She has finally started rolling... a little
She still loves to put things in her mouth
The boys and dogs can make her laugh
She has stranger anxiety
She is still very content
Kiersten is really starting to squeal and babble
She is starting to copy things
She has the meanest little pinch
No teeth
Her legs kick like crazy when she is happy
So very curious
Loves to snuggle
Not a good napper... but getting a tiny bit better
Is such a joy!

~Easter Dress~

Finally posting...life just is flying by! I missed taking pictures of Kiersten on Easter and then it was too cold outside! I took her outside today to try to get some six month photos in her Easter dress (yes, she is seven months but we will call them six months anyway:-)

Look at that little tongue sticking out!

This is her "mom, what are you doing?" look

She is looking at a big bee

Such a sweetie!

Tiny feet sticking out of ribbons and ruffles is just too cute to ignore

Cuteness at every angle!

Picking her first flower
I'm in love with pudgy fingers

This is her "mom, I'm all done" look :-)

I had so much fun making her dress! Did you notice the butterfly buttons:-) I had asked Gregg if the buttons should be blue or white. He said they should be white butterflies! I was hoping to find some and sure enough, they were there! Cute dress made cuter!

~Six Months~

My little sweetie is growing like a wildflower:-)

She still loves her fingers

But now, She also loves her toes!

She grabs for things too! She enjoys sitting up a lot more now...that bouncy seat has been put away. I also have to watch her more carefully in the swing. She grabs the sides!

She loves her brothers. She has some really good belly laughs. Not yet rolling. No teeth. Sometimes sleeping through the night. Only about 15 lbs. Her bald spot is growing hair again! She loves to pull hair and can pinch really hard! She also gives lots of wet slobbery kisses:-)

~More Snow Photos~

If you live in the North East, you might want to skip this post. You are probably tired of seeing snow photos!

This was our road yesterday...And now today!!! (looking the opposite direction) Thanks to neighbors with a bobcat and bulldozer! The main roads are not even clean.

Here was out my front door...

Today after shoveling. Can you see how deep it is!Here, now you can see how deep it is!

Wow! Looks like 25 inches on the ground! I am not sure how much of Saturdays snow we lost and the snow from yesterday has settled from the warm sun today. I wish I would have measured before today.

It was a beautiful, sun shinny day! We even had a nice sun set!
And because you all love to see sleeping baby photos....
Kiersten folded her hands like that when I was rocking her to sleep.

~5 months~

I can't believe Kiersten is five months old already. It is getting hard to remember not having her around to snuggle with!

She thrives on eye contact. Kiersten certainly knows and loves her brothers... She squeals, spits and kicks when happy. If you growl at her, she growls back!

She has started looking intently at people she doesn't know. She really checks them out! She loves her fingers! For a special treat she chews on other people's fingers.

Still not the greatest sleeper... but she is getting better!