HP Christmas Gala!

Every year Hensel Phelps, the company Blaine works for, throws a wonderful Christmas party filled with amazing food, drinks, gambling, and great friends! Blaine and I enjoy going to the hotel early so we can spend time exploring Dana Point. Kenley is really into staying at hotels. She loves to run around and basically cause havoc :) But, isn't that what toddlers are suppose to do?!

Daddy and Kenley taking in the beautiful views!

She has decided that it is fun to squat down and try to walk! 

It looks pretty silly!

LOVE!

Silly Girl!

We cannot find a pair of jeans to fit this skinny girl!

She thought this was so funny.
We actually found it to be pretty cute too...hence the picture!

This year, for some reason, the company decided on a Western theme...hmmm! I always love shopping for a fancy dress to wear so this definitely put a damper on that. However, I actually ended up enjoying the themed idea and we had a wonderful night in our Western wear!

Some of us girls in our western attire :)

Great friends! 

Continued Prayers Please!

As I have mentioned before, some of our good friends are living every parents nightmare. Their baby girl (Paxten) was diagnosed with Leukemia at 9 months old (last December) and shortly after (three or so months) Paxten went into remission. However, a few months ago they found out she had relapsed. Paxten will now need to receive a bone marrow transplant. However, before she undergoes this procedure she must endure intense chemo treatments and radiation.

I ask you to please keep this family in your prayers. Their continued strength, faith, love, and fight are beyond inspirational. Paxten is only a three weeks older than our little angel, and I cannot imagine going through this with our baby girl. I'm a firm believer that God never gives you more than you can handle. However, I must admit that I don't think I would handle this with as much grace, faith, and strength as this family has...it's truly amazing! 

Here is the link to Paxten's caringbridge if you would like to follow Blake, Libby and Paxten's story.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/paxtenpearson

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year! Papa and Grandma Clark flew to CA (for the second year in a row now) and spent the week with us. Rhonda and Larry were kind enough to watch Kenley, while Blaine and I had the entire day to OURSELVES to shop and go out to dinner. It is amazing how relaxing and peaceful it is to shop without the little bug! After wrapping up some Christmas shopping at Toys R Us, we headed to South Coast Plaza to shop some more and dine. We stopped at ANQI to share a bottle of wine and to grab a quick appetizer before shopping. You see, I like to get Blaine a little tipsy before I ask him what our budget is for Kenley's Christmas and for my Christmas gift. I find he tends to allow me to spend more freely when he has had a drink or two :) As we were soaking up the alone time, I told Blaine, "this is so perfect...I feel like this is too good to be true!" I know what you're thinking, "Wow, they don't get out much!" However, you have to understand that when you live away from family, even getting to go on a date to the mall is a very special treat! This is partially my fault as I am very particular about who I leave my little sweetie with. Anyway, just as I was saying this we got a phone call from Blaine's mom telling us that Kenley had thrown up :( Of course, I wanted to run home immediately and comfort my little girl. However, Blaine convinced me to let his parents take care of her. Overall, we had a wonderful date and look forward to our next one!

The rest of our Thanksgiving week was pretty relaxed. We spent a lot of time going on walks around the lake near our house, enjoying the beautiful weather (literally 80s), and spending the day at The Grove (which has become a Thanksgiving tradition of ours). The Grove is an outdoor shopping mall with a fabulous atmosphere and amazing restaurants. During the Holiday season, Christmas music is humming through the center, and on two different occasions during the night fake snow falls down. While at The Grove, Kenley visited with Santa! We have it on video and I'll try to upload it in an upcoming blog.


Waiting to see Santa!

Our kissing pose!

She wasn't really wanting to cooperate as you can tell :)

Daddy and his little girl!

I adore the way he looks at her...pure happiness and love!

Trying to catch the snow!

This is her silly face :)

A Blessed Life!

Blaine and I have been blessed with an amazing life. We are blessed to have one another to spend our lives with, blessed to have supportive/amazing parents, blessed to have siblings, whom we are especially close to, blessed with amazing friends that would do anything for us and vise versa, blessed to give Kenley a healthy/stable/loved home to grow up in, blessed to have our health, and blessed to have a home and stable careers.

Most importantly, we are blessed to have a healthy, beautiful little girl!

Blessed Beyond Words!

Halloween 2011

This Halloween I was so excited to dress Kenley up as a ladybug! We wanted her to be a ladybug last Halloween, however we waited too long to order the costume and unfortunately the one we wanted was sold out. Therefore, this year I order the ladybug outfit months in advanced, as I was determined that our little Ken Bug would be the perfect ladybug...WRONG! Kenley was adamant on not wearing the outfit. I mean screaming, crying, yelling, "NO, MOMMY" when I tried to put her in the costume! I continued to try to persuade her into the costume by saying, "Everyone is wearing an outfit, Lolo and Jordy have their outfits on, we can't go trick or treating without the outfit"...you get the point! Nothing I would say or do would change her mind. So, naturally I ran to her closet and looked for a replacement costume. I grabbed a fur and away we went...Rachel Zoe and I that is :)

Kenley and her pumpkin!

She actually thought the pumpkin was dirty! She kept saying, "Yuck, dirty!"

Watching daddy crave the pumpkin!
She is saying, "Ewww, Mommy!"

 Looking inside the pumpkin!

Some of the kids waiting to go trick-or-treating!

As she was walking up to her first door, I became a little emotional!
 Our little girl is growing up too quickly!
She got the hang of it right away saying,"Tick or Teet!"

Looking at all her goodies!

Trying one last time to coax her into her costume...no luck :(

We love you Kenley!

Thank you for bringing so much love to our home! 

Tanaka Farm (Pumpkin Patch)

This past weekend we took Kenley to the pumpkin patch at Tanaka Farm. We began our day at the lake near our house feeding the ducks, and ended it at Tanaka Farm's feeding the goats! Kenley is now a little fearful of the ducks due to an incident she and her daddy experienced a few weeks back. Blaine had a day off and decided to take Ken Bug to the lake to feed "Kenley's ducks!" Next, thing you know Blaine said a drooling duck hopped out of the water and started walking toward them. He said at first he didn't think much of it, however seconds later the duck was chasing the two of them up the stairs and away from the lake! Needless to say she is a little timid now :)

She almost enjoys looking at the people walking by more so than feeding the ducks!

"Hi Ducks...My Shoes!"

We absolutely love this time of the year, especially since we now have an excuse to do all the fun kid activities. Last year we took Kenley to Tanaka Farm and had a wonderful time. We were so excited to return this year to enjoy all the festivities! 

Feeding the goats...not her favorite thing to do! 

I don't blame her!

Kenley and her best bud (Lolo)

So excited to get to the Pumpkin Patch!

I love this picture! It reminds me of what childhood is all about!

Love this little sweetie more than anything!

Found her pumpkin!

Family picture!

I feel so very blessed to be sharing these special moments with the love of my life and my amazing baby girl!

Itsy Bitsy Teeny Kenley!

Kenley is 18.5 months old! I cannot believe we have 1 1/2 year old! We find ourselves saying, "I love this age the most!" Then another month passes and boom that's our favorite age! Being a parent is the most rewarding, difficult and amazing experience in our lives. She is such a cuddly, sweet, yet strong-willed little girl! We are loving every moment with our sweet pea!

At Kenley's 18 month well baby checkup she weighed 19 lbs. 12 oz. (Below 3rd %) and was 30 inches long (10 % ile).


Below are some of Kenley's favorite activities and most recent milestones she has achieved:

• Combines 2 words. Her favorite phrase is..."Kenely's shoes!" Yes, the girl is obsessed with shoes!  Wonder who she gets that from :)
• Is really starting to show interest in potty training. She will tell us before she goes "PEEEE, POO, or even when she TUTS!"We find this very cute!
• Is able to independently complete simple puzzles.
• Loves her bear blanket.
• Is in love with "Mel-Mo...aka: Elmo!"
• Enjoys watching "MeMe...aka: Nemo"
• Has officially developed her first best-friend, "Lolo...aka: Logan"
• Loves being around other children.
• Enjoys riding in her car seat and listening to music.
• Loves twirling and playing Ring-Around-The-Rosie.
• If we would let her she would play outside all day.
• Is still primarily wearing 12 month clothing. However, I am only buying 18 month clothing for the fall/winter and praying it fits her!
• Loves to pretend she is a baby! She will come up to me and say, "Kenley...baby" and want me to rock her and sing rock-a-bye-baby!
• Still enjoys reading...thank God!
• Loves to get her hair done (put in a pony) and will even ask for a bow :) YAY!!

Getting this girl to look at the camera is a challenge!

Our little family!

Kenley and "Wiwwy!"

Kenley, 
Mommy and daddy love you more than anything in this entire world! You bring so much happiness and love to our lives! We thank God everyday for giving you to us! 

Love, 

Mommy and Daddy