This time last year...

 This time last year I felt like barfing all day long, but hardly anyone knew. This time last year I was getting up 2 times a night just to pee. This time last year I took at least one nap a day. This time last year I couldn't eat enough strawberries (or preggy pops & ginger ale). This time last year I was sooooo ready for a break from work. This time last year I couldn't button my jeans (well, I guess that one hasn't really changed! HA!). 

This year things have changed, because this time last year I did not have an adorable 5 month old!!!!

 Who about a week ago weighed in at 11lbs and 9oz.

 Who is super smiley and happy most of the time!

 Who can take a bottle of formula when she needs to (and she even likes to help hold it!)

 Who is working on a pretty sweet bald spot!

 Who is sleeping about 9 or 10 hours a night and takes at least 2 great naps a day (which probably contribute to the smiley happy attitude!)!

 Who loves her Mommy and Daddy and looks at them when they say her name.

 

Who has fun cousins who show her how to sit with Santa. And a Mimi who takes care of her on Friday's while Mommy and Daddy work.

 Who helps Mommy around the house on all the other weekdays.

 Who loves to look at the Christmas tree and is experiencing all the fun new sights of the holidays.

Who loves to play with all toys that are grabable and feel nice on her gums.

Who can now make "raspberries," roll over from tummy to back, and can sit great in the Bumbo chair.

Who is the joy of our life!!!

Merry Christmas!

Ever since I met Keith and his family we've been going to Breakfast with Santa. Last year was pretty exciting because we announced that we were pregnant to both of our families! We gave no announcements this year.  But this year was the best one yet! Even though Kendall doesn't really "get it", we sure love introducing her to our family traditions and starting a few new ones of our very own. She survived her first encounter with Santa looking just a little stunned, but not totally freaked out (sadly, no signature Kendall smile either. Maybe next year----well, probably next year we'll get the tears!).

 Merry Christmas everyone :)

Great Grandpa Dave & Thanksgiving

In mid November my Mom invited Kendall and I to join her at Grandpa Dave's house in California. It was perfect weather in the Bay Area, which was perfect timing for us to get out of Spokane (before all the crazy snow!). Kendall LOVED seeing her Great Grandpa again!

We celebrated a mini Christmas, since we'll all be in Spokane this year, Grandpa will be with my Aunt's family. It will be one of my first Christmas' without him.

You'd never know this guy is 97 years old the way he would get down on the floor to play with Kendall!

Kendall was able to meet her 2nd cousin, Aidan (my cousin Daniel's son), who isn't the baby in the family anymore!

She likes the bath so much, she gets pretty upset when we take her out.

We helped Grandpa do some yard work too. Can't you just feel the warm California sunshine---I'm trying to pretend I'm still there!

My mom was just as excited as Grandpa to see Kendall.

We came back and had just a couple of weeks until my parents came to Spokane for Thanksgiving.

Here Quincy is holding her "Baby Kennall"

The whole crew at dinner

The Williams Christmas card

 (it only took 8 tries to get a decent one, and I was the main problem!)

First Snow

4 months old---updated

4 month stats:

10lbs 11.5oz (5%), 23 3/4in long (30%)

We've got to beef up our itty bitty! Hopefully she'll like a little formula with her breastmilk---wish us luck!

I can't believe how quickly time is moving. The other day, I met with a teacher friend of mine who was telling me about her up coming conferences---and I was like "WHAT? how can conferences be going on this week? School just started!" But, school didn't just start, I'm just WAY out of the loop, living in baby world where there are no conferences. Mainly just a lot of drooling.  However, if I were to have a conference to discuss all the ways I've seen Kendall grow and learn so far in her life, she would pass with flying colors :) She is still sleeping through the night most nights, adding new sounds (and new volume) to her vocabulary, grabbing and actually playing with her toys, putting everything that comes near her in her mouth, sitting with assistance, attempting to roll from her tummy to back, flirting with friends (and strangers at the grocery store), giggling and smiling in anticipation of a kiss or a tickle, growling up a storm, standing with our help, and growing out of her clothes daily it seems! We are seriously loving each new phase (even the clingy fussy one she recently started while on a trip to visit her Great Grandpa).

Here are her 4 month dolly pictures. She wasn't very happy at first....

 Letting her suck her thumb helped....

 But letting her pretend she's a big girl in her crib did the trick! Did I mention she loves to stand up with our help? Standing might be tied with sucking her hands for her favorite thing in the world.

We love you Kendall, thanks for being the best baby in the world! Stats to come later this week...

Ella

Some friends of our friends little baby, named Ella, needs our prayers!

http://ellalouisedordal.blogspot.com/

Growling Monster

Kendall's new trick is growling. I don't know if she likes the sound, or the way it feels in her throat, but she does it ALL THE TIME! I think she learned from her friend Avlynne, who is a growling expert! The video is a little dark and a little long...but it's pretty cute :)