Makenna's 18 Month Mark!

I can't believe that Makenna's 18 month "birthday" (November 5th) has come and gone and that she's surpassed the age that Denver was when she was born.  While I miss my little baby who I could rock to sleep and snuggle up with I'm enjoying having a girl to do the things I know, from my days growing up as a little girl!

Makenna is a very smart little girl.  She knows exactly what she wants and she will NOT give up until she gets it.  Due to this stubborness she's spent lots of "Kenna Time" in her crib straightening herself back out realizing she really can't always get what she wants.  That brings me to her crib...she's still in it, which seems so strange to me as Denver was out of it way before 18 months because we had to give it to Makenna.  There are days I feel she's ready and would absolutely love her crib turned into a toddler bed, but right now we want to keep her little and to be able to put her in there and stay there!!  Makenna has really started to take more of a liking to all of her babies.  She's always loved them, but now she carries them around, feeds, burps, and rocks them along with giving them stroller rides. 

She pretty much says every thing, at least what she needs to get out, although she would rather just whine until some one figures out what she wants and gives it to her.  We keep reminding her she knows her words and she needs to use them.  She also knows a majority of the animals and all the sounds they say, along with her main body parts with her favorite being the nose.

Kenna is a tough little girl and its takes a lot to take her out of the "game" for very long.  She LOVES to play with her brother and plays all the things he loves to play along with hunting deer and coyotes!  She loves animals, her favorite probably being a puppy with kitties close behind.  She is also a very curious girl and wants to know how everything works!

This little girl loves food and will eat almost anything, but does well with moderation!  If only she could teach her mommy how to do that too!  She's growing well, but has slowed down, probably do to her business!  She doesn't sit still.  At Makenna's 18 nmonth appointment she weighed 22 lbs 7oz. (~25%) and was 31.75inches (~55%) tall.

Here are some pictures of our beautiful 18 month old girl from her photo shoots to capture this special age!

Kenna's 1st Underwear!

Makenna took an interest in the potty chair several months before her 18 month birthday and I finally decided I could at least get her some underwear so when I finally had the energy to train her and she was ready to go we'd be set.  She was so excited about her underwear and wanted it on all the time.  The day we bought it she'd cry if I'd put a diaper on her instead of her underwear.  Since then the interest has subsided and that is perfectly fine with me!  She does do both on the potty chair, just not consistently.  Here's Kenna putting on her underwear and going potty! 

Minnie Mouse!  She loves Minnie Mouse.

And of course we have to try ALL of them on!

So Thankful for Grandma Verni!

I am so thankful for my mom.  She is always there for me, especially when it comes to my kids.  We wouldn't be able to keep our kids out of daycare if it weren't for her.  I'd probably be at my wits end if I didn't have all the help she offers me while she's here or when she comes when I'm not working so I can get some thing done.  God has truly blessed me with an amazing mother and I can only hope and pray that I can be one to my children too.

The following are some pictures from a Saturday the kids had with their Grandma Verni so I could sleep from working a night shift and Evan could go fishing.  Just a glimpse of all the love and fun that these 3 have shared!  THANKS MOM!!!!

If Denver can't have a tractor ride with Papa, then he better be getting a ride on Grandma's mower!

Grandma Verni has spent many hours on her deck play with the kids.

And there's room for 2!

Halloween 2010

We were able to attend our Harvest Festival at Church again this year which is always a lot of fun, but also a little chaotic (at least to me!).  The kids had a blast and were able to dress up in their Mickey and Minnie Mouse costumes that I had made for them.  I decided next year I need to cut down on the "details" of the costumes.  In my head I wanted every thing perfect, but do you think the kids agreed with me?  No!  Neither of them really wanted a black nose, nor did they want to wear their white gloves, and the ears weren't always a hit either!  Oh well, in my opinion they were still cute!  Here are some pictures from the Harvest Festival.

My only picture of them together.

No cooperating this year.

No pictures mom!  Let's go have fun!

Love this picture of her!

I can't remember what was going on that she gave that reaction...probably Dad making a funny face!

One of Denver's favorites, the slide!

 And the other favorite...the jumping house!

Mmmm...candy!

Kenna loved the jumping house too!

Frosting cookies may have been 1 of the top highlights for Kenna!

TIRED!

 The slide is really hard to get up so the youth help the little kids get up.  Denver thought they were pretty funny!

Then on Halloween we went "home" for some light trick or treating.  We started at my parents house where they got dressed ( and Evan and my dad were able to get their guns sighted in for deer hunting the following weekend).  Then we headed to town to see Great Grandma Waltner who happened to be in the hospital at the time, then to Great Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Loren's house, then to Great Grandpa Melvin's house who then took us out for supper, chislic, a favorite in our house!  After we were done eating supper we went to Evan's parent's house where the kids were able to show off their costumes, play, and wind down a bit (if that's even possible) before changing into jammies and heading home.  Here are some pictures from our trick or treating adventure.

Trying so hard to be good and take a picture for Mommy, but soooooo hard!

In the parking lot to see Great Grandma!

Playing on Great Grandma's walker.

Having a chat with Great Grandma!

At Great Aunt Carolyn's

Trying on scary masks of Drew's!

Poor Kenna was scared when Daddy put them on!

Great Grandpa Melvin!

Cash and Candy...what could be better! :)

Grandma Verni and Kenna

Auntie Em

Playing with Grandpa and Grandma

Is it going to come out?

Sure enough, there's the cat!

Silly Grandpa David!

Denver LOVES to play farm with Daddy's old farm set!