Another week of "new" things...

Things are constantly changing in our house and I think that's going to be a constant for awhile here.

Makenna got her first tooth! I found it January 22nd, but it could've been there sooner. She was great when it was first cutting through her swollen little gums. I had been watching for teeth since she's almost 9 months old and had no teeth...plus Denver got his a little after 8 months, but she had been so good I didn't realize she had a tooth cutting through. In the afternoon she was more clingy than normal and I ran my finger over the bottom of her gums and ouch!, there was a tooth! Since then she has been a little more fussy and irritable...not sure if the next one is trying to get through too or if she's just sick of this one or what.

Since we're on Makenna, we'll continue with her. She's been "practicing" crawling. She sits on her butt and walks her hands all the way out until the point of if she went farther she'd fall to get whatever it is she wants and then goes back to sitting on her little butt. There are times she gets on all fours, but if she tries to go forward she goes splat and gets mad and its all over. Makenna is to the point where she's wanting to be more mobile, where as before she was our laid back one not caring what was going on and being content with where she was left. You can see it in her face she wants to try and keep up with Denver.

Food...is also getting a little more interesting. There are times that even eating what we're eating isn't good enough...she wants to do it herself! I didn't know this little girl had so much independence in her. I thought that was my Denver and my Makenna would be a more dependent one, but pretty sure I was wrong with that! We are exploring new foods quite often. Tonight Makenna had cantalope and LOVED it! I think the coldness felt good on her swollen gums.

Makenna got to try some pizza the other night!

We had fajitas for supper the other night, but Denver may tell you we had sour cream!

He ate sour cream by the spoonfuls...which I guess I should tell you is normal for him.

Patty Cake!! I've been working on playing patty cake with Makenna a lot lately and she would try to copy, but usually it ended up in "clapping" against the table or floor and the end of last week or beginning of this week she started putting her hands together, but it was one on top of the other and the middle of this week she figure it out and gets so proud! Some times when we try to get her to clap we say "Yeaaa!" and she even tries to imitate that now..its so cute! I didn't get the best video of her and I playing patty cake, but Evan wasn't home to help and my little helper was being a little too helpful...but enjoy! Also along with patty cake we've been working on high fives and knuckles. She figure out high fives...but doesn't always give them so that brain is still finishing the process of that.



Both the kids love to dance! This video is from the beginning of the month. I need to get an updated one because Makenna gets her arms into it now.

Our little Denver has become quite that talker. He has started telling stories. I love it! All of a sudden he just goes...and goes, and goes, and goes! This afternoon I told him to wait a minute while I went to get the camcorder and then asked him to tell me the story again. I couldn't decide what to edit out so its long...don't feel obligated to watch it all...but it was just to cute, I had to share it! Other things that Denver has mastered in the last month or so are...running the DVD player (that's probably been more than a month), pouring things (he always wants to be my helper and has gotten quite good!), understanding the concept of going on the potty chair (I don't know that he's mastered it yet...but we're working on it and he gets it more now than he did, but still not real interested...would rather be playing toys!), lots of conversations on his phone with his Cousin Jacob and friend Abby (pretend conversations...although Denver and Abby did get to chat on the phone the other day, it was pretty cute!), and there may be more, but that's what is coming to mind right now. He is also working harder on counting, before he had little interest, but now you can hear him counting quite often...lots of times its to play hide and seek, one of his favorite games to play!



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We've been trying to use our gym membership a little more often. Denver loves to go to the gym to shoot hoops and to go swimming. Here are some pictures from swimming the other day. Today Denver was enjoying going down the slide and I'm not sure if he meant to, but he ended up going down face first. I was standing right there and caught him at the end so he didn't get too much water and when he stood up he looked at me and said "I did it!" and was all excited! It was pretty funny.

I had planned on doing another "snowstorm" post, but kind of forgot and remembered I had pictures of the kids that I wanted to make sure I got on here so rewind a little...to the day after Christmas!

Denver all ready to go help Daddy clear the snow from the driveway.

A view of our mailbox and across the street.

Evan snow blowing with his new snow blower.

We made it 5 years owning a house without one, but this did it in and we bought one...18-20 inches of snow is too much shoveling for us!

Watching Daddy snow blow.

Our back deck...lots of snow.

Playing in all the fun snow!

A quick picture of Makenna in the snow...don't worry (that she doesn't have mittens on) it wasn't freezing out and we took her right back in afterwards.

Kaboom!

Back in the warm house.

And lastly I'll leave you with Denver giving Makenna a ride on his bicycleable.

My babies are growing up...

I can't believe how fast time goes...and then in turn how fast my babies grow up and learn how to do things!  This past week was a pretty eventful week in our house.

-Denver learned how to open door knobs...funny he hadn't figured this one out earlier, but we never worked on it with him because I was scared I'd have an escapee all the time!  Wish me luck, especially when the nice weather comes!

-Makenna graduated from her infant seat to a convertible car seat.  This was really hard for me....not sure why it was harder with her than Denver, maybe because she's getting bigger way faster than Denver did and...there are even more choice of car seats out there these days and its so hard to know what you need/want for features and if its worth the price.  In the end my daughter's safety meant the most no matter what the price and I'm very happy with my choice and bargain!

-Makenna has been into standing and playing all the time lately.  She's gotten really good at it and she even let go for a second and grabbed back on without falling.  Now just wish me luck she doesn't figure out how to crawl or walk for awhile because I'm not ready to figure out how to run in 2 different directions! *Forgot to include when I first posted that Makenna has pulled herself up to a standing position using the toy she's with in the picture below.

-Denver's using the potty chair more!  He's getting a little more excited about it...maybe?  I still have to highly encourage him to get him to use it, but he doesn't fight me as much as he used to.  In his time, but we're very proud of his progress!

I couldn't leave out Denver (in pictures) so here's a funny picture I got of him New Years Day!  Denver loves to where his boots and after he got up from his nap (which Daddy had changed his diaper prior to and then left off his pants so he could maybe sleep better) he put on his boots and ran around the house.

Belated Christmas Blog

I'm finally getting a Christmas blog done. We had a wonderful Christmas, but I have to admit I'm glad its over! The weather and constant changing plans along with crabby kids made Christmas a little less enjoyable at times this year, but we are so glad despite the weather and the 7 (plus us as a family) different gatherings we have to attend we got them all in (minus Evan missing my dad's side of the family which he was really bummed about, but its just how it worked).

Our first gathering (Saturday December 19th) was not really a Christmas party, but I think it counted as the Christmas gathering this year with Evan's stepdad's side of the family. The day started with Evan's sister Lauren graduating from college, lunch at Grille 26 to celebrate, and then to our house to celebrate Uncle Roger's (David's brother) birthday and "Christmas". We don't get to see this part of the family very often so it was great to catch up with them and meet the newest addition to the family Addison!

The newest cousins and their mommy's.

Being crazy with Auntie Em

Our second gathering was with the Schaap's (Evan's mom's side of the family). This took place on Sunday December 20th at Grandpa and Grandma's house and was a lot of fun like always. Unfortunately, I turned my camera on to take a picture of Makenna and then my battery died....so this is it...if anyone else has photos I'd take them!

My one and only picture from this gathering, but isn't she cute?!

#3 took place at Evan's mom and stepdad's farm on December 22nd. This was a quick change in date due to the weather; we were supposed to celebrate Christmas day night. Some how Kim managed to put together an amazing meal in a very short amount of time! We were glad we celebrated then as we wouldn't have made it on Christmas day.

Probably Denver's new favorite book...Big Truck Book!

I got a dolly Mommy, but I really like this paper I'm chewing on too!

Opening a present with daddy.

Denver coloring with his new "colors" (and they're messy too!) on his (and Kenna's too) new picnic table from Grandma and Grandpa

On December 27th we celbrated Christmas #4 and #5 with my mom's side of the family and my immediate family. We had Christmas with the Schmeichel's at Grandpa Melvin's house. It was a lot of fun to go back and have a meal there again...its been a long time. After we were done with our meal and gift exchange the grandkids had to go downstairs and sort through old toys and other things to decide what we wanted to keep and the rest was going! Denver's best "Christmas gift" came from this endeavor, aunt Kim and mommy's old Mattel train set. This was funny because on the way home from Church on Christmas Eve I said to Evan..."all this little boy wants is a train and we didn't get it for him, how sad!". Then the chaos Christmas' began at my mom and dad's! It will be interesting next year with 4 kids!

My only picture from this gathering (the Schmeichel's) too. My only excuse of this is laziness and my sister was taking some so I hopefully can get some from her! Let's go play with my new train at Papa and Grama's house!

Helping cousin Jacob opening his gift!

Now helping Grandma...opening presents is so much fun!

Grandpa helping Kenna open up her present.

Jacob riding Denver's new giraffe.  I was busy when Denver was on it, so you get the next best thing my cutest nephew ever, Jacob!

Playing train with my Papa!

Christmas #6 was December 21st in the afternoon, which was rescheduled from Saturday. Unfortunately, Evan had to work; he had hoped to be able to take a half day, but due to the wonderful weather over Christmas they were swampped and it just wasn't an option. My aunt and her sons also had to miss out...and we missed them too! It was great to see everyone else though.

When we got to this Christmas Denver said "Pictures...then presents" and ran to sit by the tree for a picture.  Too cute!

A rare moment with Great Grandma Waltner.  Denver must know how badly Grandma wants to hold him and plays tricks with her.  I'm so glad that he took the time to snuggle a lit bit and let me get a picture!

Finally....getting to help people open presents!

Mommy and Kenna

Hmm...that family grew fast! :)  My cousin Angie and her boyfriend Nathan with the kids.

Playing with Aunt Kim

My cute nephew Jacob!

December 22nd was our final Christmas, Christmas #7 and it was with Evan's dad's side of the family. Unfortunately Evan's dad was not able to spend Christmas with us due to the weather and cold, but thankfully we had just gone to see him about a week or 2 earlier. This was actually the 2nd Kindt Christmas this year, but we only made it to this one. The first one was supposed to be Christmas Eve, but got moved ahead a night due to the weather. We tried to go, but due to a stressful day for both Evan and I, and the weather and roads getting worse by the hour we ended up turning around and coming back home, so they scheduled another Christmas so we could come!

Opening presents!

Aunt Cherie showing everyone how Denver's new gun works! :)

"I'm gonna get that deer!"

Great Grandpa Pootsie and Makenna

Grandma Billie and Grandpa Pootsie with the little grandkids and the great grandkids

(for some reason us olders ones don't matter anymore...wonder why?) :)

Although the weather that greeted us this Christmas season was frustrating, it also helped slow us down with our gatherings and gave Evan and I more time to take in the real meaning of Christmas. We tried teaching Denver the true meaning of Christmas, but he didn't get it...maybe next year? We hope each and everyone of you had a wonderful Christmas and had time to reflect on Jesus' birth and God's promise to us!

Makenna's 8 Months Old!

Makenna turned 8 months old last week.  She has gotten to be a really happy baby! Makenna used to be so sober faced, but now she can light up a room just like Denver. All of us must have gotten sick of being snowed in, Makenna included as we went to the mall the day after Christmas to get out of the house and she was smiling and talking to everyone she saw, which she used to never do.

As I've been compiling this post in my head I've been trying to come up with what Makenna is up to this month and this is what I've come up with:
    -in the last week or two she has learned that she LOVES to stand and wants to almost all of the time
    -learning how to take some steps when her hands are held or stands behind her little walker
    -dance to music
    -make different noises with her mouth
    -learning how to clap...we've been working on this and no she at times claps her one hand on top of the other (palm to top of other hand)
    -still loves to eat! (really not a picky eater at all and will eat anything you give her) She likes chunks of food, but hasn't refused her baby food yet (she some times whines because she wants what we have instead of hers, but will still eat hers). Makenna would like to be part of the dinner table (not in her high chair), so that's on my to do list in the next week or so...find a booster seat for her!
    -has learned that she likes cold milk in her sippy cup! (oh...my little girl is growing up!)
    -practicing on learning how to crawl...she sits on the floor and walks her hands out real far to grab things, but doesn't put her knees into it yet...if you try to show her she gets mad which is fine with me because I'm not ready to run after 2!
    -GROWING, GROWING, and GROWING! Makenna is wearing 9 months and 12 month clothes! She doesn't like being covered up with her "bundle me" in her carseat so we've tried putting her snowsuit on her, but then she doesn't fit! That's on my other to do list...go pick out the next car seat.
    -wants to be able to keep up with her brother...Makenna watches Denver and wants to do what he's doing...she loves her big brother and he loves her...its fun watching them "play" together
    -is still a Mommy's Girl!!
 
Here are some pictures of our 8 month girl!  The cutest 8 month old around, right?! :)