Louisville Zoo visit with Heidi

Yesterday we went to the zoo with Aunt Dorothy and Heidi and had a wonderful time! It was a bit humid but the skies were clear and the day was beautiful.

~

Our first stop was to feed the giraffes. Anyone have any idea how difficult it is to get two 2 year olds and a giraffe to look at the camera at the same time? This was my best shot. :)

Feeding the giraffes
We visited the gorillas and got to see the male Silverback up close and in action. He appeared to get upset at one point and threw a huge green barrel (like it was a cotton ball I might add) before darting around the enclosure. All the other gorillas moved just about as fast as he did in an obvious attempt to get out of his way!

Kennedy checking out the large stuffed gorilla in the gift shop

This gorilla and Heidi have a funny story. Heidi was running a bit ahead of us. Dorothy wanted her to stop so referring to the Gorillas we had just seen she yelled "Heidi, stop or the Gorilla might get you." Timing couldn't have been more perfect (or worse from Heidi's point of view) as at that exact moment she rounded the corner and practically ran in to this big guy. She literally flew into the air and you've never seen a kid run back to their mother so fast. Bless her heart she was a bit terrified and did cry. Of course Dorothy and I thought it was hilarious. lol :) Dorothy wanted to get a picture of Heidi with the gorilla but she refused to go anywhere near the thing. We finally got a picture with Dorothy by having them stand outside the gift shop with the gorilla in the background. Poor Heidi but too funny! lol :)

Heidi and Reagan seeing how they compare insize to a tiger at the tiger exhibit

After visiting a few of those big animals we headed to the water area. Aunt Dorothy had the brilliant idea of having ice cream before getting in the water so the kids could rinse off there. Thanks for the sweet treat Aunt Dorothy!

~
Kennedy wondering why she doesn't get to hold her ice cream cone...

Reagan paying more attention to the ice cream on her leg than to how its getting there...

Sweet and happy Heidi!

Kennedy says this is more like it!

The last time we visited the water park it was so crazy and there were so many big kids Reagan was nervous and didn't want to wait in the lines for the water slides. This time there weren't very many kids around and as you can see from the pictures below Reagan had a blast!

Heidi checking out some water spouts

Kennedy waiting for the water to reappear

Reagan trying to convince Heidi to try out one of the water slides

Reagan says what fun!

Heidi says, I'm not sure...

Way to go Heidi!

While Kennedy was waiting for Regan to finish up playing in the water she decided she would put herself in Aunt Dorothy's stroller. She is such a busy little girl! :)

Holding hands at the end of a fun day at the zoo!

Watch Me Grow - Kennedy - 9 Mon

9 Mon - Aug 2009

8 Mon - Jul 2009

1 Week - Nov 2009

We have a new pediatrician and Kennedy had her 9 month checkup today. She is between the 50-75 percentile for height, weight and head circumfrance. Her specific 9 month stats are she is
27 3/4 ins long and weighs 20lbs 7oz.
For her checkup she did have to get one shot. She's such a tough little nut though she didn't even flinch let a lone cry. As a matter of fact she sat right up and started laughing at the nurse who had given her the shot. The nurse told her she was sure Kennedy would be her "best and easiest patient all day." :) What a sweetie! :)
~
Kennedy got her first tooth this month! :) Her first tooth came in on Monday, August 10. While I've felt it I haven't seen it yet because every time I try she sticks her tongue out over her bottom gum and lip. The doctor could hardly get a look at it today either but she said it looks like there's another one getting ready to pop through next to it. Someday I'll see it/them and snap a picture to share with everyone. :)
~
Kennedy is a super busy little girl! She started climbing our stairs about three weeks ago and can get all the way to the top on her own. She is quite unhappy (down right mad) whenever she discovers a gate at the bottom of the stairs which prevents her progress.
~
While she is super busy she hasn't taken her first step yet. She free stands all the time but still isn't interested in walking too much. She'll do it with some coaxing while you're holding her hands but it's not an activity she intiates. Sunday was the first time I saw her standup by a little chair and on her own start pushing it around the room.
~
Kennedy is beginning to enjoy looking at books on her own. She's not always so gentle but we'll give her a break since she's only 9 months old. :) We are certainly pleased she enjoys looking at books on her own as well as being read to. The "Peek-A-Who" book is still a favorite as well as basically any Sandra Boynton book, especially "Moo, Baa, La La La." We've also been using the "Your Baby Can Read" program with Kennedy and she seems to really enjoy those books. The books have lots of close up pictures of kids and animals which she enjoys looking at.
~
Her favorite game by far is "Peek-A-Boo." She loves to play it with some one around corners and doorways by crawling away and back to you repeatedly (a take off of this game is simply chasing her which she loves too). She also enjoys the traditional "Peek-A-Boo" game of hiding her or someone elses face. In the last week or two she has discovered she can pull blankets (or whatever is handy) up over her face on her own and she loves to do that. You can also tell she is exceedingly pleased with herself for figuring out how to do this. :)
~
Kennedy is a good eater when it's something she feels like eating... She's not much into baby food, although I have successfully gotten her to eat some baby cereal (important because of iron content) a couple of times in the last week. She much prefers finger foods she can pick up and eat on her own - little Miss. Independent already! Her favorite food by far is watermelon. She loves it and could eat her weight in it! She is a mess from head to toe everytime she eats it but there is no doubt she is enjoying every last bite!
~
Sleeping is still rocky. Knock on wood she's slept through the night the last thre nights. This is a sleeping pattern I hope we can maintain! I love her dearly but it is so nice to get more than a couple of hours asleep at at time! :) She's starting to give up her short nap but it's a toss up as to whether she'll take a long morning nap or a long afternoon nap with Reagan.
~
Kennedy's biggest news for the month is we are quite certain she has said her first word. I wasn't positive when she started saying it a couple of weeks ago but now she's pretty direct at times so we're calling it her first word anyway. :) She likes to say "Mom, mom, mom." It's usually in threes and it started out occurring when she was mad at me. Now it's occurring at other times but it melts my heart anytime. :) I wish I could catch it on video tape but I haven't managed that yet. Those little voices are too sweet for words! :)
~
The most endearing thing Kennedy has started doing with frequency this month is giving kisses. It is so adorable and I absolutely love it!!! She is such a sweet baby and those kisses have to be the most precious gifts ever!

Pablo at the Zoo

One of Reagan's favorite shows is the Backyardigan's. When we learned Pablo was going to be at the Louisville Zoo we decided we needed to hop over and see him. Reagan decided she needed to take all of her Backyardigan "friends" (also "pals" or "buddies" depending on the moment) along.

Miss. Kennedy was happy to come along and enjoy the beautiful day at the zoo too! :)
Once we got inside the zoo Reagan decided the Backyardigans should be buckled up too. lol :)

So excited to see Pablo!!!

Reagan kept asking "Who is it?!?! Is it Pablo?!?! Do I see Pablo?!?! Look it's Pablo!!!" accompanied with various stomping in place jumping up and down and a general inability to contain herself. It was precious and I can't wait to see her with the Disney characters come October!

Meeting Pablo for the first time. Yes, we had to see Pablo several times. I think it was a good thing the carousel was close by or we might never have escaped the Pablo line.

I think this was a hug from the seccond time through

The third time through Grammy and Kennedy decided to check out Pablo too. Kennedy even decided to give him a kiss. Ahhh...

Reagan loving Pablo (I'm not sure why she stuck him down her shirt to love him lol)

While Reagan had a wonderful time with Pablo, Kennedy had a blast on the Carousel. She thought it was wonderfully funny and had a fantastic time. She made all sorts of faces and was absolutely precious! :)

Screaming in delight!

Too excited to contain herself

Mommy, Reagan and of course Pablo on the Gorilla

Reagan enjoying a ride with Pablo on the Cheetah

I think we must be quite the sight wherever we go with our video cameras and still cameras trying to capture every fun minute with Grammy and Pop-A-Lops! lol :)

Pop-A-Lops and Kennedy checking out a slowly spinning water ball (I'm sure it has a better name than that but I don't know what it is) before we leave

My favorite picture of Pa's today. I think these African Crested Cranes are so cool looking!

Thank you to Grammy and Pa for coming with us to the zoo! We had a wonderful time!!!

Silly Girls

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words and sometimes a picture can't quite capture or do a moment justice.

~

Can you spot Old Navy's newest mannequin?

Yesterday while shopping with Grammy Reagan improved Old Navy's back-to-school display by posing herself in and among the existing mannequin's. She stood perfectly still just holding their hands. It was hilarious! She stood there long enough for us to decide to go and get the camera out of the van I'm sure she was in and among them for at least 5 minutes. It was so cute. Then when we left she kept saying "Goodbye my friends! Goodbye my friends!" and repeatedly blew them kisses too. Two year olds are awesome! lol :)

Kennedy loves the game "Peek-A-Boo" and in the last couple of weeks has realized she can play the game all by herself by pulling a blanket/towel etc. up to her face. Yesterday in the carseat, she decided she wanted to play and kept trying to pull the front of her dress up and over her face and would then pull it back down and giggle. Babies are awesome and amazingly creative too! lol :)

Stiriz B-Day Pool Party

While in Tennessee in June we were able to attend the big Stiriz B-Day part at the Mitchell's home. It was officially Anna's 2nd birthday and since Chaz decided he wanted a pool party (which is difficult to accomodate with a December birthday) we were celebrating his 6thbirthday a few months early.

~

The birthday girl and her Daddy (Charlie) getting ready to swim

A very serious Noah - he is such a little man! Noah is the son of our good scrapbooking buddy Brenda and was born nearly exactly a month after Reagan and before Anna. Uncle Wayne, Anna and Chaz's Pappy, was exceedingly patient with Reagan in the pool. He accomodated her wonderfully letting her hop in and out to her heart's content.

Kenndy enjoying attention from Anna

The guys eating dinner

Having fun in the cool playhouse

The Stiriz Family blowing out birthday candles

The birthday girl enjoying her cupcakes The 2 year olds chilling out

Anna's new wheels from Pappy and Mamaw

Wasting no time diving into presents! :)