On Sunday Sheryl and I bundled up Kennedy for a trek to the local park. It seems she was a bit nervous visiting a new park with Grandma and Grandpa (near their house) so we needed to make sure it was an isolated event.
We had a pretty good time chasing each other around, playing on the wooden structures, and going down the slides. Kennedy doesn't like the swings as much as she used to - but it could be that she was just getting tired. All in all we had a good time getting out of the house.
Here's Kennedy - complete with her first pair of mittens (these are bear paws - a gift from Mimi when we visited the zoo at Christmas).
Things are super busy on this end. We've had a collection of really great news on one front and sad news on another. No details to provide in this forum - but please send good healing karma to our close family friend struggling with health issues.
These are our new bamboo dishes--a set for two for our dinners together. I (Sheryl) started eating meat again about 6 months ago when my Doctor asked me to eliminate soy and wheat and dairy too. I really miss the soy, especially soy lattes.
Kennedy sure loves Elle. Lately she has taken to hugging and kissing on Elle. Elle, being the completely tolerant cat that she is, lets Kennedy love on her (and pull her tail and her whiskers...). They are just too cute!
On Thursdays C.K. picks Kennedy up from the center and they get home before we do. It's great fun for both Kennedy and Elle to see C.K. He keeps them laughing and active. Here they are playing with their favorite card board box.
Mimi and Papa Clark got Kennedy a doll for her first birthday. Kennedy likes to take the hat off of this doll and wear it herself. The doll is big but the hat is small for Kennedy's head. That doesn't deter her. It's an amusing sight.
Kennedy makes us laugh so much – she is such a funny and happy baby. Here she is bringing a new meaning to playing in the toy box.
By the way - check out the photos from Niki and Pat's recent visit on their
blog (link to the left too).
Kennedy likes her boxes. She's like a cat that way. I dressed her in her red flannel shirt and overalls on Monday. She picked out her pink beret (a gift from Mimi).
We took advantage of the lack of rain and went to the park too. It was good to get out of the house to play and Kennedy has this nice
Burberry scarf and hat set to keep her warm. They were a gift from Aunt Shelly.
Hide and seek is always a fun game.
It's hard to believe that I went back to work a year ago. Those first few months were so hard for me - but it was a relief that Sheryl was able to take some time off to spend with Kennedy. They are doing a bit of that today - as the daycare center is closed for President's Day. Like a year ago, Sheryl has sent photos of her day with Kennedy.
When Kennedy was very young we used to bounce her on our large exercise ball to calm her down. She’s modeling this behavior with her own bouncy ball – here she is trying to sit on it.
It was so great to have Niki and Pat here for the weekend – although it was rather short the time spent together was so incredible. Niki and Pat are expecting a baby of their own – here they are practicing the stroll with Kennedy.
On their last night here we went out to dinner at
McCormick & Schmicks – which is a Portland-based seafood chain. The food is very fresh and always very good.
Despite having to wait for nearly an hour for a table, Kennedy was a real trooper. She made friends with all the others waiting for their tables. At dinner she kept herself amused by chatting away on her cell phone.
Niki and Pat had to head home early this morning. They let us sleep but left us with this parting shot:
Mmmmm...yogurt tastes good. Kennedy has slowed down on the yogurt eating these days, though. Her favorite thing to eat currently is a
Hebrew National beef hotdog. Their products at least have no artifical flavors, no additives, no by-products, and no fillers.
Our friends Niki and Pat are in from Montana and they brought their doggies Zoe (seen here) and Nugget. Kennedy's having a blast with them all and Elle doesn't seem to mind the dogs at all.
We've been playing with blocks a lot the past few days. We stack them up and then Kennedy knocks them down. When it's time to put the blocks away, Kennedy puts a piece in her mouth and waits for me to tug it away. It makes her laugh. I think she learned this trick from watching Grandma and Grandpa Anderson's dogs, Toby and Lucky.
The rollercoaster is back in favor with Kennedy.
In other news Kennedy is saying "duck" now and she says "Baba" for both water and bottle.
Cats love boxes. So do kids. Here are Kennedy and Elle sharing a box we brought home from a trip to Costco this weekend.
Kennedy is feeling so much better. She spent the day with Grandma and Grandpa Anderson today while Susan and I went to a couples massage sponsored by our lovely and fantastic Chiropractor Surah Hirsh. It included lunch and wine and chocolate... very nice. Afterwards we went to see
Brokeback Mountain. What a fantastic movie. So tender and real and sad.
Kennedy's appetite was poor when she wasn't feeling well, but it has really come back now that she's well. Here she is eating O's.
Here's our little pianist banging out a song.
My father (this is Sheryl) finished his radiation therapy today. It's been a long haul. Those who complete the therapy get to ring a big bell in celebration of that accomplishment. My sister Gayle was there to see dad ring the bell and then one of my other sister's, Shelly, met them for lunch. Go dad!
Our weekday morning rituals typically involve a small amount of TV (Teletubbies) while Sheryl and/or I get ready for work. Kennedy just loves Teletubbies.
While we were in Seattle last weekend Kennedy discovered grapes. Tonight we picked up a bag on the way home and Kennedy enjoyed a few with dinner. It was a blast to watch her bite them in half, peel away the skins and poke her fingers through them.
OK - just a quick note from our busy family... Kennedy had her second 'incident' at school but is doing just fine. Seems she fell down the small set of stairs in the play area outside. I told Sheryl that kiddos play and fall down and that's just part of the deal. Kennedy seems to be doing just fine in spite of her new bruises. It's funny, because this is such a rare occurrence for us but for some of our friends the bruising and tumbles are daily occurrences - I suppose we're lucky.
So one of the secret indulgences I partake in occasionally is bad TV. C'mon - we know you all do it too. My latest fascination is with this reality show called '
Beauty and the Geek' whose premise is pairing these geeky guys with no social skills with (presumably) hot babes with undeveloped intellect. It's interesting to watch them coach one another and - sadly - totally addicting. OK - there's my confession.
The diet is going well so far; I'm proud to say I'm down about 8 pounds in three weeks - with many more to go. I've entered Phase 2 of the South Beach diet which means I'm again enjoying things like fruit and whole grains. And - let's not forget - chocolate. Of course - it's dark chocolate which historically I've not liked - but now beggars can't be choosers. I've been indulging in
Endangered Species chocolate with raspberries.
Well, I've managed to escape sickness but C.K., Megan, Susan and Grandma are all under the weather. Kennedy appears to be well on the mend though.
Kennedy is finally on the mend but Susan has a sinus infection. This, the Doctor said today, is the adult equivalent of a child's ear infection.
Friday Kennedy and I loaded up the car and drove to Seattle to meet Susan for a work party. Megan went with us and watched Kennedy when we went out for dinner and dancing. Before we left the hotel Kennedy came to see some of our friends. Here she is playing in the book shelves. You can see Megan to the left.
Kennedy really liked the book shelf area. As you can see, it was a good fit for her.
And here's a family pic.
The verdict's in... Kennedy has bi-lateral ear infections again. She's getting the 1-2-3 punch with antibiotics, garlic ear drops, and some loving hands-on time with our chiro Dr. Hirsch.
Kennedy did well at the chiro yesterday and already started to show some marked improvements.
