Today was just an ordinary day.  I work 3 12 hour shifts per week so I had today, tomorrow and Friday off.  The days I do work are hard because by the time I leave in the morning and get home at night, Kendall is in bed.  But I love having 4 days off per week and truly cherish each moment with Kendall. 

Derek is such a good daddy...he gets Kendall up and off to daycare and picks her up, feeds her supper and puts her to bed while I'm at work those 3 days.  I don't know what I'd do without him!

Here are a few moments over the past few days with Kendall....she is such a riot!!

I like to get into trouble and unroll the entire roll of toilet paper!

So tired from playing that I fell asleep in the middle of the living room!

Mmmmm Macaroni and Cheese!

I uploaded all my pictures from my phone and found these two that I thought were cute:

Kendall and my cousin Mallory going for a walk!

Chelsey found a wig and put it on Kendall.  We thought she looked like a little cabbage patch doll  :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We headed to the Denver Zoo on Thursday with a couple college friends, Amy and Katy.  We went to the Como Zoo in Minnesota back in April and Kendall wasn't too interested at that time, so it was fun to see her point at the animals this time. 

Since Derek has been in Oklahoma for work, we've been hanging out around the house.  Cleaning, swimming and playing outside as the weather has been absolutely beautiful!!!  Our neighborhood has two recreation centers that we have membership to through our HOA dues.  It gives us something to do when daddy is out of town  :)  There is an indoor and outdoor pool, fitness room, playground, child care center, and lots of activities for the kiddos to do. 

Just a couple announcements in our family:

Love is in the air!!!  We're so excited for Derek's brother Elliot and his FIANCE, Ashley.  They are tying the knot next August.  We couldn't be happier for them and look forward to a beautiful wedding next summer. 

My sister, Chelsey and her beloved significant other, Jon are expecting a baby in February!  I am so excited to be an auntie and even more excited for Kendall to have a cousin close in age to her.  Although this was unexpected, we know Chelsey and Jon are going to make amazing parents and look forward to them being able to share in the love of a child as Derek and I have with Kendall.

God Bless!!

I completed my first day of floor orientation at the hospital today...only 5 more to go!!  I'll be working on an orthopedics and spine unit at a hospital west of Denver.  The hospital is beautiful and only 7 years old and the people are all very welcoming.  It's funny, they were joking today at work about how a lot of the people here are not natives to Colorado and that there is some bumper sticker you can buy that says, "I'm not a native, but I got here as fast as I could!"  I might have to look for that one  :)

Derek leaves for Oklahoma City for work on Wednesday so Kendall and I have lots of fun stuff planned while he is away including visits with some college friends who also landed out in Denver!!

We got Kendall's one year old pictures taken yesterday and they turned out so cute!  They are, by far, the best ones she's taken!  I can't believe that she is already one!!  Man time flies.  It really teaches you to live in the moment and not take time with your loved ones for granted.  Love to you all.

 

Daddy and Kendall at the park.

So since I've had a hiatus in blogging recently, I will update on Kendall's milestones thus far.

She is walking, well almost running.

She has 4 teeth on top, 2 on the bottom.

Her favorite foods so far are grilled cheese, macaroni and cheese, gaucamole and quesadillas!!

She babbles all day long and loves to give kisses and "high fives".

She is definitely a "daddy's girl" and has him wrapped around her little finger already!!

Overall, simply a happy baby.  We are so blessed to have her in our lives as she creates a new meaning for our lives each and every day  :)

Below are some pics from her first birthday party.  She wasn't as excited about her smash cake as we were, but she managed to get a few bites!

Yep.  I know.  I am the world's worst blogger.  I won't lie.  Life has consumed me.  It is amazing how busy your life can seem when you have an incredibly energetic and happy 13 month old running around the house! 

950 miles.  Yep we did it.  Derek and I finally took the plunge and moved to the place that we talked about moving to for 2 years now.  It all started when Derek and I first met.  "What is so great about Colorado?  The weather is just like here," he'd say to me.  I repeatedly told him to just wait until he went there and then he'd change his mind.  Sure enough, the summer after we got married, we visited my aunt and uncle in Colorado for a week.  This was the first time Derek had been to Colorado.  I remember sitting down for dinner one night and Derek said to me, "we're moving out here for sure."  All I said was, "I knew you'd love it."

2 years later, here we are.  The opportunity was right, so we went for it!  

Derek, his brother, cousin, and dad made the long trek across the midwest to the gorgeous mountain side two weeks ago.  Kendall and I flew out a few days later to join Derek.  

So far, we've got no complaints!  The weather has been absolutely beautiful - 80 and sunny and NO HUMIDITY!!!  We even managed to take our first hike up to Helen Hunt Falls last weekend.  Kendall's first hike of many to come!!  We had a picnic lunch by a small stream in the mountains and headed back down the mountain.  We are so excited for many more of these wonderful experiences for Kendall to grow up with!

Here is our new contact information for any of you who need it:

9372 Hirono Road

Peyton, CO 80831

(719) 495-9390

Helen Hunt Falls

At the top of the trail