Party Animal

We celebrated Kendall's birthday with the family on Sunday night. Due to everyone's weekday schedule, it was just easier to party-hardy on Sunday evening. I still don't know why I do this to myself every time...why do I plan their birthday celebrations in the evenings??!! Come on, everyone wants to party during "arsnic hour" with a 1 year-old;) Whew...glad that's over! We had a wonderful time, despite some meltdowns from the birthday girl...you just DON'T mess with her schedule.

Kendall has ALWAYS been an extremely smiley baby. So I thought it was completely appropriate to have her first celebration be with smile face cupcakes. Very fitting for this little puff-a-lump:) Here are her delicious cupcakes...

I even found sparkle/glittery black frosting to make it more of a "girly" smile!

 the multiple smiles of Kendall

Now the BEST time of the evening was when we presented Kendall with her birthday cupcake. I wasn't sure how she would react to the cupcake since she's never had anything like this before (minus a few bites of ice cream mommy has...once in a while). Alley freaked out on her first birthday when presented with her cake and didn't want ANYTHING to do with the cake. Of course it could have had something to do with the fact that I made a ducky cake and gave her just the head...). Anyway, I gave Kendall the cupcake and the moment I let go of it and started to sing the first words of "Happy Birthday"....this is what she did....

guess she was ready for her cupcake!

 she was sucking the frosting off the cake and was so incredibly intent on getting it all!!!

 oops!! dropped some frosting...she literally sucked on her arm to get ALL the frosting off. Yes, she had red marks all over her arms where she sucked so hard;)

 Oh man was it yummy!!

 god-mother (LeeAnn Rasey) and her little man checking out Kendall's eating style. Look at her face...she's like "Garrett, don't you get any closer. It's ALL mine!!"

 and more sucking of the arm...notice how she has devoured the whole thing and barely left a crumb!!

 Oh, found a crumb...must eat it!

 daddy gave her some eye-black....eating her cupcake football-style...all or nothing;)

After some cake eating, we settled down to open presents. Kendall wanted nothing to do with it. I forced her to sit with me for the first present...then I gave up;) Here she is getting her very first baby doll from mommy, daddy and Alley. Alley was so excited about this doll...yes, we are having sharing issues over this doll right now;)

 checking out her birthday cards

 bathed and ready for bed...so is Garrett...Kendall decided he needed to be rocked to sleep. The look on his face says it all;) Yes, she's an all-or-nothing kind of child! He sure did get a good rockin' though;)

Happy Birthday to our sweet thing!! 

...and she's 1!

Today Kendall is 1...

Day 1, January 20th, 2010

Day 365, January 20th, 2011

I really cannot believe it's been a year already! I feel like just yesterday I was on bed rest wondering when she was going to make her appearance and whether it was going to be at an appropriate time or extremely inconvenient;) She was definitely raring to go and just couldn't wait to see the world. She has brought so much joy to our lives! She is such a smiley baby and generally very very happy.  Here are some things she's been up to:

• started walking a few days before turning 11months...you had been taking steps all by yourself at 10months, but didn't really take off and take 10 or more steps until right before 11months
• You are such a happy baby, but when you want something you definitely let us know;)

• you have 6 teeth all up front and haven't gotten another tooth in the past several months
• you ADORE your sister and love to be around her...I must say, Alley feels the same way about Kendall too! Whew!

• you have completely dropped all your bottles and it went relatively smooth...you now LOVE your milk...at first it was quite a love/hate relationship;)
• You have your days or not wanting to nap, but other days you do just fine napping. Amazingly, you nap better at school...what?!

• you still have bright blue eyes and blond hair with some red highlights
• You are topping the charts in height and weight, but so did Alley (as well as your mother...shhhhh)

• you love anything and everything that makes noise. Your current favorite toy is a little kitty that purrs and meows when you pet it...you LOVE it!!
• you will walk up to ANYTHING that looks soft and put your thumb in your mouth and lay your head on it. I think it's so cute;) You are a texture girl!

• you are babbling like crazy!!! You will say some words and use them at the right time...you say "thank you", "up", "bye-bye", "momma", "dadda", "ball", etc. 
• Since you started moving at 4 months, you haven't wanted to be held down. You are an EXTREMELY active child...and I mean extremely!!! Whew, you have worn me out!

• you will follow your sister anywhere and are the happiest when she is paying attention to you
• you look nothing like your sister but so much like your mother when she was a baby...it's about time;)

• you seem to have a very tender heart just like your sister
• you are happy to be a follower...which is good, because your sister is happy to be the leader;)

Happy Birthday to my baby girl! We are so blessed and honored to be your parents. We love you and your sister more than words can express!

Winter Days

First off...check out these lashes! Both girls got there beautiful long lashes from Andy...and their chubby cheeks from me;) I could just eat her up! Ok, I digress;) I just thought this was a super cute picture of Kendall in her serious mode.

We've had lots of snow days and plenty of time hanging out inside. Alley is itching to go play outside, so I'm having to find new ways to entertain...in comes the laundry basket! Who would have thought?!;) Here they are playing while I attempt to make dinner...:)

I can't wait to see the friendship the girls are going to have as they grow up! It's already so much fun to watch!!!

Slacker...

Yes, I know...I am quite the slacker. Life has been going full force sense the end of Christmas and I've barely had time to sit down and breathe let alone take pictures or update the blog...forgive me;) Basketball is in full-swing, so Andy is a busy bee and school started right after Christmas for me and the girls so we've been rolling ever sense.  The McPherson household BUSY:)

Let's back track to the Tuesday after Christmas...We celebrated Granny's birthday at the little Bed & Breakfast (which is right next door to us) and had a great time with family. Here are some pictures from our day.

Cousin twins...they never stop laughing when they are together

all the great grandkids - notice how excited Kendall is..."what are we doing guys?"

Mimi, Papa and the grandkids...all smiles:)

Granny and her great grandkids

 the dining room where we had a fabulous lunch (thanks Ukrops Bakery!)

watching Granny open presents...they were so over gifts! Too much Christmas;)

Winston "the Great" hanging with the kiddos...yes, he fits right in;) They LOVE him!

sweet snuggles:)

I promise I will try to pick up my camera and take some pictures of our happenings...but I can't promise I'll upload them in a timely manner;) Let's hope I get out of this computer boycott before Kendall's 1st birthday in 1 week!!! (tear)...she's growing up too fast!

Merry Christmas...late;)

Merry (Late) Christmas! Life around the McPherson-Alley household this Christmas has been crazy! We were in full swing gearing up for this special season at the beginning of Advent and just went full steam ahead right on through Christmas day. What a glorious time of year it is! This season was full of projects (we made our own advent calendar, ginger bread house, Christmas cookies, etc.), friends and family, lots and lots of food and baking:). Here are some pictures that represent the few days we spent in Richmond for Christmas. I will warn you, they are in backwards order...thanks computer;)

Will, Jess and the kids made it to Richmond on Christmas day night...what cuties they are!

Will and Jess with our wild bunch

Owen watching Papa and daddy start Papa's train

obviously Jess needs helping opening her presents...whew, good thing we have back-up;)

Alley trying on daddy's gift 

The Alley's youngest Giants fan actually wearing the Cowboys hat...way to come over to the good side Owen;)

John entertaining the kids...choice of toys was interesting;) 

baking with Mimi

Alley working hard on the family puzzle...;)

Merry Christmas daddy

This is the plate I found for our Birthday party for Jesus! I love it!!

Alley and I made a cake for Jesus...and it was from scratch...yes, I'm slightly proud of myself;)

Alley and Kendall playing with each others toys

opening presents Christmas morning

Papa holding Kendall 

Alley and daddy plying with a gift

Santas cutest helper helping me open my gift...she was so sweet to help;)

Alley playing with her new kitty that purrrs (she called it Cagnie)

opening her kitty

Kendall playing with her stocking gifts

opening stockings

oh look! Stickers! My favorite

Christmas Eve reading Christmas books to Alley before bed

Family photo before the Christmas Eve service - side note, Alley did a fabulous job in church!

cheesy grins at Mimi's

Mary and Joseph decor

the girls checking out their Christmas gifts before we left for Mimi and Papa's

Merry Christmas to all!!