SOME EXPLAINING

So...here's the story, and I will try to put it in a nutshell:)

When I was pregnant with McKinley I wanted a boy soooooooooooooo bad! I had visions of the whole 'big brother' outlook, having the little sisters have crushes on brothers' friends etc. Anyway...I pretty much had my heart set on having a boy.

Obviously that's not how it worked out; and I knew it wasn't going to work out that way. In the back of my mind, I knew it was a girl, and I knew that He was preparing me for the news. Sure enough when we got the ultra sound and our doctor asked what we thought it was I said... "I think it's a boy!" But in my head I said "But I know it's a girl."

Sure enough there she was! Our wonderful McKinley May Daly! I wouldn't have it any other way!

So then I thought great! I'll just have my girls first and then have boys! So with baby number two I wanted a girl soooooooooooooooooooooooo bad! But like McKinley in the back of my head I felt like He was telling me it was a boy, to prepare me for the news that I was not getting what I wanted!

At first I was disappointed, I know how awful that sounds, but I just wanted another girl so bad, but then I listened to that voice in my head and I started getting excited about having a little boy in the house. A little Greg running around:) So I was convinced that a little boy was on his way.

So convinced that I announced it at Thanksgiving with a little boy baby on my shirt:) I knew it was a boy, so why wait for the doctor to tell me:) Right? RIGHT!

So Greg, McKinley, and I went in for our 'real' ultra sound and the doctor asked what we thought it was. Greg said that I was convinced it was a boy and had told everyone that it was a boy. Greg also said that he was going to laugh if it was a girl. I then said "I know it's a boy!"

Just as I said those words, the thought came into my head... "Lyndi, you are having a girl." WHAT?

The doctor pulled the baby onto the screen, found a perfect shot between the legs and wrote ... GIRL across the ultra sound picture!

Greg and I started to laugh! I had told EVERYONE, not just a few people...EVERYONE we were having a boy! My wonderful friend Jaime Wright even made me a baby boy blanket! This was going to be a great story!

We are so excited to have this girl! Me especially, cause I got what I wanted! I'm not sure what lesson I was supposed to learn from really feeling and knowing it was a boy to the last second, but I think it was this...

I was supposed to learn that whatever comes, you will be excited and thrilled about it! I know that there is a plan for each of us, and it doesn't matter what gender comes into your family, at what time, you love your children with an intensity so strong that it doesn't matter!

We are so excited for you to come little girl!

So there is my story about this baby in a really big nut shell.

Here she is, if you look close, she is giving you the peace sign! She's just telling her mommy to chill out:)

NURSERY

Yesterday, Sunday, was Kinley's first 'official' time in nursery! She wore her new Christmas dress (Thanks Grandma Candace), got her hair done, and we were off to church!

To me nursery is a big deal! It's like preschool at church! So I was a little disappointed at how it ended up being pretty anticlimactic:) I thought maybe a hug goodbye, a wave, something...NO! She was out of my arms and into the toys in .5sec! In reality I was glad that she handled it well, but a part of me aches that she's old enough to not need me 24/7! Is that crazy thinking or what?

The rest of her day went pretty well! I had to take a potty break, I always seem to be in the bathroom these days:), and I checked on her on my way back to primary. I looked through the window and she was crying! WHAT?!?!?!? Her first day and she had gotten whacked by a cute little boy. I didn't know if I should race in there or not. Believe me I wanted to, but the teacher mother in me said no. I ignored the teacher mother and raced in!:) She was fine, and it ended up being a perfect diaper change time! So Lucky Greg! I brought her to him, cause I had to head back to my primary class.

After closing exercises, in primary, which seemed to take FOREVER, I raced to the nursery room. She was sitting so nice at the table eating fish snacks and chewing on an unopened candy cane:) I scooped her up, gave her a big kiss, and she let me:) She was excited to see me! Yeah she still needs and wants her mommy!:) So all in all, her day was a success, and I survived too, having her in the nursery room! Man, am I going to be like this with all my kids? I really had to try hard not to go get her!:)

So here she is all grown up and looking adorable!

NEW ROOM!

Kinley gets to move into a big girl bed in a little while! We are so excited and we finally finished! Jim and Candace gave us an old dresser and bed!(THANK YOU!) I could see potential immediately! I love making old look new! Anyway...we painted the furniture pink! It is adorable! We also bought new hardware handles and it is so cute! We haven't gotten the dresser handles on yet, but there's still time! We put up bead board, painted her room purple, and she loves it! She's always in there now jumping on the bed and pretending to go to sleep.

Hopefully when the time comes...she will go to sleep in there for real! There are still last minute things we want to put up...like flowers and butterflies hanging from the ceiling and blue sheer curtains. Other than that, it's done! It is so fun to decorate for a girl! And now I get to decorate for two girls:)
If you are wondering about the choice in blue bedding...Kinley LOVES BLUE!!! So I got to make it girlie with the pink bed, and purple walls, and she got to choose the comforter! I think it turned out really well!

GREAT DEAL!

For those of you out there who love nursing covers go to www.uddercovers.com!
Enter the promo code cousin2!
It ends up that you only pay for shipping! Sometimes you can't even get fabric for that great of a deal! Have fun!

I would have done one of those cool link things, but I still have some blog retard in me:) just copy and paste. Easy right:)

BUSY DAY

We had a busy day on Saturday! In the morning we got last minute things done for my friend Jaime's baby shower. It was a fun shower, and lots of people came! Yeah for babies! Jaime is such a cute prego lady! While I hosted the shower, Greg took Kinley all around town looking for a gift for me:) I am so excited to see what she chose for me:)


After the shower, McKinley made dinner! Mac and Cheese! (We keep things simple on the weekends:) She is such a great helper! Don't you love that it's all over the counter?:)


Then we ran more errands and headed to the mall to see Santa. She was so excited to see him! She talked about him the whole way to the mall, and we sang songs! Once we got there...different story! She slowly approached the stranger wearing the big red suit and backed up into Greg's legs. She said 'hi' then made a dash for the exit. Greg scooped her up, and sat next to Santa holding her:) She did not like it at all, but you could tell she was trying. She kept saying 'hi' really fast, and 'thank oo'. She was much happier after she got her coloring book.


After our visit to Santa we decided to write him a letter! She liked that idea a lot better! It was so cute! After she wrote the letter, that she was taking very seriously, she put it in the mailbox! There was a slot opening just her size! Then she got a pin for her coat!


What a fun busy day!

HOUSES

Our friends the Wrights came over for family night. We sang Away in a Manger and I played the keyboard! I know, I have been practicing! Eric gave the opening prayer, and he actually thanked Him for the cold!:) Of all the things to be thankful for...that's not big on my list:) But tis the season (for cold), so I said my agreed Amen:). Then we all sat on the floor and told the nativity story with our Little People nativity set. McKinley was so involved! She knew right where to put baby Jesus and all the other little people friends! After our lesson we had our activity!!! Decorating Ginger Bread Houses! It was so fun! Thanks Grandma Candace for the kits, and thanks Jaime and Eric for a fun evening!



p.s. It took a lot of convincing for Greg to 'pop' his foot:) In his words..."You owe me big Lyndi":) Sometimes it's worth it to get things like that on camera:)

SO BIG!

I can't believe how big my little baby is! She is no longer a baby! Why do they have to grow up so fast? I can't believe what a difference one year can make! She is such a blessing in our lives! We love you little big girl!

Last Year:



This Year:


What a darling girl!

AMALS

The first thing I have been hearing in the morning lately is..."Amals?"
Knowing my child hasn't had anything to eat for over 12 hours I ask...
"Do you want to play animals or eat some breakfast first?"
Shaking her head as if I am the most crazy mother for even asking..."Amals"
Kinley then takes my hand, leads me to the stairs, where the amals are, to show me what is more important.
So here we sit with our Amals at 7:30a.m. having a tea party. At least someone gets to eat:)

PERFECT DAY

When it snows in Wyoming there are rare opportunities to really go and play outside. It is either too cold, too windy, or it's gone the next day. Today, was the perfect day! Not too cold, no wind, and obviously the snow is still intact.

McKinley loved to run in the snow. She'd run, fall on purpose, put her face to the ground, and eat the snow! She is so FUN!

Getting her ready...that's another story. I felt like the mom on A CHRISTMAS STORY getting Ralfie's little brother off to school. It didn't help that she thought it was funny to run away while putting her boots on:) I couldn't help but laugh she looked so funny in her huge snow suit. Hopefully it will fit next year too! Cross your fingers!

OUR TRIP

While we were down for thanksgiving we were able to do some fun things!

Grandma Sue made a cute corner upstairs for the little kids! It was a hit!!! We couldn't keep Kinley and Kaysen away! (Not that we wanted to, but if we did:) It was fun to see them playing together! Thanks Grandma Sue!


We also trekked down to Ikea. We thought we'd stop at In-n-Out Burger. We stopped, but didn't wait around to see what the food tasted like. The line was snaked inside and around the building, and the drive-through...at least 50 cars! Not exaggerating! So we left for Ikea. While we were there Kinley was tired, and insisted on going to bed. She probably would have fallen asleep if we'd left her. I have decided that Ikea is a wonderful magical land! I love to see all the fun things, and the prises are great!


On Saturday we went to Grandma Candace's and had a great time! We fed the horses, played with cousins, and sewed! It was fun and great to see everyone! See you at Christmas!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

What a fun day! Everyone drove up to Logan to have thanksgiving at Bruce and Nan's! Dinner was wonderful, the company was great, but my favorite... the games!

I didn't get shots of everyone, but here are some good ones! This game involves bending over to grab the bag with your teeth. The part you bite is then ripped off, making the bag shorter and shorter! If you fall over or touch the floor with your hands or knees you are out. The game ended with a tie between Melissa and Ashley, both could pick up a flat piece of paper off the floor! Crazy to be that flexible!

Fun memories!!!

SURPRISE!!!

We are expecting baby number two!!! We are so excited and can't wait to welcome this little spirit into our home!


McKinley was wearing this cute shirt, and Grandma Candace didn't see it forever! I finally had to tell her to look at Kinley's shirt. Grandma Sue asked if we were announcing:) Silly Grandmas!!!

Kinley loves to point at all the figures on her shirt and tell you who they are...


Daddy, Mommy, Kinley!

And of course I was wearing this one... IT'S A BOY!!!