Flying High!!

Kayla took her first plane ride this weekend! We went to Texas to visit Bonnie, Jesse and their new baby Jacob. I was really nervous about how it would all go...especially since I was travelling alone with Kayla! But I was also really excited for her to experience flight and also to get to spend so much one-on-one time with her. She did absolutely wonderful on the way out...was really well behaved and there was even another little boy flying on the plane who came up to play with her for a little while!

We had a wonderful time seeing Bonnie and Jesse and meeting Jacob for the first time...he's such a sweet little baby!

We spent time at the Outlets and did some fall shopping for Kayla...Kayla especially loved the Disney store and the little park for kids there! Although - the highlight had to be when Kayla pooped all over herself and the entire Children's Place Store:-) She didn't even know it and was having so much fun watching the children's video in the children's corner that they had setup. ..crawling all over their chairs and couches. When she stood up I saw that she had stuff all over her back from her head to her toes. So I pulled her clothes off and in pure WT fashion walked her shirtless out of the store and down to the bathroom where she proceeded to march as happy as could be with no idea as to what the issue was - smiling at all who passed. After I got her all cleaned up and changes, Bonnie and I and the babes went off to meet Jesse at a really nice restaurant for lunch. They had just gotten us all setup with the two highchairs, etc. when we took our seat. Right then I hear Bonnie say uh oh as she looks at Kayla - so I look at Kayla - and Kayla starts projectile vomiting all over the table, chairs, floor, herself, etc. As she does so she is still smiling and starts playing in her vomit on the table, laughing! So I pull her out of her chair, strip her clothes off, rush her to the bathroom and rinse her off in the sink and wrap her in her blanket. We apologize to the restaurant as they're mopping up her vomit from the floor and cleaning it off the table - and tell them that we'll be taking her home. Needless to say - I don't know if it was the change in climate, altitude or what - but just another day in the wonderful world of mommy hood! We went home, I gave her a bath and she played and played the rest of the day as if nothing had happened!

We enjoyed the beautiful views...played...took a fun little walk around the neighborhood where we got to see scorpions and plants that we'd never seen before! ... and had a wonderful time in the pool! Although we all thought the pool was a little too cold, Kayla was the only one who had no problem with the temp...I think she could have stayed in there all day if we let her! Kayla gave baby Jacob some words of encouragement before he took his first ever swim in a pool!
He wasn't too sure about it at first but warmed up to it pretty quickly...especially since it was freezing!! I think he's going to be an adventurous one...yeh Bon Bon!! Happy mommy and baby!!Twinsies! Ha!  I wish I was as beautiful as my baby girl~!My little man! I miss your smiles and cuddles already Jacob Jordan!!! Can't wait to see you again!!
The flight home was not as perfect as the flight out...Since I woke Kayla up early she was not the happiest little person and was fairly cranky on the first flight. When we changed planes in Dallas her car seat didn't fit down the aisle so I attempted to check it...bad idea! I tried holding Kayla on my lap but 30 minutes later...as we had still not taken off... she was not having it. She started throwing a temper tantrum like no other. The flight attendant asked if there was anything she could do and I told her she could get Kayla's car seat! Which she did and after that - all was wonderful! So I would say overall - the trip was a success:-)

Duck, Duck....Duck!!!

We spent a wonderful long weekend with the family (mom and dad, Sam and Joyce, Jay, Kerry and Cindy) down in the OuterBanks...
...played vollyball (Go team Christie and Joyce!! Cindy and mom - we'll take you on anytime, anywhere :-) , enjoyed the pool and hottub, walks to the beach, dinners, movies, talks, golf, etc. Kayla was a little "under the weather" and tempermental, but we still had a fantastic time.
Hopefully her little temper tantrums were just related to her being sick and out of her element...she still had some shining moments of pure adorableness like our dinner out at this really nice restaurant on the bay - where she loved the she-crab soup so much that she proceeded to lick the bowl clean. And my absolute favorite was when she took Cali for a walk...we weren't quite sure who was walking who!

Change for the better?

Kayla seems to be warming up to her new daycare nicely! The ladies there are wonderful and say it's like she's always been there - that she fits right in. One huge positive is that she has been napping there perfectly the last two days...which means when she comes home to Bryan and I at night she's ready to party with us rather than sleepy and ready for bed like usual...and I love that! We get more fun Kayla time at night when she's well rested...so if she keeps that up I will be ecstatic! The sleeping arrangements there are much better because she's upstairs and separated from the noise of the play area...at her old daycare it was right on the other side of a not-so-soundproof wall...which made Kayla know what she was missing out on at all times while napping. So - so far we are really happy. And it's so nice being able to just walk her up the street in the morning and I know Bryan enjoys walking up to pick her up in the evenings...the convenience is unbeatable!!!

On the subject of "change" I can't help but mention that Sarah Palin spoke last night at the RNC and she knocked my socks off! What an inspirational woman she is! Now I know why Alaskans love her so much...she is classy yet competitive and strong, sassy yet hugely intelligent, witty yet extremely serious about her purpose and her convictions. Any doubts I had about sticking with my Republican roots were reversed after hearing her speak last night.

New places, new faces...

Today was our first day at the new dacare and it was really hard! Kayla was really confused and just sat off to the side watching everyone for a while hugging my leg...I would walk across the room with a toy and she would follow me and hug my leg some more. There was this really cute little boy who was right around the same age who kept bringing her over toys and started drawing her out a bit...and finally she got into playing. And then one of the daycare ladies took her and started showing her where all of the toys were and let her pick one out and by the time I left she was on the floor playing with a whole group of kids around her...so hopefully she'll be okay. I'm sure it's going to be a transition week but hopefully it won't take too long before she's comfortable there and familiar with the new faces and people. I'm so sad for her leaving all of her friends at her old daycare, though. Thursday was really hard...they were all hugging and kissing and waving emphatically. She was so happy there and loved everyone there so much...when we would arrive she would jump down and run off squealing so excited to see her friends and play. It made me feel so good about leaving her there...I hope it gets to be that way here as well!