Hug your Loved Ones

I'm learning more and more each day to not take your loved ones for granted... love them... hug them... respect them... laugh with them... treat them as you would want to be treated. There have been a couple instances over the past couple weeks that have really made me think about how life can be so short.

I have a very good friend who lost her sister in law Wednesday... she was young and her heart stopped. Just like that. Life was over for her... and many, many people now hurt and morn for her. This brings tears to my eyes and makes my heart ache... hoping that something so sudden will never happen to someone I am close to. But you just never know...

So take an extra minute tonight when your husband or wife comes home from work - hug them and squeeze them tight. Maybe you aren't 'huggers', but it's important and such a good feeling to be hugged each day.

Eating? & Dancin'

Some days are good... some days are not.
Some days veggies are ate... but often not.
Some days no 'fighting'... some days lots of crying.

I'm talking about our wonderful son when it comes to dinner time!

I'm wondering how to get a 14 month old to eat well at each meal?? I know that there will be some roller coaster type times when he'll eat everything on the plate and some times nothing at all... we are leaning toward the not eating much at all. He sure does like graham crackers, cheese & crackers, pudding, yogurt & mini pancakes... did you notice there's no veggies in that list, or many fruites, however, he'll do manderin oranges. Granted, I'm not a big veggie eater, but he's only 14 months old! He use to inhale peas, green beans & mixed veggies (as baby food!) I worry every evening that he's not eating 'healthy' enough... but then again, what is healthy enough for him at this stage? I don't know the answer to that.

We are working on more teeth. Tonight Kayson sucked and chewed on two teething rings... as he drooled and drooled... This is tough for him I know... hard to handle sometimes. He hasn't ran any fevers, thankfully, just unhappy... I'm ready for those teeth to pop through. Poor guy.

On a side note, last night Kayson was a happy little boy - here he is dancing. He swings his arms back and forth. Hilarious. ;)

BUNCO, Weekend & Skin

Last night Ryan & I had a 'game night' at our friends Jamie & Travis'. Food, drinks and Bunco. I had never played before, but wow - it was SO MUCH FUN! There were 11 of us, and it was a GREAT group of people. What a little dice game to do! We've decided that we'll try to do this every month or so - rotating at each others homes.

Today has been a good, relaxing day - just what we all needed. We slept in a little (7:15ish)... which was great. Kayson & I ran to Babies R Us to pick up a humidifier filter and they were all out - frustrating! So we came home... Now Ryan & Kayson are napping (together), so sweet. The dogs and I are relaxin.

Is everyone's skin raw!?!? Well, mine is! My hands and cuticles are cracked and sore... my legs are dry... no matter how much lotion I put on, it just soaks in and craves for more. So gross! ;) I've been throwing around the idea of getting back to tanning. I just need some color - I know it's bad for your skin (especially since it's winter and just in general), but man - I think the color would lift my spirits... We'll see if I get that accomplished this week! Off to put more lotion on. ;)

Show me those teeth!

Here is Kayson showing us his teeth - it's his 'new' thing for this week. We ask him to show us his teeth... and he gives us this HUGE grin, squints his eyes and giggles. It's priceless.



Here are some other pictures of our handsome little man. Look at those blue eyes - can I say they are 'gorgeous'??? I have a feeling those blue eyes are going to get him into trouble someday... probably with us, and with girls. ;)



Here is Kayson and Daddy paying bills. Sunday night ritual - and Kayson decided to help.

Miss Meghan

One of our favorite teachers from daycare took a full time Nanny position effective Monday... today was her last day. Miss Meghan wasn't even Kayson's current teacher, but we've always had a connection with her - us and Kayson. She's a cute little young thing - that LOVED Kayson... we could just tell. I am super sad to see her go... however, feel lucky to have known her and lucky that she provided her cell number. I already called her tonight and told her she would be missed and that we will be calling her for babysitting duties for sure.

It's crazy to think how one person can have an effect on you and your child... things like this really pull the heart strings when you are a parent and only want the best for your child.

Kayson's current teachers, Jayne & Lindsay, are wonderful - and we know we'll soon have a connection with them as well... We are truly blessed to have a great daycare for Kayson.

Happy & Wild

Ryan and I can finally say that Kayson is much happier than he was this past week, and last week. Thank goodness! He's finally eating like 'normal' and doing a little better at the sleeping thing. The last two evenings he's only been up once and it was a very short time... much better than Wednesday evening where he was up from 1 to 3 am. YIKES! Anywho - he was a super good boy today... we played hard and he took a fantastic morning nap. Then this afternoon we were a little off schedule - we went to the mall (along with everyone else in DSM), and did a few more errands... so our afternoon nap didn't happen until nearly 4:45, so a little off, but he handled it like a champ. Tonight he was up til 8:30 - we'll see how he sleeps! Cross your fingers!

Here are a few pictures of our 'wild' man. He's such a busy boy!

That cheesy grin - who can resist that!??!


Valentine's Day gift from Grandma & Grandpa Taylor - a chair for just Kayson!
I think he's really going to like it - he climbs into it like a champ, and doesn't do too bad getting out of it (for only trying about twice)!


Hope everyone has a good Valentine's Day - whether you have a significant other or not - you still have family and friends - heart them. ;)

Eating at the Table

Our dining room table arrived yesterday - awesome awesome!

Night Away

I surprised Ryan with a night away... I've had it planned for nearly 2 months... and it ended up being a perfect time to get away. I may sound like a bad mom - but we've had a rough couple weeks with Kayson not sleeping, and not feeling well. So getting away was good for us. We needed it.

Saturday around noon we headed out to Williamsburg to shop a little. This was more for me, but it does help that Ryan likes to shop too! We had a great time - did some damage there (for me, for Ryan & Kayson!), then headed over to Iowa City. We checked into our hotel and relaxed for about an hour. We then met up with Corey & Angi and Holly & Clay. We went for dinner and had a great time - we ate, had a few drinks and talked for hours... it was perfect, and just what we all needed!!! We then crashed - I think I was asleep by 10:30 and slept hard til 5:15 (right when my alarm normally goes off!) Figures!! Ryan and I kind of tossed and turned til about 8:30 or so...

We were back home around 12:30 this afternoon. It was a great time and now back to reality!

Kayson was cared for and had fun with my parents, my sister, Jill, and nieces Lindsay & Eden. Even Trish & Hope came down today for a little bit to get their fill of Kayson! We think Kayson is feeling better - he's finally eating a little more and a little more interested in milk. His tummy still kind of gurgles and has had some messy diapers... but we do think it's getting better. The viral thing must have turned into more of a 'bug'.

Big thanks to my family for taking care of Kayson. It was a much needed break!

Dogs' Chair

Kayson now likes to sit in Quincy & Murphy's chair. This is where the dogs spend most of their time - well, Murphy listens and stays there, Quincy typically doesn't... Either way - they were out of it today and Kayson LOVED being in it!

Viral & Teeth

That sums up Mr. Kayson over the past 2 weeks.

I broke down and took him into the doctor just to rule out ear infection. Ears looked good - however, he has a viral infection in his throat. Doc said there is puss and some redness in his throat - OUCH OUCH. Poor guy. And he's teething for sure - probably molars. Those two items are a nasty combination for a 13 month old!

I'm glad we have some answers... somehow I always feel better after seeing the doctor.

Now we just wait! I'm praying for his throat to be better today and all of those teeth to pop thru today! hahaha. If that would only happen! ;)

Good... and Not... and another month

Good = We had a good weekend... busy (do people get tired of using the word busy?) I need a new word to use... hectic? eventful? active? on the go? Any of those will work for this weekend... and pretty much any other weekend! Anywho - Friday evening we finally got up to Ankeny to see our good friends Jamie & Travis and their little guy Braley. What a little stud. He's almost 2 months older than Kayson - and he's a hoot. Kayson and him played well - both independently and together... it was a nice visit! Saturday we did some errands and then Blair & Martina came to visit and we all went out for dinner - hit up Buffalo Wild Wings, good food and good company. Aunt Martina taught Kayson one adult thing while at dinner --- "Cheers" - she taught him to do "Cheers" with his sippy cup and her adult drink. They would click their 'glasses' and then take a drink - it was hilarious. Should have that stuff on video! Kayson also had his first coloring experience... Martina and him colored a little... he thought that was pretty cool. Sunday, I unfortunately needed to come into work for a little bit, then grocery shopped and was home for the afternoon... then Sunday evening I met some of my girlfriends for dinner. Good weekend... always full with something!

Not = we aren't sleeping well. Kayson just isn't getting it lately - he isn't getting the fact that Momma and Daddy need their beauty sleep. :) He's just been struggling lately - he will go to bed just fine, but is typically up anywhere between 11 pm and 1 am, crying - mad - restless... then the rest of the evening, he's up about every hour until morning. That's TOUGH. Today I feel icky - I just feel overwhelmed and exhausted... I sure hope one of these nights (soon), we'll have some relief!

Another Month = has went by. Typically I send out monthly emails to friends and family with the links to the blog and Kayson's pictures... not sure if anyone gets annoyed by that??? But I think I'm just going to do that every other month... I'm finding that since Kayson doesn't sit still, it's hard to get pictures of him (or at least his front side) - it's typically him crawling away or right up in my face (cuz he LOVES the camera!)