You are getting sleepy 

Scary 

Boy, do I like the horses 

New word today - "horse" 

Pumpkin Paradise 

Show off

Do you like my hat? 


Uhhh....hi there. 


Brown-eyed girl (gone blurry) 


Belly Laughs 


(Photo taken by Mommy) 

The weather was cooler today than it has been in awhile and unfortunately most of Kyrie's heavier clothes were all in the laundry. So....we just had to break out a 24-month outfit. She is quite close to needing to switch to these anyway, but it was also a lot of fun to wear something new - especially something so cute.

I can't quite describe to you how much my baby has grown up this summer. She is such a little person now. She has such a large vocabulary and can communicate really well. She is running, climbing, trying to jump, kicking, swimming, marching, dancing, and pretending! Her favorite pretend game is with her baby doll. She will make sounds for the baby crying, will "feed" her, and even pat her back. She spends much of her day pushing the baby in the stroller up and down the hallway. It is quite precious.

She also just seems to be losing that baby-ness. I look at pictures of her and I think, "Where did my baby go?" As much as I would love to have that little baby back, I just love the little person she has become. Sigh.

It happened

Step 1: Put your leg up on the couch 


Step 2: Push with your feet and pull with your hands until you scooch your tushy up there 


Step 3: Sit proudly on the couch with your finger in your nose 


Step 4: Get bored quickly because Mommy won't let you jump and resume what you were doing before 

Well, it has taken me awhile to let you know, but the inevitable did happen. I wrote last Thursday that Kyrie would take a tumble off the couch and lo and behold, Saturday morning she did just that. Matt and I were both in the kitchen and I knew she was on the couch because all of a sudden their was hysterical laughter from the living room. I said, "Matt, she's on the couch." The words were hanging in the air when there was a boom, a crash, followed several seconds later by some serious wailing. The good news is that she is okay. The bad news is that she has come pretty close several more times. But, I think she gets the idea that falling is no fun.

Monday was our first day back to swim lessons after taking the summer off. Boy, what a difference a few months makes! Kyrie is now like a fish in the water. She was good at kicking before, but now she is reaching her arms out and actually making a doggie paddle-like motion. She is no longer holding on to Matt or I, but actually attempting to dive away from us and swim away! We had an absolute blast on Monday and I am really looking forward to her progress.

Finally, Kyrie has discovered her nostril. She could be seen many a time today with her finger in her nose. When she was an infant I wrote "Ode to the Boob", now I am thinking about a new poem all about the wonder of the nostril. Who knows, maybe I will publish it here....lucky you.

Family Photos

Below are a bunch of photos that I have never posted from recent gatherings that family members have sent to me. I wanted to share them because a lot of them are really great shots (well, in my opinion) and they simply should be shared!

It seems like it has been awhile since I have blogged. I have a ton to share about Kyrie, but you do not have enough time to read it all. I will sum it up as follows: Kyrie has hit the terrible twos. But, she is not two, you say? Ha! I beg to differ. She is climbing onto the couch and when I tell her she must sit she laughs! As my first instinct is to laugh back, it makes parenting a real dilemma. I so far have managed to maintain my authority figure status and even gave her two time outs (one for 10s and one for 20s - hey, what do you expect from a 17-month old?) I asked for an apology and a kiss afterward and even though I doubt highly that she connected her poor behavior with the chair-sitting and mommy-kissing I do believe it has established a precendence for not accepting the behavior - eat your heart out Super Nanny.

I mentioned the couch climbing, but I think I left out the table climbing, chair climbing, and foot stool climbing. All truly wonderful accomplishments when you think about it, but a mother's nightmare, all the same. No spills yet, but (mark my words) it is only a matter of time. You will be the first to know.

Mmmmm.....plastic cake 

Birthday Celebration 

The Kons Girls 

Imp II 

Imp 

Classic 

Stopping to smell the roses....or something 

Uncle "Tio" 

Disaster Relief

If you have not already donated to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, Matt, Kyrie and I strongly urge you to do so. As mission workers in a country that was devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998 (Honduras) we have seen firsthand the havoc that occurred even years later when immediate help was not given. Of the utmost concern is having clean drinking water. Without it, diarrhea and other seemingly harmless problems can become life or death issues. You can easily help by going to www.redcross.org and clicking on "donate".

Bonus: Your gift is tax deductible, and if you have a Discover Card you even get 1% cash back! Don't forget to check if your company has a matching gift program!