I am toddler, hear me ROAR!

Growing up, when I turned a different age I always wondered if I would magically feel different the day of my birthday. Of course I never did, and I don't believe its possible to see a huge change in someone in the course of a day, even though they are a year older. I expected the same of Kynlee, but little did I know the day she became a toddler on July 2nd, was the day she embraced the battle cry "I am TODDLER, hear me ROAR!!!"

Things are little bit louder, and little more stressful around the Moser house lately. Kynlee discovered quickly that she can have a voice in how she wants to spend her time. A very LOUD voice. Taking things away from her are no fun, but it must be done, and I brace myself every time anticipating a busted ear drum. She also knows exactly what she shouldn't be doing too. Like touching the fan, or turning the TV screen. She will stare at you with a deviant grin on her face, all while you say "NO!" or "Stop that!" until you walk up to her and she starts crying because she had to finally give in.

Even though the toddler years might also bring about a more independent, and demanding child, it also brings out a brighter, more vocal child. I'm amazed at how much she has grown in just the short time since she turned one. She knows several commands, even without a hand motion. Like, "Give it to me," or "Go get your paci." She will dance when you tell her to, and of course the legendary tongue can be seen on demand.

One of my favorite things to do with her is play patty cake. I never really played it with her before, but in just a week she started doing it by herself. I'm not just talking clapping her hands while I sing. She will clap, roll her hands when you say "roll it" she will "pat it" then when you say "mark it with a B," she will point to her hand. She learned it so fast, and it's so cute.

Whether it be an ear-piercing scream or a snotty-nosed kiss, I love every thing about that little girl. I love watching her grow, and I'm so excited to watch her become more articulate and to interact with her more.

Life with a one year old!

I know I have mentioned that Kynlee isn't a good sleeper about 5,201 times on this page, so it shouldn't be a surprise when I complain about it again. I've tried every method known to man to convince her that sleep is fun, and when she sleeps we all feel better the next day. I even drafted up a nice flow chart once detailing all of the benefits of a good shuteye. She peed on it.

Okay, not really, but she does resent me sometimes for trying to help. Excuse me for wanting all of us to get sleep, right? The most frustrating part is I could try for an hour, laying her down multiple times for her to wake up. Then Daddy gets home from work and puts her down within 5 minutes. I love him for it, but I want to tackle him and beat the secret of success out of him. Kynlee prefers Daddy to put her to sleep, but guess who is at work during her bedtime? Yup, I figured you were smart enough to figure that out.

I know she will work it out eventually. With my luck, she will learn how to be the best sleeper right when we have our second child and have to start the whole process again. I keep telling Corey we should go ahead and try to have our second one while she is sleeping like this so we will be used to it.

Oh well, who can complain about this face?

I know you are dying to know what's going on with my extravagant life. Nothing exciting, I promise. It's July 15 and I still don't feel like it's summer. Luckily Anatomy, aka the class from hell, is over so I'm not spending all of my summer on class, but I still have Sexual Deviance. It's fun, but it's still school. During the summer. Need I say more? 

On the bright side, it has given me more free time, which I have used in the gym. Growing up I was always playing sports, or doing some form of exercise. I felt restless if I wasn't doing something active. Having Kynlee converted me from Athlete of the Year, to Kind-of-a-couch-potato of the Year. I don't feel like I need to lose weight, but I do need to tone and firm things up and get back in shape. I've spent almost every day in the gym since second session has started and I feel great! I hate that Corey has a night job because there is a fitness boot camp starting on the 25th for 4 weeks that I am dying to go to. It's every day at 6, and Corey only has two nights off a week. So if any of my friends want to volunteer to watch her from 6-7 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays that would be great! And when I say volunteer, I mean volunteer. As in for free?!? Ha I know, I know, waaay to much to ask for. A girl can dream right?

Oh hey, have I mentioned that my girl is ONE? Crazy right?

She can be the sweetest girl, but I can tell she is starting to have her own opinions of how she wants things done. Take something away from her and she will let you know exactly how she feels about that. Corey was holding her one day when we were picking up some sandwiches, and she grabbed my sunglasses. I tried to take them away and she started to play keep-away with me. Have I mentioned that Corey is 6'4"? She won that game. She thought that was so absurd of me that she shunned me. I tried to take her from Corey and she turned her back, and wouldn't look at me the rest of the time.

She is also really good at turning a spotless apartment into a disaster zone. If I take too to long make her meals, she will show her feelings with an ear piercing scream that can crack any terrorist. And if I even think of leaving her in the crib crying for any amount of time she curls up in the fetal position muttering gibberish that sounds like "it will never end!" Have I mentioned I want more kids?

She is growing up so fast!

Remember The Tongue? Well she can now do it on demand. I tell her to "do the tongue" and she promptly does this...

She learned that in an hour. But try to teach her to point to Mama or Daddy and she stares at me like I'm stupid.

Summer

My life has been overcome by anatomy and physiology. I feel like I spend every second studying or doing home work. I'm in this class for 2-5 hours a day, every day of the week, starting at 8am...torture! I don't feel like this is summer at all! I know taking this class will help me graduate in December, but it's at the cost of not getting to spend the summer months with my girl. Luckily this hard class will be over next Friday, and next sessions class won't be as tedious.

I will be so happy to spend my one week's vacation with my family starting next Friday! During that time we will be celebrating my little Kbear's first birthday! My, my where has the time gone. This time last year I was sweating it out managing a pool every day in the blazing sun, with a big ol' belly poking out. Can't believe it has been a year since I laid eyes on the girl that changed my life.

Speaking of the little booger, we've had ups and downs in the "Kynlee Sleep Saga." About two months ago we finally made the step to have her sleep in her own room, instead of ours. We spent all day rearranging, and now we have our own separate bedrooms. It was a glorious night to be able to go to bed early just so we could lay in bed watching TV, and not having to hush our voices. It seemed to help a little with all of us getting more sleep too. I only wish Kynlee could be consistent with things. Her bedtime is usually the same every night, so that's not the problem, its whether or not she wakes up in the middle of the night.

Sometimes she will surprise us and sleep through the night, without eating, and not waking up until we do. Then other nights she will wake up absolutely hysterical, and won't calm down until she is fed. It's so frustrating because I know she is capable of sleeping through the night, and she gets enough to eat during the day. There is no reason for her to be waking up hungry. She is almost one for crying out loud! I could handle it better if she would go right back to sleep in her crib without eating, but she wants to eat, then get in bed with us.

I almost found a solution by getting myself up right before she typically does and feed her before she can wake up and become angry. She would go right back to sleep in her crib, and we didn't hear anything until morning. I did this a few nights, and then stopped feeding her and she didn't wake up. We were so happy, but of course that was short lived. It's a huge cycle for her. She will go from sleeping all night, to waking up and getting in bed with us with no problem, to being the worst sleeper and then the cycle will start over again. Right now we are in the terrible sleep phase, so I'm hoping the good nights will start any time now.

Other than sleep, Kynlee has been a great little baby. I can't believe how much she has grown.. I feel like I've seen the biggest change in her these past two months alone.

She is walking all over the apartment now. It's so funny when she walks because she raises her arms in the air, and the closer she gets to her destination, the higher her arms get until she gets there, then flings are arms down. She expects a round of applause afterwards...It's a huge accomplishment.

{Yes, Minnie is still always close by}

She has expanded her vocabulary from just "dada" to "nana" (thats what she calls me apparantly) "hey" and minnie, or "ninnie." When you ask her "where is Minnie?" She starts freaking out yelling "ninnie," and looking around for her. 

She is also learning how to throw quite the temper tantrum...hello toddler years!

The tongue barely makes an appearance these days, but when it does it is still funny. 

I have so enjoyed this first year, and I'm sad to leave the newborn and baby days behind, but am very much looking forward to watching her grow and learn even more during her toddler years. Oh my how this crazy girl has changed my life, and I do mean CRAZY!

Gotta love her though!

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On a side note, photography is still going great. I had fun taking engagement pictures for this cute couple last weekend. 

I have a very fun photo shoot planned for my girl's one year pictures :)

Oh this thing?

Oh my. I know, I know, yet another blogging hiatus. I could say I was busy with finishing the semester. I could also say I was busy loving on my baby girl. If I'm being honest, the real reason I haven't blogged in a VERY long time is because I reinstalled my internet browser which cleared all of my saved usernames and passwords. I know that's not a big deal, but I couldn't remember my password and I was contentedly embarrassingly too lazy to take the time and click the "forgot password" button. You don't have to say anything, I know how extremely lame that is.

However, when I feel a creative a creative streak coming on it makes me want to get back to my blog. What more of a reason to be creative than my little girls first birthday!! It really snuck up on me. She turned 11 months on the 2nd, and I realized I should probably start planning. Her absolute favorite stuffed animal is her Minnie Mouse. She takes it everywhere, so I knew she would love to have a Minnie party. I wasn't too excited about the idea only because I wanted to do something cute and unique, but when we passed Minnie Mouse decorations at the store the other day she started freaking out. I am super excited for the crafts I'll be making for it. My favorite is her outfit I have planned :) I can't believe my girl is going to be one. More on that later though. I really should catch up on this thing.

Summer school has been keeping me away from my photography, but I finally have another shoot tomorrow. I'm excited to do another engagement session. Hopefully I'll be able to put pictures on here soon.

I would say that I promise to keep up with this thing more often, but I wouldn't want to lie. I do however want to try because it is a great way at documenting my family. Here's to hoping I will blog more!