November 2012

November's theme - Life as a FOF begins!  For a long time we were DINK's (Dual Income, No Kids) then we moved onto FOT (Family of Three) and now FOF (Family of Four).  Each stage has its perks, and though that first month with a newborn is challenging - mentally and physically - I have to say so far I prefer the FOF. :)  It has been really interesting to see how our family dynamic has changed in just four weeks.  Jeff has really stepped up on helping around the house, not that he didn't do great before.  Samara now requests Daddy to give her a bath at night, and truthfully, he is way more fun it sounds like from her laughter echoing through the house.  Since it now takes me 2 hours to get out the door if I have to get myself and two kids ready and fed, I find myself running some errands once Jeff is home or after Samara is in bed and Kalum is fed.  Though I did brave the grocery store with two kids by about the third week.  I decided the key is to hold onto my bargaining chip of a sucker for Samara at HyVee until we are paying for our groceries.  I only learned this after she ran away from me several times in the store, knowing that I couldn't run after her and leave Kalum in the cart.  She was laughing as she ran away-having a great time!  I'm sure I got some of the "control your child" stares from people, but I have been working on mastering the attitude that my children's behavior does not control my self-image.  Once I gave her "the look" and she came back, I bent down and we had a heart-to-heart in the store and she stayed much closer after that.  This will be an ongoing challenge I'm sure - but I refuse to have her wear a leash, so we'll just have to work on it.

November was also an adjustment with two kids and a job to still keep above water since I work from home.  It worked really well though, as when the kids napped I worked and some evenings I headed downstairs as well to get things done.  Everyone was very understanding of the potential lapse in my email or voice mail responses.  When Kalum was two weeks old, he even attended his first  board meeting with me. He slept the whole time, and even through my errands on the way home!  I did skip a meeting mid-November when we all got a cold though.  Poor Kalum didn't even make it two weeks without catching something.  But, it was over pretty quickly and all were back to normal soon.

At Kalum's two week Dr. checkup he was 8 lbs 15 oz (53%), 21 in long (59%) and head circumference 36.25cm (30%).  He isn't even a pound shy of what Samara weighed in at 2 MONTHS.  He is our big boy already it seems.  :)  That is okay, though, because he is a good eater and has been sleeping 3-4 hour stretches at night even.  We were pleasantly surprised to find that Samara sleeps through him waking at night (though he doesn't get too loud since he's right by me in his co-sleeper bed) and Kalum doesn't wake up to Samara playing loudly or having a screaming melt-down temper tantrum.  There have been more than a few of those, but she was also cutting two year molars, so that was not a good combination.  Kalum will be moving to his own room now that he is four weeks, so we'll see how that goes.  Mommy needs some sleep and that is when we moved Samara out, so after Thanksgiving he'll get the boot! :)  He is doing great - holding his head up well and enjoys tummy time.  He is definitely a cuddly baby so far and would let you hold him on your chest all day long.  We'll be looking to buy a carrier of some kind so Mommy can hold him while she works, or to keep his loving older sister off of him.  In fact, even his crib is apparently not that safe when her loving arms are around.  One morning I fed him and laid him down in his crib, then Samara was watching a movie so I came down to lay on the couch while she watched.  She climbed up next to me to cuddle, then next thing I know I wake up from a deep, dreaming sleep and she's not there anymore!  I look around and finally go upstairs to see what she's up to.  I find her IN Kalum's crib holding him in her arms.  Needless to say, I lost it!   Samara basically rolled him out of her arms(ack!), I yanked her from the crib and picked him up.  He was still sleeping, so I know she didn't do any harm, but the thought of what she could have done (tried to get him out of the crib, etc) did me in.  Between the sleep deprivation and the pregnancy hormones I started bawling.  Samara was giving me her toys saying "You don't have to be sad.  Here's lambie to make you happier."  After our talk, Samara now says "never touch the crib again" and "never never again get in his crib" when you ask what happened that day.  Everything she does (so far) is only in love or curiosity, so I can't be too mad, but sometimes I just want to say leave him alone - you are always loud and in his face!  

Thanksgiving was a packed weekend of family fun, but it was really nice as well.  Everyone got to see Samara and Kalum again, the weather was great and we ate delicious food all weekend - who could complain?!  On turkey day, Samara, Kalum and I enjoyed the parades in the morning with Auntie Courtney and Nick over.  Since we moved Pennell family Thanksgiving to the day after Thanksgiving and Derby's ended up doing their Thanksgiving on the Saturday after, Thanksgiving day itself was pretty open.  Courtney and I ended up making cake pops and a cake for a customer that needed it Friday.  Nick was a trooper and played with Samara and held Kalum as needed until Jeff got home from doing a side-job in Lincoln for his sister Michelle.  Then Nick and Jeff enjoyed some football while we finished cake pops, etc.  Our actual Thanksgiving dinner was spaghetti and salads! :)  Friday was Pennell Thanksgiving where we had appetizers during the Husker game, then ate our dinner after.  In the evening we all crafted felt ornaments for an advent tree Gemma made.  It was a fun activity to do together and Samara and Kalum can count the days til Christmas every year now!  Saturday we celebrated with Derby's and everyone was there - another day of family, conversation and good food.  

We are so thankful for our amazing families and are truly blessed!  
Next month...Christmas is coming!
 

Newborn Pictures - Nov. 4, 2012

Here are just a few of the newborn photos we had taken.  Once we have them from the photographer, we'll be sending birth announcements and Christmas cards! :)

Kalum Lee Derby - How we chose his name...

KALUM - First, we just liked the name!  We actually found it just the weekend before he was born.  Pronounced with a short 'a' sound, it sounds like the first part of Kalamazoo, if you weren't sure.  Jeff has already been calling him Kal Pal, and I'm sure he'll be his little buddy.  Meanings: dove, gentle, peace - so hoping that will be fortuitous to a more laid back, calm second child.

LEE - As Kalum will carry on the Derby last name, Amanda kind of claimed his middle name as something to carry on her side of the family.  Samara was given a middle name to represent the Kunes side of the family, so Kalum was given the middle name Lee from the Pennell side.  Lee is Amanda's middle name, though spelled Leigh in her case, Papa Craig's middle name and Great Grandpa Pennell's middle name.

October 2012

The basic summary for October would be - getting ready for baby #2, waiting, waiting, waiting ...

In loading all the photos for this month I realized we hardly took any.  I blame this on the fact that I had reached the point of "done being pregnant" about halfway through the month.  I spent the month trying to have the house in order and to get ahead on work so when the baby was born everything would be set.  When mid-month I was already effaced and dilated and the Dr. said it could be any time, I mentally was prepared for another early baby like Samara.  Everyone expected me to say I was in labor every time I called, but I wasn't.  I tried to be very diligent in taking time to play with Samara and give her my full attention.  But she got a lot of "Mommy can't really pick you up very easily" and "Daddy will help you with that" and "Mommy can't really sit on the floor like that" etc. 

Samara had a good month - her last month as an only child and she had no idea how much life would soon change.  She loved having our pumpkins inside and outside the house, picking out her Halloween costume at Gemma's, coloring, watching movies and all the other normal things she does.  She wakes up happy and going and goes all day!  She gets especially cranked up when we have company over, and loves hamming it up for the crowd.  :)  Her favorite movie is still Lion King, but she'll rotate in some Finding Nemo or Kung Fu Panda as well.  She speaks really well, usually we know what she is talking about all the time.  One must be aware what she is saying before agreeing or disagreeing, as she will hold you to whatever you say.  Quite a memory she has!  She likes to help pick out her clothes and loves to notice that things match... "do they match?!" she'll say.  She can identify some letters and numbers - mainly 2, as that is how old she is and "N".  When we pull up to Hy Vee, which has Husker flags all across the front, she'll say - they have flags, and point - "some are Go Huskers and some say Defense", just because they have red N's on them.  Ah, we've trained our little Husker fan well!  We had less temper tantrums this month and potty training is going well - hoping the set backs on both of those aren't awful once the baby is born.

We had our 8 year anniversary on October 29th, but didn't do much to celebrate.  We hadn't really planned anything because we figured we'd have a new baby by that point.  Then, FINALLY, on Tuesday, October 30th I woke up at 5AM to real labor, compared to the braxton hicks contractions I'd had for months.  We called my Mom to come get Samara about 6AM and by the time she got there, labor was well underway.  I labored at home with Jeff rubbing my back and helping me relax and breathe through each contraction.  Our doula came to our home just after 11AM and suggested I to get up and move around some more.  When I went to the bathroom, my water broke right at noon.  Once that happened my contractions instantly got markedly stronger!  Jeff called the hospital to say my water broke and we were on our way.  With the strength and frequency of the contractions, it took a while to get to the car.  By this time I knew we were close to having a baby - and Jeff drove as quickly and smoothly as possible down 192nd Street.  When we got there it was a flurry of activity and staff in our room.  Baby was born at 1:22PM, just 12 minutes after our arrival!  My doctor was working at Indian Hills that day and flew down Dodge Street when he got the call, however, he got there just after the birth since it happened so fast.  Since we didn't have my regular Dr., no one knew that we had waited to find out if it was a boy or girl.  They just went about their normal post-birth procedures and we were trying to see what it was amongst everything going on.  I caught a glimpse at the same time the Dr. said it was a boy, and remember looking at Jeff and saying, "it's a boy!".  Since he was totally healthy I was able to have him set on my chest right away and bond with him.  He took to nursing right away, which is a good thing, because an 8 lb 9 oz baby needs to eat to keep that weight up!  After taking time to hold him once most of the staff were out of the room and going through our name list again, we chose Kalum Lee Derby.

Unlike when we had Samara, our families knew we were at the hospital and got texts when the baby was born.  So, we had people waiting to meet the baby and find out if it was a boy or girl and the name we had chosen.  You can see by the pictures, he had a lot of visitors just on his first two days.  We were glad he was able to meet so much family right away, one of the blessings of having all your family live close.  Samara was able to come to the hospital to meet her brother that afternoon.  With all of the family there, she was a little cranked up, and a little too loud and friendly with her new baby brother.  She was confused when I fed him, since it was not with a bottle as she was expecting, but I'm sure she'll get over that.  In the end, my Mom took her to eat and go back home so we could have some quiet. :)  Samara was excited to wear her tiger costume (a vintage from Auntie Courtney's childhood) the next day anyway!  She got to trick-or-treat in Iron Horse and get candy!!  She had a great time, of course.  Looking at the photos, I was sad to have missed the first time she actually was aware of the festivities, but I know there will be many more to enjoy with her-and her brother.  November will be up next - life as a family of four begins!!

September 2012

September-it's over already?!  The month was full again with a flurry of activities.  As mentioned last month, our bible study group started up again, MoPS is meeting every other Friday and we started teaching Sunday School twice a month.  With all of these commitments, we have been working to fit everything in - before the baby comes.  We have been trying to do some activities with Samara that we know may not fit into the time-table once the new little one arrives.  And not even anything big, just fun for her.  Daddy took Samara fishing out at Iron Horse again (with Uncle Brian and girlfriend Brie and Uncle Nick K.).  They actually caught a bunch and Samara got the biggest catch on her little pink fishing rod!  She has enjoyed finger painting, thanks to a birthday gift from Auntie Courtney and just general one-on-one play-time with Mommy and Daddy.  I have also been just letting her play happily on her own more.  It is a skill that I am glad she has and hope that once the baby arrives, she'll continue to do that.  One day she played in her room for an hour and a half with her stuffed animals and the cube storage organizers!  Samara is getting her 2-year molars in, so we've had some majorly crabby days and temper tantrums.  But, overall, she is really good and it is amazing to see her becoming a kid instead of a toddler.  As Jeff says, she is so much fun now!

We also took a trip to the pumpkin patch on 120th & Military.  It was a cute little farm that was not busy and we were able to get a wheelbarrow full of pumpkins and gourds for $18!  Samara was so cute walking (and tripping) through the field as she raced from tiny pumpkin to pumpkin. We are hoping to use some of them in some newborn/sibling photos since we have a fall baby this time.

Jeff surprised me with tickets to see Legally Blonde at the Community Playhouse with sneak-peek tickets he got from work.  It was a great date night and just some time together.  He kept it a secret and just told me to keep the night open.  What a guy-arranged a babysitter, had a plan for where to eat and then tickets to a great show.  Though musicals aren't really his normal choice, he suffered through like a champ. :)

Obviously, we have also been trying to prep for baby #2 - cleaning up the nursery, organizing the newborn clothes and items, buying what we need, etc.  We are pretty much ready now and it is just playing the waiting game at this point.  For both of our jobs, no more than a couple weeks early would be better, but babies come when they want to!  As of the end of September the last month countdown is here!  Depending on when the baby is born, October's blog post could be slightly delayed, or very brief, or maybe just some pictures to speak 1000 words. :)

August 2012

As the Summer draws to a close, we had another fun month! Though it continues to be hotter than hot, we found things to do to fill our time to say the least. As I mentioned in July, we enjoyed watching the Olympics and even Samara learned a few things... One day she was yelling "bump, set, spike!" following Daddy's lead on the volleyball. Then she'd jumping around the living room watching the gymnastics floor exercise or singing row, row row your boat when the rowing was on. She even danced around with a ribbon trailing behind while watching the rhythmic gymnasts.

Despite the gymnastics, Jeff got Samara's room all "move in ready" and we officially switched her to the big girl bedroom. It has taken a couple weeks, but she now really understands that it is HER room now and the baby will have the other room. Only a couple nights did she wake up, or go back to the toddler bed/crib in the nursery. So, with that smooth transition we are also working on potty training. We are now to panties at home, pull-ups when we're out and during naps, and diapers still at night. She is doing really well and, barring any great distractions, will usually make it successfully to the potty chair.  By the time the baby arrives, she should be set (though I do expect some fall-back in progress at that time). She is very independent, which often just comes with being two, but we have learned to just let her do something herself and ask for help if needed. Over-helping can result in a fit-so it's a game really to get out the door sometimes!

Samara talks like crazy now and Jeff and I often find ourselves exchanging smiles or glances at each other when she says something.  From random movie quotes, to funny statements, to singing the prayer from Sunday school before dinner - every day is something new.  And so observant they are - at dinner she was talking with her mouth full and I brought it to her attention - she said "just like my Daddy!".  Jeff was just telling me something and, indeed, his mouth did have food in it at the time. :)  She is still a very good eater and I have started just giving her whatever we are having for the most part.  I am hoping the "this is what our family is having for dinner tonight" attitude will work with her.  I have been amazed by some of the things she actually has eaten (as I was an extremely picky child)...pea from pea pods right out of the garden, lettuce salad, cauliflower, etc.  And she can chew whatever she wants, as she has all her teeth except 2 year molars.  She let them count her teeth at my dental cleaning appt this month, and she loved it, talking about it the rest of the day/week!

As you'll see in the pictures, we decided to take our real first and last "family of three" vacation!  It was really a trip planned all around Samara - Great Wolf Lodge, KC Children's Museum and a park on the way home.  And she loved it all!  She did really well in the car and we didn't even end up using the portable DVD player we had borrowed.  The swimming, kiddie water slides, and splashing were super fun and it was neat to watch her enjoy and take it all in.  Besides one night at Great Wolf Lodge (which allows 2 days of water park fun), we enjoyed eating out, ice cream, naps and just being away together as a family for a bit.  On Saturday we had found a Children's Museum online that we thought she would enjoy and we went there before heading back home.  She loved all the different activities and themed rooms.  Overall, we decided that we'll do a family vacation again once the baby is a little older, but we definitely need to take a trip for just Mommy and Daddy again at some point.  So, plan is for when the baby is over one year to head somewhere with adults! :)

Jeff and I are both keeping busy with our jobs, but still keeping family as our focus.  I try to make sure I'm not typing away on the laptop too much when I am home with Samara and Jeff still goes in very early so that he is home for play time, dinner and the evening together.  At my August OB appointment, I was measuring about 1.5 weeks ahead so maybe an early baby like Samara.  Time will tell I guess - and that would be fine with me!  But, as Baby #2's due date approaches (officially at 32 weeks at the end of August-8 weeks to go) I am starting to wonder how I will get everything done that I am doing now.  But, all we can do it just plug away when that time comes I guess.  Fall will be here now in September with Sunday school (Jeff and I teach the 2 year olds twice a month), M.O.P.S. for Amanda two Friday mornings per month and Tuesday night bible study and don't forget football all starting back up!  So, the busyness won't stop, but we look forward to adding those things back to our weekly routines.  ...September's fall fun update soon enough!

July 2012

July was a month with lots of firsts, and a BIG 2nd for Samara! She got to go fishing for the first time with Daddy, Uncle Brian and Papa. She got to sit on a motorcycle for the first time thanks to one of the couples in our church bible study group. She got to wear her first life jacket to go swimming. At her two-year checkup she weighed in at 28 lbs (66%), 34.5" tall (65%) and head circumference 47.5 (48%). As expected, pretty tall, but not the near 90th percentile as in her last appt. Now that Samara is two in some ways she seems so much more grown up than a year ago, even more than a couple months ago really. She can tell you exactly what she wants and talks all the time with people she is comfortable with. Any kids she will just walk right up to and say "Hi, how you doing?" Now, we are having to work on how to ask for things she wants and not saying that she can't do things, but rather ask how she can do them. She is also learning that other people say words that we shouldn't say. I.e. butt and shut up. She knows that if she hears them, she should say that these "are not nice words and we don't say them in our house". And if she says them, she'll have a time out in her room by herself. It's hard because even words such as these are in Disney movies like her beloved Lion King and Madagascar! Yes, the jungle-themed birthday party, was because of her current "lion obsession". She said she wanted a lion cake and that she wanted cupcakes, so we made it happen! Early on the morning I got up to create her lion cake and other "jungle snacks" for the party. She LOVED having us sing Happy Birthday to her and I even sang to her on her actual birthday morning with a candle in a muffin. We then had to watch the video that I took like 6 times! We celebrated her birthday the Saturday following her birthday with her grandparents, aunts/uncles, great-grandparents and a few friends invited. For gifts she got clothes(3T already!), toys, books and some college funds. Since then she's been cooking up a storm in her play kitchen and playing outside with her toys, when it's not 105 degrees. Enough of this weather already! She coaxed whoever she could into giving her M&M's during the party and into the days following. I made the first and second dress that I have ever made in my life for Samara. One as a practice and then a dress for her birthday party. They were super simple "pillowcase" style dresses, but in the end they turned out well, she looked cute and I was pleased. Not long after Samara's birthday celebration was Auntie Courtney's and Samara expected singing and candle to be blown out. She happily sat with Auntie Courtney to join in the song and helping with the candle. One funny story from the month - I asked Samara what she wanted for breakfast one morning, offering a couple cereal options. I held up the box of Life cereal, and she excitedly said "Yes!". I was surprised at her enthusiasm and she couldn't even wait for me to get a bowl, she wanted me to take one out of the box for her to sample. I pulled out a piece of the cereal to hand to her and she was instantly mad, "NO! Want this!" she says pointing to the box. I said this is what is inside the box of cereal you picked. "No! Want da candy" pointing to box, "not that!" pointing to my hand. Confused at her enthusiasm turned anger, I look at the box that I am holding and see that on the back is a picture of Life cereal birthday party mix - WITH M&M's in it! She thought I was offering her a box of cereal with M&M's-that explains her excitement! Once I explained that we were not having candy for breakfast, she eventually settled for second best, yogurt "yodote" as she says, and the day went on. Jeff was rather disappointed with his garden this year, but I think the heat is to blame. The cucumbers have still been doing great, but besides that a lot of the other plants suffered a bit. Samara enjoyed some of the peas right next to the garden, we had green beans a few times and we ate all the lettuce before it got too hot. Oh well, there's always next year... When Jeff comes home from work everyday Samara wants to hide, then jump out and surprise him. So as soon as the garage door opens, she scurries to hide or has me put a quilt over her on the couch. She jumps out saying "Surprise, welcome home, I Love you!" all in one breath. She then wants Daddy to play games with her like the shark game, where she shrieks "Save Me Daddy!" and jumps on him. So cute! Of course, Jeff finds this so funny that he HAS to play these games with her. While I make dinner, Jeff will often "play cook" in the living room with Samara. My work from home is going well, right now working max 20 hours per week doing work- before Samara is up or during a morning dose of Lion King for Samara and during her naps. We have had a couple big events lately which have kept me busy, and now I'll be working on Fall events and the new chapter website. My pregnancy is still going well, adjusting to being bigger more quickly than last time, but that is to be expected. I have started going to a chiropractor in hopes of reducing the pain in my hips. Three more months to go til baby #2! I think they will be bearable now that I have been going each week for chiro appts. Thankfully, or it was going to be a very long (and most surely final) pregnancy for me. Samara will now ask to "say hi to the baby" and lean in close to whisper to my tummy. Jeff foresees a lot of work coming his way, so has been going back into work on the occasional evening, early on a Saturday or bringing home the laptop to do some work from home. Besides working on Samara's new room, he also is working on wood trim on a remodel side-job. The London Olympics started at the end of the month and we've been enjoying watching them...not getting as much done as we should, but oh well, it's only a couple weeks. Thankfully Jeff got Samara's new room painted and he crafted and painted an awesome bed before they started. :) August update will be next - the summer months just keep going by!

June 2012

June - Samara seems more like a kid and less like a toddler every time I look at her (or listen to her talk)! She has entered a Lion King and Madagascar phase and loves to watch those movies. She will sit and watch the movie in entirety so we have maintained our one video per day limit. She is always talking about different parts of the movie, and if I hadn't seen both a number of times, I wouldn't know what she was talking about! I do a lot of asking, "who says that" when she tells me something, just so I can clarify before I know how to react. Example: One day she was having one animal kiss the other one's foot, then saying "stop that, stop that" - after several times I asked where she heard this. She said "lion says to the pig". Ah, Lion King conversation between Pumba graveling at Simba's feet when he finds out he is a king. :) Oh, all I can do is laugh! I love Disney movies, so I'm glad she likes them now too. With talk of a new baby coming into our household she has taken to wrapping up her animals in blankets and feeding them. I think she'll be a great helper, because she already is with many things, we'll just have to monitor the helping a bit. I'm definitely showing, but she still really has no idea what is coming her way. October could be a real shocker, but I have a feeling (maybe it's a hope) she'll be in love with this baby from the start. We are going to wait to find out the gender of the baby until the baby is born. It was a fun surprise last time and the nursery is already gender-neutral, so why not?! We got Samara a potty chair "the tiny potty" as she calls it to start working on this concept prior to baby #2. We'd like to only have one in diapers at a time if possible - time will tell I guess ... June 13th brought my last day at Slosburg. I didn't think I'd really be emotional about it, but after a nice sign and card from co-workers, then flowers with a nice note sent by Jeff (a first in my over 7 year time working there)and several sad goodbye's I was done for. I am going to blame some of this on pregnancy emotions, but who knows. Either way, I have been working to adjust to being home more and not always having to go at 110 mph. It has been an adjustment, but going well so far. I can tell Samara likes having me around more and we get to "play" a bit more than before rather than always trying to accomplish something. Jeff took a day off work so we could go to the zoo as a family on a non-busy morning. It was perfect weather and fun to spend time seeing the animals with Samara! Father's Day was also this month and we had our families over for pizzas on the grill (a first-time experiment). In the end, no one went home hungry, we learned how to make them better next go-round and a nice time was had by all together. :) Samara will be two next month! In some ways I can't believe it, and in others it does feel like she's been here for so long, changing our lives in so many ways. I still have moments where she is running around or playing and I think to myself, "Wow, that is my child!" The next thought is always, "and we are going to have another!". I feel more excitement this pregnancy on meeting the new baby now that I know how quickly they become their own little person. Having Samara meet him/her is something else I really look forward to. Four months to that though, so we'll not get too ahead of ourselves. :) July's post will be coming soon!

May 2012

May was a flurry of work (yes, still two jobs for Mommy and busy at Jeff's office) and summer fun. Samara has loved the warm weather, going to the park almost every day whether with Mommy, Daddy or Papa. She still gets to run errand or go out to Iron Horse on her days with Gemma, too. When Papa got an "owie" on his hand from the table saw, he got some extra time to hang out with Samara, but wasn't able to lift her or change diapers, etc. Thankfully, his hand healed really well, better than expected, so he is back on track now for work and spending time with Samara baby. She was thrilled to see her sprinkler ball and swimming pool brought back out from her first birthday last year. One of the many songs she can sing in almost complete entirety is "Swimming, swimming in my swimming pool". She sings it in the pool, in the bath, or whenever it comes to mind. She can say her numbers 1-10, then 11, 13, 15, 19, 20! She knows tons of animals and all the colors, it is really fun to watch her learn. Her hair is becoming lighter every day - people actually say, Wow she has blonde hair, where did that come from? Great Grandpa and Grandma Pennell were in town and so we got to see them a couple times, too. It is wonderful that Samara has gotten to meet and spend time with so many of her great-grandparents. Our family is definitely a blessing and we don't take for granted the fact that they are almost all close by and get to spend time with them often. June is up, here we come summer - officially!

April 2012

April - Easter, "camping", T-ball, baking, overall Spring fun...oh and work too! This month was packed to the brim with events. Easter was a great weekend with family. We went to church at Christ Community on Saturday evening with Grandpa and Grandma Derby. Then Sunday morning was out to Iron Horse for brunch and Easter egg hunt at Pennell's. It was quite cool, so we threw a sweater on over Samara's Easter dress and she was off to the races (or the eggs at least). She would see a yellow one and run to it "ello egg!" then see a green one and run to it "gween one!" and so on... She knew to put them in the basket and really didn't even know (or care) that there was anything inside of them. When they were all found, she was not ready for the fun to end. We were able to get everything out of the eggs and give her the empty ones and she was thrilled! After all that fun, she fell asleep on way to Derby's, but then woke up when we got her out of the car. :( This led to a meltdown, but eventual nap on the floor of the guest bedroom. We had our dinner while she slept, then we had another egg hunt outside at Derby's. Some of these had "moneys" in them which she could hear by shaking and she enjoyed putting them into a piggy bank! April brought the planting of Jeff's garden-another experiment year to learn from last year, but also experiment with some other types of vegetables. So, with cucumbers, broccoli, squash, zucchini, lettuce, peas, green beans, yellow peppers and tomatoes we'll see what the results are. Jeff had to have quite the fence around his garden to keep those pesky rabbits out - but Samara loved when they were in the yard! At the end of the month, we decided to do a test camping night to see if we want to try a camping trip this summer. Samara was pumped about the tent being set up in the living room and the fact we were all going to sleep in it. Our plan was to lay down until she fell asleep, then come back to lay down when we were ready for bed. Of course, you guessed it, we both fell asleep in our clothes. I woke OFTEN to Samara kicking me due to her perpendicular sleeping and Jeff realized that sleeping on the floor may not be for 30 year olds. So, before an all out camping trip we'll be looking into a blow-up mattress or cots. The day after our night of test-camping, we celebrated Grandma Cheryl Derby's birthday/Mother's Day while Nick and Laura were in town. We had lunch then went back to their house for cake and ice cream - which Samara is always a fan of! And me too, I can't seem to get enough sweets with this pregnancy so I've been (rather unsuccessfully) trying to hold myself back. Work was still crazy between the two jobs, but April 15th was the Remodeled Home Tour, so that was my "if I can just make it to this day, I'll have survived" date. We also started telling people we are expecting following my April OB appointment since all was well. That was a relief to explain my tiredness and quickly growing abdomen! After making it to this date, we decided it was best to give notice to my Slosburg job and just go down to one job. This will allow me to spend more time with Samara before the new baby is here and get a better handle on the new job. I gave a nice, long two month notice in order for them to find a replacement and to fulfill the one year minimum I told them I would work in my current insurance position.

March 2012

As predicted - March was in like a lion!! Samara kicked it into her "terrible twos" high gear this month. She started to throw tantrums to the point where she cries to until falling asleep on the floor! There is no consoling, so you just let her wear herself out. And we also found out we are expecting our second baby! This was planned, so not a surprise, just not intended to be in the first trimester while working two jobs in addition to keeping up the house and with Samara. So, this month was filled with getting up really early to get some work done before Samara wakes up, then working during any time she was napping and then working after she (and Jeff) go to bed until very late-then the same thing the next day. Needless to say, I'm sure I was not that fun to be around and if I even sat down on the couch I was out unconscious on the couch. (So, there was no sitting down for me-too much to get done!) Jeff was great and would take Samara on bike rides or to the park so I could sleep when possible on the weekends, or get some work time logged. But, when we weren't working or having a tantrum, March was good! The weather was unseasonably warm so we were able to get outside some. Samara got to go to an Easter Egg hunt in our neighborhood and loved it (she only got two eggs, but was thrilled). She was mesmerized by "big bunny" as she called him, and she knew he had "pink hands". Unlike Mommy in her younger years, she had no fear whatsoever of this costume-clad human and I could barely peel her away from the park that day. Only the excitement of showing Daddy the eggs she found was enough to get her headed home. Easter should be fun this year!

February 2012

February was a good month! After a resurgence of Samara climbing out of her crib, we decided it was safer for her and better for our peace of mind to convert her crib to a toddler "big girl bed". She was all about helping Daddy with this process (and she is about most anything you are doing). Lots of "MY do it" and phrases of the like are heard at our house. Independence is a good thing right?! She loves helping Daddy shovel snow, fix the sink and Mommy do the laundry and vacuum, etc. So anyway, once the side of the crib was off, we threw a body pillow on the floor and highly promoted sleeping and staying in her big girl bed! We would find her sleeping in all kinds of positions in her room, but usually just let her enjoy the body pillow or carpet if she was happily snoozing. We did have some episodes of her coming into our room at 4AM just because she was awake, but thankfully with some coaxing we were able to get her back to sleep. It was very reminiscent of having a newborn...Hey, we basically slept all night list night (except the two times she was up for an hour!). The newness of getting out of bed wore off-thankfully-and things were back to normal after not too long. Valentine's Day was so cute this year! Samara had her first experience with finger painting and loved it of course. She and Mommy made hand (AND foot) print cards for all the grandparents and Daddy too. They were a hit and diaper-clad Samara kept saying "More" after each hand or foot print we did! She also now knows when she is doing something that is funny - like making silly faces. She often says "Samara funny face" and then her fingers go in her mouth to pull it as far open as she can. She also loves playing with the couch cushions while they are OFF of the couch -thanks to Daddy's help. They wildly play games while Mommy is working or coming home from work, and of course she loves playing with her Daddy. He loves it too. :) A milestone for her favorite Lambie this month was getting his first "bath". He had actually gotten so grimy that we found the same one and purchased a replacement. Daddy revealed the new clean Lambie as he emerged from the bath (it was quite a production). She didn't quite like him at first, calling him "Mommy's lambie". But after a few days she decided it was better than no lambie at all and snuggled with him again! In February we had to say goodbye to Jeff's Grandpa Derby. It was the end of a long battle with cancer. Though it was sad to see him go, it was comforting to know his suffering is over. We had lots of time with family to remember good times and great memories. Jeff, his Mom and sister Michelle all spoke at the visitation service and they all did a wonderful job of portraying the man that Grandpa was. We'll miss you Grandpa Derby!! My job situation became a month of transition as I trained on days off from Slosburg when possible and then officially took over my role as Executive Director at the end of February. I knew I had a lot of learning coming up, but didn't really know exactly how busy I would be over the next couple months! March - will be in like a lion it sounds like (at least as far as work is concerned)...

January 2012

Wow, this is a long-awaited post! Let's just say by the end of January of this year life got a little crazy and, unfortunately, my monthly blogging updates didn't get completed. 2012 has been a great year so far, filled with lots of fun but also lots of changes. Where I left off in December was with an almost 18 month-old little girl, a Daddy working full-time and a Mommy working part-time three days per week. That was still the case through January... This year started off with a twist! Courtney was able to plan a surprise birthday party for Jeff and I at my parents house, under the guise of our annual "Winter Birthdays family get-together"! We walked in expecting the normal Pennell/Kunes crew and found my parents house filled with all of them as well as Jeff's family and some of our friends. It was a great evening and definitely a total surprise - how fun, I've always wanted a surprise party, but it's not something you can really request. :) Samara talks more all the time and seems to "get" the world around her a little more every day. Since this is written 6 months later, sadly (really, I am disappointed I didn't take the time to keep this up to catch all of the little moments of the last 6 months) I couldn't tell you her current common words or new things she just learned. But, I know she stayed in her crib better during January. At her 18 month Dr appointment, Samara was very much beyond the verbal norms for an 18 month old and here were her measurements... 25 lbs 6 oz (64%), 33" tall (83%), head circumference 47.4 (72%). So, still a Derby I think! :) The end of January I had a potential job opportunity open up! Yes, I already have the ideal job that lets me work three days per week you might say, so why would you even be looking? Well, I wasn't looking really. Jeff and I had planned on my working part-time until we had another baby (knock off the rest of the student loans, etc) then stay home full time. But, had our options open for something I could do from home to add to Jeff's income so our budget wouldn't have to be SO tight. My Dad is a member of the Greater Omaha chapter of NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry). The chapter's Executive Director was needing to move on and and it opened up an opportunity for me to interview for the position. We did discuss it at length and decided it was worth applying for, then we'd decide on best options. So, January 25th I headed in to the interview! The next day I got a call that said the interview went really well and they'd like to offer me the position. I was looking at a 20-30 hour per week commitment, but all from home despite meetings, errands etc. So, I took it! Now I just had to break it to my current job that I needed to cut back my hours to only 10-4 three days per week...and that will take us into February!

December 2011

December was a great month! There was the typical hustle and bustle of preparations for Christmas, Bday celebrations with Derby's, MOPS group and Lunch at Colers once for Amanda and Samara, Art Show and Sale at Pennell's, Christmas celebrations on Christmas Eve, Day and the Day after, some bowl games to watch, New Years Eve... oh, and then there was work as well!

I have been working Tues-Fri each week in order to help in my current and previous dept. One more day per week is definitely doable. One week in December I worked 5 days and I realized how hard a full-time working mom has it. The laundry wasn't done, the dishes were a mess and I was tired! I am so very thankful that I am able to work part-time, but the larger paychecks have been nice, too! :) I am a firm believer in the "you can do anything for a certain amount of time" thought process, and keep telling myself that, and enjoy the balance I have of work and home life. Jeff has been working hard, and I have to believe that he is one of their best employees. He still does an amazing job being a Daddy and husband, going in to work well before the sun is up so that he can be home with Samara in the afternoon by 4:30. Most days that I work, he is texting me to ask what he can start for dinner, since I don't get home until 6:00.

Samara has been working hard as well at her job- playing, learning and testing limits. She is now tall enough to easily reach things on the table and can even reach the counter top. So, we have been cautious about everything we leave out on any surface now! She picks up words at an amazing rate and I couldn't even count how many words she knows. She knows animals and their sounds, many colors (but throws out yellow!, whenever she doesn't know), food words for her fav's especially hot dogs, mac n cheese (roni), milk, peas nutella (ella) and berries (ewees) to name a few. She got VERY good at the word cookie during the holidays as well! She even knows who to ask for cookies that gives the greatest chance of getting one - Daddy, Auntie Courtney, etc... Mommy is not on her list for some reason. She babbles on and on sometimes, and sometimes it is understandable. She loves music and dances when it comes on-if she feels the song is her tempo I guess. She can run pretty quickly, and will run around the house saying un-un-un!, ast! (run, run fast!). In the new light-up she shoes she got for Christmas she runs looking down. Hasn't been a problem yet, but surely a fall or collision is inevitable. Jeff likes to throw her up and wrestle, etc - she loves it too. Hoping she doesn't start jumping off the couch on her own though. We know we are approaching two year mark, as she has the occasional melt-down when she doesn't get her way. She will get all stiff and scream loud as she can. Typically that is the end of it though. Only sometimes does it turn to no, no, no and rolling on floor. She knows what a time-out is and they work very well in calming her down. She got lots of fun toys, clothes, crayons and books for Christmas. She likes to help pick out her clothes in the morning with some help and she loves to play of course! I don't know what her favorite toy would be, each day she tends to latch on to something different daily. She is really starting to play on her own and play "with" her stuffed animals. Elmo gets to do many fun things with Samara now! She also learned a new trick on Christmas-climbing out of the pack and play and her crib-much to our dismay! She came walking out of my parents bedroom after a nap in the pack and play and said "Out!" She then climbed out of her crib that night when we got home. She was quite proud of herself as she came down the stairs into the kitchen and said "Yay!" while clapping her hands. When Jeff was less than excited in his response she immediately burst into tears. Such a girl. :) I took her upstairs and talked about why she needed to stay in her bed, etc. Apparently she was okay with our talk because that was the last time she has tried it. Good!! We weren't ready for her to be out of her crib yet. And I guess she wasn't either because she enjoys her almost hour in the morning of playing in her crib with animals and books.

New Year's Eve we went over to a friends house, the Scheef's, and talked and played games wiht some other couples while the kids all played. A fun time was had by all! Hope I got it all for 2011... We look forward to a great 2012 and hope you all do as well. Happy New Year!!