The new year

Well we all survived the holidays and things seemed to go pretty well! Karsen was sick for a portion of them but we caught it early, and got the meds we would need to get it taken care of quickly. We all finally got back into a routine now that I was back to school and Karsen was back to daycare. It has been a total whirlwind getting back into a groove, but it sure feels good to be back in the swing of things. Truthfully, this kid is all about routine...and that makes life a little easier for us all!

Last weekend we celebrated my dads birthday by enjoying some din din out at the OP in downtown Overland Park. I sure do miss that area. Of course I didnt take many pictures but I did get a shot of Karsen enjoying some time with Uncle Jim!

The rest of these pics are just some random ones we have taken over the last few weeks. It is so hard to believe Karsen is 7.5 months old. Again, like I always say, the time is just flying by! 

It is rare if I get a picture of him without something in his mouth. 

But he sure is a happy dude!

Showing off his new toofers!!

Blurry but he just loves his jumperoo!

He started on the blanket, but has now figured out how to scoot around the room! He is so close to crawling. 

He is such a cheeser for bathtime!!

Kind of getting in the crawl position...but then gets frustrated and hits his stomach hoping he can just reach far enough.

This picture says "Hey ladies" to me because he just seems to have a little smirk.

We are still doing daily breathing treatments but luckily they will be strictly just at night from now until March when we go to the doctor for his 9 month appointment. Truth be told, I think the cold weather disagrees with his lungs, so spring cant come soon enough...but now that I say that, he will probably get his mothers allergy issues. Thanks, genetics...

Christmas updates!

I was so excited for Christmas this year...so much so that I wanted to set up the decorations shortly after Halloween. Of course, with a husband like Bruce, he wanted me to wait until closer to Thanksgiving. :) Sooooo, shortly after Thanksgiving, all of the decorations were set up and I think Karsen was amazed with all of the fun lights!

Christmas this year was so special because we spent it with my grandparents, Bruce's parents and my parents. I know they all wanted to spend time with Karsen and it was so great that we could make the effort to get to all of those places.

First stop was Vienna, Missouri to visit my grandparents. I left town Friday after with Karsen and my mom and we stayed until that Sunday. When we first got there Friday, Karsen enjoyed spending time with his Great-Grandma! He sure was spoiled but I think we were all loving it!

As the excitement was building on Saturday, to open presents with all of the extended family, Great-Grandpa spent some time with Karsen. I think Karsen loved Grandpa's super cool suspenders! Soon enough kid...I bet he gets you a matching pair! 

Karsen also got some great play time on the floor as people hurried around him getting lunch ready. Props to the photog, Great Aunt Traci!

And possibly the most exciting time of all...opening his first gift!! Of course his favorite part of it was trying to eat the paper...but he did get a Little People Nativity Scene which will make a nice addition to his Christmas set up in his room next year. Shhh...dont tell Bruce! 

After everyone left, we packed up the car and headed to mass. Of course I had to get a picture of Karsen with Great-Grandpa because they looked like twins! Matching red shirts!

Bruce, Karsen and I headed back to KC that Sunday and got everything unpacked just in time to get it all packed up again to head to Little River and spend Christmas with Bruce's parents. 

I dont think he quite knew what all of the gifts were, but he would soon find out! Of course as you can see, he again tried to eat the paper...focus on the gift on the inside kid!

We headed back to KC the day after Christmas so when we got home we got Karsen's gifts out so he could open his gifts from mom and dad. Yes...mom and dad accidentally left his gifts behind, but they had every intention of taking them out of town with them...again, they just forgot. At least we remembered diapers and formula...the important stuff!

Again, more focused on eating the bows than actually opening the gift. 

Our last Christmas of celebration occurred in Prairie Village with my parents and brother. 

I am hopeful that after all of these Christmas celebrations, he will start to get the idea that the paper needs to come off of the package and enjoy what is on the inside! Haha. Like I have heard people say...dont even worry about giving the toy; give the box the toy came in!

What day is it?! UP-day-te

Ya see what I did there?! I crack myself up.

Good Lord...here we are...almost a month has gone by without another update. Sheesh...I have some 'splainin to do...

About a month ago, we finally started feeding Karsen some solid foods. It has been an exciting and MESSY time! Of course, his favorite food seems to be avocado, but it is also the messiest. It always leads to bathtime but that is ok! He is having fun and getting to try some new flavors so I am ok with that.

In this picture above, we are out at the Yard House and he is enjoying some steamed carrots! He made quite a mess but his dad helped clean it up!

I have started looking at holidays through a different lens now that Karsen is around. I realize there are things I need to start doing to develop traditions with the little dude. One OBVIOUS tradition I wanted to implement was the yearly visit to Santa. Bruce's work organizes a Santa day and all we had to do was sign up for a time slot! It was super easy and even better that we didn't have to stand in line for hours on end. I especially liked how this Santa had a real white beard and not one of those fake ones. As you can tell, this was Karsen's least favorite visit. He was doing just fine until Bruce put him in Santa's lap...and then he started crying. It is the saddest looking face but it makes me giggle because it is just so cute! Hopefully next year goes a little more smoothly.  

The pictures below are just some fun random times we have had around the house. In this first picture, we had just gotten done reading his two books before bedtime. He can occasionally get fussy in anticipation of bedtime, but the second we sit down and start reading, he calms right down and follows along. I love that he "gets" the bedtime routine! Check out those cheeks! Ugh...MELT. MY. HEART.

In this picture, we were just sitting on the floor playing with some toys. This kid already has way too many toys. The best part...toys have all kinds of lights and sounds, but his favorite toys are a ball and a stack of cups. Simple.  

I just love this last picture because if it had sound with it, you would know that he was talking up a storm! This kid loves to talk. I cant wait to hear what he has to say when it actually makes sense! Looking at this picture one might think he is crawling, but he isn't quite there. He has all of the pieces, but hasn't quite put it all together yet. I am totally ok with that. I am still so comfortable setting him on the floor and expecting him to stay there. I know those days are almost gone.