Tastes like SH---tring beans!

We've been feeding Karsyn rice cereal for a little over a week now.  Her doctor gave us the green light to introduce solids at her last checkup on the 16th. (Not quite sure why they call it a solid, because clearly it is not, nor is it's aftermath) Luckily, she likes it!  She generally gets rice cereal for breakfast and then has milk the rest of the day.  At first she wasn't so sure about it, but now she gets excited when she sees the spoon coming towards her mouth!  Oddly enough, she really doesn't make that big of a mess with it, but I'm sure those days are coming soon.

This morning, Karsyn and I went to watch cousin Kenzie play softball in Apex, so we missed cereal time.  Instead of having cereal for dinner, I decided to introduce something new and let her try green beans.  I put a couple tablespoons in her little bowl and sat it in front of her.  She was thrilled.  NOT. It didn't look very appetizing, so I totally understood her demeanor.  It was almost a look of, "You really want me to eat that?"  I got a little on the spoon and moved it towards her mouth, and she opened it as usual.  She liked it!  She swallowed it and smiled.  So did it a couple more times, but then things changed.  Her sweet green bean smile turned to a look of disgust, followed by gagging.  I couldn't help but laugh to myself, because I used to be the same way!  It hasn't been until the last 10 years or so that I've been able to eat green beans.  I can remember growing up trying to eat them, and I could chew them up but could never swallow them, I would always gag.  That's exactly how Karsyn was tonight.  She kept opening her mouth though....I guess she thought it might would be something different.  I'm just hoping that she will be a better vegetable eater than I was.  So we're starting early!  I felt bad making her eat it, so I did my part and took a bite of them too! (and I almost made the same face she did!)

Now doesn't this look appetizing?

Green beans are yummy!

This tastes like SH--tring beans!

Isn't she just the cutest thing ever?

                                       

                                   

Squeaky Clean

Excuse me...what are you doing on my chest?

I've always loved to take a bath, and I still do.  It's so refreshing and relaxing and not to mention totally hygienic!  For some reason I feel cleaner after taking a bath, even though a bath consists of sitting in your own soiled water.  (at least it's my own water, right?)
Growing up, I was only allowed to shower on special occasions, but baths were the norm. Supposedly, I would waste more water taking a shower, vs. taking a bath. Who knows?  For what ever reason, it gave me the love of the bathtub.  Thanks Mom!  I can remember during middle and high school I would lay in the tub every night and talk on the phone, mostly to my best friend Brandy.  Now I realize how much of a "not-so-good" idea it was.  I'm sure whatever or whoever we were talking about was SO important it couldn't wait til after bath time.  At least it was a battery operated phone...  As I said earlier I still enjoy taking a bath, but for some reason I think my tub has shrunk!  I don't remember it being such a snug fit.


I'm happy to say that my child has also grown a love for a bath!  But this hasn't always been the case.  I will never forget Karsyn's first bath.  It was HORRIBLE.  I was so excited that her cord had fallen out and I couldn't wait to bathe my first born.  I guess I was imagining her first bath to be enjoyable for all three of us.  That was NOT the case.  Her first bath was in the bathroom sink at 2.5 weeks old.  You would've thought we were killing her.  She screamed bloody murder.  The pictures are pitiful now that we look back on them.  It's funny, I didn't realize how puny she was either!  The puniness didn't last long...now at almost 5 months, my little Karsyn is a sweet little CHUNK!  We now look forward to bath time.  Her latest bathtime fun includes splashing.  It's so cute.  Below are some pics of our bath time journey.  It's neat to see how much she's changed...Enjoy!

First bath December 17, 2011

Calming down after bath #1

1 month old

Two months old


Four months old

                     

She's Country

A couple months before Karsyn was born, Justin had a "honey-do" list.  His list consisted of replacing the bathroom vanity, putting shelves in Karsyn's closet, painting the bathroom and building a front porch on the house.  He did a great job on all his honey-do's. I'm very proud of him.
 The largest project he tackled was the front porch.  When we bought our house (which is a log cabin), it had hideous metal awnings on it.  They were over all the windows on the front, and there was a large awning over the front door, covering the stoop.  Who does that???  A log cabin can't have awnings!  Needless to say, we quickly removed the window awnings.

Adding the new porch to the house really changed the look of it.  It looks so much better!
We had a set budget for the project and we used every penny of it.  There was no money left at the end to "accessorize" it.  Ideally, we'd like to have rocking chairs and a swing, but we didn't want to go overboard.  So, we are presently saving up for those items.
 Meanwhile, we are using hunting chairs for our front porch seating!  I know, I know....we're rednecks, but hey, you do what you have to do.  However, they are pretty comfy, and they even have built-in cup holders!
Last Saturday, I was feeding Karsyn on the front porch and decided to take a few cute pics.  She just happened to be wearing a John Deere onesie.  I guess maybe she is a little bit country.
Nothing says country more than John Deere and camoflauge, right?

Sleepy Sundays

Sundays are probably my favorite day of the week.  Generally, it is a day dedicated to family.  Most of the time we go to church and then out to eat with my 90 year old Grandparents. (which lately, it's been at the H&F Cafeteria, home of the famous Carrot & Raisin Salad)  Then we normally go back home and be lazy.  Justin will sometimes be productive, but me, I'm pretty much worthless.  Before we had Karsyn, it was almost a sure bet that I would be curled up on the couch in a Sunday slumber.  Now a days, it's a toss up as to whether or not I'll get my nap in.

This past Sunday was pretty normal for us.  We started out by going to church.  Church starts at 9:55am and is only about a 7 minute drive from our house.  On Sunday mornings, Justin and I put forth a tag team effort when it comes to getting ready.  I get up first with Karsyn, feed her, bathe her (if necessary) and then he gets up.  Once he's up, I hop in the shower and get ready.  Once I'm done, he has the last 20 minutes or so to get ready.  We generally walk in the door as soon as the piano starts playing, just in the nick of time.  Yesterday, we were running about 5 minutes late.  Once we got everyone in the Tahoe, the clock said 9:51...we were definitely late.  We always sit on the second row, on the right hand side of the church with my Pops.  Since we were late, we had already planned to sneak in the back and sit down in one of the back pews, until it was time to share the peace with one another, then we were going to make our way down to the front.  That was it....our plan.  Well...we pulled into the church parking lot at 10am, and low and behold the WHOLE CONGREGATION was outside in the prayer garden!  There went our plan!  There was no sneaking in now. We had been HAD.  It all turned out okay though, we were able to fold in amongst the crowd as they walked in.

Karsyn was an absolute angel at church.  She was giggly and smiley the whole time.  It used to be that she would sleep the whole time, BUT NOT ANYMORE!  Now she wants to sit up and look around.  This is okay, because she is incredibly adorable these days!

My Mom actually cooked lunch yesterday, so no cafeteria, but somehow, we did manage to have carrot and raisin salad!  My sister, Kim had come up from Apex to pick up my nephew Grayson, so she and Kenzie joined us for lunch, along with my parents, grandparents, Jill, Justin and Grayson.  

Karsyn was wide open yesterday afternoon.  She was surrounded by her Aunties, Kim and Jill, who were giving her lots of attention!  I tried to put her down for a nap, but that wasn't happening.  She insisted on sharing her sweet coos  and smiles with everyone.  Luckily, while she was entertaining everyone, I snuck in a quick, well deserved nap!  She did however take a small nap during part of my slumber.  

When we got home, I could tell she was pooped.  Her eyes were so heavy, so we sat down on the couch and within minutes, she was out... 

(turn up your volume)

Ahhhh.....Sleepy Sundays.