I will post a proper update once Brian is home with the computer!

This picture is after I got a good one on my camera but it is an
accurate reflection of her mood today.

Her first corn on the cobb!

Okay Mama's

I need some ideas for healthy tray foods and foods that Kenley can
feed herself.... Cherrios and cheese won't cut it forever! Thanks!!

Kenley and Vi chillin in the pool @ the Steel's

Update

We have arrived safe at home! For the most part the house is okay but
I have my work cut out for me with weeding and cleaning the pool.

I forgt how hot it is here in NC! Most of my flowers are totally
scorched and so is my plum tree. I had hopes of delivering cute little
baskets of plums to all of my friends but alas, my hopes were
scorched. :(

I dropped the computer of this morning to be repaired so posting will
probably just be iPhone pictures of Kenley until we get the computer
back.

I hope everyone is having a great summer!

Sent from my iPhone

We love IKEA

a few wedding pictures

I didnt get great pictures at the wedding because Kimbe had my camera and she was on Kenley duty all day, But here are a few pictures of Kim and Ian's big day! I am sure that all of the serious photographers from church got lots of good pictures that will be up on facebook soon :)


I think this is their 2nd kiss..

Kenley & her BFF Nathaniel

Kenley & Maggie

Ferry Ride

When did my baby get big enough for a straw?!?!

Random Pictures from Kimbe's Grad Party

Pimento Cheese

I love this pimento cheese! This is one of those southern dishes that I will keep with me when we move away from NC! I like it best served with Reduced Fat Wheat Thins.

Pimento Cheese

10 oz Vermont Sharp White Cheddar (shredded)
6 oz Mild or Medium Cheddar (shredded)
1/2 jar diced Pimentos
1/4 cup Sour Cream
1/4 cup Mayonnaise
Dash Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
Pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients and chill until ready to serve. Enjoy!

As if I didn't miss him enough...

He goes and sprains his ankle this morning!

Knocking Video with Daddy

Kenley Crawls!

Kenley started crawling yesterday morning!!

Silly Daddy

We are missing Daddy today! Here is a cute video of Brian making Kenley laugh in our hotel in VA!

Elvis

I am pretty sure she is the only senior to have Elvis at her
graduation party!

No more Hiegels @ Grace Academy

Kimbe is graduated!! I cant believe that my baby sister is done with high school!
The Family Picture... The Hubbs was greatly missed!!

Class of 2005 representing!! Also the class of 2027!! haha!

Kenley loved Cousin Nicole! Nicole worked her magic during the slideshow and Kenley fell right to sleep!

Baby's First Bruise

Safe and Settled!

We arrived safely in Washington last night! God has blessed me so much more than I deserve, especially for this trip.

First, He made it so that Brian could take me to the airport! We had said our goodbyes Tuesday night but then it worked out that he got a super long chow so he could take me! Getting to see him in and of itself made my day!

Then on our flight from DC to Denver there was an empty seat next to me! It was SUCH a blessing to be able to spread out with all of Kenley's stuff! Kenley was really good on that flight except for the fact that she would not take a nap. Finally just as we were starting to descend she fell asleep while eating her puffs. She was clearly exhausted but she woke up when the flight attendant spoke over the loud speaker.

After that flight we were able to just walk on our next flight. This flight was on a smaller plane where there are just 2 seats on each side and I had the sweetest older lady next to me. She adored Kenley and was playing with her and would hold her. It was so nice!

Still no nap for Kenley but she did go through a bag of yogurt melts, half a container of puffs, and half a sleeve of ritz! Haha I guess tired babies like to snack!

We're here

We arrived safely in Quantico last night. It was a longer trip than we
had anticipated I was so worried the whole trip that Brian would get
heat stroke and pass out. My car said that it was 91 degrees almost
the whole way! Brian did great though!

Kenley can pull herself up on her own now! Right after I took this
picture she tried to get out of the pack and play an onto the bed,
thankfully I was right there to catch her!!! I promptly lowered the
mattress!!! I can't believe she is big enough for that!

I can eat sugar today! I haven't yet though! I can't believe that I
made it a whole month with no desserts! I had a dream last night that
Graham and Lonni Beth got married again and they had different cakes
on all the tables and I ate like three whole cakes!! Yikes!! I will
definitely no be doing that in real life!

Byebye NC!

10 months old!

Where in the world did this month go? I almost forgot that it was her 10 month birthday! Kenley is getting so big. This month I have really realized that she is so not a newborn anymore.

She is definitely starting to show some attitude. When she gets mad she will throw her head back and arch her back. She still loves to eat cheese and puffs, she has definitely found that some foods are not as good as others. We had a battle of the broccoli today :). Just this week she has learned to point.
She loves it when anyone helps her walk around. Still no crawling yet but I think that is because she knows that she can just roll to get anywhere that she wants. She just pulled herself up for the first time the other day so I guess we need to lower her crib! She loves to hold onto peoples thumbs, if she grabs onto one thumb she has to find the other!
I guess it is time to start planning her birthday party! Her first birthday is coming up so fast!!

Help

Does anyone know if I can take a jar of peanut butter through airport security? Or will they take it away from me?

My Summer List

Here are a few of the fun things that I want to do this summer

Make Refried Beans

Make Tortillas

Make Dishwasher Detergent

Make Yogurt

Make Cream Cheese

Make Bagels

Find the perfect Sandwich Bread Recipe

Throw an Awesome 1st Birthday Party for Kenley

Go to the Creation Museum

Harvest Plums

Go to Mount Rushmore

Visit a Honeybee farm

Finally find a good Pizza Sauce recipe

Watch my baby sister graduate from High School

Drive across the country

Fly across the country

Family Pictures at the Beach

Read Nourishing Traditions

Eat at Taco Time

Go on a Motorcycle ride with the Hubbs

Watch Kim and Ian get married!!

Force Kim to eat Baker's Square!!!

Eat Hushpuppies at M&M's

What is on your summer list?

Peanut Butter Pie

This weeks Sunday Night Sweet is Peanut Butter Pie. This recipe is quick to throw together and is a big crowd pleaser!

Peanut Butter Pie
Makes 3 Pies

Ingredients:
3 Premade Oreo Crumb Crusts
2 Pkgs Cream Cheese
6 Tbsp Milk
1 1/3 Cups Powdered Sugar
1 Cup Peanut Butter
1 1/2 Cups Miniature Chocolate Chips
24 ounces Cool Whip

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine softened cream cheese and milk. Beat in powdered sugar and peanut butter. Fold cool whip and chocolate chips into peanut butter mixture. Spoon filling into pie crusts and freeze for 2-3 hours before serving. Enjoy!

Oatmeal

I wouldn't eat oatmeal without peanut butter either :)

PB & J Bites

I have been wanting to try knockoff Larabar recipe for long time now but I just couldn't decide what flavor to make. There are tons of options out there, I think next time I may try to make a Chocolate Covered Strawberry version!

This Peanut Butter and Jelly flavor is spot on though! These little bites taste great and are also picky husband approved!

PB&J Bites
Yield 10 balls

1/4 Cup Chopped Dates
1/4 Cup Dehydrated Strawberry Slices
2-3 Tbsp Peanut Butter

Place dates and strawberries in food processor and blend until mixture is sticky and crumbly. Once dates and strawberries are well combined add in peanut butter. The peanut butter acts to make the mixture bind together so start with 2 Tbsp and add more as needed. Roll mixture into 10 balls and store in refrigerator.

Each ball has 65 calories so eat sparingly and use as you would any other protein bar.

Only in North Carolina!

One of the fun things that comes along with your husband being the church's guitar player is that you get to attend rehearsal dinners.

This one had a redneck theme and everyone was asked to come wearing camouflage.... yep, really! Melissa's mom actually had bought the outfit that Kenley is wearing when Kylie was a baby! And Mrs. Krissy made the matching bow! Brian and I wore camouflage shirts too, but unfortunately I forgot to take a picture. :)

Here is Kenley hanging out with her pal Lily Kate. I am constantly trying to get a good picture of them together but they never want to look at me at the same time.

Cradle Cap

Since she was a few weeks old, our sweet Kenley girl has had cradle cap. Its kind of gross and annoying and I had developed the horrible habit of picking it off while she nurses.

There are 2 schools of thought on how to get rid of cradle cap. First, brush the babies head with a soft bristled brush often to get the skin cells to slough off. Second, apply baby oil to the child's head to loosen the skin cells.

I tried the first approach for quite some time and it did not work so I decided to go the second route. Instead of using "baby oil" I used organic extra virgin coconut oil because I prefer to go the natural route whenever possible especially when it comes to sometime I am going to put on Kenley.

Apply a bit of coconut oil to your hands and massage it onto scalp and then let it soak in for 1/2 an hour.
After letting it soak in, rinse with water and shampoo. After getting your child out of the tub place them on their changing pad and comb through their hair with a soft bristled brush. The dead skin cells will be loosened and will be very easy to pick out.

I am not going to lie to you, if your child has a lot of hair it will take 3-4 washes to really get all of the grease out. But it is worth it to be free from cradle cap!

And you can do all sorts of fun things when their hair is greasy...
And then, because you think you are funny, place your child by an electrical socket so that it looks like she was electricuted....

haha I'm wondering why my safest mother of the year award still hasn't arrived yet. :)

9 Month Check-up May 20th, 2010

Kenley girl weighed in at 13 pounds 4.5 ounces. The doctor didn't have much to say other than that she is still way too small for her age. She is hitting all of her developmental milestones, so that is good.

She does look totally skinny in this picture though... She must have been sucking it in for dramatic effect. :)

Bean and Cheese Enchiladas

Enchiladas are a family favorite around here so I thought I would show you how I make them.

Ingredients:
1 can Refried Beans
1 can Enchilada Sauce
4 Flour Tortillas
1 - 1 1/2 cups Freshly Grated Cheddar Cheese

In a small bowl combine beans, 1/4 can enchilada sauce, and 1/2 cup cheese. Evenly distribute bean mixture between tortillas and place rolled enchiladas into a greased baking dish. Top with remaining enchilada sauce and cover with cheese. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes.

This is definitely a super quick meal to throw together! I like to serve these enchiladas with corn and sour cream.

(Sometimes...If he has been extra nice to me, I add ground beef and olives to Brian's side of the dish.) :)