Link to Jake's Blog

Here is a link to a couple recent postings on Jake's Blog... sorry for not posting these directly here too but things have busy.

http://www.jakevenard.blogspot.com/

Then and now...

It has been too long, I know...  Between work, company, Molly and yard work we have been pretty crazy lately.  Molly has managed to continue to grow with wild abandon and I found this video that was taken a year ago and it really shows how much she has changed:

My how things have changed since a year ago.  Molly is building her vocabulary and attempting to tell us all kinds of stories.  The last two nights have been challenging in the sleep camp, last night I thought for sure she was in some sort of pain since she was screaming so loudly.  I think she is working on her ability to string together words and it is keeping her up at night.  So far she can say doggy (her first official word), daddy, mommy, Oscar, Daisy, yellow (definitely my kid), grandpa, cookie, nigh-night, and a couple other things if she really wants to.  Our nephew Cooper was here for awhile and she can kinda get his name out too.  Molly is very taken with her baby dolls and was also a big Cooper fan; she loves to touch his bald head and give him hugs.  Love only goes so far and does not extend to allowing Cooper to play with her copy of "Hop on Pop" though :).  Her is a video of what happened when I made an attempt to put Molly to bed tonight:

 

The Playground

Sunday we took Molly to the playground at St. Edwards State Park.
What fun that was.

Sorry for the neglect...

I know it has been a long time since we last posted to this blog but things have been very busy. Molly turned ONE on February 26th, got ear tubes on March 4th and had her first birthday party on March 6th.

For her actual birthday we all spent some quality time at home and we gave Molly her first cupcake to destroy/eat. Molly had been having some ear issues since early December and since the last infection had not cleared the doctor decided it was time for tubes. So, the following Thursday morning I took Molly into Children's Hospital to have her ear tubes put in. The procedure was very quick but she had to be out so that was a bit stressful. For about an hour after the surgery Molly was kind of irritable but after that she was so happy. We noticed that she was quickly able to walk better and her speech was more clear. Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Paul came into town that night and watched her the following day, Molly showed them all around Bellevue Square and Masin's Furniture.

Grandma Nancy, Larry and Great Grandma Evelyn cam in the next evening for the big birthday party. Molly had a wonderful party and got many gifts to keep her busy. A lot of family attending which was wonderful!

It is tough to believe that a whole year has gone by! Molly is trying to walk and has learned a few new words recently (she can say doggy, daddy, Julie, uh-oh and on occasion mama). Molly LOVES her dolls and her kid sized armchair. Basically she is completely amazing and the best thing to happen to her parents!

Here are a few recent pictures:

Mexico...

We had to get Molly up at 2:30 am on Saturday to take a shuttle to Sea-Tac for a 6 am flight to LA. Our flight plan had a 2 hour lay over in LA and then we boarded a flight to La Paz, Mexico. Molly was very well behaved despite her lack of sleep; she slept a bit but remained in a good mood throughout the day. So far our visit has been pretty relaxed, Jake went fishing for a day while we walked around downtown La Paz and yesterday we spent the day at the beach north of La Paz. Molly really enjoyed the ocean and sand while we enjoyed the cerveza and food.

This Christmas...

Jake and I are headed to Idaho next week for Christmas and we have so much to be thankful for. I think when a child has their first Christmas any parent is thankful but, considering the incident at Molly's daycare this August, we are even more so. Unfortunately, the family of the woman at the wheel is facing a difficult holiday season. Though I am displeased with the driver and her decision making on that day, I feel deeply for her family as she was arrested yesterday and they may face Christmas without her.

Jake and I will be squeezing Molly tight this holiday and thankful for the fact that her and her friends made it through the accident to spend their first Christmas with their families.

Happy Holidays!
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/red/news/79551812.html

Belated Halloween Pics

Here is Molly in the flower costume I am pretty sure she will hate me for later in life... but it was CUTE!