Kelsey on the move and talking up a storm...our little Pippy Longstocking

October 2010

Well Kelsey is definitely fully mobile now and it's a WHOLE new world!!!  Constant movement, constant baby proofing (something new every day) and more exhaustion for Mommy and Daddy. I mean - on a level you really can't articulate to someone who doesn't have children yet.  And we only have one right now....with plans to try for another soon.  On those more than difficult days...we definitely question our desire for that 2nd bambino...but like I've said before....I'll sleep when I'm dead!!! 

Anyway...that exhaustion effects my blogging...or lack thereof.  The memory of what's happened over the last month or so since my last post is not accesible at this time so I'll just let the pics speak for themselves!!

Kelsey and Daddy at Uncle Dodd and Aunt Pam's hanging out by the firepit.

Kelsey likes to use ANYTHING as a phone...that's a remote control.  And that look on her face is just priceless.

Just preciousness...



First day with pigtails...sadly she's got Mommy's fine hair..but it's still so darn cute!!



Kelsey's daycare has a Fall Halloween Parade - and I use that term loosely.  Don't the kids just look so enthused??!? 

You can't tell in the last pic but she was a ladybug for Halloween.  And I promise you...this is the LAST ladybug themed anything for this child (well at least for awhile) The hat didn't last long thanks to that fine hair previously mentioned. And honestly....that look she is giving is SOOOOO me (everyone feel free to insert sarcastic remark here)

We did trick or treating at Uncle Dodd and Aunt Pam's because it was Uncle Dodd's birthday.  We went out with her cousins Luke and Kyle as well as our friends, the McCards twins - Amelia and Brooke who were the cutest little duckies.

Kelsey absolutley IDOLIZES her cousin Luke...just follows him everywhere and lights up everytime she sees him.  He is so good with her. 

Guilt of a working mommy

So I missed witnessing yet another major milestone in Kelsey's life - although truthfully I've probably not MISSED that many...it's just that working mother's guilt!!  Without getting into a debate over the complexities of stay at home mom's and working mom's (which is a term I hate anyway...because let's be honest- stay at home mom's ARE working mom's - but you get my point)..anyway I can only speak to my experience as a "working mom"....the added stress of trying to cram in all of those little moments and life experiences with your child during those few hours they're awake when you're home from work can prove to be overwhelmingly difficult - at best!  And knowing that they are spending most of the hours of the day at a daycare center and having these milestones without me is heartbreaking. 

That all being said...not only is it a necessity financially that I work outside of the home....but I have the self awareness to know that it's also mentally necessary for me to do it as well.  And admitting that doesn't make me less of a mother.  It just adds to the confusion of my daily life...but I love my life and love being Kelsey's mommy. 

So that missed milestone?? Kelsey taking more than 3 consecutive steps in a row.  I had just walked out the door to the grocery store leaving her with her Daddy...when suddenly she started walking.  Thankfully Chuck had the foresight to think to get the camcorder to try to capture this moment on video for me....After roughly 7 failed attempts...Kelsey finally started cruising...and away she went.....26 steps all in a row!!!!!  Granted...when I walked in the door and Chuck showed me the video I was sad that I missed it...but thanked God - yet again - for a husband who knew how much seeing that would mean to me and video taped it. 

Here's the video from last night...and if you pay attention you can see that she is a HUGE fan of Seinfeld...I believe it was the "velvet fog" episode!! Nothing better than Seinfeld.

Kelsey's 1st Birthday morning

Quick little Happy Birthday song for Kelsey from Mommy and Daddy at 6:30AM on her 1st birthday!  Love how she looks at us like...."What are you two knuckle heads doing?"

Spring/Summer 2010

I can't believe that it's been 6 months since my last post and more importantly that Kelsey is now 1!!!!! How is that possible??  Hard to remember what my life was like before having her, because it feels so complete with her in it.  So grateful for having her and enjoying EVERY moment of being her Mommy this year.  She's truly been a great baby....praying the toddler years go as well!!  Here are just a few pics from the last 6 months of Kelsey's life....I promise to post more frequently after this.

Kelsey with her "Dadda".....absolutely in love with him!!

Four generations of Hopkins/Stretch/Ordini women

Kelsey in her "pool" on the back porch....maybe next year Daddy will get her a BIG pool!!

Birthday tutu outfit and hat I had made for her party invites.  She HATED the tutu!!

Kelsey looking out the french door of the rental home in Ocean City, NJ....the trip was rainy and nearly ruined from dog allergies....not fun!!

Kelsey's Birthday cake I had made from a local woman who works out of her home...there was a matching smash cake for Kelsey.  She cautiously dipped her little fingers in it...and when Daddy got tired of waiting just smushed her little hand into it!!! Not nice Daddy!!!

A picture collage I made up for her birthday party.  We did the ladybug theme in black, white and red.  It was a lot of work, and it ended up raining which pushed the tables into the garage but it was so much fun!!

I ordered a birthday banner, favor bags and tags and door sign off of etsy.com (my new favorite website).

Grandpa and Diane bought Kelsey a little riding pony...I think you can get from the picture how much she loves her new toy!!

We took Kelsey for a professional photo shoot from a local photographer....these two pics are a true testament to how fabulous she is...because Kelsey was not her normal happy self that day...it was a miracle she got any shots.  We actually get the 2 hour shoot in half and are doing the 2nd half in October. 

She wasn't too crazy about this tutu either...but she looked so darn cute!!!!

February/March 2010

Okay so it's been over a month since my last post....sorry.  It's been a crazy time with lots of happenings....a wedding for friends of ours, 2 baby nephews born into Chuck's side of the family, a blizzard, both my and Chuck's birthday's, a trip to Florida and Kelsey turning 6 months old.  Also during our first trip with Kelsey...we went to Florida to see my sister and her boys and Kelsey got her first ear infection.  Thankfully it didn't happen on the plane....she slept the whole flight both ways....but once we were there....holy cow....nightmare first 72 hours!!!  Thankfully the antibiotics have helped and she seems much better. 

Chuck has been working with her every morning on sitting up...and she's doing really well with that.  Starting her again on the spoon fed cereal....much more of a chore at this point...but it has to be done.   All in all....she is still just the BEST thing in our lives and I'm enjoying every moment with her. 

So I'd like to introduce Luke Charles Culley born to Chuck's sister, Jen and her husband Andy.

Chuck's sister Kim and her husband Brian also welcomed Isaac into their family in January. 

Following are some pics from the blizzard and our trip to Florida.  Enjoy.

Kelsey enjoying her first real blizzard in February. 

Kelsey hanging with G.C. for some one on one time. 

Kelsey with Aunt Kelly in Florida....sure loves sucking that hand!!

All smiles....all the time. 

My little nephews, Gavin and Max....just the cutest little smiles and personalities you can ask for.

A little blury shot....but you can see the joy shining right through.  Love that kid!!!

Max hanging with Uncle Chuck poolside.  So cute.

Ahhhh....I just beam with pride looking at this pic....love that baby!!

January 2010

So it's a New Year that starts out like every year that I can remember....COLD SEASON!!!  :(  I started back at work in the office full time January 4th which was also Kelsey's first day at daycare.  Needless to say not a happy day for Mommy and Daddy.  Kelsey was unphased.  It's a strange thing to pray to God for him to bless you with a baby...to then leave this blessing with complete strangers for the majority of the day.  However....it's a necessity at this point and we are happy with the place we chose and the people who are watching her.  What we're not happy with...the initiation into daycare...colds!  Kelsey got her first cold a week after being there.  Thankfully she seems to be at the tail end of it now...and the humidifier in her room is doing wonders at night.  She's still sleeping through the night (relatively except during one week of the cold where she was stuffed up).  She's eating really well but not napping well at the daycare.  But I can't complain because she's a happy baby.  She had her 4 month check up where she measured in the 96th percentile for height and 80th for weight.  In addition, her reflux seems to be subsiding thankfully.  She is almost rolling over when on the playmat...which is just surreal to me because I feel like we just brought her home from the hospital yesterday.  She is truly the greatest joy in our lives and we couldn't be happier. 

In other news...we will be welcoming two more nephews within the next week on Chuck's side of the family.  Both his sister Jen and Kim are scheduled to be induced unless they go naturally....we anxiously await their arrival....which will make 18 neices and nephews for us.  LOVE BIG FAMILIES!!!! 

Here are a few pics we took of Kelsey last week.