Seriously. There’s only so much you can do indoors with a 16 month old that doesn’t cost money. We like parks, walks and digging in the dirt. I keep trying to be one of those people who love the rain because it brings renewal and life and we have been in a drought for so long and we need it…all of which are true, but ultimately, I just try to make it through these rainy weeks.

Hope to see you soon, sun.

I wrote this entry on Kennedy’s birthday, but didn’t publish it.  So, here it is, a month later…

When Kennedy was first born and we went to visit the Freemans, Campbell (then about 3 1/2) was very curious about age and “how many” people were. If he was three and a half, how many was Baby Kennedy? Three months didn’t quite cut it, because he was three and she was so much smaller than him, how could she be three too? Finally, we reasoned that she was zero (years) and it was a bit confusing. Well Campbell, today Kennedy is one.

Everyone says it, but it’s amazing how quickly time flies by.  About a month after her first steps, Kennedy decided to start walking this weekend.  I went to a class for work on Saturday and by the time I came home, she was walking all around the house.  She had a wonderful birthday party the next day, complete with Great-grandmas, Grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends.  Thank you to everyone who came to help us celebrate.  She enjoyed the cake (applesauce spice cake with cream cheese frosting), but I think she would have been just as happy just eating strawberries for dessert.

It is so fun watching this toddling, babbling, dancing little person become more independent and autonomous each day.  What an amazing year it has been!

This weekend Kennedy went on her first Carousel ride. She liked the music a lot and at first seemed excited about the ride. By the end of the ride though, she was ready to get off. She had a great time at the Boardwalk watching her cousins, Samantha and Campbell, go on the serpent roller coaster, the log ride and the day before visiting Pixieland with them!

When we got back to Gramma and Poppa’s house, she took her first unassisted steps while practicing walking with Daddy! She repeated her 1-2 step prowess again for me later. The steps are pretty inconsistent when she is unsupported, but she will push her little cart around without help from anyone. She is not very good at turning yet, so the long driveway at Gramma and Poppa’s was nice because she could go up and back (over and over) without having to turn.

Pictures to follow (of the carousel, we haven’t gotten the steps on video yet).

Well, it’s been about 3 months since these were taken now, but better late than never.