Trip to Kansas City

At under 4 months old, our little one has traveled through 7 different states and two 13 hour long car rides. We broke our driving up into 3 days each way so it was a tad bit easier on Pen, but wow. For those of you who don't know, Michael had to go to Kansas City, MO for some electrical training with BNSF. We stayed about 20 miles out of Kansas City in a suberb called Overland Park, KS. The classes are two weeks at a time and he didn't want to be away from us for that long while Penelope is this little, so we tagged along :) On the weekend we took another 5 hour car ride to Oklahoma City to see our good friends Ryan & Chelsea Rickett and their little guy, Cole. I must say, Penelope was SUCH a good traveler. She had her moments and I did jump in the back seat a few times to keep her company but I was pretty impressed! I should have taken more pictures but I will share the ones I did get! 

Penelope was ready for vacation! 

Grandma & Grandpa didn't want us to go! 

We stayed in Fargo, ND the first night. Council Bluffs, Iowa the next and arrived in Kansas on Sunday. 

First fun stop,The Omaha Zoo. We stayed right out of Omaha in Council Bluffs, Iowa this night. 

On the Skyfari ride. Basically a chair lift, where you get to travel over the zoo. Pretty neat! 

 

That was a pretty neat zoo. We had fun and can't wait to take her when she is a little older! The fun didn't stop at the zoo though. After checking into the hotel and having dinner, we took Pen swimming for the first time. She LOVED it! 

Back to the car for our final car ride to Kansas. 

 

She was excited to finally be there and we did lots of eating, shopping, and exploring. 

After Michael's first week of school, we went to Oklahoma City for the weekend. I really meant to get more pictures with the Ricketts' but obviously failed. Here's a couple at the Oklahoma Zoo and a cute one of Penelope and Cole. Cole is such a cutie! I have met the little guy 3 or 4 times before but I totally fell in love with his little personality on this trip. So happy we got to see them! 

Here's Penelope checking out the gorilla...I think he thought she was lunch. Creepy! 

Me and Cole playing with P

Ok, when I said I meant to get more pictures... I really did! It just didn't happen...oops :( 

Back to Kansas we go! 

When we got back..something pretty exciting happened. Penelope got her ears pierced! She cried for about 20 seconds and was smiling again by the time we walked up to check out. Tough girl! Shots are much harder on us..I haven't told her, but she gets another round of them on Monday. Yucky :( 

I made dad do the dirty work

And it was worth it! Look how sweet...

Actually, she was more interested in her feet than her ears 

So we had another fun filled week of eating, shopping, getting lost and trying to deal with crazy traffic in downtown Kansas City. On our last night there, we really partied. Here is a picture of that! 

Haha... Just kidding.. But we wouldn't trade nights like that with our little girl for anything. 

And so, we started making our trek back home. Sioux Falls, SD the first night and Bismark, ND the next. 

Ready to go out for lunch in Sioux Falls

Hanging out with dad at our hotel 

At the park in Sioux Falls

 

Off to Bismark to visit Grandma Helen 

Time for a dip in the pool to celebrate our last night of our travels! 

Ohhh, what a fun filled two weeks! But as you can see, she was excited to be back home, in her chair! 

And our dogs were happy to find out that even after all of our threats...they had not been given away after all! 

We had a great 15 day long "vacation" and I am happy Michael insisted we come along. But it also felt great to be back home! Big thanks to Dick and Nancy for being on animal control while we were gone! 

1..2..3!

Wow... THREE months have already gone by with our little P. What? 90 days, exactly 13 weeks, a quarter of a year. It seems unreal. People always say, " they grow up too fast." That is an understatement. The days are not only passing but she is growing and learning SO much in them. I am learning so much and our dogs are learning...just kidding, Chowder is a lost cause. Love him but he's not really the learning type. Our little summer baby is now in long sleeves and baby boots. She is experiencing all of her "firsts." Her first Halloween is coming up, we are pretty excited for that. I also realized 10 minutes ago that it was about this exact time last year, that she was conceived. We found out on my birthday, (Nov. 9) I was about 5 weeks along.

Here are some flashbacks of the past year and Pen's 3 months here with us. 

4 1/2 months pregnant, just starting to show.

6 months

7 months

8 months

 2 weeks before P's arrival 

Best. Day. Of. My. Life

Daddy's girl

First car ride

First bath at home

First night home

First holiday, Fourth of July

First photo shoot

Letter to my baby girl

Life is moving along too quick, but I try to take in everyday and create memories that I can share with you when you are older. You have been such a good little girl. Happy, easy, sometimes dramatic but we love it. My favorite time of the day is when you wake up in the morning, all smiles and happy to see me. Your favorite time of the day is bath time. Dad gave you a tiny taste of go-gurt when you were 3 months and 2 days old. That was your first taste of something other than milk...shhhh don't tell the doctor! You loved it! You like your bumbo seat and funny noises. You don't sleep through the night, yet. We'll work on that, right? ;) Our worst habit is letting you lay on the table while we eat dinner... Anywhere we eat dinner. You love it, and I love having two free hands to eat. :) At your 3 month check up you weighed 13lbs. Your dad is already talking about giving you a baby brother. We think he's crazy. Things couldn't be more perfect the way they are... Unless you want to sleep through the night...that would be alright. So far, so good. We love you baby girl. You made that long nine months all worth it. Here are some pictures of how much you've grown. 

Just home from the hospital. 3 days old I believe.

1 month

2 months

3 months 

Bittersweet

So today was pretty exciting. After blow drying my hair, I came out to a baby not on her back as I had left her. At 3 months and 5 days old, our little one has figured out how to roll over. This was a pretty neat accomplishment to witness and just to be sure, she showed me twice more and then fell asleep! Then dad came home and set her on the bed while doing something on the computer and when he turned around... There she was again, on her belly! You go little girl, we are proud of you! 

I got a couple of pictures of her FIRST roll over, yay! 

After all that fun we hit the grocery store and Penelope helped me cook up some stuffed peppers. She is one happy little girl.. It doesn't get much better than this! 

Growing way too fast, with a big smile on her face! Pretty neat day Pen :)

Basil's Birthday!

Happy Birthday sweet Basil! Aww.. Another year older for our soccer star nephew! We actually took Basil to Billings with us a couple of weeks back and had a mini celebration with Aunt Brandie and Uncle JR. We feasted on shrimp, crab, and all the Red Lobster fixins' they had to offer. We also did the super embarrassing "happy birthday" song in front of the whole restaurant. Your welcome buddy! Ha ;) So last night we had Basil's birthday at grandpa Dick's. Here's a few pictures from that! 

Pen is ready to go!

Basil's "cake of choice" pumpkin pie! 

Aww..love for little P

Trying to burn the house down! 

As you can see... Grandpa Dick doesn't love those boys or anything... Ha.. He also doesn't care too much for Penelope! (These were not at Basil's party but so cute.)

Before we know it, we will be celebrating Pen's first birthday... But for now, we'll enjoy everyone else's! 

Love ya Basil!

Bumbo maniac!

Well Penelope has decided she loves her bumbo seat. For those of you who don't know, a bumbo seat has a tall back and is shaped to help babies learn how to sit up on their own and has helped Pen learn to hold her head up quite well. My grandma Donna saw some pictures of her in her bumbo and commented on how cute P looked on her potty......lol. I explained to her it what exactly it is and she was pretty impressed :) so here are some pictures of her enjoying her Bumbo....potty. 

At first she needed some head support, so we used a pillow.

Then she started getting better at it and we only needed a loose blanket when her neck started getting tired. 

Now she is a bumbo maniac... She absolutely loves it and we try to do it for at least a half an hour every day! 

She is getting so big...it's really amazing watching all of her little accomplishments. We love you baby girl!

Sleepy P

Ok this post might be a little boring for some, but for me it is so meaningful and sweet. Never in my life have I thought I would get such satisfaction out of simply watching someone sleep. When Penelope takes her naps I can sit and stare at her foreeevvver. She is just so innocent and blissful! Not to mention her little face is perfection, in my eyes. So here are some snaps of her sweet face probably dreaming of bottles and pacifiers... The good stuff!  

Squishy face...

In bed with mom

One of her favorite sleep spots....on dad.

Sometimes I get busted staring at her.... 

 Her hair gets a little wild in her sleep

So I won't lie, I have about 20 more pictures exactly like these.. I'm a little obsessed. I wish I was this cute when I slept, but I am surely not! And as I am writing this post... She is... Yes, sleeping :)