Looking Back .... 2009

We spent most of our summer at the pool! All we had to do was get in our swim gear and walk across the street, so convenient! McKinzie loved swimming using her floaties or jacket and tube - she was a fish! It was a great time for all of us and a relief from the super hot summer temp!

Looking back ..... 2009

In the spring we were able to start going back to church! McKinzie joined a Sunday School class with her best friend - easing her anxiety - so we've all been able to enjoy the experience!

Easter was a great celebration!! McKinzie had alot of fun doing easter egg hunts with her friends.

I could not believe that McKinzie wanted to meet the easter bunny!! She was so brave! This is the same kiddo who ran away screaming from santa clause in the mall - and wouldn't stop screaming until her friends and their mom were finished talking to santa too. Oh my goodness. What a difference a few months make! Proud of you Kinz!

Looking back .... 2009

We found out we were expecting Sydney in January 2009. In the excitement I wanted to remember to make the most of each day with our family of 3 as we began to prepare for a big change! I'm really proud - I think we had a blast and it was a fun and eventful 2009!

We had a great time at the Livestock and Rodeo Show!

Our city kid got a true taste of country living!

First pony ride!

Looking back ... 2009

It's so fun to look back and remember all the great things that happened this year. I'll try to catch up with pictures and captions!

In the spring we visited G & G Whiteman in Ohio!

Sisterly Love

I knew McKinzie would be a great sister because of her sweet spirit. I didn't expect that the sibling bond would start so soon! It's so beautiful the way these two interact. Sydney lights up when McKinzie walks in the room and McKinzie is always making sure Sydney is content and happy. This melts my heart.....

... and of course, there are some exceptions! When Sydney was just a few weeks old, like in this picture, McKinzie loved to lay beside her on the bed, since this was really this was the only way she could participate in what her newborn sister was doing! Sydney would wiggle and move around her arms and legs in the typical newborn way. When she would accidently get McKinzie, McKinzie would call out, "Mom! Sydney just hit (or kicked) me!" What would make me laugh was that McKinzie was serious. Tattling on her newborn sister.

The other day I heard McKinzie and Sydney both laughing so adorably, so I peeked around the corner to see what kind of delightful interaction they were sharing. To my surprise, Kinzie was dragging Sydney across the floor by her arms and Sydney was laughing so hard! Sydney was barely 8 months old - so I had to make it clear to Kinzie that she was never to drag her baby sister, ever! Oh my goodness, but the giggling was so precious. I'm wondering what is next ..

Catching up ...

The last post I made on this blog was Christmas 2008 - crazy! Not long before that Andy and I had decided that the Lord was moving in our hearts to have another baby. Wow, that was a big decision! We thought, prayed, visited doctors - and it didn't take long before little McKinzie learned a new word ... pregnant!! I quickly learned that sharing the pregnancy process with a toddler was an exciting experience! It was also exhausting ... and my reason for the lapse in posts! It's fun to finally catch my breath and reflect on this new miracle that has happened for our family.

Sydney

We would like to introduce Sydney. Our precious little girl joined us in September and big sister McKinzie is loving her.

Thank you to all of our family for all of the love and support you have given us.

We are sorry for not updating in such a long time but it is pretty easy to get caught up in such beautiful little girls that it is easy to get behind on the little stuff.

So please enjoy the pictures and we will try to get better at updating the site.