Family, family, family....

We took family pictures back in November but I didn't want to post any as some of them were Christmas presents for family. But we thought we would share some with you! These were taken by Dee Kuster and she did an amazing job. She was so easy to work with and loved trying new things. She really captured our family and we couldn't be happier with the results. Check out her facebook page Digitals By Dee! 

 

You know this is just Kellen being the chill baby he is! :) For as cold as it was that day he did a good job. A couple of the pictures he just lost it and when we would calm him down and try again he would just cry! The pacifier sort of helped but I am glad that we decided to get rid of it 3 weeks later, happy to not have to carry that thing around anymore!

As you can tell he needed a hair cut at this point. We tried one time and it didn't work out too well and I just tried again and it got better. So eventually he will come out looking okay! We had a nice Christmas! Brad worked during the day but we opened presents at night and Kellen didn't notice either way. My camera is causing me problems so I have some on my i-touch but nothing too amazing! But we truly feel blessed to be surrounded by friends we love and look forward to seeing our family soon! 

P.S in other very exciting news Brad got into VCU for the nurse anesthesia program! The even better news is that he was admitted to the Roanoke satellite program so we don't have to move!( it had limited spots) He starts August 2013 and we are excited for this next adventure!

12 Months All in Wrapped Up in One

Okay,  I am now officially freaked out! I know people are always saying how they forget how small their children used to be but I never thought it would happen to me! I mean holy cow! He is clearly twice the size of his stuffed animal. What a year it has been! I feel incredibly blessed to have Kellen in our lives and I am constantly learning with him daily. During church today we talked about raising children and what the blessings were and I got to enjoy it while Kellen was fast asleep in my arms! (not something I get to do often) I have so much more to learn and I am grateful that Kellen and Brad are willing to go with me in this journey!

Now just a few things that Kellen has been enjoying:

Loves to listen to music and moves his little booty along with the beat

Loves, loves, loves his Baby Signing Time videos and has learned one-more!

Starting to crawl, scoot, and slide wherever he can go

Loves to say uh-oh and just learned wow (will only say it if you say it in a quite loud voice)

Says mama, but only when he needs/wants something

He loves to be with dad and play hide and seek around the house

Obviously there is more but I don't want to bore you plus he just learned how to get into the DVDs and that is what he is doing right now! Thank you Kellen and Brad, for dealing with me, and more importantly thank you all for the support and help you have been to us over this last year!

He had his cake and ate it too!

Lot's of stuff have been going on lately and I barely have time to take a picture or two, but Halloween was a success this year. Our neighbors had a costume that Kellen fit into wonderfully so it was a no hassle for me. In the picture you can't see his golf clubs but he went as a golfer! We didn't go trick or treating but went to a couple of Halloween parties!

Here are Kellen's 11 month photos. As some of you know his birthday is today but I will post the 12 month ones when I get around to taking the actual photo! It is a little harder now so I am glad to be on my last one. Here you can see he has learned to take his friend's paper and takes no care to the zebra at all. But in the end he knows how to give a good hug and snuggle!

We did just a little birthday party with some friends on Saturday. Brad had to work today so this was the best time. It wasn't extravagant just a time to get together and see Kellen eat cake. 

Here he is with his adopted Grandma Renee. He was extra snuggily then he usually was that night

He did not like that hat, I made him wear it for a couple of pictures and his face changed very little.

Here he is with Lisa, he really has come to love their family and everyone in our ward.

Dad wanted a big, one, candle so he put a bunch together resulting in one big flame! Kellen was pretty confused the whole time we sang to him, he just didn't understand why everyone was looking at him.

He really didn't get much more messy then this. He ate all the icing and then just wanted ice cream. 

Afterwards at home we opened up some of the presents friends/family gave us. Sorry mom and boys not sure if he likes the alligator yet, he got a bumble bee that rolls and makes noise so as you can see in the picture he just wanted that! Once I get his 12 month picture I will write something a little more sentimental about Kellen!

The Great Big Pumpkin...well sort of!

You know this time of season is a lot more fun when you have a little one to do all the fun things with! Brad had the last two weekends off so we got lots of projects done and time to get outdoors. We enjoyed 70+ degree weather but I think I gloated too much because Frankenstorm could do some funny things come next week.....don't think we will anything horrible but  I stocked up just in case!

Thanks Grandma for the sweet package! Kellen loved the card and dad loved the treats! 

 They have multiple pumpkin patches around the area so we had many to chose from but this was close to our house and probably the best for Kellen. He can't do too much but he did have fun being outside and seeing new things.

Any time on dad's shoulders is a good time! This was at their "corn maze" it wasn't really a corn maze but we were glad because Kellen wouldn't have lasted long in a real one!

Kellen hated sitting on top of there and of course the great parents we are, we decided to take a picture to capture the moment!

Seriously this time of year is beautiful, come visit us around this time and you will be amazed! Love it!

Here is Kellen with his pumpkin, he sure fell in love it it! The only problem was on the hay ride back he wanted to chew on the stem, I thinking it wasn't the best wouldn't allow it and he would have none of it. So he screamed the whole way back...I am thinking next time it won't be a big deal if he wants to chew on it.

Sunday we went up to the Roanoke Star that overlooks the Roanoke area, it was a gorgeous day and we had fun walking around! This is where we are taking family pictures next week, let's just hope it doesn't snow before then! And last the picture below is one of the many ways Kellen sleeps, but this seems to be his favorite. They just are so cute when they are curled up in a ball with their butt in the air!