A little too easy

Thirteen months. So far Kelci and I have been amazingly lucky/blessed/fortunate/ with Kylah.

Our adventure this week found us attempting to eliminate the pacifier from her sleep-time routine. So, we decided to go cold turkey with it and simply quit giving it to her. The first night, we were prepared for epic battle, ready for the tantrum; we were expecting the worst.

Five minutes later she was asleep.

Nights two and three have been mirror images of the first. The point of this is not (entirely) to gloat. My point is that I think a lot of our success comes from the attitude that Kelci and I have toward parenting.

Just relax

Kelci and I stress more about doing this right or wrong or making the right decisions about Kylah’s upbringing. We read our books and try to feed her well and brush her teeth and generally do good. And that enables us to relax. We know we’re making the right decision and that enables us to relax, which I think is one of the reasons that Kylah is so easy going and adaptive to change.

We’ve been transitioning her to “people” food as well. As her independent streak has grown, she’s begun eating the same stuff we eat. It’s kind of a trip to make myself scrambled eggs in the morning and have to share with her. It’s also kind of fun to give her new foods and watch her eyes get huge when she realizes that watermelon is, indeed, delicious. Just relax and it will all be OK.

One year

One year ago, our lives changed. Kylah was born and our lives changed. We had hard nights, hard days and amazingly happy times in between. The last 12 months have been nothing short of amazing. All the times somebody told Kelci and I about how our lives were going to change it was hard to imagine the ways that would happen.

I’m not sure how I’m supposed to put these last 12 months into words. I just can’t. I think of her smiles. Our smiles. Her tears. Our tears. Her cries. Our cries. Her victories. Our victories. There are no words to capture what her presence in our lives has meant. I think I’m going to let pictures tell their thousand words.

I love you Kylah.


Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

All I need

Has it really been three months since we’ve posted here? Wow. I guess time flies when you’re raising a baby. So, what’s happened since she learned how to use her jumper in the last video?

  • Teeth? Check
  • Solid food? Check
  • Pulling herself up to standing? Check
  • Crawling? Check
  • Pat-a-Cake? Check. Complete with throwing it in the pan? Check

But something else is about to happen. I’m about to turn 30. As the date nears, my family have been asking what I want. What sort of material good will make me happy? Realistically, that list is really long. But before I answer with that really expensive fishing trip or new hiking boots, I generally pause and realize:

I have everything I need.

I have a great wife, a great job, a great daughter and a great life in general. So, what I want is to help other people have a great life.

I am throwing a party this weekend, June 11 at Big Al’s Brewing, which is just south of Seattle and I want you all to join me. But I don’t want you to show up empty handed. I’ve talked it over with Kelci and run the idea by a few other people and have decided that I want to collect baby supplies and goods for a local women’s shelter. Specifically, we’re looking for:

  • Formula
  • Diapers/wipes (Size 4, 5 or 6 diapers)
  • New or next-to-new toys
  • New or next-to-new clothes

I can’t offer anything in reply, other than a hug and a thank you, but realize that the gear you’re donating will make the beer taste better, the hugs feel better and the smiles a bit brighter. So, RSVP for the party now and we look forward to seeing you!

And, since this is a blog dedicated to our adventures with our amazing daughter, here’s a few from the last couple of months:

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White girls can jump

Apparently Kylah had a growth spurt over the weekend. She went from needing a platform to stand on and a towel under her butt to jumping like she was at a rock concert.

I know she’s getting bigger (I carry her car seat), but things like this put her development in perspective.

Next stop is sitting up and then crawling. And them child proofing. Heh…

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Yay, It’s Christmas time already! Guess what? It’s my FIRST Christmas with Mommy and Daddy and I’m so happy to be in the outside world. I heard that our doggy, Chubbs,  got to write the Christmas letter last year, now it’s my turn! At this time last year, I was just a twinkle in Mommy and Daddy’s eyes.

But I haven’t been around all year, I was a little “peanut” in Mommy’s tummy for nine whole months. Daddy and Mommy got to do all kinds of fun things before I arrived. Like camping! And Seahawk games! And fishing! And puking. Well, just Mommy did that. Sorry Mommy.

Right after Mommy and Daddy found out about me, Daddy started a new job. Now he gets to do public relations for companies like Microsoft, T-Mobile, HTC and other neat things. Mommy continued to work as an operating room nurse through morning sickness, back pain and being really pregnant (sorry Mommy). She worked up until 3 days before I was born, way to go mommy! Mommy got to stay home with me until I was 12 weeks old! Now she goes to work 3 days a week to fix people’s boo-boos.

Mommy and daddy thought they were ready for me. That’s where their friends came to help. My cousin Jamie and auntie Debbie made mommy take a shower. But she got lots of presents for it. Mommy and Daddy also got to take a shower with some of their good friends. Oh, Daddy says it’s not “take a shower,” but threw a shower. Yay!

I was born on August 21st. I was a healthy 8lbs, 5oz and a whole 20 1/2 inches long. Mommy and Daddy thought I would be big like Daddy and they only had two outfits that were small enough for me! Daddy drove me home and put me on the kitchen counter and just stared at me. I’m pretty sure we were thinking the same thing — “Now what?” Then he took me upstairs so I could lie on his tummy. So I peed on him. Hee hee! I got to meet so many people. But I really liked it when my grandmas held me. Grandma Kathy and Grandma Shanda were so happy to meet me!

I have had all kinds of neat adventures. I have a doggy that likes to give me kisses and protect my toys. Sometimes he’ll take one and chew on it to show how much he loves me. Yay! I got to pick out a pumpkin and I even got to help daddy cut down a Christmas tree. I also got to take my first plane ride. Daddy had to go talk to his geeky friends in Las Vegas and Mommy took me with to stay by the pool. I wanted to gamble, but mommy said I was a just little too young.  I hope I get to fly again soon. First class has all the free bottles I can drink!

A few weeks ago, I learned to roll over, that was so fun!  I like to sleep a lot (just like mommy) because I’m growing up so fast! I laugh a lot and smile all the time. Mommy and daddy are so silly when they make faces and sing to me!

2011 will be a busy year! I’ll be all grown up before you know it. Mommy and Daddy said they are taking me to Mexico. We are also going to go camping lots this summer! Well, I need to go have a bottle now. But remember, you can follow my adventures here. Mommy and Daddy put all kinds of pictures and fun stories there!

Lots of love,
Kylah Makana (oh, and Mommy and Daddy and the puppy too, hee hee!)