O Christmas Tree

Akyah and I went on our second annual Christmas tree hunt and found our 2nd family tree this afternoon. Last year the base of our tree was so big it almost didn't fit in the stand so we chose smaller this year. It is up and waiting to be decorated. We are going to the Zoo Lights tonight so we will decorate tomorrow and I will try to get pics of Akyah in front of the tree.

Not my favorite picture but I may want to use the other on our Christmas cards

Russ, Rebeeca, & Akyah
The Richters were nice enough to help us get our tree home- Thank you!!!

16 months & 1st ponytail

Akyah is 16 months old today and is officially sporting her 1st ponytail:



As you can see her hair is really starting to grow. She now weighs 21 lbs and has 10 teeth. This morning I have been enjoying listening to her walk around singing her ABCs = "A, B, C...(long break and trailing off)...Y" or "A, B, C, A, B." It's a pretty good start if you as me ;o) I am also thankful that Akyah loves to brush her teeth every time mommy does.

Akyah met Santa on Black Friday for the shirt time, wearing an adorable angel tu-tu outfit and hope to scan and post the picture soon... she wasn't sure if she wanted to cry or smile. All-in-all is was an okay experience. We'll be going to the Zoo Lights next weekend and will definitely take some pictures then.

It's dead week with finals next week then I am officially done with Term I of the Ed program. Yay me! Next term I am taking 19 credits, this term it was 18 and after that it will slow down credit wise but increase dramatically how much time I spend in the classroom SO I am a busy mama but promise to update as much as I possibly can.

Go baby, go!

Akyah's dad got her a beginner power wheels and Akyah absolutely loves it- "she's a natural" he said. I got a couple videos and will post the shorter one. The longer video is when she very first sat on it and this is how it went-

Dad: "Are you gonna drive?"
Akyah smiles and shakes her head yes
Dad: "Where are you gonna go?"
Akyah: "Why?" (so independent she is)

Then on her own she pushes the button and away she goes...

Akyah is doing very well and is just so darn smart. If I mention that she needs to be changed she runs down the hall to her room. Tammy, her daycare provider, told me today that after she told Akyah she needed a new diaper, Akyah immediately walked to where she gets changed and laid on the floor and waited for Tammy to come change her!!! Amazing ;o)

Hair clip, finally!

I was finally able to put Akyah's hair up in a little clip. It only lasted about 2 minutes because if you notice she has a comb in her hand and she combed it out. Yes, Akyah has good hygiene already - every time I brush my teeth, she insists on brushing hers as well and same goes with brushing her hair :o)

One little purple clip

Clip in hair, comb in hand = girly girl

Good conversation

I'm always up for a good conversation, especially with my beautiful daughter. This is how our conversation went as I pulled into the parking lot of the store this evening:

Mommy looks back at Akyah who smiles and says...
Akyah: "Baby" over and over pointing at herself
Mommy: "That's right honey, good job. You're so smart."
Akyah: "Thank you."
Mommy: "You're welcome" as I park the car then say "Are you ready to go into the store?"
Akyah shakes her head yes, smiles, and sticks her hands out ready to get out of the car seat.

She is just too cute!!!! ;o)

~Here are a couple pictures from Halloween:

Akyah & Elijah, born just 8 days apart tricker treating for their 1st time ever! Akyah as a lady bug and Elijah as a lion

Akyah & mommy, Halloween 2009

Pumpkin Patch

On Saturday we went to Bauman Farm's pumpkin patch and had a blast. The place was huge and packed by noon. They had animal petting, pumpkins (of course), a corn maze, a park for the little ones to play in, a food court and much more! We had such a great time and will be going back next year for sure.

The calf actually licked Akyah's hand & she giggled

"Driving" a big red tractor

Akyah was distracted by all the kids

Cutie patootie!

Akyah found her pumpkin!

Akyah in the wheel barrow ready to bring our pumpkins home

Sleeping beauty, sleeping hard

Akyah was absolutely exhausted after a day with her dad and play date with her cousins (pictures posted from that tonight)... If you notice she is out cold with her left leg sticking through one of the bars of her crib ;o)

Girls and their shoes

Akyah absolutely loves having shoes on her feet. Almost every morning Akyah immediately finds a pair of shoes and brings them directly to me and insists on them being put on, even over her pajamas- it's actually quite cute.

Akyah now has 7 teeth fully out and 1 half way out. She is talking a lot more and into EVERYTHING!!!! ;o) She is very smart, curious, and wants to be in the know... I call her "Nosey Rosey" as one of her many nicknames. She is sleeping well at night and naps good throughout the day.

Things have gotten very busy for us as I am now in the Education programs at WOU and am taking 6 classes for a total of 18 upper-division classes (yikes!). Not to mention we've been having some much needed work done on our house. We've made a couple recent trips down to California to see Kaleigh and Kameron (her sister and brother) and their family- who we love spending time with.

Akyah has always been a talker, she gets this from her mom and dad, but lately she has really been repeating a lot of things. At daycare on Friday, Tammy was playing "peek-a-boo" with Akyah and Akyah leaned around the couch, looked right at Tammy and said: "Peek-boo, see you" - How cool is that? For a 14 month old I was very impressed and sad that I missed it.

I'm going to *start* potty training Akyah by putting her on the toilet occasionally so she learns how to go on the big girl potty. I've also been trying to switch her from a bottle to a sippy cup but can't seem, out of the large amount I have, to find a sippy cup she really likes (sigh).

Running around naked last night after her bath

Look at how much hair she now has

Please note the cute slip on shoes her Great Aunt Molly gave her on over her PJs

One last thing... Akyah is getting so big, so quick (maybe too quick for me) and I am amazed that she is now eager to help take her clothes off for bath time every night. She's always loved baths but to help take her clothes off is new. She's mommy's helper, already. As I sit here, I look over and she is sitting in a seat and trying to buckle it... so smart she is ;o)

Playdate at the library

Akyah and I had a playdate Saturday with Tammy and Jacob White, Jacob and Akyah share the same birthday born approxiately 16 hours part from each other. We looked at books, played with blocks, and the kids "talked" and shared snacks with each other. Before we left we took the kids for a walk outside, it was just too beautiful out to not take a stroll down by the fountain.

Jacob Carl & Akyah Lynn born August 1, 2008

Loaded up and ready for a walk...

Can't see them all but Akyah now has 7 teeth!

Oh so innocent.... or is he?!? :o)

I love how Jake is sticking his tongue out

Flower girl

Akyah LOVES the flowers I planted in the flower box on the front porch, every time the door is open she runs out, picks a flower, and brings them to me. Here is a cute little video of Akyah on the porch this afternoon- plastic pitcher in her left hand, plastic spoon in her right, and she is using her very creative imagination to play with the flowers, that is until mommy distracted her:

Time with sissy & brother

Last weekend Akyah and I went down to the East Bay to see some of our favorite people. We had a very busy weekend with Kaleigh, Kameron, and the rest of their family. Thankfully we were able to see Kaleigh's cheer team cheer at a football game and that night watched her in the Walnut Parade- her team did an awesome job and so did the two tired babies (Akyah and Rivers). Here are a few pictures from our eventful weekend:

All packed and ready to go!!!

Kameron

Beautiful sisters; On our way to the football game

At the football game

Right before the parade started

Life is good

Vic & Rivs watching the parade

Walking skills

Here is a short video of Akyah's walking skills. Please note she has her necklace on and a piece of electronics in her hand, these are Akyah's favorite toys. Also note the necklace is not actually around her neck but laying over the back (rarely does she actually wear the necklace)- she does this with every cord she can get her hands on! I think she thinks they're all "pretties."

Girls just wanna have fun!

Akyah and I have been having lots of summer fun! It has been a long time since I posted but was waiting for the pictures from Akyah's birthday and finally got some today. Akyah is now 13 months old, walking, and talking all the time- She has quite the vocabulary and is very good about saying " thank you." We recently went to Las Vegas for a week and had a wonderful time with my best friend and other friends down there. Here are just some the pictures from this summers fun:

Happy 1st Birthday Akyah Lynn

1st Popsicle

At the fair

Like mother, like daughter

Cute as can be

Taken today at auntie Kersten's

Birthday presents

Pinata fun

Birthday cake

Mommy's girl!

Our family

Akyah got her ears pierced in Vegas

Last night in Vegas, after dinner

Fun in the pool with auntie Janel

Pool + Vegas sun = good times!

County fair

We went to the county fair last weekend. Akyah really loved petting all the baby animals. Also, it wouldn't be true trip to the fair if you didn't eat something totally unhealthy so we had my personal favorite- ice cream!!

Akyah is the only on I'm willing to share my ice cream with ;o)

"I want more"

1st bite ever of ice cream

Akyah with her grandma Rebecca

This pony is so much fun mommy