Wish on a Star

A Glimpse of Kellen through the past almost 3 years

2011-11-09T10:02:00.003-05:00

4/11/08 (6 days) Transfer Day...these embryos, one of them being our baby boy, were retrieved in September '07. Then they were frozen and were thawed on 4/11/08. I wonder which one he is.

5/9/08 (6 weeks 6 days)...we saw the heartbeat for the first time this day

5/12/08 (7 weeks 2 days)

7/19/08 (17 weeks 0 days)...this is the day we found out we are having a boy!

7/29/08 (18 weeks 3 days) Baby in 3D

10/08/2008

12/04/2008

@1 week old

@2 months old

3 months old

@4 months old

5 months old

6 months old

7 months old

8 months old

10 months old

18 months old

23 months old

2 years old

Easter Egg Hunt!

2011-04-24T14:01:00.000-04:00

A Few Photos

2011-02-28T13:58:00.001-05:00

I have had trouble uploading but was able to manage to get a few photos from February.

Enjoying Being 2!

2010-12-05T12:43:00.007-05:00

Hanging out with Dad & playing with his new football from Grandma Boyer

Snowman doughnut for breakfast

Playing with Bailey

Hugs for Bailey

Still one of his favorite toys...brooms

Wild thing!

Kellen is 2!! (warning: shamefully long picture post!)

2010-12-04T22:56:00.021-05:00

A Where the Wild Things Are themed party for the 2 year old wild thing!

The birthday boy!

wearing his goggles that came with his new Craftsman workbench

unpredicted snowfall on his actual birthday, so cool!

Working with his new tools with Papa (Dave). The workbench was a gift from his other Papa (my dad) (right now he is calling both my dad & step dad Papa)

Kellen & his friend 'D' (I loved getting pictures of these two together. They played SO well together, it was very cute)

Learning to recycle with his new recycling truck from Da da)

Opening presents!

He loved his new hat & scarf from his Ya Ya (my mom)

Hugs! (Kellen is very loving and into giving hugs & kisses all the time)

He adores firetrucks, so this was a very fitting gift

An awesome bowling set from his godparents & godbrother (he even took off his hat & scarf to play with it)

Choo Choo! (this could have easily been a train themed party, he loves trains!)

Making a wish!

Mmmmm cupcakes!

First Hair Cut (Trim)!

2010-11-28T23:00:00.000-05:00

Annual Christmas Tree Hunt!

2010-11-27T22:30:00.000-05:00

Story Time

2010-11-23T09:13:00.000-05:00

I haven't been able to upload photos for quite some time now (since July!) so I apologize for the lack of posting! But I wanted to share a sweet moment I had last night. It was time for 'nigh nigh' (bedtime) and I sat with Kellen in the glider in his room to read a story. He wiggled away from me and down to the rug with the book. He very distinctly told me to "Sit Ma ma" as he patted the floor and proceeded to call for "Doggie!" (our German shepherd Bailey). He called until she came in and then he patted the floor and told her to "Sit doggie, book." After we were all seated (and doggie laying down), he handed me the book and said "Ma ma book. (pointed at Bailey) Doggie book." So I sat there and read to Bailey and Kellen at his request, with very many exclamations and shrieks of delight "Doggie!" I thought it was so sweet that Kellen wanted his doggie to hear the story too. I think Bailey enjoyed it and I wouldn't be surprised if this became a bedtime tradition in our house.

23 Months Old!

2010-11-04T10:13:00.009-04:00

Halloween photos to come...

Halloween 2010

2010-10-31T23:16:00.000-04:00

Halloween Eve the puppy (Kellen) went to his step cousin, Rusk's, 1st birthday party (it was a dress up party at a park) He loved wearing this costume!!!

Halloween, a short trip of trick or treating with 'D'! He wasn't in that stroller for long!

Definitely a Full on Toddler Now!

2010-10-08T10:35:00.002-04:00

It's been awhile since I've actually written much on one of these posts. Days are busy around here & you can't turn your back on Kellen for more than a second! He is into everything these days. It seems that within 30 seconds of entering a room he knows every single item that is in there, which ones he considers interesting enough to check out, and which ones would be good for climbing. And in this boy's mind I'd say almost anything is good for climbing. From the toilet to a doorstop, anything is used for leverage to get to what mom and dad thought were unreachable things up high. He amazes me with his ingenuity and creativity when it comes to getting what he wants. He is non stop & ever so entertaining.
Kellen has adjusted well to his new daycare. He appears to be thriving and has gotten good reports all around. He even (much to mom's delight) eats better at the new place. Both parents are impressed with the new facility as well, especially the playground (lots of grass to run on) and the fact that they had the parents make an "All About Me" poster for the walls (I'll let you guess which one of us was excited about this one :).
Now that summer is coming to a close, though we welcome the cooler weather, Kellen will miss his time spent swimming at YaYa & PaPa's pool. How lucky we are to have access to our own private oasis! Can't wait till next summer, when hopefully I won't break my foot once again and can enjoy more pool time with him! Kellen is quite the little fish and fearless.
Still his favorite activities are 'cleaning' and helping out anyone who is working on something. He just gravitates towards brooms, mops, vaccuum cleaners, power drills, you name it. New on his top priority list of 'toys' are keys. Not play keys mind you. Real keys. One of his very favorite things to do is go out on our screened in porch, close the door behind him, and use the keys to get back in. I think he could do this for hours. And he certainly thinks it's funny when he 'locks' one of us parents on the other side while he and Bailey (our dog) are on the other. I think he loves that feeling of independence!
Kellen is definitely an outside boy. I can't even keep count of how many times a day I hear the word 'outside'. Whether it be a simple statement, request, or downright plea to go OUTSIDE. He could spend all day outside.I'd say 'outside' and 'dog' are his two most said words on an hourly basis right now. He loves dogs!
Kellen is very connected to his Dad. I'd say right now he probably would choose time with Tom over me. They have a great time together and I hear the word "da da" a lot. Although he does still call me da da quite a bit he has started to say ma ma or mommy but only when he wants to. We are sure he knows the difference, but it seems he thinks it's funny to call me da da :)
He has always been vocal, but now his words are more so actual words that we can understand. He knows his body parts, several animals, the list goes on. He definitely knows "No" now too and uses it a lot. He uses 'no' for 'yes' as well and 'hot' means too hot or too cold so we are working on our opposites, such as no & yes, hot & cold, on & off, up & down.
His favorite foods & drinks are milk (still), chocolate milk, red or purple gatorade, green beans, corn, sweet potato, mashed pototoes, lasagna, hot dogs, ketchup, blueberries, peaches, & gummi fruit snacks. I don't think he really likes to 'waste' time eating but he does seem to be enjoying food more than he used to & occasionally I'll get an "mmmm" from him if he really likes something (like the first breadstick he had last week).
Other than a bout with bronchitis this past week which he has recovered from, Kellen is doing great. He is really growing, shooting up from a 50% height ratio to 70% at this last check up. He is so fun to be around and we enjoy every day with him, there is certainly never a dull moment when Kellen is awake!

22 Months Old!

2010-10-04T19:30:00.000-04:00

Some Favorites (from Kellen's 18mth photoshoot)

2010-09-09T11:51:00.000-04:00

20 Months Old!

2010-08-04T12:59:00.000-04:00

Good morning sunshine!

Fun at Ya Ya & Pa Pa's

2010-08-01T22:01:00.002-04:00

Beach!

2010-07-04T22:08:00.000-04:00

Independence Day at the beach (also Kellen's 19 month birthday!)...more photos to come

Water Baby!

2010-06-27T17:00:00.001-04:00

Yummy Corn & Weekend Fun

2010-06-27T13:54:00.001-04:00

Moving more towards sippy cups and away from bottles recently.

Saying bye to Dad, off to work!

Working on getting some photographic proof that mom exists :) Saturday morning at Tate Street. Coffee for the parents, milk for the baby (okay, toddler).

First Visit to the Children's Museum

2010-06-19T16:02:00.000-04:00

Father's Day 2010 (a little early :)

2010-06-17T13:10:00.001-04:00

Free scrapbook design personalized with Smilebox

Little Rebel

2010-06-05T13:18:00.000-04:00

Shopping for 1/2 birthday dinner supplies (can't resist a mohawk now and then, he thinks its very very funny)

18 Months Old!!!!!! Kellen's 1& 1/2 Year Birthday Weekend

2010-06-04T12:41:00.000-04:00

Someone is a year and a half old today!

Helping mommy clean on Saturday morning!

He loves to vacuum!

Even the tent needs a good cleaning

To much cleaning...time to make a mess!

Tunnel time!

Hanging out with Dad!

He loves to climb...a little to much...he's unstopable!

Such a big boy! Closer to 2 years than to 1...hard to believe!

17 Months Old!

2010-05-04T16:20:00.000-04:00

17 Months Old! Dancing cause he sees Bailey

Kellen 1st thing in the morning on his 17 month birthday. He's pointing at Bailey, who comes & wakes him up every morning.

Kellen loves Bailey!

Best Friends

2010-05-03T22:30:00.001-04:00

Kellen & Bailey

Happy Birthday Tom!

2010-04-26T12:23:00.000-04:00

Tom and Kellen on the morning of Tom's 37th birthday.

Class of '00 Reunion Wknd BBQ

2010-04-24T22:38:00.001-04:00

Customize a photo album

Saturday mornings & Easter Cards

2010-04-10T16:07:00.000-04:00

16 Months Old!

2010-04-04T23:26:00.000-04:00

Easter Egg Hunt!

2010-04-03T21:47:00.000-04:00

Slideshow personalized with Smilebox

Fun with Friends

2010-03-08T09:34:00.000-05:00

15 Months Old!

2010-03-04T10:37:00.002-05:00

I apologize our camera was not cooperating in the blurriness department for these photos! But here is Kellen with his new friend, Elephant!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T10:26:00.000-05:00

The first time I have ever seen my child actually sit and watch something on tv. I was amazed. He didn't even notice me taking his photo. Cookie in hand & an old school Barney VHS tape. He's growing up!

Exploring (and 'helping' unpack) the new house

2010-02-06T10:32:00.001-05:00

14 Months Old! (now with photos)

2010-02-04T13:45:00.003-05:00

Today Kellen is 14 months old. Wow. And I am actually writing a blog post that not only is not solely composed of photos, but at this point contains no photos at all. Never fear. Only reason for no photos is I left my camera at home so I haven't uploaded the cuteness yet.
14 months old. Last night Kellen slept for the first time in his new room, in his new house, in his new neighborhood, in his new city. That's right. We moved!
I am very excited about this move for so many reasons. One being that Kellen now has so much more room to roam free & play. And he knows it. He owns it. He woke up ready to be on the move!
Photos to come.

13 Months Old!

2010-01-04T13:44:00.001-05:00

Winter 2009

2009-12-31T09:49:00.001-05:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Kellen is 1 Year Old!!!!

2009-12-04T12:05:00.000-05:00

11 Months Old!

2009-11-12T11:11:00.004-05:00

Kellen's First Halloween!

2009-11-12T11:07:00.004-05:00

10 Months Old!

2009-10-29T11:07:00.015-04:00

10 month birthday! (October 4, 2009)Swinging at the park to celebrate!

At step-aunt Shelly and step-uncle Eric's baby shower! (Rusk Woodrow Henry was born yesterday, October 28th!)

In his new big boy carseat

Eating puffs/throwing puffs on the floor at Prissy Polly's

Hanging out at Tate Street Coffee

Cruising around in his walker

His latest talent/milestone...standing on his own, holding on to nothing! (this was also Kellen's first night in his own room!)
Kellen with YaYa in the hospital parking lot. As close as he's gotten so far to visiting his new godbrother Dawson! (they don't allow anyone under 18 in the hospital so they have not met each other yet). Dawson Michael was born on October 23rd and we are all just over the moon for this beautiful addition to our extended family!

9 Months Old!

2009-09-04T17:11:00.002-04:00

Kellen is 9 months old today! I cannot believe it. He is growing up so quickly. This has truly been the fastet nine months of my life. He is so much fun. He is really moving. He can pull himself up and stand on his own. Crazy! He loves animals, the crinkly package his wipes come in, mom's cell phone, the laptop, his exersaucer, his little toy duck at Ya Ya's, flirting, laughing, music, 'singing', so much. He is in to anything he can get his hands on. We took him to his first music class last weekend and he did wonderfully! He was the only kid there who actually used his little drumsticks to make noise. I have to run to go take my 9 month old to one of his favorite place, Tate Street Coffee (it's like one big mobile to him, he gets so excited there). But I will be back with more updates and pictures of course!

One Hour Until...

2009-09-03T23:00:00.000-04:00

One hour until Kellen is 9 months old.... 9 months?!

Little Body Big Heart

2009-08-28T11:00:00.000-04:00

One thing is for sure, Kellen loves animals! Here are a few photos of Kellen with Ya Ya & Shiloh the doggie.

One of my favorite shirts for him, because it is so true...Little Body, Big Heart

Kellen & Jasmine

2009-08-26T10:53:00.000-04:00

Kellen still loves his kitty, Jasmine. And it is quite apparent that she is rather fond of him as well (as long as he doesn't pinch or tackle her!.)

Almost There

2009-08-20T10:21:00.000-04:00

Kellen is now sitting up all on his own beautifully. He does not need me there, hand hovered just a few inches from his back in case he falls. He is very steady and can even sit by himself in the bathtub. He is also really trying to crawl, especially if he sees something he wants that is out of his reach. Here are some photos of his crawling progress (and a few sitting).

Beach Vacation! Album 2

2009-08-12T10:36:00.000-04:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Beach Vacation 2009!

2009-08-09T11:42:00.001-04:00

Here is album # 1 from Kellen's first beach vacation. We had a wonderful time; Kellen did awesome! He loved the ocean, the waves, the sand, the breeze, the pool...everything! We celebrated Kellen's 8 month birthday on August 4th with a pool playdate with baby Kazie (and her parents) and then out to dinner at Sharky's by the waterway. Delicious and such a fun time! He also had his first taste of a 'table' food, puffs. The little apple-strawberry puffs that dissolve. I split them in half even though they dissolve, he seems to really like them. We were at the beach for a full week, I can't wait to take him back next year (or sooner)! We are so lucky to have such a good traveler!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Cute Little Monster

2009-07-31T20:11:00.006-04:00

We will be on our way to the beach in the morning! Kellen's first beach trip, we can't wait!

First Swim!

2009-07-27T11:15:00.012-04:00

On Saturday Kellen had his first swim! He did awesome! He was not scared of the water at all and had a great time. Next week we are headed to the beach so hopefully this is a good indicator of how the trip will go! Of course the ocean and sand are a bit different from a pool and concrete :) Ya Ya, Kellen, & Mommy

Kellen & Mommy

Kellen & Ya Ya...fun in the pool!

In the car after his first swim...Kellen enjoyed not having to wear a shirt in the car seat!

After swimming (and a bath) Kellen had his first meat...chicken with apples! We think he liked it, he was just very distracted by all the cool things to look at on Ya Ya's porch

He also had mango for the first time....we do not think he liked mango! I tried hiding a little in his rice cereal the next morning and he wouldn't eat that either!

But last night he had sweet potatoes, corn, and applesauce (his first try of corn) and loved it!

Summer Mountain Weekends

2009-07-27T10:47:00.011-04:00

We have had a wonderful time this summer going to the mountains. Here are some photos from the weekend before last. Getting ready for bed on Friday (7/17)

With Daddy in the mountains

Visiting with Ya Ya in the mountains. Ya Ya and Dave were in Blowing Rock celebrating their anniversary so we stopped by for a visit.

Sitting by himself!

Sitting (with some help from Ya Ya)

At the park in Valle Crucis after our picnic lunch (it was chilly that day)

On a stroll

Fun with Kellen!

2009-07-14T10:34:00.010-04:00

First fruit combo...apples and blueberries! A hit! Very yummy!

Good morning happy baby!

Kellen in his exersaucer/activity center. He LOVES it! It has some rockin' music. And when he is a little older we can turn it into an s-shaped table for him to walk around; very cool.

Kellen and Bailey. You saw him with Jasmine the cat. Here he is with 3 of our 5 dogs. He just thinks they are the funniest things, especially if he gets a little lick on the cheek. He is laughing hysterically in these photos, I wish I had it on video!

Kellen and Beusch

Kellen and Tasha (this one is hilarious; he was REALLY trying to talk to her, he thought she was just so funny)

Lots of playing=sleepy baby...night night

Da Da!

2009-07-07T22:11:00.000-04:00

Kellen said his first official (other than the occasional 'hi') word today....
Da Da!!!
He said it A LOT, over and over. Unfortunately "DaDa" wasn't there to hear it! But the doctor, my family, and his day care caregivers heard it loud and clear.
I can't believe it! He is just growing up so fast this past week. Rolling over, sitting on his own, pulling up, and now his first word!
Tonight we celebrated my brother's birthday (his birthday is on the 9th, but he will be leaving for the beach that day). Everyone is growing up! Happy Birthday Seth!

7 Months Old!

2009-07-07T11:59:00.000-04:00

Daddy & Kellen in the mountains, celebrating 7 months of fun!

Picnic time! Kellen loves rolling around on the picnic blanket!

Bouncing! Photo was blurry because he was bouncing so much!

Such a big boy!

Sitting on his own!

Independence Day Weekend!

2009-07-06T12:56:00.000-04:00

We had the absolute best Independence Day weekend! The only thing that could have made it better is if Tom had been off on Sunday too.
All 3 of us were off work/day care on Friday which was lovely. Friday morning we had a professional photo shoot done of Kellen and some family shots by our good friend Jennifer Coby of Coby Photography. The weather was great, not too hot and the shoot went really well! Kellen did awesome as usual. Afterwards we went and got coffee at a "new" (YEARS ago, before I met Tom, I used to frequent this place on a daily basis) favorite, Tate Street Coffee. The rest of the day we relaxed and went shopping for our picnic the next day.
On the 4th (also Kellen's 7 month birthday!) we went to the mountains! Once again, Kellen was an awesome traveler. Couldn't ask for a better baby! He slept the whole way there and the whole way back! We spent some time in Blowing Rock and had a picnic on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The weather was GORGEOUS, about 78 degrees. Just beautiful. Kellen LOVED the picnic and rolling around on the blanket. He enjoyed his applesauce and rice cereal while we enjoyed a delicious lunch. We headed home to watch the fireworks in the town we live in. It was a first for us to watch the fireworks there, instead of the city we work in/used to live in. We had a picnic in the car and watched the fireworks and Kellen loved them! I wasn't sure if he would be able to see them, but he could. He was in awe! I can't wait till next year!
It was a perfect 4th of July and 7 month birthday! (photos to come soon)

Rock, rock, rock, and ROLL!

2009-07-03T21:30:00.001-04:00

That's right, Kellen is rolling over! It's official, there have been 1-2 sightings in the past month, but none by mom and dad. Kellen stayed home sick with Tom on Thursday and apparently it is just what he needed. They had a wonderful father/son day. Kellen was on the move! That evening I got to see and it was amazing. I am so proud of him! He still needs a little rocking back and forth before rolling over, but he is getting faster at it by the day. Also, he has now started to be able to sit up on his own for short periods of time and stand while holding on to something BY HIMSELF for short periods of time. He really is growing up so fast right before our eyes! Here are some photos from Thursday and Friday of him rolling over. Also on Friday he had his first applesauce! He loves it! Even more than peaches I think!

*Kellen had his 7 month photoshoot on Friday. Jennifer Coby of Coby Photography did the shoot and it was awesome. Kellen was his usual happy go lucky self the entire time. He certainly is not camera shy (you can probably guess why since I take a TON of pictures). You can get a sneak preview of a few of the photos on the Coby Photography blog:

http://blog.cobyphoto.com/

Peaches, Jasmine, & Baseball

2009-06-30T15:20:00.018-04:00

That about sums up the past week. Kellen had peaches for the first time and LOVED them! His first fruit that he really enjoys. He has had them everyday for almost a week now. I mix in rice cereal with the peaches and it is a hit (with me as well, it really is good!)
First Peaches!
Waiting patiently for his peaches at Ya Ya's house.

Hanging out at Ya Ya's

Playing in the rainforest in his new playroom at home. His latest trick is pulling the mirror (and any other toy he can reach) off of the ring it is attached to. He certainly has not outgrown his rainforest mat yet, he still loves it and just seems to be learning more things he can do on it on a weekly basis.

On a car ride with Mommy and Daddy (and Mr. Giraffe)!

Happy Baby!

Kellen and our cat, Jasmine. Kellen adores Jasmine. He is just captivated by her. She walks in the room and his attention is 100% focused on her. She can even stop his tears. He is truly fascinated by her, much more so than the dogs. He really likes to pet Jasmine as well and she seems to enjoy the attention. She is equally interested in him, I just don't think she wants her tail used as a toy!

Go Red Sox!

Kellen enjoys watching the baseball games with Daddy (and usually Mommy too). This is the only tv he really watches. I think he likes the movement and colors on the screen.

Little baseball fan!

Happy First Father's Day Tom!

2009-06-21T23:37:00.000-04:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T20:45:00.000-04:00

Happy Father's Day everyone! We spent our day in the mountains and had a wonderful time! Daddy's My Hero!

After eating lunch in the mountains

Hanging out with Daddy on his first Father's Day!

Asleep in the umbrella stroller. This is how Kellen spent a lot of his day, the mountains were tiring!

It was VERY windy (winds in excess of 40 mph), Kellen somehow made a little shelter for himself by pulling down his sunhat and holding Mr. Giraffe. He did this himself and it worked!

NC Mountains, Blue Ridge Parkway

Almost Summer Weekend

2009-06-21T00:30:00.000-04:00

Here are some photos of how we spent the last few days of Spring 2009!Happy to be home from day care! Playing with Daddy and Mr. Giraffe

Friday night dinner with friends (Kellen enjoyed munching on Mr. Giraffe)

It was a long week! A sleepy boy and Mr. Giraffe ready to go to bed and start the weekend!

Saturday afternoon fun! A special treat; taking a bath in the duck tub!

Saturday night we had an awesome time with some good friends! It was nice just to relax, hang out, and roast a marshmallow or two (or 3 or 4, who's counting)!

Starting to Feel a little Better!

2009-06-19T17:30:00.001-04:00

Here are some photos from earlier in the week, as we all tried to recover from our spring fevers/colds. Such a big boy! He wants to stand all the time now.

Some down time with Daddy. Winding down from the day.

Asleep in the carseat with his favorite Mr. Giraffe.

Starting to feel a little better now.My happy baby!

Someone has a lot to say!

Sweet Kellen

Under the Weather but Still Having Fun

2009-06-19T15:48:00.013-04:00

We may not having been feeling up to par, but we still managed to have some fun! Here are some pictures of the past week or so. Kellen came to visit mom at work! He was very interested in my desk. (6/9)

Just playing around

He loves to show us his feet

Getting ready for bed (6/10)

Playing in his activity center (6/13)

Who is that cute baby?

First peas! (6/13)

Hanging out on Sunday. Waiting to start the early Father's Day celebration with Grandpa, Uncle Seth, and Aunt Mary.

Weekend Before Last

2009-06-17T15:19:00.006-04:00

I am way behind on blog posts. I apologize! It seems like we have been busy (fun busy) and all 3 of us were sick for awhile (not fun sick). But we are all recovering and starting to feel like ourselves again. So I'm back with pictures from the weekend before last! Enjoying some Starbucks time with Mom and Dad in Greensboro on Sunday morning (6/7). You will be seeing a lot more of a certain someone in this photo...Mr. Giraffe. He has been quickly upgraded to absolute favorite toy status. He now goes everywhere with us. Kellen adores Mr. Giraffe!

Ready to party! Headed out the door that same day to go to Gracie's first birthday party!

At the party getting some love from Mom.

Sleepy boy

The end of a fun weekend!

Bananas!

2009-06-10T17:17:00.003-04:00

Kellen had his first bananas on Saturday. He liked them better than pears. But so far nothing compares to his first love; green beans!

Half Birthday Celebration

2009-06-05T15:52:00.012-04:00

Kellen started his 1/2 Birthday off in such a great mood. I think he knew it was his special day! Hanging out yesterday morning while Mom got ready for work.

Yesterday evening we had supper at Ya Ya's house. Kellen had his first fruit, pears!

First bite of pears

More pears please!

Looking good!

Yummy pears

After dinner we had a cake to celebrate Kellen's half birthday! The pears were Kellen's special treat; he couldn't have any cake unfortunately. I asked the pediatrician's office, just to make sure I wasn't depriving him for no reason! Soon enough though, he will certainly be having cake at his 1st Birthday party! He liked looking at the candles though!

The cake had 6 star candles for each of his 6 months

6 MONTHS!!!!!!

2009-06-04T10:56:00.004-04:00

Kellen Thomas is 6 months old today!!!!!!

We can't believe our baby boy is already half a year old! He has changed so much in the past 6 months. He is growing in leaps and bounds. He has made us the happiest, proudest parents around. Our lives have changed in the best possible ways and we can't imagine life with out him. He just makes everything more vibrant, more fun, more exciting. Happy 6 month birthday Kellen! We love you!

Fun in the Stroller & Sweet Potatoes

2009-06-02T09:32:00.007-04:00

Kellen took his first stroll in the umbrella stroller yesterday. He loves it, I love it. It is so lightweight and easy to maneuver. He just giggled and 'talked' the whole time. A new favorite of ours definitely! He loves going to the grocery store or Target and this is going to be a much easier/lighter way to take him. Woo hoo! A barefoot stroller ride!

Later that evening...Sweet potatoes! I'm not sure he likes sweet potatoes as much as carrots and green beans. It took him awhile to get into them. But when he did, he seemed to like them okay. About as much as squash I would say.

Having Fun!

2009-06-01T16:07:00.015-04:00

Kellen has been having a lot of fun lately. Just smiling, laughing, and squealing with delight all the time now. He has found his voice! He enjoyed his last weekend as a 5 month old.

At the store with Daddy

Hanging out with Megan on Saturday

See my puppy! Kellen is loving Baby Beusch lately!

Hiding behind Baby Beusch

Apparently Baby Beusch is tasty

Sleepy baby, sleepy puppy

Memorial Day Weekend warning: long post!

2009-05-27T11:43:00.027-04:00

We had an eventful Memorial Day Weekend! On Saturday Tom's brother Jim arrived from New York. It was nice to have him visit! This was the first time he had been to NC to visit us and the first time one of Tom's siblings has met Kellen. On Sunday Kellen was baptised. The baptism was just awesome, I am so glad we did it. It took a lot to make it happen but it was worth it. It was a moving experience, the priest was great, the sermon was interesting, and Kellen could not have done better! He didn't cry or get upset at all, not even when dunked in the water. He looked absolutely angelic in his christening gown (the gown has been in the Boyer family for 100 years!). After the baptism my mom hosted a delicious brunch at her house which was so much fun. We got to spend the afternoon with Kellen's godparents and their parents, my family, and Tom's brother, it was a lot of fun and the food was wonderful. It really was a perfect day. Memorial day we hung out at home and then went out to dinner just the three of us. Also, Kellen had his first carrots and really seemed to enjoy them. Lots of fun, quality family time this weekend. We needed it! As of yesterday, Tom is scheduled for surgery on June 3rd to have his gall bladder removed because we recently discovered he has gall stones. He has been pretty uncomfortable which is why we did not take our scheduled trip to the mountains this past weekend. We are all looking forward to having him feeling better after the surgery!
Below are a bunch of pictures from the weekend!

J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets!

Kellen, dressed in his Jets gear to have lunch with the guys (Uncle Jim and Tom) on Saturday.

Such a happy boy! In his baptism gown at home after the ceremony with Dad.

Special baptism shoes from Grandma Boyer

Baptism cake for the reception/brunch

Getting messy with green beans!

He loves his veggies!

Lately Kellen likes to play with his toes and feet while eating his dinner. Bath time quickly follows dinner time!
Memorial Day morning cuddling with his first toy ever, Baby Beusch, a stuffed animal German Shepherd we got for him in the mountains, years before he was born.

Ready to go out to dinner with Mom and Dad

Bring on the carrots!

First carrots!

He likes to help feed himself by holding the spoon

Yummy carrots!

We hope everyone enjoyed their weekend!

Green Beans!

2009-05-18T11:01:00.015-04:00

Kellen had green beans for the first time last night...and he LOVED them!

Bring on the beans!

First bite

'I think I might just like these beans...'

'I do like these beans!'

'Oh my, I think I love green beans!'

'You can trust me with the bowl!'

'Hand over the beans!'

'Okay, I'll just rest my hand here on the bowl'
'Green beans, my new favorite!'
'Thank you for the beans!'

The Weekend

2009-05-18T10:37:00.004-04:00

We had a good weekend despite our change in plans. Originally we were headed to the mountains on Saturday, but bad weather and car trouble stood in our way. We had a fun day relaxing at home instead, well, Kellen and I did. Tom spent Saturday replacing the back brakes on the Tahoe!

Kellen lounging around Saturday morning

Sunday we had lunch with Ya Ya, Dave, and Seth. After lunch we went to the Bicentennial Garden and Arboretum. It was a rainy day for sure, but we had fun tromping through the puddles.
Kellen enjoying a stroll in the arboretum

Mother's Day 2009!

2009-05-11T14:52:00.005-04:00

I hope everyone had a Happy Mother's Day! This was my first mother's day and I have been looking forward to it for quite some time. The weather was beautiful and we had a great time. Kellen was dedicated at the Quaker meeting that my family attends. The whole family and Kellen's godparents came and that meant a lot to me. Kellen was so well-behaved! I was so proud of him! Afterwards my sister, her boyfriend, and my Dad prepared a brunch at my mom's house. It was delicious! A big thank you to them and to my mom, the day was wonderful.

My mother's day gift from Tom and Kellen! A very unique and personal necklace with Kellen's name and birthdate, birthstone crystal, and star charm with the phrase "I love you more than all the stars in the sky."

Thursday Morning

2009-05-07T13:03:00.006-04:00

It was a hectic morning in the Boyer household today! We were up early and rushing to get ready for day care/work/court. As you probably guessed, the day care was for Kellen, work for Mom, and court for Dad (work related trial). Kellen was very patient while Mom and Dad prepared for the day.

Kellen, waiting patiently, admiring his toes, and probably wondering why Mom is taking pictures when she should be getting ready for work!

Kellen is getting picked up early from day care today to go spend the afternoon at Ya Ya's house. After work Tom and I will meet up there and we will all have our regular Thursday dinner together.

Happy Thursday!

5 Months!

2009-05-04T12:20:00.002-04:00

Kellen is 5 months old today!!!

Kellen, this morning, hanging out with Dad before day care/work
New this past month:

'talking' A LOT
a consistent bedtime of 8:00 pm
sleeping through the night (most of the time!)
wanting to 'stand' almost all the time and really putting weight on his legs
first 'solid' foods: rice cereal, squash, and sweet potato
expressing interest in and playing with toys and books
holding his arms out when he wants to be picked up
sitting up very well while supported and holding his head up independently
officially growing up to fast!

A Lovely Weekend

2009-05-04T12:01:00.008-04:00

The first weekend in May was a fun one! Friday night Tom and I went on a date night while Kellen's godparents (our best friends), Megan and David babysat. We enjoyed our date, a big thank you to Megan and David!

Saturday, Kellen and I went to a Kentucky Derby Cook Out where there were 8 babies under the age of 1. Kellen was the youngest. We had a great time! The food was awesome and the company even better.

On Sunday, Kellen and I went with Ya Ya and Seth to Chapel Hill to visit Aunt Mary and Eldon. We walked to Foster's Market and had brunch. The trip was short and sweet. We really enjoyed spending some time with Mary and Eldon. We went back to Greensboro and spent the rest of the day relaxing at Ya Ya's house which is always fun.

Getting ready to leave for Chapel Hill on Sunday morning
Just 'standing' around with Ya Ya at Foster's MarketEnjoying time with Eldon and Aunt Mary at brunch
Playing at Ya Ya's

The Move Upstairs

2009-04-29T13:55:00.011-04:00

Last night we FINALLY moved upstairs into our master bedroom! We have been using the downstairs bedroom for over a year and have been looking forward to reclaiming our room. We moved downstairs last April for my bedrest following the April 11th frozen embryo transfer...and we all know how that turned out! After that we decided to stay downstairs so that I could avoid walking up and down the stairs several times a day. It turned out to be a good decision since I was put on bedrest right after entering my 2nd trimester. Kellen stayed upstairs a couple nights when he was very very young, but has not been up there since. So everything was new and exciting to him! Kellen was excited about the move! He really seemed to like the new room with it's big glass double doors, there were lots of new things to explore.

Checking out Mom and Dad's bed in the upstairs bedroom. Kellen took everything in, looking at all the different things upstairs. One thing remained the same...there is still a ceiling fan upstairs, just like the one downstairs...phew!

Kellen is VERY vocal about the new room. Here he is telling us just how he feels about it. It sounds like he likes it!

Watching baseball highlights with Dad

Just hanging out and taking it all in

'This has been fun, but isn't it bedtime now?' Kellen's newest thing, holding his arms out when he wants to be lifted up. It took me awhile to decide whether or not this was a purposeful action of his and I do believe it is! Incredibly cute, he is getting so big!

Almost bedtime...getting ready for bed with Dad in the new room

Early Morning Happy Laughs

2009-04-28T08:45:00.003-04:00

You can't help but be a morning person with Kellen around! Here he is about 6:45 this morning getting ready to leave for daycare. He is quite the popular boy at the daycare! I got called into the office after dropping him off the other day just so the director could tell me how much everyone enjoyed him and how many of the caregivers always want to hold him when he's awake. He is such a charmer these days!

Happy Birthday Tom!

2009-04-27T14:22:00.011-04:00

Yesterday was Tom's 36th birthday! We celebrated with our best friends on Saturday night (when Tom got home from work). A little surprise get together with pizza, wings, and strawberry shortcake.

Kellen and Tom on Sunday morning

Happy Baby!

2009-04-21T11:07:00.002-04:00

I think Kellen was excited to be lounging around with both Mom AND Dad last night!

Squash!!

2009-04-20T14:32:00.005-04:00

Yesterday Kellen had his first vegetable, squash! He was hesitant at first, but I really think that he liked it. He certainly smiled a lot and got very messy! I ended up making it myself, not difficult at all. I think I am going to attempt to make the majority of his first vegetables and fruits.

Lazy Day

2009-04-20T14:17:00.007-04:00

Kellen and I had a relaxing day on Saturday. Hanging out outside in the beautiful weather. Spending some time with the dogs. Napping. And having supper with Grandpa.
Kellen, napping in Mom and Dad's bed.

Still napping. But, he has learned to roll on his side some. Not all the way over yet, but getting there!
Saying goodnight on the speaker phone with Daddy! Most of the time, I'll put the phone on speaker so Kellen can hear familiar voices. I think he can definitely recognize a few voices now. He is very interested in the phone.

(Saturday April 18th was also the one year anniversary of our positive blood test (48.1 hcg quant) with Kellen. The day that we told our closest friends and family that the FET worked!)

Through the Night!!

2009-04-17T09:33:00.003-04:00

Guess who slept a whole 10 hours without waking last night? Kellen! I couldn't believe it!

He slept from 8:45 pm-6:45 am.

Kellen, after waking up this morning, a happy, well rested baby!

The First Positive

2009-04-16T14:05:00.004-04:00

On Wednesday April 16, 2008 we got our first positive home pregnancy test for Kellen. It was early in the morning before work. I took the test, knowing that it would be negative, put it down, and went about my business getting ready for work. Before leaving I went to get the test to check it just in case and throw it away. To my disbelief it was positive! A faint positive, but a positive none the less. I showed Tom and he agreed...positive. We were guardedly ecstatic, if that is possible. My hcg blood test wasn't scheduled until the following Monday (we had it moved up to that Friday, with repeat test on Monday). We were on cloud 9. One year later, this morning, I got ready for work with Kellen by my side. Charming me the way he does in the morning and late at night. (He is extremely smiley in the middle of the night and early morning, we have taken to referring to those times as his trying to 'charm' us and everything around us, especially the ceiling fan, whom he has lengthy conversations with each morning.) What a difference a year makes! We, as much as anyone, know that a positive pregnancy test does not always equal a healthy baby. We are blessed to have Kellen in our lives. Here he is, a very sleepy, charming boy, this morning, April 16, 2009:

4 Month Check Up

2009-04-14T15:29:00.005-04:00

Today was Kellen's 4 month check up. He did great. Weighing in at 16 lbs. 1 oz. he lost a little weight during his sickness, but is still in the 70th percentile for weight. He is 25 inches long and in the 50th percentile for height. He is also in the 50th percentile for head circumference. Right on target! A very healthy boy! He had the rosiest cheeks at the doctor's office and was charming everyone. Up until the shots...once again they were extremely hard on Mom! Kellen cried and I fought back the tears. He quieted right down afterwards and did good until a few hours later. He is at home with Dad today and having a rough day. Same as his first round of shots. Poor little guy! I know Tom is taking good care of him and hopefully he will start to feel better soon!
In more exciting news, we get to start him on veggies! I think we will start first with squash. I have not decided whether I will make the food myself or buy it prepared. After we introduce a few veggies we can move on to fruits in a few weeks. I just know he is going to love the new variety in his diet!

Kellen getting ready (more like waiting for Mom and Dad to get ready) for his dr. appt.

From Fingers to Thumb!

2009-04-14T15:22:00.006-04:00

New this week:
from fingers...

....to thumb

Feet were discovered this past month and then he seemed to lose interest for awhile. But now they are back and more interesting than ever!

Happy Easter!

2009-04-14T15:00:00.008-04:00

Happy Easter!

Hanging out on Easter Eve with Mom

A very appropriate Easter egg from Ya Ya to Mom. She picked this out last year in hopes that this year would be the year!

Kellen's Easter baskets

Easter books and treats from family!

The Easter bunny came to visit the Boyer house!

Kellen's 1st Easter! (4/12/09)

Last Year

2009-04-10T10:48:00.003-04:00

Last year on April 11th we went to Premier Fertility in High Point for our last embryo transfer. We had 3 frozen embryos from our IVF cycle in September of 2007. It was to be our last attempt and we felt good about it from the beginning. The transfer went smoothly, much better than the last two and we left the lab feeling happy and at peace with the procedure. It was no longer in our hands, if it ever had been. Little did we know, looking at the picture of our 3 precious embryos, that we were catching one of the first glimpses of our little boy.

Photos of Kellen! (St. Patrick's Day, 4 Month B'day Weekend, & Rice Cereal!)

2009-04-07T15:20:00.022-04:00

Mommy's Lucky Charm!!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Such a happy baby after a bath!

Who is that handsome baby??

Such a cutie...hanging out with Mom on a Friday night (4/3/09)

Strong baby! Trying to crawl already during tummy time! (4/3/09)

It's a good morning! Kellen is 4 months old today! (4/4/09)

Getting ready for a fun day at the park!

Celebrating Kellen's 4 month birthday with a family trip to the park

His latest choice for teething, his hand, it's hard to get a photo without his fingers in his mouth! (4/4/09)

Day 1 of rice cereal...Kellen's first "solid" food! (4/4/09)

Day 2 with rice cereal...I think he remembered it from the day before and was more into it this go round! (4/5/09)

Kellen's Big Weekend-Pictures to Come

2009-04-06T09:25:00.002-04:00

On Saturday Kellen turned 4 months old and had his first 'solid' food, rice cereal. I have pictures from our excursion to the park and the rice cereal experience. As soon as I can get them on a disk I will share (I'm hoping tomorrow). He wasn't so sure about the rice cereal at first but then we could tell he liked it. If only more would go in his mouth rather than on his chin! The second try he was really into it and wanted to hold the spoon for himself. He doesn't quite have the coordination to feed himself yet but he enjoyed trying. Happy Monday!

4 Months Old

2009-04-03T13:53:00.003-04:00

Kellen will be 4 months old tomorrow! Lately he has really started to set his own schedule. Bedtime has become earlier than it used to be now that he goes to day care. What I've found is that if he doesn't nap at day care for at least an hour then he is asleep by 8:00pm. If he does nap at day care he is asleep between 8:30 pm and 9:15 pm. He's been getting up sometime between 1 am and 3 am wanting to eat. So I'd say we are up with him for about an hour once a night and then he is back down until around 7:30 am. Not too bad. I like knowing about when he is going to need to go to bed and get up. It's just another sign that he is growing up. I weighed him at home last week and he came in at 16 lbs. 8 oz. He goes to the doctor on the 14th so we'll find out officially then.
Our exciting news for this weekend...Kellen will be having his first 'solid' food tomorrow! Rice cereal! This should be fun for all of us, I'll be sure to document with pictures. I hope he enjoys it. We are looking forward to a family weekend together with nice weather! Tom and I are going to baptism class on Sunday afternoon so we can learn all about Kellen's upcoming baptism.
Have a wonderful weekend!

Precious Time

2009-04-01T12:10:00.002-04:00

There just aren't enough hours in the day! Honestly I never really felt like that before. It seemed I always had time/made time to get done what I wanted/needed to get done (except when I was restricted from doing a lot of things I wanted/needed to do while on bedrest). But now, everything feels rushed. If Kellen is awake when I leave in the morning, I get to give him a quick kiss goodbye, but usually he is asleep. By the time I get home from picking him up at daycare it's at least 6:30 pm. Just enough time to feed him, change him, bathe him, change him again, put him in his pj's, maybe a quick playtime, and it's off to bed. He has not been napping at daycare more than about 20 minutes. Because of that he is more than ready for bed at 8:00 pm. An hour and a half in the evenings with him is just not enough time!
I ended up asking my work about a possible reduced schedule (30 hrs. vs. 40 hrs. a week). The answer was 'no', they can't spare me even for just 10 hours. Though it feels nice to be needed and appreciated at work, it made me sad to know that it wasn't an option. I don't want to/can't quit my job. I enjoy it and we need the income. Also, I know I am lucky to have a job. Especially a job that I really enjoy. So, I'm stuck. I do not like to complain. But in this situation, I'm a bit more vocal. It's about more time with my son. And I think that is important. I know millions of people all over the world deal with this same situation. I know I am not the only one. But that doesn't make it any less of a big deal to me.
Well, enough of that! Kellen will be 16 weeks old tomorrow! Ah, I can't believe it, Saturday he will be 4 months old. He has the cutest laugh and smile and we are loving every minute with him. Soon he will be taking his first trip to the mountains, I hope he enjoys it as much as we always have. I will hopefully be posting some recent pictures soon. Have a wonderful Wednesday!

15 weeks

2009-03-26T09:51:00.002-04:00

Kellen is 15 weeks old today. Oh my, time has flown by. On one hand I can't believe he is already almost 4 months, but on the other hand I can't imagine life without him and it seems as if he has been here longer, and in a way he has.
This week is his first full week of day care and it seems to be going pretty good. I feel as if I don't have enough time with him at all. I may look into working part time if it is at all possible. Even if I could cut my day down by an hour I think it would help. We'll see, I don't think my company has any part time options but it couldn't hurt to ask.
Kellen is growing and changing everyday. New this month:

teething (so soon, I know!)
laughing (the funniest little laugh I have ever heard, I'll try to get it on video for you)
"watching" tv
saying "ah-goo"
"holding" his bottle (he can do it if it doesn't have much milk, but if it does, it's a bit too heavy and he needs help)
playing with the toys hanging on the carseat handle
discovered his feet (right now he just likes to lift them up and look at them)
chewing on his hands (probably a part of teething)
holding (and wanting to sleep with & chew on) his 'blankie' (a cloth diaper we had been using as a burp cloth)
hugging his stuffed green dinosaur
smiling a lot and seeming to really recognize certain voices & people

I can only imagine what his 4th month will bring!

Good Morning!

2009-03-24T08:40:00.002-04:00

Good morning!
Tom has training Monday and Tuesday this week so I have taken Kellen to day care yesterday and today. It has gone smoothly and I have had no problem getting him there and to work early. Today I got to the day care and decided that since I had plenty of time before work I would stay and give Kellen his morning bottle. It was a good decision because not only did I get to spend that time with Kellen (and he is so charming in the morning!), but I got to chat with one of his caretakers there and get a better feel for the place. I felt comfortable and I felt that Kellen felt comfortable. When I left I put him in his crib and he was smiling up at the mobile.
The transition is going well so far. I am tired at the end of the day though! The hard part is after not seeing him all day I want to spend my time in the evening just hanging out with Kellen (and Tom when he is home!). But there is much to do to get ready for the next day which takes up my time with him. If only I could get off work a couple hours earlier, I think it would make a big difference.
My mom has helped by getting Kellen early on these days that I have taken him so that he does not have to spend the entire day at day care. That eases my mind so much. Knowing that he is getting some quality family time in the afternoons. Well off to do some actual work! I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

This Day, Last Year

2009-03-23T16:49:00.000-04:00

This day last year was Easter. This is a photo I took on our way home from Easter dinner and festivities at my mom's house last year. March 23rd, 2008 was a special day for the Boyer family, it marked the first day of the fertility cycle that led to Kellen. I remember thinking that day how poignant that was that it was Easter. It seemed like a good sign. And it was!

Back to the "Real World"

2009-03-19T10:12:00.002-04:00

Hello all!
I am officially back to work this week. My first day back was March 16th. I was extremely nervous; both for me going back to work and for Kellen starting day care. My transition back to the 'real world' of work has gone smoothly and I am happy to be back. I miss spending my days with Kellen, I miss mommy/baby yoga, and all the little things we did together. I have to admit I do not like sending him to day care. He went on Monday but was out Tuesday and Wednesday with a cold. When I picked him up on Monday he was the only baby left, I guess all the other parents get off work earlier and therefore pick up earlier. I got him home and he just didn't smell like himself. I gave him a bath and he was back to that 'baby' smell! I hope that over time it becomes easier. I love my job, I just wish working didn't mean that he had to go to day care. As this first week nears an end, I feel as if we have run a marathon. It is hectic scheduling all the drop off and pick up.
I hope everyone is doing well! I hope to post more often now that I am back on the computer more.

Kellen!

2009-03-12T20:37:00.014-04:00

So sorry for the absence. We've been busy around here. I go back to work on Monday, which means Kellen starts daycare on Monday :(

I have been incredibly lucky to be out this long (14 weeks!) and spend this time with him. He is growing and changing everyday, such a smiling, happy baby. Here are some photos from the past few months.

3 Months Old!

2009-03-04T09:54:00.000-05:00

Kellen on his 3 month birthday (3/4/09)!

2 Months Old!

2009-02-04T15:47:00.000-05:00

One Month Old!

2009-01-04T15:46:00.000-05:00

Christmas 2008

2008-12-25T11:59:00.000-05:00

Kellen

2008-12-20T00:03:00.016-05:00

Wish on a Star

A Glimpse of Kellen through the past almost 3 years

Easter Egg Hunt!

A Few Photos

Enjoying Being 2!

Kellen is 2!! (warning: shamefully long picture post!)

First Hair Cut (Trim)!

Annual Christmas Tree Hunt!

Story Time

23 Months Old!

Halloween 2010

Definitely a Full on Toddler Now!

22 Months Old!

Some Favorites (from Kellen's 18mth photoshoot)

20 Months Old!

Fun at Ya Ya & Pa Pa's

Beach!

Water Baby!

Yummy Corn & Weekend Fun

First Visit to the Children's Museum

Father's Day 2010 (a little early :)

Little Rebel

18 Months Old!!!!!! Kellen's 1& 1/2 Year Birthday Weekend

17 Months Old!

Best Friends

Happy Birthday Tom!

Class of '00 Reunion Wknd BBQ

Saturday mornings & Easter Cards

16 Months Old!

Easter Egg Hunt!

Fun with Friends

15 Months Old!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Exploring (and 'helping' unpack) the new house

14 Months Old! (now with photos)

13 Months Old!

Winter 2009

Kellen is 1 Year Old!!!!

11 Months Old!

Kellen's First Halloween!

10 Months Old!

9 Months Old!

One Hour Until...

Little Body Big Heart

Kellen & Jasmine

Almost There

Beach Vacation! Album 2

Beach Vacation 2009!

Cute Little Monster

First Swim!

Summer Mountain Weekends

Fun with Kellen!

Da Da!

7 Months Old!

Independence Day Weekend!

Rock, rock, rock, and ROLL!

Peaches, Jasmine, & Baseball

Happy First Father's Day Tom!

Happy Father's Day!

Almost Summer Weekend

Starting to Feel a little Better!

Under the Weather but Still Having Fun

Weekend Before Last

Bananas!

Half Birthday Celebration

6 MONTHS!!!!!!

Fun in the Stroller & Sweet Potatoes

Having Fun!

Memorial Day Weekend *warning: long post!*

Green Beans!

The Weekend

Mother's Day 2009!

Thursday Morning

5 Months!

A Lovely Weekend

The Move Upstairs

Early Morning Happy Laughs

Happy Birthday Tom!

Happy Baby!

Squash!!

Memorial Day Weekend warning: long post!