I didn't think anyone out here got sick...

I thought that you always heard about people moving to the West to get out of the humid weather to avoid colds, sinus issues, etc...?

I guess I was wrong. At least for Maggie the situation is wrong. You guessed it, Daddy leaves town for the week and Maggie gets sick with a nasty cold. Now, usually, when Maggie is under the weather it usually does not affect her sleeping habits. Ha, ha, ha on me last night. Poor thing was up from 10:30 to about 2 this morning, not upset, but just wanted to be up so she could breathe out of her nose.

So, it's been a long day around here. We are probably going to the doctor in the morning because she's also been pulling at her ears and we all know what that means. Thankfully, our doctor here has walk-in hours from 7-8 each morning for sick kids. I'm crossing my fingers that she sleeps better tonight. (****UPDATE****) We both got a good nights sleep last night. We have returned from the doctor where, as mommy thought, Maggie's right ear is infected. So, yet another round of medicine. The decision about going to an ear nose and throat doctor for tubes will be made at her 15 month check up in three weeks. Sigh...

We also had to skip our playgroup this morning because of the cold. Hopefully, we can go Friday.

On a better note, Andy arrived in Atlanta just fine yesterday and is having a good time and learning a lot. He says his skin felt instantly hydrated from the presence of humidity.

Here are some pictures of Maggie before she got the cold.

Katie

Swimming and Other Fun Stuff

Hopefully, you will begin to hear from me on a regular basis. We have overcome all of our technology battles: broken computer monitor, no internet, broken camera... .

We purchased a new digital camera over the weekend and we are learning how to use it and we are, so far, very impressed. We purchased a Canon PowerShot A530 if anyone is in the market for a digital camera. Anyway...

We took Maggie to the neighborhood pool yesterday afternoon (we have tried this two times previously but the water was just too cold for Maggie's temperament). The third time was a charm. Maggie was a little unsure at first but by the end of the pool time, she was having a blast.

After a good nap, we then ventured to a park a few miles away. Of course, I forgot the camera. But Maggie had a great time swinging.

Today, we actually went to church- Desert Spring United Methodist Church. Yes, for those of you who know us, we are Baptist. However, living in Las Vegas had proved to be difficult for those of us who would like to go to church and are not Mormon. Seriously. So, we decided that we would try a few different denominations and go from there. The families consensus after church today was a good one but we are going to continue to pray about it.

On another note, Maggie and I will be trying out two different playgroups this week. We will be going to the park on Wednesday and going veggie picking at an orchard close to our house on Friday. Keep your fingers crossed because Maggie and I both need friends (and I'm not sure who needs/wants them more- her or me).

Andy is headed back to Atlanta this week for training and will be gone Tuesday through Friday. Hopefully my newly cut hair will not be all gray when he returns!

Have a good start to the week.

Katie


I'm not so sure about this pool business. 


This water feels good! 


Splish splashin' away... 


I look so much like my Daddy. 


Enjoying a book and milk before bedtime. 


Maggie can't decide if she wants to get dressed for church or play with Jack Pete. 


I love Mommy's new haircut! 

Extra, Extra, Read All About It

WE HAVE CABLE AND INTERNET FINALLY!!!!

No, we're not excited at all. The cable company actually showed up an hour early yesterday and installed cable and our modem. We even have TiVo back too.

Okay, so now that I actually sound quite ridiculous... It's just nice to be able to go to The Weather Channel to see just how hot it is or watch something other than Peoples Court on ABC.

Oh, and our digital camera bit the dust over the weekend so we are planning to go buy another one over the weekend. Now that we have the internet, we can't take pictures:)!

Maggie and I had a fun time visiting with Papa and Gigi while they were here. Gigi did very well running the half marathon at the Rock and Roll Marathon in San Diego on Sunday. However, Papa and Gigi had to go back to Mississippi this morning and Maggie is very sad.

Bumps and bruises. Everyone had warned me to expect the bumps and bruises on Maggie now that she is walking. Goodness, that child has at least four bruises on her elbows and not a half hour ago ran into the door in her bathroom and is now sporting a nice bump and bruise on her forehead. Thankfully we have not had an injury that drew blood since her birthday.

Anyway, here is a picture comparison that I have been wanting to do since Maggie's birthday but without a computer, internet, etc... it has been delayed. However, just look at how much our little girl has changed since she was born.

Maggie at Sea World

I've been a bachelor this weekend, my only companion being Jack Pete. Katie and Maggie have been in San Diego with Gigi and Papa. I wanted to go, but month-end closing at work prevented me from doing so. However, my girls come home tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited. I do have some pictures that Gigi emailed.

Here's what else is going on with us:

We still have no cable or internet service. Our digital camera met its maker this weekend and I think the VCR broke today. Needless to say, we have been very humbled technologically. Hopefully there's some light at the end of the tunnel. We have an appointment with the cable company on Tuesday. It has been a nasty battle, with one service rep telling Katie that we might be 1 year away from service. We've had calls to their corporate office in Atlanta.

I reported a few weeks ago that Maggie had started toddling along. It has now developed into full-fledged I'm-going-everywhere-on-my-own-and-you-can't-stop-me walking. This caused a nice little incident at Barnes and Noble last week which ended in me hauling her out of the store on my shoulder while she was screaming bloody murder. I can tell now that this is going to be fun.

In other news, IT'S HOT IN THE DESERT! 107 yesterday and today, and it's only June. God help us all.

That's it for now.

~Andy

Grandparents and the Hoover Dam

What a week we are having. Most importantly, Meme and Pap are here!!!!! They arrived on Monday night and Maggie is having a blast with them. We drove to the Hoover Dam yesterday. It is about an hour away from our house. It was so neat. And, yes we went on the Dam tour (ha, ha, ha- I just had to).

Meme and Pap are touring the gypsum plant with Andy right now and I am getting my rare few minutes of internet use since the cable company hates us. It may actually be another whole month before we can get service. And, guess what we are waiting on-our address to be input into the computer- CRAZY!!!

Anyway, here are some pictures from the Hoover Dam.

Katie

W * A * L * K * I * N * G

Big news this week. Maggie is walking. She began taking 2 or 3 steps late last week, but by Tuesday she had made it from the kitchen to the living room. We'll probably never catch her again.

Sorry, no pictures with this update.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!!!

We have had a great mother's day weekend together. We did some shopping yesterday and Maggie has been as busy as a bee playing. She is getting so close to walking, we are just holding our breath. She will take anywhere from two to five steps at a time without help from us.

I was given a first edition original Maggie Kennedy for Mother's Day. Andy helped Maggie color her first picture for one of my Mother's Day present. Needless to say, Maggie and I will be headed to the craft store this week to purchase a frame for it.

Also, Maggie is now sporting two new teeth on top. So, that's six teeth total.

On another note, congratulations are in order for our friends Toby and Eron Hamblin. Toby, Eron and big brother Todd, welcomed Ellen Brooke this morning. What a great Mother's Day gift.

Here are some pictures from Maggie's weekend.

Katie

99 Degrees and Rising

Well folks, the high tomorrow is 99 and our first time in triple digits should be on Monday. I'm amazed that it's that hot and there is still snow on some of the mountains.

Maggie is feeling better for those of you who knew she was sick last week. Not much else has been going on. We are in the middle of painting the condo, so that's keeping me busy at night. That's a good thing considering that we STILL do not have cable or internet service. We've been given an estimate of just 2 more weeks, so we'll see.

We found out that Meme and Pap are coming in another week and a half. Maggie can't wait!

Finally, here are a few pictures from aroun the house. You'll notice that 3 of them are outside. Look at the ground/dirt. You don't have to worry about weeds when you live in the middle of the desert.

~Andy

Jack Pete is coming to Las Vegas

Jack Pete will be making his first trip on an airplane today. He'll catch his flight in Jackson, connect in Atlanta and arrive here in Las Vegas tonight around 7:45. We are very excited that our little family will be complete again. I must admit I'm a little worried about him though, having to go through all of this by himself.

We're still getting settled in. Paint is going up on the walls. Gigi helped Katie and I pick out most of the colors while she was here visiting last week. We still have no internet or cable, and are forced to be entertained by the two channels that we can get with our rabbit ears. We're giving the cable company a few more days and then we may have to start checking into other options.

Here are a few pictures of the last few days (including Maggie's first Easter basket and her birthday present from her mother and me, a red wagon).

~Andy

First Birthday Party and Moving Status

Note: Sorry for the delay. We're moving and we do not have internet access at home right yet, so we're having to post when we can.

Maggie's first birthday party was last Saturday. The theme was Barnyard Animals and all of her grandparents were there. In fact, she had a big crowd. She really enjoyed her own smash cake, although it looked fairly disgusting to the rest of us by the time she was finished with it.

Katie and I flew back to Las Vegas on Sunday. The keys to the house were ready on Tuesday afternoon, and the movers arrived on Wednesday morning. We're almost settled. We plan to paint Maggie's bedroom this weekend before she arrives with Gigi on Tuesday. Jack Pete will be out the following Sunday.

More updates later. Have a great Easter weekend.

All About Maggie

All About Maggie

Name: Margaret Anne Kennedy

Age: One year- TODAY (well, today when I started this but it's now Friday technically)

Weight: 23 lbs

Height: around 28 inches

Favorite Foods: Well, most anything, but if I had to list her favorites they would be:
Chargrilled chicken from Chick-fil-A
Ice Cream of any kind
Anything that anyone around her is eating that she does not have

Favorite Toy(s): Singing Barney, Monk-monk, red tricycle/car, spatulas and other various pieces of Tupperware

Favorite Movie: Anything with Barney as the star. I now know all the Barney songs!!!

Favorite Activities: Swinging at the park, going on walks with me in the jogging stroller, just being outdoors in general

Bedtime Routine: Bedtime is around 9 pm these days as Maggie is getting transitioned to Pacific time. She drinks 7 oz of whole milk and goes to sleep with about 3 pacifiers in the bed as she throws some over the edge during the night. She will sleep 11 hours.

Morning Routine: Wake up around 8 am and she must hug on Monk- monk (see above) before she does anything else. She enjoys eating her cereal and drinking her milk before playtime begins.

Language skills: Mama, Dada, Kitty Kat, Jack, Dog, Bye Bye, Gigi (more of e e), Gran, Papa (well, that ones more of tata)- All of these have their own variations and pronunciations as well.

Birthday Activities: Woke up at 8 am, refused to take a morning nap, had lunch with Papa at Chick-fil-A, went to Wacky Bear and made a stuffed rabbit (April), took a nap, went on a car ride, had dinner with Gran and Lulu, devoured a strawberry cupcake, had a bath and went to bed at 9 pm.

April Fools

Happy April Fool’s Day

Thankfully, we have not been fooled (yet).

Maggie and I did have a first this morning. No, she didn’t walk. But I did. Maggie and I walked in our first ever 5K. We walked in the Mississippi Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure race. I have been working out some while we have been in Mississippi and Gigi was going to run in the 5K, so Maggie and I decided to walk. Well, Maggie rode in a jogging stroller. Anyway, having not ever competed in a 5K, my only goal was to not finish last. Well, we did pretty well. I finished somewhere around 51 minutes. I was very excited and Maggie had a great time.

That’s all for now. Anyway, I will definitely have more pictures on Thursday night after Maggie’s birthday!!!

Katie