There's a first for everything....



I truly enjoy blogging about our journey as parents and sharing all the pictures of our family with you...but most of all I hope that one day Kennedy and Presley will love reading this blog and cherish each memory I have tried to capture for them. Our girls bring us so much joy everyday!

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Nine divine months!

As you can see the pattern here, I am most of the time always late on blogging and playing catch up in my free moments.  Kennedy is at school and Presley is sleeping so...I get to blog!  Presley is 11 months this week (I am in denial) so these pictures were taken about 2 months ago.  Once again, I am so happy we decided to get the "Watch me Grow" package from my favorite photographer.  Presley changes each session...and she takes extra pictures of Kennedy too.  These were taken at a park in Downtown Orlando.  The name has escaped me but it was like a hidden gem.  So many cool spots.  Take a look for yourself!

The  original of this one is being resent to me.  This is one of my favorites.  She does this bashful face all the time!


 My beautiful baby girl.  This sweater was handmade by her Aunt Dianne, so sweet.
 
 Teething.  Here's some proof!
 
 She wore her sister's first birthday dress (yes she is only 9 months old!).
 
 This is getting framed above her crib.  In LOVE!
 
 
 Do you see Presley?!
 
 Kennedy broke this headband right before we were taking the pictures.  Ugh.  I had plans to use these for her first birthday invitations...oh well, they are still cute.  SOMEBUNNY will be ONE next month! 
 
 I carry Presley a lot.  As much as my back hurts at the end of the day from her almost 25 pound self, I cherish this time when they are little enough to hold.  It is captured here. 
 
 
 Giving her sister a bite of her snack.  Kennedy shares even when she isn't supposed to.  Presley loves it though.
 
 My precious girls.  My heart on the outside of my body!
 
 Here's Kennedy!
 
 She was wearing a dress from her cousin Audrey.  Not hurting for clothes over here, haha.
 
 Those curls...
 
Need a new copy of this one too.  I love this face so much!
 
She kisses with her eyes open :)
 
 
Thank you Miranda for another great photo shoot...we love them so much!  

Friday, February 21, 2014

A kinda sad post...

Both of our girls had ear tube surgery over the holidays, yes, both of them.  Let me back up a little.  When Kennedy started going to preschool about a year ago, she did exactly what everyone said would happen...she got sick more often.  Her colds unfortunately always led to ear infections (which we have found out is partly hereditary).  After going through all the possible antibiotics, getting an opinion from an ENT, and waiting...and debating...and prolonging the inevitable...we finally made the decision to do the surgery.  It was heartbreaking to think of it but we knew it would make her feel better and that was all that mattered.  So the date was set for January 7th.  To add to all the stress, poor Presley was catching everything her sister got.  Her first cold was at the young age of 2 months, it was so sad.  She seemed to follow in her sister's footsteps (which we also learned is common) and had frequent ear infections.  Little did we expect that she would be the FIRST one to get tubes!  She had an infection right before Christmas that wasn't clearing up, so the ENT suggested surgery after she didn't pass her hearing test (so sad that it affects them like this).  I can't even explain to you how we felt when we heard this news.  I was still processing Kennedy's surgery and now my baby baby was going under on Christmas Eve!  Let's just say we were a little stressed in the Graf household.  My nerves were shot and I felt like I couldn't breathe at times.  Seriously.  The surgery is so simple, yet so complex, and so common, and so needed.  Ok enough, rambling.  You get the point.  Here's the GOOD news.  Both surgeries went perfect thanks to Dr. J at CENTA in Maitland!  Both girls did just fine and...drum roll please...have had NO infections since!  It was probably one of the best and hardest decisions we have made as parents.  So of course I had to document this big event in their lives.  Thank you so much for all your prayers and support (you know who you are).  I know some of you were tired of hearing me talk about ear infections, haha!

Getting prepped for surgery.  I was having such a hard time with this.  Look at my sweet baby.

We brought her red bear she's had since birth to comfort her during surgery.
 
Binkie babies...here's the story...
 

 Things got a little better when we met the patient next to us.  Her name was PRESLEY too and turns out they were a day apart.  AND she had a sister named Kennedy!  What are the odds??!! This lightened up my mood a little.  They were so cute!
 

Hiding his nerves.

Right before they took her back.  Still smiling.

The cutest patient ever.  She really did great!  I was the one that was a mess.  The 20 minutes in the waiting room while she was in surgery seemed like forever! 

This was Presley when she woke up from her really long nap after surgery.  It was Christmas Eve...best Christmas present ever to have this behind us and for her to be happy.  Don't you just want to kiss her??!!

 Next patient up...Kennedy Anne!  She's pretty cute too!
 
She was a little more aware of what was going on but she was very BRAVE.

Playing with Daddy before surgery.  He can always make you feel better.
 

Staring down the nurse, haha.
 

And this was Kennedy the day after surgery!  Back to normal.  Total diva.
 
We are so relieved to have this behind us and look forward to a more healthy year!  Our girls both passed their hearing tests at their ENT follow ups too.  That brought tears to my eyes. 


Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Happy New Year!

Yes, I know it is February, but hey, it's still the New Year!  We spent this New Year's Eve at home with our babies.  We debated on going out so that we wouldn't feel too old, but instead we embraced our season of life right now and had a nice family night in.  After Presley went to sleep (at 6:30...she definitely did not ring in the New Year), we took Kennedy out to light sparklers in the front yard.  She also got her favorite treat, M&Ms...she definitely didn't make it to the New Year either.  Aaannnndddd another shocker, after sitting by the warm fire with our wine and snacks...Rusty and I didn't see midnight either! Yep it's official, we are old!  On the bright side though, we felt amazing New Year's Day and were ready to spend some time with the Graf Family in DeLand since we didn't see them over Christmas.  2014, here we come!

The firestarter.
 

 Her face.  Pure joy.
 
Check out her outfit, stylin'!  Happy New Year baby girl.
 

We lit a few fireworks too that we had leftover from July 4th!
 

Cheers to the New Year!  Yum.
 
Waking up on New Year's Day to these sweet girls. 
 

 She loves dogs!
 
We went for a walk on Uncle Johnny's new property.  It was raining and Kennedy's hair was cray.

 Getting some kisses under the tree from Aunt "Organ" (as Kennedy calls her), love this!
 
Family.

 Kennedy loves her cousin Asher.  She followed him around all day.  He is so sweet to always play with her even though 7 year olds have plenty of other things to do than play with a 2 year old girl :)
 

On our way home from a great day with the family!  My happy girl!  Happy New Year everyone!