Milwaukee

This past weekend, we decided to take a short trip up to Milwaukee. A little family get-away. This was our first trip away as a family, and we were looking forward to showing Kendall the sights.

We headed up Saturday morning and took in the city.

First stop was for lunch. Turns out Kendall LOVES soft pretzels, and chicken fingers, and ketchup. This was the weekend of Kendall trying all sorts of new foods, and loving all of them.

After lunch we took a walk along the Riverwalk to see the new Fonz statue. Kendall was a bit confused by The Fonz. And possibly by the British telephone both, fully equipped with functioning pay phone (when is the last time you saw a pay phone?).

After that, we checked out campus. So much has changed in the few years since we graduated (really? 6 years?!?!). New buildings are popping up all over the place, renovations, and campus is expanding. Of course, we hit the book store - can't leave town without Marquette gear. And took a long walk through campus taking pictures and introducing Kendall to all the places we used to spend all our time.

On Sunday, we hit the main goal of our trip, the Milwaukee County Zoo.

Kendall had a blast. As I have discussed previously, Kendall loves birds, and Milwaukee did not disappoint. At the zoo there are free range peacocks, swans, ducks, and flamingos just hanging around at the watering holes. You can get up close and personal with them, much to Kendall's delight.

There is also an aviary at the zoo, which was fun until you get to the room with the birds flying over you. I have always been scared of this at the zoo, but Kendall loved it!

I did enjoy the bird with the handlebar mustache, as is evident in the video below. I recommend turning off your sound to watch this one, the waterfall is really loud. Kendall does get excited, and is squawking right along with the birds.

Kendall also really liked the giraffes. We finally learned what sound a giraffe makes (apparently they are not mute, they make low grunts, who knew?). None of the other animals really held Kendall's interest, but she enjoyed the time and was really happy at the zoo. And of course, we made a mold-a-rama.

After all this, we had one tired little girl.

Good-bye until next time Milwaukee!

Catching up

I know, I'm behind. I have plans to get caught up with the stories of the Kendall, but then I get distracted by Netflix. We have big plans in Milwaukee this weekend that are sure to produce lots of stories and pictures - we are taking Kendall this time.

Until then, Kendall will be catching up on her reading. That darn caterpillar is always hungry!

Home Alone

Kendall and I are on our own this weekend with Nate out with the boys fishing off a houseboat somewhere in Wisconsin. No idea where - I find it best not to ask questions.

Having daddy gone threw Kendall for a loop at swim lessons this week. Normally the 3 of us go together. Kendall and mommy swim, daddy sits on the side and cheers us on. Kendall likes to swim to the side and smile at daddy, or show him the toy she picked up to chew on, or what have you.

As we were in the water and playing with all the toys, Kendall started looking for daddy. We showed up without him and hadn't seen him in over 24 hours, but I guess she just assumed he would appear at swim lessons. When she realized he wasn't there, she didn't cry, but she got the ball she was playing with, and put her head down on it. I think it was her way of pouting. Poor baby.

We have had a fun time with our girls weekend. Lots of shopping and hanging out. But I'm pretty sure Kendall will be happy to have daddy home again on Monday!

10 Months

Ah, the monthly post. Only a few more of these to go before we hit a year.

This past month has been a whirlwind of activity for Kendall. Something new and exciting almost every day. Although she was crawling last month, she is really getting active now. At this rate she will be running in no time, and Nate and I will be in for it then. Shananigans around here!


Can't believe we are almost through the first year! Seems like yesterday we were planning on Kendall's arrival, and she now she won't be baby for much longer. But we are enjoying every minute!

Kendall at 9 Months


Weight - 20 pounds (this is a guess - haven't weighed her lately)
Height - 28 inches (this is again an estimate - she sure looks taller, the tape measure says she is the same.
Sounds Like - From time to time it sounds like she is calling for mommy and daddy. When we leave the room, the 'ba-ba-ba' becomes 'MA-MA-MAAAA' or 'DA-DA-DAAA'. Sometimes I am convinced she is asking me where daddy is, and I answer, at work.
Likes - The word 'No'. Isn't it funny when mom or dad say 'No'? Giving a big smile and then continuing to try eat mom's flip flops is definitely funny. Kendall likes her cookie jar. Most likes to take the shapes out and watch us put them back in. And mom's teeth. She likes to examine my teeth. Maybe she will be a dentist.
Dislikes - Teething. Naps. Being stopped from doing what she wants. The typical. Oh, and she is in a fussy eating phase, one day she loves squash, next day EWWWW SQUASH. If only she could tell us what she wants to eat for lunch, I could avoid having peas spit at me.
Things she can do - Getting pretty good with the sippy cup. Crawling is a breeze, she follows us from room-to-room, right on our heels. And Kendall is even working on walking - still early stages, but she makes great strides in this daily.

Kendall at 10 Months

Weight - 19lbs 15oz (so I was close on my guestimate last month. 50 percentile)
Height - 28 3/4 inches (75 percentile)
Sounds Like - Kendall is starting to talk. At least it sounds like it if you are around her every day. Pointing and saying 'BIR' when she she a bird, or 'TER' when the train goes past grandma and grandpa Gorman's, or what definitely sounds like '5' when you ask her or a high five. Sounds like gibberish to most, but to us, she is making sense.
Likes - Kendall likes to feed herself, Cherrios, fruit, lunchmeat, and my personal favorite, artichoke spinach dip. She will try anything you put in front of her, as long as she gets to put it in her mouth herself. Kendall also likes to pretend she is an avid reader. She will leave her toys behind and return to her bedroom to flip through her books - all by herself. I've taken to putting a book in her bed after she goes to sleep. In the morning it buys us an extra 15 - 30 min of sleep as she "reads" the book over and over to herself.
Dislikes - Being told no. What you tell her not to do is exactly what she wants to do. Eating from a spoon - mushy food is so 9 month-old.
Things she can do - Stand on her own, clap her hands, high five, cruise around the house, and even walk a few steps all on her own without holding on.

For the Birds

Kendall has a bird. Or rather there are 4 rather obnoxious morning doves that take turns sitting on the railing of our deck cooing. I have been chasing these birds off for months, but a few weeks ago, Kendall took a liking to the birds. And as I chased them off, she cried. Hard. I can no longer chase the birds away from my tomatoes.


Anyway, Kendall likes the birds. She watches them, and they watch her. A bird shows up at about 10 AM everyday and stares into the condo. My mom or I will then say, 'Look Kendall! There is your bird!'. Kendall will stop what she is doing and crane her neck to look out at her bird, then make her way over for a staring contest with the bird. In the past week, this has been accompanied by Kendall saying 'BIR!' or 'Mhbir!'. Sounds like bird to us. Does that count as a first word?

P.S. - That pacifier is 'MaBa'. No idea what word that is supposed to be, but the pacifier is definitely what she is looking for.

Step One

On Thursday night, as Nate and I sat on the floor playing with Kendall, she let go of daddy took her first step and 1/2 over to mommy without holding on. And then promptly fell down. She has been walking around holding onto furniture for weeks now, but only letting go to stand. Nate and I debated if this was truly a first step.

Nate won the debate and we are calling it. Kendall walks. Kind of.

One sleepy kid