Kelsi loves to clap. She learned how to do so a couple weeks ago and now she claps for no reason all the time...and sometimes says "ahhhhhhh" while she claps (to imitate my "yaaaaay"

Cutie McPretty

Kelsi likes to use her books as teethers lately....poor baby. For some reason blogger isn't let me add videos to this post...so I will try again in a new one...stay tuned!

My sister in-law Carri tagged me! It has been awhile since I have done one of these, so here it goes!

1. First name: Karina, as in Karina Smirnoff of Dancing with the stars






2. Middle name: Lynn




3. Last name: Calderwood - looks like there is a town called calderwood...






4. Age: 27




5. Place I would like to visit again: Aruba


6. Education: I have a Bachelors in Public Relations


7. Favorite vacation spot: Manhattan Beach, CA - it is my favorite beach in L.A. and it is also where John asked me to marry him.

8. Where I grew up: La Puente, CA - famous for the donut hole...you drive through and order your donuts!

9. Past pet: Dancer

10. Favorite Treat: Chocolate Chips

11. Worst Habit: Clenching my teeth

12. Mood right now: Antsy

I tag anyone that wants to do this, especially if you are bored! You just google your answers and pick the pictures that you want to use!

HAPPY BELATED ANNIVERSARY TO ME!

John said that he wanted Kelsi to have music in her home, so he bought me a gift. I have wanted one of these for a long time, but I don't like spending a lot of money. BUT John found a killer deal and I decided to be selfish and let him buy it for me. I LOVE IT! It is so shiny. I am a little rusty, but hopefully it will come back to me with practice. Thanks, John! You are the BEST.

Due to the amount of saliva in Kelsi's mouth, one of her new found talents is blowing bubbles. John caught her on tape and it is pretty funny when she realizes that he is watching her. Enjoy!

ADVICE WANTED

Ok, Mom's (or anyone else that wants to chime in)...I need advice because I am willing to try anything. Here is the situation: We recently moved Kelsi's toddler tub into the bathtub (we used to hook it into our sink in the kitchen). The first 2 times, she was just fine taking baths (as evident from the picture a few posts ago). However, Day 3 started the week of torture. It has been a full week and Kelsi SCREAMS during her whole bath. She tries to get out of the tub and just reaches up to us and SCREAMS. We have bath toys, we sing to her, we splash...all to no avail. I keep thinking "2 weeks makes a habit" so I was planning on trying it again for another full week to see if she just snaps out of it and starts liking it again. I feel awful watching her so scared and upset. I really didn't mind putting her tub in the sink because she LOVED it...I just got tired of having to wipe my floor down afterwards from all of her splashing, and she can't bathe in the toddler tub forever, right? So, if anyone has any tips or suggestions I am open! She is fine with showers, but since I give her baths at night (and John and I shower in the morning), I would rather just still give her a bath. Ready, go!

I WON!

Kelsi has always been a fantastic sleeper. She sleeps more than she is awake during the day. However, with the combination of teething and just being more active, we are starting to fight when it comes to taking naps. She whined and yelled at me for quite a while today, but did I give in? NO! When it was finally quiet, I looked in and found this! (I moved her into a better position, don't think I am that mean). This round went to mommy!

2 Birthday Parties and a bath

We finally moved Kelsi's toddler tub into the real tub. She doesn't enjoy it as much as the sink, but does OK. Next step will be to remove the toddler tub!

Kelsi was invited to two birthday parties this week. This one is from one of her friend's Madison. Kelsi and Madison used to play together every morning while I worked. Happy Birthday Madison! Madison was such a good host. She sat next to Kelsi for a good portion of the party and showed her all of her gifts.
Kelsi loved the tissue paper. Guess what I will be wrapping up for her birthday in a couple months???
Kelsi had her first cupcake at Madison's party. She thought it was tasty.
We also helped Ali celebrate her bday party. One last use of that summer swimsuit!
There's that tissue paper again!

Kelsi's little song

"Four eyes"

Yup, I am blind. Not really, I just have a small prescription, but nevertheless....I need glasses. John says that I am the worst patient in the world...he is probably right. "1 is clearer, no 2, no 1...wait...do it again". I asked John, "So, do I need them when I drive and when I read?" He said "umm...you should wear them all the time". Second opinion anyone? (just kidding, hun)The eye really disgusts me, which is ironic since I married someone who is fascinated by it. It would be nice to wear contacts...but John has to put eye drops in my eyes (while I protest) so...glasses it is! Tamar said that I look more like her with them....so that's a plus!

John and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary yesterday. The years keep getting better and better! Love you honey!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

9 MONTHS

I can't believe that my little girl is 9 months old. I wish I could freeze time and just enjoy her more. She loves to swing on the swing set. She has tons of fun with her daddy. John can't get enough of her. Just a couple nights ago when I was getting ready for bed, I saw Kelsi's door open and I peeked in and John had picked her up and was cuddling her on his shoulder because he said he couldn't resist. So cute.
We get comments all the time that she is such a happy baby. Overall, it is very true, however this week has been tough because her fourth tooth was cutting through.
She is so special to us and we are so thankful that she is in our lives.
I took Kelsi to her 9 month well child check up today and it was AWFUL. She didn't get her morning nap due to the time that her mom scheduled the appointment for so she was cranky going in. For the first time in Kelsi's life it took forever to see the doctor. She cried while getting weighed and measured. Cried while the doctor tried to play peek-a-boo with her, cried during her shots and cried during her lab work. I am talking SCREAMS. I have been a little concerned that Kelsi hasn't started crawling yet. My doctor said that her nerves and muscles seem fine and she wasn't concerned (even though Kelsi wasn't letting her check anything due to her screaming) and she just said that if it would ease my concerns I was welcome to bring her in for developmental testing. I am fine to wait a bit, but nice to know it was there if I change my mind. I cried a little when Kelsi had to get blood drawn for her lead and anemia check. It seemed to take the nurse FOREVER to squeeze enough blood out of Kelsi's finger. When I came out, the waiting room was FULL of concerned eyes and "awwws". One woman said "We were all crying out here for her too". This was Kelsi's hardest appt yet. I hear the 1st bday is even worse....great.

Stats:

Head - 42cm (55%)

Length - 28.25 in. (75%)

Weight - 19 lbs 15 oz. (71%)

Still a pretty well proportioned girl!

Teeth: 4 (her fourth one broke through this morning. YAY!)

Finger food update: Kelsi will eat cheerios and puffs and food with chunks in them now. YAY again...but still can't pick it up on her own and make it to her mouth. I am so glad that there is progress in that department.

Mobility: no crawling or pulling up yet. She loves to stand, and sit on the floor and turn herself around in circles. She can also move around the floor by turning herself in circles...pretty funny when she is in action.

Verbal: babbles all the time. All varieties of ba's and ga's and da's...not no ma's. She said mama once about 2 weeks ago and not again since.

Grocery shopping is fun again

Just over a month ago I was perusing through blogs and I found that my friend Kelley posted about a site called The Grocery Game. She took a picture of the food that she bought one week and she said that she fed her family of 7 for about $50 a week give or take a few. That was enough to get me interested. I knew that I was spending too much at the grocery store for a while now, but I didn't know how to fix it. I was usually spending $120/wk with an additional stop at Costco every other week for another $100 or so each trip for our family of 3. For the last 6 weeks I have been a participant of the grocery game and I love it so far. It is based on stockpiling and not "need" shopping. It gives you a list of all of the items on sale at your local grocery store and then lists the coupons that make them rock bottom deals. For example, I bought a jumbo pack of huggies last week for $5 after the sale and coupons. After 12 weeks of buying items and rock bottom prices, you are supposed to really only have to go to the store to buy MAINLY produce and milk! It took a few adjustments, but I am finding that I am buying SO MUCH MORE FOOD, for less money. Yesterday, I spent $93 at Albertsons and saved $105.

14 2-packs of Gerber baby food, 11 jars of baby food, rice cereal, jumbo pack of huggies, jumbo pack of huggies wipes, 8 rolls of TP, 3 chicken/hamburger helper meals, 5 LBS of ground beef, 5 LBS of fresh chicken breasts, cool whip, 3 jello pudding, 3 cans of albacore tuna, 3 packages of beef franks, jelly, 2 jars of PB, 4 cans of broth, 2 taco seasoning, 3 ranch mix, crystal light on the go packs, 2 6-packs of jello, 2 boxes of ready to eat bacon, 2 jars of mustard, scrubbing bubbles shower cleaner, 4 cans of fruit, 2 cans of tomato paste, 2 packs of turkey meat, 2 boxes of ice cream treats, 24-pack of arrowhead water, ziplock bags

This is also a great way to get some food storage going! The site also encourages you to go to Costco once a month for your eggs/cheese. Thanks for sharing Kelley!

To Shave or not to Shave....

For the last week John has been sporting a beard. Please see the poll and give us your opinion. John promises that he won't be offended either way.