Kelsi's walking

Kelsi still prefers to crawl, but everyday she walks a little more and more. Today, walking was the preferred way to get around. Here is one that I caught....she is still a little unsure but so adorable.

IRON CHEF BIRTHDAY PARTY

For those of you not familiar with the Food Network show "Iron Chef", the contestants (two dueling chefs) compete by making a ton of different food with a secret ingredient that is only revealed right before they need to start cooking and they only have an hour to make their masterpieces. My friend Trisha threw me a similar bday party. The secret ingredient was PEANUT BUTTER (one of my fav foods). She gave the ingredient to those that were cooking the night before to research and make something for the party that night (I didn't have to cook - just enjoy!)

Appetizer was meatballs with a peanut butter sauce! Very good, not overpowering at all.

A Peanut Butter Soup. This was really good! The PB and the chicken broth really complimented each other!

Oriental chicken salad with peanut butter sauce. This was was the winner! Taste and presentation!

PB rolls!!!

Another friend also brought a Chicken and rice dish with a Peanut sauce that was really good too, but I didn't get a picture! Thanks to all my friends for showing me so much love. I had a great time with all of you. I would like to especially thank Trish for putting all of this together!

Speaking of getting older, Kelsi finally held still long enough (with John's help) so that I could put big girl pigtails in her hair. Look how old my baby looks!

Back shot....

FACELIFT

We have lived in our home for almost 4 years and have been pretty lazy about decorating. We thought we would only be in this house for 2 years or so, so we thought, why put so much work into it? Well, 2 years came and went and so did 3 years and 4 is right on our heels...so we went to work! I want to thank the fabulous Lindsay Crebs for her decorating ideas (I think you have great taste), real deals for having cute home decor and Jenny Brume for having great taste in paint....oh and my husband John for finally agreeing to let me decorate. (I knew you would love it, babe!) Ladies and Gentleman....behold the before and afters.....

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

View from the kitchen. These pictures are not doing my paint any justice. I tried it with flash/no flash/lights on/lights off. It is actually a bit darker. It is a pretty dark brown with a green hue to it. Looks fab in person, trust me.

and now for the real reason we all know you check this blog: our Kelsi

This last one is classic Kelsi. She LOVES soft things. We catch her laying on pillows, any blankets she can find, and the occasional head on the couch or one of the dining room table chairs...anything that feels soft to her. She lays down and hums for a few seconds and then she is off again! We love our little Kelsi.

A new blog background in honor of...moi! A couple of days and counting....let the celebrations begin! :)

Daddy time

Kelsi loves to play with her Daddy once he gets home from work and tonight was no different. They chased each other around the living room and I just enjoyed listening to Kelsi's infectious laugh. In other news...Kelsi also took 4 1/2 steps tonight while playing with Daddy. He was laying on the floor facing the TV and she was holding on to the ottoman. I watched her as she let go and took the cutest tiniest 4 steps in a row and then as she went to take her 5th step she just lunged forward and fell on top of John. It is only a matter of time.

Daddy's little helper

John was working on the TV speakers and Kelsi wanted to be right there with him "working" on the TV as well. Everytime I would take her away to play with me, she would push away and when I would put her down she crawled as fast as she could to her side of the "work station" and fiddled away while looking over at her Dad from time to time to see what he was doing. It was adorable.

Happy 2009!

We hope everyone enjoyed their new years celebration. We spent a nice night at a friends house with a few other couples playing games. Always battle of the sexes and for some reason we ladies can never seem to win (it has been a couple years). WHAT GIVES? Heres to making 2009 a year full of love, laughter, learning & luck! Cheers!