LONG overdue blessing pics!

Sorry for the delay in the blessing pictures. We took over 150 pictures that day (not kidding), so it was overwhelming to think of sifting through them all. But here are some good ones.

It was a really nice blessing day. All six of Parker and Kenley's grandparents were able to be there, as well as one set of great-grandparents who came down all the way from Alaska! It was so neat to have everyone there and I was just overwhelmed with love for my family, and feeling so blessed to have everyone close by. I was a little bit sad that day because I particularly missed Andrea. It's tough to have her gone and missing everything, both big and little. I know she's doing the right thing but it's still a little hard.

Not quite ready for the big time

Last night Kenley found these big-girl panties in a box. Upon studying them, she determined that surely they must be a hat. Sadly, despite her best efforts, they did not fit in the way that she thought a hat probably should, causing much devastation to our poor girl. I mean, I was laughing and taking pictures, but really... poor girl.









Here are some other random cute pictures from last night.

Portraits in the morning sun

I decided to try doing some portraits of Parker at home this morning, and I think they turned out really cute!

Mr. Monkey Man, Month 2

Parker is starting to grow! He has just been a tiny little thing, but he's been growing so much lately! He's also starting to smile, as you can see! We had his two-month appointment today, and since he was born he's gained five pounds and grown five inches!

Parker and his monkey twin. If only he had an X for a belly button...

Kenley the big sis!

Kenley is really just the sweetest big sister you have ever seen. She is actually a much bigger help than I thought she would be. She can go get diapers, socks, blankets, pacifiers, gas drops, and toys. She is also learning to help feed Parker his bottles, and trying to help us teach him to smile. Enjoy the pics and videos!

See ya, sista!

Well, Sister Cartwright is on her way! After getting requested a month early, the family scrambled into action to help Andrea get ready to go. We all went up to Utah to see her off. It was very bittersweet - she is so loved and so missed, but we all know she is going to do great work in sharing the gospel.

This is Andrea as we were about to take family pictures, on the phone with Verizon. She was literally making phone calls and handing out "assignments" to all of us as she walked into the door of the MTC.

Mr. Monkey Man - Month 1

When I was pregnant with Parker, we made him this little monkey at the Build A Bear place. My goal is to take pictures of him next to it each month to see how he has grown. Here are the pics from when he was 1 month old.

Cute pictures of Parker

All of the sudden, Parker is a month old! I don't know how that happened! He is just barely back to his birth weight, so he's still not even eight pounds yet. I am one of those that get PLENTY of use out of my kids' Newborn size clothes. The outfit he's wearing here is Newborn, and he'll still be able to wear it for quite a while. Maybe by the end of May he can start wearing his 0-3 stuff!

Parker is a sweet little baby who sleeps a lot. He tends to be grumpy when he's awake and not being fed, but each day we get more happy awake time with him. Kenley still loves him so much and her new favorite thing to do is read books to him. Of course she picks her biggest, heaviest books, can't hold them upright, and then drops them on his head, but it's the thought that counts, right?

Bubbles and dancing

Life with a one-year-old is (mostly) so much fun. Kenley was really a pretty somber baby, so we are really enjoying her newfound laughter. She thinks everything is so
funny! She loves to sing and dance, and play silly games.

I have to click once inside the video box, and then again to hit Play to watch these.

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Cute pictures of Kenley!

I just cannot get enough pictures of Kenley mugging in sunglasses!

Hitting herself in the face with dandelions...
Lest you think all our days are sunshine and laughter.

Andrea's Mission Call!

Yesterday our family got some exciting news! Andrea got her mission call! Click on the video to see her read her call and find out where she will be serving! Sorry about how shaky it is - I take full responsibility for that! I was taking the video, but all the shrieking was scaring Kenley, so I had to juggle her as well, plus wipe all my tears, clap, etc. Probably should have had someone else take the video... :)


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All dressed up for church...

Way over the top

Okay, so Easter Sunday was awesome, we got to have dinner with my whole family: my brother, sister, my dad and stepmom, my mom and stepdad, then our little family and a few other friends. But Kenley was the only one in the right age range to look for eggs, and it was her first Easter where she really could... so it ends up that there are NINE adults out in the front yard watching (and taking pictures, and filming) Kenley look for these little eggs. We looked like paparazzi. I was seriously praying no one would drive up. And then here I go continuing to be excessive, posting three thousand pictures of this event. But I assume if you're checking in on this blog, you don't mind a bunch of pictures of Kenley.

Playgroup Easter party

These are some pictures of Kenley hunting for eggs at our Playgroup party. The very first one she found immediately split open, and much to her delight there was a huge malted milk egg. So of course she jams it in her mouth and refuses to look for anymore eggs, just savoring this huge piece of candy. Ah, Easter!
You need to click on this picture and enlarge it to really appreciate it.

Such a good big sister....

Sharing Easter eggs with Parker
Kenley loves to crouch down by Parker when he's in his bouncy seat and talk to him. She kisses his head, pats his hair, and jabs him in his eyes, saying, "Eye? Eye?"
Kenley brought all of these goodies to Parker while he was nursing the other day: the hat, two stickers, and the leaf.
Lovingly clothespinning Parker's pants.

Kenley's latest favorites

This little girl LOVES cell phones! Until someone actually wants to talk to her, of course, and then she's terrified. But she's quite good at finding it when it's ringing and bringing it to me! She also loves playing with my sunglasses and her set of dishes. Such a little girly girl...