Some recent shots

We have been enjoying ourselves in sunny San Diego.  The weather is insane!!!! I'm crazy jealous that my brother and his family are relocating here in a couple months. We celebrated McKinley's first birthday on January 8.  She shares a birthday with her cousin Lizzie, so Cassie and I planned a kid-friendly luau, complete with grass skirts, flower leis, and the limbo.

Soaking up the sun in Ahmma and Dumpa's front yard.

Hawaiian party attire.

Hesitantly reaching for her birthday cupcake.

California Dreaming

In ten hours we will be boarding a plane for (not so sunny) California. This might be our last post until we return to Oregon on Jan 18.  Although we are looking forward to spending time with family in El Cajon and celebrating Shawna & Eddie's wedding, we are even more excited to meet Miss Leyton Campoamor when we get back home.  Shannon and Leyton will spend a week with us, and we can't wait!!!!

Snowshoeing at Mt. Hood

Benji took yesterday off, and we headed to the snow.  The temperature gauge in our Subaru read 16 degrees.  Needless to say, we spent more time putting on layers then actually snowshoeing. After warming up with some hot apple cider, we drove to the Fruit Loop to purchase some deeply-discounted apples. Then we drove into Hood River and took a stroll downtown. Our last stop was Horsetail Falls in the Gorge.  We hiked the half mile to Upper Horsetail Falls and decided to call it a day. As we drove home, McKinley had a nice, long nap while Benji and I listened to the Rose Bowl on the radio.

Hood River

Upper Horsetail Falls

Happy New Year!

 

 

Post Christmas Tidbits

McKinley is back to eating milk products and other finger foods after a two-day banana and applesauce cleanse. She is enjoying her new toys and crawling up a storm, following me everywhere around the house. Other interesting news: We discovered her very first diaper rash this afternoon, and she is getting another top tooth.

  

Thank you Eric and Debra, for my awesome

winter hat and scarf!

The Most Memorable Christmas Ever

Merry Christmas from our little family.

(Picture taken at our small group white elephant gift exchange.)

So, we knew our first Christmas with McKinley would be memorable, but we never imagined it would begin by finding McKinley lying in her own vomit with chunks of french fries in her hair.  Whatever Benji caught on Christmas Eve, he passed to McKinley, as she threw up twice more Christmas morning.  My poor babies! Benji was achy, tired and had no appetite, while McKinley was sluggish and dehydrated. We managed to open all of our presents between a late breakfast and bouts of tiredness. McKinley got so many toys, books and puzzles that Benji and I agreed that we need a bigger house! Thank you to our friends and family who sent her gifts.  After lunch I spoke with the on-call pediatrician, and we gave McKinley some Pedialyte, which she guzzled. Benji surprised us by coming home early from work. We spent the rest of the evening playing with McKinley's new toys. After an eventful Christmas, I am happy to report that McKinley seems to be back to her normal self.  Although I'm thankful her stomach bug didn't last very long, I will most certainly miss her cuddling and clinging to me. 

First round of pj's:

Little Mermaid pajamas from Great Grandma B.

The Demke family's favorite books.

Momma's Willow Tree figurine of mother & child.

Outfit from Auntie Susan and Uncle Tom.

Second round of pj's:

Little People Princess coach from Uncle Travis,

Auntie Natalie & Micah-moo.

Puzzle and pot from Gramma & Grampa C.

Fluffy boots from Great Grandma Howard.

  

 

"McKinley" barrettes from Aunt Kathy, Chad & Kylee.

Merry Christmas Eve!

Today's schedule of events: 1) Morning bath for McKinley (she is long over due for one, and I figured we wouldn't make time in the evening before her bedtime.) 2) After pleading with Benji, McKinley finally opens her present from Ahmma & Dumpa. (good thing....because it takes us an hour to assemble it!) 3) Braving the insanity that was Fred Myers in order to get last minute eggs for Christmas breakfast (apparently everyone in Newberg had last minute things to shop for!) 4) Benji takes an afternoon nap. 5) Community Christmas Eve service with all three Dundee churches. 6) Emergency Walgreens run for some TheraFlu. (Benji isn't feeling well.) 7) Burgerville drive-thru for dinner. 8) With no resistance from Benji, McKinley opens a few more gifts before bedtime.  Merry Christmas Eve!

On Christmas Adam, we went to the swanky Bridgeport Village

to get McKinley's picture taken with Santa. However, we didn't 

account for the fact that Santa might also be a little too upscale and 

pricey for our tastes.  We settled for some pictures in front of

their beautiful Christmas tree.

Thank you Ahmma & Dumpa for my Laugh and Learning House!

Christmas Eve church service.

Thank you Auntie Susan & Uncle Tom for my blocks!

Eleven Months...already?

I can't believe that Miss McKinley will be one next month. I honestly feel like this past year has gone by faster than any other year in my life.  I don't know if they officially become toddlers at one, but she is still my little baby....a 19 lb, 10 oz baby at that! So, the biggest news is....she has started crawling.  She isn't entirely mobile, but she is getting better at cruising on our wood floors. She still rolls and does some bum-scooting, which is hilarious to watch. She can pull herself up to her knees, using me or the couch, but that's as far as she gets. She points at everything, which I LOVE!  And she babbles constantly.  This photo shoot proved to be the most challenging, as she wouldn't stay put next to the Christmas tree.

  

Momma's Christmas present...an area rug for our living room!

Early presents and purple poofers

  Gramma and Grampa C. sent us a Christmas box with specific instructions for some of McKinley's gifts, such as 'open now' and 'open Dec 15.'

 

'Open Now'

McKinley's 'First Christmas' ornament

Gramma & Grampa C. recorded their voices to tell 

the story of 'The Very First Christmas.'

'Open Dec. 15'

McKinley's pretty Christmas dress with daisies!

Last week I snapped the second half of our Christmas card photo in the backyard. Although there was no snow, there was some rain.  McKinley had some trouble holding her head up while wearing the furry hood. So cute!

 My little eskimo!