Something old, something new

I'm going to do a bit of backtracking here, along with some up to the second photos. Just been working on stuff around the house & chillin out with my girl...Kaelyn. Barry's parents leave after this weekend (they have been renting a place here for the past 3 months!) - so it will be back to reality for Barry & I as our private date nights and weekend excursions will be coming to an end - at least the 2 of us alone that is. Kaelyn is so well behaved though, it won't really be a big deal. Plus I love being with her - we'll just have some limitations. Like no more going out with friends til 3am like last weekend. Oh well.

Here's an "up to the minute" pic of little one. You'll notice in most of these latest pictures she has a bewildered look on her face - not sure what that's all about. Maybe she's sick of getting her picture taken. Oh well, she's just going to have to get over it, because momma's not stoppin anytime soon.

This is Barry's version of getting baby ready for bed. This is why I try to let him have as little contact with her as possible! Just teasing.

Last night I attempted once again to give her cereal on a spoon since the formula just isn't cutting it. She wasn't very happy with this though either and made lots of disgusted faces that I couldn't capture with the camera fast enough. This is the best I could get.

Then after I put cereal in her mouth...surprise, surprise...her hands went in. What a mess. I know the lighting here isn't great, but check out those big eyes!

Last weekend Barry & I explored a walking trail in Marblehead. Along the way we came across a school & swings - yeah! I love swings! I don't think it was intended to hold our weight, but we had lots of fun acting like fools.

Here's where I start to backtrack a bit. I've been meaning to put these pics up for awhile. These are from when Scott and Ella visited us last month. We had a great time exploring the area.

On a duck tour in Boston (we all got to take turns "driving" the boat)...

Eating pastries in Portsmouth, NH...

Still eating pastries...

In a pub in Boston near Fanieul Hall (have no idea how to spell it). Good times. Ella didn't drink of course because she's el preggo, but she still managed to get hit on by a redneck from KY. I think he followed her from Lex.

Memorial Day Weekend

Well, it's Memorial Day weekend - not a whole lot going on here. It's almost 80 degrees out today, but our house is remarkably cool since we have no air conditioning. Almost no homes in this whole New England area have air - I guess because they're all so old and it doesn't usually get all that hot here. I think it's stupid though. We worked in the yard the other day and planted flowers and some herbs and veggies. I've never tried growing veggies before, so we'll see how that goes. Friday was my bday #32 - we were supposed to go to the Melting Pot (super yummy) for dinner, but Kaelyn had a slight fever from her immunizations, so we stayed home. We're going to try going there tomorrow instead. Can't wait.

When Kaelyn had her immunizations the other day for her 4 month checkup, she weighed 13 1/2 pounds (50th percentile) and was 26 inches long (90th percentile) - she's grown 5 inches in 4 months! No wonder nothing fits her. Hopefully she'll keep it up and be tall and thin.

Blowing out my candle. We couldn't get 32 to fit on that cupcake.

Taking a little catnap in the afternoon. I love lazy days.

Kaelyn and her new friend that my mom made for her.

She loves her new giraffe. She especially likes it's smiling face.

Here'a a short video we took of Kaelyn playing with her giraffe. It doesn't show her usually sparkling personality - we'll have to try again to capture that.

Kaelyn is 4 months old!

Well, Kaelyn is 4 months old today. I can't believe how fast time is going. It feels like just yesterday and yet forever ago that she was born. I can't even believe there was a time in my life I didn't have her - a year ago she was just a little bean. Actually, a year ago we didn't even know for sure we were pregnant. I was actually in Virginia with my mom at my Aunt's house on this day last year - I had a feeling I was prego, but not positive. I didn't find out for sure until I got back home & took a pregnancy test on May 25th - we had friends over to our house that night for my bday & I told them the news. It was so exciting. That feels like forever ago, but it was only last year. Wow, so much has changed. I couldn't be more in love with our little Kaelyn-boo.

We took this tonight. She's like a little angel. We had on matching outfits...sorta.

Flying Baby. Barry likes to "fly" Kaelyn around the house...she really likes it too.

Here's from my 31st birthday party last year. Look at Kelly's belly. I told everyone I was pregnant that night!

Me and my girl Heidi. This is a really symmetrical picture!

Woo hoo!

Mothers Day & other updates

Well, it has been awhile since I have updated things since it has been pretty busy here. We had a Derby Party on the 3rd - it was fun, but definitely not up to par with previous hooplas at the Stout house in KY. I'm afraid those days are over. Then my mom just left yesterday - she was here for the past week and we had tons of fun. I had my first Mother's day last weekend - my mom, Barry's parents & us just hung out at the house and barbequed on our new grill & played cornhole. We were really out of practice with the cornhole - but we'll work on it.

This is my favorite picture right now - Kaelyn looks so adorable I could eat her up - and Barry looks pretty cute too. This is from last weekend at Crane Estate in Ipswich, which is 2 towns away from us.

Here is our new house - I'll be sending out our Just Moved cards any day now. Yeah, right. This is the Crane Estate which is huge, surrounded by rolling hills, tons of gardens and the ocean. We went here with my mom last weekend and had a great time.

My mom on the deck with Kaelyn

I got Kaelyn all dressed up for Mother's Day in one of her special outfits. She was our little fashion model while my mom & I took pictures of her. This poor child is always being forced to pose for us. She is my main source of entertainment - and she's usually pretty darned funny.

Loves those hands. She would actually eat them if she could.

Another photo shoot. I think she's beginning to feel like she should be getting paid for this.

Sporting her "grandma loves me" duds.

Mommy & Kaelyn exploring the house. Super exciting.

Nothing New

Well, nothing new here - just wanted to put some new pictures up. I think this is the most photographed baby ever. I mean, she like never wears the same outfit twice, so there's always lots of photo ops. Here's a couple new photos from today and yesterday.

Tiny baby, giant sofa. I just thought this was too cute.

We couldn't get Kaelyn to smile at the camera, but she always smiles for mama - so I just sat in front of her to get her to smile, and Barry took a profile shot of her instead of front on. It worked.

We were going for a walk yesterday & I wanted to keep the sun out of her eyes with the hat - she was just so adorable.

Feels like vacation

Now that the weather is warming up here in New England, I can totally see what the appeal is to living here. There is so much to do. Barry & I try to take little daytrips each weekend, and it feels like we're on vacation! There's so many quaint towns within a half hour radius with cute shops & restaurants - we're having fun.

I took this picture today. I'll have to ask my mom, but I think she looks like me here when I was a baby.

Cutey patootie. Look at that chubby thigh. Just like mommy.

Last weekend Barry & I went to Newburyport (about 30 mins away from us) - very fun town. It's on the ocean...lots of shops, restaurants, pretty buildings. You can have dinner at the top of this lighthouse I'm standing in front of for only $350 per couple. Yes this is a lighthouse - doesn't look like it would've saved many ships from hitting the shore.

Barry in Newburyport

They are always filming movies here. Happy Madison Productions is filming a comedy in the mall across the street from Barry's work. The guy from King of Queens is starring in it - he's supposed to be a mall security guy - hence the outfit & segway. Here's the pic I snapped of him before we got in trouble for taking pictures.

I have been going for lots of walks lately, which can get kinda boring. So last week I started walking around the lake in Wakefield. It takes me about an hour to walk it, so it's a good workout. On Friday Barry & I went there together and walked with Kaelyn - here are our pics from that day.

Here's a neat picture of the lake that Barry took.

This cemetary is along the path around the lake. These are the oldest tombstones in the town & had been relocated from another burial ground. I have a thing for cemetaries, so I took this one. The lighting was great.

Kaelyn's new thing is putting her hands in her mouth. She just can't get enough.

Kaelyn in her stroller when we took her for a walk around Wakefield. She's turning into a real little chunky monkey.

Now we're up to date

Well it has taken me most of today (which isn't saying much since my time is constantly interrupted by a certain little someone) but I think I have my blog nearly updated & ready to go. Here are some of the latest pics from the past couple of weeks or so. We have had company the past 2 weekends - Scott & Ella were here the 1st weekend in April, and Barry's cousin visited us last weekend. These are all still just baby pics, but I'll add some photos of our recent visitors soon (it's getting late now & I need to get to bed!).

These pics are from tonight. She really likes being carried facing outwards now in her carrier. Notice the progression...happy baby taking in all the world has to offer.

Close-up of cute baby enjoying some baby bjorn time

Half hour later...It was all too much for her to handle.

Daddy & daughter having some quality time. Actually, Barry was checking his email...Kaelyn doesn't mind being caught in the middle.

Enjoying some tummy time. Sometimes she likes it, sometimes she hates it. This was a good session, although short-lived. Look at that devilish grin. She looks just like Barry here with his head shrunken down and placed on a little baby girls body - how wierd is that?

Don't look at my ugly makeup-less face...but I just thought it was so cute we had sort of matching pjs. We were the pink striped pj girls.

Baby loves her hats. She looks like she should be in "driving miss daisy" or something.

This hat didn't really go with the outfit, but I just wanted to see what it looked like on her. We'll definitely try it again done up right.

Kaelyn was being really cooperative, so I took lots of pics.

I really like this picture - I like her sweet little smile.

After a bath. Blanket taco baby.

Here she is in her Easter dress. These photos didn't turn out so great because we took them late at night and she was hungry - we would put her binky in her mouth to keep her happy and then right when we were ready to take the photo we'd pull it out - which is why her mouth looks the way it does. It was funny.