Little girl is off to school!!

Well, I can't believe that she is big enough to go, but last week we started McKenley in a Mother's Day Out program at a local church. It has been an adjustment, to say the least, for both McKenley and I, but I know it will be such a positive experience for her, and it lets be honest, it gives mommy some time to get some things done around the house!!

Before the big day, we had to get some practice with her backpack and lunchbox. Someone should have told me to have her practice with the backpack packed up, because once there were things inside it definitely weighted my little lady down!! Almost fell straight backwards in the parking lot!! haha

Needless to say, she was SOOO excited about her new backpack, lunchbox, and first day of school outfit!! Little did she know that momma was about to leave her with strangers!! haha

Then it was off to check out her new school!!

Casey taught her how to say "bee" so she kept pointing to all the bees and yelling "BEE!! BEE!!" haha

Getting her things settled in her cubby and the bins

Ahh!! SOOO cute, her little name on her first name tag!! <3

BEEEEEE!!!!

I wanted to get a picture of her and the teachers, but things have been a bit crazy these first few days, so hopefully I can snap one soon. She isn't TOTALLY sold on the idea of mom leaving her all day, but slowly but surely, things are going better and better.  She does cry a bit when I drop her off, but the teachers say it only lasts for a few minutes and then she is off and playing!! Today when I picked her up, she didn't notice me right away and I got to see her running around with the other teacher, giggling and playing!! It made my heart feel sooooo good to see for myself that she WAS indeed having fun and wasn't sad all day that mommy was gone.

We can't believe our little lady is getting so big! Can't wait to see what all she learns at school!!

The Big Reveal!!

Casey and I had the BEST time with all of our friends and family last Sunday at our Big Reveal Party!! It took every OUNCE of self-control not to peak ahead of time to see if the next Boyd would be a boy or a girl. But, we were so excited to share in this moment with everyone we are closest to, that it was definitely worth the wait :)

Everyone had to pick a side!!

We did!!!

We had soooo much fun with the decorations!! Everything in pink and blue and LOTS of chevron :) Everyone chose a pink or blue button when they walked through the door, got to take pictures with lips or mustaches based on what they chose, and then we all got to enjoy the big reveal cupcakes!!!

Then it was game time!!! Before the party my mom and I looked up all the silly wives tales that everyone looks at to pre-determine whether they are having a boy or a girl. So before the reveal, we thought it would be fun to see what they said I would be having!!

Here's how most of them divided out... 7 out of 11 said girl!!!

We even did the ring trick right there on the floor

AND THEN IT WAS TIME!!!!!

Everyone picked a side... Team Pink...

 And the crazies who were holding out hope someone in the family would figure out how to make a boy!!!

 IT'S A....

 GIRRRRLLLLL!!!!!

Don't know why were were all so surprised and excited, again, my family just doesn't seem to know who to make little guys! But it was sure a fun way to find out what baby #2 will be.  McKenley is so excited to be a big sister!!

We had such a blast seeing all of our family and friends. And of course, had to get a picture with some of my favorite ladies... and duh! McKenley had to be a part of the "girl pick"

Princess turns 18 months!!

Ok, ok, I know, I've been completely MIA in my blogging, but with a new baby on the way I HAVE to get back into my routine so I can blog as much for him/her as I did for McKenley!!!

So, what a better way to get back on routine than to celebrate McKenley turning a year and a HALF and to share all the amazing things she is accomplishing each and every day!

Here are a few pictures to show you the great time we've been having the last few months!!

Summer outside fun!!

Loves her hats, Happy Fourth, first ponytail, helpin around the house, BOOMER!!

Accomplishments:
- TALKING, TALKING, and more TALKING!! After month of worrying, unnecessarily I might add, that our little one may never talk, its like everything clicked around 17 months. She went from staring at me blankly when I would try and get her to say "more" or "bye-bye" to trying to mimic everything Casey and I say... which is something we will now have to be careful about!! It's so fun to watch her work her mouth in a way to say "Deuce" or "WHOA!" and she gets so excited when she realizes she has successfully said a new word. She has started asking for things by name, "milk" and "snack" and definitely "Elmo"... which sounds a bit more like "Momo" :) We can't wait for her to start putting several words together!!

- Running, jumping, bear crawling, somersaulting, wheelbarrowing... this girl moving and grooving EVERYWHERE! We've been taking classes at the Little Gym and she soaks up all they have to teach her! She loves swinging from the bars, going upside-down, kicking the balls, and generally just exploring every inch of the place!
- She's beginning to pretend play... many of you saw the picture I posted on Facebook last week of McKenley "having lunch" with Monkey! She carries her animals around everywhere, reads to them, feeds them, gives them some of her milk and water, it is so cute to watch and it makes my heart at ease knowing she is going to be such a good big sister!
- Eyes, Ears, Mouth, and Nose, McKenley knows her body parts!! And even more entertaining is when she locates them on the dogs or mommy and daddy! 
- McKenley is learning more and more animal sounds all the time. It is the cutest thing to hear her version of what a cat says or to watch her make a "fish face" or a "bunny nose"... the girl loves her animals!

I know there are probably many more things, we are celebrating milestones with her all the time. This has got to be one of the most fun ages, she's turning into such a little clown and makes us laugh daily!

I don't have her stats yet because her doctors appointment is not until next week, but our little peanut is growing, but I doubt she'll ever be one of the bigger kids in the group. She is still wearing 12 month clothes and sometimes she can wear an old 9 month shirt!!
 
Food:
Our little "trash compactor" has now decided she has preferences on what she ingests... and boy are there A LOT of preferences!!! Her favorite things right now are cheese (cheese and more cheese), mosts fruits (LOVES grapes!!), crackers, ravioli or pasta in general, sometimes green beans, tortillas and guacamole (yes, shes her mothers daughter!!!), and eggs! Yes, you are right, you did not see any meats in that list! haha, our little lady has decided that meat is NOT on the top of her food list :) she'll occasionally eat lunch meat, hot dog, or chicken nuggets, but its very hit or miss!!

Sleep:
For the most part we are on a SOLID schedule!!! and I am loving it!!! (which is great since we have a new baby coming and schedules will most likely be thrown out the window) She takes about an hour and a half to two hour nap everyday between 12pm-3pm. Then she's up and moving until bed time around 8:30. MOST OF THE TIME, she sleeps for a full 12 hours and yes, has a wake time between 8am and 9am, LOVE that she sleeps in a bit :)

We are enjoying each and everyday with this little lady, I really couldn't ask for anything more!!! We are so excited how she takes to being a big sister and can't wait to see what all she learns next.

How could you not love this face: