Four Christmases... and two birthdays and a graduation

The movie "Four Christmases" has got nothing on our family! Not only did we pull that off, but we also celebrated Jason's 26th birthday on December 11th, our graduation on December 13th, and Kylie turned one on December 15th. Then it was time to take our finals and leave for Oklahoma for Christmas with Jason's family. Since his parents are divorced, we celebrated Christmas first with his mom and then with his dad. Christmas #3 was with my family, and we celebrated on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. Finally we had one last Christmas when the extended family came to Grandma Ginny's house on the 27th. I never thought I would say this, but I'm glad the holidays are over. I'm no scrooge, I'm just exhausted.
Here are some pictures, I plan on putting up more on facebook. Once I do that, I will post a link to this blog. I'm waiting on getting some pictures from Kylie's birthday party from my aunts before I do that. So if you read this, Sara or Lesa, send those pictures my way please! :)


JASON'S 26TH BIRTHDAY: (December 11th)





KYLIE EATING HER CAKE AT HER BIRTHDAY PARTY: (December 13th)

GRADUATING FROM K-STATE: (December 13th)

KYLIE EATING HER CAKE ON HER ACTUAL BIRTHDAY: (December 15th)

CHRISTMAS:

Kylie "helping" make Christmas snacks

Eating fondue for Christmas Eve dinner is a Toll family tradition

Christmas Eve

Finding her stocking Christmas morning

My dad putting on her elephant slippers that were in her stocking. They were too small :(. But that's ok, Eve can wear them. I just need to go get Kylie new slippers.

Our family on Christmas day

What are the "terrible twos" going to be like?

I don't know if it's because Kylie's gums are swollen because of teething, or if it's because now that she's reached the magical age of twelve months old, she thinks that she is a toddler and no longer a baby, but regardless of the reason, the tantrums have started. Oh no! This is way too soon. She threw one tantrum when she was eleven months old and threw paper all over the floor in her rage, but that was a very isolated incident. It didn't happen again until yesterday, and they were very numerous. I feel bad for her because I know she is in a lot of pain from teething, I can feel at least one new tooth and her gums are very swollen. She also developed a diaper rash from all that extra saliva and mucous, so I know she isn't feeling very well. But I still can't let her start using temper tantrums as a way to cope.

It's funny to watch your one year old throw herself down in the floor in her anger. Where did she learn this? She's never seen anyone else throw themselves down and throw a fit. The reasons she was getting mad are a little ridiculous too. The funniest one I found involved her big "house" toy. The mailbox will sing the alphabet song when you close it and reopen it. Kylie loves the alphabet song. So she will sit there and open and close her mailbox and "sing along" the whole time. However, she didn't quite close it all the way once. Therefore it didn't sing the song when she reopened it. She proceeded to bang on the mailbox, stand up, run behind the recliner and throw herself on the floor screaming the whole time. What a drama queen.

When I say funny, I promise I'm not laughing at her. I am not doing anything to encourage this kind of behavior. However I am trying to find the humor in this situation and brace myself for the toddler years that lie before me. There is humor to be found, because the things a twelve month old finds devastating are quite odd.

Here's something funny regarding tantrums: My mom told me that my sister Rachel used to walk over to a carpeted area before she threw herself on the ground to throw her tantrums.

Oh and so far today, there have been no signs of a tantrum. I'm hoping yesterday was a fluke.

A year in fast forward (or is it rewind?)

I'm so excited to finally join the blogging world. This blogging experience is brand new to me, but I have experienced a lot of new things this past year. It has been a very exciting year for Jason and I because it was our first year as parents. It's been a fun ride so far and although I sometimes feel like I don't want our little Kylie bear to grow up any more, I am looking forward to many more years watching our family grow! Here a very quick look at how much our little Kylie has grown up this first year:

Kylie just one hour old! You can tell her hair has not been washed yet.

Kylie at one month old. Technically, she is still only four weeks exactly.

Kylie at 2 months old. She LOVED practicing to stand. It was the easiest way to get her to smile.

Kylie just two days shy of turning 3 months old.

Kylie at four months. It took her this long to really enjoy tummy time.

Kylie at five months. At this age she loved rolling over everywhere and also loved rolling over her boppy pillow.

Kylie at 6 months. She was army crawling like a pro.

Kylie at 7 months. This is when she learned how to pull herself up and cruise.

Kylie at 8 months, taking a rare break from getting into everything to take a pretty picture.
Sitting was never her "thing", I even asked her doctor at her 6 month appointment if I should be worried, because she was crawling everywhere but had no interest in sitting. She would cry if I tried to get her to sit, so I thought something might be wrong with her legs.

Kylie at 9 months. This is when she was taking her first steps and learning to walk.

Kylie at 10 months discovering piles of leaves for the first time.

Kylie at 11 months. It took her this long to realize she could just lounge around and not be active ALL the time.

And here is our family taking a picture during Kylie's first birthday party. She just 2 days shy of turning twelve months old!