Last Name

The past two days as we have been riding along in the car, Layla has been coloring in her book (thanks Publix) and reciting the same series of letters over and over.  She knows her alphabet but this phase of letters wasn't that.  I kept rattling my brain to figure out what she was spelling and then realized, she is spelling our last name!  Obvioulsy, our last name is not White or Smith, therefore Lucas and I have to spell it ALL the time.  We had not intentionally tried to teach Layla how to spell anything, much less our last name.  This just goes to show, kids pick up on EVERYTHING!  Her version of our last name is K-I-R-D-O-S.  Which is about as good of an attempt for some adults.  Listen to this video to hear her spell it:)

Today, for the first time, Layla also picked up my phone and said, "I text daddy".  At what age will she be wanting a phone??  Oh wait, she thinks mine is hers already.

I have been sitting with pillow behind my back to help with my posture lately.  Layla has recently started putting every pillow on our couch behind everyone's back.  We just put two and two together....

Another Video:

Our dancing queen.

In other not so cute news.  

I am now teaching 2 spin classes on Tuesday.  I hope I make it through our movie tonight.

And, there was a miss communication on how my uncle's surgery went.  He did have two bone fusions in his vertebrae.  Along with the removal of 6 bone spurs that were on a nerve.  Today, has been a much tougher day, much closer to how they expected his recovery to go.  He will be spending one more night in the hospital and then will be sent home with home health care support.  My aunt most definitely cannot take care of him in the shape he is in.  Please continue to pray for them.  This is the tough part about not being close by.  

Pointed Toes!

Layla finally had her first ballet class today at the Decatur School of Ballet and just as I expected, she LOVED it!  Although it is a mommy and me class, I don't think she could have cared less that I was there! At one point when the whole class (8- two year olds) were tip toeing across the studio, Layla was right behind the teacher following every step! For a moment, I kind of sat back and just observed.  I am so proud of my (almost) independent, beautiful, talented daughter.  Of course, at this point it is too early to tell if ballet will be here thing, but for now she is giving it her best shot while looking mighty cute in her leotard and tights:)

Here are a couple of pics before we left.  Unfortunately, since I am a participant in class it makes it hard for me to take pics.  I will try to do better in the next few weeks.

Of course, Monkey can't miss a dance class.

BTW: Thanks for all of your prayers for my uncle.  His back surgery went well.  They removed 6 bone spurs but none of the vertebras seemed to be compressed which is good news.  He returned to the room with his pain under control.  When he had his first back surgery this time last year, pain control on the first day was a huge issue. Thankfully, this time things seemed to go more smoothly.  If all goes well, he will just stay the night and then go home tomorrow.  He will have a long recovery after that, but at least he can be at home.

Sunday Sit Down

The end of last week was rather routine for the Kairdolf Family. I have been enjoying the cooler weather by trying to get back into running. I had gone to the physical therapist about some ailments I was having and he gave me some exercises and told me to take it slow and easy for awhile. It seems to be working, my runs have been pretty much pain free:) Although my runs are more comfortable, they have changed quite a bit from the spring. Now Layla wants to talk or sing the whole time and if I slow down she says "mom run!". Thanks for the encouragement baby.... Now when we can see the house I let her get out and run along side me. She loves it. Once her legs get just a tad longer, I will have a running partner!!

I did have a celebrity spotting this week. While we were working out at Chstain Park, we saw Andre 3K. He stood out to me because of what he had on, and as he walked by he said a polite "hi" to one of the moms in the group.

I wish I could express how much Layla is talking these days. Her expressions and sayings are hilarious. I think Lucas thinks we are crazy how we laugh at each other but we just have so much fun!

To end the week, (or to begin it) we have had a great Sunday. We are so excited about the church we have been going too. We are attending several groups to get "plugged in" this month. We have been missing this huge part of our life for over a year now and we can't wait to see how God is going to use us to be a blessing to this city that we love.

Please say a prayer for my uncle, who has been like a dad to me most of my life. He is having his 2nd back surgery in the morning. Please pray they get his pain controlled quickly, no extra bleeding, and that after rehab he will have strength back 100% in his legs. Also, pray for my aunt as she will taking care of a man who doesn't like to be still. Layla also starts dance tomorrow and his requests was video and pics so he could see could see her when he wakes up:)

I cannot post today without mentioning the 10th anniversary of September 11. I remember sitting in Ms. Sikes Psychology class my senior year of high school, when we watched the plane fly into the second tower. I knew it was devastating but I really had no grid in my life as to where to place it. It was and still is too much for me to wrap my mind around. My heart still breaks for all the families who are growing up without a mom, dad, brother, or sister. It challenges us as christians to extend grace to those who most definitely, in the world's eyes, don't deserve it. Every year, the huge impact of this tragic event challenges me to examine all the little problems in my life and realize they are by no means tragic. Surrounded by this tragedy are MANY people who need Jesus. They need Him to be the father that they lost. They need his love before a root of hate destroys the rest of their life. They need Him because he is the only Way, the Truth, and the Life. My prayer is that the Lord would lead me so that my life can be a part of showing people in this world the unfailing love of Jesus Christ.

Finally!

Today, I finally ordered Layla's 2-3 year old curriculum for preschool. I meant to have this ordered so that I could start her school this week like everyone else, but our crazy electric bills made me have to hold off. I am excited to for this to become a part of our daily routine as I get to watch Layla learn over the next year! I hoping it is here by Monday so we can start then:)

It's all relative

Let's look at it like this:
The 4 lanes of traffic through downtown Nashville is nothing compared to the 8 lanes through downtown Atlanta. (although, I do appreciate admiring the Atlanta skyline extra long:)

My house seems so much cleaner now without 2 dogs living inside, yet it's still dirty.

My legs are like jello after my 8:30am spin class, but nothing compared to how they are going to feel after I do the whole thing again at 5:30 this evening.

I thought Layla was a great napper when she slept two hours, but now that she consistently sleeps longer than that, I feel cheated with only two hours!

My little girl is not a baby anymore at 2 but compared to my 8 year old niece she is still very much a baby.

And the whole reason for this post:
65 degree weather is by no means cold but compared to the 95 degree weather have been having, it feels like it's freezing!
With this in mind I am choosing to also remember the 30 degree winter and the -30 degrees I experienced last February in Montana... Now that, folks, is COLD.

As somewhere who thrives in 70+ temps, I am not yet ready for the cooler temps.
Everything is only relative when compared to something else, so I am choosing to be an optimist with these cooler temps by enjoying these things:
1. Not fretting about letting my Costco groceries sit in the car while Layla and I grabbed lunch
2. Cooking Baked Potato Soup for dinner
3. Buying some long needed to running shoes so I can start logging the miles that I missed over the "too hot" days.
4. Seeing Layla in her Baby Gap skinny jeans that I have had in the closet. (A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E.)
5. Only HAVING to shower once a day
6. The idea of walking as a means of transportation is once again appealing
7. Drinking red wine instead of a chilled white
8. The idea of revealing a "new" wardrobe that I haven't seen in months is exciting!
9. Open windows means LOWER electric bills
10. Best of all, the forecast for Saturday is once again, 85!!!

Sunday Sit Down!

Okay. Okay. I know it is Monday but I'm calling it Sunday because it was a holiday.

We kicked off the holiday weekend with a night out at the pool with some friends on Friday night.  We ordered pizza, ate and swam until the kiddos were done. By done,  I mean so fussy that it was obviously bed time:)  Layla had so much fun being at the pool with daddy since that is a rare occasion.  We are thankful for our new friends.  It is so fun to hang out with other little girls so close to Layla's age, of course we enjoyed the adult company too!

Saturday, I got up and taught my spin class.  Surprisingly, I had 7 on the holiday weekend.  One of my Stroller Stride moms was able to come, so it was fun having someone I knew in class.  Then, it was time for some FOOTBALL!  Alabama kicked off their season against Kent State and thankfully won by quite a few points.  The most exciting game of the day was definitely Auburn almost losing.  After nap time, we headed to a cabin at the lake with some friends.

We spent the rest of the weekend on the lake.  Water. Friends. Food. Cards. No Make Up. No Hair Dryer.  Doesn't get much better for a holiday than that.  Layla also had some sweet little girls to play with and you can't forget Lucy, the golden retriever puppy.  The rain from the hurricane moved in today so we headed home this morning.  We all took a long nap and then headed out for dinner not realizing that the tornado sirens were going off and we were under a warning.  Anyway, we survived:)

Biggest news of the weekend: I finally took Layla's bumpers out of her crib.  I know there is a lot of controversy of whether you should have bumpers or not....yadayadayada.  Well, we have from day 1.  Friday, I decided when I was washing her sheets, that I had taken them on and off for the last time.  Plus Layla needs the most room in her crib possible.  When we put her to bed Friday night, she immediately noticed something was different and asked what happened.  It was kind of sad:(  This growing up thing is so bittersweet.  I love every new stage, but is sure sad to see the baby become nothing but a distant memory.

The End of Layla's 26th Month

Getting special cuddles from daddy while she was "sick".

Had to throw this in here.  This me at 2:)

Playdate at pool with some Stroller Stride kiddos.  It looks like Layla is holding Santiago's foot.  Or "Ago" as she calls him.

As of yesterday, Layla is now a 27 month old!  I still say she just turned two when people ask, but that is becoming a lie very quickly!!
Here are a couple of things she has been up too:

*Still our dancer and singer.  She loves to make up words to the song when she doesn't know them.

*She can watch the kids on Barney once and then dance along with perfect timing.  Hopefully she will be equally attentive when we start ballet.  

*Speaking of Barney, she is still obsessed.  I'm not sure how much more daddy can take:)

*Her memory and association of things amazes me.  Such as "shoes from grammy", or "shirt from granna", or "Disney World with Sadie".  She also recognizes landmarks very well and can tell me when we pass something she recognizes.

*She can sing her ABC's and count to 20 but the colors are still a work in progress. 

*She would rather stack and organize her toys than actually use them for what they are made for.

*She is still a little momma and my big helper, whether it be groceries or laundry.

*When we talk about church, she mentions her friends which is HUGE progress. The nursery is not really even an issue anymore. 

*She has no fear of the swimming pool.

*Still sleeping in diapers.  Which I know I could probably eliminate but why wake up in the middle of the night when neither of us have too.  Maybe when I have another baby I am getting up with??

*Still in sizes 2 or 3 and size 7 shoes.

*She is becoming a little better with her eating.  I can finally reason with her like "take a bite of this and then you can have more of that".

*She is extremely talkative and sometimes I have to try to give my ears a break but I sure wouldn't have it any other way!

*We are still using timeouts and swats for discipline.  We can sit her in timeout, explain our expectations with the consequence of a swat if she doesn't obey, and USUALLY she will make the right choice.  

Our biggest reason for discipline these days is pouting or saying No when asked to do something rather than "yes mam" or "yes sir".  

*Overall, Layla makes being a parent easy and a ton of fun.  She is definitely a gift from God!