Kendella Brianne Klabunde

Put me back in!!!!

BIG CHEEKS!!!

Hi Mama

Dani loved her little sister from the second she saw her.

Our first family photo... yikes Mom!!!

What a beauty!

Pick me up!!!!

Weird to think the one on the left used to be as little as the one on the right.

For those readers who don't already know, this is Kendella Brianne. She was 9 pounds 6 ounces and 20 3/4 inches long. She was born on Saturday, July 10th, at 11:14 am. We went in at 6:30 to get induced (dr. said I was ready) and I ended up being in labor by myself around 7 or 7:30. So I think that means Kendella is going to be a very good listener and do what she's told! :)

The labor was good, I only had about an hour and a half of really bad contractions. Then the epidural angel came and a few minutes later (and just a few pushes later) Kendella came! It was a total of about 4 hours of labor... not too bad!!

The name Kendella came from Danica. Duane and I were talking about names one day and the name Kendall came up. Later we asked Dani what she thought we should name the baby and she said Kendella. We asked where she'd heard that name and she said the baby told her. So we figured she knows something we don't! Her middle name Brianne is after Duane's dad Brian.

She's been a pretty good girl so far! She had her days and nights mixed up for the first few nights at home, but the past couple nights have been great. I've been keeping her up a little more during the day and we've learned a few tricks, so now we're getting a couple to a few hours of sleep at a time!

Catching up

Little dancing queen

This was Dani's preschool program. I'm still trying to get the videos working.

what's new?

I've never gotten so many looks of pity as I did in the grocery store today. COME ON BABY!!!!

Danica's been having a fun week. Grammy came to stay with us last weekend while Daddy was at his high school reunion having a REALLY good time!!! On Sunday Danica got to go play with Grandma and Grandpa. I got some pictures on my phone of her playing at the lake and swimming. She had such a fun time and really let Daddy know that she did NOT want to come back home!!
Tuesday she had a little dance recital/picnic. She wasn't thrilled about all the spectators and chose to cry instead of dance, but we'll get 'em next time! Grammy came down to watch and to take Danica back with her for a few days. Averie and Tate are in town so Grammy has her hands full! I've never seen Danica so excited and boisterous... she just loves her Averie so darn much! All the updates from Grammy are that they're having the time of their lives.
Hopefully my next post will be to introduce you to the new member of our family!!

Busy!!

The lack of posts lately has been due to a combination of being extremely busy trying to get everything ready for baby and complete MISERY! I begged the doctor to take baby out of me today, but no deal. Hmph. At least I can take a little comfort in knowing that we're mostly ready... finally!!! Dani's new room is done, Baby's new room is done, the new playroom is done, the new living room is nearly done, and all things baby are out, washed up, and put away. Thanks Grammy for all the help!!

Danica had a blast this last weekend staying with Grandma and Grandpa. Cousin Hannah came too and they all went to the Shrek movie. Dani's first movie in a theater!!! I was kinda sad that I wasn't there for this first... there are so few firsts left! But the sleeping in past 7:00 in the morning helped me to get over it! Turns out Dani was a little scared by the movie. I wondered if she would be. We'll probably stick to princessy type movies for a while. But she had a great time playing with Hannah. As usual, her stay was not nearly long enough. We are still hearing (3 days later) about how much she wants to be there and not here. She keeps telling me, "Mom, I'm gonna go pack and then we'll go to Grandma and Grandpa's, okay?" Sigh, if only I didn't miss her so darn much I'd say heck ya, stay as long as you can!!!!

Surgery for my baby

Danica had her surgery yesterday morning, and she was a total trooper about it all. The most interesting part for us was getting our daughter drunk for her first time ever. The medicine they give before taking them away is a lot like Valium. So she got very giggly and was slurring her words. It was hillarious! Then it got a bit sad... seeing her not able to sit up on her own, not being able to fully open her eyes, and REALLY slurring her words. Then they took her away. UGH! VERY tough to watch someone walk down the hall carrying our sweet girl away from us.
But just about a half hour later the doctor came back in to say all went very well. He said the x-ray definitely didn't lie... she had almost no airway back there at all. Poor thing.
She came back in the room not nearly as happy as she'd left, and that lasted about a couple hours. Then after a very long nap, she was back to her sweatpea self. We have strict orders to keep her a bit more quiet for about a week, but all looks good.
It was strange not to be able to hear her breath or snore from down the hall (or even through the monitor). I got up to check on her a couple times and even standing right over her, I couldn't tell if she was breathing! I actually touched her cheek to make sure she was still warm and shook her a bit to make sure she was breathing! UGH!
Now she's loving the presents she got for being a brave girl. And we're loving her game Hi-Ho-Cherrio, and just being very thankful all went well.

Quick recap

I've been absolutely horrible about taking pictures lately, but here's what we've been up to...

We put some things in Ali's (Duane's sister) garage sale last weekend. So while Daddy was out of town golfing and working, I helped out (and by helped out, I mean sat and complained about my back) with the sale and Danica played with her cousin Hannah.
Monday was the first day of Dani's dance class. She started out a bit rocky and shy, but by the end she was moving and grooving!! I think it'll be a big favorite of hers.
Yesterday we went to the zoo for a bit and played at the park, then had a lunch date with Daddy. And today we went to the park and played at the water park! Whew! Lots of playing!!

This weekend we hope to get to Bismarck for a little home improvement shopping... bathroom flooring, sink and vanity, etc...
Then of course more working in the basement for Daddy and we'll be finally starting to move Dani's room and get the baby's room ready! 5 weeks and counting!!!!

The final countdown!

7 1/2 WEEKS TO GO!!!!!!!
Yup, I'm freaking out.

Thanks everyone who was able to come to the baby shower on Sunday! Thank you Nicole for doing that for me!! It was lots of fun once things got going and everyone came out of their shell a bit. Baby K got a lot of cutie pie little clothes and other gifts. Danica even got a few gifts too!! She's been pretty obsessed with her new "paper dolls" from Grammy. They're actually wooden and magnetic, but still paper dolls to me!
I'm glad to have a distraction for her. School's out, swimming is over for a couple weeks and we don't start dance for a couple weeks. With this rotten weather, we've been bored! Her SuperDaddy has been out of town too, so that makes it tough for her. Thankfully I think we get him back tonight.

Growing up so fast!

Last night on our way to swimming lessons, Duane was talking and I was distracted by something. When I looked up I saw the rear end of a car rapidly approaching us so I had to hit the breaks pretty hard. Duane mumbled something about my driving and from the back seat we heard a very disgusted Dani say, "Oh for God's sake!!!!"

She had her last day of school today! We went to watch her program this afternoon. They sang us quite a few songs that they sing every day. They also showed us some of their yoga poses that they do every day and some of their sign language skills too. And all this time I thought she was flashing me gang signs! Imagine my relief. :)
It was all so cute, and both Duane and I were beaming with pride at our little graduate. We have some pictures and videos to share, but this new computer isn't cooperating yet. So once I get it all figured out, we'll share it all.

no-brainer?

Studies have now found links in foods with pesticides and children with ADHD and other brain deficit disorders. So confused as to why more people don't buy organic... makes no sense to me.

Belly shot

We all had to get in the belly shots.

I've been getting a lot of grief for not posting some belly pictures, so here ya go!!!

And the mommy guilt lives on...

Whew!!!
As most of you probably already know, we had quite a scare on Sunday. We were at a pool for a birthday party and one minute of not watching Danica left an opening for her to jump into the big pool. After a horrible feeling by mom, SuperDaddy (as he's now known) found her in the big pool under water and dove in to get her. Luckily Duane's aunt Kate (a Physicians Assistant) was there and knew what to do right away cuz both mom and dad were frozen in fear. After a lot of vomitting water and those blue lips turning back to pink (kind of), we took off for the ER. We were there all day and Danica was a trooper through the whole thing. Mom and Dad not so much however. We are getting better and better each day though. Dani had another set of x-rays done yesterday and her lungs look great, so she's physically wonderful. She does talk about it once in a while and it's obviously still traumatic for her, but we're going back to swimming lessons tonight to get right back on that horse.

Dad's doing well, and I went from laying awake all night counting her sweet breaths, to laying awake at night with a sinus cold (probably from lack of sleep and the trauma). We are slowly getting able to talk about it without breaking down, so the no-call ban has been lifted... feel free to call whenever. And thanks for the space.

Waterpark fun

Thank goodness for Auntie Jill and her camera!!

I couldn't believe our little scaredy-cat was going down this slide all by herself! What a champ!

Safe at the bottom.

The boys hottubbing!

I've never seen Danica smile so big in her life. Every time she went down this big slide (which was about 128 times) I thought her face would break from such a big smile!

Averie braving the slide!

Tate loving the slide too!

Aves was dazzling us with her under-water cartwheels.

Look at that face... come on Daddy!!! Even the little ones did it! Toughen up! ;)

Looks like it was fun!

A smaller slide, but still so much fun!

Whee!!!!!!!

What a great weekend we had in Minneapolis! It always breaks my heart to leave there because Dani has the time of her life with her awesome cousins... they're so good to her. As we were pulling out of the city this time, Dani was a little upset and didn't want to leave. She said, "It's okay Mom, Averie and Tate will visit us at home... I'm sure of it." I don't know which one of us she was trying to console more!

Minneapolis pics

Danica was Averie's little baby girl the whole weekend, just loving getting carried around everywhere by her!

Cool dudes on our shopping day.

Dani picked out these blue with yellow polk-a-dots sunglasses and didn't take them off the WHOLE weekend!

They can look so innocent on camera, can't they?

Averie reading the bedtime story. She's such an amazing reader!!!

Would've been a great picture, but...

Again, would've been a great picture.

The 2nd coming?

On the way home from the circus (my first and last), I had quite a conversation with Dani...
D: Mommy, Jesus is coming to Minot.
Me: Who's coming to Minot?
D: Jesus.
Me: Who told you that?
D: Her grandpa.
Me: (Long pause)
D: Jesus sure is a sweetheart!
I think we have a little more explaining to do.

Sandbox

Danica's been loving her new sandbox.

Now we've just got to find a way to keep the sand INSIDE the sandbox.

Loving the weather!!

Since Danica got her swingset, Mommy and Daddy had to get one too.

All the squeals of delight make those long windy cuss-filled hours of assembly well worth it.

Casa de Klabunde is now open for business!!

Dani and Emma decided to play hide and seek under the covers this morning.

We are loving this weather... FINALLY!!!! We've been doing a lot of playing outside - on the swingset, on the tricycle, on the scooter, going to the park, etc... And of course taking our trips to DQ (guilt-free for me for another 3 months!!!)

Strike a pose!

Dani thought it'd be fun to do some posing, so we had a little fun with it.

America's Next Top Model, here we come!!!

CHEESE!!!!

Pumping away!

Dani learned how to pump her legs... out, in, out, in, out, in! :)

Jumping bean

LOVING her trampoline!!!

Too close for comfort!

The hall light fell and shattered just seconds after Dani walked down the hall. YIKES!!

Don't count your eggs before they hatch

Dani had to count her loot... we're gonna work on counting a bit I think.

Dying eggs

Easter

Enjoying her Easter treats.

The Easter Bunny came!!!! Dani was very excited to hunt around the house for the eggs. She got to have another egg hunt at Auntie Ali's house later in the day too... that's a very generous Easter Bunny!!! We'll have candy to eat for a year! :)

The end product... my pictures are out of order.

She did much better than I thought she would! We didn't have any spilling or splashing around.

CHEESE!!!

We had a great Easter (even though Mom was sick). Duane and Danica went to church in the morning while I stayed home to nurse my sore throat a bit. Also, someone had to be here to answer the door when the Easter Bunny came!! After church Danica searched the house high and low (mostly low) for all the hidden eggs the Easter Bunny delivered. Daddy thought the Bunny went a bit overboard this year... but I thought he did a great job! Then we went to a lunch buffet with Grandma, Grandpa, Great-Grandma Hazel, Ali and Jared. And after that we went to Ali's house for the afternoon. Although we missed the rest of our family, we had a great day!

Two thumbs up!

We had our first ever family movie night last night, complete with cuddling and popcorn! I rented Alice in Wonderland, and after dinner last night we all watched it... and Daddy even stayed awake for the whole thing!!!!

Ma'am, yes, Ma'am!!!

Her Highness, Princess Danica has been giving us a good little chewing out lately for getting mad at her. When she gets in trouble and is crying, she yells at us between sobs, "DADDY! You DON'T yell at little girls who are crying!!!!" Pretty soon it'll be off with our heads!