Happy Birthday Kharis!
Kharis turned one last Friday, January 22nd. We traveled back to Missouri to see all the family and have her party. Here are a few highlights:
We went to Build a Bear and let Kharis pick out any animal she wanted. With no influence whatsoever, she picked a tiger dressed in an MU cheerleader outfit. So, with tiger and outfit in hand she went through the process of stuffing the tiger, giving her a bath, dressing her, and getting her birth certificate. Gracie the tiger is now the newest member of our family. (This idea was given to me by my friend Jeni… on your child’s first birthday take him/her to Build a Bear, let him/her pick out their own animal to stuff, and then name the animal based on your child’s middle name with an “ie” at the end. I thought this was such a cute idea that I just had to do it with Kharis.)
Later in the day it was party time! Kharis got her own cupcake. She was very dainty with it and would carefully place the icing in her mouth using just her thumb and forefinger. After a while Brian decided to show her how it’s done and placed her hand and face in the icing.
Present time! Kharis played with all her toys, books, and cards. The musical cards were her favorite.
Whew! What a great day! Thanks to EVERYONE for making Kharis’ first birthday so special.
Falalalalala Lotsa Loot
Here’s Kharis with all her Christmas gifts. The only thing not pictured are the table and chairs she received from her Grandpa and Grandma Arnold. We just couldn’t fit them in the car. We’ll have to have lots of tea parties when they bring them down to make up for lost time.
We’re so appreciative for all the fun presents she got. Kharis is enjoying everything as I type. A BIG thanks to everyone!
A Christmas of Firsts
Today is Kharis’ first Christmas! Not only is it her first Christmas, it turned out to be her first white Christmas as well!
Our first tradition….We started the day with our first Christmas tradition. For quite some time I’ve been keeping my eyes and ears open for new (and old) Christmas traditions to potentially implement in the years to come. Things to teach our children about Jesus’ birth and turn their eyes toward Him. Brian thought of a great one just this morning that I know will be a keeper. Before we ate breakfast or opened any gifts Brian read to Kharis about Jesus’ birth as a reminder that He is the best gift she will ever receive as well as to start the day with the focus on Him, not us. It was definitely a special way to start the day.
It’s a girl!!!!….Kharis received her first Cabbage Patch doll… Cindy Estrella, “born in the cabbage patch on September 1.” I was more excited than Kharis as it was a “Surprise Newborn.” We had to wait until today to find out whether it was a boy or a girl. She has blue eyes just like Kharis. So sweet…
Bubbles everywhere!!!!….She also received some of the most awesome bubbles in the world. Seriously. A while back I visited my friend Melanie and we took our little ones to a Gymboree class. They blew these bubbles (called “Bubbles Ooodles”) while there and the kids loved them. We both HAD to have them. They stay in the air for a loooooong time and then once they finally land most of them don’t even pop! LOTS of bubble fun!
We know there will be lots more fun to come! Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Everybody!
We hope everyone has a great Christmas!
My Thanksgiving Pilgrimage
Here’s a look at my first Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for!
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- Played guitar, sang, and danced with Grandpa Parrish
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- Lots of pre-Christmas fun at G&G Arnold’s
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- Tea party at Great G&G Taggart’s
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- My first Thanksgiving meal… yum!
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- On to Great G&G Arnold’s house!
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- Whew! I was tired. Thanks for the shoulder Aunt Ashley.
Ten Months
A little change from the usual monthly pic…
Better Late Than Never
Here’s a look at our October. Wait! Aren’t we halfway through the month of November? I figured better now than not at all.
Here are some of the highlights…
- We participated in our first Street Fest with the church. While there, Kharis was given one of her favorite things… a balloon. (We still have this balloon and she still plays with it.)
- Supported the Bearcats from afar during their Homecoming.
- Kharis fell asleep for the first time while eating in her highchair. Sundays are tiring!
- Grandma Arnold came for a visit so we went to a pumpkin patch and took Kharis’ nine month pictures. While Grandma A. was here Kharis crawled for the first time!
- Brian gave Kharis her first guitar lesson.
- Kharis helped me celebrate a successful CVS shopping trip. ($3.50 for a lot of soup, soap, and deodorant… and some entertainment for Kharis as well. Worth every penny!)
- Kharis got to play in her first pile of leaves.
- Kharis’ first Halloween. She went as a smashed pumpkin. Brian went as a cracked egg. I went as an empty roll of toilet paper. What were we? The “tricks” of Halloween!
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About
On Monday, May 26, 2008, we took a home pregnancy test and found out that we were great with child (before that we were just plain great). Who knew that peeing on a stick could bring such joy? We even took a picture of the stick but we’ll spare everyone that image. One week later an ultrasound confirmed that Katie did indeed have a little baby growing inside of her belly.
Well, nine months went by in a flash and our little girl is finally here. On Thursday, January 22, 2009, at 4:50 in the afternoon, Kharis Grace Parrish entered the world. She is absolutely perfect. We are so grateful to our Father in heaven who has blessed us by giving us the stewardship of this little girl. We invite everyone to check in from time to time and watch as Kharis grows and as Katie and I try to handle all of this. I am sure our attempt at being parents will be entertaining and sometimes just plain laughable. Your prayers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
