Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch

Today we ventured an hour north of the DFW area to the Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch in Pilot Point, Texas. They rescue animals from unhealthy situations and use the admission fee to care for the them. We weren't sure what to expect but we were ready to leave the city for a day out! We loaded into the Webb's mini-van, headed to McDonald's, ate breakfast, and got on the road. Once there we met Bree and her family. The first thing on the agenda:
the tram ride!

Astoria refused to sit for most of the ride, she wanted to stand up and look at everything passing by.

First up were the horses, deer, and llamas. She wanted to pet them all, no fear here!

Poor Lorelei even had to share her standing ground..
she was after those animals!

She LOVED it!

She almost couldn't contain herself when she saw this next:

Oh yeah, they were THAT close!

and she wanted to pet them all.


Oh and of course what's an animal park without a BEAR?
No worries, I didn't let her pet this one.

These days, this is what you get when you say "CHEESE"...she plays Peek-a-Boo. Yeah, we're still learning ;)

Or if you try too hard and too long to get a smile you the the 'please I really don't want to smile anymore look'.

I think this pretty much sums up how our day went. This may be one of my new favorite pictures.

Hello Nana!

I kept saying "Hello Nana" and each time she would put the phone to her ear, hehe. Can't wait until she can actually call and talk! Love you Mom!

13 Months Come and Gone..

Not much new going on around here in the Kleckner house. I decided to move Astoria into a daycare facility beginning June 1st. Her time at the home daycare has been amazing and I will use her again should we have another. Debbie did everything we could have wanted for Astoria from using breast milk, switching to formula, using all of my homemade baby food, and even switching to cloth diapers. I'm not sure I would have gotten all of that at a daycare. Now however, I think she needs more. She needs more interaction with kids her own age (much older or younger at Debbie's) and more independence (Debbie, I think, still sees her as an infant). Astoria is not walking but can crawl as fast as a blink. I'm getting a little more jealous of those around her walking yet still trying to hold onto the fact that she will indeed get there! I'm so ready though, I know people say you'll hate it when she walks but I'm ready, ready to have her follow me around, chase after the cats and all of those fun things. I went back looking at pictures this week and noticed a few that looked very similar except for the baby growing and all, hehe.

Hours after coming home from the hospital.

August at Nana's.

December at Nana's.

Just the other day at home. Boy has she grown!

Playin' in the Pool

It felt like summer today and the pool was calling our name! Astoria loved the pool! Thanks Cousin Aylors for giving us the best gift of the summer!

No worries she came back for more after she climbed the rock wall and went down the slide twice. Matter of fact once she figured out she could get in and out of the pool she loved getting in and out more than she loved being in it, hehe. She didn't however like the grass being in the pool with her. Every time she 'caught' a piece she would try to throw it out. Funny girl, she's going to be a clean freak like her Mama!

What's Next Tattoos?

This past weekend we got Astoria's ears pierced. I've been wanting to get it done for a long time but the places we went to told us her lobes were too small. So I waited...for 9 long months (I couldn't do if for the first 3 months because she had to have shots beforehand), lol. Then Megan told us about a place called La Lobe and off we went. They specialize in baby piercings and have been in business for 20+ years. They are smaller earrings than what you would find at Claire's because they don't use a gun...they use a hollow needle. The experience wasn't too bad. The worst part was her having to be held tightly..after they were done she stopped crying almost immediately. Oh and diamonds are a girls best friend, especially if it's your birthstone too! :)

Picture Heavy from the Past Week!

It's YOUR day my little one! You are the light of my eyes and the beat of my heart. You make my world a better place and give me a reason to smile every day. I cannot believe you are turning 1. The year has gone by so fast as I knew it would. No longer do you allow me to hold you for hours on end, you are too busy moving and grooving. You now want to feed yourself and hate taking time out for a diaper change. You were small at birth, 6lbs 10oz, and you are still small at one year, 18lbs, but you have the appetite of grown man, it's amazing. I have yet to find a food you do not like, perhaps you'll be like me and love all kinds of foods when you grow up. You are very much a thinker, like me, it's not very often you make a rash decision, you ponder things before you make a move. Your father and I are very proud parents. You have family and friends that love you just as much as we do. It has been amazing to watch you grow this past year and I cannot wait to see what the next year holds for all of us! WE love you Astoria!

Here are some pictures from her first birthday:

Pictures from the Arboretum today:

How do you know when Astoria is done taking pictures? No worries, she'll let you know!