Mackenzie - 6 months

Mackenzie,

It's December 11, 2013 and you six months old today!

You were a whopping 18lbs. 9 oz. today at your doctor appointment. That's 90th percentile and you were 27.5" long which puts you in the 98th percentile. They say you are supposed to double your birth weight by 6 months. I will say you've surpassed that by a good 3 pounds. ha. You are wearing size 3 diapers and they are looking a bit snug. You are wearing 9 month clothing and quickly moving into the 12 month gear.

I can hardly believe it's been six short months since you casually and quickly came into our world. You are a joy! You are back to sleeping through the night. 6:30 to 6:30 is a good bet. You nap like a champ! What can I say? You love your sleep! And only on your tummy.

I could almost set a watch to your schedule. Which is funny, because I didn't try to get you on a schedule...I didn't have the time or the luxury with having two children. It just happened. If I don't have you in your bed by 6:30, you let me know and VERY LOUDLY that it is time for bed. It's funny, but problematic when we need to be somewhere later in the evening.

You started solids last week. At first you hated it and made awful faces at me every time you took a bite. The past two days you have seemed to really enjoy it. You've had bananas, peas, butternut squash and sweet potato. Your favorite seems to be the squash and the peas. You despise oat cereal and I don't blame you...I'm not going to make you eat it. It smells and looks like cardboard.

You are still all about your sister. You touch her whenever she gets close enough and you will not look at or respond to me or Mark if she is within eye or ear shot.

You are now rolling over from front-to-back and back-to-front easily and often. Your favorite toy is your foot. If you don't have socks or footie pjs on, the foot is in your mouth.

You are also quite 'chill' or as I like to loving tell you...a bit lazy. You drool while you eat your bottle & still have to use a slow flow nipple because you like to eat so slow. You can sit up, but you would rather slump over and play with your feet. I can tell you won't be in a hurry to do anything as you get older. Please don't misunderstand. This is wonderful! You are a perfect compliment to our family and exactly what we needed to balance out the mania!

We love you, Mackenzie Jewel!

Mackenzie - 5 months

Mackenzie,

It's November 11, 2013 and you are 5 months old.

MJ doesn't seem to thrilled that Chloe jumped into her photo shoot.

You are starting to engage with us more. We are getting lots of smiles and one or two chuckles. You babble a lot...mostly squeals. You will imitate us if we squeal first.

Ready to crawl

You only roll from back to front, though you have rolled from front to back. You want to be on your tummy and not your back. You are really trying to figure out crawling. You won't be crawling for a while, but it doesn't stop you from trying. You just really want to chase Chloe down. 

I think I see a tooth coming through your gums. I guess we'll see in a few weeks.

sleeping at El Arroyo 

You still haven't started solids. I'm tempted to try them a few weeks early. You are a big girl and recently started waking up to eat in the middle of the night. I wonder if letting you have a few extra calories via solids will help you sleep?

going to a baby shower for Renee & Stu

You are a great napper these days. If you are full and sleepy, I lay you in your crib and you go right to sleep. That's a huge improvement from your sister who refused to nap until she was much older.

Speaking of sleep. You sleep on your stomach. **Gasp** I lay you down on your back, but you immediately roll to your side or tummy and fall right to sleep. The doctor told me to leave you be if you rolled to your tummy on your own.  

first run

We love you, Mackenzie!

Just for fun...Chloe at 5 months and MJ at 5 months. The older Mackenzie gets the less I think she resembles Chloe. They have very different eye shapes and noses. Mackenzie has dimples and it seems her mouth is bigger. I know it seems strange that I compare them, but so many people ask me if Mackenzie looks like Chloe did. My response is, "you can tell they are sisters, but they don't look exactly alike." In fact, based on this picture I'm not even sure you can tell they are sisters. ha.

Halloween 2013

I suppose I'll post some of our Halloween festivities. I haven't been and won't be blogging much. I simply don't have the time with two kiddos. Well, I have the time...I just want to use the time for other things. I will be continuing to post MJ's monthly updates. I like going back to look at Chloe's so I owe her (and myself) that. With that said, here is our Halloween:


A few days before Halloween, we carved our pumpkins. Chloe didn't really enjoy it. I should have let her paint a pumpkin instead. She just didn't like the gooey pumpkin innards. Live and learn.

This wasn't as fun as we thought it would be...ha

MJ chillin'

Chloe picked the bat pattern.

Mark free handed a double T...turned out pretty good!

Chloe chose her own costume this year. She wanted to be the yellow Angry Bird. So I took the liberty of dressing Mackenzie as the pig from the game to compliment Chloe's costume. I know they won't want to do themed costumes for long, so I'm taking advantage now.

My mom came to town to watch Chloe's pre-school parade. So I recruited her as the blue Angry Bird and we passed out candy at the trunk or treat for Chloe's school. I just love Halloween! This was C's first year to really trick or treat. We only let her go to two houses last year. This year, we all over our neighborhood with her friend Kara and her family.

She was so excited when she went to one of our neighbors' house and he answered the door dressed as a pirate! She told me that she met Captain Hook and he was nice. Oh the world through the eyes of child! It's so magical. I love people like that...they take some time out of their busy lives to brighten the world of others...especially children.

The back of my car decorated for Trunk or treat! Super fun! I spent $3 on the decor by using dollar store purchases and crafting supplies I already owned.

Mackenzie - 4 Months

**edited 


Mackenzie,

It's October 11, 2013 and you are 4 months old today!

4 months old

Time is flying! 4 months seems too old. In some ways, I'm glad you're getting older because you can play and interact with us more. But, I want you to stay little and squishy and cuddly. Pretty soon, you'll be on the move and I won't be able to hold you like I do now.

tummy time

more tummy time

 You've learned to roll over from back to front (3.5 months). That's all you would do for about a week...then you discovered your hands and feet. Now you prefer to be on your back playing with your digits. You also now grab rattles and shake them a bit. Everything goes in your mouth!

You are funny! You'll just wake up one morning and have a new trick to show us. There isn't any practicing and failing...you just do it. You seem to only attempt things when you are certain you'll accomplish it. Except for crawling. You try really hard to scoot to your sister and it really frustrates you that you can't do it. I think you'll crawl much sooner than Chloe did simply because you want to be near her.

pumpkin patch - horse ride

You have regressed in sleeping a little. You go to bed at 7, but wake up pretty consistently around 5:30. Not too bad. It's still 10.5 hours of sleep. I just don't like getting up that early. 

pumpkin patch

You haven't started solid food. You probably won't until closer to 6 months. I'll watch you and if you show an interest in eating, we'll try some rice cereal. For now, milk keeps you full. 

nap time

We've gotten a few giggles from you, but no big belly laughs yet. 

Chloe asked to hold you

Your favorite thing with the exception of Chloe is to take a bath. You get so excited when I take you into the bathroom and start prepping the water. You just lay in the tub and smile at me the whole time. 

morning walk...looking up at mom

I'm looking for teeth because Chloe started teething around 4/5 months. I don't see anything, but man you are drooling and chewing on your hands a lot.

Cohen's 5th bday bash

You are a big girl. You are 15# 11oz (80%) and 26 3/4" long (95+%). You are wearing 6 and 9 month clothing. 

When we went to the doctor, the nurse practitioner was so excited and spent extra time playing with you. She said your brain is developed like a 6 month old. This is based on the fact that you are grabbing toys with both hands in the middle of your body and pulling them up to your mouth. Apparently the ability to symmetrically use both hands to pull this off is quite an accomplishment for a 4 month old. She says she thinks you probably started seeing color quite early and that she wouldn't be surprised if you crawl and walk early based on your gross motor development. She also said it's no surprise the day you figured out this trick that you stopped rolling over; it takes a lot of work and focus and you are totally engrossed in developing this part of your brain for now. I wish I recorded what she told us word-for-word. It was fascinating.

We love your dimples and your reddish/blonde hair!

"Spider Monkey"

We love YOU, MJ!

P.S. You are going to have another aunt! Your uncle Josh proposed to Claire this past month.

Mackenzie - 3 Months

Mackenzie,

It's September 11, 2013 and you are 3 months old today! You were exactly 13 weeks yesterday.

The middle photo is MJ watching Chloe jump on the couch out of the corner of her eye...she always watches Chloe.

You are still sleeping through the night. Every once in a while you'll wake up before 5 with a dirty diaper or wanting to refuel the tank. But, for the most part you sleep from 7-8ish until 6:30. Getting you to sleep is hit or miss. If you aren't gassy and you are full, you'll happily lay in your bed sucking your fist until you fall asleep. If you are gassy? All hell breaks loose in our house.

quiet observation.

Honestly, when you have gas is the only time you are unpleasant. You are the most even-tempered, mild-mannered and quiet baby. You are a quiet observer.

You are blowing spit bubbles now. You rolled over once (from front to back) and I totally missed it. You are smiling all the time now. You 'talk' to Chloe a lot. Lots of aaaahhhhs.

She likes the Bumbo!

You like naps and willingly take them if you aren't working on a new skill. For example when you learned how to bat objects with your fist, you didn't nap for two days. I really do think that these neurological developments interfere with your sleep. I could be wrong, but its seems like you want to practice your new tricks.

Chloe made Mackenzie a tent

You like to be sitting up looking around. You smile a lot when I pull you into your sitting position. You love your swing and the monkey that hangs from your playmat.

first WALK in the jogger...she won't be able to go jogging with me for 3 more months.

You are a big girl. You are already out of your 3 month clothes for the most part and are wearing 6 months. You are so long that I can't get the 3 month onesies to button. You were in the 98th percentile for height at 2 months and nearly 2 inches longer than Chloe at 2 months...and Chloe is tall. I wonder if you girls are going to be tall as adults. As Shorty likes to tell me, I'll probably be the shortest in our little family. You have to beat 5'9". You can do it!

We love you, Mackenzie!

*We will never forget. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives on this day 12 years ago.

Mackenzie - 2 Months

Mackenzie,

It's August 11, 2013 and you are two months old today!

You are sleeping 7-9 hours at night. You go to bed around 8pm. and wake up around 5am. You are putting yourself to sleep most nights. You lay in bed quietly and kick until you fall sleep. We have a rough night occasionally.

You are smiling now. It takes some work, but you'll do it. You are also cooing more now. I love your little voice and I'm pretty sure we are getting the start of a giggle.

You are still enjoying your baths. You've discovered your sister. If Chloe lays next to you on the floor, you'll roll to your side and bat at her with your fist. You really want to reach out and grab her.

We go to your two month check up this Thursday and get measurements then. One thing is certain: You are a big girl!

You still look like you will have blond hair. Your eyelashes and eyebrows are staying blond, too. You seem to have some of the Swedish heritage from your dad's side.

 We love you, Mackenzie!

Golden Rule Days

Chloe has started school. Preschool that is. It's only two days a week and day one went well. Her teacher said she enjoyed "running around the playground pretending to be a pirate." I think that's awesome! We love pirates around here. As Mike Leach would say, "Swing your Sword" baby girl.

I think her favorite time was lunch. She talked about her strawberries and crackers a lot. She didn't say goodbye to me when I left her there. But when I came to pick her up, she yelled "Mommy" in the most excited way. She also had to show Mackenzie to all her friends and teachers.

Mackenzie is now regularly pulling 8-9 hour stretches at night. You don't have to tell me how lucky I am. Both of my girls were excellent sleepers. I'm sure we'll have some regression as growth spurts occur, but I'm happy to sleep more than 3-4 hours at a time with any frequency I can get.

She's also doing social smiling now. I have to smile and talk to her for a few minutes, but I always get a smile after a little head bobbing. She will also coo at Chloe to try and get her attention. Chloe is usually too busy to pay her any mind. Though she does pay attention to MJ on her own terms and it usually involved kisses or hand/head caressing.

Tummy time.

She has a mohawk. 

Daddy and Mackenzie playing chase with Chloe.

 I took the picture of Chloe when she was 6 weeks old. The picture of MJ is 6 weeks also. This was purely coincidental. I think MJ is only one day older than Chloe in her pictures.

top is Chloe; bottom is MJ

Big Announcement(s)

Having a new baby is exciting and nothing can top that, but we do have news that comes awfully close.

But first, I have iPhone picture to share. We baked in honor of our big surprise.

Baking

Chocolate Chip Cookies from scratch

Chloe is taking swimming lessons. She took Mommy and Me when she was around two, but that wasn't really helping her much so we dropped out of the class. This year we signed up for lessons through the city. I'm not involved at all other than walking her to the pool. The class is two weeks long (Monday through Thursday). She just completed her first week. There were no tears! She loves it. If only I could convince her to stop playing on the steps of the pool while the teachers are talking.  Three year olds just don't have the same priorities as adults.

She loves making silly faces for the camera.

Kenzie and I waiting on Chloe.

You can see the back of Chloe's head.

Chloe is starting preschool this fall. Mark's work offers tuition assistance for daycare, so we are going to put her in school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She is super excited. She's been asking to go to school for months now. I think it's because she enjoys Sunday school so much when we actually make it to church. I'm excited for her to be able to play with other kids her age. That's all we are trying to accomplish by enrolling her. She needs more stimulation that I can provide with a new baby at home.

This brings me to my announcement...Mark is changing jobs, again. (Thus, the tuition assistance.) We both loved ebay/PayPal. They were a great company to work for and he is sad to leave. But, another opportunity was presented and it was too good to pass up. He will be working for Facebook starting in August! I can't believe that when we started dating that Facebook was a startup in Cambridge, MA. We had just signed up for accounts and had no idea what it would turn into nor that it would be paying our bills some 8 years later. I also can't believe the CEO of Mark's new company is younger than us! Makes me feel old. Anyway, I'm super excited for my husband!