Project 52{37}

Motherhood is:

resemblance

I've said it before.  Perfect strangers have told me.  People remind me and Donny reminds me.  She looks like him. She is 95% him, besides those baby blues. Her blonde hair, the big eyes, her botton nose, the pouty lips.  And then..these lashes.  Don and I have always had a constant battle on who had the longest lashes.  I stand by my vote, that mine are longer (okay at least AS long as his).  But hers are his.  They are blonde close to their eyelids, and get a dark red/brown as the grow out.  They stick straight out with a little bend at the end.  Her Daddy's got beautiful genes, so she's pretty lucky...and I'm pretty envious! 

Project 52{36}

Motherhood is:

happiness

When she was born, I experienced a whirlwind of emotions.  Honestly, I wish I could remember it more.  I wish there was a way to seal in the exact feeling of those moments.  From that moment she looked at me with those big deep eyes, I was hopelessly in love.  This little person has brought so much happiness to our lives, our family and friends, and even complete strangers.  This little family of mine is my greatest joy.  

Project 52{35}

Motherhood is:

new for me, new for her

She is at such a fun age.  Sometimes she does or says something that cracks me up.  She amazes me how smart she is.  She is also so funny, but can also be so serious at times.  She is doing new things every day.  Discovering new things.  Saying new things.  And amazed at new things....like leaves.  She had a complete meltdown when we shared the news that we were leaving the leaves and going to eat some lunch.  All throughout lunch she said "eaves eaves."  Unfortunately after a second visit with the leaves, a second meltdown ensued, when we had to get back in the car and head home.   I haven't learned how to avoid meltdowns...I'll work on that, and make millions if I figure it out....stay tuned!

Project 52{34}

Motherhood is:

picking your battles

Oh Kenzie, you are your Dad's dream daughter.  She is all him.  Looks like him, enjoys sports like him, and eats like him (sometimes).  So that means she needs to start enjoying some of the things I like.  My hope is she will be my kitchen helper and my shopping partner.  So on a trip out to get a birthday gift for her friend Hailey's 2nd party, I realized this lady may be getting a little old for the cart.  She had a complete meltdown from the time I put her in the cart at Kohls until we got all the way back to the baby section.  To avoid the embarrassment in Target, I hooked this chick up with a popcorn combo sans the drink! She had NO PROBLEM at all lounging in her royal red carriage stuffing her face with handful of pcorn.  I guess I'll take the shared snack with my #1 girl and a good hour of perusing around one of my fav stores. 

Project 52{32}

Motherhood is:

trying new things

Everything is new to us.  Each day, week, and milestone is new.  She has new attitudes, and words, and likes and hates every day....but we go with it.  We are always looking to experience new things.  Since new food trucks are popping up all over Buffalo, we decided to experience the revolution.  I gotta say I love the idea.  I love eating, especially quick, tasty, locally operated eats.  Perfect for a summer afternoon.  

Project 52{31}

Motherhood is:

assumptions

We think Kenzie is ready for potty training.  For a few weeks now she's recognizing what "poo-poo" is, and many times lets us know that there is some hanging out in her diaper.  She enjoys flushing the toilet, and proudly yells "see ya" as "everything" disappears.  She now has a Mickey Mouse potty to get use to, because she is OBSESSED with him (hence the new book). She'll sign potty and lets me follow her to the bathroom.  We go through the motions, which includes being completely naked, ...but so far no results. We aren't pushing it, but we assume, and hope she'll be a quick learner.  
So tonight I decided we might as well get in the habit of eating a snack and skipping the liquids.  This picture makes me laugh every time I see it.  She makes mommy proud with a mouth full of cantaloupe and she makes daddy happy because as much as she loves "Me-mo," she sneaks a peak at the baseball game instead!

Project 52{30}

Motherhood is:

never-ending

There are days when I just want her to nap longer than exactly 2 hours like she does everyday.  There are times when I just want another person here so I can deep clean this house.  But as I find myself wishing for time alone, I have to remind myself that one day I will long for these moments with her.

Project 52{29}

Motherhood is:

breathtaking

Sometimes I'm amazed that Donny and I made such a beautiful baby.     Ever since I found out I was pregnant I wondered what our babies would look like.  I wondered what features they would inherit.  But I also thought, what if our baby isn't cute (is that possible).  I remember asking Don when I was pregnant.. "Will we know if the baby isn't cute, or will we think its cute because its ours."  And he said.."No we will know if its not cute, but it'll be ours."  Ha!!  Oh the honesty.  
But really, I think all babies are cute, but this one just blows my mind.  She's this perfect mixture of us.  Whether its a concentrated stare, fast asleep, or an open mouthed laugh, she is my blonde hair blue eyed beauty!  She is going to grow into such a beautiful girl inside and out!

Project 52{28}

Motherhood is:

observant

Something about this sucking.  Its her concentration/sleepy/determined/soothing tongue sucking thing. Thats the only way we can explain it.  We have videos of her doing this under her activity gym when she was a few months old.  So when it popped out again over the past few months, we figured out its meaning.  When she is focusing hard on something she does it, but she also does it when she is tired, so I think it soothes her.  Beats the pacifier or thumb!! 

Project 52{27}

Motherhood:

can be rough

A few weeks ago this lady and this Moma, had a rough patch.  She was hit (no pun intended -- keep reading) with a nasty sickness that just sucked the sweetness out of baby Mackenzie.  After an emergency visit to the pediatricians because of a temp over 103, she was diagnosed with Hand-Foot-Mouth disease.  Thankfully she never had the sores, but doc thought she had a sore throat since it was pretty red.  No sores was good, but over a few days, this developed into a pretty nasty cold.  
But along with this cold came hitting, swatting, and flailing....All.day.long.  She just beat me up. Anytime things didn't go her way (which seemed to be everything) she hit.  I graded the day, based on how many times she hit me.  It was exhausting and nothing worked.  Thankfully she is feeling better and the hitting has decreased a ton...but it is still something we are working on!

Project 52{26}

Motherhood is:

watching your husband be the daddy you always knew he'd be

I'm not sure there is anything more amazing in my life then the way this little girl has stolen her daddy's heart.  His love for her is something you wish for for every baby.  And to watch her love him melts my own heart.  Almost everyday he is the first thing she asks for in the morning.  Some days when I think she is still napping, I'll hear "Da-da?"  then "Daaaaaaaaad?"    

There is something about a guy and his baby girl, and I couldn't have picked a more perfect guy for both of us.

Project 52{25}

Motherhood is:

blurry

I feel like all we are doing this summer is running.running.running.  We have baseball, and weddings, and showers, and some late work nights.  And we also just added Kenzie's Rollie Pollies class which is basically a gym class, filled with songs and circuits of gymnastic activities.  And she LOVES it!  I'm so proud of how independent she is at class, and how willing she is to try things, even though she is the smallest in her class.  And maybe its because of all this excelling I'm seeing, but I've also researched swim lessons and dance lessons.  I couldn't help but think....am I already turning into one of those mothers that needs 7 calendars to keep track of everyone's schedules.  And we only have 1. Are we crazy to be doing this already?  Mackenzie isn't even 18 months yet.  Am I setting us up for running for the next 18 years?  I'm torn, because I love watching her explore and learn new things she can do, but I don't want to miss out because of busy schedules.  But I'm hoping this is all helping her grow (and her daddy hopes setting the foundation for an amazing athlete).

Project 52{24}

Motherhood is:

growing up

I don't know what happened this week, but in every picture I saw of Kenzie, she looked so grown up.  She looked like a toddler, not my baby.  And what is scary is I know there are going to be more moments when I realize this and think...now she really is growing up.  Like when we put away the diapers, or the first time she wants to walk without holding my hand, or go down the slide without someone on the bottom to catch her.  

It seems like everyone is asking us lately "so, are you ready for the next one?"  And while I've heard of people catching the "baby fever" when their little ones start to grow up, I feel like I'm the total opposite.  I'm loving Kenzie's personality, independence, and playfulness lately.  She makes me laugh everyday..multiple times. She picks up on new words, new signs, new quirks every day.  And right now, I just want to soak those all up and not miss a thing!

Project 52{23}

Motherhood is:

pushing the limits

She hasn't always hated swinging. (Sidenote: look at my little itty bitty baby) Anyway, when the weather got nice in March we took her to the playground, and to my surprise she immediately started whining when I put her in the swing.  I figured she had forgotten all the fun a swing can bring to a 14 month old's life, but when she was frantically signing "all done" I realized this little lady is not up for swinging. So how did I get this mid laughter picture?  I sat in front of her, and let the swing/her run into me.  I'd then stumble back and make some ridiculous noise, which was quickly followed by shrieks of laughter...every.single.time.    I remember doing this with my little sister when she was a baby and getting the same response,  So just like with her fear of grass, sand, food on her hands, and I'm sure other quirky things I'm forgetting, we just kept pushing it.  And although she'd rather climb and slide at the playground, I still make her swing a few times...even if its just so I can hear her laugh!

Project 52{22}

Motherhood is:

framework

We are building a framework one day at a time.  Eating. sleeping. learning. speaking. habits.  We are creating her normal.  What is normal for us, may not be for others.  But we do what is best for us and what we think is best for Kenzie.  What we eat, the sleep routine we follow, what we teach, what recommendations we follow,  are all crucial for her development.  But because of this routine, we notice things.  Things she's learned or personalities that have develop.  Some intentional and some not.  Some good, and some bad.  But she is learning.  And of all these build on each other, which is pretty amazing, because I love the person she is becoming more and more everyday.  

Project 52{21}

Motherhood is:

ups and downs

These days have ups and downs.  Somedays she's perfect.  I wake to "Mom", we eat "O's", we get kisses from the doggies, we make a mess, she walks around with a toothbrush in her mouth we snack, she naps, she plays in the spice cabinet, she talks jibberish but expects you to respond, we eat more, we look at old pictures and videos on my phone, we read, we snack, we welcome daddy home, we eat, she sleeps.  And then there are not good days, with tantrums, tears, and crying fits on the floor.  But not matter how frustrated I may get, this face will stop me in my tracks.  I will kiss this face any moment of any day, even when its a down day.   

Project 52{20}

Motherhood is:

unconditional 

Motherhood is the ultimate unconditional love experience.  And it all started with these babies.  Oh these boys.  I feel like they've been pushed aside lately.  I do my best to snuggle with them in the morning before Kenz wakes up and throw the ball outside.  But then they look up at me with these big eyes and I feel like they miss the old days.  I'm so crazy about these 2 and I hope Kenzie loves them as much as we do.
I've noticed that they (Grady) are starting to get use to her.  Grady was never a huge fan of Kenz.  He'd usually run away from her anytime she was crawling or scooting towards him.  He'd even growl in annoyance (not a mean growl, just "why do you get to eat so much and we only eat twice a day"growl)  And strangely, Kenzie is drawn to him.  (It could be because from Day 1, Fausto has really been up in her face lickin' lickin' lickin'.)  The other day, Mackenzie walked over to Grady laying on the couch, crouched down in front of his face, and leaned in for a kiss, and he let her!  Then she walked down to his body and petted him.  And I mean she actually pet him, not waked him a couple times.  It brought a tear to my eye to see her love them as much as I love them.  She kisses them goodnight every night, and tells them to shhhh when they bark.  I can't wait to see how their love evolves. 

Project 52{19}

Well lets talk about falling off the wagon...Okay, we talked about it -- but I'm back on.  And I figure better late then quit all together, so here.we.go.  

52{19}

Motherhood is:

letting go

From the umbilical cord, to kindergarden, to a dorm room, there are phases of letting go.  Luckily that is many many years away for us.  So for now I'm learning my own way of letting go.  It's about forgetting the mess and allowing her to eat yogurt with a fork.  Or letting her drag around a reusable shopping bag even though she trips on it every few steps...she'll learn.  Or letting her pull the books off her bookshelf that I just picked up, so she can sit on her floor, talking to herself and she turns the pages.  Or letting her eat blueberries right out of the carton because it seems to be the only way she'll eat them.  (And she eats them!  by the handfuls!!) But the bonus to letting go...we have so much more than we did before.