15 Month Check-up

Well better late then never I suppose... So back a few weeks Kenz had her 15 month appointment.  I don't know why I felt more anxiety about this one, and those blessed shots....but I was nervous!  Enough to be sick to me stomach the night before.  But we toughed it out as usual, and she wasn't kicking and screaming like I imagine she will be at some point in her life.  

So what is she up to these days?  Here are her stats:

Length: 33in, 97th percentile, she's back on the chart folks!

Weight: 22lbs 13oz, 43th percentile

 = tall and skinny baby!

Movin' & Groovin: Kenz is fully toddling around these days.  She started walking probably 2 months ago and decided she was going to take some time off from that after taking a couple of nasty face-plants.  But probably a month ago she decided she was ready to turn heads and really perfected her adorable wobble.  

Teeth:  At her appointment she had a solid 6 pearly whites.  2 front top, 3 bottom front, and 1 molar? in the back.  Over the past few days I noticed 3 new guys popping up to say hi, including another molar.    

Smartest baby on the block:  Oh the sign language has taken off, and it's really the cutest thing ever.  I"m so glad researched the concept and dove right in with it.  I think it has really payed off when it comes to her communicating as best as possible.  Since her 1 year update she has added; all done, banana, drink, cereal, bird, fish, signing, yogurt, bath, please, cracker, up, and down. 

What is she saying? Mom (and Don even taught her how to yell Mom...just precious when you can hear her across the grocery story yelling Mommmmm) , Da-da, cheese, doggie, na-na (banana), see ya, hiiiiii.  She really repeats a lot of things we say to her, including when Don asks her where she wants to go to college.... Hav-ad!  I guess we better start adding a little more to her college savings fund!

Favorite things:  This girl loves basketball.  LOVES it.  She recognizes it when its on TV, even from the other room.  She loves to watch baseball with daddy and claps when the people on TV do.  She loves being outside, although the swing is not a favorite, but she loves the slide. She also has developed a new found love for bags.  And the bigger and more awkward the better.  Her favorites include reusable shopping bags.   

Temperament:  Well as I knew it would, Kenz has a little bit off a wild side to her.  She throws fits, she throws her self onto the floor, and throws food.  This could be because of those 3 new teeth coming in all at once, but I'm guess she is just getting older and frustrated with her lack of a real voice.  But we are handling it, and hoping she will grow out of this sooner than later and hoping these sass attacks will be few and far between!

Little foodie?  She is still eating pretty good although not as much now that she insits on feeding herself with a fork and spoon.  Very little actually makes it into her mouth, but those said fits may occur if we don't allow her to be Ms. Independent.  

So after her Dr. appointment we decided to combine 2 of her favorite things...clapping fans at the local softball fields and the playground!

Pancakes and Parades

A few weekends ago we took Kenzie back to my hometown for the pinnacle of Springtime festiveness...The WNY Maple Festival.  This was that festival that every kid in town (me included) saved their pennies for to stuff their faces with fudge, sandart in their pockets, and cover their melons with paintings of unicorns and rainbows.
Sadly the Maple Fest isn't as whimsical as I once remember.  But to show some hometime pride, we took the drive down Saturday, to take in the sights and sounds of the fest!


We took full advantage of the All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast.  This baby girl was still considered free (or maybe she wasn't and that everyone remembers you, small hometown perks kicked in), but she still got her "money's worth."

Up next....We hit the parade route to get a nice peek of the horses and fire trucks...and thats about it.  After getting pelted with candy from those darling Boy Scouts we decided she was safer in Daddy's arms.  She did okay until those ever obnoxious fire trucks sounded their sirens and blasted their horns. But luckily the caboose of the parade...the horses, cheered her up!

Until next time Maple Fest....stay cool!

Project 52{18}

52{18}

Motherhood is:

giving in

"Kenzie no."  "Kenz get down." "Kenzie come on." "Kenz, No No." "Mackenzie, you'll get hurt." "Kenzie, you're not listening."  

Sometimes she picks up on things SO FAST!   She'll sign words like ball and drink with only seeing me do them once or twice.  She'll say words like pizza ("zee, za") and banana ("na na") after hearing me repeat them only a few times.  But the word NO goes in one ear and out the other.  Perhaps her selective listening is already starting.    

Project 52{17}

52{17} 

Motherhood is 

fleeting

It can sometimes be exhausting.  Sometimes frustrating. Sometimes emotional.  Sometimes a handful.  
But I can't believe she is over 15 months old, and I know in no time she'll be off to her first day off school, and her first prom, and college.  So for now I'm embracing her growing personality, her laughter, and my favorite....open mouth spitty kisses.  
I can't tell you the last time she fell asleep on either of us.  But on one day when I was trying to stall her nap, so she could sleep during my conference call, I realized she was becoming still.  As much as I needed her to be awake, I let her lay there.  We laid there snuggling together for a too short 20 minutes.  There is something about her when she is sleeping.  Whether its in her crib or on me, I just want to be with her.   

Gut Laughin Kenzie

Kenzie was in quite the mood last night.  As funny as Don and I usually are, we were just hysterical last night.  All throughout her bath she laughed and laughed at her Dad.  Then while I was getting her diapered up and in her PJs, she starting doing this.
Ignore my crazy, loud, and somewhat scary Da-Das - What can I say, I love that laugh and smile :)

Project 52{16}

52{16}

motherhood is:

wild

Look at this hair!  Not only has it lightened even through the winter months, but it just keeps growing.  While the inverted bob is growing out, it still remains longer in the front than the back.  (Don won't let me cut it)  Styling it is becoming tougher since she hardly wants to sit still to allow me to pull it out of her face.  And anytime she is left alone, whether its in her crib, carseat, or just gets bored with her toys,  her hair accessory always makes its way to her mouth.  

Her hair may be wild, but 9.5 time out of 10 this little girl wakes up with this smile...and hair!

Project 52{15}

52{15}

Motherhood is:

Surprising

Everyday can bring on a new surprise.  Even the slightest change, or development, or learned skilled is so exciting for us.  

Kenzie has really been perfecting her walking skills after a few weeks of rough spills which led to crawling all the time.  She is also becoming an independent little lady when it comes to feeding herself.  She prefers our forks and spoons over her itty bitty cutlery.  She already LOVES sports.  We were so surprised and amused at how she gets SO EXCITED anytime basketball comes on TV.  We can be sitting in a restaurant, and hear her squeal after and catching a glimpse of ESPN.  

Mackenzie gives us endless excitement and surprises.  I hope things never change.