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!

Our life as a family of four

has been super fun and a little hectic.

We took Mackenzie to her first baseball game.

We went to the pool with some friends.

We played dress up. Chloe said she has to "go to the beach in style."

We got our first black eye. I hit Chloe with the shopping cart. Talk about mommy guilt...

This was a few days later...

We took a nap!

We went to backyard bible club. Chloe is the one running around and not sitting still with the other kids. In her defense, the club is designed for Kindergarden through 4th grade. She is a little young for it.

We try and play outside.

Mackenzie - 1 Month

Mackenzie,

It's July 11, 2013 and you are one month old today! It has been a very busy month. We've had lots of company, your first holiday (Fourth of July) and your first outing (a quick trip to Target).

We've also learned a lot about you. I was correct in my assessment of your personality even prior to your birth. You are so very laid back! You are going to be more like your Dad. (Mom and Chloe are more tightly wound). You rarely cry and you sleep a lot. The most difficulty you've given me so far is your disdain for burping. You hate and seem to fight against it so much that it's taken (a few times) three hours to get you back to sleep after a night feeding.

4 weeks 1 day old - 1 month

Weight - 11# 1oz. (93%)

Height - 22.5" (96%)

Head Cir. - 38.5 (96%)

You are a healthy girl. You've gained over 3 pounds and grown 2.5 inches in 4 weeks...that has to be painful. I can't believe the change in 3 weeks time.

one week old.

You sleep around 4 hour stretches at night. I'm getting up with you 2-3 times a night. I am looking forward to longer stretches. I think you may have made cooing noises a few times. Until they get more deliberate, it's hard to tell.  I can't wait for you to smile. You have the most adorable dimples...like Dad. When you smile they are much more noticeable.

You slept through your first bath. I'm not kidding. You didn't open your eyes or cry at all. I couldn't believe it! You seem to really enjoy bath time. You also enjoy tummy time. So much in fact, you fall asleep during it. I'm not sure how you will ever strengthen your neck by sleeping through your exercise! You do have a pretty strong neck already though and can hold your head up for a while before face planting into my chest.

We went to the doctor today for your 1 month check up. You received your second Hep B vaccine and you took it like a champ! You only cried for a split second. You are so chill! Your big sister is awfully worried about your boo-boo. Chloe received a doctor prescribed sticker for your pain and suffering.

We love you, Mackenzie!

The Oklahoma crew with Aunt Ellen (from D.C.) and Uncle Ben (from Alaska).

Aunt E spoiling Chloe.

Granny didn't want to put Mackenzie down. 

Chloe looks nervous about Uncle Ben holding baby Kenzie.
Don't worry Chloe. If he can handle jumping out of a plane, he's capable of holding a newborn.

Chloe has been such a big help. We haven't really seen much regression from her. She did color on the carpet the other day and she has been talking back and giving attitude. But, I'm 95% sure these are unrelated to the new baby. I think it's just her normal 3 year old independence asserting itself. The coloring on the carpet can be attributed to the fact that I can't watch her 100% of the time now and stop it before it happens. The one thing that seems to really upset C is when Mackenzie takes a bath. As far as Chloe is concerned, it's her bathtub. I'm hoping to start bathing them together, soon.

If Mackenzie cries, Chloe tells me to 'pick her up' or 'feed her.' If Mark is holding Mackenzie and she cries, Chloe is very concerned that Dad is the reason and tells him to 'stop' or 'leave my sister alone.' C loves showing Mackenzie her toys and talking to her.

Having two kids is certainly an adjustment. I think overall we are adjusting well. It helps that Mackenzie is such an easy baby and Chloe's maturity lets her be a tremendous help.  I do have a little mommy guilt now that all my time isn't devoted to C. But, I think it makes our 1 on 1 moments so much sweeter.

I love this face!

I love this face, too!

Similar facial expressions. Sisters for sure!