Has it been 7 months already???

My dearest Makenzie,

I can't believe that you are already 7 months old! You are sleeping soundly in your crib right now which means I have time to write to you. Time sure is flying! Because of this, I find myself sneaking in extra cuddles and kisses, forgoing the dirty dishes and laundry, and just staring at you while you sleep. And you know what, that's okay. It's okay because you won't be little forever, and you have already changed so much since birth. I hope Grandma and Grandpa understand this... You are becoming more and more CRAZY to handle and I have few moments to myself now days but I wouldn't have it any other way! You are becoming more and more independent lately, wanting to be jumping and jumping, on the floor playing with your toys or sitting next to me on the couch rather than be cuddled in my arms. But when you start rubbing those pretty blue eyes I come running and swoop you up in my arms, rock and rock you and nurse you off to sleeply land. I cherish those sleepy, milk-drunk moments the most. You are an expert sitter now and rarely fall over. You catch yourself from falling side to side or backward (most of the time). I love it! Your such a big girl :) Although you LOVE nursing, you sure do think your hot stuff eating big girl food and there is a huge laundry list of foods you have tried and liked so far. I love that you love eating. You still have 2 teeth which I am perfectly fine with because I'm sure the next ones to come are the top ones and I am a bit weary of those guys. You have finally learned that biting hurts me and I would like it to stay that way. When we talk with daddy you make sure to always show him your cool rocking skills. I think that you are going to be crawling by 8 months for sure! We will see though. Only 3 1/2 more months till you can wrap your squishy little arms around daddy for good! I always imagine that day and just cant wait! Its been a long 12 months and I really am so grateful that I always have your shoulder to cry on haha. I know that's sad but its the truth! We love you so much Kenzie girl! Stay cool!

Love,

Momma

Crochet Mood Blanket 2014

Since I have really been getting into the whole crochet thing lately, I started following some girls on Instagram who also have the crochet bug. I really enjoy looking at what other people are making to get some inspiration on future projects of mine. One of the girls started this cool idea in which you make a granny square in the color mood you were that day. You could either make one a day or one a week; in the end I chose to make one a day to make a nice blanket for when guests me get too cold. I thought this would be a cool project to do since it is just one a day and being able to look back at the year 2014 in the view of my mood I think will be pretty cool. I first had to decide which colors to put for which moods. Looking at what some of the other girls have chosen did not help as I learned that everyone has a different idea of what color goes with what mood. I decided to go off what mood comes to mind when looking at a certain color. I didn't realize you could have so many different moods from day to day. Or maybe I never paid that much attention to it. Anyways, so far I have made 18 squares and its looking pretty unique. I have found so far that I am pretty relaxed most days or in a good mood which makes me happy. If I were to have started this blanket a month or two ago most days would have been red/angry haha due to my frustration about Brian being gone. I have since moved on from those feelings and am a lot more happy. Although some days I still get that feeling. Only 4 more months. And next month we find out where we are getting stationed so that's something to look forward to. With all that being said I feel like this is good "therapy" for me and I am pretty excited about it!

Makenzie is 6 months old!

Baby girl,

I can not believe you are already 6 months old! Where has the time gone? You are such an amazing little babe with the sweetest personality. Daddy and I just feel so grateful to have you in our life's and love you dearly! This month you got another round of shots but handheld these ones like a pro. No fever or soreness like with your 4 month shots so that's good. You weighed 15 lbs and 7 oz. 60% for weight and 60% for height. I feel so lucky that you are healthy and growing just like you should. I noticed this month that you clearly know when I leave the room and have a lot to say about it haha. There is NO sneaking away anymore. You are a squirmy little thing which means that I can't even turn away for a second when you are on the changing table in fear of you falling. So in the crib you go, which you don't mind because it's really the best view and you can then watch my every move. I love how much you giggle these days! I can start singing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and you burst out with a huge smile and giggles. SO CUTE! I start singing that when you are crying and you instantly stop and smile, sometimes mid cry! It's pretty awesome. Food and you are great friends. You pretty much eat everything I give you which includes, bananas, yogurt, tomatoes, broccoli, sweet potato, cucumber, bell peppers, carrots, and oranges. Kota bud is LOVING this new eating thing because 90% of the food ends up in his belly haha. Because of this I got you these new bibs that are amazing and catch almost everything. He still gets a pretty awesome portion though. For me the most exciting new thing is the fact that you have two teeth! They are your two bottom ones and are adorable. One time while you were nursing I felt a little bite but since then haven't felt anything. I'm more worried about your top teeth and nursing because right now your tongue covers your bottom teeth. We will just have to see! Makenzie you are my entire world and I love you so much! Sometimes I have this urg to hug you sooo tight because I just can't get enough but I remind myself that you are a human being and maybe that would hurt a little haha. By the way, you and daddy are way too cute! As soon as you see him you get the biggest smile on your face! Only 4 more months till he can hold you. I'm sure it will be hard to get you to myself after that so I am enjoying my time with you. Smooches baby!

Mommy

TIS THE SEASON

Well we survived Christmas without our leading man. Not only did we survive, but we actually had a nice time. Of coarse I would of much rather had Brian with us but I am so lucky that my parents have done the same traditions since I was a wee one which filled my head with happy thoughts. BEST PARENTS EVER! Setting up the tree was fun and Kenzie even helped put her ornament on the tree! It is a pair of shoes that say babies first xmas and the year. Really cute! On our Christmas Eve we Skyped with Brian so we could watch him open his presents since it was his Christmas. haha Me and Kenz got him a Keurig Coffee Maker and a carousel thing to stash his growing supply of coffee. I had also made him his favorite cookies which are oatmeal chocolate chip. I made sure to make a double batch so I could eat some too :). My mom made some rum balls since they are my favorite so in the box they went. My parents got him some clothes and a speedometer for his bike since that is his way of transportation on base. He really loved everything and I'm glad he had some presents to open that day. On Christmas Eve Santa came to see the kids. My niece, nephew and sister stayed the night which made it really fun! I wasn't sure how Kenzie would react to seeing a stranger with a long white beard but she did great. She just stared at him the entire time haha I think it was because Santa was my dad and she recognized his voice. Oh well :) Christmas day was pretty awesome and it was exciting to be on the other side of things as an adult getting more excited about seeing the kids reactions to gifts instead of opening your own presents. Since I have been a crocheting addict since I've been here my mom got me a great set of hooks and she put them in a holder that she had sewn for me using the leftover fabric from Kenzie's quilt. I love the colors and I am so in love with it! I will cherish it forever :) I also got a yarn ball winder which any knitter or crocheter knows it just great and makes it so much easier to use. Along with that came a yarn bowl! EEEK! I'm still waiting on it since they had gotten it on Etsy and the girl doesn't do projects over the holidays. Cant wait till it gets here! I also got some chuck taylor shoes which make me feel so cool haha. I still find myself trying to convince myself I'm cool enough for them!  Brian had gotten me a beautiful ring that had Makenzie's birthstone in it. So in love with it! He is so good to me :) I got Kenzie some books and my parents got her a Tickle Me Elmo which she loves so much! They also got her this toy that will eventually change into a walker. I'm not ready to think about her walking yet! After all the gifts had been opened it was time for breakfast :) I made homemade biscuits that I found off pinterest and my dad accompanied them with him AMAZING sausage gravy! I have tried to copy this gravy and it is just not as good. I think its his lovins that he adds to it that make it oh so good! Yummo! After everyone "played" with their goodies and naps had been taken we started making dinner. We had prime rib with mashed potatoes and gravy, glazed carrots, corn and rolls. I was pretty stuffed after that! It was delicious! Kenzie approved of the mashed potatoes and carrots :) Overall Christmas was really nice and although Brian wasn't here I know next year he will be. (knock on wood). We made the best of the situation and I am proud of us for being so positive!

*Wedding Festivities*

So my little sister got married! Her and Dustin live at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma which meant ROAD TRIP! Although I felt pretty confident in Kenzie's flying awesomeness, I was really unsure about a 2 day road trip. I looked into plane tickets but of coarse they were absolutely ridiculous! So car ride it was. Even though I was unsure scared about Makenzie's sanity I knew I would be going through it with my older sis Jennifer :). We had never done a road trip as adults so we were pretty stoked. She has a 3 year old and a 7 year old so this whole experience was going to be pretty eventful! We both stocked up on a bazillion toys and goodies, my parents rented us a nice minivan, and off we went! I'm not gonna lie, I actually really enjoyed driving the van haha. I don't really see myself as a minivan kinda momma but in the end it is very practical for hauling around kiddos. I don't think that will be in my near future anytime soon though... hopefully. :) The first day was great! All the kiddos did amazing and there were no melt downs and we ended up stopping in Shreveport, LA. That night in the hotel room Austin got sick all over the makeshift bed we had made him. I felt pretty bad for him but after a nice shower and a new "bed" he was good to go. Makenzie thought she was big stuff when I put her in the bed all by herself! It was also really cute to see her Addison and Austin playing together and made me realize just how fast she is growing up! The next day my parents had caught up to us and so that was nice. That meant 4 extra hands to help! We made it to Oklahoma and stayed at the hotel on base which was nice because it was like a little apartment. Fancy shmancy I know! The weather was a tad bit colder than sunny Florida. It actually felt like winter though which was nice. Rehearsal dinner was the next night and I stuffed my face full! I wore a tight sweater dress that night and actually felt kinda cute in it but after dinner I could have passed for a preggo lady :( Ab workouts are definitely in my future! November 30th was the wedding and it was soooo nice! It was my first time being in a wedding so it was pretty cool. Kenzie was amazing during the entire ceremony and was just looking all around and slept the majority of the wedding dinner which was really nice! Kristen made a stunning bride and I am so happy for her! I still cant believe she is a married woman now! The next day we hit the road again and it was pretty great as well. It went so well actually that we drove straight through and arrived back home at 3:00 AM. That meant a total driving time of 20 hours! It sounds worse than it was. In the end we all had a great time and made pretty great memories!

Kenzie girl is 5 months old!

Kenzie girl,

I can't believe you are five months old baby girl! This month just flew by way too fast. You have learned so many new things this month it's pretty crazy. For me the most exciting new thing is your ability to sit... with a  little help from the boppy pillow. I love it because you were getting really frustrated every time I put you down on the floor to play. You wanted to see everything around you and you couldn't! When you are playing you reach out and grab a certain toy you want even if it's too far away you will bend over and get it. Many times I'll look over and you would have fallen over trying to get a toy and you will just wait somewhat patiently till I prop you back up again! It makes me smile. We introduced some foods for the first time to you and so far so good! Its pretty amusing to watch you try something new and exciting! We have given you a pickle slice, bananas, a sweet potato, some of Grandma's homemade applesauce, broccoli, and a tomato. So far the applesauce has won on your reaction! It was a bit tart I guess! We captured it on video :). I'm looking forward to many more facial expressions in the future! You have the sweetest personality and it just melts my heart! Everyone loves being around you and I think you are also starting to give hugs. You will snuggle your head in my neck and put your arms around me. I'd  say that's a hug! When some people hold you though you get shy I guess and start crying. It's only happened twice and they feel bad about making you cry. I reasure them it's fine and that it was just bad timing since you were tired both times. Feet and you are best friends; and not just yours either! You love checking out the nail polish on mine and grandmas toesies haha. Next summer I'm going to paint yours again as I'm sure you will love looking at them! You have completely outgrown your 3 month clothes and have upgraded to 6 month clothes. It's crazy how fast you are growing! The other day daddy was talking to you and when he said your name you looked up and gave him a huge smile! It made our day for sure! It's such an amazement to see you growing up and I feel like if I blink too long your gonna be in college already!  Me and daddy love you so much baby girl more than you will ever know!

Love,

Momma

Time is our teacher *9 months down*

When Brian got orders to South Korea for a year it hit me like a ton of bricks. It seemed like such a long time to be away and we knew we would be facing many hurtles along the way.  I was 18 weeks pregnant when he left and decided the best place for me at the time was to live with my parents in Florida. (Great decision!) I wanted so badly for time to hurry up so we could be together again and hold our baby girl! Everything went so perfect and I felt so lucky he got to come home for Makenzie's birth but knew in the back of my head he would be leaving again to go back. He left and I have to say I didn't know what to think. I felt fine. I felt sad. I felt scared. I felt angry! That time with our new baby girl was supposed to be shared with my husband and I together as a family. And that wasn't going to happen. One of the greater disappointments for me to deal with during this tour was the over all sense of the loss of time. Think of all the things that happen in a year plus of time, you know? You can't get time back, not even by grieving its loss. Poof! Every second that passes is just gone. It broke my heart knowing all of the great things he would be missing out on in Makenzie's first 11 months of life. For a while there I was really down in the dumps thinking about "how it should have been", and I would get so angry! I realized though that thinking in such a way was not fair to Kenzie, Brian, or myself and I am a stronger person because of them. I keep reminding myself when things get to be too much that I AM STRONG! I HAVE TO STAY STONG! We can do this! We are 9 months in and I find myself feeling "ok". Of coarse I have my moments of pitty but only let myself go there for a split second. Its just not worth it. We have our routines down and talk on a regular basis. Kenzie is our main focus of topic and it's so cool to see her starting to react to things Brian does over FaceTime. Time is passing by! I think once January hits we will see the light at then end of the tunnel. I calculated and figured out that if he comes home mid May then he will have been gone a total of 473ish days! Wow! We ONLY have 170ish days to go! That sounds terrible but what do you do. Found this quote  and liked it...

"Time is the cruelest teacher; first she gives the test, then she teaches the lesson"- Unknown