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Friday, April 30, 2010

One Month!

Wow, if I thought time was flying by with Austin, it's going twice as fast with McKenna. That could be also that I'm twice as tired as I was with Austin, so it could just be that I'm not as aware of each day as it goes by! It makes me sad though. I'm not feeling like I'm getting to savor every moment like I did with Austin. But I'm doing the best I can to take moments from the day and just stare at my baby girl and make mental heart notes of the way she is right now. Even though life is definitely a little crazy right now, I am enjoying it! I know life will get easier with each month, but I can only pray that it will slow down some!





New this month...

We're getting this 2 kid deal thing somewhat figured out! Life is very hectic but we're making it! Everyone is getting fed and bathed and I haven't lost anyone yet! McKenna is easier than Austin was in some ways, but she's more drama than I remember Austin being. She cries as if she's in pain, even if she's just tired. Thankfully she gives a good amount of warning before she's overly tired or hungry, so if I'm on it, I can avoid most of her meltdowns!

She's fully into the fussy evening phase though. I can't tell if she's still hungry, really full, is tired, or has an upset stomach when it comes to her early evening feeding. I'm trying cutting out milk for a bit to see if that makes a difference, since sometimes she seems to be in pain. But I'm starting to think that dairy isn't the problem and she's just a little out of sorts in the evenings and doesn't know what she wants. Hopefully we get it figured out soon, cuz the crying can get pretty intense some nights.

This girl has got some lungs. Our neighbor across the street has heard her! Between me screaming in labor and her screaming most nights, our neighbors are going to wonder what goes on over here! She can reach an impressive volume and pitch for such a small little package.

I witnessed my first smile the day she turned one month. I love it! I could tell she was really trying to figure it out by watching my mouth as I smiled at her.

She's got pretty good head control, in my opinion, for a one month old. On the other hand, so did Austin and I really don't have much to compare to, so maybe all one month olds have good head control!

McKenna is a wonderful sleeper! I thought Austin was good, but McKenna has him beat! She averages about 6 hours before she wakes up at night, but went more than 7 hours one night too! She sleeps late enough in the morning most days that I can get Austin fed before I have to tend to her. Sometimes I can even get a shower before she gets up too! We need to work on her falling asleep skills though. She loves to be held and the moment her head touches the mattress she's wide awake! I'm trying to find time at her naps to help her learn to fall asleep without me holding her, but it's been hard with Austin vying for attention.

With her love of being held, she is a wonderful snuggler. She likes to be held up on my shoulder, tummy to tummy. She still likes to tuck her legs up under her like a newborn. Nothing is better than baby snuggles!

Her hair is already starting to fall out on top! :( I thought Austin's fell out at the same time, but looking at his Pooh pics, he had more hair longer before he started to look like an old monk! Hopefully if her's falls out sooner, it will grow back sooner. I'll feel so bad for her if she looks like a little old man for months like Austin did! Still need to find some hats just in case!

She's getting cuter by the day. She still looks some like Austin and some like Brian. But she's definitely got her own little look. I can't wait to see how she'll change over the next few months.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Water Table

Austin got a water table from Amanda & Ana for his birthday and I've been dying to bust it out ever since. My kid loves water! I knew he was going to have so much fun with his new table whenever it got warm enough to play with it.

Well, last Thursday wasn't exactly the warmest day we've had in a while, but it was decent, so my mom & I set up the table and filled it with warm water to make it more enjoyable. Seeing how he promptly dumped water all down his front, I'm so glad we chose to use warm water, but honestly, I don't think it would have mattered to Austin either way. He was having too much fun.






He kept drinking the water, which is how he got so wet!










Putting together the little boats




A little damp!


Warming up with Nani


Saturday, April 17, 2010

Bath Time for McKenna!

McKenna's belly button stub fell off on Easter so that meant she was officially cleared for bath time fun!

She did great! Didn't make a peep until we took her out of the water. She was apparently enjoying her spa experience and didn't want it to end!

When Austin had his first bath, we dutifully wrapped him in a towel afterwards but didn't think to put a diaper on him right away. He took that as a challenge and pooped in the towel, all over Brian. (And I'm sure you can imagine how our sweet poop/germ hating Daddy enjoyed that!) So Austin's 1st bath was promptly followed by his 2nd bath!

So this time around the block, we made sure to put a diaper on McKenna before snuggling her up in her towel. Not to be outdone by big brother, she took that as a challenge and had a giant explosion. So once again, the 1st bath was promptly followed by the 2nd bath.

With the next kid, we'll just bath them twice right away and see if that keeps the poop at bay!






All snuggled in the towel made by Grandma Helen


She has sweet fuzzy post-bath hair, just like Austin did


Friday, April 16, 2010

Bouncy Seat

McKenna likes her teddy bear bouncy seat.


Austin liked to help put it together.




He thinks that means it's his bouncy seat too!


Thursday, April 15, 2010

He Is Risen!

We had a wonderful Easter! I was so happy that McKenna came into this world early enough that we were able to get out and about on Easter. It's such a wonderful day to celebrate! I would have been sad not to be able to celebrate it with our church and our families!! I was also very excited to get to buy a Easter dress for McKenna. Easter & Christmas dresses are a huge perk to having a little girl, in my opinion!!

We started the day out with our church's "Sunrise" service. They do sunrise when sunrise is supposed to be! 10am!! (That's not the only reason we go to this church, but it sure is a bonus!!) For the last several years, our service has been held on the front lawn of the Thorrington's home which overlooks Malaga Cove. Most beautiful view! We've always had pretty warm weather but this year it was overcast and cold. (For you non-California readers...that means 60 degrees. =P Yes, we're lightweights here!)

Jeremy & Adam leading worship


I only got to stay for worship at the beginning and then took Austin to the children's church in the backyard.


Here Austin is coloring


This is how McKenna spent the whole service with Daddy. All snuggled up in her carseat. Nobody there got to see her pretty Easter dress!


But so you can see it...



After church we headed to my parents' house for lunch (ham & wicked awesome cheesy potatoes. They had bacon in them. That's all I have to say about that!) and an Easter Egg hunt.


My niece (Wiggles) and McKenna. Wiggles is so good with her! She's going to make a wonderful mommy someday!


Papa and his two girls


Two of my three favorite people!


Austin was unsure about this egg hunt stuff at first


But quickly figured it out






When he was done, he wanted to do it again, so he dumped all his eggs out. (And no, he doesn't just like blue eggs. My mom color-coordinated his since his goodies were different.)


My nephew (Monkey) and his loot


McKenna hanging out with Nani


After the Great Hunt, we headed over to Great-Grandma Crowley's for another family get together. We had a wonderful visit, lived through an earthquake and ate yummy food! I'm so bummed though - I was so busy with McKenna that I didn't take any pics!

I forgot to take our bunny ears from last Easter with us for a family picture (in fact, I forgot to get a family picture at all! I still don't have one with the four of us!!) so I took McKenna's bunny pic a few days later. Cute little bunny, dontcha think??



Happy Easter!!


Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Who Dyed??

Austin was only 6 months old last Easter, so I painted an Easter Egg for him. This year he was still a little young to get the whole point of dying eggs but we gave it a go. Several of the eggs still look white in the pics because he definitely wasn't patient enough to leave the eggs in very long, plus I decided to prepare pastel dyes (dissolve the tablets in just water, no vinegar) because I knew this was going to be messy and I really didn't want a pink, blue, green and red child for Easter!

But he did have fun! He would plunge the egg into the cup and then quickly pull it out, spilling dye all over himself and his high chair. (Did I mention how thankful I was that I did pastel colors???) And once his high chair tray was very wet, he took to sipping up the dye. (Again...soooo thankful for pastels!!)

Momma showing him how this works


Where did your egg go?


He doesn't know it, but he is also thankful I didn't put vinegar in the dye!


I swear the egg is blue! Just very very pastel-y blue!


Red Dye Mustache


Mmmmm...dye!!!


Green Dye Mustache


In action


Decorating with stickers. He liked this part a lot!


Final products