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Welcome to our life
OUR GROWING FAMILY
I'
m not sure how this happened. Kinsey is 5.
With all of the Christmas and New Years excitement, I got a little distracted and did have a lot of time to think about the fact that my baby is growing up. Now that it's here I have a ton of emotions flying through me. She is absolutely perfect. She made me a mommy. I am beyond proud of her and I sometimes feel that my heart could very literally burst out of my chest. That is how much I love her.
Kinsey,
I will never forget the day we welcomed you into this world. It felt like I was up in the corner of that hospital room watching it all happen. I have never felt such instant love. You came into this world with very tiny cries. Nothing loud, dramatic or crazy. And that is how you continue to be. You are a peacekeeper. You are a natural nurturer. You will make the most amazing mommy one day. You tend to stand back and watch what others do and then make your choices. We call you a "people watcher." When you get in big crowds or around people you don't know well you tend to be shy. But when you are home with us or with close friends you are in your comfort zone. You are a performer and love singing and dancing. You are such a good big sister. For the most part you are so very tolerant of Logan and Kate. Often letting Logan wear your dress up clothes and play with your babies. You love to doodle and journal. You write and color on pieces of paper and then keep them all stashed in a box in your room. You love to do stickers, paint, color or pretty much anything "craft" related. You are such a big helper and enjoy when I give you tasks to help with around the house. My prayer for you sweet girl is that you always hold on to your innocence. I pray that the harshness of this world never rubs off on you. I pray that your beautiful smile is used to brighten all those lives around you. I pray that you remain close to your siblings and that you always know just how very special you are.
Your daddy and I love you so so very much and are so very thankful your little life!!
We started off your birthday day with your third annual Donuts at the Donut hole. The grandparents met us there and we celebrated with some tasty donuts and lots of laughter. I hope this is a tradition we continue for a very very long time.
That night daddy and I took you to a special birthday dinner with just you. We went to Abuelos. We took our sweet little time and even played some games. We ordered cake for dessert too! It is so rare that you actually get both of us all to yourself. You enjoyed every minute. You are so grown up, even bringing your purse into the restaurant with you too!
This Christmas was one for the books! The kids are older now and really get it. I love how excited they get and it really does make me turn my sometimes sour mood about all the work I think I need to put into the holiday around and remember what it really is about.
We went to church Christmas Eve Eve and uncle Tommy and aunt Meagan came with us. We took all of the kids into the candle light service and managed not to start any fires:) I just love how beautiful the service is. I truly cherish that special time each year and hope the kids grow to love it and its meaning each year.
On Christmas Eve we had our second annual dinner with our good friends The Blasdels. We are so lucky to have such great friends that get it. Get what it is to do life together and cherish time with eachother. We laughed and had a great time. Kate even got some much needed time with her bff Lizzy.
We pulled the bed out and slept in front of the Christmas tree again. I was really hoping Logan would be able to make it all night. Bless his heart he was just so darn excited. It was nearing midnight and he was no where near winding down so off to his bed he went. We woke up to the beautiful Christmas tree lights. We opened presents and I cooked a breakfast casserole. Sipping coffee and listening to the kids laughing their little hearts out. That people......is what life is all about. I pray that I never forget that feeling!
We went over to Joshs parents that evening for dinner and presents. I love how comfortable we are there. There are plenty of toys for the kids. Everyone can just lounge. I hope that one day my kids come back to a home where they feel so comfortable and welcome. Hospitality (I'm working on that for my New Years Resolution.....but again I digress).
The kids were way too spoiled with presents. Frozen was the big winner this year. Logan got some adorable new clothes and he loved his big fire truck.
We celebrated with my parents and bro and Meg on Saturday. We had a nice lasagna dinner and tons of fun chatting and opening presents. Once again the kids were beyond spoiled. Kinsey is in love with her new microphone and I have heard "Let it go" nearly a million times (not exaggerating). Tom brought his annual white russians and we all enjoyed sipping on them. Except poor Meggie. But we can't wait to meet Baby Girl next month:)
We are so thankful for the much needed time we got to spend as a family around the holiday. We are so very blessed and grateful for the true reason of Christmas. Our Savior. May our family never lose sight of that during the Christmas season.
Kinsey had a Christmas party in her class and then the whole preschool put on a Christmas program for the parents. It's here......we have finally reached the age of school programs. Cue the tears.......
My heart explodes watching her at school. So bittersweet. She is such a grown up little girl and shines in every way in her class. But she's not a baby anymore. She has friends. They hug everyday at drop off and plan playdates for the weekends. She has a life outside of me. Breaks my heart, yet makes me so so very proud at the same time. Proud of the giving, nurturing little girl she has grown into.........anyways I digress.
The class decorated sugar cookies, played snowman bowling and pin the star on the tree and made a craft. I came early and helped with set up and cookie decorating. It was so nice to get to sit with each student and get to talk with them a little. They are hilarious and I love being a part of the class. So much fun to see it from the students perspective.
Daddy left work for a bit and came to watch Kinseys first big performance for the program. I was a little nervous about how she would do on stage. She had been practicing all of her songs for the last few weeks so I'm pretty sure I had all of the memorized:) Kinsey performed like a star even going along with all of the hand motions. Josh gave her a rose after her performance:) It was truly sweet and I cannot wait for many more years of programs!!! (Honestly:))
14lbs 1oz
Size 2 diapers
6month clothes are a little tight and 9months are a little loose
cat naps in her swing or on me
up quite a few times a night and would prefer to sleep with me
when she does sleep its in the rock n play in her room
can sit unassisted for a short time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hates tummy time
getting better trunk control
eats homemade food twice a day usually
nurses soley unless I am working or daddy helps at night
pretty vocal and has mastered the B sound
very very content baby
loves brother and sister and is very entertained with them playing
when you set her on her playmat she will scoot herself pretty far off
has figured out how to use her heels to dig in push herself backwards
likes to sit in her jumper and uses her legs to jump (workin those muscles)
LOVES mommy
likes daddy
She is the sweetest little thing and I am thankful for this cutie. She brings so much joy to us and makes our family complete.
Kinsey is Star of the Week
Whoo hoo! The class mascot gets to come home for the weekend. We document all of the fun things we do this him and then send him back to school on Monday. The star of the week also gets to bring show and tell on Monday and Wednesday and snacks one day. Kinsey chose her Hello Kitty doll that her and aunt Megan made a build a bear for Monday and then her Snowbelle stuffed snowman and the book that goes along with her from Auntie Pam on Wednesday. She took butterfly snacks made with goldfish and grapes. Mommy, Logan, Kate and Mamu all went to school on Friday to read a story to the class. I LOVE being a part of all of this stuff and totally cherish these years.
Curious had a pretty eventful weekend with us:
He had lunch at Five Guys Burgers with papa
He went to Botanica to look at the lights and sit on Santas lap
He helped make pancakes
He helped read Kate a story
He went to church
He baked treats with Mamu
He took donations to the Humane Society and looked at all of the animals\
Kinsey was a great host to Curious. He had a chair at the dinner table each day. He slept in her bed with her. Curious was a part of our family for the weekend and we miss him!!
I love that Kidslink does that. Its such a cool little thing to do for the kids and it made Kinsey feel so special for the week.
Here are some pics of our weekend
We had quite the Thanksgiving season this year.
Kinsey had her first preschool party to celebrate Thanksgiving. All the moms are super creative....you know the pinterest ones that seem to totally always have it together. Yeah not me! But so fun to be a part of their creativeness and the party that they had for the little ones. I love seeing her in her element. She is outgoing, charming and full of life in the classroom. There were the cutest little snacks, fun games and cute little crafts. I am beyond thankful that I can be at all of these fun things.
We woke up Thanksgiving day and watched the Macys day parade and unloaded all of the Christmas decor. We stayed in our pjs all morn and browsed the black friday ads. Its was absolutely perfect and I wanted to bottle up that sweet time with my little family.
We ate dinner at Joshs gmas house Thanksgiving evening and celebrated at my parents house on Friday after braving the crowds in the morning. I love the people out everywhere. Something about people watching is just so darn fun! We got the kids some xmas pjs and a few other small things. No major purchases:)
Friday evening was spent with my family. My parents did a turkey, my bro did a ham and I did all of the sides. We left with full tummies and full hearts.
I must say I have a greater perspective on thanks this year. Kate has softened my heart and has made me eternally grateful for the smallest little things. It has been a tough year that I wouldnt change for the world!
Kate is 6 months old. How can it be?!
At her checkup she was 12lbs 4oz (3rd percentile). Her height was the 5th percentile and her head is in the 15th percentile. She is growing finally!!!
Her little personality is starting to shine! She smiles ALL the time and giggles at nearly anything. She is pretty much a content little gal. She loves watching the big kids and everything they do. She just now started some baby food and has done great with it. She sits well in her bumbo. She can sit on the floor supported but just isnt very sturdy and falls over. She still HATES tummy time but can roll from her tummy to back pretty easily. She still has not mastered rolling from her back to tummy but our physical therapist told us that she isnt surprised considering how much she hates being on her tummy.
She talks all of the time and has just mastered the Bbbbbbs. She wears 6 month clothes comfortably and is in size 2 diapers. She still only nurses. She sleeps swaddled in her rock n play. She goes to sleep easily but has a hard time staying asleep. She will wake up every few hours and sometimes all it takes is putting her binky in to get her to sleep and other times I will feed her. So far I am not too bothered by her sleeping habits:)
She has about 2 weeks left on her antiviral meds. At that time she will have another blood draw to check her liver enzymes and cmv levels. Her hearing is still great on that left ear and she will have another check on it in about 2 weeks.
At her 6 month check up her dr couldnt not be more pleased with her progress. He estimates her to be about 1 month behind developmentally and taking being delivered at 37 weeks in to account that puts her nearly right on track.
My prayer is that she continues to grow and gain strength and will start rolling over both ways soon and sit unsupported soon. She is such a little fighter. cCMV will not get her down!!!
We love you more than life little girl!!!!
