Maknezie at Four Months

Four months old and four months cute.  That's Makenzie.  It was a big month for her with many new experiences.  We took an 8 hour road trip up to Vacaville to check out apartments.  She didn't even cry once!  We also flew up to Utah and then drove to Wyoming to attend my Grandma's funeral.  It was the first time she met most of her aunts, uncles, and cousins.  No matter who was holding her, she seemed perfectly content.  I wasn't sure how well she would do, but with each new adventure, Luis and I kept finding ourselves saying, "She's such a champ!"

• She is now 14 lbs 25 in. and her hair is 2 inches long up top.
• She is a big time thumb-sucker and will even try fitting them both in at once when life is particularly hard.
• She likes to remind us when we've let her fend for herself on the floor for too long by squealing (not crying or screaming...squealing) as loudly as she can.
• Makenzie loves watching us (especially Raquel) and cranes her neck all the way back if we're behind her.  This usually causes her to spit up all over her face.
• She has already been on 4 airplanes!  She was lulled to sleep on every single one, which made for a relaxing fly - other than the runway following us the whole way.  Ask my mom...she knows how confusing THAT can be.
• Makenzie has learned how to reach for, grasp, and hold objects.  They usually always end up in her mouth.
• She's terrified of the vacuum.

Makenzie's Laugh

You are so Beautiful

Raquel loves listening to music, and one of her favorites is "You are so Beautiful."  This is her rendition.

Makenzie at Three Months

We've arrived at the three month stage!

• 12.1 lbs and 23 1/2 inches, which is right about average for babies her age.
• She jabbers mostly at night when she's getting tired.
• Has rolled over from her tummy to her back a few more times, like she's doing in the picture above.
•  She's been sleeping 8 hour stretches nearly every night for the past month.
• She smiles and laughs when I sing to her.  Raquel asks to listen to the Frozen soundtrack every day, and now Makenzie recognizes the songs.
• She loves the crinkle sound of the paper that covers the beds in the doctor's office.  She goes wild whenever they place her on it.
• She also goes wild in the bathtub.  She kicks and waves her arms to make big splashes.
• She continues to be a really happy baby and rewards us with big smiles whenever we pick her up or talk to her.

It has been fun to watch Makenzie and Raquel interact.  Raquel likes to put in Makenzie's binkie, turn on her swing, and give her a blanket when she's sad.  Makenzie likes to watch Raquel and be near her.

Regal Baby

The weekend of Makenzie's blessing, we had 3 visitors.  Of course, we would've loved to see ALL our family, but we're just not that loved.  Just kidding, we're actually the favorites, but most of the family, understandably, couldn't make it.  We had to settle on Mom, Dad, and Dave.  What's that saying?  Something about beggars and choosers?  Anyways, they arrived Saturday afternoon, and once I forced certain visitors (Dave) to put my child down and wash their hands (can anyone say nasty, germy, airplane hands???), we made the introductions.

We've enjoyed the pleasure of Dave's company on several occassions now, but I think he found the entertainment and sleeping accommodations to be much better this trip.

 

Saturday night, we treated our guests to their first ever skookie experience.  Skookies are swiftly becoming my dessert of choice these days.

On Sunday morning, we had a few hours to get ready before 11:00 church.  I thought Raquel would be excited to wear a fancy dress, like Makenzie.  I thought wrong.  (Sort of like that time I thought she would enjoy Christmas.)  As I put the dress on her, she kept crying for daddy and saying "No, no, no!"  I forced her to wear it anyways, and she eventually forgot about it.  Makenzie didn't mind her dress.  She was born to be regal.  On a side note, I think I was subconsciously influenced by the latest season of Downton Abby when I created Makenzie's headband because it looks very 1920's to me.

 

As Raquel would say, "Mommy, Daddy, 'Quel', 'Kenzie'.  Happy Family." And we are.

 

Makenzie at Two Months

It's official.  Newborn status has worn off and now Makenzie carries the title of "grown-up baby."  Whatever her title, she is my little doll. (Thanks Aunt Charisse for the bow!)

 

What Makenzie is up to these days:

• First and foremost, she slept through the night this month.  In fact, she usually sleeps 6-7 hour stretches every night now.  It is glorious!
• She burps a lot better, which means less spit-up.
• She smiles every day, especially when you play with her.
• She loves her binkie and it always calms her down.
• Sleep comes best when she's swaddled in her special swaddle blanket.
• She's got a great "one eyebrow up, one eyebrow down" face.
• She is getting quite roly poly.
• She's discovered her hands and fingers, and likes to suck on them.

 

Makenzie at One Month

Babies grow so fast!  My little newborn is slipping away!  Here is her progress by week by week.

1 week

2 weeks

3 weeks

1 Month

Did you notice an extra little person in those pictures?  Every time I pull out the camera, Raquel thinks we're having a family photo shoot.

What Makenzie has been like this month:

• Sleeps most of the time, especially in human arms
• Eats a little too well - she eats so fast, she gets too much and then spits it all up
• Not a "burpie" baby
• Loves bathtime and rarely cries
• She likes the vibrator setting on her swing
• Has begun to smile at Daddy
• Wakes 2-3 times a night

Makenzie Makenzie Makenzie!

When Makenzie was 1 1/2 weeks old, we had our good friend, Jen, take her newborn pictures.  In my opinion, they are absolutely adorable, but I'll let you see for yourself.  (By the way, you definitely don't want to miss the last one.)

(Look how strong she is at 2 1/2 weeks!!!  She takes after her mother, in case you're wondering.)

Seriously, isn't that last one a scream?  I love love LOVE this little critter:)  I know there's no way to tell what a little baby will be like in the future, but when I hold her, I can't help but feel like she's going to be a really sweet and kind girl.  We all just adore her!

Christmas

Since Makenzie came on the 22nd, we got to be back home before Christmas, which was absolutely wonderful!

On Christmas Eve, we ate our tamales, rice, fruit salad, chips & guacamole, cupcakes, blueberry pie, and Trader Joe's ice cream (our new favorite ice cream).  Afterwards, we held our traditional nativity play.

Christmas morning!

If you know me, (which hopefully you do if you're reading this - otherwise, you may need to ask yourself if you are, in fact, creepy), you know that I am a planner.  Actually, I am a bit obsessive about planning and list making.  I have had non-stop lists going regarding Makenzie's birth and Christmas since September.  This is no joke.  Knowing that Makenzie would be arriving sometime around Christmas, was exciting and stressful.  So, just to be prepared, I wrapped our presents super early this year!  I don't know if it is because the wrapped presents were around so long or because of her changing world, but Raquel did not, and I repeat DID NOT, want to open presents.  She sort of tolerated gift #1 when she was allowed to throw away the wrapping paper (she loves the garbage can, strange kid), but after that, she was running away and screaming when we tried to force her to open more.  It was kind of pathetic that Luis and I opened most of the gifts under the tree.

Makenzie, on the other hand, was quite delighted with Christmas morning.

Our spoils

Yep, Raquel unzipped her jammies and ran around the apartment.  What are you going to do?

Our wild animals