Mackenzie's 1st Valentine's Day

We had a very low key Valentine's Day this year. As some you may remember, I told Scott that I was pregnant last Valentine's Day and this year we had our baby to celebrate with. I can't express in words how much Mackenzie means to her mommy and daddy. Since Mack has entered this world she has brought us so much happiness and love. I loved every minute of my pregnancy. Sure, I had some tough days, but I couldn't have asked for a better experience from the day I found I was pregnant until the second that we met Mackenzie for the first time. Everyday I wake up listening to her talk and I smile knowing that the baby that's making all that noise is ours. With that being said, I didn't want to spend Valentine's Day without my sweet baby girl. Mommy, Daddy, and Mackenzie spent the morning with Hope, our latest foster puppy at a dog adoption. It didn't go so well, because we learned that all Hope wanted to do was play with all the other dogs so she barked none stop the entire time we were there. We made the decision for the sake of the other dogs to leave early. When we got home we opened up our presents. Mommy got a new pair ADIAS running shoes and daddy got a new pair of New Balances! I guess it was the year for new running sneakers. Mackenzie also got a brand new outfit from daddy and she gave him two pounds of his favorite coffee.

My new favorite thing to do is to reach for things.
Oh RJ the pink puppy is so funny!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

5 Months Old

Mackenzie turned five months old on February 4th and during that week we had very nice out of the ordinary warm weather. On Mackenzie's five month birthday we spent it at the park. We live very close to the Playground of Dreams and we visit it often, in fact, Mackenzie has been going since she was about a week in half old. Since mommy is home with Mackenzie three days a week we often find fun things to do and we like to go with our friends Kelly and her twin boys, Walker and Jackson. The boys are quiet a bit older than Mackenzie but they love to entertain her and Walker is convinced that Mackenzie is my little sister, it cracks me up everytime he says it.

First time in a swing, and very uncertain!
Oh wait, this is kind of fun!

I'm loving this!

Mommy and Mack on the swings, Happy 5 month birthday, baby!

The Many Sleeping Positions Of Mackenzie

When Mackenzie was a newborn, we swaddled her and she would never move an inch. She loved being all wrapped up, but once we moved her to her crib, I was nervous about her being wrapped up like a burrito and not being able to roll herself back over if she decided to roll onto her tummy. Off came her blankets and she became a free baby. With all the freedom of her hands and feet, she struggled to fall asleep at night. Once she realized that she could move around, we know find her in the craziest positions! She loves to fall asleep on her daddy's chest while they watch television, and she will start out on one end in one position in her crib and then when we check on her before we go to bed, we will find her competely rolled around facing a completely different way. Mommy was the same exact way when she was little, no one ever wanted to share a bed with her because she would kick, twist, and turn. I guess it goes without saying, "like mother, like daughter"! And Mackenzie has her bumpers! Gramma finished them awhile ago, but I haven't taken many pictures, but these ones show them pretty well. Mackenzie's room is finally finished now!

Mackenzie was so happy to have her bumpers, she decided to put her head right up against them.
Precious sleeping beauty

When Mackenzie goes to bed, she starts off this way. Hermie the Wormie keeps her company and sings her to sleep.
Two hours later, Mackenzie has made it to her side.

And in the morning when Mommy checked on her, Mackenzie moved herself sideways. Hermie the Wormie's feelings were hurt because of this move.

Daddy must have been watching something boring.

Sprawled out in the bouncychair.

Little Mack Make You Wanna Jump, Jump

Now that Mackenzie is getting older, we've starting exploring all of her fun toys. On night, daddy got out the door jumper and we put Mackenzie in it. She was very unsure of it at first and had no idea what to think of it, but once we showed her how to use it, she started to get the hang of it. Mackenzie still isn't strong enough to really jump, but she does hop on one foot and spin around in it. Here are a few pictures of her first encounter with her jumper. *Note, the yucky looking brown stains on the door is because of the stain that daddy used when he did our floors. Since Mackenzie been here, we haven't had the chance to repair the doors, but it's on our to-do list along with a million other things!*

Baby Recognition Day

Sunday, January 11, 2009 was baby recognition day at the church that Scott and I grew up and got married in. All the babies that were born in 2008 were recognized, prayed for, and given the gift of a precious a white Bible. It was neat to see all the babies that were born in 2008.

Daddy, Mommy, Mackenzie, Hollie, Ashley, and Keith. Hollie and Keith are dear friends of ours that have a 4 year old son, and Hollie had her little girl on Christmas Eve...what a special Christmas present! I can't wait for our girls to play together.
Our little family

And the little one said,"roll over, roll over!"

I've had enough of tummy time, and rolling over!

We now have a rolly polly! Mackenzie is not a fan of tummy time, so we've been wondering when she would try to roll over. We were in her room playing one night and daddy put Mack in her crib on her tummy, and before we knew it, she was starting to roll over. Luckily, we had the camera right there so we were able to capture every step of the way. We laughed, because we had her do it several times, and the last time that Mack attempted to roll over, she spit up and then she just looked at us with this blank look. Only a few days after she rolled over from her tummy to her back, she rolled over from her back to her front, which is even funnier to watch her do, because she has this whole process she does...she twists her neck, arches her back, turns her feet, and away she goes!

Here I go!

Almost there!

Whew, that was hard work!

4 Months Old

Hmmm, what am I supposed to do with this? Not so bad!

I've had it, I want my milk! Happy 4 months, Mackenzie! You're such a big girl!

Mackenzie turned 4 months old on January 4th and we celebrated by going to the doctor for her check up. Scott couldn't go, so Uncle Matt came along for to see what happens at the appointments. I'm so thankful to have him around. Not only was the appointment at 9 a.m. (and these days, he doesn't wake up until at least 10 a.m.) it was also the last day of his Christmas vacation. We have nicknamed Mack our "skinny minny", the only chubby things on her are her HUGE cheeks which are so kissable! I was a little concerned about her weight, but the doctor wasn't worried about it at all. In fact, he said that she just has very high metabolism.

Height: 24 inches 25-50%
Weight: 12 lbs 3 oz 25%

Head Cir.: 39 1/2 cm 10-25%

I'm not sure why there is such a large range for her head, but that's what the nurse wrote down. We also got the go ahead to start cereal, so Mack's been getting that about 4 times a week during her 6 p.m. meal. She's still nursing like a champ and plan to continue until her first birthday or until she decides otherwise. Mackenzie also tried out her exersaucer for the first time this month, and she loves it! It's so funny to watch her get excited and twirl, push, and grab for the toys. We have to stuff blankets around her tummy, because if not then she wobbles all over the place because she's so little, yet her feet touch the base of it. It's so fun to watch her explore and discover new things.