Another long drive



First we ate a big breakfast!



Next we played for a little while.

After that, K-mac napped!

When we woke up, we were with daddy.

Daddy missed putting stuff on our heads.

It was a nice visit!

We drove up to visit Derek a few hours away on his half-day training yesterday.  We went on a walk, went out to eat, checked out the base, and ended up at Walmart.  While in the check out, K-Mac looked at hubs and said "daada".  We're not 100% positive if she meant it because when I asked her to do it again she just smiled at me. 

How rude.

Seven hours of driving.  Four hours of hubs.  One happy momma <3

Six Months

Our sweet little peanut is growing up so fast.

On Sunday, K-Mac turned 6 months old and today she had her six month appointment.  It was a nice appointment because for the second time ever, daddy went with us.  She's pretty blunt about picking him over me (ie; not crying when daddy gives her a bath, refusing nap time unless daddy puts her down, staying up to see him when he gets off of work at super-dark o'clock, etc) but I'm not offended.  In fact, I love it and it makes me want to cry.  But that's beside the point.

I know, I know, you guys want some measurements.
Birth:  7 lbs 4 oz       +   20.25 inches
Now:  14 lbs 15 oz   +  25 inches

At her four month and this appointment, I filled out "surveys" on what K-Mac can do, sometimes does, and never attempts.  Last time we were concerned that she clearly favored one hand and leg but that worry is long gone.  At this particular appointment we didn't have any worries.  Yes, she doesn't exactly get on all fours and certainly isn't crawling but that's okay.  At this stage, babies are very different.  I walked at 8 1/2 months while hubs didn't even crawl at that age.  It doesn't matter because now we are both running and hardly fall down while walking.

Haha.  I've got jokes.

But, for those of you who want to know what most doctors expect from the six month social butterfly stage, we will break it down and enlighten.  Red means we don't do this (yet!).

Behavioral

• Begins to play social games (K-Mac loves peek-a-boo, dancing, and so big)
• Establishes routines (we're so blessed that she made her own and stuck to it so far)
• Has a special blanket or toy for self-soothing (we don't have this yet- she clearly likes toys that play music or are soft to cuddle but she'll take anything)
• Plays with toys: banging, dropping, swinging

Development

• Begins to speak single consonants (we get ababa and maaaaa and dadadadada but I don't think they *mean* anything yet)
• Rolls over both ways (not all of the time, she still struggles)
• Looks for dropped toys
• Begins to "tripod" when sitting (that's when they put their hands out front to support themselves)
• Gets on all fours (it's very rare and I think it is an accident when she does it)
• Transfers objects from hand to hand
• Rakes at small objects with fingers
• Shows displeasure with loss of toy (Um, more like gets super pissed)
• Recognizes parents and shows stranger anxiety (she'll bury her head in my chest but smiles at strangers)
• Attempts to feed self
• Smiles, laughs, squeals (we squeal hardcore)
• Puts weight on legs

Feeding

• Eats routine meals
• Eats solids
• Uses sippy cup
• Drinks 4 oz of juice a day (Guess we'll start this for real now)
• Drinks water (fluoridated)
• Gnaws (On everythingggggg)

Sleeping

• Consoles themselves when put in bed awake (Yeah, but sometimes we just cry-it-out- sue me.)
• Decrease naps (unfortunately)
• Sleeps through most nights :)

So that sums that up!  Now quickly, I'm going to run through some likes and dislikes of our six month world.

Likes

1. daddy, daddy, and....oh yeah, daddy
2. spinning in circles with momma
3. momma pretending to drop K-Mac (my kid is twisted)
4. her stupid cat and the dogs
5. the high chair and the freedom it provides
6. trucks
7. when people pretend to eat her feet
8. watching momma cook
9. BEING OUTSIDE
10. the stroller and momma's baby backpack

Dislikes

1. socks
2. green beans
3. napping for more than 30 minutes a day
4. bath time
5. having shirts put over her head
6. when she smacks herself in the face with a toy
7. getting changed in a public restroom and someone flushes (OMG)
8. when momma stops her from eating grass/dirt/bugs/leaves/twigs/multicam
9. sitting still
10. SHOTS, like the 3 we had today, although we still love that oral rotavirus thing.  YUM.

So there you have it!  Half way to her first birthday and already such a little character.  It's been a great 6 months and we can't wait to see where else K-Mac and our adventures will take us!



Big Girl!



Sippy Cup Adventures

K-Mac is growing up too fast.



Ignore my dirty kitchen please.

 On August second, she drank out of a sippy cup for the first time.  She actually enjoyed it.  Bye bye bottles.  It's a Nuk Learner Cup but really operates like a "real" sippy cup.  She holds the little handles and drinks from a little spout.

Also, I don't know if I mentioned it lately, but K-Mac hasn't taken a bink (paci, nipple, or whatever you call it where you are from) in months.  HEART BREAKING.  Although I'm glad that I won't have to break her of that habit in a mad panic before she starts preschool, she is still a baby, and I want her to BE a baby. 



Shade twins!

 She's not fighting anymore when I put shades on her.  She used to try to take them off, so I'd let her, and try again later.  Now she rocks them.  I'm probably annoying with this but I want her to wear them and protect her eyes.  Those eyes are too pretty for cataract surgery right now.

K-Mac also met ALL OF HER COUSINS!  It's important to me that she's close to them.  I love my cousins.  They're really like siblings who live in another house sometimes.  I feel sorry for people who don't have cousins they're close to. 

Now for a fun story!



So Proud!

 So, K-Mac's youngest uncle spends his summer days and after school time here with us.  He's actually a big help for a nine year old in fifth grade.  He helps me clean up around the house, hands me wipes while I change K-Mac, entertains her while I'm busy, etc, etc.  He decided he's ready to help me feed her baby food.  This is a big step.  He thinks she's gross when she eats but this is his only niece and he wants to help.  RIGHT ON.  So I tell him to pick out a food and get a spoon and get all set while I fix my hair.  He picks out carrots and a yellow spoon....then he gets bored and leaves her with the OPEN container in front of her in the high chair.  Now, he doesn't leave her, he just starts watching some game on the tv right next to her.  But when I come out of the bathroom, K-Mac has dumped the whole thing of carrots on her tray and is splashing in it and feeding herself with her fists.  I let her continue but let me tell you what...never again.