Six months old already...my little monkey

It feels like yesterday I was big and pregnant and here we are with a six month old already!  Marissa continues to be such a happy baby and great sleeper!  She is content being held and doing whatever I do...as long as she's on my hip.  She started sitting up a week ago so that has opened up a new world for her.  Kennedy can play next to her and Marissa loves watching her every move.  She enjoys the Jump-a-roo (far more than Kennedy ever did) and likes watching her glow worm play music in the crib.  We have tried most all the fruits and vegetable baby food and she tolerates them all.  Kennedy is by far her favorite everything!  She has radar for her voice and will whip her head around to see when Kennedy walks in the room.  Marissa giggles at her all the time and Kennedy can get her going with big belly laughs.  Our pre-bath time routine includes Kennedy running in from another room and jumping in front of Marissa to say "I'm naked!".  Marissa laughs and laughs at her each time.  Keep in mind Kennedy does it a lot of times.  I finally grabbed my camera one night after she had already done her grand entrance at least 10 times and here was the result...classic.

Booger wiper

Let me set the stage...
Kennedy has a cold and her nose is very runny.  She is constantly taking her arm and wiping her nose along the sleeve of her shirt; both arms. 

Mom:  "Kennedy, please make sure and use a Kleenex at preschool today if your nose is running or ask the teacher for one if you need it."

Kennedy: "Okay, because I don't want to be called a booger picker, right mom?  Actually, I would be called a booger wiper!  Isn't that funny mom?"

The Dentist!

Kennedy had her very first dentist appointment this week and she handled it like a pro.  She's been asking me how old she will be when her first baby tooth comes out.  I have NO idea where that question came from other than perhaps Dora lost a tooth on a recent episode or someone else has been talking to her about loosing teeth. 
It was my first experience at a pediatric dentist as well and it's no wonder why they are so popular!  There was a play room off the reception area and a train track that ran around the perimeter of the office.  When it was our turn to go back Kennedy said "Hi, my name is Kennedy".  I think the hygienist was a little taken back by that and returned the greeting with "Oh, Hi Kennedy, my name is Cheryl".  I'm sure not all three year-olds approach the experience the same way.  The staff was amazed by her clear vocabulary for such a small child and she didn't forget to ask Dr. Bryan about the baby teeth either.  She picked out some stickers and a silly band before we left and off we went.  No cavities or issues with over crowding in that little mouth.
I take for granted how sharp and articulate she is for a three year-old.  Her small stature makes it seem more amazing to others when they meet her.  I was so proud of her behavior and rewarded the trip with a slice of cheese pizza from HyVee and a giant cookie.  Note to other parents out there...lose the fruit snacks and limit juice to once a day.  That's what Dr. Bryan told us :)

Girls weekend

I guess every weekend could be considered 'girls weekend' now at our house.  We watched a movie on slumber party night, we baked cookies to send dad and played in the fluffy white snow.  It was a good weekend and I'm exhausted.
Marissa is almost sitting up on her own and likes to drink out of a cup.  She's constantly trying to grab my water glass so I just poured her a glass as well so we aren't swapping germs.  Kennedy has had the flu bug twice so far this season so I pray Marissa continues to stay healthy.  She is going right through the baby food flavors like a champ and we'll try peaches tomorrow.  The sweet peas she gagged and flared her nostrils at during our first week of  baby food went down great over the weekend.  It's a great example of why you should keep giving your child the food over and over and they just might enjoy it one of the times you try.  Kennedy's favorite fruit right now is apples so between the two of us we're going through a lot of apples each week.  Someday I'll fit in my jeans again.  Someday.

 They take baths together now so after I get Marissa out Kennedy can play a little longer while Marissa waits patiently on the floor.  It's obvious she isn't bothered by waiting as long as she has her hands and feet to suck on.

 Kennedy and Payton making snow angels

 Driveway snow angels

 Marissa was bundled in the stroller parked between both vehicles in the garage so she stayed cozy and out of the wind

 She fell down before we got out of the house and couldn't get back up.  

Kennedy's angel

A new year year and a new journey

Ok, so the title of this post might sound corny but that's how I feel today.  Call it hormones but there's a constant knot in the back of my throat today and I'm especially weepy.  I try not to get sad in front of Kennedy but after our Skype date with Chris earlier it was useless.  I'm thankful she's so nurturing...a little arm around my shoulder and a needed "it's okay mom" helped tremendously.
The Running girls weren't anything close to party animals for New Years Eve.  The last time I looked at the clock it was about 9:15pm.  Friday night is slumber party night at our house so Kennedy gets to sleep with me.  It's something new since Chris left and she's good about keeping it to only Friday nights.  Dont' get me wrong, she asks multiple times throughout the week what day it is because I know her little mind is hoping for a Friday.  We made homemade pizza and stayed in for New Years this year.
We have become great friends with our next door neighbors and it's a perfect situation for our kids because they are so close in age.  Kennedy (3) and Payton (2 3/4) are good little buddies and Marissa (6 mos) and Charlotte (10 mos) will become good buddies I'm sure.  The adults have a really good time together as well and they have already been more than wonderful to me since Chris left.  The big girls had a play date yesterday and it was so nice to visit with Jen for some adult interaction.  We are staying busy today cooking meals for the upcoming work week and even baked cookies to take to Grandma Jessie's after nap time.

Chris begins his travels to Afghanistan tonight with a few stops along the way.  We won't hear from him until they are settled and he is up and running with Internet access.  Having him actually leave the country and arriving there just adds another layer of worry for me.  In honor of his travel Kennedy decided to wear her "Army outfit" and Marissa sported her yellow ribbon pin.

She dressed herself which is good practice for her but it made me laugh.  The overalls are from her summer box and are a size 18-24 mos and she chose a pink shirt because "white doesn't match green".  The fact that pink is her favorite color may have helped.

Marissa's hair dried sticking straight up from her bath last night...silly girl.

My new journey this year will be filled with many things involving these two little girls.  Selfishly I'll have them all to myself....but selfishly I'd rather have their dad here too.
Happy New Year to you and let's get on with 2011 so we can look forward to next New Years as a foursome again!