3.29.2014

Kennedy's 20 Month Check In

Another month has flown by and we are (FINALLY) approaching spring here in Syracuse.  Kennedy continues to grow and learn while mommy and daddy continue to wish time would just.slow.down.
 

How Big Is Baby?
  • Kennedy is about 24-25 pounds
  • We are finally moving into some lighter clothes (although still long pants and long sleeve shirts) and K is fitting into 18 month pants with 2T tops.  Since she wears mostly Pull Ups during the day, the pants are a little saggy, but length-wise they work.
  • Size 5 shoes still
  • She is wearing Pull Ups mostly during the day (and doing an AWESOME job with potty training).  At night, we still use cloth diapers and she still fits in her one sizes perfectly

Development & Milestones
  • She has learned quite a bit this month... coutning 1 to 10, colors and shapes.  She loves to point to things when we are out and tell me what shape or color they are.  She also loves to count... everything.  I am so proud of her!
  • She is still very outgoing and loves to wave or say "Hi" to everyone.  She is also really enjoying her time at the sitter, especially when there are other kids for her to play with.
  • She continues to do well with potty training.  We are still not 100% yet, but I am in no rush.  I am just following her lead and encouraging her when she tells me she needs to go, then goes.  She is definitely doing this her own way in her own time and I am totally supportive of that.
  • Tooth count... I'm just going to guess full set.  I can't tell if she has cut any new ones or not, lol!

Diet/Nursing
  • Still nursing away!  Mostly just nap time and bed time now, but 20 months and still going strong!
  • Food-wise, she has been a bottomless pit this month.  She eats anything and everythign in sight... and then asks for strawberries.  She is *obsessed* with strawberries... but hey, it could be worse... she could be obsessed with coffee like her mama.  Ha!

Sleep

  • Sleep was pretty good this month.  I think she is back in the swing of things now that we are back into our normal (abnormal) routines).  She goes down fairly easily at night (for the most part, depending on how late she naps) and wakes once for water or a quick nursing session.
  • Naps continue to be awful this month.  She continues to push her naps back to sometimes 3 or 4 or even 5 (gulp) in the afternoon.  This makes for a late bedtime or- if I have to wake her up for you know... dinner... a super cranky toddler.  I realize that I am a big part of the problem and that I have created a nap-time monster, but I am unsure of exactly how I can fix this.  My crazy work/sleep schedule means that I only get a few short hours with her in the afternoon and she loves to snuggle, nurse and nap with me.  It's kind of our thing.  I'm not really sure how I can fix her crazy nap schedule without sacrificing our snuggle time or losing out of my sleep time earlier in the day. 

Mommy & Daddy Check In
  • This month has been back to normal... in some ways good, and in some ways not so good.  It's nice to get back back into our routine (I type this with a chuckle, since our "routine" is typically complete chaos)... but on the other hand I feel like time just flies when we go about our hectic lives, just trying to make it through each day.
  • Kevin and I have decided to start Insanity together on Monday.  I'm pretty pysched about this.  Kevin... not so much.  I have the DVDs ready and waiting (I've already checked out a few of them) and a box of Shakeology to sample.  I am thrilled to have my butt kicked with some good hard workouts and even more excited to have Kevin (and my awesome coach friends) to help keep me motivated.

Any appointments, visitors or outings? Anything else new?
  • Not much this month, but now that the weather is warming up, there should be lots of fun outings in our future.

Any upcoming developments, milestones? What's next?
  • Next appointment will be 2 year well check in July.

3.01.2014

Kennedy's 19 Month Check In

The past week has just been an awesome end to a super fun month!  We drove to Pittsburgh to visit with Kevin's family for a few days then flew down to Orlando to visit with my family.  Monday we took Kennedy to the Magic Kingdom where she met Mickey, Minnie and some other friends.  Her face was absolutely priceless... totally awestruck.  Then we spent the night at the Polynesian (my favorite) and went to Chef Mickey's character breakfast Tuesday morning.  It was such a great experience!

Needless to say, Kennedy has had an exciting month!

How Big Is Baby?
  • Kennedy is about 23 pounds
  • We actually put her in some clothes from last summer for our trip.  Since she normally wears cloth diapers (which give her a big old fluffy butt), she looked so tiny in just a pull up and her old summer clothes fit perfectly!  I'm kind of wondering if the truck load of 2T summer clothes I snagged on clearance last fall will be too big.  Eh... just means more shopping!
  • Size 5 shoes worked well for the trip although I could tell the sneakers were a little tight.  I'm hoping the size 6's I bought for this summer will fit.
  • Still full time cloth diapering at home, but we went full time Pull Ups for the trip and she did AWESOME!  We did use regular disposable diapers for overnight, but otherwise she spent the last week in Pull Ups and had only a handful of accidents.  She even used the potty on the airplane (multiple times... I think she thought it was fun) and stayed dry on all 4 flights!  Not too bad.

Development & Milestones
  • I wondered if she would recognize the Disney characters in person... I had no need to wonder... she knew every.single.one (from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse) by name and she even learned a few new friends' names too.  I was also curious whether she would be shy or afraid of the characters, but she warmed right up to them and even walk up to them and gave them all hugs.  I was surprised and so proud of her.  She sure loves her "MeeMee" (Minnie).
  • She has really become very outgoing this month and loves to wave to everybody she sees.  She waves enthusiastically and says "hi!!!" all the time... in the grocery store, at Target or the mall, at Disney, at friends' houses or the sitter's house.  She is such a little social butterfly and seems to really enjoy making people smile.
  • She did really well with the potty on our trip!  She had only a few accidents in her Pull Ups and otherwsie used the potty the whole time.
  • She continues to amaze me with her speaking and signing.
  • The tooth count is up to 14 or 16 now. It's hard to count, but she almost has a full set.

Diet/Nursing
  • Still nursing away!  I am so happy to be able to enjoy an extended nursing relationship with Kennedy.
  • Her appetite was pretty good this month.  Again waxed and waned a little depending on her mood and how the day was going, but overall she still eats very well.

Sleep

  • Sleep was really great early in the month.  Having me back on day shift meant I was... HOME... every single night.  Which was awesome.  It was nice to be a regular part of bath time and bed time and I felt like we were just starting to fall into a really nice routine... then we went on vacation, ha!  Things were a little off the past week due to traveling and the excitement of being in a new place with new people.  And, unfortunately, they will be off a little more when I go back to nights next week.  But I have no doubt that Kevin will get her back into the swing of things easily.  He does a great job with the nightly duties when I have to work.
  • Naps this month have been... well... pretty terrible.  Kennedy does not like to nap at the sitter's.  I suspect it's because she is afraid of missing out on any fun with the other kids.  On vacation, naps were sporadic and often took place in the Ergo or stroller while walking around.

Mommy & Daddy Check In
  • This month has just been incredible!  Thanks to working the day shift, we have enjoyed so much more time (AWAKE!) as a family.  And this past week's vacation was just the icing on the cake.
  • Tomorrow is back to the grind, but we can't stay on vacation forever... real life must go on.  This past week in Florida, however, has really solidified our plans to move back within the next few years.  Syracuse has been home for a while now, but Kevin and I have both agreed that we are ready for a change (ahem... especially a change in the weather) and more than anything, ready to be closer to family.  The road to Florida may not be easy, but we are certain that we will get there, hopefully sooner rather than later.  Stay tuned on that one...

Any appointments, visitors or outings? Anything else new?
  • Have you heard enough about our awesome vacation yet?!?
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Any upcoming developments, milestones? What's next?
  • Next appointment will be 2 years in July.  What?!?