Kennedy: 6 Months

Oh my goodness, and I thought you had changed so much last month.  You are sitting up all on your own now and can get just about anywhere you want to get by rolling and scooting and rolling some more.  Here is what you are up to at 6 months: 

At 6 months, you...

- are eating about 2.5 T of cereal every night. 

- LOVE the pool
- are sitting up so well!

- have 2 teeth!  Your 2 bottom teeth broke thru at the exact same time just after your 5 month mark.
- don't nap very well during the day but we are making progress slowly.
- love your sister and brother.  They are pretty sweet on you too.
- you cuddle at night after your bottle and I love it.

- are not spitting up hardly at all anymore.  Such a change from your first few months and your siblings.
- have been away from Mommy for the first time overnight, for 5 nights actually.  Daddy and Mommy took a trip to San Diego for our 10th wedding anniversary.  You stayed one day with Nana and the rest of the time in Oklahoma with Mimi and Papa (and your siblings!)
- are very interested in faces...noses, eyes, ears, earrings, hair
- have started going to Nursery at Church.   You have done great and you are loved.

- Size 6 month clothes 

- Size 1-2 diapers 

- 7oz each feeding; a mixture of breastmilk and formula.  Momma built up a good supply in the freezer so we are mixing your bottles about half and half until we run out of our stash.   

Everyone always says "well, you can sure tell they are all siblings" and yes, you all do look alike but you definitely have your own uniqueness and "Kennedy" look to you.  I love your blonde hair.  You are smaller than your siblings by a couple pounds  month after month.  You are very easy going until you get tired.  You are the happiest baby first thing in the morning.  Getting you from your crib in the morning is one of my favorites things.

I cannot believe you are already 1/2 way to 1 year old, sweet girl.  Holy moly... weren't you just born yesterday!?

Kennedy: 5 Months

5 months already!?  What a fun month this has been! You have learned and grown so much these past 4 weeks.  You have discovered your tongue, your toes, your toys and your voice. It's so fun to watch!

At 5 months, you...

- have started cereal!  You eat cereal with us at dinner time every night. 

- love to sleep on your tummy. Speaking of sleeping, you are a sleeping champion at night. Usually 7:30pm - 8 am. You go to bed awake after your bottle and put yourself to sleep. I usually have to wake you at 8 am to start your day. 

- sleep in a sleep sack that isn't tight. No more swaddle.
- suck your thumb and really have nothing to do with a paci.

- stick to a good schedule throughout the day. Usually eat at 8am, 10:30 am, 1:30 pm, 4:30 pm and 7:30.  We start bath usually by 7pm and you take your bottle right after that. 

- love your thumb. Your right one usually. 

- are a happy spitter. 

- are teething.
- have BLUE eyes like your Momma and all your siblings.
- I think are going to have BLONDE hair which is SO fun and different from your otherwise look-alike siblings.

- Size 3-6 month clothes 

- Size 1-2 diapers 

- 6.5 - 7oz each feeding 

You are the happiest baby... I call you "little love".  Your smile is contagious and you smile a lot! Your brother isn't sure what to call you. I will ask him to get you something and refer to you as "Sister" and he will ask back "the big one or the little one?".  Addison has claimed the "sissy" title and Luke isn't going to let you share that apparently.  Regardless,  you are our Kennedy Isabelle and complete our family in the most perfect way.   

Kennedy: 3 Months

Miss Kennedy Isabelle - you are 3 months old!  I was just telling someone the other day, I don't know if you are doing things faster/earlier than your siblings or if time is really just flying by that much faster!?   You are such a sweet baby and your siblings really love you.  My favorite time of the time is getting you out of your crib in the morning.  Your face just lights up.  Here is what you are up to nowadays.  You are....

• eating 5 oz to 6 oz every 3 - 3.5 hours during the day. Like clockwork. If you are snoozing soundly, I will let you go 4 hrs before I wake you.
• For 3 weeks now, you have been sleeping 10:30 pm to 7:30 am. Wow! Momma thanks you!  There have been a few morning I have had to wake you at 8 am to get our day started.
• We are still working on getting you tired at the 7:30 pm timeframe.  That is usually awake time for you.  You will take a bottle around 7 and will eventually be going to bed then but right now, you like to party and are often awake until you are fed again around 10 pm.
• still swaddled, arms out.
• Rolling over!  I put you down on your back and within minutes you are on your tummy.  You can keep rolling usually the same direction back to your back.
• You love to smile.  You are just the happiest baby.  If you are fussy, you are tired or hungry... maybe dirty but usually that doesn't bother you.
• a happy spitter.  Trying to figure out what I may be eating that is causing it although, you don't seem to care.

• exclusively breastmilk-fed from a bottle.  I pump all day, every day.
• Have moved up from a Level 1 nipple on your bottle to a Level 2 and in return of eating faster, you want to eat more!
• love the lights from the television
• starting to grab your toys that hang on your play mat.
• suck your thumb.  Oh no!  You will take a paci but prefer your thumb, either one.  
• don't like being held like a baby.  You prefer sitting up and looking out.
• love to sleep on your belly.  You will be playing and the next thing I know you have rolled onto your tummy, sucked your thumb, and put yourself to sleep.   At night you sleep on your back in your crib in your room.
• Have stopped losing your hair.  You shed a little bit of it your first couple months but it appears what is left is here to stay.  
• Get to talking if you are talked to. It is pretty cute!
• Made your first trip to Oklahoma this past month and met a bunch of Daddy's family.
• Haven't been away from Mommy overnight yet.

• Love bath time.
• Have the prettiest blue eyes just like your siblings.
• Wearing 0-3 month clothes and sleepers.  Just about out of your 3 month onesies depending on the brand.  You have a long little torso.
• Size 1 shoes are still a little big.
• Wearing size 1 diapers

You are loved BIG time, sweet thing.  You bring so much joy to our everyday.  I can't imagine life without you in it.  Let's see what month 4 brings!

Kennedy: 2 Months

• are eating 4.5 to 5 oz every 3 - 3.5 hours during the day. Like clockwork.  
• We are still waiting on that night when we wake up startled because you slept longer than 3 hrs. 
• are on a pretty good schedule. You are usually awake for the day between 6 and 6:30 am. You usually eat at 6 am, 9 am, 12 pm, 4 pm, 7 pm and a dream feed at 10 pm that I wake you for. I prefer a 6 am wake up call and a 7 pm bed time. Gives me time in the morning to get ready myself and not rush the big kids. Also gives us time as a family to eat dinner. Then it's bath and bottle. You are up in the middle of the night between 2 and 3 am to eat. 

• Sleep in your crib, in your room all by yourself. First night alone was Easter!
• Are swaddled. Arms out.
• really love your bath
• like to just be put down sometimes
• are wearing 0-3 month clothes, size 1 diapers

Kennedy: 1 Month

Kennedy Isabelle, you are 1 month big!   Oh, what a sweet love you are. You've completed our family in the best way possible. Your brother and sister love you beyond measure and are so proud to show you off to anyone and everyone. 

 At 1 month you ...

• are eating every 3 hours, day and night. Like clockwork. 
• breast milk only. You nurse during the night but are on a bottle during the day, just Momma's preference.  3 ounces each feeding.
• You sleep in your crib at night in your room. Either on your back or in the Boppy Lounger. 
• Sleep swaddled, arms out. 
• love your bouncy "bunny" seat if you are sleeping
• Are a fan of your wubbanubs
• Mommy sleeps in your room with you at night in the rocker/glider

• enjoy car rides and going on walks
• are wearing newborn diapers
• your eyes are getting more blue every day
• have quite a bit of dark brown hair but not as much as big sister when she was born
• Are wearing newborn clothes with the exception of a couple 0-3 month items. 
• seem to enjoy your baths but once you are out, there better be food ready
• have only been away from Mom for about 3 hours just last weekend when Mommy and Daddy got away for dinner
• Already love your daddy. You react the most to him of anyone. You are usually awake eating when he leaves for work in the morning. You love to start your day hearing your voice. 

We thank our Lord daily for you, your health.  What a blessing you are.  Happy 1 month!

Addison Leigh: 5 Years

Miss Addison Leigh, 

5 years ago today you made Daddy and I parents.  We hardly slept the night before in anticipation of that 4:30 am alarm clock.  We wondered what you would look like, how much you would weigh, if you would have any hair.   It was one of the most amazing days of our life.  We love watching you become distinctly you every single day.  We are so proud of you. We are your biggest fans.  Today, we celebrate YOU.  

Our big 5 year old.  Our future kindergartner.  Our little girl.  Forever our baby.  

At 5 years old you....

- are quite sassy.  

- LOVE arts and crafts

- LOVE to sing.  Anything.  All the time.

- LOVE to dance

- are starting to read and write your own sentences. 

- like to practice your "spelling".

- are starting basic addition and subtraction.
- still love to dress-up.  Lately it has been in Momma's old leotards and you pretend you are a "gynastic player".
- can be best of friends and worst enemies with your brother

- change clothes a million times a day.  Oh, the laundry!

- LOVE cowboy boots.

- LOVE tacos and cereal.

- obsessed with chapstick.

- you are a wizard on an ipad and love to watch "netflix" aka Strawberry Shortcake or Barbie

- still dont like to move quick in the morning

- still have a horrible habit of biting and picking your finger nail BUT love a good manicure and pedicure!

- are usually in bed by 8:30 and asleep shortly after 9.  You prefer for someone to lay down with you still but are adjusting well with that not happening much lately because of Luke and Kennedy's needs.

- sometimes just need a "pause" in your room to get your attitude under control.

- are testing your boundaries (and Momma's)

- like to do your own hair and can put it in a side pony or pigtails all by yourself.

- still really want a dog

- are very messy. Cleaning up isn't your specialty.

- are trying out tennis and love it so far!

- swing all by yourself and have for some time.  You go pretty high for only being 5!

- LOVE fruit.  Blueberries, cantalope, oranges, bananas...and you LOVE pickles.  You get that from your Daddy.

- don't like the Texas Longhorns and always point it out when you see a longhorn logo

- are tall enough to turn the lights on and off by yourself now
- learning to ride your bike without training wheels.

- want to try gymnastics

- say you are SO ready for kindergarten

- think you are ready to get your ears pierced...we are going to let that sit for a little bit longer before taking action to make sure you are ready.

- really want to learn to tie your shoes.  We have some work to do this summer!

- prefer to wear dresses

- get shy in front of people when you are "to perform".  This dance recital next month should be interesting!

- have been taking ballet and tap this school year.

- LOVE to go to the park

- always want to be first.  Maybe you are a natural born leader....or maybe you just want to beat your brother
- really into dolls ever since Kennedy was born

- prefer to take a shower over a bath

- don't like juice.  You prefer lemonade or cold water or milk.

- are in a booster seat now with a REAL seatbelt.  Gracious.

- are in XS/S big girl clothes!  With an occasional 5T here and there but very rare.

- size 11/12 shoe

I want to always remember....

- how you talk about God at this age and your love for Him.

- how you say "had-ed" and get your opposites mixed up like when you are cold, you say you are hot but mean you want to warm up.

- how you often ask me "do I look 12?" or "do I look cute like this?"

- how you tell fairy tales to Kennedy.  You are such a sweet big sister.

- how your feet are still so far off the floor when you sit on the couch or in a chair

- how a good ol' nap is still needed every now and then

- how you talk on the phone with so much animation and sass

- how you sometimes just need a hug and aren't afraid to ask for one

- how much fun you have with your cousins

- how you sing "God Our Father" for mealtime prayer.

It is so hard to believe 5 years has already come and gone from that very day we heard your very first little cry.  That day we looked into your beautiful blue eyes for the very first time.  Everyone always tells you it goes by so fast and I don't know I really understood that until I became a parent myself.  You are 5 today... next thing I know you will be 18 and graduating from high school.   As much as I want time to slow down, I am equally excited to see what the future brings for you.  I know you are going to do great things, sweet girl.  As we always say, we love you to the moon and back!  

Happy 5th Birthday, Addison Leigh!

More birthday fun to come!

Kennedy Newborn Pictures

Our little love and all her sweetness at 9 days old...

 

 

 

 

Introducing... Miss Kennedy Isabelle

Bump Update: Hours to go!

Tomorrow we will be a family of 5.  Oh, how this pregnancy flew by.  I took a few minutes and asked the kids some questions about their new baby sister. Also for my own records and little bit's baby book, a little FAQ on my pregnancy because I didn't track anything this time around except for a picture here and there.

Addison's Interview:

1. What color hair do you think baby sister will have? Little light brownish.
2. How much hair do you think she will have?  A lot like Luke had when he was born but a little longer. Girl hair but short like Luke when he was a baby. A little bit of hair to put in a headband
3. Do you think it will be curly or straight? Curly
4. How much will she weigh?  What?  You weigh 35 pounds.  How many pounds do you think baby sister will weigh?  I don't know what pounds are but I'll say 18 pounds.
5. How old will she be?  Zero.
6. What color eyes will she have?  Family blue eyes.
7. Will she look like Momma or Daddy?   Actually, I think she will look like me.
8. What is her name going to be?   Kennedy Isabelle Carson 
9. What are you going to call her?  Baby sissy.

{Painting a masterpiece for Baby Sister's nursery}

Luke's Interview:

1. What color hair do you think baby sister will have? Pink.
2. Do you think it will be curly or straight? Curly
3. What color eyes will she have?  Pink.
4. How big is she going to be?  Like me big.  Like 2 years old.
5. Will she look like Momma or Daddy?   Daddy!!
6. What is her name going to be?   Kennedy.  Maybe she should be a Boomer Sooner.
7. What are you going to call her?  Rockstar.

{Painting a masterpiece for Rockstar's Nursery}

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Momma's FAQ:

How are you feeling?

Other than a little nauseous the first trimester, no morning sickness.  I feel pretty good!  I don't sleep the best but that is to be expected. And I am 5 years older with this pregnancy than my first so overall, I just feel pains in different places but I can't complain.  With hours left, I have the pregnancy waddle down.  This baby is so low, unlike the other two, the waddle is in full effect.

Do you know if this is a boy or girl?
Yep, it's a girl!  We found out at 16 weeks and confirmed at our 20 week ultrasound.  That is the last time we got a sneak peek at our little one.

When are you due?
My due date (40 weeks) is February 14th.  This is a scheduled c-section (my 3rd) and is set for Tuesday, Feb 9th (39 weeks, 3 days).

{36 weeks}

Is this pregnancy any different than your others?
I started showing the quickest with this one, around 10 weeks.  I have carried this little one a lot lower than the others as well.  Like have-to-go-to-the-bathroom-every-hour low.   I have had bad acid reflux this time.  More sensitive to spicy food.  Nothing a tum or two can't fix at the end of the day. Old wives tales say that means she will have a lot of hair... we will see!  Probably the biggest difference is that I am not working this time around other than part-time for my Dad.  With that has come far more time to prepare for this baby.  And... no swelling at all!  My ankles were huge by the end of the day from about 36 weeks on with my other two.    Ironically, I have gained the exact same amount of weight, down to the exact pound, with every single pregnancy including this one.

{38 weeks, 5 days}

Any cravings or weird things with food?
My appetite has just been off this pregnancy... like hard-to-cook-because-nothing-sounds-good off.  I couldn't drink coffee until about the halfway mark. It made me feel sick to my stomach and that is NOT like me.  I live for my coffee in the mornings. BBQ has made my stomach turn all throughout this pregnancy.   I've craved milk this time like the others but started craving it a lot later in my pregnancy, not until my 3rd trimester and now, we cannot keep up with the milk habit in this house between me and the kids.  I've had much more of a sweet tooth this time around.  Womp. Womp.

Do you have a name?
Yes, we do have a name as of about 2 weeks ago!  How is that for an answer?!

Are you nesting?
I nested like a crazy lady from the start of the 2nd trimester up until today!  Seriously, my poor husband.  Lists, lists, and more lists.   I finally hit a wall in the energy department this Monday with one week left to go until delivery but it was very short lived.

Are you going to have more kids?
We are likely done but time will only tell.  Its very bittersweet as a Momma to say you are done having kids.  How do you know!?  Pregnancy is the most amazing miracle to experience and I am so grateful to have been able to live it not just once but 3 times.  I have tried really hard to cherish this pregnancy... this human life inside my tummy, cherishing the kicks and the rolls, cherishing the sleepless nights and frequent potty breaks, cherishing "the bump".  For all of you waiting for and praying for your chance to be a Mommy, it is so worth every struggle, every wait. Know God has a plan and hears your cries.  Your time will come.

-----------------------------------------------

So... we are down to hours to go.  We are SO ready to meet this little love.  My bags are packed, freezer meals are prepared (18+ meals I think), schedules/plans are written down for the BIG kids, Valentine's put together for school parties this week, nursery is finished, at this moment laundry is done, the house is clean, the dishwasher is empty, car seat is washed and ready, the pack-n-play is up, we've stocked up on groceries, the laundry room has been painted, I got my car inspected and oil changed (because ALL that matters!?) ...check. check. check. I told you nesting has been OUT OF CONTROL ...

Really what matters most... our hearts are ready. We are SO ready to welcome you to this world and our family, sweet girl.  We cannot wait to introduce you to your brother and sister.  You are going to LOVE them.   Not to mention your grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins (10 of them!) ... we ALL love you beyond measure already and will see you soon!

Luke: 2 . 5 Years

And just like that you are 2.5 years old.... very quickly approaching the big 3! You are ALL boy.  Like holy moly, all BOY.

Here is what you are up to these days.  You....

- are sleeping in a toddler bed
- broke up with your paci just shortly after your 2nd birthday
- with the paci break-up also came a break-up with naps (ugh!)  We are lucky to get a nap out of your once or twice a week... maybe.
- are up by 7:30 every morning on your own and are asleep usually by 8:30 pm at the latest
- love snacks.  You think any and every car ride is meant to be a feast.  You will always ask me "what you have!?"
- are missing the warmer weather and being able to play outside all day, every day
- have a great vocabulary and are speaking so well but I'm a little biased.
- you tell us multiple times a day "I be a boomer sooner when I grow up and pway footbawl!"  You have been brainwashed by your Daddy pretty good.  You think any football you see is the Boomer Sooners and will break out in chant.
-  are still pretty shy and love to cling to Mommy and Daddy when not at home
-  love your cousins.  You mention Aiden and Harper at the dinner table every night.
-  are very coordinated.  More so than your sister.  You play t-ball like a champ, run and kick a soccer ball, play on your scooter with ease.  You impress me daily.
- like to CLIMB.  On EVERYTHING.  Lord, help me and keep you safe!
- like to color; however, we had to take crayons away from you because you liked to color on everything.  Walls.  Couches.  Ugh.  For now, Color Wonder ONLY.
-  are doing very well at school.  Finally warmed up so you don't cry at drop-off everyday BUT don't change your routine or you will see tears.  Mommy has to get you out of the car and you have to hold sissy's hand walking into school.  A teacher better not touch you.
- are getting taller and thinning out.  Makes me sad.
- are pretty defiant with certain things and if you don't get your way, you make sure and tell us you are mad about it.
- like to go to Target and often request to "run airwends" after school rather than go home
- are still afraid of dogs... really any animal but our beta fish.
- love cereal just like your sister (and your Momma)
- must have milk before bed, usually chocolate milk is the request
- don't like getting your hair fixed or cut
- LOVE to sing.  "Jesus Loves Me" is your favorite.  Your recite "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" like poetry rather than a song.   It's very dramatic.
- love to "look" for baby sister in my belly.  It always results in "I don't see her".  You are going to be a great big brother.
- go on the potty on average once a day, usually before bath.  You are ready to potty train Momma has just put it off until baby sister gets here. 
- are wearing 4T clothes, weigh 34 lbs, and are in a size 10 shoe

I want to always remember...

- your giggle.
- how you make us laugh.  Just by your actions, your eyes, your looks, your walk, your stories.  They way you carry yourself.  There is something so "Luke" about it and it makes any day a better day.
- how you pray.  You lower your head, close your eyes, and then you start peaking your eyes open to check on everyone else.
- how you yell for "Momma!" in the mornings as you wait outside your door for me to come get you. 
- the way you bathe yourself.  It's hilarious.
- how you ask Mommy or Daddy to sit "wif" you
- how sweet you are after you ask for help, you always say thank you

- how you hold my right hand going down the stairs every morning after you wake up
- your love affair with snacks
- the way your little legs look in your diaper

Luke Matthew, we love ALL the boy that you are.  You are going to be the perfect middle child.  You keep us on our toes and hopefully out of the ER for the foreseeable future.  Keep being you because we think you are pretty amazing.  

Addison: 4 . 5 Years

What?!  4 1/2 years old already!?  Wow!   Sweet girl you are sassy, stubborn, dramatic, kind, loving and ALL girl.  You CANNOT wait to go to kindergarten next year.  Momma on the other hand, will be an emotional mess.   I just cannot believe you are such a KID now ... no longer a baby, no longer a toddler, and for not much longer a pre-schooler.   Here is a bit of what you are up to these days. You...

-  love to pretend.  You love to play restaurant, school, post office, library, Mommy/daddy...
-  love to sing.  You get so into praise and worship music and will always ask for it to be turned up. 
-  are very eager to spell and read.  You try and I love what your little brain produces.
-  are really working on your handwriting.  As a lefty, you turn some letters backwards but are getting better and better every single day.
-  can pull the drama on like a light switch and it doesn't matter where we are... you'll fall to your knees and pout/cry like the world is ending over the silliest things like your brother sitting on "the wrong side of the shopping cart"
- hoard your toys... I find the most random, smallest, tiniest, not-really-a-toy toys stuffed into purses or a bag all over the house.  You will do whatever you have to do to make sure you brother does NOT touch your things.
- still LOVE arts and crafts.  You ask daily after school to "craft". 
- are taking ballet!  You love it.  The local dance studio comes to your school once a week for a combo tap/ballet class.  Recital is in June and we cannot wait to see your show.

- are at a new, Christian preschool only 3-days a week from 9-2 pm. This is such a welcome change for you as all you have known your whole life is full-time care from 8 am to 5:30 pm, 5-days a week.
- still have a horrible habit of biting and picking your finger nails!
- are starting to protest bows.  What!?
- you know all your numbers 1 - 100 and can write them all in order
- you are developing such a sweet relationship with our Lord.  You pray the sweetest prayers and are starting to ask a lot of questions about Heaven.
- still like someone to lay with you at bedtime. 
- are turning into such an independent little girl.  You brush your own teeth, comb your own hair, try to put it in a ponytail. You prefer to pick out your own clothes, dress yourself, wash your own hair, and take showers.
- swing all on your own, get those legs pumping and away you go
- have an amazing memory. Seriously, I am often in awe of the things you remember.  I can't remember what I had for breakfast most days.
- love your brother.  You are the sweetest siblings and I know best friends for life. Most days, you two get along really well but there are definitely moments.  Moments you will NOT share a darn thing.
- you play with your hair as a nervous/shy habit
- love being at home
- are growing!  We can tell by how much you are eating at meals.
- Love yourself some fruity pebbles ("fruity peddles" you say), any cereal for dinner for that matter.
- are wearing very few 5Ts and are mostly in XS/S big girl clothes.  Sigh!  35 lbs... 1 lb more than your 2.5 year old brother. Size 11-12 shoe.

I want to always remember....

- how you like to move slow in the mornings.

- how sweet you look in your nightgowns.
- that you say "had-ed" rather than "had"

- how you love your Daddy.  You two have something very special.
- how hearing "I am so proud of you" makes you beam
- the way you talk on the phone at 4 years old like you are 13
- how you pose anytime you hear "let me take your picture".  That hand goes on your hip and you bring the sass right on out
- how tender your heart is about certain things like growing up.  You cry at the thought of being away from your brother.
- that I can still carry you up the stairs if you happen to fall asleep in the car

Addison Leigh, you are such a great big sister and I am so glad God gave us you first.  We cannot wait to see you with your sister and know you two will be the best of friends.  Thank you for loving me even when I lose my patience with you.  You are so incredibly special and we are so thankful you are ours. Now, slow down a little and let's take this turning 5 thing a little slow, okay?