Two Years Old

As of yesterday, McKenzie is officially two years old.  I almost can't believe it.  Two has come with so many challenges, but just as many reasons for joy.  About a month ago, we took McKenzie's pacifiers away.  That has been quite a challenge.  She has only asked for it a few times since then and never really cried about it.  However, she is having to re-learn how to soothe herself when it's time for bed.  Slowly but surely, the time it takes her to fall asleep is getting shorter but we have a way to go still.  I'll be quite happy to report to the doctor that the pacifier is gone at her next appointment.

Another challenge is that instead of meeting a baby's needs, we now have to get along with a little person that has their own personality, own wants and own ways of doing things.  There is such a fine line between meeting every need and raising a child who understands that they can't always get exactly what they want every minute of the day.  I think this, above all, is what exhausts me each day.  Usually, it's easiest to just give in, but I know to be a good mother, I can't always give in.  Luckily, I see McKenzie's maturing in this area every day.  As long as she's not super tired, I can normally explain to her why I'm not allowing something and she goes along with it.  This is especially helpful in Wal-Mart when she wants to ride the little airplane a dozen times.  I explain to her that we can ride it again next time and she hops off and heads to the car with me.  Note to everyone: take 50 cents if you plan to enter Wal-Mart with this child.

Other challenges we have are like so many others out there: getting her to eat healthy food, having her take a good nap so mommy can rest, teaching her to share, changing her diaper (she hates us doing this now!), getting her to change into pajamas or into new clothes for the day, etc.  Most of the challenges are approached with a healthy amount of bargaining and usually we get the job done.

Amidst the challenges, there are most certainly joys.  McKenzie is a huge talker and it's amazing to hear her pickup and use new words that are now turning into sentences.  I love the random moments in the car when she asks me to tell her stories about Kelly, Brinley and Brady.  Just when I'm in the middle of a great story, she usually changes things up by saying "hippo," at which point I have to work a hippo into my store about dragons and fairies.  It's just fun to communicate with her when you know that she understands what you are saying.

Another joy is watching her interests grow.  Anyone that is around her knows that music and dancing are probably her first love.  She will break it down anywhere: car, restaurant, church, anywhere she hears music playing.  Coming from a mom who was only ever interested in sports, I'm a little nervous about the possibility of raising a daughter who wants to take dance.  But then again, she shows a lot of interest in Daddy's softball games and she loves the trains that she got for her birthday so much that she takes them to bed with her.  So, there's hope yet!

All in all, two is tough.  But just when I'm close to putting her in timeout for using the dog's brush to brush the walls in the house, she grins, gives me a look and says, "where Bailey Boo?"  You can't put a child in timeout when you're laughing.  At just two years old, I think she already knows that truth.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Freezing Motion

I'm learning how to change my shutter speed in order to freeze motion and still get a great exposure.  Here are my most recent photos taken for class.  I'm fairly certain I would have never been able to get a clear shot mid-swing if I hadn't taken this class!

Social Bug

These past few weeks have been so fun to watch as McKenzie has turned into a super social little girl.  Just a few instances:
-She kept walking up and saying hi to a little girl in Wal-Mart.
-She sat in my neighbors lap in our driveway.  We talk to this neighbor every now and then, but I was completely surprised when McKenzie walked over and just plopped down in her lap.
-She runs up, hugs and screams "Telly!" whenever my friend Kelly comes around.  This isn't too surprising because we are with Kelly a lot, but it is a valid example.
-She walked over and sat in my friend Jennifer's lap last week at the park and was content to just be held by someone other than me.
-She had to go to a new room with new caregivers at church last Sunday and she didn't blink an eye.
-The last two weeks that I kept Lucy, she ran up and wanted Jill to pick her up when she came in to get Lucy.
-She wanted to hold Lucy and give her a bottle!
-She actually played with a few kids in her tumble class.
-And just this morning, she said hi and by to almost everyone that walked in the door at Shipley's.

I don't know why but it's just really fun to watch her interact with people without me pushing her into it. As a shy person myself, it's cool to see her reach out and say hello to random people with no hesitation.  But it's also interesting to see how she is like me in certain instances.  When there is a larger crowd, she tends to hang back and see how things are going before jumping in and socializing.  She's becoming her own little person and that's just neat to watch.

Bike Safety

McKenzie really wants to ride a tricycle.  She has tried a few times at home, but just doesn't have the leg strength and/or coordination to push the pedals around.  Fortunately, Dandy has given her all the safety instructions necessary and equips her with a helmet when she's at his house.

Learning the rules for bike safety.

Ready to ride!

More Water Pics

I'm posting these for two reasons: 1. McKenzie always looks pretty dang cute and 2. I took these photos with my camera on manual mode and I'm kind of proud of that.  I'm taking a four week photography class so I can take pictures without always having to be in auto mode.  These are my first attempts and I hope to get much, much better.

Summer is Here

And this summer has started with a heat wave!  Although, as long as I keep her little pool filled, McKenzie doesn't mind the heat too much.

First Camping Trip

On Memorial Weekend, we decided to pretty much invite ourselves to the George's camping trip for a night.  Luckily, they were gracious enough to accept our invitation and we joined them on Friday night for McKenzie's first camping trip.  It was... fun? brutal? exciting? crazy?  I can't find just the right word.  We had a great time grilling hot dogs and letting the kids run around like crazy on Friday evening.  Finally, by 9:00pm, they all settled into bed and the adults enjoyed great conversation around the campfire.  If only the story ended there and began again the next morning.  Instead, it began again at 3:00AM!!!  McKenzie woke up and was extremely fussy and whiny.  She wasn't hurting, hungry, thirsty, hot, cold, nothing.  I think she was just out of sorts.  I, on the other hand, was annoyed.  So at 3:30am, McKenzie and I headed home and went back to sleep in our own bed.  We got back out to the campsite the next morning, just in time for breakfast.   Speaking of breakfast, there was no French toast that had been promised to us.  What's up with that George's?  Anyway, we spent a few hours at the park and came home just in time for McKenzie to take a four hour nap.  Overall, it wasn't a total loss and I think we might actually try again soon.

Hydrating for evening activities

The kids love me!

High-tech camping... watching DVDs in the tent!

Not my kids, but I love this picture