Fun with Uncle Chris

Hmmm... what should I do to him?

Got him!!!!

Ch...ch...ch...ch...Changes!

We've been changing lots of things around here. We finally got a new computer, but switched to a Mac. We changed the office into a playroom and the guest bedroom into an office/guest room. And of course, McKenzie changes every day! Right now, she points to things all the time and assumes that she should have that thing immediately. That's not been such a fun change. She likes to throw little fits if we don't give her something like a medicine bottle she sees on the counter. Unfortunately, anything and everything is hers - at least in her mind. So, we're working on that. In the spirit of changes, the blog has a new look. I'll be tweaking it in the days to come, but I like the look so far.

One Year Stats

McKenzie had her one year check-up last week. Four shots. Not fun. But she was a trooper and we think she was more upset about being held down than actually getting the shots. By the time it was all said and done, she was just fine.







Weight: 19lbs, 13oz (29th percentile)
Length: 30in (79th percentile)
Head: 18in (69th percentile)

Long, lean and a slightly large head!

Birthday Thoughts

Dear McKenzie,

Today you are one year old. It’s hard to believe that you’ve been in our lives for a year and for only a year. On one hand, it’s amazing that this year has gone by so fast. It seems like just yesterday that I took a pregnancy test and it came back positive. Oh. Man. Your dad and I were excited, scared, nervous and totally unprepared for the way you were about to change our lives.

On the other hand, you have changed so much in just twelve months that it seems like you have been around forever. We say things like “Remember when she was just rolling over,” as if it was years ago, when in fact it was just a few months back. You’ve gone from just being there to wiggling to rolling over to sitting, crawling, standing and now walking in such a short amount of time. And we’ve enjoyed just about every second of it. The inconsolable crying you do when you started teething was not fun. Any parent who says they loved that is lying.

You’re enjoying a morning nap right now and I’m trying to hold it together as I write this birthday post. It’s just too hard to describe the amount of joy and happiness that you have brought to our lives. And not just our lives, but to your grandparents, uncles, aunts and friends’ lives. I’m pretty sure you even convinced Brittnee that babies aren’t so bad. Now that’s a feat!

The first year is, well, a year of firsts! Everything was new to you and us. Even small things like diaper changes were exciting. That’s right… I had never changed a diaper until you came along. And now I can do it in about ten seconds flat, assuming you’re distracted and not turning over to bare your little butt! The first sweet little noises have changed into insanely loud screams at times and funny little grunts when you get walking too fast. The first bout of vomiting that sent us to the after-hours clinic was certainly an unwanted first. Your diagnosis was vomiting and I’m sure the nurses snickered at us rookie parents as we left. Your first day with Mrs. Nancy that turned into day after day with a lady that really loved keeping you for us made it a little easier to get through my work day without you. Your first meal of rice cereal has blossomed into a love of chicken, turkey, ham, peas, waffles, Cheerios, blueberries and almost anything else we put in front of you. So many firsts. And I know there are many more to come.

McKenzie, I love you. That sounds simple enough, but hopefully one day you will understand how deep and wide that love runs. And your dad isn’t real into this blogging thing, but he loves you like no other. His heart is so big, but I think you’ve got just about every piece of it by now. So, keep it coming little baby girl. We can’t wait to see what you have in store for us during year two!

Every bit of our love,

Mom and Dad

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Happy 1st Birthday to McKenzie. And when she's not in my lap grabbing for the keyboard, I'll write a more lengthy post about her amazing first year.

Mid-Summer Vacation

We've had a lot going on these last six months, tons of uncertainty and questions about whether or not to move. Thankfully, all of that was recently put to rest and we had a little time to relax. Brant and I decided to go to Big Cedar Lodge, a cool resort outside of Branson, Missouri. My parents kept McKenzie, while Brant and I enjoyed some needed time to relax and reconnect. People kept asking us what we did on our vacation. My answer: nothing. I mean really, nothing. We ate, sat by the pool, talked about our next meal and then had our next meal. And I loved every second of it!
Silly picture of BrantSilly picture of me
Trying to be more serious
Outside our cottage
Anxiously awaiting our return?

Happy Daddy's Day!

McKenzie loves her Daddy!