Meeting Santa

We want to get pictures of the girls with Santa every year.  This year we found a place to take them for FREE that promised and "non commercialized experience."  Sounded right up our alley.  What we weren't thinking about what how many other people wanted to go down this alley too.  We waited outside in a line for almost two hours to see the big man.  A week prior to this McKenzie had informed me that she had absolutely no intention of going anywhere near Santa.  Something like, "No wannu."  However, after hearing that her cousin, Lily, sat on his lap, she began to look forward to the opportunity.

When we started out in line she was excited, by the time we reached Santa she was terrified.  Kaia started as a bubbling, happy baby, but by the time we reached Santa we had to wake her to sit on his lap.  She was a little dazed and confused.  We snapped a couple pictures and ended up settling for one with the girls, Santa, and Daddy.

Maybe we'll have better luck next year.

Hide and Peek

McKenzie and I played a rousing rendition of hide and seek the other day while out enjoying the unseasonable warm weather.  Can you spot her?

Camo Kenzie.

This looks bad, I know.

This one is pretty good, actually.

chillin'

Sisters

Kaia is sitting up so well now that she's able to defend herself a little better when Big Sister attacks.



Note: the name of the book Kenzie is trying to read is Zoe's Gift.  That's what she keeps saying.

Roller Baby

Six months old and she's on the move!  Kenzie was a mover, but I don't think she got across a room as fast as Kaia.  Kaia rolls around, babbling da da da the whole way.  She is great at entertaining herself.  She has mastered the ability to push herself around with her arms and she's beginning to put her knees into it.  In a matter of weeks she is sure to be crawling.  With two on the go things are definitely getting more exciting around here.  The blanket on the floor has become more of a suggestion than a rule.

Here are some snapshots, all taken in about a ten minute period (in this order) to show you how she's getting around.

Milestones

September was a busy month in the Ricci household.  Dustin's school year started, I went back to teaching a couple of nights a week, we attended three weddings and three birthday parties, Kenzie got hand-foot-mouth disease (no it doesn't come from farm animals!) and the girls reached some important milestones.  I can't believe that October is here already and a look at the calendar tells me things won't slow down around here until mid January at best.  No stress, though, because these are the things that fill our lives with so much joy.  This is the life I  dreamed of long ago and it amazes me everyday that I get to be a mom.

She always falls to sleep with these two fingers in her mouth.

Kaia is growing faster than I ever remember with Kenzie. She is incredibly active and noisy.  She wants to get her hands on everything, and, once in her grasp, wants to get everything into her mouth.  She is so intense when she has her eyes set on something, it's clear that she is not going to give up until she meets her goal.  She has once rolled from her back to her belly and when on her belly she can push herself up with her arms.  She drinks from a bottle now (when I'm away) and had her first taste of rice cereal last week.  She still gives the biggest and brightest smiles to anyone who pays her the slightest bit of attention.  I'm sure that she has made the day of many older ladies at the grocery store.

McKenzie has gotten the hang of this whole potty thing.  She still wants the reward of watching Barney and Friends after each pee (and it's a must for #2), but I figure she won't always need that crutch so we're taking what we can get. If Kenzie hears the beginning of Barney she immediately begins undressing.  We just hope Barney isn't a part of pre-school; then we might have some 'splainin' to do. 

What?  You don't have a potty in your living room.

McKenzie also said goodbye to her beloved Binky recently.  It's been a tough couple weeks but we are really hoping that we did the right thing.  The Binky Fairy took her broken Binky.  She will fix it and give it to a little baby who needs it.  Kenzie got some gummy worms in return.  She's been trying to avoid going to bed and has a had a few nap-free days recently.  I feel like a mean mother.  Dustin and I keep reassuring each other that this is the right thing and that she'll be okay, but it doesn't make it any easier.

Conversations with Kenzie

McKenzie has entered the "Why" phase.  It's torturous.  Last weekend I spent a four hour drive to Maine answering various "whys" and I'm not sure I have the strength for this.  Here is one example of a conversation we had after going through a toll in New Hampshire.

McKenzie:  Mommy, what you do?  What you do, Mommy?
Me: I had to give the man some money.
McKenzie: Why?
Me: Because we have to pay to drive on this road.
McKenzie: Why?
Me: I don't know honey, it's the rule.  People who want to drive on this road have to give the man some money first.
McKenzie: Why?
Me: Honey, I don't have all the answers.
McKenzie: Yes you do Mommy.  You do Mommy.

                                                                                                       

Last night I was teaching a night class and Dustin and Monica (who is staying with us while she's transitioning to a new job) were sitting down to dinner.  Monica said that shortly after they sat down McKenzie ran to the other room to get her Buzz Lightyear pretend flip phone.  She put on the table and commented, "Just in case Mommy calls."

                                                                                                       

There is no shortage of noise in our house.  McKenzie talks incessantly.  It's hard to capture on film because she usually stops what she is doing when I break out the video camera.  Yesterday I was able to catch her pretending to cook food while I sat on the couch nursing Kaia.  I am probably the only person who can understand everything she says, but you can get the idea of how verbal she is.  Note that she sits for a total of about five seconds. She's a very busy girl.

Mommy Moments

Some of my best conversations with Kenzie take place in the car.  I sit in the driver's seat, nursing Kaia.  She sits on her potty on the passenger seat.  In that moment there's no escaping the fact that I am a mom, and I love it.

Don't worry, we're parked while this is happening.  I ain't no Brittney.