4 Months Old

Dear McKenna,

It's August 9, 2010 and today you are 4 months old. What an absolutely amazing 4 months this has been. You have brought so much joy to our lives and I'm not sure I remember what life was like without you...well, I may remember it, but it sure doesn't compare to what life is like with you. Each and every day is full of sweet giggles, big smiles, discovery, love and ... awe.

We met with Dr. Kreiling for your 4 month well check and immunizations. You weighed 11 lbs. 12 oz (10th percentile), you were 24 in. long (50th percentile), and your head measured 15 1/2 in. (10th percentile). You continue to be one perfect little girl! You had one oral immunization and two shots. You were laughing and giggling with me, Grandma, and the nurses right up until the shots and then you weren't happy at all. It breaks my heart (and Grandma's!) to hear you scream out like you do when you get shots. But this time you stopped crying immediately when the nurses put you in my arms. Together we looked at a poster (you liked looking at the blue water in the poster) and that helped us both to calm down and get our mind off of what just happened.

Dr. Kreiling said that we could start feeding you rice cereal! We were so excited to hear that...you are getting to be such a big girl. She told us that you can have it once a day right now. We decided that you'll have your cereal around dinner time because when school starts mornings are just going to be too busy! We went to Jewel right away to pick it up; we couldn't wait for you to try it! Daddy had a baseball game so he wasn't home to see you eat it, so Grandma made sure to video tape it. You weren't so sure about the rice cereal at first and you cried as you sat in your Bumbo. I decided to put you in my lap and try it that way. You loved the spoon! You kept following me with your eyes as I would get the food and bring it to your face. When you got more comfortable, we put you back into your Bumbo. For your first time, you did awesome! I was so proud of you! We can't wait to try it again tonight with Daddy! I think he's going to be so excited!

You continue to grow into such a little girl. You are constantly babbling and you love to have conversations. You are such a happy girl, always laughing and giggling at silly noises and the doggies. You laugh really hard when we talk to you with silly voices. You love giving squishy to anyone who asks you for one. You are always blowing bubbles and raspberries.

You are eating 6 oz. of formula about every 3-4 hours. You like to try and hold your own bottle, but sometimes it is just too heavy for you! You go to bed around 8pm, but you are definitely ready around 7:45pm. You'll usually sleep 11-13 hours, waking between 7:30-8:00am.

You are still wearing 0-3 month clothes. You wear size 1 diapers during the day and we put you in size 2 during the night. We have found that size 1 just aren't absorbent enough during the night for you!

Every Sunday night, Grandma & GP babysit you while me & Daddy play volleyball. GP & Grandma cherish this time with you each week. You do lots of stuff with GP...your favorite being when you dance to the Hamsterdam Ave. commercial "you can do this, you can do that". As GP sways you, you have started to lift up your legs...it is hilarious. After you play, you love to lay on the floor and watch the Yankees.

You have started to roll over, from your belly to back. We know you were rolling over because you would be laying on your back every morning in your bed! We were so excited, but we couldn't wait to see you do it! Finally, Grandma & Aunt Krissy saw you roll over on the living room floor during some tummy time. They were so so excited. Daddy got to see you roll over in your bed. I finally got to see you roll over a week or so later...I was the last one!!! I was worried that I'd never get to see you do it! We keep trying to video tape it, but when we have the camera rolling you don't budge! :)

playing with Aunt Mackie

Your legs are getting so strong, you want to stand constantly. Whenever someone is holding you, you want them to help you stand, it helps you to be able to look around more. You don't want to miss anything...especially if someone is in the kitchen! You have to know what is going on. We got you a bouncer so that you can stand more on your own, you like to play with the spinning froggy and you make a silly face whenever someone spins it for you! You love your toys and like it when we just lay you down on the floor to play. You like to look at your hanging toys, like your Owl, your Dolphin, and your crinkle star.

We took you to your first baseball game last week. We went to the Kane County Cougars game for Daddy's work. You sure do love to look at the green grass!

Your hands are always in your mouth and if not your hands, then anything you can get your hands on. You are able to grab your pacifier and put it in your mouth yourself. You have found your feet this month and whenever you are laying on your back you are grabbing and holding on to them. You are one smart cookie!

Aunt Mackie being silly with your dress...she called this your 'cha-cha' dress...you don't look as though you find it as funny as she did!

We found out this month that you are going to be a BIG sister! Can you even believe it?! We are so so estatic. You are going to be the bestest big sister ever!

We should be moving into our new house in the next couple of weeks. Won't it be awesome to have your own room?! We are excited, but sad to be leaving Grandma & GP. You sure have loved living here with them!

I just can't believe how much you have grown in size and intellect. You are so aware, so observant, so independent, so...amazing.

Just know that you are the most perfect little girl in the whole world.

I love you sweet girl.

Love, Mommy