Hands Hands Everywhere

Exactly four weeks ago, we were 12 hours post-op.  It feels like it was years ago.  So much has happened since we have been home.  I count my blessings every day, and I am so grateful for the amazing recovery that Kennedy has had.  She is like a completely different baby.  And if you met her for the first time, you would have no idea that she just had open heart surgery, unless she happens to be wearing something that her scar pokes out the top of.  But even with that, it's barely noticeable.

I've continued to work on many things since we have been home.  One of them is getting Kennedy to explore and use her hands more.  She has always had a thing for holding onto her dress, and she can hold her toys and play with them when she wants - but she's never really explored with her hands much.  Over the past few days I've seen a huge change.  When I lean over her and give her kisses, she reaches out and touches my face.  Of course, today that turned into grabbing my face.  Now I really need to be good about cutting her nails or we'll both have scratches.  She's also been grabbing at other things.  Random household objects sitting around.  My phone charger.  The parts to the breast pump.  She even held her bottle a few times today.  It was only a few seconds, but what an accomplishment!  She grabs onto her bib.  She bangs her hands on her high chair.  By far, the funniest was when she grabbed her spoon at dinner.  It was full of sweet potatoes and headed right into her mouth.  It didn't make it.  It was intercepted by her hand.  And we ended up with sweet potatoes everywhere.  Then she thought it would be fun to smear it around her face.  From her eyelids down to her neck.  Between every finger.  On her onesie.  On the high chair.  And she thought it was so funny she started laughing and blowing raspberries.  So then mommy was covered in it too!  What a mess it was to clean up.  But it sure is worth it to see her exploring more with her hands.

Kennedy is one happy baby and full of energy!  It's so wonderful to see her eager to explore and experience all of these changes.  Even if it's just chillin' on a giant stuffed bunny, Kennedy can find something funny about evrything!  She loves to laugh, and it's contagious.  We have definitely caught the laughing bug in our house. 

What Happened To My Baby?

It's like ever since Kennedy turned four months old, she's not a baby any more.  She's turning into a little girl.  This week has been filled with so many new things.  My mom came over to visit for a few days, and she even said that she's like a completely different baby compared to last week.  Yesterday she started laughing hysterically.  I'm not sure why she thought I was so funny, but she was cracking up!  It wasn't the little baby giggles that we've been hearing from time to time.  It was non-stop laughing with an ear to ear smile.  It was definitely one of the greatest mom moments to date.

Let's see - what else has she been doing?  She's finds extreme joy out of making raspberries.  This typically means a mouth full of breast milk being spit out.  If you do it, she'll copy you.  It's adorable.  She was doing it tonight at the dinner table and it was nonstop laughs for Grandma and I!  Do you all remember my post awhile ago about how Kennedy was gagging herself when she took her Lasix, and then throwing up?  Well, that's a thing of the past.  Now she completely seals her mouth and sucks in her bottom lip.  Oh, and I can't forget that she now tries to fight me and usually the syringe goes flying through the air.  This morning it ended up all over her head and hair.  Speaking of this morning....Kennedy has decided to perform acrobatics in her sleep.  I'm thinking it may be time to move her to her crib, otherwise Daddy and I will not be getting much sleep.  She's taken to rotating and moving around our bed.  This morning at 5am, she was laying horizontally across the bed, with her feet up on my side.  So adorable, though I'm not quite sure how she managed it. 

Kennedy has been sucking her thumb for quite awhile now, but that's been taken to a whole new level lately.  Teething?  Maybe.  She will only tolerate tummy time, because it's easy access for putting her ENTIRE hand in her mouth.  Then she gags.  Her hands have definitely found their way to her mouth, as are her toys.  Only time will tell. 

Last but not least - my daughter has learned how to use an iPhone app.  We're in trouble now.  This is proof as to why I need an iPad.  I've been researching a lot of apps that can help children learn.  I've already downloaded a few to my iPhone.  We have several versions of flashcards and a "piano."  The piano app has always come in handy as a last resort for amusement while we're waiting in random doctor's offices.  Well, Kennedy has now learned that when she puts her hands and fingers on the phone, it makes noise.  She LOVES the piano app.  I guess we'll be going out to buy one of those infant size pianos this week. 

Poor quality image, but I didn't have a camera handy, and she was using my iPhone.  

Well, this toy is interesting mom.

 

 My thumb tastes really good!  (Followed by a head dive over the boppy.)