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.