So Big!!!

Everyone says babies grow up quick, and I'm still truly amazed at how fast time goes by with Kennedy.  It seems like just yesterday I was sitting in this very chair, crying my eyes out just hours before she was admitted for open heart surgery.  Now I'm sitting here crying happy tears as I think about how proud of her I am.  We've gone from sitting up unsupported for a few seconds at a time, to being able to leave her on the floor to play with her toys, while I make dinner.  Of course, every now and then she gets REALLY excited and kicks her feet like a maniac, and tips over.  The good news - mommy quickly learned to keep a down pillow not far behind.  We have had SO much fun playing with all of her toys the past few days.  I can't get enough of the excitement that radiates from her all day long.  The smiles, the giggles, and the squeaks and squeals as she explores and discovers new things.  I could not be any more proud of my little girl.  It brings tears to my eyes, just thinking about how much she's been through and all that she's over come.

It took a long time for me to catch her at just the right moment where she was going to tip over.  This is hysterical!

And of course, photos.  These are just a FEW of the 500 that I have taken over the past two days.  Good thing digital is cheap.  I apologize in advance that there are so many.  But she was having SO much fun, and her little faces are so cute.  I can't just pick one.  Or five.  Or ten to share.

Mom this toy is so cool!  I love the way the air feels!

Mom, how does this thing come off?

I got it!  This thing is fun.

I need to show my monkey this toy!

This is so fun mom!

Did you know it makes music when you move them mom???

How come I never realized this before?

  

Can we bring this to the beach next week mom? 

Mmm...yummy!

Look mommy!  Only two more left.

 

I was so excited for mom to help me get them back on that I started kicking and tipped over!

 

Yummy!  Fresh squash.  I got really hungry after all that playing!

Smiles, Furniture Shopping and More Food Pictures

In case I haven't said it (a hundred times) - I absolutely adore Kennedy's smiles.  I get them all day long, every day and each one still melts my heart more than the last.  The smiles are completely adorable, but what they mean is what I really love about them.  It makes me feel so good to know that she's happy and having fun.  The last few weeks have been hard to entertain her, and seeing those smiles is more important now than ever.  Not to mention, life gives you ups and downs.  Things aren't always perfect, but there's one thing that makes it all better.  Kennedy's big smiles and her now constant giggles. 

Grandma came over again today...we went shopping...again.  I don't get out of the house much, so when Grandma comes we usually make it a girls day and do lunch and a shopping trip.  And Kennedy already has grandma wrapped around her little finger.  Since we can't use the Bumbo, we tested out chairs for Kennedy.  She ended up getting a pretty fancy purple rocker with Tinkerbell on it.  Of course, mommy and daddy already made plans to go get the pink chair for upstairs this weekend.  It's hard enough carrying Kennedy up the stairs with her bottle, Sophie, her purse, and monkey.  Who wants to have to carry a chair too?

Here's some pictures of Kennedy testing out chairs and once we got home.

And at midnight Kennedy decided she wanted to wake up and party for a few hours.

My mom asked me last night when I was going to stop taking pictures of Kennedy eating, since she's been on solids for over 2 weeks now.  My answer, NEVER.  She makes way too many cute faces not to take photos.

Now, I'm off to crawl into bed and snuggle with my sleeping baby. The only thing that can even come close to her smiles are her snuggles.

Doing It Again

Kennedy has once again set out to prove people wrong.  They warned us before starting solids that Kennedy would likely have a hard time with it, because babies with Down syndrome don't usually "get" the whole eating thing.  They don't understand the opening their mouths, what to do with their tongue, and how to swallow.  So I went into it pretty optimistic, but didn't have high hopes that it would work out well.  Well, Kennedy has once again proved them wrong.  She's rocking the solids!  We have now worked through carrots, peas, sweet potatoes and are on to apples.  So far everything I have made has been a success, except the apples.  They came out terrible, so we're relying on Gerber for the time being. 

She LOVES to eat.  She clearly takes after her mommy and daddy.  She opens her mouth for more, she has a pretty good handle on what to do with the spoon, and can get the food off the spoon, and swallowed.  Every now and then she's not sure what to do with her tongue and it pokes out, along with a little food.  But she doesn't even get very messy.  Any residual food usually comes from blowing raspberries with a mouth full of food!  And ladies and gentleman.  Last night, for the very first time, Kennedy actually banged on her hand on the high chair try because I wasn't heating up the next round of food fast enough.  Yes, I said the next round.  She ate an entire 2.5 ounces of sweet potatoes last night, in just one sitting.  I was standing in the kitchen warming them up and talking to Marlon.  Clearly I wasn't moving fast enough for her and she was going to let me know! By the way, she's now eating about 2 ounces of fruit for breakfast and 2 ounces of vegetables for dinner!!!  And still maintaining the 30 ounces of breast milk a day!  Way to go Kennedy! 

The following pictures were from her first taste of apples! 

Oooohhh....what did you make now mom?

Bring it on!!  I'm hungry!

YUM!  I'm going to lick this off my lips!

We're also working on things like sitting up - since we can't do tummy time.  Of course, we have a long way to go, and since Kennedy has short arms, even the tripod sit is hard.  So we use pillows.  And we practice on the bed.  Where we can't get hurt when we topple over.  Here's some photos of how we're doing.

Sometimes we eat our hands while we sit....

Sometimes we sit really well and smile for mommy!

And sometimes we fall face first.  Exhibit A of why this is done on the bed.