Kennedy Anne {6 Months}

Happy Half Birthday, dearest Kennedy!

I feel like I say this every month, but it's so hard to believe we're already half-way through year one. It seems like it's been a blur - but that means we're having fun, right? :) You love to play, watch us, talk, stand up, sit up, everything! You still don't like being on your tummy, so I don't think we're anywhere near crawling. But it's funny because you love sleeping on your tummy! We've taken you out of the sleep suit and you're now in a sleep sack. As soon as I lay you down and leave the room, you flip over. Sometimes you lay on your side for a bit, but eventually you roll all the way.

You can't quite sit up unassisted, but you're really really close. As long as the Boppy is around you to catch you if you fall, I can set you down and do something. Sometimes you prefer to only stand and won't bed your legs or hips, and that makes it challenging because you obviously can't stand by yourself. So I'm left just holding you up while you look around. You love to chew everything, and your favorites are rings and tags (on burp clothes, toys, blankets, etc.).

This biggest accomplishment this month is that you are officially no longer dairy intolerant - WOOHOO! I slowly integrated it back into my diet and you have shown no signs of discomfort. Luckily I'm adjusting well, too ;) I have to admit I'm pretty proud of myself for not having any dairy for just over five months, so really it's an accomplishment for both of us - hah!

We're about to start you on solid food. We're skipping purees and doing what's called Baby Led Weaning, so going straight to solid food like we eat. You need to be able to sit up just a little better, so we'll wait until you've mastered that a little more. But I'm anxious to see how you do. You're already watching us anytime we eat and you want to put everything in your mouth, so I can only imagine it will go well!

You're still a great eater and have gotten quick and efficient at nursing. You don't usually eat too much when you first wake up, but are consistent throughout the day. According to Mimi, you eat roughly 6oz per bottle, maybe 3 or 4 bottles per day (at her house). I try to stick to the Eat, Play, Sleep schedule, but will feed you if I can tell you're hungry.

As for sleep? You're all over the place. Ugh. You do have a pretty consistent bedtime routine and go down around 7:30pm (sometimes earlier, sometimes later), but after that it's up in the air. Sometimes you wake around 2:00 or 3:00am, and I've gotten us into the habit of you eating and going back down because, let's be honest, it's just easier sometimes. Then you'll usually wake, again, or for the first time around 5:00am and eat. You're ready and up for the day anywhere between 7:00 and 8:00am. But I'm ready to get you more consistent and sleeping longer, so asked the doctor about it at your 6 month well check. She said you should definitely be going 8 hours fine, so from now on, dad's coming in to comfort you if it's within that window. No more me coming in!

Other than all that, you're just a super chill, happy-go-lucky baby! Everyone tells us how easy you are because you just hang out and do whatever we do. You don't always nap on-the-go anymore, but you don't seem to be bothered by that (until we put you in the car to go home, and then you lose it). You definitely recognize us and have started to fuss if it's someone you don't know and you're just not feeling it. I know this is terrible, but I secretly love that. All growing up, I've known babies that absolutely love their moms (and dads), and they're the only ones that can sometimes comfort them. And I've always dreamed about the day that I would have a baby that only I could comfort.

We love you so much and can't wait to see what the second half of the year brings!

xoxo,
Your Mom

{6 Month Stats}

• Weight: 16lb, 7oz - 50th percentile
• Height: 27in - 85th percentile
• Head: 44cm - 89th percentile
• Clothes: the 6 months are starting to get a little snug in length, so we'll probably move up to 9 month soon
• Diapers: still in size 2 :) But we did have to invest in nighttime diapers and those are size 3
• Shoes: size 2 or 3
• Likes: sucking your right toes (not left!), bathtime, standing or sitting, going on walks in the stroller, grocery shopping in the carrier facing out, and chewing on tags
• Dislikes: being forced to play on your tummy, being alone in a room (i.e. you want to go in the bathroom with me if I have to use the restroom), and going to sleep on your own

And here are some pictures to confirm your likes :)

Month In Review

This summer has been nothing short of crazy. The conference I'm planning for work is quickly approaching, and when I'm not playing with or taking care of Kennedy, I'm usually working. There have still been plenty of pictures, so here's a blast of pictures over the past month (to quickly catch up).

I got a couple new bathing suits for Kennedy to wear in Scottsdale. I didn't get the matching hat, but her pose... I die.

 I sent my contact at Fontainebleau in Miami a picture of Kennedy in the onesie she bought her last summer :)

We enjoyed our summer days!

Kennedy finally got big enough to ride in the stroller sans carseat - a big milestone!

She started rolling all over her mat, never staying where I left her.

I was eating lunch on the floor with Kennedy and she stared at my carrots. I gave her one, which she happily sucked until it was too slipper to hold :)

Happy, happy girl :)

The cutest little polar bear ever!

More photoshoots in outfits from friends - this one is from Grace.

 
We had breakfast with my running friends on Saturday morning and all decided to get together the next afternoon for some swimming! We went over to Anne's, and Sarah and Oli went, too. They're one day apart :)

Kennedy did a fake cough one day, so I did it, too, and she thought it was the funniest thing - hah!

One (randomly) cool afternoon, Kennedy and I walked to Sweet Caroline's Sno Shack. And somebody didn't make it home ;)

We also hung out with our friends Meagan and Donald! It's so fun seeing how much Donald has already grown and changed, and I can't wait until he and Kennedy can actually play together :)

Are they not the cutest little couple???

Luckily Kennedy didn't do this in front of Donald ;)

We did some dining out, where Kennedy also enjoyed sucking on a celery stick.

One of the little outfits Nelson's mom bought finally fit, so we played dress-up.

One rainy Monday morning, Kennedy was in such a great mood and we just stayed in pajamas as long as possible.

However, she refused to do anything but stand up... which she can't do on her own. So she was left leaning against me.

This is what would happen if I tried to sit her up. Nope, not having it.

She did let us practice sitting up other days, though ;)

In the mornings, after Nelson goes to work, sometimes Kennedy and I lay in bed and chat :)

We played toys and looked at our picture book of family members...

... peed on dad on the way to the bath tub...

... and had our very first swing ride at the Lindahl girls' third birthday party!

Liv wanted to hold the baby :)

This isn't a very exciting video, but I want to remember how Kennedy was as a baby, laying on the floor, talking, cooing, etc.

 Our summer season of Bathtime Babies ended, and we got another awesome t-shirt and ribbon!

 

 Kennedy got really good at sucking on her right foot (not left).

Kennedy can be so chatty, but as soon as I pull out my phone to video her, she stops and stares at herself. I mean, can you blame her? ;)

I realized just how big my baby is getting and it made me so sad! I still feel like she's such a small little girl until I see pictures of her shortly after birth.

And, last but not least, we found our new way of grocery shopping! It's not as easy putting the carseat in the cart because it takes up so much room. Kennedy loved looking around and being part of the shopping experience - she definitely likes doing what we're doing.