Just had to call the nanny to find out how to get mckenna to take a bottle!!!

Sick (Of Nursing)

McKenna has a cold. Her nose is running none stop, and, of course, she hates to have it wipes. Poor thing. I give her half a tablet of benedryl once or twice a day, and that seems to help, but Tim seems to think that is not safe. (Stupid information on the Internet empowering dad's to be armed with information...) Anyway, I thought she would be doing better today, but she is still all gross.

I have been weening her from nursing, and now that she is sick, but I just want to throw in the towel. I live this little nugget so much, and I especially love holding her and rocking her. I guess I can do all of this with a bottle. I guess it is just a matter of making a new habit.

Basically, I am weening for a few reasons. Selfishly I would like my body back. Everyone knows I am about the least vein of anyone I know, but enough is enough. I am packing on the weight like it is going out of style. And I will never forget how much I loved my body after I stopped nursing Quinn. That was heaven. So that is one reason, but I have also been having troubles with my menstrual cycle. When I left for 5 days for the 3 day walk, my body thought I was done nursing, and I started menstruating again. So on the second cycle after that -- when i was back to nursing fulltime -- the ovulation hormones where fighting the lactation hormones, and I felt like I was going crazy. I got way bloated. I got depressed for like 3 weeks until my body gave up and I got an anovultion cycle (you get your period without having ovulated -- normally about a 40 day cycle). On top of all of that I am planning to go back on clomid and have a new baby.

I guess what I am saying is let's get this show on the road. I would over think it, but it is over. I guess I am just not used to wanting my baby to stay a baby forever. I have always been all about Quinn growing up. But my McKenna is my Kenna-benna baby, and I want her to cuddle with me forever.

7 Months

My angel is 7 months now, but I keep telling people she's 6 months because I forget. And I guess I just don't want my baby to be that old.

She sits up great now, but she cries like a crazy lady if she sees me walk out of the room. Sometimes she stops, but lots of times she does not. That's not fun, but sometimes I do love a reason to hold and cuddle her for hours. I didn't do that much with Quinn; she never really needed it. But sometimes McKenna just needs a little extra love.

The only problem these days is that she doesn't like to be fed food. SHE LIKES TO FEED HERSELF, which is crazy messy and pretty confusing. I don't know what to feed her. Half of the time I cave and just stick a handful of animal crackers right in front of her. But today Bridget suggested using one of those mesh feeders. I have never thought about those for actual food consumption. I always thought they were just for giving babies something to suck on. But I filling the mesh part with apple sauce and then squash, and I think we have a winner. She got pretty messing, but she for sure got a lot in her tummy too. Dear me. At least I have clean kid. And it is certainly not my McKenna baby.

Lately, all I want to do is stay home and hug my kids. I hope McKenna is a cuddler. Quinn cuddles. I love it. And as I said, I love to hold my McKenna. Not all the time like a crazy person, but every now and then when it is just us playing, laughing and hugging.

McKenna's First Christmas

McKenna was, of course, adorable on Christmas morning. She -- unlike her sister -- was very obedient at wearing whatever I wanted her too. So she was one half of a matching pair of Christmas PJs. (Not Quinn's fault for changing. Santa brought her a new night gown.) She loved watching Quinn open things and do things, but she mostly spend her time sitting in her chair by the tree opening her own gifts. She would reach down and find one and then net thing I knew she would have it open. It rocked! She was better at opening than Quinn!!

She was a great addition to Christmas Morning. I think we'll invite her again next year.

Getting so Big!!

Oh my goodness! Avery McKenna is getting so big. Dear me. In just a few days, I had to throw dozens of outfits into the too small box. And in one day both Melissa and Tim said that she is looking super cute baby chunky. Love it.

Sitting Up

McKenna is doing more and more sitting up! It is amazing. Just like with all new baby milestones, her sitting up changes her perspective on life and our perspective on her. It really is amazing. She seems to feel a lot more comfortable with a couch behind her, but she can manage to stay sitting in the middle of the floor for quite awhile. I have been pile blankets around her so the fall is soft.

And as I said, her sitting up gives us a whole new view of her. Tim said this week, "She is totally not a newborn anymore. Her cry is even different." And Quinn is suddenly in love with McKenna. She hugs her a lot and is starting to play with her. They sat together in their new play house and pretended with play food. Quinn made the meals, and McKenna tried as hard as she could to eat them.