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.

Kenna's First Sledding Adventure

Kenna mostly sat and watched as the rest of us went Sledding on Christmas eve.

But then just before it was time to go, I puter her down in the snow so I could take a quick video of Tim and Quinn coming down the hill. One minute she was crying, and the next second she was passed out asleep her nose to her knees. She didn't stir for 3 hours after this.

We laid her on a sled to walk to the car. Sweetest thing ever.

Pumpkins and Costumes and Christmas

Well, my dear, you were all about sleeping today while I took Quinn to pick out pumpkins. But we got one for you. (You waited in the car...) When we went to the Barnyard Boo at the Thanksgiving Point Farm. You came on a wagon ride with Quinn and me, and you were so quiet while we listened to a witch storyteller.

Quinn and I dressed you up in my Halloween costume. You are a pink skeleton. You glow in the dark. I put the costume and Quinn in the closet today so she could see it glow!

Even though you are too young to care about Halloween, having you around makes everything better. I can't wait to celebrate Christmas with you. And everyone knows that Halloween night is the first night of Christmas.

Food, Glorious, Food

Wasn't sure if I was going to jump on the food-at-4-months bandwagon with McKenna, but it is kind of fun to see those cute baby faces spitting out the food and getting all confused. So, I went for it. Didn't want to buy anything, so we started with banana. Quinn helped, and McKenna gagged.

A few days later I made homemade rice cereal, and McKenna ate more and gagged more. It's a work in process. My favorite part of the process is watching Quinn feed McKenna. She is great at it.

Today McKenna seemed to be trying to hide her rice cereal in her bib when I wasn't looking. Looks like I have my worked cut out for me ... or Quinn does.


Homemade Baby Rice Cereal

Cook any kind of rice at a 3:1 ratio. If you are cooking 1 cup of raw rice, add 3 cups of water. If it is brown size, add at least 3 1/2 cups of water for one cup of rice.

Put a few spoonfuls of rice into a magic bullet, blender or chopper. Add water until the mix is the right consistency for your baby's development. Add formula powder to fortify the cereal.

Toys and Poops

Just as I was opening this post to write, I looked at Mckenna who is sitting on the couch next to me leaning against a pillow like she is in this picture. I saw her look at a toy that was sitting on her leg and, just like that, she picked it up and put it in her mouth. What a smarty pants. She is growing so fast. And also pooping so fast. She has not been one to blow out of a diaper, but yesterday she ruined 3 onesies, and only time and laundry will tell if the outfits survived. I call these 20 minute blowouts because that is about how much time it takes me to clean her up and try to save the clothes.

The Same but Different

So I am the worst at printing and especially framing new pictures of my kids and family. Evidence of this is that one of the only pictures of Quinn in our house is a picture of her at 11 weeks. It is a 4 x 6 on our piano. Because it has been up for so long it is sort of the standard Quinn baby picture. Well, here is that picture AND an oddly similiar one that we got of McKenna this weekend. You decide:

Family resemblance or identical twins?

Quinn at 11 Weeks

McKenna at 10 weeks

Need a second look?

McKenna's Baby Blessing

McKenna with her Grandma Jan. We are so happy she could be there for the special day.

McKenna all beautiful, dressed and ready to head to church for her first Sunday in the Alpine 7th ward. We snuck her to church two weeks ago for Baby Benny's blessing. We couldn't miss that!

We decided to bless McKenna in church last Sunday because Tim's mom could be there. She had to miss Quinn's blessing, and we didn't want to do that again. So, even though our nugget is really young, we went for it.

A baby blessing is an LDS tradition where a man, usually the father, takes the infant in front of the congregation and uses the laying on of hands to give the baby blessing (usually its first blessing) and to declare what name the child will be known by in life and on the records of the church. We don't baptise children until they are 8 years old, which is considered the age of accountability, so a blessing is a way to make the child a part of the congregation without a baptism.

It's a simple but beautiful event. It is a really neat bonding experience for the daddy's, I suppose. At least I know it is for my husband. I get all the credit and the gifts and the praise about our new babies, but the blessing day is sort of about the father's role in the child's life. It is also a time to gather togther all the men in the baby's life that will be examples in the church for them. All the men stand in a circle with their hands holding the baby, and together they use the priesthood power to give the blessing. Very cool.

Our circle got smaller this time around, but the love was just as strong as we have grown to love those special men in our life even more since 2 years ago.

McKenna wore a very old dress. It has been worn at least 3 times now and maybe 4. I wore it when I was baptised as a catholic as a baby, and now both my girls have worn it for their baby blessing. My sister may have worn it too for her baptism, but I am not sure about that. It is getting old and yellow, but it means a lot to me. I just accent the outfit with off white accesories, and I don't even notice the fading white.

At church with us on Sunday morning we had our best friends Lindsay and Brandon Purdie representing all our friends (lots were out of town because of the holiday), and we had Aunt Sue, Uncle Mike and their kids plus Audrey and Eddy with Nico representing all our family. It was really special. Then at 5 p.m. we had a BBQ with lots of other friends and family. Tim served up hamburgers and hotdogs on his new grill, and we had a big ice cream cake to celebrate Tim's birthday, which was also on Sunday.

I took the special occation as an excuse to finally put up a picture of my two girls together. Congratulations to me! That could have taken months.

McKenna started to fuss a little right before Tim put her to the front for the blessing. I think we both got scared, but he must of turned on the magic because I did not hear a word from her.

I don't remember a ton from the blessing, but I do remember Tim blessing McKenna with the ability to quickly in her life feel the love of the people around her and then return that love to others so that through her they can come to know the love of Christ. I thought that was especially beautiful and exactly what I wish for my children.

Welcome to our family and our Church, angel baby McKenna!

A Few more pics of Averykens on her special day. More to come later.

The First 4 Weeks in Pictures

Leaving the Hospital. Time to take our angel home!

Home, sweet home!

A happy sister and daddy, and a very tired baby girl. 

Kisses for Kenna

What in the world how did I get TWO kids in my car!? Life is moving fast. This was our first trip as a family of 4. We went to the hospital to have McKenna tested for something the day after she came home. 

Oh Dear, Grammy got a war wound from all her helping. 6 stitches and a trip to insta-care. She was most worried able not being about to help with dishes.... what a woman!

Smiles!

McKenna in Bridget's arms. Paige looks on. 

McKenna with Cousin Rachel 

Grammy and Quinn pose as they say good bye!! We can't wait to see Grammy in a few weeks. She was such an AMAZING help and so fun when she stayed with us. 

Ready or not. Here I come! Peyton Jane meets Avery McKenna.

More smiles in one of my favorite outfits from the Quinn days. 1 week old. 

Loving this outfit from my friend Elizabeth. I happen to have these matching pants. 1 and half Weeks old. 

Look who loves a poodle!

No Really. She loves it! And Quinn loves to share!

At one week and 6 days, Quinn finally really gets on board with loving our new little nugget. This was the first time she asked to hold my Averykins.

More lovin'

Hanging out at the 2 week check up. 9 lbs 1 oz.

Cutest new outfit. A gift from the pediatrician's family who lives in our neighborhood. We love the Spencers!!

Ouch!! Drama at the hospital. But our baby was a trouper!

It's about time!! Grandma and Grandpa finally make it to Utah to meet McKenna. 

3 Weeks and 3 days old

So cute!

More time with Grandma!

Had to document this. I believe in giving my babies a FULL feeding, which means you have to wake them up a lot. The best method for McKenna is to just nicely lay her on the floor right by my rocking chair. She moves around, takes a poop, and wakes up in no time at all. However, as she gets older, she is on to me. Here she is fighting the system. Dead asleep. 

Hanging out in the high chair while mom and grandma make dinner. 

Finally a shot of mom! I've lovin' my girl.