The gift of family

I have always been amazed at how quickly time can pass you by, and so I've made every attempt to be a part of every minute in a quality way with Kenna and Matt. Needless to say, that has left little time for blogging. It just seems to be one of those easy choices, and I'm glad I have the option. :)

So what's been going on?! Let me catch you up to speed.

Kenna had a wonderful first birthday with family and friends in town. My sister Yun came to visit for two whole weeks, and my brother Sung, his girls Katelyn adn Kylie and my mom came up for a little over a week as well. Matthew's mom and dad brought Kenna's great-grandmother Frances down for a few days, too! Matt took a couple of days off, and I had the best vacation ever with just having family here and being able to relax and laugh together.

Kenna had a great time getting to know everyone, especially my sister. Some of my best memories are of Yun and Kenna antagonizing each other. Well, it was more Yun antagonizing Kenna, but you could tell Kenna really enjoyed it. Honestly, I was thrilled to have an extra set of hands and eyes to keep on Kenna, so Yun was a HUGE help! We swam in her little pool, and took her shopping and went for walks. Kylie and Katelyn were fabulous in helping too. They were great in walking Kenna around - being closer to Kenna's height I'm sure it was easier on their backs than mine and Matt's. Still Kenna has her favorites, and sometimes only mommy will do.

Sung was awesome and took some wonderful photos, and I could tell mom was so happy to see how big Kenna had grown and how healthy she is. It was sad that dad could not come up as well, but he was needed to mind the business and it was a hard choice. We went to KI, rode roller coasters, some saw the Reds play, shopped, and ran around. I was so proud of Kylie who rode some really big coasters with us. Each night we watched movies and I must have gained 10 pounds from all the cooking - fabulous!! I am truly grateful for the wonderful time we had together as a family!

For Kenna's brithday we had a bit of a bean feast - cupcakes, pretty marshmallows, petty iced cookies, a big two-tiered strawberry and white chocolate torte, and an ice cream bar. It was funny to watch the cupcakes trying to rise in the oven; they looked defective like weird mushrooms. Thank goodness for icing! Kenna wore her pretty pink dress and didn't hesitate to dip her finger in her cupcake for a taste. She even tolerated her birthday hat (what we parents do!). With friends gathered around, it was a great feeling!!

After the birthday, Kenna had her one year check up and began to transition to formal day care. She finally came on the charts at 90% height, weight and head. LOL! Now she wears sizes 2-3T, and I'm really hoping we can stretch some of these clothes into next spring too (fingers crossed!). Ah, who am I kidding?! I would enjoy shopping for more clothes, even if they aren't for me! I can't lie. It's Matt who has his fingers crosses more than I! :)

Kenna's first day at daycare was a few hours in an afternoon. She actually fell alseep on the way, so hanging out with her became a mute point. Funny part was she woke up about 10 minutes after Yun and I left. Yes, she cried and was so glad to see us when we came back. We did this for the next couple of days leaving her there longer and longer each day. Overall, I think it's the best way to help transition, as by the end of the second full week she no longer minded us walking away.

I was sad when everyone finally departed. Matt's parents and grandmother, my mom and Sung and the girls and then eventually my sister. Admittedly I cried when I rode the escalator up and away from security with Kenna after seeing Yun off. It never seems to amaze me how hard not having family close by is day to day.

Kenna has been enjoying day care. Almost every other day she makes something creative like painting pictures and noodle art and sand art (yes, layers of colored sand in a bottle!) and vases and on and on. Honestly these would be things I would likely never break out as crafts for a 1 year old, but that just goes to show me what I know. I've been really impressed with the staff and the activities they plan, and most importantly she seems to really like her teachers Ms Carolyn and Miss Tiffany. The one thing that hasn't been so great . . . the cold she caught on day two. Runny nose for a month now, and both of us on anti-biotics for sinus infections (sacastic yeah!). I hear ya, all you moms that are telling me how great and immortal her immune system will be in 3 years of whatever! Now, not so great with the gooey nose and the congestion that keeps her and us/me from sleeping well. Interestingly, she's the youngest kid in her class room and the only one without a hardcore vice (blanket or pacificer). The thumb still goes in at nap time.

Kenna has certainly become quite the adventurer. We always knew she seem to have no fear. Recently she has taken to opening drawers and doors and emptying the contents on the floor. Sometimes she'll put them back. She wants to climb every chair and dive off like a pro. Maybe we should not have watched so much of the Olympics? :) And she is sooo ready to walk on her own. And I am sooo ready for her to walk on her own too! I know. I know. Almost every parent tells me I don't know what I'm saying, but in this case I do! Her walking and me watching vigilantly is better than her walking with me and my back bent over watching vigilantly. See, the difference is subtle but one involves no back pain.

Her vocabulary is growing as well. So in addition to "ma-ma/mi" and "da-da" and "uh-oh" and "no," she nows says "ball" and "up" and "bye" and "hi."

Kenna is no stranger to bumps and bruises. She rams into every piece of funriture like she's a bumper car and seems to like to head butt people. She also watches MMA and UFC with me and likes to whack people in the face. I told the daycare she is a bit "heavy handed", and now they are working on "easy" and gentle" patting. Some days she does well, and others not so much. So as much as I dress her in pink and frills, I think she's a rough and tumble kind of gal.

Now, we're in the process of weaning her off bottles . . . down to just 1 at night!! We're almost there!

Patience is not her virtue . . .

Not surprisingly, Kenna inherited her father's patience. Given she cannot speak yet . . . we've been working on "tree" which sounds like "che" and "light" which sounds like "aught" . . . she tends to scream when frustrated. Her tolerance for not getting her way is identical to the time it takes a porsche to travel from 0 to 80 mph (about 0.6 sec). For those of you who are laughing now, this brief wink of time is not long enough for you to try and figure out what it is she was trying to do, or more accurately trying to manipulate you to do and you realizing you've failed to deliver on her expectations.

Tense body pose and scream . . . "ok, ok," I say. Can you hold your horses?! Geez . . .

Usually, the scream occurs because she wants whatever you have (food, cell phone, book, pen, etc.) or because she now wants assistance with walking. Here she knows that she cannot do it on her own, but doesn't want to crawl which she can do very proficiently now. Some may say that she doesn't want to crawl on her own because of rug burns on her knees (she is rather fluffy). Some may say it's because she is excited about the new experienced and point of view as she walks. Nah . . . what I say is that she is trying to manipulate me - and I bend like bamboo.

Our approach has been to put out finger to our mouth and say, " Kenna, let's whisper; we don't scream; no screaming." Or we try to redirect her attention to something else. Does it work you ask? Well, I feel it is too early to say, but I'm sticking with it for now. And perhaps ear plugs will be on my holiday wish list. ;)

She still continues to be that exceptionally happy kid who is eager to experience everything. Fearless! I'm glad for that! I will also say that it means constant vigilence when it comes to stairs as she tries to go head down. Too funny.

We're looking forward to family coming in town at the end of the month for the big birthday. Who knows . . . by then she may know a word or two and the screaming may subside. That's likely wishful thinking on my part.

This is what they mean . . .

This past moth has been absolutely amazing!! Kenna has really developed so quickly - wounded soldier crawl to really crawling to really crawling quickly to pulling up and now taking steps (with assistance). I'll try and get pictures of this up soon. She mimicks (watch out!), shaking her head no as if she knows what that means, claps and almost sits through the whole Happy Feet movie. Most of this physical development happened in less than two weeks - honest! And yes, she is now wearing 2T-3T clothes. I guess this is what they mean when they say they grow so quickly.

Kenna has been busy learning and exploring. She also seems to have a bit of a fearless attitude - rarely hesitating when she wants to move from the tile down a step into the living room. She goes belly down, head first, like a pro. Somehow I believe this is foreshadowing what is to come - many, many bumps and bruises. Time to put the baby gates up!


No more hair barettes!! At least for a little while . . .
We recently had a bit of scare when Kenna swallowed a hair barette this past Sunday evening. Dad was home and forgot to take it out of her hair before she went down for her nap. I had to get out for a bit. When she woke (~6:15 pm), she must have pulled it out and put it in her mouth. Matt went in to change her and she swallowed and began to choke. She couldn't breathe for several seconds and Matt took action to quickly check her mouth and then when he didn't see anything he turned her over and tried to pat her. This must have helped to move the pin down past her wind pipe and into her esophagus. There it stayed, and she was able to breathe again. Whew!

When I walked in the door, she was crying hard with daddy, and he was shaken. We left immediately for the Urgent Care at Children's near by. The X-ray (~6:40 pm) showed the pin right below her shoulder blades in her esophagus. They sent (~7:10 pm) us down to Children's ER downtown, where we waited to get into the OR for removal. Because the pin had a plastic piece (decorative piece of candy), they were concerned of tears and blockage. It was too large to pass on its own into her stomach like many items kids swallow --> thus, surgery.

No promises of not having cut - they were not sure how much blockage there would be and said they may have to cut her throat to ensure she can breathe during the surgery (~12:05 am). Fortunately, they were able to go in through her throat and extract the pin without having to do any cutting. They looked for damage - scratches and scrapes and no tears = good! Whew! We needed to watch for signs of a missed tear or infection for the next 24-48 hours. She . . . we were exhausted . . .and finally got to come home after her evaluation post surgery (~3:00 am).

The next day, Matt and I stayed home to watch her. She was uncomfortable, groggy and needy, and certainly doing well. By Monday afternoon one could hardly tell she had been through so much trauma. The neediness is still there today, but frankly I don't mind. I need the hugs, probably more than she does right now.

The amazing part is that you realize that no matter how vigilant you are or how careful you try to be, things like this can happen in the blink of an eye. I know it'll be a long time before I feel ok about putting a barette in her hair again, and I'll also feel less comfortable leaving her alone in the room for just that brief moment to go and grab whatever. I am thankful that she is alright now. Matt and I are still recovering and will likely be for at least the next week or so.

With Kenna's adventurous spirit and being imperfect parents, I am sure we'll have more stories coming, and I'm so thankful this one had a happy ending.
Love to you all!

Faster than a speeding bullet . . .

Everyone has always mentioned how quickly little ones grow. Before you know it, they're smiling back at you. Then one day they are crawling, walking and talking. The next thing you know, you've almost forgotten how small they started off, how light they were, and how incredibly fragile they seemed to be. Well, in Kenna's case, she wasn't small for long and she never seemed quite fragile. And it seems she'll be walking befor too long (she's pulling herself up and working on the leg coordination now). And I still remember how small she was and when she first smiled at me.

She's become so aware now. I say this more because she seems to know what she can and what she cannot do. She knows when she can't pull herself up and yet wants up, so she turns to me and extends her arms as if to say, "hey, lady, a little help here please." She just seems to get things that are in process. So when she's about to eat and I'm cutting up food for her, she waits until I have the little bits on her tray. When I'm making her bottle, she knows that there is mixing and assembly and then finding a dribble towel and then sitting in our chair before she gets her snack. It is amazing to me that she gets it all like she understands that there is always a process to things happening around her.

That isn't to say that she has patience. She is still her father's daughter. ; ) Speaking of which, she called him "Da-da-da!" this morning (Father's Day). You should have seen the smile of his face!

I'm glad we take pictures, so I don't forget these times as quickly. And still I also know that I keep them locked in my personal memories too.

Below are are some pictures of Shivani Kori and Kenna. Shivani is the daughter of our good friends Arun & Mamta. These were taken at Michelle's bridal shower.
Enjoy!

Sqirmy Wormy makes diaper changing fun!

So she flips now. Not only does she flip but she also flops . . . and reaches and grabs and pulls every diaper out of the basket next to her changing table and then tries with quickness to crawl away before I can get the diaper on her sweet, little koondingy (that's Ko for "butt"). Forever gone are the days I could lay her down and change her causally, taking time to align the little tabs evenly on each side of Cookie Monster or Elmo's picture, throw away the dirty diaper, wash my hands and return to see her smiling and waiting to be picked up. Now she's twisitng as I try to remove the dirty diaper, squealing "FREEDOM!!!" and trying to crawl away like she's being chased, giggling.

She crawls now, too! Some babies start off with the army crawl - arms moving while they drag their little legs trying to avoid the sniper fire overhead. Kenna has more of the wounded solider crawl - she drags one leg and one arm as though she's been shot in battle. It's not the prettiest crawl, but she certainly gets where she wants to go. That is, she goes until she would rather be carried. That's my job - Kenna's beck and call girl.

Four more teeth coming in (front on top), and she's taking it like a trooper. She claps her hands and is learning to pull herself up. Her first word that seemed more than random babble and like she meant it was "Oma" (that's Ko for "mom"). She was calling for me as I was leaving for work yesterday and leaving her with a caregiver. Sigh. . . . it was the first time I did feel that yearning to just say, "to hell with work; I'm staying home with my baby!" whereas most days I'm like, "ok, Baby, see you (kiss)!" So, now I guess she knows me as oma/mama.

Several firsts in the last months, and we're excited for more. Can't wait for the family to come for her first birthday this July!

The Glamorous Life . . .

Children's picture places . . . I don't know how these places can employ people without offering some sort of therapy. There is always running and yelling and crashing of something going on. Flash! Flash! Flash! "Waaaaahhhhh!" begins to cry the 2 year old because he wants the ball now. I cover Kenna's ears and tell her that the boy is crying because he hurt his toe. And like magic . . . these photographers and "stimulizers" (that's what I'll call the people who hop around the photographer and try to get the kid(s) to smile) jockey for position to capture just the perfect pose . . . you know, the one that makes you forget what a little hellion you've got because they look so cute and innocent in the photo. It's a split second in time when the child simply looks pure. The cynic in me can't help but to think of Fight Club the movie with Brad Pitt and Ed Norton. If you look closely at the beginning of the movie, Brad Pitt (Tyler Durton) who plays the mischievious alter ego makes flash appearances here and there. I look around at these kids and I can see the flashes of little Tylers here and there. Goodness gracious!



Fortunately, Kenna's a good kid. She has realized that she can holler to get attention. We'll have to work on that, but for the most part she really is good. I thought it would be nice to dress her up for pictures. She barely fit into the dress I bought (whew!) although for a moment I thought I might have to cut it off her. Side note: they should make the zippers go down further on the back. She wore the locket from her Grandma McConville, the bracelet she got from her Great-Grandma McConville and the diamond ring from Matt and I. Yes, I know my kid has alot of bling! My favorite picture is with her eating her hands. It looks great in black and white! Less than a year old and she has more pictures than I have in my lifetime . . . ah the glamorous life!

Kenna's 1st Easter!

One of the best things about being the grown up is that you can do silly things to your kids when they are young and they seem to colude in the silliness with you. You take the pictures so that when they are older you can show them you can say, "Awwh, look how cute you were!" Cute seems to be the term we use to describe just about everything with kids.

Kenna is such a tolerant kid, lucky for us! She seems to enjoy wearing bunny ears and funny hats and has great bed head every morning (she's really fidgity and likes to rub her head against the bumpers in her crib). Most importantly, she's a very happy kid!

We spent Easter morning enjoying a brunch over at out neighbors' Julie and Jarrod. They have a four year old son and a new born little girl. There were other friends and neighbors there with their children, including three of us who had the token bunny ears for the day. Cute! Great food and great friends . . . nice way to start out the morning. The latter part of the day, we spent enjoying the living room floor and talking with my friend Sylvia who came by for a visit. Kenna is getting really proficient (yes, I used that word) at rolling around all by herself. Often times, I'll leave her with her toys and come back a few moments later to find her 2-3 feet from where she started and often tunred the other way. She looks up at me and smiles as if to say, "I wasn't going far, mom, just over here" or "I really wasn't up to anything."

We also drove down the day prior to the holiday to visit my parents in the big KY. It was so great for them to see the kid and have some time together! They both could not believe how big she is now (likely creeping up on 23 lbs - and yes, somehow I feel my arms should look bigger from holding her.) and really enjoyed how interactive she is now. It's too bad the visit had to be so brief, but it was nice to see them.

Well, enjoy the pictures (to the side and below), and I hope to hear from you all soon!