Christmas

Christmas here was a blast. Watching Mackinna was pretty great. Santa came and threw the gifts down the chimney- maybe next year she'll allow him in the house. He did somehow eat a cookie and get the carrots for the reindeer and she's still talking about that. She loved opening gifts, and in typical Mackinna fashion seemed most impressed with the cheapest, most simple ones. She got lots of chapstick which was of course a huge hit, and a little plastic recorder, that I think cost a dollar. Santa brought her the watch she told him she wanted from Alison's store. Its funny how grown up she looks wearing a watch! Her big gift was a power wheels truck (to share with her brother) from her Grandma and Grandpa "Penkill" She's not the best driver... check out the video.

We went to see Santa

Mackinna just waved from really far away but Kaden sat on his lap and had his picture taken.

Mackinna presents: Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer

A little Christmas tune for you...

Waiting for Santa...

...to drop the presents down the chimney- but not actually enter the house...we've convinced Mackinna to agree to this plan.

5 months old!!

Kaden is 5 months old today. I can't believe how quickly the time has gone. Here's what he's been up to lately.

He's wearing size 12 month clothes. He loves to blow raspberries. He gets himself and everything in two foot radius soaking wet, but he's happy. Kaden loves his big sister. He lights up when she talks to him. He loves it when she sings to him, and if he's fusing, she can sooth him almost every time. He isn't sleeping through the night yet, but I can't really complain. He sleeps from about 7:00 to 3 or 3:30, then needs a little snack, and goes right back to sleep (unfortunately its only till 6:00 or so) The kid has stuff to do. Sleep just isn't his thing. There are many days when Mackinna naps longer than he does. Today for example they both went down at the same time. Kaden was up after about an hour and a half, Mackinna slept another hour and ten minutes.

Kaden started eating rice cereal this week at dinner. What he really wants is whatever is on our plates. He's quite a grabber, its really a problem. So ultimately that is what lead me to offering him cereal. He continues to open his mouth and lets me shovel it in, but he's still eyeing the grown up food and looking somewhat unsatisfied with the rice cereal.

He's sitting up pretty well now (for a few minutes at a time... its tiring for a fat little man to keep himself upright!) At least he's to a point when he starts to topple he does attempt to stick an arm out to catch himself, so I'm feeling a little more comfortable in letting him try.

Today he sat on the floor at toddler time with the big kids and was Mackinna's partner for Row-row-row your boat. That made her day! She also took his arms and helped him do the motions for Shoe- fly. It was pretty darn cute.

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Always kiss me goodnight...

Last night when I went to bring Kaden up to bed, I got scolded an angry big sister.  "Mommy! I not say good night to him!"  When I brought him over to her, she kissed him, rubbed his head and said, "Good night Kaden.  I love you so much."  Then she told her father he had to kiss Kaden goodnight too.  He quickly obeyed.  She's too cute, I couldn't even make this stuff up.

Santa

For months now Mackinna has been talking about how Santa is going to go to Alison's store (Treehouse Toys) and buy her a watch. That is all she's asked for, but she's very specific about it. It must come from Alison's store and it must be the pink one with bugs.
We were talking about Santa coming the other day and Mackinna declared, "I don't want Santa come to my house." When I asked her about the watch, she told me she just wanted us to go to Alison's store and buy it ourselves. So then I asked her, "what about Kaden, maybe he wants a present from Santa." Mackinna's reply: "Auntie will get him one"
I brought the whole thing up again yesterday and she's still insisting she doesn't want him to come. "Don't you want him to bring you toys?" I asked her. She said, "No I already have toys."
If she doesn't even want him to come to her house to bring gifts, I seriously doubt I'm going to be able to get her to sit with him for a picture...

Elmo Makes Music

We went to see Sesame Street live yesterday at the Civic Center. Mackina was dressed from head to toe in Elmo gear. She just loved it. It was so great just to sit and watch her watch the show in amazement. The time Kaden was awake, he really seemed to like it to. A great time was had by all! Here are a few pictures.

Its Uncle Matt's birthday

Mackinna singing to her Uncle...

Oh Christmas Tree

We went to cut down our Christmas tree. Mackinna was a big helper in picking and even tried to cut it down herself. Kaden really just slept, after he got over the initial furry of being in his snowsuit for the first time...

Another Mackinna-ism

We were at Target the other day and walked past the bras. Mackinna pointed to them and said, "Look Mommy, boob things." I told her they were called bras. She agreed, "yeah... boob things."

We have so much to be thankful for...

Happy Thanksgiving!

love,

Mackinna and Kaden, Mark and Christine

Its a boy!

Kaden is so excited. He just found out today that Uncle Shawn and Aunt Jill are having a baby boy. Saturday when he was at Grandma's with Mackinna, Jada and Marina while they were playing hair dresser, he was worried that he'd end up with ribbons in his hair. He was feeling pretty out numbered, so he's glad that his little cousin will be a boy for him to play with.

New pictures

Mackinna with two babies!! She loved it.Kaden whispering sweet nothings to Lily.
Mackinna with Unlce Matt at his wedding.
Kaden partied so hard at the wedding, he lost a shoe then passed out.
Mackinna with Uncle Shawn's new puppy, Jacey.

Big Boy Update

Kaden is nearly 4 months old now and we just got back from his doctor's appointment.
Here are his stats:
length- 26.5 " (95%)
weight- 18lbs 14 oz (97%)
Its no wonder my arms get tired lugging him around!

Love

Today when I told Mackinna I loved her, her response was, "I love Kaden too." I said what about Mommy? She replied, "I love Kaden oooo much." (She's not so good with S all the time.) I guess I know where I stand.

I told you she changes his diaper!

Here is Mackinna changing Kaden's diaper....

"Hi Kaden"

Mackinna has been waking up in the night and coming into our bed pretty much every night since Kaden was born. (Yes it makes for a crowded bed, but at least the dogs sleep on the floor now) By the time she wakes up in the morning Kaden is usually in bed with us too, so most mornings she sees him as soon as she opens her eyes. With excitement in her little voice, the first words out of her mouth each day are, "Hi Kaden!" ... like she's really truly thrilled to see him. This morning he was jabbering away, so opens her eyes and rolls over, then says, "Oh yeah Kaden?" I seriously can't get over how darn cute she is with him.

Storytime with Mackinna

Here is Mackinna reading to her little brother. She tells him to be a good listener, and he obeyed!

A concert by Kaden

Kaden played the piano for us yesterday. The kid has talent!

Rollie pollie

I got an email newsletter yesterday about what Kaden should be doing. It said:
"At 4 months, he begins to make trilling, growling and lip-smacking sounds and can roll over from his stomach to his back (rolling in the other direction occurs in the next month or two). "
Now, Kaden's been rolling over stomach to back since he was 4 weeks old, and back to stomach for a couple of weeks now. So I ask you- is my child really gifted, or is he just so round that it makes it easy for him to roll?

Halloween on Main St

Last night Westbrook closed off Main St and the stores and restaurants downtown welcomed trick or treaters. Here are some pictures of our little UT cheerleader and frog prince.

Check out that drool. I guess the lollipop was pretty good. The purple drool looks good on the cheerleader outfit too.

Big Boy update

Kaden is now three months, and I am starting to find some of his 6-9 month clothes are need to be stretched in order to get them snapped. I am going to move him up to size three diapers when I buy a new pack later today. The kid is huge- completely and utterly adorable- but HUGE. I just got on the scale with him and he is weighing in at 18.4 lbs now. He'll be catching Mackinna before we know it.

Little librarian

We've been going to toddler time at the library, which Mackinna just loves. I can tell she loves it because at home now she reads to us. She holds the book up facing away from her and says, "look everybody!" and turns it so "everybody" can see. She points in a cirle around her and counts before she gets started (the librbarian does this as she counts the number of kids there each week) Mackinna also tells invisible naughty children to sit down please while she reads. She is a riot to watch. She sings the songs she's learned at toddler time to Kaden- like shout-to-the -oof-top-style. At the library she doesn't actually sing, but on good days she will do hand movements. Looking at her there, you'd think I forced her to go and she really didn't like it... but at home we see a completely different side.

New Photos

Mackinna took this one. I think she's really gifted- she's already a better photographer than my mom!

Caught!

I caught Mackinna changing Kaden's diaper again today. The girl is quick to gather the diaper & wipes when I'm not looking. Unfortunately she's not so quick when it comes to changing him. When I got to her she had his pants off and his diaper undone, but not completely off yet. I ran over and asked her what she was doing, just in time to see Kaden start peeing. I folded the old diaper back up over him to cover and absorb, but he had already gotten the blanket he was lying on and his shirt. Too bad he didn't get Mackinna, maybe then I wouldn't have to worry about her sneaking in and changing his diaper every time the poor baby is down where she can reach him.

Play?

Kaden has started reaching for the toys on his swing. I thought this was prety exciting and called Mackinna to see. I told her this was the first step in him learning to play with her. She didn't really seem impressed. She probably considers swatting at toys on the swing pretty a pretty boring game.

Before I was a Mom

I just got this as a forward... while I was sitting with computer in my lap, periodically pausing to watch Mackinna sleeping (and snoring and sweating) next to me. (Sweating because, she opted to wear fleece footed jammies tonight, even though it was 80 here today)

Before I was a Mom...
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom...
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom...
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.
Before I was a Mom...
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom ...
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a Mom ...
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

Be careful Mommy

This morning when I was changing Kaden's diaper on our bed Mackinna looked at me all serious and said, "Be careful Mommy, be careful for his shots." Yes, the shots he got more than two weeks ago at his 2 month check up. Then just seconds later she accidentally kicked him in the head while she was rolling around on the bed. So much for being careful.

New pictures

Growing so fast

This week I packed away all of Kaden's 0-3 month clothes. For a couple of weeks I've been squeezing him into some of them, but those onsies just can't be stretched that much anymore. Think "fat boy in a little shirt..."

It made me sad to be packing away those little clothes because he's just growing so fast, but there certainly is an upside to that as well.
We had a great conversation yesterday, where I talked and he smiled and cooed and ahhed right back at me for like 10 minutes. It was the best conversation I've had in weeks.

AND- we've had two nights in a row with at least 6 hours stretches of sleep. That is pretty incredible. Too bad his 6 hours start at 7:30 or 8:00, but I'll take it. Getting up once a night sure beats 3 or 4 times a night, even if he insists on being up for the day at 5:30 (though today he slept till 6:30!) Now, if we could just get Mackinna to stay in her bed all night...

I have to give her credit though- she got up at 4:00 because she had to go to that bathroom, then wanted to come into bed with us. I'll take that over her peeing in her bed any day!

Breast milk??

Mackinna was just lying down to take a nap and the zipper on her dress was poking her, plus its like a million degrees, so we took her dress off for her to nap in just undies. She sits up and looks at me and say, "These my boobs. Baby eats my boobs. Theres breast milk in there." She is just too funny.

Sweet words from a sweet girl

Today I overheard Mackinna say, "I love you Kaden."
I thought I was going to start crying. I am not sure I've ever heard anything so sweet.
I knew she loved her little brother but to see & hear her say it to him was just too precious. What a good big sister!

Big Boy Update

Kaden had his 2 month check up today. Here are his stats:
length- 25 inches (97%)
weight- 15 pounds 14 ounces (97%)
head circ- 41.5 cm (85%)

In Mackinna news...
Mackinna spilled some cereal on the counter today and I over heard her counting as she picked it up.... She counted to 11 all by herself without any mistakes!!!

You turn your back for one second...

I have heard mothers of two tell stories of the older sibling, hitting or throwing toys at the new baby the very second Mom turns her back...
Well this morning, Kaden was on the living room floor "playing" on his blanket, Mackinna was eating a bagel at the coffee table, and I was picking up the kitchen. We were only eating bagels- so keep in mind, cleaning didn't take all that long. I return to the living room to find Mackinna on the floor by Kaden. I see the container of wipes next to him and a new diaper on the other side. Mackinna has his old diaper off and is in the process of wiping him. She looks up at me at says, "changing his biaper Mommy."
Usually the snaps on his pants or jammies keep her out since she can't figure them out- "too hard" she says, but today Kaden was down at her level wearing just a little gown, he was a sitting duck.

Diary of Busy Baby- September edition

9/27- Went to the Children's Museum with Mackinna and Mommy- slept in my sling the entire time
9/23- Went apple picking with Mommy, Daddy, Mackinna, Grandma & Grandpa
9/19- 2 months old. Went to see Dr Youth & got lots of shots.
9/16- Great state of Maine Airshow. Saw the Blue Angles
9/12- Toddler time at the library. He's not yet a toddler, but is quite large for a 7 week old!
9/10- First full day away from Mommy (stayed at home w/ Sarah & Mackinna while Mommy went into work)
9/9- First Birthday Party- Jada's 2nd birthday
Picked apples at Auntie's house
9/8- Went to Sebago Lake State Park w/ Mommy, Daddy & Mackinna
9/7- Went to the beach at Reid State Park with Mommy, Auntie & Mackinna
Played with Neisa & Mary at Grandma's house.

Kaden loves his big sister

Size 2

I woke up to pee in my bed again today. I've stripped our bed nearly everyday this week. Its nice how Kaden's diaper never seems to leak when he's in his own bed. His diapers just can't seem to contain him anymore.
So...today I took the unopened box of Size 1 diapers back to BJs and bought him some size 2s. Size 1 says up to 14 pounds. Could he really be that big already? I wonder how many kids are in size 2s at 6 weeks old.
Fingers crossed that I'm not washing sheets again tomorrow morning.

Off to a great start today

I just have to laugh... by 7:00am Kaden and I are on our third change of clothes, Mackinna is on her 3rd pair of underwear and we've also had three sets of dirty sheets. Details to follow:
3:50- I wake up to Mackinna crying in her room. I go in to her room and rub her back and get her back to sleep.
4:10- I head back to my bed
4:20- Kaden is stirring, I probably woke him coming back to bed. I roll over and turn on the vibrate function on his bassinet and hope that'll do the trick.
4:45- Vibrating bassinet doesn't seem to be doing the trick so I pick Kaden up and decide to change his diaper. He fusses a little and I try to be quick so he doesn't wake his sister. Once he's got a clean diaper, I bring him into bed with me. We try fall asleep together while Kaden is nursing.
4:50- Mackinna is crying again. Apparently I wasn't quick enough to quiet Kaden. Mark actually hears her this time and goes to her. She is just sobbing uncontrollably. I am about to go and check on them when Mark comes in with Mackinna in his arms, still crying. "She wet the bed," he says, "and is really upset about it." He goes back to her room to strip the bed while I try to console her.
4:55- Mark starts a load of laundry with Mackinna's wet bedding, comes back to bed and goes to sleep. Mackinna is still crying next to me.
5:05- The crying has become a whimper now. Mackinna puts her feet up on me and for some reason that makes her happy.
5:10- Mackinna is back to sleep and the 4 of us are crowded in our bed. I try to fall back to sleep while Kaden nurses.
6:15- Kaden is fussing again. I pull him closer to me and rub his head. As I pull him closer, I suddenly feel something warm and wet on my side. Kaden has leaked thru his diaper. I quickly get up and shove a burp cloth between the sheet and matress, and leave Mackinna and Mark to sleep as we head to Kaden's room to change his jammies and diaper. Then to change my clothes- somehow he managed to get my shirt, shorts and underwear.
6:30- Kaden and I head downstairs to cuddle on the couch since there is no longer a dry spot for us in the crowded bed.
6:47- Kaden has some projectile spit up and gets himself, my shirt, and the blanket we were under.
6:50- I hear little footsteps upstairs and assume that Mackinna will be on her way down shortly.
6:53- Mackinna is halfway down the stairs yelling for me. I get up and put Kaden down in his pack and play.
6:55- I get to the foot of the stairs and Mackinna is frantically crying, "Help me Mommy." I figure she just wants help down the stairs (a new thing since her brother was born) I climb the stairs to her and notice she's holding her hand between her legs. I ask her if she has to go potty, she says yes so I pick up the pace. I pick her up and she starts peeing on both of us. We run to the bathroom and she finishes in there.
7:00- Mark comes downstairs with clean undies for Mackinna and asks what's all over me, "spit up or pee?" I answer, "Both" I laugh. I guess its good I hadn't yet changed out of the spit up shirt- it saved one change of clothes.
7:01- I go the kitchen and grab two wash clothes, one for Mackinna and one for the trail of pee on the stairs and down the hall. I take Mackinna, Mark takes the floor. Kaden is crying in his pack and play.
7:05- I take the dirty washcloths up to the hamper and go to change my clothes yet again. I grab another pair of jammies for Kaden since he's still covered in spit up.
7:08- Back downstairs, Mark has Kaden in his arms, and I notice the pack and play sheet is on the floor. "He spit up all over it, " Mark explains. I laugh and toss Mark the clean jammies for Kaden. Again I'm glad I hadn't yet changed him because that would have meant we'd be on our 4th rather than 3rd set.

I'm off to wash some more sheets. What a morning!

Diary of a busy baby

7/19/07- born 5:56am
7/20/07- home from the hospital
7/21/07- first outing (walked to Rite Aid with Mommy)
7/23/07- ate out (at Panera w/ Grandma & Grandpa Campbell and Mommy & Daddy)
8/2/07- first trip to the beach
8/4/07- first boat ride (on the Northern Pride)
8/5/07- first concert (the WPOR concert in the park w/ Grandma, M&D, Auntie Nan, Jada & Mackinna)
8/10/07- Went blueberry picking at Auntie's
8/11/07- First time away from Mommy & Daddy (stayed w/ Grandma & Grandpa while M&D went out to dinner for their anniversary)
8/15/07- Went to Mt Washington & Storyland in Glen, NH
8/17/07- Rolled over (from tummy to back)
8/21/07- First baseball game (Seadogs with M&D, Mackinna, Mike & Alison)
8/23/07- Went to Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park
8/24/07- Second boat ride (around Bar Harbor on a nature cruise)
8/25/07- Went to Tim & Bethany's wedding in Lamoine, ME
8/28/07- Went to story time at the library. Learned how to belly dance.
8/29/07- Second Seadogs game- they won this time!

T-shirts

Kaden- our little Red Sox fan. He's not worried that they are only 4 games up on the Yankees.

Mackinna in her "I love my little brother" shirt. She's exhausted. Its hard work being a big sister!

Kaden drinks breast milk...

And apparently so does Baby...

We were all sitting in the living room the other night and Mark turns to see Mackinna, with her shirt pulled up and Baby pushed up to her chest. Mackinna is talking to her quietly, Mark caught murmurs of, "breast milk, baby? And good girl."

In Kaden's first couple of days, Mackinna offered him everything from crackers to cookies and fruit. We explained to her that he has no teeth and he has to drink breast milk. (For a while she said he was eating Mommy's boob) She seems now to understand the concept; pretty much every time Kaden is nursing she asks, "Kaden drinking breast milk?" I say yes and she says, "He has no teeth." But every couple of days does ask if Kaden has any teeth yet.