Pulling up!

This little lady pulled up for the first time this week!! Best part: I caught it on camera!!!

Funny she pulled up on our new sectional not 30 minutes before this, but I really didn't consider it pulling up since it was so cushioned. 

Then she did it a few more times throughout the week, totally about 5. She's done it a few times today now!  She wants nothing to do with being on her back, belly, or booty.  If she's close enough to you, she is yanking with all of her might to get onto those little feeties!

She's been super clingy as of late and we've been back wrapping more and more often.  In fact, yesterday I rearranged our entire living room: a sofa, loveseat, armchair, ottoman, and some shelves/tables all with her on my back.  She normally is scared of the vacuum, but didn't even flinch when I turned it on while on my back. 

Back Napping for the win. 

We've been MIA

I know, I know.  We've been Missing In Action for over a week.  I won't go into detail (quite frankly because I don't want to rehash everything in my head), but last week was all-around a bad, bad week.

I wanted to write a post to say we are alive and well! McKenna is STILL on the verge of crawling, but not quite there yet. It's probably because she'd rather spend as much time on her feet as she can. 

 She's being a champ at the high chair (eating). I've gotten more comfortable with trusting her eating instincts so we are actually giving her whatever we are eating, not just the steamed veggie sides.

Hamburger!

We found out she LOVES asparagus... she can't quite chew the skin, but she gnaws all of the meat out of the center.

Of course this picture with asparagus has been a hit on my Facebook and IG:

AND she's been a champ using a spoon (trying Greek yogurt for the first time)!! It's crazy how easy she just picked it up and put it straight to her mouth. 

She doesn't look crazy about it, but she kept eating it! And after a couple of minutes (read: seconds) it ends up all over the place. 

She rarely actively "cuddles" unless she's falling asleep because she is always always busy, but I relished in a very brief moment when she voluntarily laid on my lap with a little Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  

I'm so thankful that no matter how bad of a day or week I am having, McKenna always knows how to put a smile on my face. I am forever grateful. It makes me want to go wake her up right now to hold her close to me. 

Sunday is coming to a close, and hopefully we can start off tomorrow on the right foot!

Pack N Play time

We've set up the pack n play in our room for what I'd like to call Incidental Mommy Moments. Now that McKenna is more or less on the move there is no plopping her on the bed for a second. 

When I originally asked Kevin to set up the pack n play, he asked "for what?"  After a brief explanation, let's just say that he decided to assemble it in direct view of the bathroom (specifically, toilet and shower). Voila. Mommy gets a couple minutes of much needed worry free time in the bathroom. 

Luckily McKenna has taken to this little play station. It's filled with toys. And she gets to be at eye level with the Chiefs. Even better, with a little assistance getting propped up, she's able to practice her balance.... on her feet!! 

She tries to get there herself, but she's still working on it. 

I know it'll only be a brief matter of time before she gets there on her own. 

Sitting from laying

Am I the only sicko that likes taking pictures of her baby just waking up from a nap???

I can't help it. It's so endearing. She lifts her head but her eyes are still shut. And when they slowly open she looks around so confused and helpless. 

And for whatever reason my immediate reaction is to pick up my phone and have a photo shoot. Disturbing I know. 

Anyway...

This crazy little monster officially got to a sitting position from her belly today... Not just once but a few times! Her progress toward mobility is just going way too fast.  She is flopping and rolling and moving all about. 

Yup. We haven't been able to just plop her on the bed in weeks. 

And you can tell she's getting frustrated that she can't always get where she wants to go.

We lowered her crib a couple of days ago in anticipation of this newest milestone. Just another one of those baby steps (get it!!) that springs mommy denial. 

We meet again, Disney.

So this trip to Disney was unlike any other.  Our little girl LOVES Disney characters.

It was incredible.  She was incredible.  I'm not sure she whined or cried the entire weekend.  No. Joke. She took everything in. She smiled at everyone. She was a great sport and went with everything. I would not be exaggerating to say she was little a perfect baby at Disney.  She even went down to sleep before kickoff of Florida States season opener!

She loved the rides. Small World, Under the Sea, Finding Nemo, Gran Fiesta Tour. She was captivated.

This trip was also the first time for a couple of non-Disney related things.... it was her first time using the big-girl stroller (ie stroller without the infant carseat attached)

She literally strolled around just laughing at people. We joked "King of the Castle, King of the Castle". She commanded attention. She turned heads.  She had the spotlight.  She's definitely her Daddy's girl.

It was also her first time using a high chair.

She loves sitting at the table with us at home, and she felt right at home joining us at restaurants.  As a matter of fact, she either had to have a utensil to work with (ie bang on the table), or a piece of food to gnaw on.  She did incredible at our sit down meals.  Smiled and played the whole time. We got so many compliments about her demeanor.  She really was awesome.

The best part of the entire trip was the last day.  I believe Kevin even dubbed it a top 3 moment of his life (which begs the question, what's #1 and #2?) We originally had FastPasses for Hollywood Studios. But we got tied up and decided to stay in the Magic Kingdom area.... and see Mickey since we hadn't already!

She LOVED Mickey.  She was enthralled by him.  We were lucky enough to visit one of the "new" Mickeys who actually talked to you.  McKenna smiled and giggled and laughed.  It was awesome.

These moments are the reason why we go to Disney, and they are the reason while we will continue to take our family to Disney.  So many cherished and precious memories.

Holy toledo... 7 months

I can't believe McKenna is 7 months old. The last couple of weeks in particular have flown by! And I miss blogging! Shame on me. 

We weren't in our usual location for her monthly picture.  It was actually in Disney World! We were just about to check out of our resort when I remember to snatch a few of these.... and didn't get too many and she was very preoccupied! I'll share some Disney photos in another blog.

McKenna is such a joy.  There is no greater satisfaction in this world than watching her bring smiles to people's faces... which she does all. the. time. She smiles at pretty much everyone, I counted 7 different strangers (old people to boot) that McKenna gave smiles at Publix yesterday.  I've learned not to bother telling people that, "yep, she does that with anyone"... it just makes people feel good to think babies like them.

McKenna isn't crawling yet, but I would technically say she is officially mobile.  She knows how to scoot around on her belly, or plop from sitting onto her belly in the direction she wants to go.  She also rolls back, front, back, front. There is no leaving her alone, even for a second! She thinks Mommy and Daddy are her personal jungle gyms. She is pulling up with just the tiniest amount of help. When you try to set her back down on her booty she stiffens her legs because she wants to be on her feet at ALL times.

She has a goofball personality. She is always playing and laughing and giggling. Everything seems to be a joke to her. I would say it seems like her hair is beginning to grow back, there seems to almost be a strawberry shade to it in sunlight. Her eyes appear to have turned brown, though in some lights they still have a greyish hue to them.  Her favorite "words" are da- da- da- da- da-.  There's no association to them yet (though I'm sure Daddy would beg to differ).

She is ALWAYS doing something... she would never sleep during the day if she had a choice. Naps have been difficult the last few weeks, I just tell myself she would miss me too much if she slept!

She hasn't disliked any food she's tried yet, but carrots, green beans, and apples seem to be her favorite so far. She did try Grandpa's smoked pork a couple nights ago and loved it too.

Her smile is heartwarming, her giggles are contagious.  I'm so proud I get to call her mine.