Time Flies....

So I am sitting here wondering how time snuck up on me. I guess being busy and being a first time mom I didn't realize how fast babies grow. I mean, I knew she wasn't gonna stay little forever, but she's really growing into a person. She babbles like there's no tomorrow, so forget watching a tv show or movie in peace. She is always on the go. She still doesn't crawl but she finds her way around just fine. I have a habit of just sitting her on the floor while I hop on the computer for a minute or two to keep my sanity, and she normally would just chill and play with her toys. Well today she made me realize I can't do that anymore....she was right next to me and the next thing I heard was the cat food bowl spilling over....she had crawled/scooted a good 5 feet or more within a few minutes and found the cat food bowl!! Her new "thing" is pulling herself up.
Apparently she is skipping the crawling stage, she wants to be upright and holding on to something. She can pull herself up to her knees, but not her feet....yet. She can move from lying on her stomach to a sitting position as well. She almost had me in tears today because she is growing so fast I can hardly believe it. When I went in to get her from her nap she was sitting up in her crib and she had somehow pressed the button on her crib toy so the nature sounds were on. (it hangs from the side of the crib and it lights up and plays music and nature sounds.) She saw me and got the biggest grin on her face...ugh it just melts my heart.

So we went to the M resort to check out the 4th of July festivities, but it didn't turn out to be what we expected. The hotel/casino is amazing, but the shindig wasn't. So we ended up going to the District with my parents where there was live music and people everywhere. We ate at Lucille's and got done just in time for the fireworks they had at GVR. Kenzie was interested for a few minutes, then she was over it. But overall she had a great first 4th!


My favorite moments being a mom are:

• The messes she makes. Even though I may not be too happy at first, I always get a good laugh out of it.

• When she sees me and smiles as big as she can when I get her up from her nap.
• How she lifts her arms up for me to hold her.
• Her screams and giggles when she thinks something is funny.
• How she laughs and hits the mirror when she sees herself.
• How smart she is. She tries to wave and is starting to do some sign language.
• When she opens her mouth wide and covered in drool and plants one on your cheek or mouth.
• When she grabs my hair and pulls me toward her.
• When she cuddles with me and puts her arm around my neck.
• How I get to hold her until she falls asleep at night.
• Kissing her cheeks just to her her scream and giggle with delight.
  

There is so much more, but those are the times when I get close to tearing up because I can't believe what a beautiful person she is becoming.....

It's been a year!

Saturday is our one year anniversary! Time flies! My mom surprised me today with a gift. Well, she told me her and my dad wanted to do something nice for us for our anniversary since we didn't get a honeymoon.....So they got us a room at the South Point and they are watching Kenzie Saturday night! I know that doesn't sound too exciting to most, but being away from home one night will be awesome. We can go to dinner, go to the movies, go bowling, play BINGO! We can drink and not worry about driving anywhere....so awesome!


Kenzie got her 6 month pictures done on Saturday and I am so excited to get them! We got the disc so I can have unlimited copies of them. As soon as we get them I will be posting them! She is growing so fast I can hardly believe it. She sits in my lap facing me and leans in against me and hugs me and laughs. She is moving around, scooting and rolling....not crawling yet! She is almost there though! She gets her knees up a bit but then gives up and rolls over. She is still a funky napper, but she sleeps throught the night now! Well, last night she did.....930pm-9am......I'm loving it. She is very shy towards new people but she quickly warms up. She is no longer sitting in her carseat in grocery carts, she has a seat that goes in with toys and it covers up the cart so she won't chew on it. Sh likes to laugh and scream when something is funny, I guess it's more of a squeal....but it's too cute.

I am sitting here with my poor deprived kitty on my lap, she is so lovey just wanting attention from me....she is here because Kenzie is taking a nap. This is the only time my little Paige can get my attention.
Well, a lot has been going on! Kenzie has been sleeping in her own room and new crib that my dad made for her. She does really well. Some nights are definitely better than others, but I'm just glad she sleeps in there! Here is a video of her splashing away in the tub, she loves it so much!




And for the not so good stuff....Russ' hours have been cut at work...no bueno. So our once comfortable lifestyle is now on lock down...and get this, instead of letting him have Monday's off so I can pick up some more hours at work, they're making him work 8-3 Mon-Thurs and 8-230 on Fridays....LAME! So that means there aren't any possible times for me to make some more money by working an extra shift. They don't realize that we have a family to provide for, that we don't make hundreds of thousands of dollars like they do. We are trying to figure out a way to get outta my car lease so we will be able to eat, when they're driving around in one of 4 cars......it's disgusting to me. I never thought once we'd be the ones in this situation, and it sucks.

On top of us being broke, we found out yesterday that my Gramma Elaine has breast cancer. No good. Although it is at stage zero, and her doctors are saying "if you have to have breast cancer, this is the best kind to have." As far as they know it's contained and she will have surgery to remove it and some radiation. We are all thinking positive and we are positive she will get through this just fine. Just another bump in the road.

Well I better go wake up Russ so we can get my car smogged.....Registration is due, perfect timing, right when we are piss broke.....sweet.

Craziness!

So the past two weekends have been crazy! We moved last weekend as well as me working both days. I will never do that again! I was exhausted! Then over the week I organized and unpacked little bits and tried to recover from all the moving, I was sooo sore! Then I just worked 3 opening shifts, Friday, Saturday and Sunday....so I had no "weekend." Being up at 4am on those three days is not fun.

Kenzie and Daddy resting after a day of packing!

Ok, ok, I will stop complaining! We are still not all the way unpacked and we still have to get Kenzie's room ready! I am so excited to finally be decorating a room for my princess! She is such her own person now. She laughs and giggles all the time and she loves attention! She rolls over quite consitently now and she is moving her legs alot, trying to figure out how to crawl! She sits up pretty good now too, still falling to the sides trying to grab toys or her toes!

I am so excited about the two little teeth coming in on the bottom! I am so ready for them to be completely out so she isn't miserable anymore! She is growing so fast, she will be 6 months before I know it! She is a big girl, not fat, just tall! She is a skinny little thing but she is definitely a Kealey girl when it comes to size! We are not petite by any means. I am nervous about summer coming, she sweats so much as it is and it's only getting hotter! She will definitely be wearing her sundresses, jean shorts and tanks all summer! She loves hanging around in just her diaper now, she seems more comfy than with clothes on. She loves to be naked!

Kenzie~5 1/2 months

5 Months and Moving......

Kenzie Rae is 5 months old!

She's getting so big I can hardly recognize her. I was looking at the pictures of when she was born and she has changed so much. My little 6 pound baby girl is now 15 pounds.....she's over 2 feet tall as well. I remember carrying her and she fit in one arm. Now I have to use both arms and her legs still dangle when I carry her to bed. She laughs so much now. She thinks everything is funny. She also rolled over front to back and back to front, although it's easier front to back. But she figured it out! She hates being on her stomach, so if I put her like that she immediately rolls to her back! Sitting up is our next project. She sits up fairly well already, it's just the balancing she has to work on. So every day we try and she gets better and better! Lately her mouth has really been bugging her. She has this cry that is so sad to hear because she just sounds miserable. I am giving her teething tablets and cold chew rings, but she just gets so frustrated with the whole thing.


I have been busy the last few days. We are finally moving to a bigger apartment on Friday. We're going from a 1 bed 1 bath to a 2 bed 2 bath and I am extremely excited! It is so much bigger and less rent! So amazing. We are staying for a year so we can save up some cash and buy a really nice house a year from now. I really should be packing, but I've been doing it all day and Russ and Kenzie are napping, so I'm taking a minute to myself because who knows when I'll get some more time to myself. Oh man. I am so tired and not in the mood to pack! I hate it! But, if I don't do it, no one will.......It's quite hard to pack up 2 and a half people's stuff all by yourself. So far all the packing that is done is from me.....Russ needs to help me, but he probably won't....so I'm going to leave all the moving to him! Haha....hey it's only fair, right?!

This was taken by a friend for a school project.....she's so photogenic!

Our Trip to California

We survived our trip to California this weekend!
This was Kenzie's 2nd road trip, the first one was when she was 3 weeks old and slept nearly all day. This trip was quite different. Lately she has been in a "no sleep" habit. She takes 2 or 3 (if I'm lucky) 30 minutes naps.....it's frustrating! So we planned to get on the road late Friday morning when she goes down for her first nap. She fell asleep for 30 minutes and proceeded to scream until we stopped in Barstow. I am kind of irked that when we stopped to change her diaper that the restrooms did not have a change station, so we had to change her in the backseat of the car....she did pretty good the rest of the way and we made it there.
We had a great time hanging out with my aunt and uncle, had a great dinner, chatted and drank some delicious wine.....$2.99 a bottle from Fresh and Easy, so good and so cheap! Saturday we hung around a bit and went to my mom's cousin's surprise birthday party and got to see extended family who we usually only see once a year for family reunion. Then back to my aunt and uncles for some more wine and chatting.
It was so nice to get away, even if it wasn't that long of a trip. Kenzie did about the same on the way home.....not bad for an almost 5 month old who's teething!
This was on the way home before the first meltdown.......so serious!

Busy Busy Busy

I can finally sit down and write! It is 11:30pm and I just finished washing dishes and bottles.....it sometimes feels like there are never ending loads of bottles to wash! I am hoping that it will be less and less since Kenzie has gotten the green light for starting cereal and first foods! Yay!

We went to see Dr.Carrie on Thursday for Kenzie's 4 month check-up! I was lucky enough to have Russ leave work an hour early to join us so he can finally meet Kenzie's doctor and to help me when she got her shots. Any who, she is doing great! Here are her stats:
Weight: 14lbs 6oz (56 percentile)
Height: 25.5 inches (82 percentile!!!!)
Head: 16 inches (30 percentile)


We have tried cereal a few times and she seems to like it a bit, still a little unsure, but she eats it! Our first attempt with squash was iffy, but tonight she scarfed down 3/4 of the container. Tomorrow we will try some applesauce and see how that goes!




I worked the past three days and I'm exhausted! I know there are plenty of working moms, but I'm still trying to get into the swing of things. Kenzie still doesn't have a "true" schedule. She seems to wake up more on the nights I have to work early the next day and Russ does not even budge to help me either.....so I'm up 52 times getting her pacifier,covering her up, turning on her musical seahorse, getting her a bottle.....it goes on and on and on so I barely get a wink of sleep. It feels like the beginning where I was nursing her every hour or two and falling asleep sitting up in bed....oh man! So I tough through it and run around on my feet for 6 hours making coffee for rude, demanding people! That definitely dampens my day....then I come home to take a quick shower and back to being a mom! Kenzie is my life and she is totally worth the lack of sleep and social life.....but I can't help but saying how exhausted I am! This working thing is definitely a lot harder than I expected. I miss my husband, his 2 days off I'm working, and then when I get home he wants to be with his friends. I'm frustrated and I don't know what to do.
This week and weekend I get to re-coup. My mom, dad, gramma, me and Kenzie are heading down to Cali to see some family. I am so excited to get away, even if it's just for a few days......