Reading Raggamuffin

On the Today Show a couple of weeks ago, they had a 17 month old who can read words. It is remarkable!! Well move over 17 month old! Kensley can read, too, at a mere 4 months old. Well, she can hold the book herself, someone else has to read the words in English (not baby babble).

Say ChEEEEse!

These were taken by Uncle Rob, Grammy, and Poppy when they were in town for Mike's birthday.

Now you see who Kensley REALLY looks like, huh?!?
Loving on Poppy
Kensley fell asleep in the jogger with her sunglasses on...
Posing with Uncle Rob
So sweet in her Bumbo. She just hammed it up for Grammy!

Mike's 29th Birthday

Mike had a semi-surprise party for his 29th Birthday. Why 29th and not 30th? Many reasons, but the main one is why not? Who says the milestone birthdays have to be the big ones? Other reasons include: Who suspects a 29th party? as well as Will Mike even be home for his 30th?

The reason for a semi-surprise was that Mike finally had to be told that I had been planning a party for him two weeks prior. So with very, very little details, Mike was asked to leave the house for a few hours in order for me to set up for his party. The BIGGEST surprise was his mom and dad drove in from ATL with Mike's favorite birthday treat, cookie cake, in tow. Was he ever surprised to see them?!?! Mike said he thought it weird that some guests looked like his parents, but he didn't put it together until he went around the room to hug them! It was a super-special treat for us to be able to share his birthday with friends and family.

Just Like Me

Kensley is surely into the mimicking stage. Recently, I was drinking my coffee and noticed that Kensley would watch the cup with excitement, then get a little irked when I would drink from it. Remembering what my neighbor had experienced with their little girl who is 6 weeks older, I got a training cup out and gave it to Kensley. Sure enough, when she got it, she pulled it right up to her little lips. She was "officially" having coffee with Mommy and Libby and became content. [sigh]

A few days later, Kensley decided she was ready to eat oatmeal or cereal just like Mommy with the same sort of interaction before I realized what was taking place. So, when I was finished with my oatmeal, I gave Kensley my clean spoon and it was instant gratification. Also during this week, she was eating more and waking up at night again to eat (after a month of sleeping through the night). I spoke with Mike and asked him to bring home cereal for us to try that night. It worked like a charm. The soupy mixture was grrrreat! She loved sitting in her highchair and actually being able to eat something. We are taking the "solids" verrrrry slowly, simply because "they" recommend introducing at 6 months, not 4.5 months.

Kensley has yet to roll over for the camera and seems to be on a bit of a hiatus where that is concerned, anyway. I was warned about such, so I am not [really] concerned.

Don't Blink!

This week has proven to be a "big girl" week for Kensley! We are happy to report that tummy time is much more successful nowadays (it was Chinese Torture for a while) and maybe she will begin to enjoy the mobility she is seeking. She hangs out on her tummy - more and more each day - smiling and interacting instead of cursing it. Kensley does a good job of holding her head a neck up, but has come to use her arms for the process, now. We also suspect she is working on some teeth. She looooves to chew on things now more than ever and drools profusely! Aside from all the talking going on, Kensley has learned to vocalize with great inflection. She gets so tickled at all the noises that come from her mouth. Earlier in the week, she let out a HUGE belch (which we normall praise, then say, "Excuse me.") that came from the tips of her toes and sounded so funny. It must have been just as funny to her, or maybe even felt funny, because she giggled immediately following. Quite a memorable moment. Yesterday, Kensley went for her well baby 4 month appointment and got a great report. She is 15.2 pounds (90th percentile!) and 25 inches long (75th percentile). Each day she looks more and more like a little girl instead of the newborn we brought home 4 months ago. My, how time flies! What an enormous blessing (and responsibility) to watch her grow and become the delightful little girl we know! Soooooo, today, (2 March) Kensley was on her tummy and rolled over to her back!!! Thankfully, she was in her crib while I was folding her clothes right there and rolled ever so gently. I just watched in slow motion as this milestone passed me in a flash. She's a big girl! We hope to caputre it on video sometime today so you can see progess in action.