Watch out World – Kenzie Girl is NINE Months!

July 24, 2013 by · Leave a Comment

Fun times this month!  Our Makenzie is now NINE Months!!

How did that happen?

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Going to her 1st parade on her 9-month Birthday! Happy Birthday America and Happy 9 months baby girl!!!

In some ways I feel like she was just born but in other ways I can’t remember what our lives were like without her.  She’s a lot of work, but the love we have for her is more than I ever imagined.  My hope is that we are giving her the best possible childhood while making sure we teach her to be a fun, appreciative, thoughtful, compassionate kiddo.  Seems like kind of a lofty goal considering that some days we can barely get her dressed and out the door but we keep trying.

 This months she’s been busy, here are the updates:

Eating:  The girl can eat, but our biggest worry is her recent obsession with cat food.  She hasn’t managed to get it into her mouth yet, but she’s getting quicker.  Yikes!

Learning & Exploring:  Watch out world!  Kenzie is coming your way… she’s a fast little crawler and is making her way through the world one room at a time.

Sleeping:  Still hit or miss.  Some weeks she’ll sleep all night, other weeks I think she drinks Red Bull at midnight.  Thank goodness for coffee!

Best Part of Being 9 Months:    Everything!   Here’s what she’s been doing…

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Getting weighed at her 9-month check up.
She’s still a peanut, only 18 lbs, 5 oz (30th percentile)

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Graduating swim class!  She was top of the class – “Swimma Cum Laude”

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Loving her paci like its her job

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Sitting in the shopping cart like a big girl

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Crafting! Yes, this really is her work (thanks to the help of her teachers)

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Visiting Mamaw and Pap pap

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Wearing shades AND using a sippy cup (multi-tasking at its finest)

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Playing with cousin Connor

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Teething (super sad face) but her 2 lower teeth have finally arrived and they look extra cute

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Standing & practicing walking (check out those cute leggies)

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Riding in the swing, wheeee!

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Going for walks with toys AND puffs… talk about the good life!

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We Love You from the very bottom of our hearts Makenzie Ruth! Thank you for bringing us so much happiness.
xoxo, Mom & Dad

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Kenz-o hits double digits next month, join the countdown on Facebook!

Mommy McBlog

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Dear Makenzie – a little tale about Lysol and Love

July 21, 2013 by · Leave a Comment

Dear Makenzie,

I have a little story I thought you might someday enjoy…  it reminds me of someone I know.

XOXO, Mom

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Once upon a time, there was a little house with red shutters.  In that little house with red shutters lived a (relatively) happy (but not annoyingly happy– what do you think this is, a fairytale?) husband & wife, and a cute kitty.  The happy wife was what some people would call “type-A” and kept a very organized and really clean house.  She liked Lysol, Windex and Pledge and she disliked messes.  She was happiest when everything in the home was in its appropriate place.

When the  happy husband & wife found out they would be parents, they spent months and months making sure the house was perfect for their new arrival.  After months and months of preparing a beautiful, sweet baby girl was born.  Everyone was happy (but not annoyingly happy, c’mon they were totally sleep deprived and completely unsure of what they were doing).

Then something happened… the beautiful, sweet baby girl turned into a beautiful, sweet baby girl who crawled.  She crawled all over and made huge messes.  She dumped out blocks, pulled down books, poured out sippy cups, opened up toy chests and turned the little house with red shutters into a complete mess.  She did it every day like clockwork, and she did it all day with an adorable grin.

The happy wife who once panicked at the site of a mess was slowly realizing something.  She loved her beautiful, sweet baby girl who crawled.  In fact she loved her beautiful, sweet baby girl that crawled SO much that her heart overflowed with happiness more than she ever thought possible.

And the once type-A happy wife that kept a neat & tidy home realized it was tons of fun to make messes, especially when in the company of that cute little crawler.  So the once type-A happy wife joined forces with the cute little crawler and together they played and giggled and turned the house into a mess.  Rather than filling her lungs with Lysol, the happy wife (and now happy mom) filled her heart with love.

And the happy husband & wife were now a happy family, and together they realized that the best home isn’t one full of clean floors and organized spaces… the best homes are ones filled with messes made by those you love most.

And they lived (mostly) happily ever after (except when they had visitors and the happy husband & wife bickered with each other because the house was a mess — like I said before, this is reality, not a fairytale).

The End.

……

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Once upon a time, someone cool like you “Liked” MommyMcBlog

You lived happily ever after while enjoying random ramblings of a Mom.

Mommy McBlog

The End.

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Exploring and More-ing

June 21, 2013 by · 1 Comment

I know I say this all the time but one of the coolest parts of being a parent is seeing Makenzie explore new things.  She’s SO interested in touching and discovering everything she can get her cute little baby hands on.

This past weekend we tried out a new activity with Makenzie.  It was a cold and rainy start to Father’s Day so I scoped out an indoor kids museum called Explore & More in East Aurora and we headed over there.

explore and more logo

The museum is nestled into an office building in a cute part of town and the inside was so much fun!  It isn’t the biggest museum, and it didn’t have loads of fancy exhibits, but for an 8-month old it was perfect!   Makenzie loved the Baby Garden full of mats and soft toys, and we even ventured into Culture Corner exhibit, Food for Thought exhibit and Make it Go exhibit.

We stayed about 2 hours but we probably could have made it a longer trip if we were better prepared with more bottles and some puffs.

As a bonus, the admission is only $5 per adult and free for babies!   SCORE!!

For $10 the McGee’s give it 6 thumbs up!

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Hey WNY mommies, here is their Website.  It’s definitely worth checking out for a rainy day.

http://www.exploreandmore.org

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Mommy McBlog

Explore & More the Mommy McBlog Facebook Page

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Picture of the Week *Happy Fathers Day!*

June 11, 2013 by · Leave a Comment

Melissa and I grew up with some of the best!

Best Dad, Best Grandpas, Best Families

I can’t say Thank You enough to each of the wonderful men in my world who helped me become who I am today, but Father’s Day is a pretty good opportunity to do it, so here goes.

Happy Father’s Day to…

Grandpa Quilty —  He was always full of wisdom & kindness, and he played a mean game of Chinese Checkers.

Grandpa Synk — I wish I was in Cleveland today to celebrate with him.  So many fun memories with him from camping in their backyard to games of Sandlot Slugger to trips to downtown Cleveland

Melissa & I with both sets of Grandparents.

Melissa & I with both sets of Grandparents.

Dad – The best Dad ever!!  A true Dad of daughters.  Dad conquered everything from dance lessons to dance parties with the Grease soundtrack and everything in between.   Dad we Love you so much!  And Makenzie is very lucky too!   She’s pretty excited to grow up having you to hold her hand.

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Makenzie and Papa

Dad (in-law, Gene) – Thank you to a wonderful father-in-law for welcoming me to the family.  I’m thankful that you taught Denny to be a wonderful husband.  And Denny and I are very glad that you are a wonderful Pap Pap to our sweet girl!

I love PapPap too!

I love PapPap too!

And last but not least, Happy Father’s Day Denny!

Watching you become a Dad is better than I could have imagined.  There’s no one that can make Makenzie giggle like you can, and there is no one that she looks at the way she looks at you.  It’s true love and I consider myself to be very lucky to be able to watch you two together.   Thank you for ALL you do to make our world as happy as it is.  We Love You so much!

10_21 Kenzie with Denny

Snuggle buddies

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Makenzie and her Daddy!   This picture makes my heart smile

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True buddies – Makenzie watching her favorite guy

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Picture of the Week! *8 Months Update*

June 7, 2013 by · 1 Comment

Our girl is EIGHT MONTHS old!  WOW!  It’s crazy to think that we need to start planning her first Birthday.  We can’t believe how much happiness she brings to our world.  We’re crazy about this little peanut.

I know I saw this every month but this has been 4 of the most fun weeks!!  I could type about it, but this month I’ll let the pictures tell the story.  Makenzie Ruth is on the go.

Check it out!

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On the day after Makenzie turned 7 months, she was Baptized! It was great day because Denny and Cousin Jack were also baptized. So special!

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She’s been rocking the backwards hat look! (My guess Is that she snuck out of her crib and caught some old Fresh Prince episodes. She’s so cool!)     In West Lancaster born and raised, at Doodlebugs is where I’ve spent most of my days…

Makenzie has been loving the new views of being in high chairs in restaurants!

Makenzie has been loving the new views of being in high chairs in restaurants!

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1st Mother’s Day! I’m the luckiest 🙂

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Lots of playing! She’s got my nose

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Lots of picnics! And fun times with cousin Jack Jack

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Baby’s 1st Memorial Day Parties! She’s pretty excited to check out the bounce house next year.

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Baby’s 1st Zoo trip!! She and Ryan had lots of fun.  Kenz liked the sea lions but the best part of her day was eating puffs in her stroller.

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And the best part of the month is that Kenzie girl is now CRAWLING and STANDING!!!! We’re such proud parents!

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Join us as we countdown to one year!

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Mommy McBlog

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Picture of the Week *Our Little Water Baby*

May 30, 2013 by · Leave a Comment

One of the items on the McGee Family Fun List for the summer was Sign Kenzie up for swim class.

Makenzie turned 6 months in April which meant that she was officially ready to be in the Shrimp Swim Class at the Y.  So I stalked the registration site until non-member registration became available, and bam, we made it into my preferred Saturday 9am swim class group.  Heck yeah, check that off the list!

We are now halfway through with our swim classes and it has definitely become one of the best parts of our week.  Makenzie has a great time and I get the fun of being her buddy in the pool.  She splashes, kicks, and sings songs (well I sing and she gives me that “Mom please quit singing in public” look).  And if I toss the little pink starfish away from us, she is great at spotting it and swimming over to it.  It could because she is truly a swimming prodigy, or more than likely, because she likes to catch it and chew on it.  Either way, we have fun.

And right around the time when she turned 6 months we brought out her big girl ducky tub.  She was so proud to sit in it and splash.  The girl doesn’t go a day without cracking us up!

Check out the pictures… it looks like she’s turning into quite the little water baby!

Water baby collage

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Jump in the Facebook pool and Like Mommy McBlog’s page. 

Don’t be shy, the waters warm!

Mommy McBlog

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Pictures of the Week *Seven Months!*

May 12, 2013 by · Leave a Comment

Makenzie Ruth is 7 Months!

5_7 7 months 2

It’s going SO fast and it’s been so fun!   Here’s what the little munkin (one of our favorite nicknames for her — mix of munchkin + pumpkin) has been up to this month:

Eating:  Kenz-o LOVES puffs!  She can feed them to herself and she can’t get enough.  And when it comes to other foods, she’ll eat anything – prunes, green beans, apples, pears, bananas, peaches, you name it – EXCEPT if it is mixed.  Lately we’ve tried some (what we thought were) delicious combos like peach oatmeal, apples & bananas, and strawberry blueberry, and she hates it.  Really hates it.  We’re talking meltdown city every time.  Perhaps she’s the kind of kiddo that won’t want her food to touch on her plate?

Learning & Exploring: She’s SO excited to explore everything — touching, grabbing and putting it all in her mouth!  She’s talking and giggling all day.  And she’s just about crawling now and pulling herself up too!  The below pictures of the photo shoot tell it’s own story of her activity level.

imageDoes that really say 7 Months?!?    I’m a BIG girl now!

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Oooh, that looks yummy!

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7 Months, here I come!

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Darn, Mommy moved it too far away and now I can’t get it

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Guess I’ll just sit here and grin. 🙂

Sleeping:  Our girl is officially in the crib and sleeping through the night in it (I realize this may have jinxed it).   Who knew she would resist going from the Rock N Play so much, but I think we’ve finally get her on board with the crib plan!  It might be due to the 78 pacis that we sprinkle all over the crib for her to ensure she’ll always be an arms reach with a self-soothing little piece of rubber, but who cares??  When it comes to parenting I’ve learned that you’ve gotta do what works!

Teeth:  Still none yet, although we’re officially The Parents that cried Teething.  We’ve been convinced that those unusually fussy days have been due to teething for about 4 months now, but we’ve been wrong every time, oops.   I’ll be kind of embarrassed to buy another box of Hylands teething tablets if those little buggers don’t show up soon.  Live and learn.

Best part of being 7 Months:    All of it so far!  I guess we’ve been having so much fun that we’re really behind on blogging since our little girl is almost 8 months.   And more to come soon but Kenz has had lots of firsts during her 7 months – swim class, big girl baths and trips to the zo0 – stay tuned, the fun is just beginning!

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Follow Makenzie’s journey month-by-month

Mommy McBlog

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What a great (and very Pink) Year it’s been…

May 11, 2013 by · 1 Comment

Last year on the Saturday before Mother’s Day we found out if we were having a Boy or Girl!!   The year has flown by and has been full of happy (pink-filled) memories.  But it was such a fun day it was worth looking back.   Here’s the recap:

Sunday, May 13, 2012

The Power of Pronouns

I’m very much an English geek. It has always been my favorite subject in school and my someday dream job is to be a professional blogger. But this weekend made me realize how much I LOVE pronouns.

She ~~ Her ~~ Shes ~~ Hers

What beautiful words!! These are music to our ears!

Let me take you back to Saturday morning…

Denny and I had the long-awaited ITSA party to find out if It’s A Boy or It’s a Girl! It was hands down one of the most amazing weekends we have had in years.

I was wide awake by 6 AM! I could barely sleep because I was so excited to find out about the little person joining our family. I was 99% certain it was a boy but I wanted to see the blue balloons to be sure. I thought Denny was 99% certain it was a boy too, but at the last minute he came downstairs in a PINK shirt with a blue vest. Pink shirt?!? I was shocked, but he said he had a last-minute feeling it could be a girl.

Denny and I were so fortunate to have a lot of friends and family join us for the big reveal. By 11 AM, the excitement was out of control, and our neighbor Theresa brought over the box (she was kind enough to pick it up from the florist).

Here it is, YAY!!!

Our friends and family were really anxious and almost everyone dressed in either pink or blue.  It was so great to see that everyone was excited as us.  Check out this spirit!

        

By noon we were ready for the reveal.  Our hearts were racing as we realized it was time to find out if we were having a boy or girl!  I’ll let the pictures tell this part of it…

“Ready to do this?”
“Hold my hand, I’m nervous”

PINK?!?!

So Shocked, So Happy…

So Emotional!

We’re having a Little Girl!

Everyone was beyond thrilled!  The rest of the day was a blur filled with phone calls, texts, and a trip to Babies R Us.

It is still sinking in for Denny and me, but on a walk tonight we discussed what this means to our friends and family.  It’s fun to see where she fits in our little world.
Baby Girl McGee will be the first grand-daughter to both sets of our parents  (Denny’s Mom never thought she would have a granddaughter, and already promised to buy her diamond studs when we get her ears pierced)
She will be the first girl to be born to a Quilty cousin in about 10 years (this ends the streak of about 9 boys).  She will be the first girl to be born on the Synk side since me (but in fairness, my cousin PJ was the only other birth)
When it comes to my college roomies, she will be girl #4 out of 4 babies total.  Apparently none of us will ever have a boy.
On our half of the street, there has not been a new baby boy in about 16 years (the few boys that live near us moved here later in life)
So there you have it… One AMAZING weekend!
Now it’s time to Think Pink!
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It’s A…

May 9, 2013 by · Leave a Comment

…Recap of one year ago today!

It was the Friday before Mother’s Day and we were SO EXCITED to get an answer to the Big Question… Boy or Girl!  We were having a Gender Reveal Party on Saturday (Mother’s Day Eve) and we would find out the truth about Baby McGee alongside some of our closest friends and family.  It ended up being one of the BEST weekends in McGee history, and I still get giddy thinking about that day.  I definitely think it’s worth the stroll down memory lane.  And stay tuned this weekend, I’ll re-post about the day we found out Team Pink or Team Blue.   You obviously know the verdict, but it’s fun to get all sentimental and sappy once in a while (sniff, sniff, get out the tissues).

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Friday, May 11, 2012

In Just One Day…

We will officially find out if we are becoming parents to a boy or girl!  This week has been a mix of emotions– lots of excitement about how our life is changing, an ounce of trepidation about how or if we will ever find all the time and money to be great parents, and a bit of tiredness (let’s be real, all this party planning can be tiring for a mama-to-be).  We only want a healthy baby but the reality of this is starting to sink in.    Tomorrow our life will change.
 

We will find out if…

Denny will have a daughter to someday walk down the aisle,
OR
If I will have a son to teach about how to treat your mom.
 

We will find out if…

Denny will have a son to take outside and show him the essentials of baseball,
OR
If I will have a daughter to take to dance lessons, cheerleading tryouts and Prom dress shopping.
 

It is incredibly exciting yet very surreal!  It will be a great day regardless if the box is filled with pink or blue balloons.  We want to savor it and remember every minute of this because I’m pretty sure the next 18 years will fly by, and before we know it we will be spending our Saturdays in May at Graduation ceremonies, college Parents weekends and perhaps even weddings (speaking of, do we need to start saving for that too?)
Have a great weekend everyone, and an especially Hapy Mother’s Day weekend to all those amazing women out there that we love, that we miss, and that we admire for their compassion, endless energy, and amazing courage.  XOXO Mamas!

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*Pictures of the Week* Bed Bath and Beyond… Adorable!

April 28, 2013 by · Leave a Comment

Registering was one the most fun parts of wedding planning!  Denny may beg to differ on the fun level, but I slowly walked through every single nook & cranny of Bed Bath & Beyond and envisioned how each item would perfectly fit into our “someday” million dollar mansion.  I envisioned sipping champagne from fancy flutes, savoring filet off our fine china and relishing lazy Sunday mornings in my fancy schmancy white cotton robe.

Turns out we ended up scanning only practical items, but hey, who doesn’t dream a little bit while they register?

And now almost 5 years later, we are happier than ever that we went with practicality versus fancy-cality (is that even a word?)…

We are glad our plastic water bottles have lids so they don’t get spilled when Kenzie knocks them over.  We are glad our paper plates make clean-up a breeze.  And when it comes to lazy Sunday mornings, well, let’s just say I am beyond glad when I when I get to sleep past 5:15 am… who has time to lounge around in a bathrobe?!

And aside from practical, it turns out that some of the wonderful gifts our friends & family showered us with when we said I Do would actually come in handy to contain a very busy and adorable little baby girl.

Maybe that’s what they refer to in the “Beyond” part of the name…

bed bath beyond adorable logo

4_26_13 Kenzie laundry basket 2

Squeaky clean and ready for bed and perfectly contained in the $8.99 laundry basket from Aisle C3 while Mom & Dad get out clean jammies!

4_28_13 Makenzie in ottoman

Playtime in the… you guessed it, $49 Target sale ottoman, while Mom attempts to cook dinner

4_26_13 Kenzie laundry basket 1

And gliding from room to room in a matching $8.99 laundry basket during a pre-bedtime putting-laundry-away session.

There you have it… trick #492 of Mommyhood – babies are Bed Bath & Beyond Happy just hanging out with you in everyday items!  No expensive toys needed.

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Looking for even more made-up Mom tips from a rookie Mom? 

You’ve come to the right place!

Mommy McBlog

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