GaK/Gee is 5 months old!

Keeley now refers to herself as a cross between Gee and Kee and she has started referring to Kayden as GaGee/Kee. Too cute.

Kayden is 5 months old now. While I don't know her specific stats since this isn't a month to visit with the doctor, I do know that she is barely fitting in her 6 month clothes and now shares diaper size with Keeley.

This has been a big developmental month for Kayden. She is sitting unsupported, pushing up to all 4s to rock back and forth, and moving her legs in a crawling motion to propel herself forward. As soon as she figures out her hands she'll be off! She also just learned to pull her monkey toy in her carseat on her own. Raspberry blowing is a newly acquired noise she makes (and she is a really noisy little one!)

The dogs have started to be interesting to her as well. Recently she was watching Carbo chew on a toy. He stopped and shook his head and she thought it was hilarious and laughed out loud. Kelly and I can make her laugh but Keeley can do it much more easily! Kayden just loves her big sister so much.

Laughs and smiles continue to be frequent as is her babbling. She is a very happy, easy going baby so far. Everyone comments about how smiley she is. She is such a joy and it is so much fun to watch the two girls together.

Keeley is "famous"

My aunt that is a pediatrician published her blog entry this week about Keeley's picky eating and posted a picture.

I love her tips (she posts lots of easy and yummy recipes) and I LOVE LOVE LOVE their products!!!

Growing up too fast

I'll readily admit that I am in a bit of denial. This denial is directly linked to how quickly my girls are growing up. Somehow, having the second one made bothof them move through developmental stages at warp speed.

Example 1:

My Dad bought some really cute overalls for Keeley before she was born. They were supposed to stay at their house but he told me that I could have them at my house. They were size 12 months. I had them hanging in the closet. A week or so ago, I decided I would try to put them on Keeley (yes, I know she is a year and a half but she is tiny). Suddenly, what seemed like WAY too long was too short on her. Even when I took the pants off, I still marveled at the fact that they didn't fit her like I thought they should have. Still, there is something so cute about kiddos in overalls!
Example 2:

In five days, Kayden progressed from sitting while holding your hand

to sitting alone

to being up on all 4s and rocking and then to catapulting herself forward. She'll be crawling as soon as she figures out her arms - and she's not even 5 months old yet!!!


How do they grow up SO fast?!?!?

Solid foods

Kayden has become increasingly interested in table food and Keeley's drink glasses lately. She will carefully watch you eat and she frequently tries to reach for Keeley's glass. Today we went over to my mom's and had a little picnic in the front yard. Mom had Kayden sitting in her lap facing out when Keeley asked her to open some applesauce. Mom took it and opened it right in front of Kayden. Kayden wasted no time leaning forward and getting some! She looked very irritated when Mom handed the applesauce to Keeley. We may just be starting solids a little sooner than expected with the chunkers!

Tickle Tickle

Keeley has really gotten into tickling lately. She'll stick her hands out and tickle you while saying "tickle tickle". Sometimes, this doesn't make a lot of sense. For example, she "tickled" Kelly from the top of the slide yesterday - while he was on the ground.

My two favorite examples of her tickling:

1. We took Kayden's monitor outside to play while she was napping. Once it was plugged in, Keeley put it to her ear and said "baa" (baby). I asked if she was listening to Kayden. She said yes and then held the monitor in front of her and said "hiyeee" and waved. I told her that was nice to say hi to the baby. She then did her tickle fingers on the monitor and said "tickle tickle". When asked if she was tickling Kayden, she said yes and nodded several times.

2. When playing on the retaining wall next to our house, Keeley spotted some ants. She said "bug" and then leaned over them to say "hiyeee". This was quickly followed with the tickle fingers and "tickle tickle".

Inchworm

Kayden is officially an inchworm now. Previously, she'd flip over and scoot backward somehow. Today I watched her flip over and then push her bottom way in the air and then her hands out so she could ooch toward me. How can she be doing that already?!?! She's not even 5 months old yet!

4am

That is the time that Kayden has decided lately that she needs to wake up and be awake for an hour or so. Annoying. She doesn't even really eat at that time and she isn't grumpy until you leave. She simply wants to be awake and have your attention. I suppose she knows she'll get undivided attention since Keeley is still sleeping.

This morning, however, she refused to go back to sleep. I was up every 15 to 20 minutes from 4 until 6:10 when I finally just resigned myself to the fact that I would be awake for the day. Unfortunately, Keeley also decided to start the day then (I think probably because it had been so loud for so long). Here is a summary of the greatness that is a day starting at 4 am:

1. Kayden takes 3 naps a day usually. Today, two of those three were over by 11:06.

2. While changing Kayden's diaper, I hear Keeley start crying. She actually sounded hurt so I quickly moved Kayden to a safe spot and ran to her. She was standing over the powerstrip in the computer room holding her fingers and crying. Great.

3. Keeley decided to eat deodorant and then try to put some in Kayden's eye/mouth/nose while I was in the shower.

4. I look at the clock thinking it must be close to lunch time only to realize it is just 9:30.

5. We are into "no". I realize this is likely to be a long phase. Today it was "no" when I asked if she wanted to try on her new shoes, to brush her hair, to put her hair up....So, we went to the park looking like a ragamuffin.

6. I scream upon discovering a small gecko in my living room. He got into our house last week. When I tried to catch him right after he got in, Keeley wanted to help. It is hard to sneak up on a gecko with a toddler. I guess we don't have enough bugs to keep him full because he was pretty close to dead. When I realized he wasn't moving, I nudged the towel toward him just to make sure he really was dead. Still no movement. No movement until I put a bowl on top of him. Then he started flailing widely about and I screamed again - scaring both girls. Finally I kicked him outside. He is definitely dead now and it will likely be picked up by Keeley next time we go out back.

7. I tried to take Keeley's tray off her high chair with one hand after she finished eating. Normally I can do this. Today, however, was not to be that day. I had Kayden in my lap so I couldn't do anything but watch it fall to the floor. Because Keeley eats so little, it was quite a bit of food. The dogs quickly ran over to help in the clean up process. (Something tells me that the large amount of dried blueberry, turkey, cheese, banana, applesauce, and cinnamon raisin bread they ate before I could stop them is going to come back to haunt us.) When it fell, I said "oh no." Keeley has now said "oh no" about 100 times in the 2 hours that followed. This is the first set of 2 words she has said together.

8. Kayden doesn't feel well so she has the humidifier in her room. Keeley is terrified of it. So, every time Keeley follows me into Kayden's room (which would be every time I go in there for those of you that are wondering), she cowers next to me ensuring that my body is between her and the humidifier at all times. She clings to my legs while peering between them. When I turn to leave, she insists on being carried out.

9. It is raining. I actually like the rain. I do not like the rain when it means I have to deal with dogs inside all day. I also do not like the rain because it means that going outside or to the park with Keeley is a bit more challenging.

10. Best thing that happened today so far: Keeley started referring to herself. She calls herself a cross between "geee" and "keee" :-)