Beaches and Boo Boos

This weekend we spent a fantastic time with the family on the Oregon Coast where Kevin's parents live. We ate great food, played with cousins, and loved on Grandma and Grandpa. We also had a couple of trips to the beach. Mckinley has been to the beach only twice before. The first time she was only 6 weeks old so she obviously didn't do a whole lot. The second time was over Memorial Day weekend, but only for a brief walk and she didn't even get out of the backpack. So this weekend we were really excited to let her PLAY in the sand! Unfortunately, the beach gods were against us as we had two pretty poor trips to the beach.

For our first trip, the scene was set...one happy baby, beach toys, a BEAUTIFUL sunny morning, and a couple hours before nap time.

Before we set into our playtime we decided to go look around some tide pools, as it was an extremely low tide. Mckinley was in her backpack loving life and trusting in mom to be careful on all those slippery rocks. Well I'm sure you can guess what happened next...one miss step and Mckinley and I are on the ground both crying. I ended up slipping on one of those tricky rocks and in a split second I'm on my butt with Mckinley still on my back. Of course I scream in fear that she has been hurt by this little mishap and yell at any family around me to get her out of the pack. After a good amount of crying (by both mom and babe) we determine that all in life is ok besides one badly bruised baby foot and one badly bruised mama butt! (I apparently must have sat on her foot in our fall---ouch, I know!) So our first trip of the day ends in Mckinley's first real boo boo. Needless to say it did not really end how we had hoped.

We were not deterred though! After determining we were all ok and getting some food and a nap we decide to head to the beach again. This time we would not be venturing out onto the rocks however, we instead would be playing in the sand. But yet again the trip did not exactly go as planned. The wind was SO strong! We tried many times to find a place sheltered from the wind for the girls (cousin in tow this time) to play in the sand, but this shelter was nowhere to be found. So we said "ok we will just make do with the wind". After only two minutes though Mckinley's little face was covered in sand! In her eyes, up her nose, in her ears, covering every inch of her face. The same was true for her cousin! So grandma and I made a b-line for the car, trying not to lose anything to the wind along the way.

So while the trips to the beach were not really what we were planning, they were still memorable. Our first trip horrible, our second almost humorous. We are however, looking forward to our next trip!


Here is what we looked like later in the day...enjoying the sun and happy, even though she isn't showing it in this picture!

Bittersweet.

I'm having a sentimental kind of night. It seems that Mckinley is growing faster and faster each day. This is bittersweet to me. I'm so proud of this little girl, words cannot capture the feelings I have, and I am excited for what the future will bring. But I stand here today and she is less than one month away from being 1 YEARS OLD! While I am rationale enough to realize that she is still a baby by all accounts, it still seems like time is flying by. Too. Fast. And, I do not see it slowing down any time soon. 

1 years old is a huge milestone, not only for Mckinley but for myself and her dad as well. Even in the next couple years Mckinley will still be considered my "baby", but the baby stage truly is gone and has been for a while. It seemed to just happen out of the blue one day. All of the sudden she is a little person who comprehends most of what I say and can, in some ways, respond to my requests or questions. These are not baby qualities. She gains a new skill almost weekly. From standing strong on her own, to pointing to an item of desire, she is a little sponge absorbing, making sense of, and making her mark on the world around her.

I want this journaling of my thoughts and events to be as honest as possible though. I do not want to look back and re-read through these entries years down the road and say that life was always roses. Some days are hard. Mckinley already is showing the stubbornness that her mother carries. Juggling school and a busy baby, a husband who at times works horrendous hours, a crazy dog, the stresses of being an adult (i.e. finances, jobs, balance, homes, etc.) can all become overwhelming, but I honestly would not change one part of my life. This seems a bit cliche, but it is true. All the craziness of my life is MORE than worth it. Life is good. I have a beautiful, healthy little girl, who, yes, is growing up fast--too fast--but I get the joy of being present with a front row seat to take witness (with, by the way, an amazing husband to witness it with). So I guess I will just have to let life happen. Let my little girl grow up. Finish school, get a job, deal with the dog and the adult responsibilities.

If this past year has been any testament of what's to come then I think I'm ready. So I guess bittersweet isn't always so bad. It is ok to be reminiscent of the past and at the same time look forward to the future. I'm not promising that I will not shed a few tears as Mckinley reaches new milestones in her life...they will however be happy tears.

We're Back!

Wow...it has been so long since I last posted. Life seems to just be flying by these days, but I could not be enjoying it more! Mckinley is now 9 months old! I know, can you believe it? 9 months! It seems like yesterday I was gushing over her ability to stay awake for 15 minutes at a time, now I am trying to wrangle her in as she eagerly investigates our home. She has quite an enjoyment for showing us just how un-babyproofed our house is. With the other new baby project in our lives...our new house (yep we bought one this past month and are set to close in 2 weeks)....I have debated whether or not to fully baby proof our house our trap Mckinley in one room and wait it out. So far, I have resorted to mostly trapping her in the living room with a moving box blocking her escape. On occasion I allow her to break free and roam the house as I attentively watch her every move--ensuring she does not "attack" Max or stick her tiny little fingers in those oh-so-attractive light sockets. It will be a beautiful new world when we move into our new house and she is no longer trapped.

It is really interesting to write a post after being away for so long. Just today Mckinley had her 9 month appointment and it seems like she has changed so much these past few months. She has had an explosion of development lately and it really feels like she learns something new almost every day. The funny thing is too is that once she learns something, it is almost second nature to her and it as if she could aways do it. One of the best parts though is that she is so proud of herself...not quite as proud as I am, but she does think she is something special. With every new trick she learns, a huge smile crosses her face and those big blue eyes sparkle with amazement and joy. It is almost as if you can read her mind saying "Watch Out! Look what I can do!".

For documentation purposes here is a little update on Mckinley. She currently weighs just over 21lbs (big girl I know!) and is almost 29" tall. She is a fantastic sleeper with about 12-12 1/2 hours a night plus two 2 hr. naps a day! As of tomorrow she will start the all exciting process of eating real food...not just that pureed baby food stuff, but real people food! We are very excited for this huge step, but nervous at the same time for learning how to find the perfect balance of keeping her full and healthy. She has the fantastic skills of crawling, pulling to a stand, beginning of cruising, and of course all those other wonders (smiling, laughing, peek-a-boo, etc.). She is just such an amazing part of our lives! And I think that is a perfect way to wrap up this post...the simple statement of how truly wonderful our beautiful daughter is all 9 months, 21lbs, and 29" of her! :)

Picture Updates!!

The whole famiy enjoying luch with Grandma G and Grandpa D and the Rainforest Cafe

Classic Kinely....smiley as ever!

Daddy and his girl...enjoying lunch on one of our many house hunting day!

"I know I can eat this---just watch me!"