Emma 4 Months

  
We are 4 months old!
2 ft 1 in 71%
15 lbs 65%
17 in head cir. 98%

Milestones:
- Grabbing toys
-Talking
- Chewing on hands
- Wearing size 3 diapers
- Wearing size 3-6 month clothes
- Loves her paci
- Has rolled over a few times 
- Smiles constantly
- Loves her big sister and big brother!
- Hates riding in the car
- Eating at 7am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm & 7pm during the day and waking up between 2-5am to eat during the night
- Still sleeping in daddy and mommy's room in pack n play


Grace 4 months
David Michael 4 months

3, 3 and under...

TRUE STORY:

- atleast one kids shoes were not remembered more than once
- Father's Day attempt at going out to eat, ended in us leaving after a paci was thrown across the restaurant and a newborn wouldn't stop screaming.
- car was packed for a long weekend trip and after an hour or screaming we turned around and came back home.
- we never leave the house house after 1pm
- we have pacifiers in every room in the house
- the washing machine runs daily
- never leave the house without the stroller, oh and wipes, and diapers, pacis, snacks, water, and a change of clothes- no not just for the kids, but for you too


- bedtime is 7:30 and I don't ever see that changing
- I buy three different kinds of milk every week
- I actually do still like chic-fil-a even though that is the only place we ever eat and maybe that is because food is really just a necessity around here
- The only movies I watched in the past three years have been ones I watch in the middle of the night while feeding a baby or up with a sick baby
- Our freezer has more breastmilk in it than anything
- Mommy is said 100 no 1000 no 10000 times a day
- 6 hours of sleep is AWESOME!

BETTER STORY:

- I am loved by three little hearts
- When they say, "mommy" I know I am needed
- When I am lacking sleep it is because I get to hold my baby
- I haven't watched movies in forever because I get to play with my kids
- I buy three different kinds of milk because all three of my kids are healthy
- The washing machine runs daily because we have a wonderful husband and father who provides for us
- We forget shoes because we have shoes to wear

As much as I like to complain, feel sorry for myself, feel worn out... I have to remember that I have been blessed with the greatest blessings in the world; my kids.



Family Saturday Fun

Saturday we were able to spend the day with all of the McKenzie cousins.


 It has been so much fun watching our families grow. It is hard to believe a few years ago the family only consisted of two kids, Luke & Grace. Now there are five little ones very close in age!

The day consisted of: cousin time, watermelon, river swimming, pizza, walks, hotdogs, and lots of LOVE! 
 
 

This watermelon did not last long with our crowd.
 

 How cute are these two together?!?! Makes my heart burst open!



Who knows how long it will be before this crew gets all together again, but these are the moments!

Time for a Mommy Update...

Being transparent for a little bit, I have been in a serious body funk lately. It doesn't matter how frequent I try to reassure myself that it takes time (6 months with both Grace & David Michael), self doubt and criticism slowly creeps in and engulfs my thoughts. I'm not enough: not skinny enough, not dressed well enough, not pretty enough, not enough.

I am not one of those women who gain minimal weight during pregnancy. It doesn't matter how strict my diet is or how much I exercise while pregnant... I gain weight. I am not one of those women who can breastfeed and all the weight will melt off. I exclusively nursed Grace for 12 months and David Michael for 9, so I know from experience it takes more than that. I am not one of those women who can just work out and fit back in my jeans. It takes discipline.

So as I look down at the scale almost four months post-partum with 14 more pounds to go...

Then I am reminded that this body and all of its lumps, marks, cellulite and all; has housed three beautiful babies. Only God can make my children so perfect, in each and every way.

Negative body image is something I have struggled with my entire life. This is not new to me. Thankfully the Lord has pulled in out of the self doubt. "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." I am so grateful for a God who doesn't see me from the outside but from my heart within. "For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."  You and I have been created in the image of our God. Our purpose is to reflect His image to a lost world.

The worst part of struggling with body image issues is the pull it has on me to be self-focused. I was not created to focus on myself. I am here on this earth to bring Glory, NOT to myself, but to my Savior. Thankfully there is hope! There is freedom in our Lord Jesus Christ! Yes, I will always struggle with the flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12) of this world, but I am thankful for the Gospel that has given me the tools to fight and overcome.

Grace's Birthday Present

For months Grace has been talking about her birthday. We just kept reminding her that it was going to be a while before it was her birthday. Everytime she mentioned her birthday it always included that she wanted to go to the beach... well this past week her birthday wish came true!




Grace has only been to the beach one other time and I'm not really sure how much she remembered. Michael woke up Grace at 5am Thursday morning and told her that he had a surprise for her. He had the car packed and they made their way down to Isle of Palms. 


The day was filled with swimming, daddy time, sand castles, Bojangles, sea shells, sunscreen and birthday fun!

Our Schedule With 3

I have to be honest... having three, three and under has been incredibly more difficult that I ever imagined! Thankfully, we have adjusted to our "normal". 

Those that know me know that I am a type A kind of a person and I function best on a schedule. Our schedule is pretty rigid, but that is what works best for us. 

My day begins:

1am- Emma wakes up for her first feeding of the day. She is a pretty quick eater and once she finishes eating I hold her upright for 30 minutes, because of her reflux, and then lay her down to sleep in the pack n play in our room.

4am- Emma's second feeding of the day. I just repeat the same thing that we do at 1am.

7am- Grace and David Michael are up waiting for us to come get them out of their rooms. We all eat breakfast, momma tries to squeeze in a shower before daddy leaves, Emma gets her third feeding of the day and I pump the extra to save for a rainy day.

8am- My crazy bunch and I are outside beating the heat for a walk. Grace and David Michael walk the driveway, while I push Emma. We try to play outside until David Michael takes his first nap of the day.


9:30am- David Michael takes a short nap and Grace colors and paints.

9:45am- Emma eats again.

10:15am- David Michael gets up from his nap and we go downstairs to play in the playroom until lunch.


12pm- lunch

1pm- The big kids go down for a nap. Grace usually does not nap, but has to have at least an hour of quiet time in her room. Emma eats again. Then typically after some holding time Emma will fall asleep and this momma can have a little time to herself, it doesn't happen everyday, but if all the stars are aligned haha then I might get 30 minutes or so.(which is usually consumed by laundry, dishes, mopping etc.)


2:30-3pm- Everyone is up for the remainder of the day. We might head back outside, or play in the playroom.

4:30pm- Dinner prep begins. Sometimes I am able to work on dinner during nap time. David Michael begins to grown hangry (hungry & angry) around 5pm. I try not to let my kids snack much during the day because otherwise they will not eat their dinner.

5:15-5:30pm- Dinner!

6:00pm- Either back outside for a walk after dinner or playroom time.

7:00pm- Emma's final feeding for the day.

7:30pm- Bedtime routine begins. Jammies are on, books are read, family worship and goodnight for Grace and David Michael.

8:00pm- Emma gets a bath every night as part of her routine.

8:30-9pm- Emma is out! Now time to clean up the house, exercise, shower and go to bed!

I know this is quite a schedule, but it is the only way I function!

It is really interesting for me to look back and see how our schedule has changed with the addition of each child. (Schedule with 1- here; Schedule with 2- here)


My big kids...

Since the arrival of Emma it has been so sweet sitting back and watching my oldest littles play together. Their relationship has really grown to not just siblings, but also friends. 
 I have tried to capture them playing, but that is more difficult than it might sound. The second they hear me that time is over. So I sneak near trying not to breathe so that they won't hear me and ruin the sweet moment. 


 The pictures might be blurry, but their hearts can be seen.






My prayer is that these two will always have each other's back, share secrets, laugh hard together, play hard, and point each other toward their Savior.

Grace's First Movie

I was fortunate enough to take Grace to her first movie! We went all out with a 3D movie, popcorn, and sprite (aka in Grace language as "spicy drink"). We watched Finding Dory, which was cute, but honestly she would have been just as happy to go get a "spicy drink" (her second soft drink ever). 

 Love being able to spend theses kind of First Time moments with my big girl! How did I become so fortunate to call her mine!?!? Love you Grace!


Hi! I'm Katie. Wife to Michael. Mom to Grace, David Michael & Emma. Christ Follower. Runner. Stay at home mommy.



Powered by Blogger.

Archive