Kennedy Maren: 12 months, 1 year

 Kennedy Girl! 

You are one year old! We are just as smitten with you. Everything about you, I want to remember forever and just love!

At one year old... 

Height: 24lbs, 95%

Weight: 30.9in, 95%

Size Diaper: 5 

Size Clothing: 18months

Favorite Toy: your lovey bunny 

Favorite Food: probably beef stew 

Favorite Time of Day: right after lunch 

Favorite Past Time: being held by Momma all the time! 

Nap times: usually 9-11am & 1-3ishpm 

Bed time: 7pm 

Dislikes: getting dressed, being separated from Mom, most sweet food

 Words: UH OH, bye, (sometimes) hello

 Your funny little personality just keeps coming out more and more. You do this funny like squish face when you think are funny or want to make me laugh. You think it is hilarious to just lean backwards; sometimes onto one of your brothers, sometimes against someone's legs, and sometimes just onto the floor. You only suck your thumb when you have your bunny and are about to fall asleep. You hate getting dressed but are very good about getting your hair done. You are officially a walker now! Still a little wobbly but you now choose to walk over crawl.

To celebrate your first birthday... 

On your actual birthday--- Kma took you, me & your brothers out to breakfast, we had a few friends over for a brunch/lunch play date, and then when Daddy got home ate dinner, went on a walk, and came home to have cupcake! The next Saturday, we had family and a few friends over for a BUNNY BIRTHDAY! Per the usual you wanted to be held by Momma the whole time, but I didn't mind. You also had the perfect birthday dress thanks to Auntie Karla! 

Kennedy Maren, you are a dream come true. We are so very thankful for you. You are the perfect sister to your brothers and the perfect daughter to me & your daddy. 

we love you more & more everyday!
love,
your momma & daddy 

Kennedy Maren: 11 months

O Kennedy Girl, you are 11 months old! I might just be tearing up right now thinking about how you are, so soon, not going to be my baby. I mean, you'll always be my baby. But goodness, you are just growing up so much! 

We are seeing more and more of your personality every day & it is just wonderful. You've got the very normal almost-1 year old- attached- to- momma thing going on. You stand up, cruise, and/or try to take a few steps all the time. You love being with your brothers. You have the funniest curious/mischievous smile that just makes me swell.

You are by far our worst teether. But to give you some credit you gained 4 teeth this month, in the strangest order- middle left and the one next to it & then a few days later middle right and the one next it it. You are definitely the typical cranky, not sleeping, want to be held teething baby. So we've put you to bed extra early and I've spent a lot of time with you on my hip.

 

 Your favorite foods are still anything savory, but you are warming up to a couple fruits including apples and blueberries. You don't eat a ton when your teeth hurt, I think. You still only drink about 6oz of formula, made very warm. You enjoy baths and hanging out in the ergo, but are starting to refuse to fall asleep in the ergo or really any where besides your crib/ pack n play that's in our room. You are fiercely attached your bunny, I'm pretty sure you can't sleep without it. 

This month was pretty much full of lots of snow & cold plus a few warm, sunshine days. I left you for the first time when I went to Tennessee to celebrate Kaci's birthday. You got to stay with Kma & I'm sure you loved all the spoiling and cuddles! It was so nice to be away, but I have happy to have you back in my arms! 

My beautiful girl, 

Thank you for your sweet smiles and all that bunny love. You surprise us with your little funny ways. We are all smitten with you and just can't imagine our days without you. 

We love you more and more every day!
love, your momma

Kennedy Maren: 9 & 10 months

Well, my dear sweet girl. I did it. I officially have not done one your monthly "letters" and am having to combine two months. But goodness gracious you are wonderful. You are sweet and gaining the funniest little personality. You say "uh oh" at all the right moments. You can clap and wave- only when you really want to. You are "cruising" along all the furniture and spend a lot of time sitting on your knees. You are wearing 18month clothes & have the most wonderful thighs. Your hair is growing in- light brown, I think. You're eyes have turned more gray than blue. You still love hot bottles and are on formula all the time now. Most of the time you sleep through the night, but every once and a while you like to get up around 4am- keeps us on our toes. You love playing with your brothers and Joshua's dancing always makes your laugh. You're doing pretty good at the food thing, favorites include pirates booty, stew, and noodles. You still don't really like sweet stuff or fruit, but have recently enjoyed strawberries & oranges. You love to hang upside down. It does not matter how tired you are, you do not sleep in the car. You still love, love, love your little bunny and sucking your thumb when you fall asleep.

During your 9th and 10th months we celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thanksgiving was of course all about the food at Auntie Karla & Uncle Dan's. O and the dogs. YOU LOVE THE DOGS. It was so fun having watching you enjoy your First Christmas! You got a stocking, some new moccasins, lots of clothes, a couple fun "girl" toys, and your brothers picked out a cute shirt for you. You loved being around all of our families and Kaitlynn was super sweet to you on Pollard Christmas. I am praying your sweet, special "only-girl-Pollard-cousin" relationship continues!

You still only have 2 teeth and I thought for certain by now your front two teeth would pop through, but alas they have not. You got a mild cold, but nothing too serious. You take two naps and most of the time wake up in the middle of your afternoon nap to just be heard then fall back asleep for another hour. Your bedtime is pretty strictly 6:45 or 7pm, but if we are out you quietly observe and don't fuss too much. You are usually awake right about 7am.








Just the other day, you totally surprised me and starting climbing up the stairs at small group. I didn't even know you knew how to go up stairs! I am very thankful- you never pull out your bows or hair ties. I've even given you your first "ponytail," right on the top of you head! The cuteness is almost more than I can bare! You enjoy bath time with your brothers, until you don't, then you really don't! You love love love your grandmas!

9/10 month Stats: 
Height: 30 in
Weight: 21lbs 10oz
Head Circumference: 17.5in
Size Clothes: 18months
Size Diapers: 4

 Kennedy Girl, we love you o so very much. You are sweet and lovely and we are so thankful for you!
we love you more and more everyday! 
love, your momma

Kennedy Maren: 7 months

 Kennedy Maren,
My dear, sweet girl. You are getting so very big. We started solid foods this month - sweet potato, avocado, bananas, and applesauce. Took you a while, but you are big fan of sweet potato and avocado, tolerate bananas, and very much dislike applesauce. You're brothers are always quick to help feed you & Asher loves all the extra sweet potato he is getting.

 You are now a pro at sitting up and getting closer and closer to crawling each day. You love watching your brothers play. They make you giggle more than anyone else. You do great sitting in the middle of the living room, surrounded by a couple toys, and watching and listening to your brothers.

 Our schedule is still pretty much the same. You are sleeping through the night 100% of the time now, so that is wonderful! You don't always take the longest naps, but that's ok. And you absolutely refuse to when we are out and about and rarely fall asleep in your car seat. You are still a really big fan of being close to momma and hanging out in the ergo. I love, love, love watching you grab your bunny, hold it next to your cheek, and suck you thumb as you fall asleep. It might the sweetest thing I've ever seen. You are getting so big- 9 month clothes & size 4 diapers! Unlike your brothers, you are pretty reserved with your smile. You save it for those who either work really hard for it or those you really love. You are always ready to smile for your daddy, brothers, Grandma Mary, and Kma. The first weekend in October, you went with me to the Alethia Women's Retreat in Horn Creek. You did so well. The whole weekend was a giant blessing and you were the perfect baby companion!

 Kennedy girl, you just are so special, so sweet, and so loved. Every second with you is just a pure gift. 

we love you more and more everday!

love, your momma

Kennedy Maren: 6 months

Kennedy girl, 

You are 6 months old & just wonderful. You are sweet, cuddly, chunky, kissable, and o-so squeezable. You are a pretty good sleeper and sometimes sleep through the night and sometimes wake up around 2 or 3am. We are still doing great at nursing, so that is a huge blessing. You are rolling quite a bit and starting to grab at things on the floor but do not seem over anxious to start crawling - totally fine with me! You still take three naps most days and like to be held/in the ergo in the early evenings. Most nights you are very ready for bed by 7pm.  You sleep with your special bunny cuddled right up to your face, sucking your right thumb, and on your side. so sweet!

love sucking on those toes!

Your laugh is so funny; sometimes it sounds like your coughing, sometimes it sounds like your crying! But it always makes us smile and laugh with you. You are getting pretty good at sitting up. You are enjoying playing with more toys and LOVE to watch your brothers play. They make you laugh more than anyone else & it is just so wonderful.

sweet girl sitting up!

 

the prettiest blue eyes I ever did see!

This month you, your daddy, and I went on a little trip to Chicago! We celebrated Kelly & Greg's wedding & had a wonderful time touring a city we had never been to. You were a perfect baby. You slept in the stroller in the morning and spent a lot of time in the ergo, never complaining! You did wonderful on both airplane rides. I am super thankful for the special time the three of us had together.

at "the bean" in Chicago

6 month STATS-

Weight-  lbs, %

Height-  in, %

Head Circumference-  in, %

Size 3 diapers

9-12 month clothes 

We love you Kennedy Maren! Thank you for your sweet smiles and generally joyful and calm spirit. You are the perfect addition to our family. 

we love you more and more everyday!

love, your momma 

Kennedy Maren: 5 months

 

Kennedy, 

Five months old. We see more & more of your personality each day. I pretty much want to just squeeze you all day, every day. Those cheeks, thighs, the precious birthmark on the back of you right arm, the way your feet go round and round when you sit in the bumbo, those few long, wispy hair right on top of your head, your laugh that almost sounds like a cry or a cough or a giggle, how you suck your thumb and hold your bunny blanket, the way you smile & gaze upon your brothers. Everything about you is just wonderful & we love you o so very much.

 

You are growing OUT of 6 months clothes, in size three diapers, and pretty so won't be able to be swaddled because you are rolling like a champ.  You are working on sitting up & really enjoy sitting in your bumbo watching this crazy-loud house. Your schedule is about the same and depending on the day take 2 or 3 naps. You do not like to sleep when we are running errands or at church. You are very content hanging out in the ergo.

This month we had the privledge or dedicating you & Asher at Alethia Church. 

Here's the verse I picked for you and will pray for you and over you for your whole life: 

"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I see; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in Him temple.. My heart says of You, 'Seek His face!' Your face Lord, I will seek."

Kennedy, 

You are so precious to us. We are so thankful for you. 

We love you more and more everyday!

love, your momma & daddy

{so special- you wore the same dress I was dedicated in!}

Kennedy Maren: 4 months

Kennedy Girl, 

I call you "Sweet Girl" and "Princess" all the time, but your brothers tell me "SHE IS NOT A PRINCESS. SHE IS NOT A SWEET GIRL. SHE IS A BABY." Well, I still think you are the sweetest girl and the most beautiful princess. You are such a wonderful baby. You've got the eating down and rarely spit up. We've got a good little schedule, so even though you don't technically sleep through the night and get up anytime between 4-6am, you go right back to sleep until about 9am so I am able to do mornings with your brothers and get a few things accomplished at the start of the day.  You are growing, growing! Both the doctor and the nurse measured you twice to make she you have actually grown that much!  

4 Month Stats:   

Height: 16.5in - 100%

Weight: 16lbs 9oz - 90%

Head Circ: 

This month, we traveled over the mountains and through the woods to see Gram with Joshua, Asher, Kma, and Auntie Karla. You also got to meet your Great-Grandma Joan & Great-Grandpa Jim and TONS of other family :) You were a great traveler in the car {for the most part} and did really well sleeping in the hotel{S}. We had a quite the adventure! But it was a really great weekend.

 Other fun stuff this month:

• you love sticking out your tongue
• you think Asher is the best
• you've rolled over - back to tummy - one time
• your hair is coming in real fuzzy and I still can't decide on the color
• size 2 diapers are almost too small
• I just switched all your clothes over to 6months 
• you like to fall asleep with a blankie or that little bunny by your face
• you are most ticklish under your chin 
• you went swimming for the firs time - for a total of about 4 minutes
• we also celebrated Fourth of July - Waffles & Parade this month!

Kennedy girl, 

We are just so very thankful for your sweet cuddles, wonderfully chubby rolls, little giggles, big grins. You are just a joy. You do not have a problem letting me know when you are mad and that is just fine. I can't wait to learn more about you - your likes, dislikes, passions, and interests. I can't wait to hear what you have to say TO your brothers and ABOUT your brothers. 

You are growing and I love that and I hate that. One day I won't pick you up and hold you the way I do now, I will miss that. One day I won't make you grin the way I do now, I will miss that. One day everything will look so different, I look forward to that, but I will also miss this. 

we love you more and more everyday! 

love, your momma

Kennedy Maren: 3 months

Kennedy Girl,
3 months old. Lots to say. The CUTEST dimple on your right cheek. Hair all falling out. Hot bottles only. Adorable clothes. Sweet cuddles. Long days. No more oxygen! Growing out of 3 month clothes. Lots of grace. Lots of love...

Sweet girl,
This month it eventually stopped raining & summer came to greet us with sunshine and happy, Daddy traveled some more, we found 4 kittens under our house and have all become obsessed with them, you passed your third overnight oxygen study, we celebrated Asher's 2nd birthday, and you starting giggling for real.

Some of your favorite things:

• watching your brothers play
• hanging out in the Moby during work 
• morning naps
• pooping on Sundays 
• talking to Kma
• crying between 4-5pm 
• sleeping from 7:30pm-5am {PRAISE}
• your hands in your mouth

Some of your least favorite things:

• lukewarm bottles
• when Asher sits on you when you are in your chair (understandable!)
• lunch time - because often, we get home & I have to get your brothers lunch first and then feed you
• afternoon naps
• when the car stops moving

We are so blessed by you easy personality most of the day, your ability to sleep!, your sweet smiles & cuddles, and your chunky thighs and rolls. You are such a big girl! You are strong and hold your head up like a champ. You have even started trying to sit up while in your car seat. Your brothers are mildly obsessed with you. Asher is always concerned about your whereabouts and recently starting giving you the sweetest kisses. Joshua is quick to help and often wants to "hold his baby sister." I absolutely adore dressing you in all these cute clothes. I love kissing those cheeks. My favorite time of the day is after I put your brothers to bed, the house is quiet,  you are all swaddled up, you eat, fall asleep and then just rest in my arms and on my shoulder for a while. I just soak up that time. Soak in your sweetness and greatness. Praying for what lies ahead and thanking the Lord for my sweet, sweet girl.

we love you more and more everyday! 
love,
your momma & daddy

Kennedy Maren: 2 months

Kennedy Girl,
You started this month off with a bang - RSV, a 3 day hospital stay, and lots of oxygen! Thankfully you were never super sick, just couldn't keep your oxygen levels up. Your hospital stay was lots of quite time for the two of us. You ate and slept great through it all. We were super thankful you got the support you needed and recovered pretty quickly from yucky sickness. Unfortunately, you are still on oxygen... You've failed two overnight studies & you'll have another one the first week of June- maybe you'll pass then! Until then we'll just keep carting around the oxygen and hoping your lungs develop the way they need to!

You've gotten really great at smiling. You shared your very first smiles with Kma (TWICE), but I couldn't imagine a better person for you to share those smiles with. You are very talkative. You do a great job sleeping at night, all swaddled tight. Most of the time it's 7:30pm to around 4:30am then back to sleep till around 9am. I am so very thankful for that sleep and the extra time in the morning I have with your brothers. Most days we are out and about in the morning- you nap in the car seat. Two days out of the week, we go to work in the afternoon and you are such a champion.

 

Daddy traveled quite a bit this month. The first time Daddy left there were lots of tears, Asher got the stomach flu & Momma was not sure she would survive - but we did... And then he went on another trip and we did okay and then we figured out - this is where we are, this is hard, but this is good & there is joy! So there is where we are - finding the joy in the hard.

Kennedy girl, we all love you so very much. We love putting bows in your hair, we love giving you baths, we love having you with us, we love cuddling with you, rocking you, and holding you, we love spending our days as a family of five & are o-so-very thankful for you, my girl!

we love you more & more everyday!
love, momma & daddy