Swaddle power

Most new parents know the wonder of a good, tight swaddle - it stops crying and helps sleeping, and we swear by it. 

But did you know the soothing power it has on six-year-olds?

Just kidding, nothing can keep Resli down for long!

Independence Day silliness

Happy 4th of July! 

We celebrated with hamburgers and hotdogs, watermelon and potato salad, and, above all, a whole lot of silliness!

Funny glasses...

 

Funny hat...

Throw in a necklace or two and you've got...

Meanwhile, Kennedy couldn't be bothered with all that. She had her red on, and dutifully kicked out of her swaddle to show it off. That's as patriotic as 2-week-olds get, I guess.

 

Floor time fun

Resli and Lela really enjoy "floor" time with Kennedy, which we try to do a few times a day before she eats - tummy time, play gym time, and, best of all, time to be held by her sisters.

It's most fun when Kennedy is awake and alert and can learn all kinds of new things from Resli.

But if she's hungry enough, she eventually gets super-fussy.

And not even Resli's best soothing techniques can help.

That's when she hands her over to Lela!

Lela tries singing, talking, giving her the pacifier...

And if none of that works, she hollers for me to come feed Kennedy.

I'm sure they're all getting something out of the time together, right? Even if one of them cries the whole time?

A trip to the park

Even though it's been crazy hot, we decided to all head out to the park early Saturday morning. 

Our first stop was the baseball diamond. Harvey pretends to pitch and Resli and Lela pretend to hit, and then run like crazy!

They rounded first and kept going, more or less in the baseline still...

Resli got sidetracked and wandered into right field, but Lela persevered.

And after a short detour across the pitcher's mound, she headed for home plate.

Woohoo!

Next we went to the playground and did some climbing and swinging. And then found a ball that someone had left there. 

So we practiced throwing,

and catching.

We were all hot and sweaty and tired at the end of the morning, but it was worth it. 

(Btw, Kennedy was there too, she just mostly stayed in her carseat and slept. She's not big enough for baseball or anything yet!)

Kennedy's coolest trick so far

Kennedy has many endearing qualities, but there's one we like best of all.

She sits there and plays, looking cute and baby-like...

When all of a sudden, BAM! Out comes a whole bunch of milk, right out of her nose! (You may have to click the photo to zoom in if you want the full effect.)

This is the only way we've seen her spit up, if you can believe it - out her nose. It doesn't really seem to bother her, except for making her sneeze, but it freaks other people out. 

And then she goes back to looking all innocent and pure, 

as if to say, "Who me? NEVER!"

Back to the doc - two weeks old already!

Kennedy is already two whole weeks old! Time sure does fly, doesn't it? 

We went back to see Dr. Grooms for her 2 week check up.

These visits are good for many things, but most of all we take the time waiting to enjoy some photo shoot sessions.

Even better than all that, though, is that we learned that Kennedy is already well above her birth weight, at 8 lbs. 6 oz., and has grown to 21" (over an inch from birth). She's doing great!

Rock star Resli

At the YMCA camp where Resli goes this summer (the title is "Camp Rock" this year), this week is rock-n-roll week. They were all supposed to dress up as rock stars one day. 

This is somewhat difficult for someone as tame and, well, princess-y as Resli, but we did what we could: black shorts, black shirt with glitter, and ...

PURPLE hair! (Which looked a little pink on.)

Lela, never one to be left out, wanted to color hers as well.

Don't they look rockin'?

What, even hard core rockers need to eat a healthy breakfast?!?!

All in a day's work

Life as a newborn is full of fun and excitement. 

Kennedy went for her first walk today. She slept through it, which is just as well because it was crazy hot and humid, but at least we all got some fresh air.

She also spent time getting to know Nana.

And by "getting to know" I do mean "trying to nurse on the collar of her shirt"!

After that, she spent some time in her new swing. 

And, to top it all off, she helped me with some important Spanish Department related emails.  

The fun just never ends... It makes you wonder why she sleeps all day, with all this excitement and adventure going on around her!

Tummy time

As I mentioned below, we've started a little tummy time with Kennedy. I can't say she likes it all that much,

but she's got a heck of a cheering section!

Resli and Lela feel it's very important to encourage her and even keep her company as needed.

Lela showed her how Baby enjoyed floor time too, 

so that Kennedy could learn to enjoy that part also.

OK, I confess that I get down there with her every now and then too. She got her head up to 45 degrees here, which is why I look so excited.

We'll keep at it.

Bath time - this time for real!

Kennedy had her first real bath (like, in water, not a sponge bath). She handled it like a champ and didn't cry at all. She was curious and inquisitive and looked around and explored the whole time.

Still though, the best part was the warm cozy cuddling afterwards! 

Floor play

Yesterday we started some floor play with Kennedy. (Her umbilical cord is healed, so we can start tummy time too - oh joy! No pictures of that torture just yet.) It wasn't all that eventful, we just kind of looked at each other.

Until, that is, Resli and Lela came home. Then it was a party.

And of course the 'floor' part didn't last too much longer. 

They both wanted a chance to hold her.

And they're very possessive. Look how jealous Lela is when it's Resli's turn!

Resli takes to this maternal instinct thing quite naturally.

Except when she gets a little over-zealous. 

Luckily, Kennedy is pretty flexible and still enjoyed the time with her older sisters.

(Meliss gave me a card once with a diagram on it about how to fold your cat for storage in a sweater drawer - that's what this picture reminds me of...)