9/28/12

Kenzie ate about half of her craisins and oatmeal at breakfast.  At lunch she ate all of her applesauce and her peas and pasta with cheese on top.  She also ate a couple bites of her ground beef. 

Kenzie noticed that Nora had on a Griz shirt today and then proceeded to tell me who did and didn't.  We then counted how many there were.  When we were done she proudly showed Joslyn "My new Griz shirt".  I have to say that has to be one of the cutest ones I have ever seen! 

One thing I did today to help Kenzie get the idea and feel of blowing out of her nose rather than her mouth was to have her practice without a tissue so I could see and she could feel it better. I think it helped a little, but she still struggled with it. 

Kenzie was sitting on the couch by Gary today holding the two matching beanie bears she likes best.  She handed one of them to Gary saying "He's pooping!"  I guess she didn't want anything to do with it then and thought Gary was the best man for the job.  Of course, Gary held the bear over Kenzie's head and told her he was pooping on her head, which made her crack up! 

Morgan, Joslyn and Kenzie were all playing on, around and under the huge bear today for quite a while.  They were pretending to "puke on the bear" and then race across the room to get some "paper towels" to "clean up the big mess".  I am not sure how that got started or who initiated it, but they really got into it and were making vomiting sounds and everything.  Ugh!! 

9/27/12

Kenzie and Joslyn were sitting in the corner of the big room kind of behind the huge bear just visiting and holding their "matching beanie bears".  They each have a set of them that they really like.  Kenzie asked Joslyn if she knew she had "my own baby Cooper".  Joslyn was very interested and immediately asked, "Did ya hold 'em?"  Kenzie proudly told her she had and then they went on playing.  It was priceless!  There were several other times throughout the day that Kenzie mentioned her "baby Cooper" to one of the kiddos, but no one was nearly as interested as Joslyn was.  : )

Kenzie was acting super busy today going from one side of the room to another pretending to pick things up and put things down.  I listened close and found out that she and Morgan were "getting groceries".  Kenzie told Morgan she was getting "ham and some turkey and some other groceries". 

We are taking advantage of this runny nose to try to re-teach Kenzie to blow through her nose rather than her mouth.  She did it twice today, but it just isn't easy for her to do it.  When she was really little she blew very well, but forgot by the next cold.  : )  We will keep working with her as long as it isn't frustrating for her.

Oh my goodness!  We have been getting such a kick out of watching her outside with all of the kiddos.  She will get them all sitting down on the grass and then she gives out directions, which most of them follow pretty well (for a while).  She is usually playing that she is the mommy and they are either all in the "car", "house" or "store".  Usually everyone is over there being one of her kiddos except Noah, Mia and Nora.  It is so cute and funny.  She has a hey-day being able to boss them around and have them actually listen to her.  : ) 

9/26/12

Kenzie and Morgan were putting on the pajamas again today and Morgan was being Kenzie's baby.  Morgan will "cry" and Kenzie does all sorts of things to try to make her "baby" happy.  She tries to give her food, loves on her, sings to her, asks her what's wrong...  It is pretty funny.  Morgan, Kenzie and Joslyn can all get on the PJs by themselves, as long as they aren't inside out or something funny like that.  A couple of the times Kenzie has tried to get them on over either her shoes or her slippers, which doesn't work to well, she found.  : ) 

Also during their PJ play time, they must have been cleaning house, because they were going through the things on the toy shelves and floor and throwing lots of things in the "garbage".  The "Garbage" was one section of the box.  It is amazing how many things that box can be in one day!  : ) 

Kenzie was super excited when I told her we were going to color babies and she could name hers today.  She colored a lot (notice that she is still in the pajamas in the picture) and right at the beginning she made a circle up by the nose of the baby and then stated emphatically, "I makin' a piggie baby!"  The way she did it DID make it look like a little pig face.  After she was done and had other lines and coloring on the face, it didn't look that way quite so much, but you could still see it.  When we were done she named her baby "Joshua". 

Several different times today, Kenzie wanted more space, but each time she did an excellent job of using her words to either tell the kiddo to "move back" or asking for help.  Several times it was with Thomas and a couple with Morgan.  Kenzie doesn't like Thomas nearly as much as Riley does.  : )  I was very pleased and proud of her for using her words so well today. 

9/25/12

Kenzie ate all of her cinnamon roll and most of her prunes at breakfast.  At lunch she ate most of her waffles and hashbrowns, about half of her cantaloup and a couple bites of scrambled eggs. 

Kenzie had success with helping "train" Emily today!  Emmy went potty on the potty twice here and I don't know who was most excited -- Emily or Kenzie.  : )  She was cheering for her, giving her hugs and high 5s and telling Gary and the other kiddos.  It was great!  Kenzie actually played and interacted more with Emily today than she usually does.  I don't know if it was related to using the toilet like a big kid or not, but it was a great coincident if not.  They were playing with the stuffed bears.  Kenzie was putting them down for a nap by Emily on the mattress then heading out and telling them all, "I'll see you later!" 

Kenzie was attached to the same matching bear set today and she held them, not just when she was actually playing with them, but when she was reading, visiting with me or the other kiddos and any other time she could (not meals or while pottying). 

Peyton has been a little feisty and struggling some (probably has the same syndrome that Kenzie has been having as their baby was born yesterday morning and things are different).  Today after Peyton had pushed Aaron yet again, Kenzie commented, "She jealous of that boy!"  What I am not sure of, is if that means that boy, Aaron or that boy, Grayson.  : ) 

Kenzie found a couple places where the wire in her skirt (like thick fish line) was poking out of the seam in her skirt and bugging her, so I helped her out by clipping them off carefully. 

9/24/12

Kenzie ate all of her mixed fruit and Kix cereal at breakfast.  At lunch she ate all of her corn on the cob and her mandarin oranges and several bites of her ham sandwich. 

I got out the other stuffed bears to go with the huge one and Morgan and Kenzie were thrilled.  That is basically all they played with all morning long.  They were playing on the big bear with the smaller ones, carrying 4 or 5 around with them, finding the "matching" ones, hiding bears around and under the big bear and other things in the big room and so forth. 

Kenzie decided that they would make great blocks and tried all different ways of stacking them.  She was very proud of herself when she got three of them stack without falling down.  She announced "Baby bear's on Papa bear head!". 

Emily's family is really working with her on going potty in the toilet.  So far she hasn't done it here, but that isn't because Kenzie hasn't shown her or told her what to do and tried to bribe, cajole and cheer her into it.  It is actually really cute! 

9/21/12

Even with it being Grandma this morning Kenzie did great at drop off.  I was down stairs making a copy for one of the moms when Gary called me to let me know that Kenzie was here so I might be needed.  By the time I got up there, Coral had it handled and was helping her go to the window to wave at Grandma!  : )   

Kenzie started off the morning with a bloody nose before breakfast.  It didn't bleed hard or for long, but was enough to merit some down time.  She hadn't bonked it or anything, so I am attributing it to the smoke in the air.  I cuddled her and held a cold cloth on it and it stopped right away. 

Kenzie didn't play with Morgan much at all and played instead with Joslyn quite a bit, which isn't typical.  They were playing house with the pajamas and the box "bedroom".  They were also taking food in the box, so I guess they must have been having bed time snacks. 

9/20/12

Kenzie started out by playing with the little fogs with the kiddos.  They were hopping them around, putting them on other creatures and on each other and just having a riot with it. 

Emily and Morgan were out doing puzzles and Kenzie asked to join Emily as soon as Morgan was finished.  She knows that we only let two at a time out, so that it doesn't get too crazy.  They actually put together puzzles for about 20 minutes before breakfast. 

Morgan and Kenzie had a blast playing together with the PJ dress-ups.  They put on the pajamas then headed over to read books in the yellow chair.  They were very intent on it and went through about 15 books or so.  They were showing each other pictures and talking about what they were seeing in the books.  After they tired of that, they started pretending one side of the box was their bedroom and they took turns going to sleep.  Morgan was mostly Kenzie's baby, but they switched it up once or twice.  Morgan was using one of the curler bases for her "binky".  Kenzie reassured her, "Your mommy will be right back home!" so I guess she must have been the babysitter rather than the mom.  : ) 

9/19/12

Kenzie ate all of her peaches and a bite of whole wheat bagel at breakfast.  At lunch she ate all of her macaroni and cheese and her salad with ranch and a couple bites of corn on the cob.  I tried it both with her eating it off the cob and will me cutting it off for her (in case it was too hard).  It didn't seem to make any difference.  

Morgan and Kenzie were back to being attached at the hip today -- the first day in quite a long time, actually.  There were very few times when they weren't playing together actually.  They started out by asking to go play in the back room together, so we let them do that until I saw them playing with first the camera plug in and then the framed picture on the wall.  Silly little geese!  : ) 

They then moved on to playing with the breakfast food and accessories.  Each of them (plus Joslyn and then Aaron for a little), took turns being the cook, server and the diner.  They played well throughout mostly, There was a brief incident when Morgan tried to take one of Kenzie's five strawberries and Kenzie wouldn't let her.  Kenzie did a good job of first using her words and then sharing two with her later after Morgan quit trying to take one.  Morgan made a good choice to let go and look for one on the shelf (with my help). : ) 

After they tired of that, they both moved over to the big yellow chair and looked at and "read" books for about 15 minutes or so.  As they were looking they were also holding and taking care of their "babies" wrapped in their blankets. 

They moved on the play with the duplos and sea creatures (taking them into the "ocean", which was the box) and playing there until time to pick up to go outside. While they were in the box,  Joslyn came over and asked Kenzie "what you want?"  (She pretends to be a waitress frequently.)  Kenzie told her "I want some treats and a beer!"  FUNNY!!!!  : ) 

Yesterday the kiddos were obviously playing football (it IS that season!) and Joslyn got a pretty good tackle on Kenzie.  Kenzie jumped up indignantly, put her hands on her hips, frowned, and kind of growled out, "I'm a GIRL!"  It was clear that she didn't think it was fun or funny and obviously girls should NOT be tackled!  She is such a kick!  : ) 

9/18/12

Kenzie ate all of her pears and most of her blueberry waffle at breakfast.  At lunch she ate thirds on saltines and all of her tuna (on the first set of saltines), sweet potatoes and orange slices. 

Kenzie was little sensitive and loppy today, but only complained about her stomach hurting one other time after you left.  She played a lot and only got snugly when it got close to lunch time.  She told me several times after about 10:45 that she was both hungry and "a little bit tired".  I loved how she worded that!  : )

Kenzie was asking if Story was here and then where she was and when she was coming back several times today.  I think it was probably because of having Bode here visiting -- it made her remember when Story was also here visiting.  It was very cute, regardless. 

Kenzie enjoyed exploring all of the "new" stuff out today.  She tested out several things then then spent the majority of inside time playing with the little plastic frogs or the pop-up toasters either with or without Bode.  She told me several times "Bode very nice to me!", which I thought was very sweet! 

Kenzie was playing in the box (along with Bode, Morgan and Joslyn).  She kept asking them, "Do you want to see your picture with the big bear?" so I am assuming that she was the photographer and they were her subjects.  : ) 

9/14/12

Kenzie and Morgan were playing in and around the block shelf today for about 20 minutes.  Kenzie kept asking Morgan, "Do you want to go to Fort Benton?"  Morgan kept turning her down and saying she was going to "stay home".  Kenzie finally gave up and just informed Thomas they he was "going to Fort Benton with me!"  I am not sure if she learned from asking Morgan or just figured she needed to take a more direct approach with him since he was a male.  : )  During this time one of the other kiddos (Peyton, I think) came over and was jabbering at her.  I couldn't decipher what she said to her, but Kenzie told her "No, I'm getting ready to go to Fort Benton."  She was very involved in her dramatic play!

Kenzie and Morgan both wanted to jump two different times today, which was great since it was too smokey to be able to take them outside.  (Ugh!  We are tired of the smoke!)  They were doing some amazing gymnastic moves! 

9/13/12

Kenzie ate about half of her french bread and a taste of cantaloupe at breakfast.  At lunch she ate a bite of squash and all of her turkey slice, dried mango and crescent roll. 

It was so nice not to have home to program transition tears this morning for either of the Cline girls (though there were brief ones at the medicine time.  I know that Kenzie was totally done and showing Morgan her chips before mom made it out to the car though.

Kenzie played excellent this morning (all the way until medicine time).  She and Morgan had a lot of fun building big block towers, "wrecking" them then rebuilding them, or as Kenzie called it, "Let's pick up this wreck!"  : ) 

Kenzie talked about going to the doctor yesterday multiple times.  She also talked about waiting and watching the "big fish".  Obviously there was an aquarium or other form of fish tank.  I asked her what the doctor's name was and she really thought about that and said, "I don't know.  Doctor Gottman was on vacation."  That is pretty good processing.

Because of the smoke and a couple kiddos not having warm enough jackets we stayed in to play this morning and split into our small groups in the back room.  Morgan and Kenzie really enjoyed both jumping on the mattress and playing with the school buses in the other back room.   

9/12/12

Kenzie ate about half of her whole wheat toast and one blueberry tasting bite at breakfast.  As I told you on the phone she slept through lunch and didn't want to eat when she woke up - just went back to sleep.  Poor sweetie.

I basically told you everything about her morning on the the phone when we talked, but to recap...  She was done fussing for you by the time you drove by and played well for most of the morning until about 10:00.  She had stopped playing and said she had to go poop three times with the last being a BIG success.  She had also said her tummy hurt several times both when wanting to go to the bathroom and other times.  After pooping she was very lethargic and by outside time was shivering and said she was really cold.  I tried just having her lay on the bench with her blanket, but she said she was still cold and wanted to go inside.  I took her in and she lay on her nap mat and was asleep almost instantly.  She woke up and kind of staggered out to the utility room step an hour later and her temp was103.2.  She started fussing lightly and said she didn't want to eat and wanted to lay back down.  That is when I called mom.  She was back asleep within a couple minutes ad is still sleeping, though fitfully.  

9/11/12

Kenzie ate all of her dried apricots and about half or her whole wheat bagel at breakfast.  At lunch she ate all of her pea and pasta with cheese, her applesauce and a couple bites of her tilapia. 

Kenzie squished down in the little hole between the big window step and the block shelf and said. "I ride in my car.  We goin' to the clubhouse.  Be back soon!"  I thought that was very cute. 

Kenzie and Morgan played together a little this morning.  Kenzie kept trying to get Morgan to do one thing after another.  "Let's ...(so nigh-night, crash blocks, play legos, get Riley...)"  Morgan went along with it about half the time.  

Kenzie had a very good day today, listened well, was cooperative most of the time the first time we asked, was gentle and nice to her friends and used her words.  I love it when they have days like this and would love to find the magic key for them all to always be this way.  : ) 

Kenzie was walking by Peyton and Peyton kind of staggered and bumped into her.  Often Kenzie would have been very upset by that and either started crying about Peyton hurting her or yelled at her about it.  Instead, today she turned around to her and said, "I'm sorry!  You OK?"  I have to admit that I did take her temperature after that to make sure she was feeling okay!  : ) 

9/10/12

Kenzie ate most of her craisins and about half of her bran flakes at breakfast.  At lunch she ate all of her pizza, about half of her tropical fruit and a bite of her steamed cauliflower. 

Kenzie and Riley played and cuddled together on and with the huge bear today.  When she started to get a little too rough, Riley just moved away and Kenzie went on to something else -- no yelling for either one! 

Kenzie had a couple melt-downs, but overall I think she played more today than she did most of last week.  I wonder if she was feeling a little jealous because Story was here also, even though she isn't a cuddler, so really didn't take up much one-on-one time. 

Kenzie was pushing a stack of the big blocks around the big room and crashing into other blocks with great vigor.  She listened very well when I reminded her that she needed to make sure she only crashed into blocks, not people. 

She made a duplo tower with the single squares that was over half her height.  She told me "look at my big rocking ship!"  I think she meant rocket ship, but Morgan was also making one that was her "walking stick", so I am not sure...  : ) 

Kenzie was sitting on a precariously piled bunch of blocks today and Morgan looked at it for a while then told her, "That's a funny ladder!"  Kenzie thought that was funny!

You can tell the kiddos played outside this morning because they all have ash on their bottoms and knees -- it is so much blacker than regular dirt is.  Ugh!!!

9/7/12

Kenzie ate about half of her raisins and oatmeal at breakfast.  At lunch she ate all of her mixed fruit, salad with ranch and the noodles out of her spaghetti with meat sauce.

Kenzie asked where Story was three times before she finally woke up a little before breakfast.  She acted very glad to see her and wanted to play with her right a way.  After breakfast they did play together some and Kenzie thought it was funny because Story wanted to wash her face with one of the play cloths.

Morgan has been wanting to play by herself more lately and Kenzie isn't sure what to do with that.  She has been experimenting (or so it seems) with playing with other kiddos (Story, Emily, Joslyn, Thomas and Erin), but doesn't usually stay with one of them very long.  Today Thomas probably got a little more than his fair share because he decided to play along when Kenzie wanted him to be her "kitten".  She lead him around the room, scratching his neck or the top of his head.  It was really funny  and it wasn't long before others were following.  Pretty soon, Kenzie stopped and chuckled saying, "Not there's four kitties".  : )

Kenzie was playing in the box with Joslyn today and Emily came over to the box.  Kenzie immediately started singing and doing the motions for "Shoo fly, don't bother me!"  Silly goose!  But... better that screaming or hitting at her.  : )


Kenzie and Riley were both pretty fussy off and on this morning, but not inconsolable.  I actually think that Kenzie was asleep before Riley at nap time, so probably this cold is wiping her out, in addition to the upcoming addition transition.  Isn't is amazing how intuitive they can be?!

9/6/12

Kenzie ate about half of her cinnamon raisin English muffin and a couple blueberries at breakfast. At lunch she ate all of her cracker with chicken on it, and her cherries and a bite of her potato salad.

Kenzie wanted cuddles and extra attention most of the morning. She wasn't really fussy but wanted extra loves. I was planning on getting a picture of all of my kiddos to put on the blog today but every time it was calm enough to take a picture, Kenzie was attached to me.

Kenzie's nose ran a lot today. She did a great job of actually blowing it almost every time so it cleared it out better. One of the times that it needed wiped I asked her to come over to me and when she did she coughed right in my face. I asked her to please remember to cough into her elbow and she said, "I can't cough into my elbow until my runny nose is got." I thought that was hilarious.

Kenzie was hanging out by me and glanced up at the window then announced, "I see a antelope." Well, it wasn't an antelope but it was a little buck with three points on one side and a spike on the other. We saw him
A couple more times throughout the morning.

9/5/12

Kenzie ate all of her peaches and a couple bites of her biscuit at breakfast.  At lunch she ate all of her bread, most of her baked beans and a bite of both pineapple and broccoli. 

After breakfast Morgan and Kenzie spent most of the time in dramatic play together.  They were putting on the sweat bands and saying "I got 'em everywhere now!"  I don't know who started it because they both were saying it!  They did have them on both wrists and both ankles so almost "everywhere".  : )  It was fun to watch them as they helped each other get them on over their feet because that was a little difficult.

They were also playing with the other sports dress-ups.  Kenzie had some soccer shoes on and a mesh tank top and told me "I'm gonna go sweatin'!" I couldn't believe that was actually what she said, so I asked her to repeat it and that was definitely what she said!  They also talked about going to the "splash park" and were using the doll blankets for "towels".

Kenzie, Emily, Morgan and Peyton were all sitting at the table today looking at books and Gary commented that it looked like they were having a book club meeting or something!  I loved that! : )

9/4/12

Kenzie ate all of her cheerios and a bite or two of her banana at breakfast.  At lunch she ate most of both her sandwich and her tomato soup and a bite of her apple slices.

I don't know how many times Kenzie said "Story's back again!" today as she watched Story play.  It was very cute.  She was also trying to help her remember to keep the toys on the side of the room where they were supposed to be (without much success, I have to say).  : )  

Kenzie and Morgan cracked me up today when they were taking turns laying on the big bear and then the other one was trying to pull them all over using the bear as a "slide".  Goofy girls.  It didn't work too well, especially when it was Kenzie doing the pulling.

We had out several different Disney character toys out today.  Kenzie liked playing with them, but really did even really notice or at least talk about who they were -- just some new creatures.  Morgan was naming each other them and having them interact with each other and Kenzie was playing along but they were all just "guys". 

Kenzie and Morgan were putting the sweat bands on wrists, arms, feet, ankles, and legs and saying that they were their " big owies".   That just cracked me up, but I thought it was pretty creative! 

Kenzie was my big helper several times, especially with the baby stuff.  I thought that if I engaged her in meaningful ways with Baby Noah here, it might help her realize that she can also have an important part with her new baby when he comes!  : )

Kenzie enjoyed watching the "workers" going back and forth from their trucks to the neighbor's roof.  A couple of them were taking a break right outside the back yard gate today and visited with the kiddos a little.  Kenzie talked about that the rest of the morning.  She also really thought the "workers' potty" was funny and mentioned it off and on all day!