Peek-a-boo . . . Where’s the nine-month-old!

On Monday, Dec. 13th, we celebrated nine months of MIss Alexa Hope. She is currently 16 lbs 2 oz (8%), 27” long (29%), and her head is 16 1/2” in circumference (4%). Indeed, she is our sweet “little” girl. Although she is very petite – especially by the Kennedy/Scoggins standard – the doc is pleased with her growth and she is well within the normal range for a nine-month-old.
Every month, she continues to get more and more fun. Her little personality is definitely blooming. She is a very busy bee and loves to crawl anywhere and pull up on anything. Sometimes, I think she is too curious for her own good but I think she has her Daddy’s inquisitive mind and she loves to discover.
The greatest breakthrough this month (at least for Mommy) is that Alexa is now sleeping through the night and taking naps all by herself!! Mommy will never forget that moment on Tuesday, Nov. 16th (that was a really rough night). Alexa now naps about 3 hrs a day and sleeps anywhere from 10 1/2 – 12 hrs at night. We just think Alexa realized how amazing sleep really is . . . and she gets to play with her four pacifiers as well – so it’s a good gig. It’s been SO wonderful for the Kennedy family!! Thank you for your many prayers concerning this matter. The Lord answered.
Other fun 9-mos-old “Alexa” facts - --She loves Christmas music (just like her Mommy). When we play it, she smiles & will gravitate to wherever the sound is coming from and sway back and forth.
--She has loved playing with her Fisher Price nativity set. She is especially endeared to the donkey and camel.
--She has a blast rocking forward and backward while holding onto a table, her high chair or Mommy or Daddy.
--She continues to increase her “blabber” vocabulary with new, interesting sounds.
--She will reach out and point to anything she wants to hold or touch.
--She loves watching the washer/dryer in action.
--She enjoys playing peek-a-boo and being chased down the hallway.
--She is often found crawling under the kitchen table or chairs.
--We just got a 20x20 canvas of her and she gets so excited to see her face. She literally goes crazy.
--Just opening the front door makes her kick with delight – the girl loves “the wilderness” (that means “the outdoors” for those of you who don’t know me very well).
--She’s graduated to Stage 2 foods but still refuses oatmeal/rice cereal.
--If she can hit it, take it apart, pull it over, pull it out – it’s fair game.

Alexa in action . . .

All snuggled up for a walk outdoors.

Alexa in her star pajamas (they were originally Rylen’s). She is covered by the coordinating star blanket that Rylen still loves.

All excited to be with Mimi & Pop.

The family’s all ready for the big OU vs. OSU bedlam game.

Let’s Go Sooners! (Ironically, it’s the title of her current favorite book).

Checking out a Thanksgiving Day card from Ama & Opa.

Tasting the Thanksgiving Day card from Ama & Opa.

Mesmerized by the lights on the Christmas wreath we put outside above our garage.

Alexa thought she might make a good package.

  Alexa is fascinated by her reflection. Notice how she crawled under the highchair.

This time, she decided to crawl over the bar and got stuck. 

Just thought this was a sweet profile pic – goodness, to have posture like that!?

The many expressions of Alexa Hope . . .

A Day at the Park

It’s hard to believe less than a week ago, I was still taking Alexa to the park and on stroller rides without a jacket. It’s been an usually warm fall and we’re so thankful. The weekend of my birthday, we took Alexa to First Baptist Church’s new playground for a bit of frolicking. It was a gorgeous day and Alexa seemed to enjoy playing like “the big kids.”

The 1st time Alexa has experienced the thrill of swinging. She loved going high. She looks like she fits into the swing pretty well from this perspective but take a look from the side.

My mom thought it was mean of us to put Alexa in the swing but she didn’t seem to mind almost slipping through the holes.


Swing me again, Daddy!

  
Going down the slide!

 
Peek-a-boo . . . I see you!


Look . . . I got Mommy’s nose!


Playing peek-a-boo with Alexa through a little hole.


Hmmmm . . . now that’s interesting!

  
I see a pretty girl in the mirror!


Hard to believe Alexa’s hand will be that size someday.


The playground is so much fun :)

 
I can’t wait to go to “the big kids” side when I grow up.


Alexa found the leaves fascinating.

Despite all the exciting things Alexa could do at the playground, she ended up crawling to her diaper bag and playing with it. We’re grateful it provides her with hours of excitement.

Operation Christmas Child

Even though Alexa is only eight-months-old, our desire is she learn from the very beginning that Christmas is not about her . . . it’s about the birth of our Savior and sharing His gift to those around us – especially those who aren’t as blessed as we are. And so, the first thing we could do to establish this mindset was participate in Operation Christmas Child (http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/). I’ve always wanted to contribute to OCC but never got my act together for the Nov. 22nd deadline. Well – with the help of my precious lil’ girl – we did it!!

It was so much fun shopping for and stuffing the boxes for a little boy and girl. Alexa was great help – especially in the quality control department (she tested – or should I say tasted – every toy). I can’t wait until she’s older and can really have a say in what we put into these boxes and pray for the children we give them to. I look forward to posting more pics of the new traditions we hope to incorporate into Alexa’s life, even now, so she can anticipate this season and experience the same joy we have in giving. Knowing that it’s all done on behalf of the perfect gift sent to us from the Father – Jesus Christ.

Alexa helped Mommy get out the Ziploc bags for stuffing candy. Yes . . . she almost emptied the entire box!

Alexa opening a bag for Mommy to stuff with candy.
Now she’s stuffing the box with a yo-yo.
She loved shaking the jewelry.
She can’t decide if the Nerf ball should stay in or out.
  Here’s the boy’s shoebox.
Here’s the girl’s shoebox.

Introducing OU’s Director of Strategic Technology . . .

“The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” Psalm 126:3
 
On Wednesday, Dec. 1st, Chris started his new position at OU as the Director of Strategic Technology for Recruitment Services. I thought it’d be fun to capture a “1st day of work” pic much like I will when Alexa heads out the door for her 1st day of school. I do believe he was just about as excited as a child heading to kindergarten for the 1st time. Doesn’t he look snazzy!?
It’s been an exciting journey to see God work all things together for His glory and Chris’ good concerning his career path. If you haven’t heard the story of how the Lord created this position for Chris – we’d love to tell you. It’s just another opportunity to testify of the Lord’s continued and undeserved goodness and faithfulness in our lives.

One scripture that came to mind when this opportunity was presented to Chris was Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” I truly believe the Lord poured out blessings of favor upon Chris because his desire is to seek and follow Christ wholeheartedly – whether it’s in our home, in ministry, in graduate school, or at work. He’s not one to keep up with pretense. He simply does his work unto the Lord and finds contentment in serving Him. For Chris, it’s never been about titles, money, or climbing a corporate ladder. It’s about living out God’s will each and every day – trusting and obeying. I know . . . I’ve watched him walk with Jesus for over five years. And, I also believe his employers at OU saw the same thing.
I’m so thrilled for Chris because this job affords him the opportunity to go to a job that he loves and serve in ways he is specifically gifted. Isn’t God good to give His children blessings that far exceed their expectations!? I look forward to seeing how God will use Chris in this new and challenging position . . . it’s going to be an adventure Chris will eagerly embrace.

”Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.” Psalm 128:1-2

Look who’s 32 years old!!

I had the privilege of celebrating 32 years of life with my precious daughter and hubby on Sunday, Nov. 21st. It was a low-key weekend with beautiful weather and time with my family . . . we enjoyed a walk, playing at a local playground, going to the Taste of the Holidays at Sam’s (yum), and watching a movie at home. Chris bought me my fave – a icing-loaded cookie cake from The American Cookie Company. Yep – it was gone within a few days. I’m so thankful for the 32 years of life the Lord has given me, for my amazing hubby, my precious daughter, and my sweet family & friends who love me without condition. I truly am blessed beyond measure!

Alexa’s already learning that cookie cakes are a GOOD thing!! My sis says I’ll have to share this with her one day . . . we’ll see :) Thanks Chris – you definitely know the way to my heart (mad money & empty calories)!! I love you!!

Nico’s Stepstool

It’s embarrassing to admit but I FINALLY finished a stepstool I promised to Nico Simonini (Carlos & Debra’s son). Yep . . . it’s been two years, but it is finished and I’m pleased with the final product. Once I started working for Shannon Ho Photography, my stepstool production slowed WAY down. Okay – so I stopped painting them :) I do hope to paint a few more for my dearest friends but I told them they would have to wait until my daughter gets one. It only seems fair as I’ve painted 30 stepstools for other children . . . now it’s Alexa’s turn :)

Alexa is my new assistant serving as Director of Quality Control. Here she is testing out the product’s durability.
Now she’s testing out the finish. Hope I sanded & sealed everything well!!

And finally, she considers stability. Yep . . . Mom, you’ve got my seal of approval :)

Our active little eight-month-old

Alexa’s holding on tight to her favorite man, Daddy. She loves to ride on his shoulders – a sure way to get a smile.She especially loves to tug on his thick locks.
On Nov. 13th, we celebrated Alexa’s eight month birthday. I suppose I’ll keep repeating this, but the time truly does fly by! Alexa is indeed our active “little” girl. (Hard to believe . . . we know)!! She weighs just over 15 pounds and mainly wears six-month-old clothing. She is quite active – even in her sleep. We have been addressing the sleep issue – and hopefully – we’ll be able to report at 9-mos-old she is our active (but sleeps when she’s supposed to) little girl. Regardless, our precious “hope fulfilled” continues to bring us immeasurable joy and blessings.

What’s happened over the last month . . .
--Waving “hi” and “goodbye”
--Giving sweet (and slobbery) kisses followed by a hug
--Responding to “No Ma’am” when she isn’t supposed to touch something  . . . we praise her obedience but we’ll see how long that lasts :)
--Sitting in her 1st shopping cart & restaurant highchair (hooray for highchair covers and antibacterial wipes)
--Pulling up on anything (fridge, trash can, coffee table, chairs, our legs, doors, the wall, sofa, TV trays, highchair . . . if she can reach it, she’s going up). She is so curious about everything – perhaps a bit too curious. 
--Playing peek-a-boo
--Dumping things out – she loves to “empty” containers & boxes
--Banging & shaking things to make noise
--Tearing up Kleenex (it keeps her occupied when Mommy’s getting ready)
--Trying out more foods (peaches, bananas, carrots, apples & green beans)
--Items that fascinate Alexa – toothbrushes, the alarm clock, cell phones, remote controls, Nalgene bottles, magnets and her own reflection

Here’s why you really check the blog . . .
Alexa showing off the adorable hat Kelly Westerman made for her.

Alexa helping Mommy cut & arrange the coupons. Don’t you love the clothes strewn everywhere  . . . now that’s real life!
Showing off her bubble blowing skills while pulling Daddy’s hair.
Evidence of Alexa’s 3 paci obsession. This is exactly what she looked like when I got her out of bed one morning. One in the mouth and one in each hand.

Tearing the petals off the vinca on a lovely fall evening.
BOOMER SOONER!!

Eating sweet potatoes at Hideaway Pizza. Mommy doing the ol’ airplane trick.
Is it time to go? I’m getting sleepy and this bow is heavy.
Showing off my leggings from Ama. Thank you for keeping me warm.
Who’s that pretty girl!?

Getting Daddy lovin’ :)
Checking out the pistachios I knocked on the floor. Can I have one?