Marley Gets an X-ray

About a week ago, Marley had a bad fall. Problem was, I didn't see it happen. I was in the kitchen when I heard a thud, and as all mom's do, held my breath waiting to see if there would be screaming to follow. 

Marley came screaming into the kitchen, clutching her shoulder and asked me to kiss it better. The thing with her, and most toddlers, is that she can be over dramatic and the crying doesn't always match the injury. 

She went about her day like everything was fine. She ran, played, moved her arm like normal. It wasn't until I tried to pick her up (grabbing under her arms) that she REALLY screamed. That raised some questions, and had me pretty worried. But since she was acting normal otherwise, and there was no visible sign of an injury I decided to just keep an eye on her. 

We had a rough night, since every time she rolled over onto her left side it caused pain. The next day there was still no sign of a bruise or bump so I figured we were fine. She still hated being picked up, but we worked around that and I figured she was just sore and that it would go away. 

Fast forward to a few days ago...I gave the girls a bath in the morning, and I noticed that her shoulder was finally starting to bruise. Nothing major, but I thought that we were finally on our way to being done with it. 

THEN, when it was time to get Marley in her jammies later that night, I noticed that her collar bones didn't match up and there was a bump. I had been checking it out every time we changed clothes, so this was surprising. Luckily, at this point it was only 6 pm (I was hoping to get Marley to bed by 7) and Jason was on his way home from school. 

Once Jason got home I loaded Marley up and we went to the Instacare. We waited for TWO HOURS to be seen, all while Marley laughed and played in the waiting room. The whole time I questioned whether I even needed to be there, since she was still so happy. 

When we were finally called back they took her for an x-ray and I guess it showed that her bone was bruised. So we were given the sling, told to wear it for a month, and try to ice her shoulder as much as possible. 

I feel bad that I waited a week to take her in, but its so hard to know with toddlers when things are TRULY the end of the world. We'll see how we do with the sling. She woke up this morning with it completely un-done, so I don't know how effective it will be. I also never realized how crazy she was until I'm supposed to have her take it easy.  

My goal is to try for at least a week. 

Mackenzie: 11 Month Update

(It was SO hard to get a good picture this month!! She will NOT sit still.)
Kenzie is 11 months old, and starting to show so much personality. Don't you dare take something out of her hands! Right now if Kenzie gets a hold of something she isn't supposed to, she will let you HAVE it when you take it away. 

We have also been dealing with some MAJOR teething issues lately. Those top two teeth are taking their sweet time coming through, and we are just waiting for the second one. She has been SO fussy and clingy. One of the few things that makes her happy is being held, and going outside. 

Kenzie has just started to pull herself up to her knees, and even to the standing position! She's bound to start walking around the furniture soon. Compared to her sister, she is taking her sweet time, but that seems to be her personality. 

She is also taking her sweet time with solid foods, but I think getting those top 2 teeth with help motivate her a little bit. Kenzie still loves baby food though, she will even chow down on the ones with meat! That is something Marley never did. 

Kenzie loves getting to explore the house, and will make a break for it anytime the gate is left open. She loves getting into the bucket of bibs and is very attached to the bottle of detangler spray. Kenzie wishes she could explore the bathroom a little more too, but mommy and daddy keep closing that pesky door. 

Here's how other things are going...

Mackenzie Likes
Following her sister
Crashing around in the walker
Getting stuck behind the recliner
Stressing her sister out by grabbing her toys
Stealing the bag of bread from its shelf in the kitchen
Waving her hands in the air, like she just don't care
Swinging in the front yard
Hanging out by the baby gate, waiting to make her escape
Waking up at 6 am...no matter what time she goes to bed

Mackenzie Doesn't Like
When Marley takes her toys back
Hearing that baby gate slam shut
Getting new teeth
The sight of her crib, she knows whats coming and would much rather be held
When Someone walks past the living room and doesn't come play with her
Falling over in her attempts to stand up on furniture 

All the drama aside, Kenzie is still a sweet baby who melts my heart with her smile. 

Marley turns three!

I can't believe how fast time flies! I recently heard someone say, "The days are long, but the years are short," and that's how I feel about my sweet babies. Being the parent of a head-strong full-blown threenager makes for some very exhausting days. 
But then you blink and a year goes by! 

We had a great Cinderella party for Marley on her birthday, and she had lots of fun! Her cousins came to play, and they had the best time in a box fort made by Jason. We had pizza for lunch, opened presents, and had yummy cake too! 

After three years on this earth, Marley has developed into such a sweet, smart, silly, and loving little girl. She transitioned so well into becoming a big sister over the last year, and loves to make her sister laugh. We have some instances of toy-stealing, but for the most part Marley is quick to give her sister a toy or get down on the floor to play with her. 

Marley is the friendliest little girl, and will wave hello to anyone we pass at church or the grocery store. If they say hello back, she will respond with, "I'm Marley!" And even sometimes add, "That's my friend Kenzie!" Haha! 

Marley still has a love for learning and surprises me constantly with how much she knows. How many 3 year olds know rainbow order? (Thanks to Mickey Mouse!) Marley's favorite part about Costco is that there are giant numbers (for each aisle) and she 
yells out, "There's 27!!"

She will get to start pre-school in August, and is going to have the best time! 

Marley really is a sweet girl, and we are grateful to have her in our family. Even though we constantly argue about the silliest things, (I have to say "I'm the mommy" quite frequently) at the end of the day after I say "Good night" she always responds with "I yub you!" and that is all that matters. She warms my heart with her smiles, hugs, and snuggles. 

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl! 

Read Marley's birth story HERE

Birthday Interview: Marley age 3

I wanted to do a my take on a "birthday interview" so I searched pinterest and found the questions I could answer myself. Marley is too little to understand these questions if I were to ask her, she doesn't know what the word "favorite" means. But since I spend every waking moment with her, I figure I'm qualified to answer on her behalf. 

Name: Marlene Diane Henderson

Nickname: Marley

Favorite Food: Fruit snacks, cheese slices, white bread

Favorite Show: Umizoomi, Little Einstein's, Tayo the Little Bus

Favorite Toy: Doctor check-up kit 

Favorite Song: I Am a Child of God, ABC's

Favorite treat: Dove Chocolate hearts (used as bribery to finish meals) 

Favorite Movie: A Bug's Life, Inside Out

Favorite Book: "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie"

Favorite birthday present: Tea set, Magformers

Best Friend: Cousins and Olivia

What makes you happy? Tickles from Daddy, Playing outside, getting to see family

What makes you sad? Getting ready for bed/naps, when Kenzie messes up something she's working on, when she's having fun somewhere and mommy says "time to go."

What do you like to learn about? Letters, numbers, colors, shapes, basically EVERYTHING!

If you could go anywhere, where would it be? Both grandma's houses, the aquarium or zoo, Chick Fila play place

What is something you do really well? Make Kenzie laugh, remember the words to songs, snuggle

Marley Stories: January

Its a new year! Time so share more funny things our Marley said. 

The other day she was running around, pretending to be a cowboy. Then I noticed her stop, take her hat off and take a bow twice while whispering "Thank you. Thank you."

After a few "incidents," now every time I put Marley in the bath tub I say "No poopies in the tub." and She usually says it back to me, almost like a song. The other morning while Marley was in the tub I grabbed Kenzie and brought her into the bathroom too. She was still in her jammies and Marley says,"No jammies in the tub!" (In the same tune as "no poopies.") That made me giggle.   

One day I was sitting at the table eating a big bowl of pasta for lunch. Marley came over, and sat in the chair next to me to see what I was having. She peered into the bowl, then gasped and said, "I love it!!! What is it?" 

Whenever we do baths now, Marley has to stay in the tub until the last drop of water goes down the drain. No matter how many times I correct her, she thinks that the drain is called a "dream." That might be compliments of watching Inside Out at least 50 times.

Misheard Song Lyrics:

"The rains came down and the floods thumbs came up"

"Old McDaniel had a farm..."

"Merrily, merrily, like-a-spider dream"