Not a baby anymore :(

Last week when I went back to work I got a call from Mrs. Karen (her part time sitter)... Of course I was worried because she never calls me unless something is wrong. This time she had some exciting news to tell me... She said, "Your baby is walking girl! She took 4 steps twice all by herself!" I was so happy, but then I quickly began to cry because I wasn't there to see her first steps (I asked her several times not to walk unless I was with her and she walks on the 1st day of school...) and I also realized that my baby was no longer a baby. She looks at babies now and says loud and clear, "Baby!" She's approaching toddlerhood! Oh boy!

I'm going to try and catch her on video but since she's more at eye level now videos are difficult because she likes to grab the camera... Such a stinker!

Applying and generalizing her skills...

This was taken a few weeks ago after Mackenzy finished her summer gymnastics class. The lesson for that day was "over and under" and the instructor had the babies climbing over and crawling/walking under obstacles. Needless to say Mackenzy loved it and was one of the 1st babies to demonstrate! She even generalized her skills that afternoon by climbing under her exersaucer... She continues to climb under things and her favorite place is under the kitchen tables and chairs. She's such a smart baby! At least I know she was paying attention!

Wearing her Sunday Best!

~ Mackenzy playing with Elmo and sitting in her little chair at my mom's house!

Sleepy Mackenzy standing all by herself in her cute outfit right before she got mad...

To be a baby again...

Don't you wish you could turn back time and become a baby again? Babies have the best life! They just eat, sleep, play, and poop all day long. They have their own personal maids, chauffeur, and entertainment system and when they get tired they can sleep anywhere! What a life!

"Hey Mama! I thought I'd join you in the kitchen while you get dinner ready"

"Oooo juice! Oh wait, a bowl and a spoon! I can help you stir"

"I'm tired Mama. I think I'll lie down here and take a nap..."

Mackenzy finally figured out how to use the toy we bought her a few weeks ago and she's getting fast! She also started standing up buy herself this week which has been really exciting. We predict she will be walking before her birthday. On a side note, check out her new pink high top Converse shoes! They're a little big, but I think she likes them. Plus, mommy and daddy also have a pair!

Flashback Picture...

So while I was finally retrieving some pictures off of my mom's camera, I came across this picture taken just after Mackenzy was born. Ray looks like such a proud Daddy! I can't believe how tiny she was and now she's almost a year old...

Future Gymnast?

Mackenzy has been taking gymnastics classes for the past month or so at The Little Gym of Greensboro. She absolutely loves playing on all of the equipment and talking to other babies her age! Last week they worked on walking on the balance beam, hanging on the bars, doing a back "whoop-di-do" (I flip her over my head), backwards rolls, and cooperative skills (ie. rolling a ball). In the beginning she didn't want to put her feet on the beam and would only walk sideways, but now she walks with alternating feet going forwards, with Mommy's help of course! She's also begun to stand for periods of time by herself. How exciting! Do you think we have a future gymnast on our hands?

Beach Trip 2010

Ray, Mackenzy, and I traveled down to Myrtle Beach for our summer beach trip! We had an ocean front room which is now a must for all future vacations! Just look as this view! We got spoiled waking up to the ocean every morning and the view made up for the fact that our hotel had 19 floors and only 3 elevators for guest and staff...
Mackenzy enjoyed the ocean much better this time and even sat down in the water to catch the waves! She also ate a handful of sand which I'm sure is all out by now! Yum!

Mackenzy thoroughly enjoyed having us in the room with her... She became a night owl for a few days but staying up late caught up with her during the day and by the final night she was back to going to sleep early!

We visited the Aquarium and seeing the animals through Mackenzy's eyes was so fun! She enjoyed the underwater tank the best and was not happy about the fish staring at her in the picture below. I have to admit that they were kind of creepy to me too!

We decided to take a walk on Broadway at the Beach and feed the giant fish. Mackenzy saw the fish but passed out while I was trying on bathing suits.

She enjoyed looking out the door as much as we did! This was her hang out during the day!

We always go to Hard Rock or Planet Hollywood while we're down there and this year it was Planet Hollywood. Below is Ray being a crazy man because he was super excited about the sirloin steak he ordered.

Mackenzy trying to get away from Daddy's tickles!

Us posing for the camera. I think she was getting sleepy by this point or she was just tired of pictures...

Driving back and entertaining myself in the car...

Mackenzy knocked out in the backseat...