Word to the wise: Never guess anyone's age

Setting: Costco
Characters: Michelle, Kennedy and Lady at Costco
And action.

Lady at Costco: "Oh, now wait right there. No, don't tell me. I'm guessing this little one is what, three months old?"

Michelle: "Um, actually you're about four months off. She's seven months."

Lady at Costco: "Well, I was never good with girls. I had four boys."

Michelle: "That's nice."

Kennedy: Looking at lady like she's CRAZY.
And cut.

So this is what played out on our little outing today and this is what has me all paranoid. Seriously, three months?? I know Kennedy is just a little peanut, but does she really look three months old? So, of course, paranoia turns to anger and anger turns to fright and fright goes looking for Mom, Brandon and GM Jen to calm me down. After talking with all of them, I somewhat calmed down, but I still couldn't let it go. I was so determined to prove that lady wrong. And what better way to do that than having Kennedy sit in a shopping cart all by herself, no car seat. Because everyone knows a three month old can't do that. So I place Kennedy in a cart minus her car seat and head into Target. I barely made it ten feet before I wanted to turn back, turn back and get her car seat. Let's just say it was a little embarrassing and I might have been a little premature at letting Kennedy sit shotgun all by herself. Her head was only about an inch taller than the back of the seat, and when you looked at her from the back she looked like a newborn because her hair is nothing but peach fuzz (and that's if you even noticed there was someone sitting in the seat to begin with). Her balance was off and she kept swaying back and forth and falling over, so I had to put the diaper bag in the seat with her to keep her from falling over. And to top it all off, the seat itself swallowed her and made her look even smaller than usual. Arrr! So back to the car seat we go and back to accepting the fact that people can say stupid things. At least my little drama of the day made me drag the camera out and capture Kennedy doing what she does best...being cute. [Warning: Couldn't pick my faves, so picture overload ahead.]

Listening intently to what GM Jen has to say

7 Months

Well, the news is true. Kennedy did, in fact, turn 7 months old today. And what a joy the last seven months has been. The best of my life thus far. I never doubted that I'd fall in love with motherhood and all that it would bring, but I had no clue, or warning for that matter, that certain things would turn me into a blubbering mess.

Take for example her teeth. Sure, they tell you all about the drooling, crankiness and wanting to put everything, and I mean everything, in their mouths, but what they don't tell you is how the sight of a new tooth can open the flood gates. Who knew I would cry when her teeth started to come in? I certainly wasn't prepared for that one. When the first one came, I wiped away my tears, just a little embarrassed. But when the second one started to poke its head through and my eyes filled with tears once again, I started to feel like I might be turning into "crazy mom."

I contemplated many things. Did this mean I was doomed to be the mom who keeps all their kids' teeth in a jar on the fireplace mantel...you know, the mom who can't let go. Am I going to be crying even after discovering the 20th tooth is sprouting? Will there be enough tears left over for our second child? More importantly, is this normal?

Needless to say, I was a little worried that cutting teeth could have such an impact on me emotionally. I mean, I didn't cry when she first rolled over or sat by herself. So what makes the pearly whites so special? Maybe it's the fact that teeth equal biting and biting equals pain. Maybe I'm just happy that she's two teeth closer to eating some dessert with me. Or maybe, just maybe, it's the simple fact that teeth represent maturity and maturity means growing up. Despite the fact that I have a love affair with dessert, I'm pretty sure it's the latter that's getting me all choked up here.

I realize this isn't a shocker. Babies grow up, I get it. I guess I just thought she would be the one who had the growing pains, not me. So am I normal or have I just uncovered the fact that I'm a sentimental sap who has a jar full of teeth in her future?

Halloween

Despite the fact that this little butterfly is cutting teeth right now (two to be exact), she was such a trooper for Mom and Dad. And even with all the drool, she still managed to be pretty stinkin' cute. Aw, Kennedy, you turn my heart into complete mush.

And, of course, we had to stop over and see Godmother Jen. This girl just had major life-altering surgery a few days ago. Looking at her, you'd never know it. Doesn't she look fabulous? Seriously, I'm so impressed with how great she looks. And while I'm on the "Jen" subject, let me just say that I am extremely proud of you and sooo thankful you came into our lives. We've got mad love for you, GM Jen.

Target Practice

This is what happens when your child becomes a moving target during mealtime...

Rough Life

Poor Kennedy. We caught up with her after a hard day at the office. She didn't have much to say, but her body language told us she was pooped and needed to kick back and relax. It's rough being 6 1/2 months old.