Kissy Kissy

Dear Mackenzie,

Last night, you and I were laying in bed when Daddy came over and gave me a big long kiss on the lips. After he walked away, you climbed on top of me and pressed your lips firmly onto mine for a full 10 seconds. Hahaha!

Love,

Mom

Snoring Sounds

Dear Mackenzie,

Whenever you see someone sleeping, you imitate snoring and go, "Guuuhhh chhhhhh guuuuhhh chhhhh." So cute!

Love,

Mom

What Stranger Danger?

Dear Mackenzie,

At Second GuhGaw's birthday party last month, you immediately bonded with my friend Wendy even though you hadn't seen her since you were a little baby. We were all in the yard and you held out your arms toward her to ask her to pick you up. She did pick you up--and then you wouldn't let her put you down for the rest of the party! When it was time for her to leave, you actually followed her out to her car and tried to climb in! When I picked you up, you started crying sooooo loudly and kept trying to wriggle out of my arms. Um, hello? Did you forget who your mom is?!?

A few weeks later, we saw Wendy again when we all went strawberry picking. My friend Shui came, too, and this time, you gravitated toward her. She was talking to you and then you motioned for her to pick you up. She held you for awhile but then her son ran off and she had to put you down to chase after him. When she put you down, you ran right after her! Thankfully, later when she was holding you again and it was time for us to part ways, you let me take you from her without any tears or fuss.

Yesterday, we went to a rope-climbing/zipline course with Wendy's extended family and while I was off helping GuhGaw get into his climbing gear, you bonded with Wendy's college-aged niece, Ashley. Daddy said you were initially shy and clutched his leg but then Ashely reached her hand out toward you and you immediately went to her and held it. You then spent the rest of the afternoon happily playing with Ashley, going on swings with her, chasing her around a treehouse and asking her to hold you. Um, so clearly we need to have a discussion about stranger danger!

Love,

Mom

Water Baby

Dear Mackenzie,

Our family spent five days in Montauk last week and there were so many firsts for us: our first post-Covid vacation, our first vacation with four kids and your first vacation ever! It was so great to finally have a change of scenery after spending a majority of the past 16 months inside our house and you all had so much fun playing on the beach every day. The beach we went to, Ditch Plains, is actually pretty famous for surfing because of its big, rough waves and Second GuhGaw was so afraid of the tall fumes of water that he refused to go near the ocean; he spent every day at the beach up near our chairs and umbrellas, happily digging tunnels in the sand and playing with his trucks. You, on the other hand, LOVED the ocean and kept charging toward it like Baby Moana. Every time I put you near the shoreline and a huge wave crashed around your legs, your eyes and mouth widened in astonishment. But when the surprise wore off, you giggled with delight and tried to run further into the ocean! You were fearless!

You exhibited this same bravado when we went to the resort's pool. You were initially scared when I first helped you step in but after a short while, you were happily splashing around, urging me to carry you further in and then even trying to wriggle out of my arms and swim off on your own--even though it was literally your first time in a swimming pool! Oh man, I am simultaneously impressed and worried about your braveness!

Love,

Mom