Greatly Blessed by Kate and Edward

Jumpin'

2012-02-05T22:42:00.001-08:00

Because he likes to stand so much, I thought I'd try him in the jumparoo to see how he responded to it. Even in the lowest seat position he is way too small as his feet dangle inches above the floor. This he absolutely dislikes (read: ear-splitting objection). So I found a box...

...and the good big sister placed it under his feet for him. He slipped around (and still hated it) until I wised up and took his socks off. He loved it! He jumped around for several minutes and Kate took great care in showing him all the toys. Yup, my not-even 2 month old is a jumper already!

Groundhog Kate

2012-02-02T19:40:00.000-08:00

Kate is posing in front of her calendar that she marks off every day. She loves to mark an "X" on the day, say the name of the weekday, the month, and the year. The really fun part is finding the hidden object in the picture. Today, she found the canoe! I'm telling Kate to look at the camera...

...now I'm telling her not to blink...

...now I've told her to keep her eyes open...

...ah SUCCESS!!!

Lucky 7 Weeks

2012-02-01T23:50:00.000-08:00

The bathroom scale says he's 12 pounds and past history from Kate's baby days shows that it is very accurate. It's hard to believe that he could gain four pounds in less than 2 months considering how spitty he is! His strength is astounding as he will stand upright for several moments at a time. He is starting to coo and smile at us more but still mostly just watches us intently.

Mommy's Little Cub

2012-01-21T21:21:00.000-08:00

Snow to Eat

2012-01-19T22:34:00.000-08:00

This picture was taken through the window (adorned with snowflake window clings) from the comfort of my 75 degree temperature house. I have no shame about this whatsoever.

The snow really fell out here in the sticks. Look at the chair and table in both pictures...

This was Kate's first snow experience. When she first saw it on the ground she announced that she needed to "get out there and eat that snow". Daddy taught her how to throw a snowball, make a snow angel, and most importantly, how to build a snowman.

She even rolled the snowman's head by herself! The two of them improvised with what to use for the snowman's face. Some rocks for the eyes, a pinecone for the nose, and solar light posts for the mouth.

Two's-a-snooze

2012-01-19T22:23:00.000-08:00

Kate crashed out on the floor of her room and Edward crashed out after being fed.

Lil' Racer

2012-01-19T21:09:00.000-08:00

These pictures make me smile because it kind of looks like he's driving a car and shifting gears. The picture on the shirt he's wearing is very descriptive of the boy we've come to call "Fast Eddie". This is the story behind his nickname...

Starting about week 34 of my pregnancy, I began experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions. By week 37 I was having them so often that I was convinced he was going to be born any day. With each day that passed, especially into December, I became more and more impatient and uncomfortable. The due date came and the due date went. An induction was scheduled for the 15th...

I was awakened the morning of the 14th with more contractions that I wrongly identified as Braxton Hicks. So I unknowingly labored along (in between bites of bacon and cheese omelette) for an hour until (uh oh) my water broke. From there things became intense. Each contraction was noticably stronger than the previous one...

Normally the drive from our house to the hospital is 30 minutes. My husband did some pretty amazing driving that morning, spurred on by my loud and commanding encouragement to "do what was necessary". Midway across the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, I began praying to God that the baby wait til we got to the hospital. By the time we exited the highway I was in sheer panic that I was about to give birth in the car. We drove straight to the ED where no time was wasted in escorting me to the birth center. 15 minutes later he was crying!

I won't mention the specific speeds and maneuvers that were required to shave ten minutes off the drive that day. But the nickname of "Fast Eddie" is a natural one for the way he made his entrance into this world!

It's Christmas!

2012-01-19T20:55:00.000-08:00

Oh, my! Kate woke up on Christmas morning and guess what? She exuberantly announced that Santa had been here! She really likes Santa and even got to see him twice this year.

Out of all the neat things she got this year, the very first thing she wanted to do was wear her new alligator rain boots and go outside with her new "Kate size" umbrella!

But the neatest gift of all this year was given to the three of us. At eleven days old, it's hard to imagine our lives without the little guy.

Kate had her pictures taken under the tree for her first Christmas, too.

One Week

2012-01-19T20:42:00.000-08:00

Kate-meet Edward. Edward-meet Kate.

2012-01-19T20:10:00.000-08:00

Welcome Baby Boy!

2012-01-18T23:46:00.000-08:00

Edward James
December 14th 2011

Giving Thanks

2011-11-29T00:18:00.000-08:00

A family photo of the 3 of us before baby arrives. We are all very excited!

Kate loves to talk to her brother and give him kisses. She still reserves a few for me every now and then.

Baby is due in two weeks, but we're hoping he'll decide he's ready to come any time.

Kate made the place cards for us at the table and here she is making sure everything is set up correctly. We had a lovely, quiet day which was a wonderful opportunity for us to reflect upon the Lord's blessings this year and to give Him thanks for seeing us through some rough times. We are grateful for His presence and provision and pray for our son's safe arrival; as 3 becomes 4...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Special Dinner

2011-11-16T14:33:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a busy day packed with appointments and errands, so Daddy and I decided to finish off the day with dinner at Old Spaghetti Factory. I've been dreaming of it for awhile as I have been looking forward to the "post-spaghetti-rampage" face picture (notice I came prepared with a disposable bib!) but all she would eat was the salad and bread!

I insisted she eat at least half of her meatball if she wanted desert...

...which she managed to accomplish and the prized spumoni was gleefully consumed!

Fun With Watercolors

2011-11-12T22:55:00.000-08:00

First REAL Haircut!

2011-11-12T22:53:00.000-08:00

Kate was excited to go first. She is such a great kid; not afraid to do something new and very cooperative with directions. Flu shot? No biggie. Dental cleaning? Easy peasy. First hair cut? No muss no fuss. I love it!

Eva does a much nicer job than the early trims I gave her eons ago. She was born with a full head of dark brown hair that started growing out blonde immediately. I was actually asked by more than one person (most increduously) if I had died her hair! The first trims were to remove the odd looking dark tips.

Eva is braiding her hair all the way aound the back. It looked so sweet!

Her hair didn't cooperate with the plan Eva had for the braid, so she finished it off with a pony tail and beautiful curls. This was Kate's favorite as she liked to watch them bounce when she flipped her head from side to side.

What Were You For Halloween?

2011-11-06T15:50:00.000-08:00

A ballerina/princess/concert pianist of course!

More braids and bows. I can't help it.

Rainy Days...

2011-10-30T17:36:00.000-07:00

...means fun with tutus and aprons (totally her idea) and making cookies...

...showing off the hard work before putting them in the oven to bake...

...and horsing around with Daddy while we wait to eat them!

So Grown Up

2011-10-25T14:39:00.000-07:00

Top Picture: Mommy picks out the shirt and pants, brushes her hair, chooses a hair accessory, and asks Kate to go get her shoes on. Kate emerges from her closet wearing flip flops. Seems as if she doesn't want to let the good times of summer go!

Bottom Pictures: Sitting pretty in braids and bows!

Baby/Toddler Dance

2011-08-31T15:59:00.000-07:00

Kate was the prettiest ballerina at the party!

Nora got into the rhythm too!

Sully shook those maracas like a pro!

Sully tried with all his might to give Kate a hug, but when she lost her balance and fell backwards it looked like he was trying to strangle her!

The Party

2011-08-31T15:45:00.000-07:00

The party ended up being on one of the hottest days of summer so far, so the kids spent quite a bit of time splashing in the pool.

Kate is quite the accomplished bubble blower now. All that training paid off come time to blow out the birthday candle!

Mommy and Daddy looked high and low for a rugged tricycle that could easily attack gravel and hills since the only smooth surface is the sidewalk from the garage to the house. She has a little growing to do, but this one is sure to do the trick once she gets the hang of it.

Sully is helping Kate open her gifts. For some reason he was particularly drawn to the lion that roared when his nose is squeezed!

Birthday Girl

2011-08-19T23:56:00.000-07:00

Kate got two special treats for her third birthday this morning. Mommy fixed her a blueberry pancake AND she got to eat it in the living room while she watched her cartoons!

She crashed out during "quiet time" today so I snatched the camera and took pictures like crazy! She was wearing her birthday suit as she is going through a nudist phase right now.

She watches the toilet paper roll like a hawk and when one is finished she demands to have and play with the empty tube. She calls it her telescope and takes it everywhere until it somehow "disappears" in a day or so. Frequently she takes it to bed with her. Tonight she proudly snuck it into the bath tub.

Last Days of Being Two

2011-08-04T21:17:00.000-07:00

The deck is in the full sun and she likes to report frequently that "it's hot out here!" Here she is seeking shelter in the shade of the railing.

Kate loves to pose and say CHEESE whenever the camera is pointed at her.

...and her favorite pastime continues to be picking poppies! After she picks one she proceeds to rip the pedals off and then dissect the pod which turns her fingers a fabulous shade of neon yellow.

Mommy's Birthday Present

2011-07-21T23:03:00.000-07:00

Kate is very excited about being a big sister. She talks to the baby in mommy's tummy every day, and gives kisses and hugs. She says, "I love you baby...come out!"

Mommy got a wonderful present for her birthday this year. The ultrasound shows that the baby is a BOY! Kate is saying"cheese" for the camera and "I'm going to have a little brother!".

It came time to have some cake and I couldn't get her to take her eyes off of it to look at the camera! She sang the birthday song to me several times today and repeatedly stated that "we need to eat that birthday cake". Indeed!

Fireworks!

2011-07-04T22:03:00.000-07:00

Kate is posing with her fireworks that Daddy picked out for her. She especially enjoyed the sparklers!

She liked how pretty the fountain was until it started popping loudly half way through. She quickly sought refuge at my side and gave me this look...

A Good Day

2011-06-24T17:20:00.000-07:00

Becky and Sully joined my husband and Kate and I for lunch which went well considering. The adults outnumbered the toddlers by one and it was still a little bit of a challenge! Then we went to the park and got really wet! I was prepared with a towel and a change of clothes, but didn't know the water feature was a swimsuit sort of thing. Oh well. There was no keeping her out of it on account of my poor planning so in she went!

Sully and Kate played on the big toy after getting dried and changed. They are so cute together. They hold hands and hug like they've known each other their whole lives. He is a year younger and ALL BOY, which is funny to watch Kate process his boy-ness!

Look at those muscles! Sully was aiming the water gun at Kate, and Kate was aiming her water gun right back!

We got home and Kate told me "it was a good day".

A Silly Good Time

2011-04-30T23:25:00.000-07:00

Loud music, balloons, a disco ball, bubbles, a parachute, and about 40 toddlers... a delicious recipe for tons of smiles and fun! Kate went to the toddler dance party this morning and had a grin plastered on her face the whole time. She twirled around with her cousin Mikayla and pretty much moved that little body non-stop.

Toddlers...sigh

2011-04-24T22:06:00.000-07:00

I wanted to take her picture in her Easter dress. She wanted to play with daddy.

I wanted to take a picture of her in her Easter dress. She wanted to dance. She wanted a snack. She was thirsty.

I wanted to take a picture of her in her Easter dress. She wanted to wrestle with daddy.

I wanted to take a picture of her in her Easter dress. She wanted to have a fake temper tantrum.

New toy

2011-04-24T21:58:00.000-07:00

So Kate got an early birthday present from Papa...a playset for the backyard! It was installed while she was taking a nap so when she got up and saw it, she squealed with delight. I think her face must of hurt from the constant grin plastered on it for several hours.

Kate in the news!

2011-04-24T21:41:00.000-07:00

I braved the crowds and took Kate to the South Kitsap Community Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday. A photographer for the local paper was there and thought she was good material, taking about 8 pictures of her after the hunt was over. Here is the quick little blurb in the Sunday paper:

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/apr/23/an-egg-citing-easter-event-in-south-kitsap/

If you click on the other pictures, you'll see her there twice. One picture looks like she's fussing, but she wasn't. She was just trying really hard to open the plastic egg!

Hunting for Easter Eggs!

2011-04-24T21:40:00.000-07:00

...excited for getting the eggs...

...she can see them but it's not time yet...

...her bounty...

...and the prize!

Sully and Kate

2011-04-24T21:19:00.001-07:00

My good friend Becky's grandson is the marvelous mister Sullivan, or Sully for short. He is the cutest little guy and such a kick to be around! The four of us went to toddler story hour at the library and they had particular fun playing with the animal puppets.

I tried my hardest to get a picture of the two of them together and this was the picture I managed to get! Sully is in mid-baaaaah, complete with the tongue hanging out.

And here's sweetie! I think she was watching the librarian do something with her hands. The kiddos had fun and we look forward to going back soon!

It was such a gorgeous day that afterwards we walked down to the Corner Deli and got some sandwiches to eat at the waterfront. I have the sweetest mental picture of the two them walking hand-in-hand, buddy system style along the sidewalk.

Big Brother Nolan

2011-03-29T21:41:00.001-07:00

Kate and I spent the afternoon today with Alicia, Jillene, and Nolan. Kate spotted the rocking horse in the corner and was climbing on it faster than I could double check if it was okay! Of course it was and Nolan was happy to show her how well he can ride it. The horse is really rocking even though the picture looks like they're just sitting on it.

Welcome Spring!

2011-03-25T23:23:00.000-07:00

Kate went to toddler story hour at the library today and the theme was Spring! We were joined by our good friend Sue who Kate's been asking daily to see for about two weeks. The hour was full of stories, songs, crafts, and playing musical instruments. While most of the kiddos picked one noisemaker from the basket and walked around the room playing them, Kate had to try out multiple instruments to see which one she liked best.

I asked her what her favorite part was and she told me it was "seeing the kids", which was pretty obvious as she preferred to walk around for a face to face rather than sit and listen.

After story hour, Kate and Sue and I went to waterfront park for a lunch picnic and of course to play at the playground. Though there was a bit of a chilly breeze off the water, the day was sunny and beautiful. Yeah for Spring!

Making Cookies

2011-03-13T23:08:00.001-07:00

The weather has been wet and stormy, so we decided it was a good day to make cookies. Kate got right in there with gusto! She has become quite the accomplished egg cracker and she loves to stir and mash.

Daddy needed to help out as the dough became thicker with ingredients...

...and she got pretty good at using the dough scoop...

...and when the sheet was full of cookie dough balls she counted them!

Here she is with enchilada sauce dinner face, enjoying a little dessert- the fruit of her labor!

L'Artiste

2011-02-05T21:35:00.000-08:00

I came around the corner the other day to see that she had donned one of her dress-up hats. She didn't hear me so I snuck back to get my camera. She happily continued her art as I snapped away! The hat is one of those beanies with the propeller on top- we call it the "helicopter hat".

Can you guess what she's drawing? Why flowers of course! I had absolutely no input. She chose a different color for each one and decided that some were taller than others. She usually draws with her right hand but sometimes she uses her left and sometimes she uses both simultaneously!

One day I was pretty focused on something in the kitchen and realized that it had been quiet for awhile. Too quiet. I called her name and the response sounded startled and guilty. Hmmmm. I discovered that her dry erase marker had migrated from the white board to the rug. Then to the left leg. Notice the look on her face. I hadn't reacted yet so this is her "am I in trouble or not?" expression.

Big Bath

2011-01-26T20:22:00.001-08:00

Our house has one big garden bath tub that Kate has been too small to climb into, so she's been a shower girl since her infant bath basin days. Well tonight I decided it was time to try it out! She got so excited once she realized what was going on that she started ripping her diaper off and climbing into the tub simultaneously. Needless to say, she loved every minute of it, grinning from ear to ear the whole time!

Bugaboo

2011-01-23T17:26:00.000-08:00

Chillin'

2011-01-19T16:17:00.000-08:00

Kate is watching her favorite movie with Daddy who fell asleep. She calls the movie "O Me" which translates to "Despicable Me". She pats her cheeks just like the little girl in the movie and cheers and claps at the end.

Enjoying a Good Book

2010-12-08T23:43:00.000-08:00

She wasn't as easily charmed for the camera this year, so this was the best picture of the batch. But what was lacking in the smiles department was made up for by the quality time she spent with Santa. He read the entire book to Kate while she looked at the pictures and listened intently. She has decided she likes the jolly guy!

Trick or Treat!

2010-11-08T17:39:00.000-08:00

Fairy Princesses...two peas in a pod!

Getaway

2010-10-20T17:46:00.000-07:00

Kate and I had a surprise opportunity to join Grandma and Sue for a couple days at the coast. We had a nice time visiting and going to the beach. The sun was out the entire time we were there and it was warm! It certainly did not feel like late October.

The sunset both nights was breath taking, but the second night was extra special. After the sun had fully disappeared below the horizon, the clouds flashed and flickered like a candle for about 3 minutes.

Monkey On My Back!

2010-10-06T23:25:00.000-07:00

All About the Potty

2010-09-30T22:45:00.000-07:00

Kate is all about the potty the last few days! I think we have a routine. To help keep up the excitement, she plays with my iTouch and listens to the potty song (which is now stuck in my head) while playing the potty game. After washing hands and tidying up, she gets to pick out a sticker and place it on the potty chart which is taped on the inside of her bathroom cupboard. Potty, potty, potty...

Here's a quick shot I got of her laughing during lunch recently. She cracks me up!

My Flower Among the Weeds

2010-09-19T15:15:00.001-07:00

It has rained the proverbial cats and dogs the last several days, so when the sun came out today we all went outside to enjoy it while it lasts. Kate loves rocks (RAH!). And dirt (DURR!). And she loves to sit and play with both (YEA!). When I point out how dirty she is her reply is predictable...UH-OH!

Imagination Station

2010-09-19T15:08:00.000-07:00

Kate went to "Customer Appreciation Day" at an indoor play area on Saturday. The place is called the Imagination Station Enrichment Center (phew)and Kate had a blast! There were only a handful of kids when we first arrived but it quickly got busy during the time we were there.

Cupcake

2010-08-23T21:52:00.000-07:00

We had a lovely family party at the park to celebrate Kate's second birthday. Between the swings, slides, balloons, presents, and hugs/kisses, it was pretty obvious that she had a blast! Her cousin Rachel made the cutest cupcakes: one group of cupcakes formed a teddy bear and another group had individual letters on them that spelled out C-U-P-K-A-T-E-S...too sweet! Kate's great aunt Margie was visiting from NYC, so it was an awesome opportunity to meet her. Thank you everyone who came for making this a special day!

Her cupcake of choice...the one with BLUE frosting!

Another blink and she's two years old

2010-08-19T23:44:00.000-07:00

She started this funny thing today with the camera...every time I said "smile", she'd tip her head and play coy. Where'd she learn to do that?!

Here she is on her birthday all dolled up.

I wasn't going to do it, but I just couldn't help myself! I quietly went in to her room and took pictures of her at the exact time of her birth and marveled at just how much has changed since then...

...and then I sat by her crib and held her hand. I prayed all the same prayers and of course got all blubbery. What can I say? A child brings out so many emotions but above all an indescribable love never felt before.

One month from today!

2010-07-20T00:20:00.000-07:00

Kate will be two years old next month! Yikes! She continues to impress her daddy and me every day with how much she changes. She doesn't readily grin for the camera, but when she does, she can be a cheese ball!

Weekend at the Beach

2010-07-13T22:49:00.000-07:00

My parents treated my family and my sister's family to a four day weekend at the beach! The weather was a little strange. We watched the temperature gauge in the car drop from 92 at our house to 62 at the coast! The sun beat down on us the entire two and a half hour drive until we got to within a half mile of the resort- then FOG. We all had a good time though, thankful for the cooler temps.

This was Kate's first opportunity to play on the beach. She didn't need any coaxing...within seconds of being released from her car seat, she was running around and digging in the sand! She even sampled a taste of it but quickly determined that it wasn't very good.

Surprising picture. I wasn't trying for the seagulls, it just happened!

When we first arrived...feeling the sand between her fingers.

She was actually doing the army crawl! I think she was having so much fun that she was trying to "become one" with the beach.

July 1st

2010-07-01T16:06:00.000-07:00

We got up this morning and it was a balmy 65 degrees in the house and sprinkling outside. After lighting a small fire in the woodstove to take the edge off, my husband looks at me and says "it's the first day of JULY". We laughed. I was sorting through some items and came across an old highschool hoodie. Kate swiped it promptly and insisted she wear it. She looked like a little Jedi as she tiptoed around in the thing!

Miss Sally and Miss America

2010-06-23T23:53:00.000-07:00

Sally came today to help me out with some things and the weather was so nice we went out to play in the sun.

Kate loved the monkey bars!

Wildflower

2010-06-06T20:16:00.000-07:00

The sun was out yesterday and it was warm! I have a patch of wildflowers growing at the side of the house, and they are unbelievable. When I planted the seeds last fall, I had no idea how huge they were going to end up...they are taller than Kate! She likes to pick them of course, and occasionally she ventures into the jungle. The bunnies really like to hang out there, too

This and That

2010-05-19T20:58:00.000-07:00

Today, my little girl is 21 months old, and every bit the 2 year old I hope she grows out of soon! Actually, it's not that bad. She is a very happy child most of the time, as long as she is getting her way. The last month has been a little bit of a blur so I have been deliquent in getting photos of her. These pictures were taken by friends and emailed to me, which is why they are a little grainy.

...blowing dandelions...

...stacking blocks with Alisa...

Some of Kate's funny things are:
*eating half of everything such as grapes, apple slices, carrots, crackers
*climbing in and out of her highchair by herself(mommy taught her how)
*answering "yeah" to every question, if she means it or not
*waking up mommy in the morning with a dance and playing "tent" under the covers

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T20:50:00.000-07:00

First, Kate dressed up pretty for Mommy in her Easter dress. Then the play clothes went on for some ball time with Mommy and Daddy! She giggled at the ball when we'd roll it at her and it would bounce off her shoe. She had fun rolling it the opposite direction half the time. We must have wore her out because she went to bed a little earlier then usual. Come to think of it, I might be calling it a night soon...

Having Fun!

2010-05-09T20:41:00.000-07:00

Kate is ever the 20 month old: testing boundaries, endless energy, and major attitudes at times! She is a busy girl but brings a smile to my face everyday!

Kate at the Park

2010-04-09T13:19:00.000-07:00

We went to the park on the kids' last day of spring break from school. There was about an hour window of sun with some clouds and no rain and wind. Kate had a blast! I made a fun video (with music!) highlighting her adventures. It can be found under my YouTube videos on the left of the page. Enjoy!

Indeed!

2010-04-05T00:17:00.000-07:00

Cousins Rachel and Kate posing in their Easter dresses after church!

I really wasn't sure how Kate would take to the whole egg hunt idea. After some pointers from her cousins Rachel and DJ, she was an egg hunting maniac! When it was over, she looked a little concerned. We all started clapping, she grinned and started clapping with us!

My sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew joined my husband, Kate and I for Easter lunch after the egg hunt. We had a really great time visiting and was a nice way to celebrate the special day. He is risen, He is risen indeed!

Monday, March 29th- Fourth and Final Day

2010-04-03T20:35:00.000-07:00

The day came too soon; our last day visiting with Bob and Mary. Here they are. The most wonderful Great Aunt and Uncle I've had the pleasure to get to know!

Here is a family picture. Notice Mary and I are clasping hands. She said to me just before the flash went off "RN and RN". She is so proud that my Mom and I have joined her in the ranks. She is also an RN who retired just 10 years ago!

Want to watch a tear jerker? My YouTube debut video can be found on the left side of the page. It's titled "Mary and Kate".

What a great trip. I'm really glad we went!

Sunday, March 28th- Day Three

2010-04-03T19:58:00.000-07:00

Sunday was I day I had looked forward to since we first planned the trip! Bob, Mary, Mom, Jimmy, Kate, and I drove to Clovis to Marty and Barbara's house. They are my Mom's cousins as Marty is Bob and Mary's youngest son. Paul and Sherry (my Mom's brother and sister-in law) drove up from Tehachapi. In a sense, it was a mini family reunion!

These pictures are of Kate in her make-shift bath, getting ready for the family get together. What a ham!

Marty is the Plant Manager of Guardian Industries Corp. (glass, automotive and building products) by day, and a chef by night. He has developed an interest in preparing exquisite cuisine, much to Barbara's delight!

Here was the menu:

Homemade Bread (from Mary!)
Caprese Salad: Spinach, Kalamata Olives, Fresh mozzarella cheese with a garlic balsamic vinaigrette dressing

Dinner
Herb Crusted Roast Chicken
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Shredded Carrots and Squash thickened with a butter finish
Classic Gravy

Dessert
Lemon Souffle'

Beverages
Red Wine
White Wine
Coffee
Tea
Water
Fruit Juice
Milk

Needless to say, we were all pleasantly plumped up as we groaned and pushed our plates away. My, my Chef Marte' you exceeded my expectations!

My two regrets: that there wasn't more time to visit with everyone, and that I failed to get a picture of all of us together. I guess the day gets filed into my "mental picture" bank. Thank you to all of you for making it such a wonderful time together!

Saturday, March 27th- Day Two

2010-04-02T20:55:00.000-07:00

Oakhurst is just south of the main entrance to Yosemite National Park. We dropped my Mom off at Bob and Mary's house in the morning and headed up to see the amazing Yosemite Valley. This was my fourth visit, and his second. As you can see, the weather cooperated!

This picture was taken at the first main lookout point. El Capitan is on the left, Half Dome in the Middle, and Bridal Veil Falls on the right. It was a little chilly at that elevation, so we didn't spend too much time. Besides, the tour busses full of people seemed to arrive all at once.

The seqouias in the valley are not the giants by any stretch of the imagination, but they are still impressively huge! Not surprising, Kate was most interested in the sticks, rocks, and pine cones. She wanted to go to the river's edge about 5 times, each time Daddy put an end to that. There was a slight drop and it would have resulted in a screaming, soaking wet child and not-very-happy soaking wet Daddy!

We tried to get another family portrait, but it was past Kate's nap time and she would have none of it! A kind couple distracted her long enough for my husband and I to get a picture.
We were in the park about 5 hours, not nearly long enough to see a fraction of the sites. But with the little one and all the tourists and lack of parking, we got out of it what we had expected. Another great visit to Yosemite for both of us and a wonderful second day of our California trip!

Friday, March 26th- Day One

2010-04-01T20:49:00.000-07:00

At 12:30 am, my husband and I crawl into bed, exhausted and excited for the trip to CA to see family. I reach over and grab his hand and say "Happy 5th Anniversary Honey". It's quiet from his side for a moment, and then he responds..."it feels much longer than that"...to which I reply with "goodnight DEAR"! Kidding aside, we couldn't of had a better anniversary celebration than to go on this trip. The alarm went off way too early.

We waited til the last possible minute to rouse the kiddo. After changing her diaper, we scooped her up, sleeper and all, and got in the car for a drive to the airport. I had hoped she'd sleep in the car on the way there- silly me.

Here she is on her first flight ever. She was sleepy but did very well. There were several small children around the same age. When we arrived in Fresno, the flight attendant said Kate got the "gold star" because she did the absolute best!

Once in Fresno, we got the rental car, stopped for lunch, and made the 45 minute drive up the mountains to Oakhurst. We got checked into our hotel and gave Kate a bath straight away. You see...

I was worried about Kate's ears on the plane, so she had three sippy cups full of watered down apple juice. She doesn't ever drink apple juice. She thought it was yummy, but her body didn't agree. Turns out that apple juice is to little kids as prune juice is to adults. Poor thing had a total of three outfit changes in the first 1 1/2 hours of being in California.

Since the sun was out and the weather was so warm, Kate needed to sport her funky sunglasses while Daddy got a new set of clothes out of the luggage. Grandma wore her shades, too.

Once her system was done...purging...we went to visit Bob and Mary. They are my Mom's aunt and uncle, my great aunt and uncle, and Kate's great, great aunt and uncle! Four generations! Bob and Mary are the sweetest couple to walk the face of this planet. They've only been married 62 years. I say that because they still act like newlyweds!

After a few hours of visiting while Kate's laundry and car seat cover was washing and drying, we all went out to dinner. Kate went from being 19 months old to 2 years old. Jimmy and I just stared in horror at her, then at each other. What happened?! It was so embarrassing when the entire dining room went quiet and about thirty eyes came our way. Welcome to parenthood, Jocelyn.

Odd day...

2010-03-24T20:37:00.000-07:00

It was a gorgeous spring day! I decided I needed to get past my fears and take her out. You see...

Now that Kate is older and can RUN, I am scared to take her outside by myself. My greatest concern is that one of our neighbors runs an in-home daycare, whose patrons blatantly ignore our 5 mph speed limit sign. It's a very short single lane dirt driveway; we are not asking for the impossible! My fear is of course, that she'll bolt... Today, I decided to just be brave and do it.

I was going to wait until after our afternoon naps. She slept about a half an hour and then started making all of her noises. She's just playing in her crib and clearly wide awake. So I started gathering all the supplies for going outside: camera, snacks, water bottles, stroller...all quite loudly I might add. I waltz into her room to pull her out of her crib and was stunned to see her absolutely crashed out!

So I waited another 45 minutes then went in and got her up. I much prefer to let her get up on her own terms, otherwise, she can be quite cranky! And she was, but once she realized we were going outside, suddenly she was more agreeable. Once outside, we watched cars, listened to birds, pointed at planes and snacked on yummies. We heard a frog croaking, and when I answered with "ribbit" each time, she thought that was just hysterical!

Kate Update

2010-03-21T00:32:00.000-07:00

Sorry, no pictures this time. Yesterday, on the 19th, my little girl turned 19 months old! Her personality shows a little each day, an even mix of sugar and spice. But OH she is just amazing! She is so curious, and helpful...with everything! Today we went outside (72 degrees at my house) and I let her wander off the furtherest I have ever felt comfortable. She is just amazing. Did I mention that already?

She has started taking her sleeper off at night, and twirls it around her head in the morning with such pride. Hmmm. Not thrilled about that, but can't hide a smile because it's just so darn cute! She LOVES to dance, booty style. Those hips just get to rocking and she raises her arms above her head and claps her hands. The girl has some moves!

What else can I say? She brings a smile to my face, makes me laugh, makes me cry, and makes me yell everyday. Life with a toddler is never boring!

Radio Flyer

2010-02-28T19:43:00.000-08:00

Nolan was so nice to let Kate try out his hot wheels. As you can see, she loved it!

Gorgeous Weekend

2010-02-21T20:41:00.000-08:00

This weekend was unbelievable! Although a bit on the chilly side, the skies were clear and the sun made an extended appearance. Amazing for around here in February! The tulips are coming up and I can't wait to see her reaction to the flowers...

Daddy seized the opportunity to run the lawn mower, so the terrain was perfect for the little squirt to try out those little legs. She's between shoe sizes right now, making it a bit more challenging to stay upright.

And sometimes, she just stares and ponders. What is going through that little mind of hers? Probably something like "I wonder what Mom's fixing for dinner tonight..." or "where should I hide the TV remote next time?". She is very clever. It's amazing to watch her.

Half Birthday!

2010-02-19T17:06:00.000-08:00

Kate is 18 months old today. Life with her these days is never boring! She helps a lot with laundry and picking up toys, and she LOVES stacking things. Anything. Things that don't really stack. She chatters, dances, and sings. Giving kisses and hugs, and nodding "yes" are among her many talents. She is the light of my life!

And she really is...

2010-02-15T23:48:00.000-08:00

...because the shirt says it all!

Kate visits Santa

2009-12-23T06:26:00.000-08:00

...before and after a good nose tickling...

Who are you calling a turkey?

2009-11-27T01:19:00.000-08:00

Kate insisted that Daddy bring her to the hospital where Mommy works to have Thanksgiving dinner as a family. So she came in PJ's and dress shoes and was the star of the cafeteria! She loved the turkey, potatos, stuffing, peas, and cranberrys...as long as she fed it to herself. After we ate, we burned off a little energy by walking the halls. She flirted with grinning strangers and wanted them to pick her up, chasing after them when they awkardly walked by. Which is worse: stranger anxiety or NO anxiety?!

"Special Friends"

2009-11-25T20:47:00.000-08:00

So there are a couple stories tied to these precious pictures and I must share them both!

The first is that my mom's cousin's daughter (does that make her my second cousin removed?) made this dress for Kate by hand. The pictures do it absolutely NO JUSTICE as it is just the cutest little dress on her. Thank you, Morgen for making this beautiful piece for Kate. It definately is going to be passed on to her to keep for her daughter someday!

The second story is about the women lovin on my baby. Angie and Katie are first year nursing students who have been coming to my house to observe and assess Kate. I remembered from my time in nursing school (eons ago) going to a family's home so I volunteered my family in kind. Let me tell you...

It was an absolute pleasure working with these women. I looked foreward to each visit, sometimes to have a break to catch up on laundry and cleaning, but mostly to have fun conversations and to share my *wisdom* with these up and coming nurses. I would tell Kate, "you better be good...your special friends are coming to play!". She was so good for them despite the thermometers, stethoscopes, reflex hammers, etc. She never fussed once and she even giggled and encouraged them to continue with palpation and percussion of her abdomen.

Katie and Angela, thank you for spreading a little of your sunshine into my life. You are going to be excellent nurses, so stick with the program even though you will want to quit about a hundred times before it's all said and done. Kate and I are going to miss you dearly!

Such as it is...

2009-11-25T20:17:00.000-08:00

This past weekend my whole family went out to the coast for an early Thanksgiving celebration and we went outside for about five whole minutes. The rain I could handle, the cold- not a problem. But the wind made it just impossible to do anything. Daddy walked out to the surf with Kate and walked straight back. Her response? She just kept looking up as if trying to catch raindrops in her mouth!

Rachel and Kate

2009-11-18T14:31:00.000-08:00

Kate went to see her cousin Rachel at school today! Rachel is the class MVP this week so for her special recognition, she wanted her classmates to meet the little girl she talks so much about. Kate wanted Rachel to hold her the whole time which at 22 pounds is no small task for a nine year old! Rachel got the pink shirt for Kate, so naturally Kate needed to wear it for her cousin's special day :)

Double Trouble

2009-11-09T16:54:00.000-08:00

Kate's cousin Mikayla came over the other day to play, and Kate followed her everywhere! Both of them were human ping pong balls, in constant motion and in to everything. They exhausted each other out, and their parents!

They got themselves into this position without help or encouragement. Something tells me these two will be inseparable someday!

Kate as "Pebbles"

2009-11-01T00:39:00.000-07:00

Kate's Nana made her halloween costume this year. It was decided a while ago that with all that hair, she'd make a pretty good Pebbles from the Flintstones. I know she didn't quite get what all the fuss was about today, but she remained a good sport through it all- as usual!

Little Miss Sunshine

2009-10-16T22:25:00.000-07:00

She likes to "drink" the bubbles...I cannot explain this odd behavior!

Clips, ribbons, pony tail holders. All are vulnerable to being ripped out within seconds of going in!

Kate thought she'd try eating the rock. When her teeth didn't sink in as she expected, she licked it to see if that would work a little better. Then she stared at it, seemingly annoyed that it wasn't food, and tossed it over her shoulder in disgust.

Beautiful!

2009-10-16T21:58:00.000-07:00

The end of September going into October was absolutely perfect weather here in the Great Pacific Northwest.

Kate and I went outside everyday in the afternoon for about two weeks straight.

We would sit in the grass and watch the birds and look at the clouds. Sometimes she ate a blade of grass, other times she would try to get me to eat it!

Kate likes to crawl in and out of the stroller, she'll even try to buckle herself in. She also likes to curl up and lay in the basket below the seat!

Happy Fall!

2009-09-23T22:28:00.000-07:00

I brought the pool inside a couple weeks ago because at the time, the weather was getting cool. Kate didn't waste one minute...off the shoes went and in the pool she dove! When I added the plastic balls, she was entertained for what seemed like an hour. She would crawl in and chuck the balls out, then crawl out and chuck them back in. At one point, I actually saw her belly-flop mosh-pit style into the pool, giggling the whole time!

Kate is now the ripe old age of 13 months and she is BUSY. She is walking a bit when the mood strikes, each day gaining the courage to add one more step before she decides to squat down and crawl. She LOVES to unload the pots and pans, matching the lids as best as possible. She is also a fan of the plastic storage containers and the recycle bin (soda pop cans and yogurt containers are the perfect size for grabbing!). She likes to give hugs and is starting to be more of a cuddler...which I love of course :)

The Big Day...The Party!

2009-08-22T23:41:00.000-07:00

Kate and Mikayla...partners-in-grinning! These cousins are just three months apart, so they have a lot of fun ahead of them yet.

The First Birthday shrine. It's a tough pill to swallow...my baby's one year old!

Kate had her very own "cake" to enjoy all to herself. She pokes it first...seems safe. Grabs it in one fist...squish...that was neat. Brings it to her mouth with both hands...pause...look at Mommy...is it okay? Mommy is smiling...I'm going for it! She shoves it in and procedes to hold it there with both hands for what seems like 5 minutes, all the while the family is telling her, "Take a breath Kate!". She got icing up both nostrils but that didn't phase her one bit! She seemed to be in her own little piece of heaven.

Kate was a little unsure of the gift opening process. Wait, you want me to RIP the paper? But she got into the spirit of it quite quickly once Daddy showed her a few tricks. Her family gave her some really nice things, she is very fortunate to have such a great group of people in her life!

My how things change!

2009-08-19T22:26:00.000-07:00

Here she is, sleeping like an angel on the minute marking her first birthday! I crept into her room and stared at her , remembering the events of the day one year ago. I cried of course, praying that she grow up happy and healthy, and hoping so many, many things for her.

Little fingers, little toes, pretty lips and pretty nose. I look at you and my heart grows and grows!

Kate was born at 10:21 pm on 8/19/08 after a LONG day. I look back at the pictures I have taken over the past year, and I just can't believe it! She has changed so much that it is hard for me to remember without looking at the pictures. I just wish it was possible to go back in time and hold her, rock her, sing to her. I love her so much!

And the clock is ticking...

2009-08-04T15:08:00.000-07:00

No, she's not a year old yet, but I decided to start dressing her in the "Birthday Girl" t-shirt at the start of this month. It is bitter sweet to see her grow up. On the one hand, I miss the little baby she used to be, but I am enjoying the little girl that she is growing up into. Every stage has its joys and challenges, and yes there will be many for years to come! But for now, I have to remind myself to cherish every moment.

She is a little better about leaving the clip in her hair...sometimes!

She has a new found love for books, now that she has figured out how to turn the pages by herself!

Bustin' a move

2009-08-04T14:55:00.001-07:00

Kate likes to "dance" to music, singing, whistling, and this little toy that vibrates and makes silly noises. She sways her arms from side to side for as long as the noise is going on, then when it stops, she looks at it for a moment, restarts the toy, and jumps right back into dancing!

11 months

2009-08-04T14:52:00.000-07:00

Fourth of July!

2009-07-04T00:00:00.001-07:00

This is a dress that my mom made for me to wear for Christmas when I was a baby. I decided to add the heart flag and dress Kate in it for Independance Day.

I know some day she'll question my choices in wardrobe attire...

...and probably hate me for making her wear those riculous ribbons in her hair...

...but she's just so darn cute nontheless...

...and clearly she knows it!

Happy Father's Day

2009-07-03T23:40:00.001-07:00

As a surprise for my honey, I ordered a "special" dress for Kate to wear on Father's Day. The logo says "Cute as a Button", and with pink tights and white dress shoes, even camouflage looks pretty darn cute on daddy's little sweetheart!

10 months old!

2009-06-19T22:58:00.000-07:00

The swing was taken out of Kate's room today and a really soft teddy bear "rug" was put in its place. This is a picture of Kate petting it. She even layed her head down on it as if she was hugging it! I think this will be a perfect place for reading a book...

One of Kate's angelic looks...how could you be mad at this face?!

Here she is inspecting a piece of carpet fiber. She really hates it when I take it away from her.

This is her pre-fuss face. I have just taken the carpet fiber away. I get this face a lot.

Kate is changing every day, becoming more and more her own person! She likes to wave at everything now and thinks toys are for tossing around everywhere. She strongly dislikes orderliness, so after she goes to bed, I walk around the house and pick all the things up that she felt the need to displace. She is such a character! It's hard to believe that she's 10 months old!

Mmmmm...chocolate!

2009-06-12T19:14:00.000-07:00

I gave Kate the stick of a sugar-free fudge bar with a little bit left on it...I think I've unleashed a monster! Why does just a little bit make such a huge mess?

Funny Places

2009-06-12T19:06:00.000-07:00

She is getting so curious! Was she trying to fit her body in that little space?

Daddy makes a good crash site! All three of them (the black blob is one of our cats) fell asleep on the couch the other day and I couldn't resist grabbing the camera.

2009-06-05T21:54:00.000-07:00

Kate is constantly clobbering me to get to the drawstrings on whatever pants I happen to be wearing, so I think this pair of shorts is WONDERFUL! She also loves to chew on paper products and cat food. Nasty.

Summer at Last!

2009-06-05T21:45:00.000-07:00

We've finally started to have some nice weather here in the Pacific Northwest, so it was time to bust out the sunblock and go for a dunk in the kiddie pool. Kate likes to hang her upper half out the pool and kick the water with her legs. Thanks to her frolicking good times outside, she has a new found love for all things liquid...mommy's water glass, the cats water dish...

9 months old

2009-05-20T21:57:00.000-07:00

Kate likes to stand on the outside of her jumparoo and play with the toys...different perspective!

She also likes to stand at the coffee table and remove anything that is in arms reach!

Sometimes she gets brave and lets go. This either ends with getting another hold for support, or landing on her rearend. She is "precruising" right now...just toying with the idea of walking along the edge of the table. But when she crawls she is fast! She gets into trouble in nothing flat.

She weighed 17 pounds, 13.5 ounces at the doctor's office yesterday. She is still 50th percentile for weight and length, but her head is 75th. I think that means her cranium is housing a gorgeously big brain :) She's up to date on her immunizations so she didn't have to be poked with any needles...yeah! She has two teeth just peeking through on the top so she hasn't been quite herself lately, but I think she's doing pretty well with it.

Mother's Day

2009-05-16T00:08:00.000-07:00

My first Mother's Day was very special. Saturday morning, my mom and dad, sister, brother-in-law, neice and nephew came over and we had an awesome brunch. We were celebrating Mother's Day and my mom's birthday, and we all had a great time visiting. My sister had flowers delivered for my mom and I and we all had fun gifting my mom with gag gifts in celebration of a certain milestone birthday.

Sunday morning, Kate was up first thing with Daddy and she gave me the biggest smile when I walked around the corner. (She's not always so cheerful before breakfast.) I had chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast (my favorite) and then it was off to work. I look forward to someday reading the handmade cards she'll make and eat the breakfast Daddy will help her put together. Honestly, these are some of the first portrait type pictures taken of just Kate and me. I better get more before she leaves for college!

Oh, I cut the brown ends off the locks...about an inch and a half to two inches of hair she was born with that never fell out. Now she's a blondie, and I swear her hair has grown even longer in just one week! This was her third hair cut but the next one will be done by a professional who knows what they're doing :)

Kate and Mikayla

2009-05-03T23:47:00.000-07:00

Mikayla grinning through her cupcake...

Kate went to her cousin Mikayla's first birthday party today. The girls have yet to really spend time with one another, so it was fun to watch them interact. At first they just stared at each other, then they tried to grab each others arm/face/hair. Then they seemed utterly bored with one another! Someday they'll be good buds I'm sure :)

Adam flirted with Kate a little bit...she was amused for a few moments...

A true sign of rockin' party...when the attendants pass out at the end :)

2009-05-03T00:12:00.000-07:00

Kate's hair is becoming unmanageable, so in the next few days, she will be getting another hair cut. To memorialize the locks, I thought it was time to have some fun in the bath.

2009-05-02T23:58:00.000-07:00

Mommy got me this cool toy with colorful rings...she says it's for my fine motor skills development. I don't have a clue what that means. She sets them up and looks at me like I'm supposed to know what she wants me to do. I think it's fun to knock them over and watch her set it up again. She finally gives up after the third or fourth time, and then I lick the rings-yum!

8 months old

2009-04-20T23:44:00.000-07:00

It was such a beautiful day on Sunday, I decided to dress her up in her Easter dress and take her 8 month pictures outside. It was very bright, so I wasn't able to get her to look at the camera, but I think I got some cute ones anyway. The dress is a hand-me-down, an item my mom kept from when I was a baby! It's much more fun to dress her in pretty clothes now that she isn't as likely to spit up on it in 5 minutes flat. She has really progressed with her crawling in just one week...she has started to push up from her knees to her feet, leaving her butt stick up in the air. Then she shrieks as if to say "what now?!". She makes me laugh!

Pigtails!

2009-04-19T01:26:00.000-07:00

Kate has had two haircuts already, though it has been a little while. Her hair keeps getting in her eyes and was driving me crazy today, so I decided to put them in little pigtails! She looks so different like that, and so totally cute :)

She moves!

2009-04-16T00:33:00.000-07:00

Late on Monday night, Kate moved one knee. A few minutes later she moved both. A few minutes after that...well, the proof is in the video!

Happy Easter!

2009-04-16T00:26:00.000-07:00

It was a long day, but a great time spent with family! The Christiansen's joined the Degnan's and Kendall's for Easter service then we all went out for brunch. After brunch, we visited for a little while and then it was off to work! Kate did not partake in egg hunts and candy this year, but I'm sure that next year will be a different story.

Frustration In the Play Area

2009-03-27T18:53:00.000-07:00

The video says it all. It is about 2 minutes long and accurately portrays a day in the life of Kate right now. I apologize for the clothes dryer noise in the background. I took the pictures when I heard her chattering to herself and went in to check on her. She was just sitting there, perfectly content to stare at her toys...silly girl!

Unplanned Snack

2009-03-23T23:15:00.000-07:00

The dreadful aftermath...

I sliced up an apple for my husband and I to share, and ever so quickly, Kate helped herself to a slice! My first instinct was to take it away, but then we thought we'd see what she'd do with it, and what her reaction would be. She spent about 20 minutes mashing on it with her gums and two little teeth before giving it back to me with a sigh. So another food gets a thumbs up from Kate, my girl can eat! (Yes I know that the peel presents a choking hazard- she was under careful and constant supervision. Future apple slices will be diligently peeled first!)