Nursery!

We took Kate to the nursery at church for the 1st time on Sunday.  She did ok!  She was pretty teary when we came to get her after the service, but they didn't call us to come get her in the middle of it, so we consider her first visit a success!  :)  When we went to drop her off, she smiled at the nice lady and somewhat hesitantly reached out for her and went to her!  When we walked off she was playing in the floor.  By the time we came to pick her up, they had her in the stroller wheeling her around outside the classroom.  They told us she was definitely happier outside the classroom!  Which I must say doesn't surprise me.  The church service is at a rough time...it actually cuts right into nap time.  And when Kate gets tired, she gets fussy (like most babies I guess) and likes to be busy doing something other than just playing with toys in the floor.  But....at least we accomplished our first nursery visit!
We got home and put her straight down for her nap.  This is what she woke up looking like:

Guess all that playtime wore her out!  And woo!  Some serious bedhead....

Grammy was here visiting all last week to just spend some fun time hanging out with Kate and also so that I could hopefully get some chores done around the house.  I managed to get through all Kate's baby clothes from this first year and store things away.  Thankful for that great work day at home, Grammy!  Kate sure does love you and we look forward to the next visit!

Kate and Grammy practicing crawling and reading a book

Casey is really driving us nuts lately.  Not only is the shedding crazy out of control particularly in the summertime, but her barking has continued to get progressively and undeniably worse.  I mean, I appreciate her "protectiveness" and all, but really, do you have to bark at EVERY little bump, Casey?!  Friday afternoon I took her outside and decided I was going to "Furminate" and scrub her til all that dead hair came off her.  I think we were successful, because I have noticed the shedding has been a little better this week, and she even seems like she feels better.  Anyways, when we're in the floor playing with Kate she is right in our faces.  Can't get close enough.  And it's not like you can just stick her outside because, unlike all other labs I've ever known, she absolutely DESPISES being outside.  The stray cats lurking outside our house are NOT helping the cause this summer.  She is CONSTANTLY underfoot:

Helping me read to Kate (maybe she enjoys the books, too?!)

Helping Kate and Joe practice crawling

These are just TWO very, very small examples.  Don't get me wrong...I LOVE this little dog more than life itself.  But really, Casey, do you think you could tone it down just a scoach?  We've got it under control.  Really.

Bubby has been over playing a good bit this week.  He came to play with us Sunday afternoon, Monday and Tuesday evenings!  He is starting to walk really well and is all over the place!

Nana, Kate, Papa, and Will hanging out on the back porch

New words the past few days:  "Cup" "Duck" "Quack, quack!" "Dog"

Newborn Kate, only a few days old

Almost-a-year-old Kate

This is such a fun little age and I'm loving every minute of it!  Starting to wish I was home even more...but at the same time still appreciating the balance of part-time work.  Kate was officially 11 months old on Sunday!  Hard to believe it has been almost a full year.  My, how it has gone so fast!!!  Her 1st Birthday Party invitations are here and we are starting to plan her little party.  So fun!      

CRAWLING!!!!!

Well, we are officially crawling!!  She really took off for the first time yesterday.  The cell phone seems to be the best thing to entice her with.  Still not TOO sure about it, but finally starting to move around a bit.  

What else have we been up to?  Grammy is here visiting this week!  Kate always loves her time with Grammy.  We are still learning new words ("uh-oh!") and constantly busy with something.  We are planning and excited about her birthday coming up about a month away.  And we are SOOO looking forward to the fall, and just being able to get back outdoors more.  It has been SUCH a hot August!

"Ladies & Gentlemen, please place your trays & seats in the upright position and prepare the cabin for takeoff..."  

Reading about "Little Fish" before bed

Who didn't have a sit and spin at this age?

With her favorite baby

Lovin' the curls in the back :)

Silly Videos

Kate thinks it is hilarious when we look back from the front of the car over the edge of her car seat to peek at her.  Why this is so funny I wish I knew!  Something about this laugh just instantly cures the grumpies :)

Well, I think it's safe to say Kate took her first official "crawl steps" this weekend!  Today especially she was even more on the move.  Still a little fussy on the floor on her tummy, but really starting to push up on all fours and scoot around.  I went in this morning to get her up out of bed and she was sitting up looking at me!  So we lowered the crib down tonight before she went to bed.  She has started pulling up on the side of the crib to a standing position.  Better late than never!  

Notice how when she gets mad she shouts, "Mamamamamama!"  I've noticed it's usually only when she's mad that she enunciates it that well....hmmmm.  Interesting.  

Just Some Funnies

First blueberry muffin.  Think she liked it?

We're gonna figure this thing out together.

I can almost crawl.  Can YOU?

New words this week:  Nana, No-No, Ca-ee (Casey), Ba-ba (baby, bye-bye, ball), & more Mama, Dada.  Hope to catch it on video soon!

Bathtime Fun!

Don't know what was so special about bathtime last night, but Kate had the best time in the tub!  We managed to get a few cute shots of her as she was showing off, splashing and kicking around :)  She sure loves her ducky and little "squirtie" animal toys!

10 Months!

Somehow we have survived this week of being sick and are all feeling much better, thank the Lord!  We had an otherwise good week.  Kate is officially 10 months old now, so I wanted to share her newest "10 Month" photos!  She is STILL not crawling!  But seems to be getting ever so close?!?!  Today I walked out of the room for a few seconds and came back to find her up on all fours and attempting to lunge forward after a toy.  From there she went up onto her feet (like a "downward dog" position), but just fell backward again onto her hiney into a split.  Ugh!  She is quite funny though.  She LOVES to be held and carried around, which is cute and fun, until you've been carrying her around for an hour or so and your arms and hip start to get a little tired.  Sometimes even when we're sitting in the floor playing with her, she'll just throw down all her toys and start reaching over for us with a look on her face that says, "Get me! Get me!"  And we're beginning to see some feistiness too...temper tantrums, fits, etc.  Oh yes, this is payback, my mother tells me ;)  Is 10 months too young to throw a tantrum?  Apparently not.  Oh we are in for it.  

Standing with support, but still not crawling!

Love my dolls :)

Sweet smile :)

Riding my car!

Like I said, we unfortunately missed sweet Will's 1st birthday party because we were sick, but Uncle Joe was able to get a few shots for us.  (We did make a quick cameo just in time to see him eat his cake, but had to dash out for fear we might spread the germs).  

Will had a "Bubbles" party!

Will with Uncle Joe

Happy Birthday Boy and Mommy!

Oh that's good stuff ;)

First Time Sick

Well, it seems we may have survived Kate's first time being sick.  This has not been a fun weekend.  On top of her being sick, I have been sick as well, which has made for really fun times for poor ol' Dad.  It all started with Monday back at work after getting off the plane from our trip last Sunday.  I could feel a sore throat coming on, and continued to run a low-grade fever in the evenings last week until Friday when everything just moved into my head / chest / sinuses.  Ugh.  Friday evening Kate was feeling a little warm to me and had been a little fussier than usual.  Joe and I decided to load her up in the car and take her for a little ride to try to get her calmed down, during which she fell asleep.  When we got her home and sat her down to feed her dinner, she just wasn't interested in eating.  She was feeling really warm by this time.  When we took her temperature, it read a whopping 103.5.  Being a new mom and having been blessed with a very healthy baby thus far, I panicked.  We threw her in the car and called the doctor on the way, along with a nurse buddy (thanks, Kelley!).  Everyone assured us that although yes that was a high fever, she should do ok with Tylenol and Motrin through the night to bring the fever down, and to try to keep her well-hydrated until we can see the pediatrician in the morning.  We took her to the doctor the next morning and she has done fine, just been a little more tired / fussy than normal.  But I think we're on the road to recovery.  All this has to happen of course on the big day of Will's first birthday party!  I was so disappointed we weren't able to be there for the entire party.  We were able to make a short appearance but left quickly out of fear that our germs would be spread all over creation.  

I took myself to the doctor today and am hopefully finally on the right road to recovery myself.  Ugh.  What a weekend.  I'll be sick 1,000 times more if it just means she doesn't have to be.  Poor babies...just pitiful when they don't feel good!

Slumber Party

So Will got to come spend the night with Kate Tuesday night because his Mommy was having to get up REALLY early for work Wednesday morning.  Boy did we have a fun time playing Wednesday morning while waiting on his Mommy to come pick him up.  He is one FUNNY little boy!

I think Kate's going to be 14 years old and having her friends over trying to convince them that jumping in that Jumperoo is still the coolest thing.  I don't think she's ever going to grow out of it!  And Will likes the music.  He is a dancin' fool these days!  The birthday boy will be one year old tomorrow!   We are so excited about his party! 

Sweet, Sweet St. John

Lord I hope you will forgive me.  I really, REALLY missed my precious baby girl, but was just NOT ready to come home from this unbelievable place.  We had a great time on our trip last week, and Kate had a fun time at home with Nana and Papa.  We can't wait to go back!  Next time, we promise we'll bring you, Kate :)

In the meantime, not much is new, other than Bubby (Will) turns the big O-N-E this weekend!  My how a year flies by.  Kate is still not crawling but may be getting a little closer?!  Just doesn't like being on her tummy at all, and I must confess, we give in to her fussiness.  While we were away on our trip she did push herself into a sitting position from laying down in the crib...she had not done this yet.  Nana said she heard her fussing a little in the crib and went in to find her sitting up and smiling at her.  She said it sort of freaked her out a little!  We are beginning to think about her birthday party coming up in the next few weeks and starting to plan for it a little.  We are officially 10 months old now!!  Here are her most recent pics:

This was my rocking chair when I was little.

Hair's finally beginning to grow!