Changes

Lots of changes around here! I'm normally NOT a fan of change, but when it involves watching Kate grow and thrive and learn, it's pretty awesome. We are amazed at how quickly her motor skills are developing!

She sits by herself and reaches all over to grab her toys. Also, she's rolling and scooting everywhere and gets on her hands and knees and "rocks." She moves knees sometimes and doesn't always face plant anymore :) She is getting so close to crawling!

Let the baby proofing begin! Gates have gone up around our pool and my parents' pool because Miss Priss is fast. Everyday she is stronger and moving more! We have also lowered her crib mattress because now she can pull to standing. 

She has so much personality and we love playing with her! She smiles at us and the dogs and certain sounds that we all make. She kicks her little legs with excitement when we're getting ready for bathtime, and she is so relaxed outside. She could play on the beach all day. She only sits still quietly on stroller walks - she has never fallen asleep in her stroller, but is so content on these long walks. 

Otherwise, she's a mile a minute :)

She has 2 teeth (1 bottom then 1 top) and now 2 more are cutting (the other top and bottom ones). Weird order, I know! She isn't sleeping well at all, but Motrin helps and she likes chewing on cold celery. It's the only "teething food" that she doesn't break off in pieces and will keep her content for about 4 minutes while we scarf dinner!

If you look closely, you can see her little tooth on the bottom! This was about a week ago, and I think it's the only picture where you can actually see her first tooth.

Happy Wednesday!

Kate & Ella

This weekend was wonderful! One of my good friends, Jess, and her baby Ella (and dog!) came to visit. Ella is just about 3 weeks younger than Kate, and although they met once when they were brand new, this weekend was the first time they got to "hang out." It was a super fun full house!

They noticed each other, grabbed for each other's arms, legs, clothes and bows and Kate stole any toy Ella tried to play with. Sorry Ella :( Kate will work on her sharing!

We played outside where they practiced rolling and scooting

Then we headed to the art festival downtown. Kate rode on my lap because we didn't feel like adding a carseat (just kidding.)

All ready to go in their (unplanned) matching carseats. They are two peas in a pod!

Took a break at the festival where I fed Kate some pears (she ate the whole container! this is a big deal around these parts) and Ella enjoyed orange slices!

Then to my parents' for dinner, where we passed babies around like hot potatoes. At some point, everyone got to eat :) 

They were so sleepy and ready for their baths so....

 ... a bath was shared! No time to do one at a time with fussy butts, and other than Kate hogging the toys, they had a blast :)

If you told me 7 years ago that Jess and I would have baby girls at pretty much the same time, I wouldn't have believed you. Of course we always talked about raising babies together, but living states away and not having a "let's be pregnant at the same time" talk makes all of this even more exciting and perfect! I love Jess and Ella with all my heart, and I can't wait to watch our girls grow and play together!

Our sweet girls (who did NOT sleep well) looking happy as can be the last morning!

We really enjoyed our weekend together! It was great to catch up, share baby stories, trade tips and snuggle on these baby dolls. There was even an hour where both girls were napping at the same time and we sipped coffee on the couch and I had a little tiny flashback to our Gator nation days where Jess and I could just talk for hours. 

7 months

Dear Kate,
   Today, you are 7 months old! Of course I know time is flying, but it hit me today at work when some of my patients asked "Didn't you just have a baby? How is she?" When I answered, "Great! She's 7 months today..." they all had these holy-moly-already? looks on their faces. You are growing and changing everyday, and I knew it would happen, but I am so incredibly happy because each month is better than the last! In seeing babies at work, I've always loved the 6-8 month age, and this has definitely been such a fun month with you! You interact so much, and your little personality is shining. I feel like you're my little companion now, and it's obvious you love us all so much. You are the light of our lives and you make everything wonderful!

So now you can sit by yourself and I feel like this has brought you to a whole new stage! You can play with your toys a little better and hold your own to the dogs trying to kiss you ;)

I still haven't been able to get a picture of your tooth, but you have 1 on the bottom, and the top one just above it is cutting now! You chew on whatever you can, but our fingers, your toes and Sophie are your current favorites!

You still love to be outside and the dogs provide you with constant entertainment. You laugh harder at them than anything else, especially when they're jumping around waiting to be fed and when Daddy plays catch with them. Your laugh melts my heart...there is absolutely no better sound in the world. I have a little video of it on my phone and I listen to it all the time. It's amazing.

I know you're blurry in this picture, but it shows your attitude! I call you feisty and you are so strong willed. You know what you want and how you want it, and you have no problem screaming at us when it isn't your way ;) Toy isn't how you want it? You squeeze your fists and scream. Finished eating baby food? You purse your little lips so tight and turn your head and growl. Tired of your exersaucer? You give us a pitiful cry and then your temper scream. Tired of the stroller? You guessed it - scream really loud and arch your back.You also don't really see the reason why you need to be diapered and dressed after your bath before bed which makes these tasks SUPER fun! Ha! It is usually a 2 person job - it isn't easy dressing a twisting, screaming, flailing alligator! I love your passion - you are going to change the world!

You still LOVE swinging outside.

We've had a couple of "cold" days - don't worry, we keep you warm :)

You are already showing the first signs of learning to crawl! Not completely in this pic, but you get up on all fours and even scoot. You'll pull one leg forward, then usually fall forward. You're getting there! You also LOVE standing...that's pretty much all you want to do when on our laps. I think you may walk early!

Hot tub with Pop Pop. You are completely obsessed with water. You LOVE to be in it (no matter the temp), hear it run (sink and washer), watch us water plants with it, and practice drinking it out of your sippy cup.

As far as sleep, I feel like I should write something so months from now when I think I'm tired, I can read back and laugh! On your best nights, your longest stretch is 6 hours. That happens maybe 2-3 nights a week. Otherwise, you wake about every 3-4 hours and teething has definitely given us more nighttime cuddle time.

 You are still breastfed and you also have some baby food 2-3 times a day. You like the rice cereal and will only eat fruits if they're mixed with cereal. Veggies are hit or miss, and although peas used to be your favorite, now they make you gag. You hate carrots and love the pears I make. Feeding you can be so fun (and challenging)!

This month you also said "see you later" to Courtney! She'll have fun in VA but we'll miss her around here!

You celebrated your first Valentine's Day! Mommy got roses from Daddy and PopPop, and you got your first flowers. PopPop sent flowers to Little Miss Magic II (you) and Nannie got you some love books!

I LOVE this picture of you! Such a babydoll in your fancy bathing suit, so happy standing up!

Another month has passed and you just make us so happy! You have the most precious smile, your mama's morning puffy eyes, and the sweetest voice when you babble. Lord help me when you say "Mama" for the first time... Thank you for being the best thing in the whole world! I love you to the moon and back and more than all the stars in the sky (and I swear you really listen when I tell you that).

My grandparents

Last weekend, Nana and Pawpaw came down from Louisiana for the week. Pawpaw was here when Kate was born, but this was the first time Kate got to meet Nana! We enjoyed our visit with them, and Kate loves her great grandparents :)

Chasing a ladybug

 

Kate has a tooth! It came in Jan. 25 (right after her half birthday!) and I've tried so hard to get a picture of it.    Kate has tried even harder to not let me get a pic. She wins.

The morning Nana and Pawpaw left. Kate was napping and Jeremy was in Gainesville.

Holly was in town too this weekend! Lots of fun with her and Scotty