15 months!

This girl is a drama mama! She is very emotional (already!) and needs all my attention.
She is mostly happy, but sometimes decides to have a grumpy day. Don't we all need those sometimes?
(This morning, wearing a onesie, Grandpa's medal, and carrying around mama's bikini top! Oh, and miffed cuz I won't pick her up.)

She is starting to get very "clingy" to me, which I completely adore. I love when she burrows into my neck when she is acting shy.
She is as smart as a whip, I am tellin' ya. She picks things up quick. She is going to keep us busy!
Before bed, we chase her around, acting like a lion or bear, growling as she runs giggling from us. This morning, I heard her make a growling sound, and I went to investigate; she was chasing her little friend around a chair, growling!
(Running away from a scary bear, favorite blanket in hand.)

She signs: mama, dada, milk, more, all done, dog, duck, bird, cow, horse, rabbit, sheep, squirrel, play, apple, eat, etc. The list goes on.
She loves animals, and can mimic a cow (mmmmmmm), a dog (panting), a monkey, an owl, and she is totally obsessed with ducks, and goes crazy signing "duck" when she sees one.
Her favorite thing to play with right now are her books, ("The Wheels on the Bus") and her letter and animal flash cards. I promise she has more age appropriate toys, but always brings us the books and flash cards.
She loves nap, and bed time, as long as we are there to say goodnight to her.
If she sees someone folding their arms, or hears the word "prayer", she folder her short little arms, and bows her head. Melts me every time.
(Being grumpy in the morning. "I 'heart' Daddy" PJs. Lips pouted. Won't even look at me!)

She is a dancing maniac! Her favorite song right now is "I Gotta Feeling". We made a music video a few weeks ago with that song. Maybe I'll post it...I also discovered she thinks the song "Who Let the Dogs Out", is hilarious! Or maybe it was my dance moves?
She is getting picky about her food! Grilled cheese? No, thanks. Mac-n-Cheese? Gross. She acts like I just gave her dirt for dinner. Actually, she will eat dirt...(She decided she liked pasta for one meal only. Always rubs her dinner in her hair! Only has three bottom teeth.)

Kate is completely obsessed with her little blanket and has to carry it around everywhere. She has started holding it to her nose, smelling it constantly. I totally did this with my "Didi" and I am secretly happy she does it too!
She just got her first, good goose egg on her little forehead. Bruised and everything. So sad.
Loves new clothes, and shoes. She totally knows when something is new and will point and keep looking down at her new outfit. A true girl.
7 teeth.
In love with her Dada. And follows her mama around all day begging to be held.
Sure love my little lover.

14 months

Oh my Baby Lover, (Kate bug, Munchy, Lover Buns, Sweet Baby, Princess, Baby Girl)

You are getting too big. My back is constantly in pain from carrying you around. But, I know there will come a day when you would rather be running around, and than on your mama's hip. I am trying to savor these days with you as my "baby". You are still not walking independently. And I know if it because we hold you too much.

You have taken some steps here and there, but you are very cautious, and get scared if my hand is not near. You are very curious and explore every nook and cranny. You love to get into my makeup and look at each item. You are also obsessed with Grammy's boom box. You crawl over to it, point, and start to dance. That is our signal that you are ready to party. You are becoming quite the dancer! You are also a social butterfly already. You love being around people and smiling and showing off to them!

You are really smart. You are communicating better every single day. I am amazed at the things you pick up without us consciously teaching you. You love to read, and I often find you with a book open, flipping through the pages by yourself.

You are such a delight. I love spending my days with you. And I even secretly love it when you wake up in the night, so I can love and snuggle you. You are a happy girl, and I am so happy to be your Mama.

I love you Bug.
Mama

Kate at 1 year

Kate is still my best little friend. We have figured each other out. We work well together. I can make her happy, and she can send me over the moon. I love my little girl (baby!).





She...
is beautiful
loves to be close to her mama at all times
is starting to get picky about food
25 pounds
is getting her two top teeth and is not very happy about it
crawls on her hands and knees
loves walking along the furniture
hates going to the doctor
getting less chubby (sad)
loves going down the slide at the park
sleeps in "child's pose"
loves her brown and pink blankie and clear nummy
will not drink milk out of anything but her bottles
has silky light brown hair that is growing so fast
only likes one type of sippie cup
shakes her head "no" when she doesn't want something
signs: baby, more, and kinda of mama and dada
says: mama, dada, DOP! and sometimes repeats some animal sounds
loves to be outside
has the softest skin
wears size 2T pants
size 4 diapers
pooped in the bathtub this week, yuck
might be allergic to cow's milk
loves avocados, eggs, orange juice, corn, beans, and anything sweet
doesn't like: raspberries, and Cheerios
has the cutest laugh
is the most happy at 6:30 when Matt drives up
goes to bed at 7:45/8pm and wakes at 8:00/8:30pm
takes two naps, two hours each
is an angel

Kate...

She is on the move*!!! My job just got kicked up a notch!

Is there a pay increase?
Yes...
Wet, wet, slobbery, licky kisses from Kate, with an occasional "love bite"!
I'll take it!

*Crawling on knees (finally!), but prefers to walk with help. She took 3 steps alone last night!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

Dear Kate,
The past 365 days with you by my side have been the best I could have asked for. They were filled with wonder, hope, excitement, fear, learning, worry, pain, joy, awe, fun and mostly just pure love. Everyday with you is something new. I still look forward to getting you up in the morning and seeing those dark sparkly eyes looking at me and crinkling into a smile. We have so many hopes and dreams for you, and we are trying our best to teach you early to be a good girl.
I love being your Mama. More than anything. It is the best job anyone could have. I am glad I get to be your mother for eternity.
Happy Birthday Kate Bug. Can't wait for another exiting year with you as my sidekick.
I love you sweet baby,
Love,
Mama

Thanks Baby Center

Why is a teeny bit sad when your baby turns 1? Baby Center emailed me just now to inform me she is now a "toddler"! What? When did that happen?!

Munchy Girl

I love looking at this cute face all day long. How could I not?



This is my view for pretty much the whole day. She wants to be walking at all times! Notice the grip on my shorts. It will be nice when she can do it herself, but then again, I love that she is so depended on me.

Me and my girl

My Kate has returned. We spent the afternoon in the backyard reading books, and blowing bubbles. She is at such a fun age right now...I just want to freeze time. As the wind carried the bubbles away from us, she would wave with that chubby little hand. Oh, how I love my little Bug.

Where did my baby go?

Just when I thought I had this whole "mothering" thing down, I realize I have no idea what I am doing.

I thought I knew what the short, little, whipper-cry meant. I knew for sure that the full on crying sound, but without tears, meant. I knew it meant something different with tears. Tears meant business. I even knew what she wanted sometimes by the look in her eye.

Or so I thought.

She whines. She crys. Tears and more tears. But then she will laugh out loud, only to cry seconds later? What does this mean, Kate? I don't speak that langauge. Remember the language we have been speaking for the past 11 months and 2 weeks? Remember?!

My once perfect sleeper, sleeps no more. Refuses naps. 11pm bedtimes. A 2:30 am diaper change and bottle. She throws her nummy. Isn't that the worse? Especially in the dark. It always ends up under the dresser, covered in dust.

What is a mother to do?

What do I do?!

I am hoping it is all teething. She does have a runny nose, maybe a cold coming on? Did your child get replaced by a stranger-baby when they were teething?

Kate, come back.

All I want for Christmas is all her teeth to be in!

Kate is teething. 'Nuff said? Probably yes. But..I shall go on.
She refused to take her afternoon naps all week, which lead to a crazy baby for 6 hours before bedtime, and an even crazier me. She whined all week. She wanted to be held or walking (with someones help) at all times. ALL TIMES. My baby is 25 pounds. My left arm is so strong. Wanna feel it? She wanted me, me, me.
Last night at 9:02, (right as Grey's started) she woke up crying. And Crying. And crying. All she wanted was mama, a bottle, her blanket, and Baby Einsteins. All together. I tried to turn off the TV. Crying. Take her empty bottle away? Crying. Give her to Matt? Crying and reaching for me! (I secretly really loved that part).
After she had calmed down, gotten in 20 minutes of cuddling, I would put her down. I would creep out of her room, into mine, and just as I was about to crawl into my warm bed, she would start all over again.
This happened 4 or 5 times. I lost count to tell you the truth. It was like groundhogs night.
She is a little happier today. But, I cannot do another night like that. CANNOT!

I tried Tylenol and Orajel, any other tips for me?

She is SASSY!

A few days ago I caught Kate with her favorite thing: a cord. Dangerous, right?
I looked at her sternly and said, "Baby, no no no no NO!"
And she looked right back at me with (I swear) the same expression, and said, Na na na na na NA!"
I tired to keep a straight face as I took the cord away and she screamed and burst into tears.
She was clearly mad at me after our first fight. 45 seconds later she remembered we were best friends, and everything has been happy since.
the end.

Lunch Date

Kate and I just got back from a lunch date with our favorite boy. We learned that Kate can now drink from a straw, and LOVES Diet Coke. Ut Oh! Her facial expression was priceless when she got that first sip of carbonation.
We were sitting on a bench next to a planter, and while Matt and I were flirting, (and not watching our daughter as closely as we should have) she decided to put a whole handful of dirt in her mouth. It was one of those slow motion moments. I looked over just as her chubby hand released the filth in her clean little mouth. Her expression this time, we even better. Matt and I couldn't stop laughing as we tried to get it all out.
What's better than Diet Coke, to wash down the remaining dirt?
It is days like this I hope I won't forget about.

We love the sun.

In this family, we start laying out before we can even walk.

Like mother....

like daughter:
so proud.

21 pounds, 28 inches long, and my favorite tiny person

favorite toys: dad's toothbrush, mom's make up and cell phone, her fuzzy deer (pictured), mr. glow warm, and her twitter bug
favorite food: kiwi, avocado, tofu, rice, orzo, bananas, yogurt melts, and her beloved puffs.
favorite game: peek-a-boo, anything with dad, and being tickled by mom
favorite activities: eating, going on walks, playing with her toys, swings at the park, and playing with her "dada"
favorite people: mom, dad, and grandpa (he is home all day with us!)
favorite sleeping position: on her tummy with her blankie under her face, nummy (binky) close by

My Kate

This cute girl was feeling under the weather today, and did not want to leave my side. I loved every minute of it.

nine months

(Love this photo because it is such a true "day in the life of" Kate moment. When she plays, she is a leaky faucet, so she usually wears a bib, she has her blocks, and doll, and she is just...happy.)

The Bug, Kate, is 9 months today. What? I have a 9 month old?! Who am I?

She is my best little friend. She makes me smile and laugh all day long. I love teaching her and watching her learn and grow.

She is obsessed with her tongue. She can flip it over in her mouth. So talented!

She is out of her cradle (sniff, sniff), and in a pack-n-play. With all the new found room, she has discovered the amazing-ness that is sleeping on your stomach. (We are buying a crib for her this week!)

She pees out of her diaper every, single, night.

She is a marathon sleeper. Yesterday went like this:

Wakes up at 7:30am

Nap from 9:30-12:00

Nap from 2-4:30

Bed at 7:00 pm

Wakes up this morning at 8am! 13 hours?! How could I not love this girl?

She says: Dada, Mama, Nana, Baba

Loves her blankie

She clucks her tongue

Loves her books

Plays with her doll all the time, she pokes her eyes, and sucks on her hands

Loves her Yogurt Melts, Puffs, and anything else that goes in her mouth

She is no longer nursing, (I am still trying to accept it)

Loves to be out and about, especially at the mall, park, grocery store or beach

No teeth yet!

Love my little Love Bug.

Peek-A-Boo Baby

I meant to post this awhile back. This was over New Years when we were in Oceanside. Kate and Matt were playing Peek-A-Boo, and Kate was doing an excellent job hiding.

Mommy Questions:

At what age did your baby crawl?! I want her to start, but know all the extra work it will require. But still anxious for the next milestone!

Am I paranoid? I still break everything into teeny weeny pieces. 

At what age should I start signing with your babies, (if you did)? What are the most useful words?

Is it possible to love a second, third, fourth, etc...child as much as I love Kate?! I am obsessed with her chubby cheeks and kissy lips.

Bye Bye!

Kate and I are on a little trip in Santa Barbara visiting a few of my best friends! Before we left yesterday we were outside saying goodbye to Matt and Kate waved for the first time to Matt! It was so stinkin' cute. We started laughing and telling her good job, and then she started clapping! She was so proud of herself. I love that little bug.

We have this conversation everyday.

Kate: Daaddaaaaaaaa
Me: Yes, we love Dada.
Kate: Dadadadadaaa
Me: I know, you miss your Dada.
Kate: Daaadaaaadaaa
Me: Kate Bug, why don't you try to say Mama. Maaaaaaaaaamaaaaaaa. Maaamaaaaa!
Kate: Daadaaaa.

Someday...