Dear Kate,
Your 1st birthday just passed and it is hard to imagine where the time has gone. I remember the night before you were born like it was yesterday. I was so ready to meet you, hold you, and fall in love with you. I wasn't sleeping good because I had gained 40 lbs and was so big...so I was awake a lot of the night, praying you would be healthy, imagining what you would look like, and trying to imagine all the wonders of Motherhood. The next evening I met you, you were perfectly healthy, you were more beautiful than I ever imagined and I fell in love with you more than I ever thought possible. I have fallen in love with you a little more every day since that day. It was your coos, your cries, your smiles, your laughs, your big blue eyes, your nose, your hair, your tiny hands, your little feet, your perfect belly button, the way you slept, the way you laid on me, your fingers down to your toes- I love everything about you. You began to crawl when you were 6 months, you would rock back and forth at first and then almost overnight you started cruising all over the house. You started eating solid food/purees at 6 months too...I think you would have preferred to stick with milk at the time, but it was time for the addition in your diet! You started walking the day before Fathers Day! We were over at Papa Kens and you stood up and walked to me. We were all ecstatic :) Since then you haven't stopped. You talk, you laugh, you give hugs and you give kisses, you tell "jokes" and you have the most amazing sense of humor. You're always happy and laughing. You're independent, yet you love people. You love animals- jaw droppingly so! You love books at bedtime. You love babies and puppets at playtime. You have always loved water- bath time is your favorite. You love the pool too and will kick your feet as we pretend you are swimming. You love to play in the hose. You love to sit down, put your feet out, put your shoes, and go outside. The second I say "let's put your shoes on", you sit right down and want your shoes on, it's so cute! You love to be outside. You love bubbles. You know a brush, brushes your hair, you know q-tips go in your ears. You know the word, no. You don't love paint...I would love a hand print, but you aren't cooperating!! You love your Daddy. You love your Mommy. I can't wait to show you the 1000's of pictures and videos I have taken throughout the year. I have loved putting you to bed everynight with a book and a bottle. I have stared at your sleeping body nestled in my arms for countless hours, thanking God for you and realizing I am the luckiest Mommy in the world. I love your baby breath, there is nothing as sweet as a babies breath. I have loved waking up in the wee morning hours, bringing you in my bed to cuddle together before we get up to start the day. You make me smile and laugh daily. I don't know how I ever lived without you ~ You are my world, my everything.
I love you forever,
Mommy
I'm buying pretty paper tomorrow and hand writing this for you, I think you will love reading my letters one day! I'm hoping we will read them together in 20 or so years!! :) Wow, I will be 53...seriously ouch!!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Maybe Baby #2
I have been itching for another baby for several months now!! I have been keeping track of my cycles and we haven't been using any form of birth control, so every month I am sort of hoping that "this will be the month"! I really want to give Kate a sibling and I want them to be close in age, so they can grow up together and be best friends, like my sisters and I are. So secretly, I am hoping for a girl...I may delete this sentence one day- if God gives us a baby boy! Haha!
Anyway, I'm one day late today and I'm so anxious about the possibility that maybe "this will be the month"!
(I took a pregnancy test last night and there was only one line- if I haven't started my period by tomorrow, I will take another test!!) Fingers are crossed!!!!
Anyway, I'm one day late today and I'm so anxious about the possibility that maybe "this will be the month"!
(I took a pregnancy test last night and there was only one line- if I haven't started my period by tomorrow, I will take another test!!) Fingers are crossed!!!!
Daddy's & Daughters
This resonated with me...made me tear up, I am so lucky to have the most amazing Dad. I can't remember a time in my life when he wasn't there for me. I could always count on him; he always had time for me, he made me feel loved and important and valuable and special and beautiful and smart. He has always been proud of me and I knew it all my life. I am so blessed to have him as a role model. He puts family first, he has integrity, he is honest, he is giving to his family, friends, and community. He is my hero.
I'm so happy that I found a man so similar to my Dad. Someone who will be all of these things for my children.
2. Always be there. Quality time doesn’t happen without quantity time. Hang out together for no other reason than just to be in each other’s presence. Be genuinely interested in the things that interest her. She needs her dad to be involved in her life at every stage. Don’t just sit idly by while she add years to her… add life to her years.
5. Pray for her. Regularly. Passionately. Continually.
9. Of course you look silly playing peek-a-boo. You should play anyway.
11. There will come a day when she asks for a puppy. Don’t over think it. At least one time in her life, just say, “Yes.”
12. It’s never too early to start teaching her about money. She will still probably suck you dry as a teenager… and on her wedding day.
17. Learn to say no. She may pitch a fit today, but someday you’ll both be glad you stuck to your guns.
18. Tell her she’s beautiful. Say it over and over again. Someday an animated movie or “beauty” magazine will try to convince her otherwise.
22. She’s as smart as any boy. Make sure she knows that.
23. When she learns to give kisses, she will want to plant them all over your face. Encourage this practice.
25. Letting her ride on your shoulders is pure magic. Do it now while you have a strong back and she’s still tiny.
30. Never miss her birthday. In ten years she won’t remember the present you gave her. She will remember if you weren’t there.
33. Take her swimsuit shopping. Don’t be afraid to veto some of her choices, but resist the urge to buy her full-body beach pajamas.
37. Introduce her to the swings at your local park. She’ll squeal for you to push her higher and faster. Her definition of “higher and faster” is probably not the same as yours. Keep that in mind.
38. When she’s a bit older, your definition of higher and faster will be a lot closer to hers. When that day comes, go ahead… give it all you’ve got.
40. She might ask you to buy her a pony on her birthday. Unless you live on a farm, do not buy her a pony on her birthday. It’s OK to rent one though.
41. Take it easy on the presents for her birthday and Christmas. Instead, give her the gift of experiences you can share together.
44. Write her a handwritten letter every year on her birthday. Give them to her when she goes off to college, becomes a mother herself, or when you think she needs them most.
46. When in doubt, trust your heart. She already does.
48. Ice cream covers over a multitude of sins. Know her favorite flavor.
http://lifetoheryears.com/
Friday, September 9, 2011
Today
Today Kate is 1 year old, plus 10 days :) I picked her up from Ludim's today and she had cute little pig tails- basically this was the cutest thing I have seen in my whole life!!! My little girls hair is long enough for pigtails, I'm not sure why this makes me so excited, but it does! I don't think these pics do the "do" justice...seriously she is the cutest baby girl ever!!! I know, I know, nothing beats a Mothers love...but I think you will agree.
Kate is blowing kisses now, she's dancing whenever a tune comes on or I start to sing, she's hugging, she's kissing, she's laughing at her own "jokes"- we think she thinks she's the funniest person she knows~ her sense of humor is beautiful- she laughs all the time- belly laughs all the time, mouth wide open and smiling!
She runs all over the place! We're staying with Dad now, our lease is up and we have an offer in on a house in Sweetwater. Anyway, every morning we have breakfast with Gigi and Papa and then we come back to the house and get dressed and go...we walk out the door and I get the bags in the car and Kate is halfway up the walk way headed to Gigi's. She laughs and talks the whole way...and then I have to coerce her or snatch her up and head to the car! Kate really loves Gigi...they have bonded :) We go up there a lot of afternoons when we get home too. Gigi helped Kate learn how to blow kisses!
Her 1 year Dr. appointment went well- except Kate is not a big fan of Dr. C, she was very clingy with me and did not want him touching her. This was very different than all of the previous appointments, I guess a sign of her changing and growing and knowing who she knows and who she doesn't! Kate is 19.5 lbs (35th percentile for weight) and 30 inches long (75th percentile for height). Dr. C asked me if she would take a step if I held on to her hands...I laughed, she's been walking since she was 9.5 months old!! 2 more shots
:( but she was fine a couple minutes after it was over.
We're looking forward to FALL!! :) I think I'm going to send a fall themed card to the Family this year...time to start looking for outfits and props!!
Kate is blowing kisses now, she's dancing whenever a tune comes on or I start to sing, she's hugging, she's kissing, she's laughing at her own "jokes"- we think she thinks she's the funniest person she knows~ her sense of humor is beautiful- she laughs all the time- belly laughs all the time, mouth wide open and smiling!
She runs all over the place! We're staying with Dad now, our lease is up and we have an offer in on a house in Sweetwater. Anyway, every morning we have breakfast with Gigi and Papa and then we come back to the house and get dressed and go...we walk out the door and I get the bags in the car and Kate is halfway up the walk way headed to Gigi's. She laughs and talks the whole way...and then I have to coerce her or snatch her up and head to the car! Kate really loves Gigi...they have bonded :) We go up there a lot of afternoons when we get home too. Gigi helped Kate learn how to blow kisses!
Her 1 year Dr. appointment went well- except Kate is not a big fan of Dr. C, she was very clingy with me and did not want him touching her. This was very different than all of the previous appointments, I guess a sign of her changing and growing and knowing who she knows and who she doesn't! Kate is 19.5 lbs (35th percentile for weight) and 30 inches long (75th percentile for height). Dr. C asked me if she would take a step if I held on to her hands...I laughed, she's been walking since she was 9.5 months old!! 2 more shots
:( but she was fine a couple minutes after it was over.
We're looking forward to FALL!! :) I think I'm going to send a fall themed card to the Family this year...time to start looking for outfits and props!!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
1 Year Stats
19.5 pounds (35%)
30 inches long (75%)
Head circ 43 cm
Everything is moving in the right direction! Kate is perfect!
Now I just need to wean her from her 11p-12a bottle!! I thought this would happen naturally!!!
30 inches long (75%)
Head circ 43 cm
Everything is moving in the right direction! Kate is perfect!
Now I just need to wean her from her 11p-12a bottle!! I thought this would happen naturally!!!
Monday, August 29, 2011
A Prayer
I love this prayer so much, had to repost!
From the hilarious book, Bossypants, by Tina Fey.
“First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.
May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.
When the Crystal Meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half and stick with beer.
Guide her, protect her when crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.
Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels. What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, God dammit.
May she play the drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need not Lie With Drummers.
Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short – a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day – And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.
O Lord, break the Internet forever, that she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers and the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.
And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.
And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back. “My mother did this for me once,”she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.
“First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.
May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.
When the Crystal Meth is offered, may she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half and stick with beer.
Guide her, protect her when crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.
Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels. What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, God dammit.
May she play the drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need not Lie With Drummers.
Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short – a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day – And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.
O Lord, break the Internet forever, that she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers and the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.
And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.
And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back. “My mother did this for me once,”she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.
Amen.”
-by Tina Fey
Monday, August 15, 2011
Only 32 Posts This Year~
Kate will be a year old in a few weeks and I just realized I have only 32 entries on my blog. I had big plans of documenting this first year of parenthood- the big things and the little. I think I've done "ok" at reporting the monumentous moments, but not so great at sharing the little day to day moments- the ones I cherish the most.
I can't believe that it's already been a year since I was 9 months pregnant and waiting anxiously to meet my little princess. Little did I know just how powerful my love for her would be!! :) I didn't know she would be our little KatieBug and do everything so quickly. Our almost one year old is literally running around the house...saying Mama, Dada, Happy (she says happy happy happy all the time with a big smile on her face!), she said Papa this morning - and looked right at Papa Ken :)....and she's always talking...putting different sounds together, it won't be long until she can really communicate. She understands "no" and gives the most amazing hugs...this started a few weeks ago and I'll never forget the first time she put her arms around my neck and gave me a sqeeze, she does it all the time now and it is one of my all time favorite moments of the day.
She left Trinity a week and a half ago...they moved her to the next nursery early and we didn't feel she was ready to move to one nap a day from 12-2 and for no more bottles. At 11 months, we felt she still needed to be a baby...we don't want to deviate from her natural sleep patterns, etc. We found a wonderful woman, Ludim, who we later found out is Seventh Day Adventist, with an 11 year old boy Kyle and a 14 year old daugher Kathleen...they go to Forest Lake- small world :) They're vegetarian and don't eat junk food, they will teach Kate Spanish, and they only watch one other girl- a 2.5 year old named Tatim- who is Karly's age exactly! So far, so good- though it is very hard on me some days because I just want to be home with Kate myself. I do think she is getting great care and she seems very happy! All in all...I am so happy she is getting one on one attention and is in an in home setting rather than a big daycare.
In other news...we've (Kate and I) have been staying with my Dad for 3 weeks now because I put a whole bag of diatomacious earth on the floors in the condo, all in the name of organically and naturally ridding the place of fleas. HUGE MISTAKE!!! The white powder is a permanent fixture in the condo...not a safe place for a baby to be laying around...and possibly breathing in this stuff. The bright side is that Kate knows Papa Ken even better and lights up with a big smile every time he walks in the door! Dad has been great...we feel right at home, but we had no doubts there. We've been having breakfast w/ Gigi every morning so Kate gets her watermelon and dates and Mommy gets her coffee (I'm liking it black these days!), Mmmmm!! There is also a bear that roams the neighborhood and digs into the trash a few times a week...Chris saw him the other night and I am dying to catch a glimpse of him myself...I peer out the window every night hoping to see him!
Chris and I have been approved for a home loan...this is super EXCITING so we just started looking for homes...we want a 4/2.5 with a pool. "Daddy is buying KatieBug a house" ~ that's what he told Kate the other night, made my heart melt!!
Other exciting news: Kate and Mommy head to Denver with Aunt Holly, Nick, and Karly on Wednesday night to see Aunt Kendra!!! We are so excited...Papa got the suitcase out for us yesterday and we're packing up for our first plane ride together! It's a late flight, so I'm guessing Kate will sleep for much of it. I can't wait for everyone to see Kate...she's walking now and so different from when she was still a "baby" crawling around a few months ago. She, Nick, and Karly are going to have so much fun!!
I'm planning Kate's first birthday party (ladybug theme)...and I'm so excited! I think she will have so much fun being the star at her party...she's such a lil ham (pics to come!).
I can't think of anything else exciting right now...I'm just enjoying every moment (oh Kate slept thru the night 2 nights ago, I couldn't believe it, first time EVER...the next night she was up from 2-4am....neither is normal, usually she goes to bed at 7, wakes up for a quick bottle anywhere from 11-2 and gets up at 630). It will be nice when she sleeps thru the night regularly, I just don't have it in me yet to wean that last bottle. It will happen though...for now I love cradling by baby with a bottle...I think these days are numbered and I'm going to miss them. For my record (I'll probably reference one day, maybe when the next comes along): I stopped breastfeeding totally at 11 months. My baby is growing up, and sometimes it's hard to imagine/comprehend how this time goes by so fast- I remember reading about all my friends taking their babies off to school last year, and I saw the same posts today on facebook...pictures of the first day of kindergarten, posts about how it was harder on Mommy and can't "I just home school?" I know these next 4 years will be gone in a flash and it will be Kate heading off to school ~tear~ Eeeeeek, I'm just literally cherishing EVERY single moment with her. Thank God :)
Kendra, thanks for the motivation...I need to write more :) Love you and see you in a little more than 24 hours!!!!
I can't believe that it's already been a year since I was 9 months pregnant and waiting anxiously to meet my little princess. Little did I know just how powerful my love for her would be!! :) I didn't know she would be our little KatieBug and do everything so quickly. Our almost one year old is literally running around the house...saying Mama, Dada, Happy (she says happy happy happy all the time with a big smile on her face!), she said Papa this morning - and looked right at Papa Ken :)....and she's always talking...putting different sounds together, it won't be long until she can really communicate. She understands "no" and gives the most amazing hugs...this started a few weeks ago and I'll never forget the first time she put her arms around my neck and gave me a sqeeze, she does it all the time now and it is one of my all time favorite moments of the day.
She left Trinity a week and a half ago...they moved her to the next nursery early and we didn't feel she was ready to move to one nap a day from 12-2 and for no more bottles. At 11 months, we felt she still needed to be a baby...we don't want to deviate from her natural sleep patterns, etc. We found a wonderful woman, Ludim, who we later found out is Seventh Day Adventist, with an 11 year old boy Kyle and a 14 year old daugher Kathleen...they go to Forest Lake- small world :) They're vegetarian and don't eat junk food, they will teach Kate Spanish, and they only watch one other girl- a 2.5 year old named Tatim- who is Karly's age exactly! So far, so good- though it is very hard on me some days because I just want to be home with Kate myself. I do think she is getting great care and she seems very happy! All in all...I am so happy she is getting one on one attention and is in an in home setting rather than a big daycare.
In other news...we've (Kate and I) have been staying with my Dad for 3 weeks now because I put a whole bag of diatomacious earth on the floors in the condo, all in the name of organically and naturally ridding the place of fleas. HUGE MISTAKE!!! The white powder is a permanent fixture in the condo...not a safe place for a baby to be laying around...and possibly breathing in this stuff. The bright side is that Kate knows Papa Ken even better and lights up with a big smile every time he walks in the door! Dad has been great...we feel right at home, but we had no doubts there. We've been having breakfast w/ Gigi every morning so Kate gets her watermelon and dates and Mommy gets her coffee (I'm liking it black these days!), Mmmmm!! There is also a bear that roams the neighborhood and digs into the trash a few times a week...Chris saw him the other night and I am dying to catch a glimpse of him myself...I peer out the window every night hoping to see him!
Chris and I have been approved for a home loan...this is super EXCITING so we just started looking for homes...we want a 4/2.5 with a pool. "Daddy is buying KatieBug a house" ~ that's what he told Kate the other night, made my heart melt!!
Other exciting news: Kate and Mommy head to Denver with Aunt Holly, Nick, and Karly on Wednesday night to see Aunt Kendra!!! We are so excited...Papa got the suitcase out for us yesterday and we're packing up for our first plane ride together! It's a late flight, so I'm guessing Kate will sleep for much of it. I can't wait for everyone to see Kate...she's walking now and so different from when she was still a "baby" crawling around a few months ago. She, Nick, and Karly are going to have so much fun!!
I'm planning Kate's first birthday party (ladybug theme)...and I'm so excited! I think she will have so much fun being the star at her party...she's such a lil ham (pics to come!).
I can't think of anything else exciting right now...I'm just enjoying every moment (oh Kate slept thru the night 2 nights ago, I couldn't believe it, first time EVER...the next night she was up from 2-4am....neither is normal, usually she goes to bed at 7, wakes up for a quick bottle anywhere from 11-2 and gets up at 630). It will be nice when she sleeps thru the night regularly, I just don't have it in me yet to wean that last bottle. It will happen though...for now I love cradling by baby with a bottle...I think these days are numbered and I'm going to miss them. For my record (I'll probably reference one day, maybe when the next comes along): I stopped breastfeeding totally at 11 months. My baby is growing up, and sometimes it's hard to imagine/comprehend how this time goes by so fast- I remember reading about all my friends taking their babies off to school last year, and I saw the same posts today on facebook...pictures of the first day of kindergarten, posts about how it was harder on Mommy and can't "I just home school?" I know these next 4 years will be gone in a flash and it will be Kate heading off to school ~tear~ Eeeeeek, I'm just literally cherishing EVERY single moment with her. Thank God :)
Kendra, thanks for the motivation...I need to write more :) Love you and see you in a little more than 24 hours!!!!
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