Katie had her 6 month appointment two days ago (yep, I'm running behind in the blogging world). She's now 20.2 lbs, 27 1/2 inches long and declared looking perfectly healthy and on track. Her head, which has always measured small due to it's shape (less round, more...hard to explain?) went from on track at 15% and jumped up to 30%, so no worries there. She had her third round of shots, which of course broke my heart to hear her scream. Afterwards Bill took her to cheer her up and Her giggling while I composed myself. I got so stressed out that I needed a cookies and cream milkshake to calm my nerves afterwards!
She's doing better now. Her legs were sore for a while and she was super cranky but she seems to be past it all and doing better. We don't have to worry about it again until 9 months, and she only gets one shot then, instead of 3-4 that she always gets. I'm glad that she finally got all of the rotavirus in her, as that seems to be everywhere.
Katie has developed a very nasty habit of staying up all night long crying. She hates to even enter the bedroom, she doesn't ever want to lay down on the bed. The bed is now a borig place and she tries to get out of sleeping at all cost. So where has this led me? To half insanity in my lack of sleep state and having more baby names than I know what to do with. Not only have I come up with the next baby girl's name, I've come up with second boy name and third and fourth girl name. I guess I'm all set now! Lol. What can I say, I'm addicted to choosing names. At least when I decide on one, I get very attached to it and stuck on it, so I don't need to change my mind a million times. Maybe the baby will learn how to sleep soon so I don't need to have ten kids for all the name choosing!
It's 3 am. She's finally falling asleep in my arms. Maybe I can sleep now too? I was so tired while she was crying. Why am I suddenly wide awake now that she's not??
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Personality and money
Katie has been learning and growing so much. Here's a rundown of little six month old Katie:
Katie can now brush her hair (though truthfully she's been doing this for a month or so). She picks up the brush, put it to her hair and strokes downward.
Katie has found the bottom half of her body and really likes it. She's very happy that those wiggly feet and toes follow her around everywhere, as they're her favorite toys.
Her hands are much more precise now. If I'm holding something she wants (but usually can't have) she knows how to grab very quickly. Where before it would take her a few tries to aim and grab, she can now easily do it on the first try.
Katie loves to bounce! Her exersaucer is her favorite thing to sit in, because she can stand up and bounce.
She thinks fake coughing/choking is hilarious. She also fake laughs, she cracks herself up!
She still hates tummy time. And now I can't even make her do it as she just rolls to her back. Her rolling has definitely improved.
She knows what some words mean now. If I ask her if she wants to "nurse" when she's in bed, she'll get excited and roll herself into the "nursing position" (on whatever side I'm on, with her hand on her foot.) if I'm not already in position, she'll keep rolling from side to back to side, make snuffly noises and whine.
She knows what "get up" and "sit up" means. If I ask her to sit up, she gets her head, shoulders and some back up as she tries to sit. (I have to help her the rest of te way).
She knows what nap means.
She knows a few other words, can't think of them all. Dog is one of them.
She shakes her head when I ask her about going to bed. I can't be certain it's not coincidence that she shakes her head at the most hilarious and perfect times, but I'm beginning to think she knows what she's doing. She definitely shakes her head a lot when she doesn't want to sleep!
She can move on her back. I have to really watch her now while on the floor as she can roll, back crawl a few feet away in just seconds, turn in circles and grab quickly.
She is also capable of escaping her swings. So they have to go now!
She still adores Blues Clues (particularly Steve). She now likes to watch whole episodes, instead of clips. And when Steve sits on the thinking chair? It IS thinking time. She gets a very serious look on her face and stares intently!
She loves to imitate. She wants to be fed with a spoon, but only wants an empty spoon! She doesn't like eating yet.
Katie likes to go for walks, in a sling or in a stroller. We usually go for half hour walks when the weather allows, and she's always good.
But she hates the wind. I do too.
She also hates socks. They're her greatest nemesis.
So that's six month old Katie Belle, all summed up.
Besides that, our New Year goals are going well. We've been waking up earlier (ok, Bill has, I've been slacking there!) but I wake up early enough to get things done. Breakfasts have been cereal or eggs, lunch has been salads and v8, and dinners have been very Italian with Manicotti, lasagna and meatballs! I've learned that I can't do push ups even on my knees, so I've been exercising in different ways!
We're doing really well with money though. We need to really cut back on groceries - our bill has been $100-120 somehow a week and we just can't keep that up this year! So I made a long list of meals, with everything I need to make them next to the name. Every week I decide what meals I'm going to make (I plan 6, though thanks to leftovers I usually only need 3-4) and then I go through the kitchen and see what I already have. Then I make a grocery list and next to each item is the price (I took pictures of all the food we buy in both Walmart and Redners, made two Lists of what's cheaper where, and then write down a W or R next to the food). Then I add 2-3 $ to cover any inconsistencies and go to the store with only that totaled cash. This week I was given $90 to shop at Walmart, Redners and Sam's. Last night I took my lists to Walmart and Redners. I spent $21 at Walmart for romaine lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers, spaghetti, 5 dozen eggs (this lasts us all month), disposable gloves, dish washing soap and frozen veggies. Then I went to Redners and bought a few containers of V8, chicken thighs, and milk, which was $17. I had estimated $46 for this trip and spent $39 so I was happy. I still need $20 to go shopping at Sam's, mainly for lettuce and spinach and a few small things. So if I spend all of that $20, (which will mainly be for next weeks groceries anyway) ill have only spent $60 this week which is half of what we normally do. I want to keep it $50 or lower. The money not used will get saved for when the paycheck is low or will go back into the bank to be rolled into the loans. Every little bit is going to help us get those loans paid off this year. As it is, we will be paying off our smallest loan of $650 this month. Then the $100 that we've been putting into that loan will get rolled into our next smallest loan, so instead of only paying $50 on it, we'll be paying $150 (at least).
I've had to slow down on baking and work more on cooking lately. Baking is now reserved for weekends, as during the week Bill doesn't eat any desserts and I don't want to be as big as a house. So I'll have to start planning out things I want to try each weekend. The cooking part has been doing quite well though, and I'm enjoying learning more about cooking. My favorite people to watch and learn about are chefs (Robert Irvine and Ann Burrell) and even moreso than baking, I want to understand food and how to masterfully prepare it. Many great chefs are self taught. I don't need to be at their level but I figure if they can get so far on just figuring things out themselves and reading, so can I. For me, baking seems easy because it's following recipes. There's no leeway really, it's like connect the dots and logic. Cooking has no rules. It's wide open territory and it needs understanding and practice. I'm hoping by the end of this year, I'll be a better cook.
Hopefully I won't be missing one of my fingers by then.
Katie can now brush her hair (though truthfully she's been doing this for a month or so). She picks up the brush, put it to her hair and strokes downward.
Katie has found the bottom half of her body and really likes it. She's very happy that those wiggly feet and toes follow her around everywhere, as they're her favorite toys.
Her hands are much more precise now. If I'm holding something she wants (but usually can't have) she knows how to grab very quickly. Where before it would take her a few tries to aim and grab, she can now easily do it on the first try.
Katie loves to bounce! Her exersaucer is her favorite thing to sit in, because she can stand up and bounce.
She thinks fake coughing/choking is hilarious. She also fake laughs, she cracks herself up!
She still hates tummy time. And now I can't even make her do it as she just rolls to her back. Her rolling has definitely improved.
She knows what some words mean now. If I ask her if she wants to "nurse" when she's in bed, she'll get excited and roll herself into the "nursing position" (on whatever side I'm on, with her hand on her foot.) if I'm not already in position, she'll keep rolling from side to back to side, make snuffly noises and whine.
She knows what "get up" and "sit up" means. If I ask her to sit up, she gets her head, shoulders and some back up as she tries to sit. (I have to help her the rest of te way).
She knows what nap means.
She knows a few other words, can't think of them all. Dog is one of them.
She shakes her head when I ask her about going to bed. I can't be certain it's not coincidence that she shakes her head at the most hilarious and perfect times, but I'm beginning to think she knows what she's doing. She definitely shakes her head a lot when she doesn't want to sleep!
She can move on her back. I have to really watch her now while on the floor as she can roll, back crawl a few feet away in just seconds, turn in circles and grab quickly.
She is also capable of escaping her swings. So they have to go now!
She still adores Blues Clues (particularly Steve). She now likes to watch whole episodes, instead of clips. And when Steve sits on the thinking chair? It IS thinking time. She gets a very serious look on her face and stares intently!
She loves to imitate. She wants to be fed with a spoon, but only wants an empty spoon! She doesn't like eating yet.
Katie likes to go for walks, in a sling or in a stroller. We usually go for half hour walks when the weather allows, and she's always good.
But she hates the wind. I do too.
She also hates socks. They're her greatest nemesis.
So that's six month old Katie Belle, all summed up.
Besides that, our New Year goals are going well. We've been waking up earlier (ok, Bill has, I've been slacking there!) but I wake up early enough to get things done. Breakfasts have been cereal or eggs, lunch has been salads and v8, and dinners have been very Italian with Manicotti, lasagna and meatballs! I've learned that I can't do push ups even on my knees, so I've been exercising in different ways!
We're doing really well with money though. We need to really cut back on groceries - our bill has been $100-120 somehow a week and we just can't keep that up this year! So I made a long list of meals, with everything I need to make them next to the name. Every week I decide what meals I'm going to make (I plan 6, though thanks to leftovers I usually only need 3-4) and then I go through the kitchen and see what I already have. Then I make a grocery list and next to each item is the price (I took pictures of all the food we buy in both Walmart and Redners, made two Lists of what's cheaper where, and then write down a W or R next to the food). Then I add 2-3 $ to cover any inconsistencies and go to the store with only that totaled cash. This week I was given $90 to shop at Walmart, Redners and Sam's. Last night I took my lists to Walmart and Redners. I spent $21 at Walmart for romaine lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers, spaghetti, 5 dozen eggs (this lasts us all month), disposable gloves, dish washing soap and frozen veggies. Then I went to Redners and bought a few containers of V8, chicken thighs, and milk, which was $17. I had estimated $46 for this trip and spent $39 so I was happy. I still need $20 to go shopping at Sam's, mainly for lettuce and spinach and a few small things. So if I spend all of that $20, (which will mainly be for next weeks groceries anyway) ill have only spent $60 this week which is half of what we normally do. I want to keep it $50 or lower. The money not used will get saved for when the paycheck is low or will go back into the bank to be rolled into the loans. Every little bit is going to help us get those loans paid off this year. As it is, we will be paying off our smallest loan of $650 this month. Then the $100 that we've been putting into that loan will get rolled into our next smallest loan, so instead of only paying $50 on it, we'll be paying $150 (at least).
I've had to slow down on baking and work more on cooking lately. Baking is now reserved for weekends, as during the week Bill doesn't eat any desserts and I don't want to be as big as a house. So I'll have to start planning out things I want to try each weekend. The cooking part has been doing quite well though, and I'm enjoying learning more about cooking. My favorite people to watch and learn about are chefs (Robert Irvine and Ann Burrell) and even moreso than baking, I want to understand food and how to masterfully prepare it. Many great chefs are self taught. I don't need to be at their level but I figure if they can get so far on just figuring things out themselves and reading, so can I. For me, baking seems easy because it's following recipes. There's no leeway really, it's like connect the dots and logic. Cooking has no rules. It's wide open territory and it needs understanding and practice. I'm hoping by the end of this year, I'll be a better cook.
Hopefully I won't be missing one of my fingers by then.
Friday, January 6, 2012
New routine
Having a baby (especially a teething one - it's sooo close to breaking through!) makes it so hard to follow a schedule! Bill and I completely changed up our routine so we can be more efficient and reach our goals. Basically the one I'm struggling with is waking up at 8am. Not because it's early but because Katie refuses to go to sleep earlier than one. Last night she skipped her second nap until 11 pm when she wouldn't stay awake anymore. Well of course she refused to go to sleep at midnight after waking up, and instead I was up until 3 am with her (on my part, I was sorta ok with that as I'm addicted to a new show). This morning we slept in and now I'm once again behind and will be playing catch up all day. However, I've found that even getting half of the routine completed makes the house much cleaner and us healthier. My dishes are done 3-4 times a day, the whole kitchen is always scrubbed down and the sinks cleaned before bed. The laundry is getting through the machines, folded and put away. I'm eating like crazy now, I finally have an appetite and have time to make all three meals. I have time to cook longer meals and been experimenting with new recipes (Manicotti is officially my favorite home cooked dinner - finally something I can say is definite restaurant quality!). I even have time to craft, so I'm finally picking up crochet (instead of trying, getting frustrated and throwing the yarn back in the closet. So, I still count the new routine as successful.
Bill is trying to teach me how to do push ups. I feel like Katie, who planks during tummy time instead of holds herself up with her arms. I'm so bad at it! I'm hoping to get back to my camp body from 2 years ago, when I had muscular arms, a set of abs and a great tan. However I no longer have children that are 3/4 my weight to haul up a 75 foot wall in 95+ degree heat for 14 hours a day. A 20+ pound Katie and daily exercises will have to do instead.
I'm finally, slowly, getting excited about having another baby. I guess I've been looking at only the negatives this whole time. Pregnancy means zero energy, 6 months of throwing up and constantly in need of a nap, plus paralyzing back pain. A baby meant going through labor and delivery again and having to go through that HELL again. (I don't know how to make it without meds now knowing the pain that I'm in for!) A baby also means juggling an infant, toddler, dog and housework when I struggle now sometimes.
But, I'm starting to warm up to the idea a little. I went to babies r us and saw little children hugging their mommy's baby bump, and all the little infant sized things. I absolutely want more children, I feel far from having this family complete, it's just the pregnancy and first year that I find very daunting. However I'm tryin to include the positives in with the negatives and doing so makes me sometimes have sparks of eagerness and excitement. Bill promised to take me back to BRU more often if it helps! Lol. I'm quite confident now that I'll be ready to ttc by April, especially with how fast Katie is growing up.
I dug out her birth box from the closet yesterday. It's a box I bought when I was pregnant with her, and it has Victorian teddy bears on it. I put everything from the hospital in it. Our bracelets, the two blankets they gave her, the baby hats, her exact outfit she wore home (how did she ever fit in that??) a foil balloon, etc. It's crazy to think about that day, it already feels like it was years ago since I first met my Katie.
We're now finally attending catacysm, so hopefully we'll stay on track for getting Katie baptized around Easter. Katie hates these morning classes, but (perhaps a little surprising to myself) I enjoy them. I like finding out the reasons why I've been doing things in mass my whole life but weren't explained in school. I like having questions and having a place to ask and learn. Hearing the reasonings behind passages and beliefs make them feel more alive and real. Now that the priest knows we're taking this seriously (there's so many steps and so much required that I'm sure he sees many who bail out) he's much friendlier and he's very sweet to Katie. He encourages me to stay for the classes even while she fusses as he has no problem talking over her and it doesn't bother him. Which is good, because I'm interested in what he has to say but Katie knows his voice from mass and thinks it's choir time!
I need a nap...
Bill is trying to teach me how to do push ups. I feel like Katie, who planks during tummy time instead of holds herself up with her arms. I'm so bad at it! I'm hoping to get back to my camp body from 2 years ago, when I had muscular arms, a set of abs and a great tan. However I no longer have children that are 3/4 my weight to haul up a 75 foot wall in 95+ degree heat for 14 hours a day. A 20+ pound Katie and daily exercises will have to do instead.
I'm finally, slowly, getting excited about having another baby. I guess I've been looking at only the negatives this whole time. Pregnancy means zero energy, 6 months of throwing up and constantly in need of a nap, plus paralyzing back pain. A baby meant going through labor and delivery again and having to go through that HELL again. (I don't know how to make it without meds now knowing the pain that I'm in for!) A baby also means juggling an infant, toddler, dog and housework when I struggle now sometimes.
But, I'm starting to warm up to the idea a little. I went to babies r us and saw little children hugging their mommy's baby bump, and all the little infant sized things. I absolutely want more children, I feel far from having this family complete, it's just the pregnancy and first year that I find very daunting. However I'm tryin to include the positives in with the negatives and doing so makes me sometimes have sparks of eagerness and excitement. Bill promised to take me back to BRU more often if it helps! Lol. I'm quite confident now that I'll be ready to ttc by April, especially with how fast Katie is growing up.
I dug out her birth box from the closet yesterday. It's a box I bought when I was pregnant with her, and it has Victorian teddy bears on it. I put everything from the hospital in it. Our bracelets, the two blankets they gave her, the baby hats, her exact outfit she wore home (how did she ever fit in that??) a foil balloon, etc. It's crazy to think about that day, it already feels like it was years ago since I first met my Katie.
We're now finally attending catacysm, so hopefully we'll stay on track for getting Katie baptized around Easter. Katie hates these morning classes, but (perhaps a little surprising to myself) I enjoy them. I like finding out the reasons why I've been doing things in mass my whole life but weren't explained in school. I like having questions and having a place to ask and learn. Hearing the reasonings behind passages and beliefs make them feel more alive and real. Now that the priest knows we're taking this seriously (there's so many steps and so much required that I'm sure he sees many who bail out) he's much friendlier and he's very sweet to Katie. He encourages me to stay for the classes even while she fusses as he has no problem talking over her and it doesn't bother him. Which is good, because I'm interested in what he has to say but Katie knows his voice from mass and thinks it's choir time!
I need a nap...
Monday, January 2, 2012
Goodbye to 2011....hello to 2012
Katie is officially a half a year old. Already. And she celebrated her first new years thoroughly with lots of laughs and very few naps. She had a good time.
The optimistic side of me can't wait for 2012 to get rolling. It's going to be an exciting year. Katie is going to be learning so many things this year! I'll be celebrating my second anniversary, my very first mothers day, having a birthday party for Katie's first birthday (what an emotional day that will be, I'm sure!) and hopefully we'll be adding to our family again. We're also going to be buckling down and paying off all out student loans this year. It'll be rough, but it'll feel amazing as each school loan gets crossed off the list. I'm hoping by this day next year, we'll be $30,000 less in debt.
Hopefully we'll also be In better shape. We're changing our routines, changing our diet, and starting to exercise. Oddly enough, this wasn't brought on at all by the new year resolution list but coensided by coincidence. I need to gain weight, Bill needs to lose it (if only it was as easy as transferring!) and I want my abs back before getting pregnant. I'd love to be in good shape through this pregnancy. I was in good shape with Katie, but first pregnancies are easy. I expect to blow up pretty badly next time if I don't watch what I eat and don't exercise.
2011 is such a hard year to let go of. It was the most amazing year of my life, by far. I changed drastically as a person. I learned so much. I went through some crazy life experiences that changed me in ways I never expected. I had my little girl, who is so amazing and wonderful even during her 4 AM cranky wake up times. I adore her. She's an extension of me, and honestly i still look at her in wonder. She came from me. This little person was that same squiggly movement that was inside me. My body somehow managed to make this perfect person with perfectly working parts. It's like you understand the reproduction cycle, of course, but seeing it happen from you, seeing the actual results, is mind blowing.
2011 was an amazing year that I'll always look back on fondly. It brought to me my little miracle that I had prayed for for so long. I'm a little sad to see it go, but I'm also eager to see what's in store. There's so much to look forward to.
The optimistic side of me can't wait for 2012 to get rolling. It's going to be an exciting year. Katie is going to be learning so many things this year! I'll be celebrating my second anniversary, my very first mothers day, having a birthday party for Katie's first birthday (what an emotional day that will be, I'm sure!) and hopefully we'll be adding to our family again. We're also going to be buckling down and paying off all out student loans this year. It'll be rough, but it'll feel amazing as each school loan gets crossed off the list. I'm hoping by this day next year, we'll be $30,000 less in debt.
Hopefully we'll also be In better shape. We're changing our routines, changing our diet, and starting to exercise. Oddly enough, this wasn't brought on at all by the new year resolution list but coensided by coincidence. I need to gain weight, Bill needs to lose it (if only it was as easy as transferring!) and I want my abs back before getting pregnant. I'd love to be in good shape through this pregnancy. I was in good shape with Katie, but first pregnancies are easy. I expect to blow up pretty badly next time if I don't watch what I eat and don't exercise.
2011 is such a hard year to let go of. It was the most amazing year of my life, by far. I changed drastically as a person. I learned so much. I went through some crazy life experiences that changed me in ways I never expected. I had my little girl, who is so amazing and wonderful even during her 4 AM cranky wake up times. I adore her. She's an extension of me, and honestly i still look at her in wonder. She came from me. This little person was that same squiggly movement that was inside me. My body somehow managed to make this perfect person with perfectly working parts. It's like you understand the reproduction cycle, of course, but seeing it happen from you, seeing the actual results, is mind blowing.
2011 was an amazing year that I'll always look back on fondly. It brought to me my little miracle that I had prayed for for so long. I'm a little sad to see it go, but I'm also eager to see what's in store. There's so much to look forward to.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
New Year's
I have too many name ideas for the amount of children I want. I wish I could do themes, if not for all of them then for pairs. These two close ages kids are named after classic authors, these two after classic characters, and these two after...cooking. Yes, I sorta like a cooking theme. Except I only found one cooking name I'd like, which is Julienne. I'm learning how to Julienne carrots right now as well. Anyway, I can't stick to a theme. I originally wanted all K names for girls. That didn't work, our current name has no K's. I also wanted double L's in at least one of the names, as I have all double L's in all three of my names, Bill has them in two of his names, and Katie does as well. It would have been a subtle, neat tradition. I tried to do it with our girl name but it doesn't look quite right. Such a shame. So, no themes here, just fun ideas.
We're slowly creeping towards midnight on Katie's first new years eve. She must know that it's a night when everyone is supposed to stay awake as she has had nothing but two minute naps. Sorta sucky, as I want to be part of the party we're having. Not as easy with a sleepy baby who doesn't want to miss a moment of fun!
She currently is getting her nap in while nursing. Well, not really nursing as much as she won't let go of my nipple. I'm sure Katie will at least get to see her first new years ball drop.
We're slowly creeping towards midnight on Katie's first new years eve. She must know that it's a night when everyone is supposed to stay awake as she has had nothing but two minute naps. Sorta sucky, as I want to be part of the party we're having. Not as easy with a sleepy baby who doesn't want to miss a moment of fun!
She currently is getting her nap in while nursing. Well, not really nursing as much as she won't let go of my nipple. I'm sure Katie will at least get to see her first new years ball drop.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Katie is Eating!!
This morning Katie got her high chair. We woke up early (sorta...I couldn't get out of the bed for an hour after waking, it was like my bones liquified!) and went to Babies R Us. Last week we went there are were told that my favorite high chair was being restocked on Wednesday. So today we go down, no high chairs. We called over an assistant and asked if they were still in the back, thinking if they were just off the truck, then maybe they didn't have time to restock them yet. But she scanned them and said no, not only are they not here, there were none ordered and their computer said to replace that high chair with something else as they probably won't be getting more at all! This, despite that they just put up a big Animal Krackers display case showing the swing, high chair, bouncer, etc just this week. Walmart and target doesnt carry it at all. Well, since I had wanted the high chair for Christmas and didn't want to fool around waiting even longer, we went with Bill's choice. It was more expensive and did a million things (it seats two kids at once, a toddler and a baby) but since we had $20 left on a gift card from the baby shower and I had a 20% off coupon, the high chair was then the same price as the one we wanted to get. So in the end we got a better high chair for the price of the one that was just a basic high chair that just matched the swing.
So we got it home, had it assembled in ten minutes, and put Katie in it. She loved it, surprisingly. It let's her sit up and play with toys, plus she can now be right next to me at the counter watching me cook, which she enjoys. She's not fond of the strapped in part, but she hates being strapped in to anything.
The high chair was bought now originally because the swing needs to get put away soon as she's reaching the weight limit, and so she can be more content sitting outside of my arms. I hadn't planned on feeding her anything for a month of two yet, but today she ended up eating anyway, which she loved! I fed her some liquidy mashed potatoes from the stewy pot dinner I made of green beans, potatoes, ham and mashed potatoes. She really liked tasting something different. It took her a few times to understand how to keep it in her mouth, but she kept opening her mouth and trying to grab my hand to shove more in! I'm going to get her some Cheerios to play around with and see how she does with the potatoes. I'd like to start her on yogurt, as I heard a few recurring cases of baby yeast going away once yogurt was introduced into their diet. If I can never have us get yeast again, I'll be very happy!
I took video and pics of her eating, I'll have to add those later.
So we got it home, had it assembled in ten minutes, and put Katie in it. She loved it, surprisingly. It let's her sit up and play with toys, plus she can now be right next to me at the counter watching me cook, which she enjoys. She's not fond of the strapped in part, but she hates being strapped in to anything.
The high chair was bought now originally because the swing needs to get put away soon as she's reaching the weight limit, and so she can be more content sitting outside of my arms. I hadn't planned on feeding her anything for a month of two yet, but today she ended up eating anyway, which she loved! I fed her some liquidy mashed potatoes from the stewy pot dinner I made of green beans, potatoes, ham and mashed potatoes. She really liked tasting something different. It took her a few times to understand how to keep it in her mouth, but she kept opening her mouth and trying to grab my hand to shove more in! I'm going to get her some Cheerios to play around with and see how she does with the potatoes. I'd like to start her on yogurt, as I heard a few recurring cases of baby yeast going away once yogurt was introduced into their diet. If I can never have us get yeast again, I'll be very happy!
I took video and pics of her eating, I'll have to add those later.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Katie's First Christmas!!
Katie enjoyed her first Christmas this past weekend! Well, maybe not so much the daily dress ups in Santa and tulle dresses with tights (as she hates to even wear socks) but she was a definite fan of the rest. Except for a giant teething melt down while meeting many family members for the first time, she was good all weekend. She loves seeing people, and she LOVES wrapping paper and bows!
We took her to midnight chirch on Christmas Eve. The church was beautifully decorated with trees and lights. Katie actually let me sit inside the mass for longer than two minutes. In fact, we sat in on the choir and then half of the mass before she woke up and had to move out to the mother's area. Bill went with us, and we ended up listening to the rest of the mass and singing songs on the sofa they have in there. We also finally got a meeting date for our first catacysm class, even though the rest of the students are already over half way through their lessons. It doesn't matter too much - either Katie gets baptized in the spring or we wait another year and she can be baptized with the next baby.
Even though Christmas is technically over, Katie and I are still making the most of it. We're slowly opening her toys, we play around the tree, and we still have all of our lights lit and our stockings full. I'm not ready to let go of the holiday season yet! My inlaws take down their tree on Christmas night. Here, we keep it up and shining for as long as it lets us! (Or, at least into the New Year!) I love the way the house looks with a Christmas tree. Next year, if we have the funds for it, I plan on putting up our artificial tree and buying pink lights for it and princess ornmaments.
There was, of course, many many pictures taken over the last weekend. Here are some of them:
Trying Katie's first pigtails on Christmas Eve Eve:
We took her to midnight chirch on Christmas Eve. The church was beautifully decorated with trees and lights. Katie actually let me sit inside the mass for longer than two minutes. In fact, we sat in on the choir and then half of the mass before she woke up and had to move out to the mother's area. Bill went with us, and we ended up listening to the rest of the mass and singing songs on the sofa they have in there. We also finally got a meeting date for our first catacysm class, even though the rest of the students are already over half way through their lessons. It doesn't matter too much - either Katie gets baptized in the spring or we wait another year and she can be baptized with the next baby.
Even though Christmas is technically over, Katie and I are still making the most of it. We're slowly opening her toys, we play around the tree, and we still have all of our lights lit and our stockings full. I'm not ready to let go of the holiday season yet! My inlaws take down their tree on Christmas night. Here, we keep it up and shining for as long as it lets us! (Or, at least into the New Year!) I love the way the house looks with a Christmas tree. Next year, if we have the funds for it, I plan on putting up our artificial tree and buying pink lights for it and princess ornmaments.
There was, of course, many many pictures taken over the last weekend. Here are some of them:
Trying Katie's first pigtails on Christmas Eve Eve:
Fast Asleep after some Christmas Eve partying:
After coming home from Midnight Mass, we put all the gifts under the tree:
Katie's stocking
Playing with her first doll. She loves the big eyes, the hands, and the hair!
Some of the gifts I got: a cast iron pan, a new skillet, a big pan and grillet, and an awesome set of knives (I played with cutting carrots into the smallest slivers for a good two hours!)
Playing with ribbon and bows
Our pretty girls:
Smiling up at her daddy:
No lie, she kept trying to play with Belle over and over. She obviously knows that Belle is already her favorite princess.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Dog land
Bill nearly broke his finger last night after a 100 pound jig box fell on it and very nearly needed stitches. So he took the day off today to give it a little time to heal. Since its a Wednesday, we decided to pack the family up and take Sophie to her doggy social. It changed a lot in the last four months! They changed the location so now there's lots of room. Where there used to only be 8-10 dogs, tonight there was at least 20. Katie loved it! She woke up in the store, she must have thought she woke up in doggy land! She cooed and giggled the whole time we were there and half the owners came up to coo at our baby and our dog. (everyone adores Sophie there, and Sophie knows it!)
I've been working on a craft idea for a few days now. It's a knitted tube scarf with fleece ends for my sister. I was doing pretty well, had about 25 rows on it, until tonight. Why? Well, Katie was whining and telling me she didn't want me to knit. I said "just let me finish this row, there's only a few stitches left!" She obviously wasn't waiting around second in line for that crap, because she kicked my needle as hard as she could. Not only did it fall out of my hand, but I lost most of the stitches. So guess who's working on row #2 again?
I now have most of Katie's first birthday party planned (of course I even have the cake sketched out!) I know quite a few people with little kids (or will have little kids) that will hopefully want to come and even though katie won't remember it (as I keep hearing over and over) she'll still enjoy the day. And I need an excuse to make cake. So...it's happening! Her first birthday is the only one she may get for a few years as I may have a tiny baby for her second birthday and be incapable of pulling it off. Of course, there's still the danger of me havin morning sickness and being pregnant on her birthday. In that case, I may need reinforcements.
I got all but 1 gift wrapped for Christmas now. The last one I'm still working on. Hopefully tomorrow I can do a trial run of some new cookie recipes before having to crank out the 14 dozen needed by the 21st. I miss baking, haven't managed it in weeks (even with new supplies!)
I've been working on a craft idea for a few days now. It's a knitted tube scarf with fleece ends for my sister. I was doing pretty well, had about 25 rows on it, until tonight. Why? Well, Katie was whining and telling me she didn't want me to knit. I said "just let me finish this row, there's only a few stitches left!" She obviously wasn't waiting around second in line for that crap, because she kicked my needle as hard as she could. Not only did it fall out of my hand, but I lost most of the stitches. So guess who's working on row #2 again?
I now have most of Katie's first birthday party planned (of course I even have the cake sketched out!) I know quite a few people with little kids (or will have little kids) that will hopefully want to come and even though katie won't remember it (as I keep hearing over and over) she'll still enjoy the day. And I need an excuse to make cake. So...it's happening! Her first birthday is the only one she may get for a few years as I may have a tiny baby for her second birthday and be incapable of pulling it off. Of course, there's still the danger of me havin morning sickness and being pregnant on her birthday. In that case, I may need reinforcements.
I got all but 1 gift wrapped for Christmas now. The last one I'm still working on. Hopefully tomorrow I can do a trial run of some new cookie recipes before having to crank out the 14 dozen needed by the 21st. I miss baking, haven't managed it in weeks (even with new supplies!)
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Pink paper
I wrapped Katie's Christmas gifts yesterday in white mistletoe wrapping paper that I got on sale. I actually enjoyed wrapping them, which is a big deal as I usually hate wrapping gifts.
Well then today, don't you know, I find EXACTLY the wrapping paper I've been searching for for the last two months. A princess PINK Christmas wrapping paper. SERIOUSLY?? I bought it anyway, and I thought maybe I could take her gifts out and use that wrapping paper for Bill's gifts and rewrap Katie's in the pink. But no, I couldn't. I had a big "moment" last night while wrapping them. It was the very first time I wrapped a gift for Katie and put her name on it. I've dreamt of wrapping a daughter's gift with the name of Katie on it for so long. And I finally did. I can't undo that for pink paper that Katie won't notice anyway.
I'll probably put it away for next Christmas instead. She'll recognize it then anyway.
We made more salt dough ornaments yesterday. We captured Katie's handprint again and even got Sophie's paw print on one. I then made flour paint and painted katie's handprint pink. Which was difficult as I had to paint with a spoon and I griped about it. This morning Bill went out for milk and he brought me home some paint brushes! (and Oreos, I love Oreos...)
It's now two weeks before Christmas. It's actually going by too fast, once it's over it's depressing that it takes a whole year to come back again! But next years will be a lot of fun, with an 18 month old and perhaps another on the way. So much can change in one year!
Well then today, don't you know, I find EXACTLY the wrapping paper I've been searching for for the last two months. A princess PINK Christmas wrapping paper. SERIOUSLY?? I bought it anyway, and I thought maybe I could take her gifts out and use that wrapping paper for Bill's gifts and rewrap Katie's in the pink. But no, I couldn't. I had a big "moment" last night while wrapping them. It was the very first time I wrapped a gift for Katie and put her name on it. I've dreamt of wrapping a daughter's gift with the name of Katie on it for so long. And I finally did. I can't undo that for pink paper that Katie won't notice anyway.
I'll probably put it away for next Christmas instead. She'll recognize it then anyway.
We made more salt dough ornaments yesterday. We captured Katie's handprint again and even got Sophie's paw print on one. I then made flour paint and painted katie's handprint pink. Which was difficult as I had to paint with a spoon and I griped about it. This morning Bill went out for milk and he brought me home some paint brushes! (and Oreos, I love Oreos...)
It's now two weeks before Christmas. It's actually going by too fast, once it's over it's depressing that it takes a whole year to come back again! But next years will be a lot of fun, with an 18 month old and perhaps another on the way. So much can change in one year!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Ramblings
18 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!!
I can't wait to make Christmas tree cupcakes and a baby Jesus cake (I'd love to get gumpaste and make an actual baby Jesus for it.) I also have lots of Christmas cookies to make, since I promised my little brother. I need to get my hands on cookie cutters though! I don't think he wants his Christmas cookies to be all in the shape of hearts!
For some reason, Katie looks like she went from baby to little kid over the last few days. I keep saying she barely looks like a baby now! She knows how to do so much, she's doing lots of baby babble and her face is just so different from months ago.
She also got really light colored hair now. It keeps showing up as gold blonde for the last 3-4 days. I think it's really getting light now.
I was starting to get a bit worried about April these past few weeks, as that's when we're supposed to start ttc. I figured with everyone I know either having a brand new baby, finding out they're pregnant, or finding out the gender of their baby lately that I'd be like "awww, I want another!" oddly enough I haven't been at all. Not even tempted by little newborn babies or the excitement of pregnancy. I've been relieved that it's not me! Which was worrying as i want to set up Katie with a close sibling. However, a few days ago Bill was being a jokester as usual and he came up and put his hand on my belly and said in such a tender, sweet voice "hello, new baby." I knew he said it only to panic me, but it did the opposite. I finally felt something good, some anxiousness for when that does happen. And now that we have two solid names for a baby girl or boy (plus a few backup names) I feel more ready. Not so ready as to try next month (like Bill does so be can get his Libra) but by April I should have that want back, especially with how fast Katie is growing up! She hardly resembles my little baby now! April is only 4 months away already!
It's the simplest things Katie does that I know I'm going to be sad when she stops. Katie loves for me to sleep with her right now because she gets night terrors. So when I'm nursing her to sleep, she often reached out and holds my finger, or sometimes grabs a fistful of my shirt to ensure that I can't slip away when she falls asleep. I also love when she tries to wipe the sleep from her eyes with the back of her chubby starfish hands. It's so adorable the way she does it. It's neat to see her not only noticing her hands, but to be capable of controlling them now. She hasn't slapped herself in the face and then blamed it on me for a while! She has no real interest in her toes, however.
I discovered today that Katie's nose is the perfect, exact shape of a crispy cereal piece in Count Chocula. Even Bill agreed it was!
We got more fish yesterday as some of ours from our very first batch had died about a month ago. Katie loves all the new additions, she can sit there an watch the fish swim up to her for hours. I bought some Mickey ear fish too, just to add a little Disney in the tank for her.
I'll add pictures later.
I can't wait to make Christmas tree cupcakes and a baby Jesus cake (I'd love to get gumpaste and make an actual baby Jesus for it.) I also have lots of Christmas cookies to make, since I promised my little brother. I need to get my hands on cookie cutters though! I don't think he wants his Christmas cookies to be all in the shape of hearts!
For some reason, Katie looks like she went from baby to little kid over the last few days. I keep saying she barely looks like a baby now! She knows how to do so much, she's doing lots of baby babble and her face is just so different from months ago.
She also got really light colored hair now. It keeps showing up as gold blonde for the last 3-4 days. I think it's really getting light now.
I was starting to get a bit worried about April these past few weeks, as that's when we're supposed to start ttc. I figured with everyone I know either having a brand new baby, finding out they're pregnant, or finding out the gender of their baby lately that I'd be like "awww, I want another!" oddly enough I haven't been at all. Not even tempted by little newborn babies or the excitement of pregnancy. I've been relieved that it's not me! Which was worrying as i want to set up Katie with a close sibling. However, a few days ago Bill was being a jokester as usual and he came up and put his hand on my belly and said in such a tender, sweet voice "hello, new baby." I knew he said it only to panic me, but it did the opposite. I finally felt something good, some anxiousness for when that does happen. And now that we have two solid names for a baby girl or boy (plus a few backup names) I feel more ready. Not so ready as to try next month (like Bill does so be can get his Libra) but by April I should have that want back, especially with how fast Katie is growing up! She hardly resembles my little baby now! April is only 4 months away already!
It's the simplest things Katie does that I know I'm going to be sad when she stops. Katie loves for me to sleep with her right now because she gets night terrors. So when I'm nursing her to sleep, she often reached out and holds my finger, or sometimes grabs a fistful of my shirt to ensure that I can't slip away when she falls asleep. I also love when she tries to wipe the sleep from her eyes with the back of her chubby starfish hands. It's so adorable the way she does it. It's neat to see her not only noticing her hands, but to be capable of controlling them now. She hasn't slapped herself in the face and then blamed it on me for a while! She has no real interest in her toes, however.
I discovered today that Katie's nose is the perfect, exact shape of a crispy cereal piece in Count Chocula. Even Bill agreed it was!
We got more fish yesterday as some of ours from our very first batch had died about a month ago. Katie loves all the new additions, she can sit there an watch the fish swim up to her for hours. I bought some Mickey ear fish too, just to add a little Disney in the tank for her.
I'll add pictures later.
Friday, December 2, 2011
5 MONTHS!
Wow, it's the 2nd today! I totally nearly missed that Katie is FIVE MONTHS OLD today! Time is just flying by.
I was looking at her newborn pictures yesterday as I'm putting together an order for Shutterfly, and I can't believe how different she looks already. Her face in general looks like a little kid with distinguishing features. Her hair is at least twice the length and twice the curliness. And she's just SO tall now! She's grown over an inch every month so far, and doubled and a half her weight. Five months doesn't seem like an eternity for most, for me it is - Katie already seems so old!
I adore how much joy she finds in everything. There's nothing quite like playing with a 4/5 month old where everything is so exciting and fun. Now that she's using her hands more, can see things better, and can understand things, she's just delighted at such simple things. It's fun to re-explore the world through an infant's eyes.
It's just a shame she can grasp the idea of Christmas yet, or she'd go crazy in excitement. Next year, she's going to be my little Christmas princess.
I was looking at her newborn pictures yesterday as I'm putting together an order for Shutterfly, and I can't believe how different she looks already. Her face in general looks like a little kid with distinguishing features. Her hair is at least twice the length and twice the curliness. And she's just SO tall now! She's grown over an inch every month so far, and doubled and a half her weight. Five months doesn't seem like an eternity for most, for me it is - Katie already seems so old!
I adore how much joy she finds in everything. There's nothing quite like playing with a 4/5 month old where everything is so exciting and fun. Now that she's using her hands more, can see things better, and can understand things, she's just delighted at such simple things. It's fun to re-explore the world through an infant's eyes.
It's just a shame she can grasp the idea of Christmas yet, or she'd go crazy in excitement. Next year, she's going to be my little Christmas princess.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
A first thanksgiving and beyond!
I know, I know - its been a while since I posted anything! It's not because I'm bored of this, I swear. It's just that I kept starting blog posts, then not finishing them, and then they'd become too outdated to post. So I'm going to attempt to sum up how things are going.
Katie had her first thanksgiving last week. She did surprisingly well and let me eat almost my whole dinner. This year we went to my mom's house, and Katie loves her little aunt and uncles so she behaves really well there usually. To think, last year I spent the day traveling nearly two miles, throwing up the entire way, and then barely getting to eat (possibly how I'll be again next year!)
The day after, Katie had a busy day. She met her great uncle, her second cousins and Santa all at once! Poor Katie waited and waited for Santa and suffered through three outfits changes. Then when I finally convinced him to come see her, she instantly fell asleep! Oh well, she saw him for a little while!
We got katies first Christmas tree on Sunday! It's the earliest ive ever decorated but I was too excited to wait. We got a perfectly plump tree that Katie, my sister and I decorated along with the rest of downstairs. I LOVE having a tree in the house! It makes all of downstairs glow and the whole place seem more cheerful. I love Christmas! I keep wanting to wrap Katie's gifts but I want to see if I can find any pink paper first.
This Sunday, Katie will be meeting more family for the first time. Her oldest uncle will be visiting from South Carolina. The last time I saw him was two years ago - so much has changed for both of us since then!
Today I was frustrated (for the third day) at the lack of neat ornaments for baby girls first Christmas. I was looking for pink and princessy. Nothing! And disney's semi ok but badly reviewed one was way too much. So, I made one myself. I made salt dough and made one with Katie's handprint, one with Katie's footprint, and two large princess decorations for her room. I'm thinking about making more Christmas ones, it was fun!
KatieKate is awake and crying, so I'll have to finish later!
Katie had her first thanksgiving last week. She did surprisingly well and let me eat almost my whole dinner. This year we went to my mom's house, and Katie loves her little aunt and uncles so she behaves really well there usually. To think, last year I spent the day traveling nearly two miles, throwing up the entire way, and then barely getting to eat (possibly how I'll be again next year!)
The day after, Katie had a busy day. She met her great uncle, her second cousins and Santa all at once! Poor Katie waited and waited for Santa and suffered through three outfits changes. Then when I finally convinced him to come see her, she instantly fell asleep! Oh well, she saw him for a little while!
We got katies first Christmas tree on Sunday! It's the earliest ive ever decorated but I was too excited to wait. We got a perfectly plump tree that Katie, my sister and I decorated along with the rest of downstairs. I LOVE having a tree in the house! It makes all of downstairs glow and the whole place seem more cheerful. I love Christmas! I keep wanting to wrap Katie's gifts but I want to see if I can find any pink paper first.
This Sunday, Katie will be meeting more family for the first time. Her oldest uncle will be visiting from South Carolina. The last time I saw him was two years ago - so much has changed for both of us since then!
Today I was frustrated (for the third day) at the lack of neat ornaments for baby girls first Christmas. I was looking for pink and princessy. Nothing! And disney's semi ok but badly reviewed one was way too much. So, I made one myself. I made salt dough and made one with Katie's handprint, one with Katie's footprint, and two large princess decorations for her room. I'm thinking about making more Christmas ones, it was fun!
KatieKate is awake and crying, so I'll have to finish later!
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