We visited Kate at school for the Halloween parade & class party, Grace was just as shy as could be in her ERGObaby carrier until she spotted Kate & then was very excited. On a side note, I would like to know what Grace thinks Kate is? She knows who her caregivers are, Andrew & myself, who does she think Kate is? A mini mom? Whatever it is, she sure does like her a lot!
Kate stopped for a pose on her way around the black top. They use to walk around the school & would pass by parents who were lined up agasint the walls of the hallway. This year some one had the bright idea to have them circle the black top & then stop once they got to end. So eventually the "parade" was no more as it was backed up with no where to go. It ended up being a cluster with teachers trying to herd the kids, much like herding cats, back into some sort of order. Hopefully they realized that it did not work & will return to what they did in years past.
Kate was a roaring 20's flapper girl for Halloween this year. This costume was over-the-top, as per usual, ala Nana Laurie. It was absolutely gorgeous, above & beyond anything we could ever find for purchase. I really wish Nana Laurie could of seen her face when she opened the box. Not sure what she was expecting, but her expression was priceless!
Love babies when they first wake up in the morning! They are so sweet & happy, all smiles:) Love this smile in particular!
Grace loves her ERGObaby carrier, aka "the pouch". She likes to play with the straps, prefers it to the stroller, and takes nice naps in it too. This was by far the best baby item we purchased! Please ignore the house cleaning in progress in the background.
Andrew took the girls for a stroll in downtown Littleton one lovely afternoon. They stopped at the park for a picture. I really enjoy having pictures to see when I get home from work on the weekends.
We had some Halloween goodies for the girls & this was the first gift Grace has been able to participate in opening (with Kate's help of course). Kate opened the card & even though Grace can't talk, I knew what she was thinking when she reached for it, "I do it myself!"
Kate is such a good big sister! She is so very patient with Grace & helps facilitate learning opportunities constantly. And of course the paper is the best part of gifts at this age!
And now I shall get into the bag to find my treat as my sister holds it open for me. Kate got a kids Sonicare toothbrush - very important! And Grace got a Fisher Price retro chatter box telephone & "Peek-a-Who" the book. Cute!
We also got our first paper cut. Here we are examining the damage:( Poor Dada banned Grace from playing with all paper products. Overprotective?
The power went out in our entire neighborhood one night (& the recording said it would be out until at least 10 pm), so we headed out for Chinese! We called around frantically searching for someone who would allow us to use their freezer so that we wouldn't loose 75 oz of frozen liquid gold, I mean breastmilk. By the time we got home from the whole fiasco, the electricity was back on, and had supposedly been on for an hour or so. Isn't that the way it always works?
We still attend Kindermusik almost every week! Grace loves the drums, and thinks that she gets a whole one to herself. We are still learning the concept of sharing, clearly still in the preliminary stages.
Although this is out of focus, she knows what to do! Gracie in action!
Grace & her friend Caroline sitting with the instructor, Miss Naomi. I was surprised she tolerated it so well - must of been the many distractions going on around her.
We have been keeping a very busy schedule during the week. We attend storytime at the library sometimes, meet friends for coffee, playdates, go for walks when it is nice out. We try to get out of the house a few times a week so we (I) don't go stir crazy.
Kate & our neighbor friends decided that raking leaves sounded like a fun activity... it actually lasted much longer than I thought it would. Too bad you can't see the pile of leaves they collected, it was quite large!
Bundled up in our winter gear for a brisk walk around the block. What a cutie-pa-tootie!
We visited my family in Houston for a week in October. Our time together was way too short! It was so nice to see everybody, however I know there are SO many people I missed. We stayed with my little sister Anna & her fiance (at least that is what I am calling him), Daryl in their brand new house. The accomodations were wonderful to say the least! Looking forward to going back again soon (hopefully). While there, we had a family photo shoot at Rice University. This was a quick snap shot my mom took at the end. Thanks Mom - we are spoiled to have you in our family (for so many reasons)!
A few others from the week:
My siblings - from left to right - Sarah, Rachel, Daniel, Anna
My beautiful daughters!
Sweet babylove <3
Kate was off school one Thursday, so she attended Kindermusik with us. During one of the songs, you give your baby a massage stimulating different areas of the body through intentional touch. Kate rubbed her shoulders...
and then her feet! It was so fun to have her there with us!
Poor Daddy is outnumbered!
Babylove passed out! She is really not a good sleeper. Sometimes at night we will be up playing until 10 pm or sometimes even midnight. Somedays she will take a 15 minute nap in the morning & another in the afternoon, and other days she will sleep for 2-3 hours. Schedule? Ha!
One Saturday I was having a horrible shift at work & I was feeling very overwhelmed around 5 pm thinking of all I had to do to finish the shift. I received a text message from Kate via Andrew's phone with this picture she took in our backyard with the words "Look Mom, an amber sunset, isn't it magnificent!" Love that girl! Sometimes we need a little something like that to help us with our attitude adjustment.
Not a fan of the flash, so we try to get most shots with available light. Silly babylove!
Our new thing is to throw ourselves backwards, and I guess hope that we land on something soft. She must really trust Andrew & I because she does it all the time when we are holding her. We are definitely deep in thought here... hmm...
Maybe she will love math one day just like her Dada?
Or maybe just love to eat just like her Dada too!
Kate & I have been trying to find innovative ways to spend time together. I recently read an article in Mothering (love that magazine) about a mother & daughter that created a weekly ritual called "Spa". It was their alone time together each week that they locked themselves in the master bedroom & lit candles, talked, read magazines, painted nails, took bubble baths, but most importantly they were not to be bothered by anyone else in the family for that hour or two. I proposed the idea to Kate, and although we haven't been able to do it weekly, we have been trying to make special time for one another. If you know Kate really well, you would know that we spend more time setting up than actually doing anything, but it is quality time to her & that is all that matters.
Andrew has been taking the girls to church on Sunday mornings. Kate goes to Sunday school, while Andrew sits in the hallway & watches the service on the tv screens. They just completed the new sanctuary & there is now a sound proof area that is in the sanctuary so that you can still be a part of the congregation even with your little ones. Very nice addition!
We sure do love our big sister, and I think the feeling is mutual!
I put Grace down in her playpen one day while I was working on laundry, as she can now crawl, and she fussed for a few minutes & then silence. I walked over & this is what I saw.
How can that possibly be comfortable? I was really quite shocked, this coming from the baby that never sleeps!
After giving up our binky at 4 months, we have somehow picked the habit back up again. We were looking for something to play with in our closet one evening, we pulled out a bag of binkies, took one out & put it in our mouth. And then, went to sleep for the night. Very strange! She doesn't take them very often, and you can't put it in her mouth, you have to hand it to her & if she wants it she will put it in her own mouth, and if not she will throw it. I know, good manners starting so early. At least she lets me put bows & hats on her! I think it is cute when she smiles with it in her mouth!
She will play with her sippy cup, but doesn't quite grasp the concept that she has to turn it upside down to get anything out of it. Anyhow, I thought this picture was adorable!
Playing with wooden egg shaped maracas at Kindermusik. There are so many fun instruments, the hard part is giving them back.
This class is actually right during her morning nap time, so most of the time we get there late & half asleep or tired & cranky. Sleepy pumpkin!
I think it is safe to say that Violet likes Grace (for the most part).
And she gives Grace something to crawl after.
We were playing peek-a-boo! I see you babylove:)
Next post... Thanksgiving! -SR
