But, doesn't she look SO happy to have eaten it?
In the bath she goes...
Mark found this chair for ten bucks at a thrift store. We set it up in the weeds (i.e. our backyard) to take some pictures. This was probably the best, because Kate kept making silly faces for the rest of them. Like this one:
And this one:
And she looks like a one legged baby in that one.
I found two ticks crawling on me that I thought were "spiders with a white dot on them" (shows how much I know), so pictures of a baby in the weeds may not be happening that often.
Mark,
Kate,
What a month it has been! Who knew all the milestones you would reach this month? We didn’t, that’s for sure. Boy, were we in for a surprise…
This month you learned to go from laying to sitting, which posed a bit of a problem at naptime. The minute I laid you down, you would just pop right back up. Always with a big smile on your face, I might add. You were very proud of yourself. One day, I went in to lay you down “for the last time” and you were standing, yes standing, in your crib, gnawing on the rails. Imagine my surprise. I called Daddy in quick and he lowered your mattress right away. It was a sad moment because it just reminded us of how big you are getting, all way too fast.
You have mastered crawling. It took you awhile to coordinate your hands and feet and figure out which ones to move first, but once you got the hang of it, you were off and running. We can’t take our eyes off of you for one second anymore. You seem to know all the “off-limits” items like cords, remotes, cabinets, photo albums under the coffee table and you migrate to those things every time your knees hit the ground. You HATE sitting still, and asking you to lie down to have your diaper changed is like asking Daddy to make the bed (sorry, Daddy… but like the Pioneer Woman says, I’m just keepin’ it real!)
You started eating Gerber Puffs and you have a secret love affair with them. At first, you would carefully take one little puff, slowly put it in your mouth, let it get nice and soggy, swallow it, and get a new one. That’s out the window. Now, you inhale them. You make the silliest face when you eat them with your nose all wrinkled up and your lips smushed together. I find puffs everywhere, and I do mean everywhere. I found one stuck to the side of my pajama pants in bed the other morning. You always lose them in the highchair and you giggle when I go searching for them because you think I am tickling you. Not too long ago, you were munching on puffs while I was cooking dinner, and I looked away for a minute or two. When I turned around, you had five of them stuck all over your face. You were still working on the “making it into your mouth part” at that time.
You also finally got the hang of your sippy cup. It took about a week of you gnawing on it to finally realize that there was something actually in there.
You have started pulling yourself up on everything just in the past couple weeks. You constantly crawl to the coffee table, put both of your chubby little hands on top, get your chubby little feet in place (and can I tell you how much I adore your chubby baby feet?) , and before you know it, your knees are locked and you are standing! I am scared that this may mean you’ll be ready to walk soon. Can I bribe you with some biter biscuits to not walk until you are at least one? I mean, come on, give us a break here.
In other news, you are getting your first tooth! It doesn’t seem to be giving you too much trouble, but it is taking awhile to completely come through. Daddy and I are NOT looking forward to seeing you with teeth. Yet again, another reminder of how big you are getting.
You’ve been in the pool three times now and you love it! You look absolutely precious in your little swimsuits. Your two piece shows off your chubby little belly, and don’t even get me started on your thighs. I just want to eat you up in that thing!
I am so enjoying being home with you this summer. We spent my first week off of work napping together in my bed. My favorite treat, by far. Nothing is better than going to sleep to the sound of a baby breathing and hearing the little noises you make. You’d wake me up my pinching all over my face with your sharp nails… not the best wake-up call, but I’ll take it.
You and I have been taking a nice two mile walk every morning. I always forget to bring your rings to hook onto the stroller so you actually have something to play with. You don’t seem to mind at all. You just lay back and enjoy the sights and sounds. You are content to chew on the stroller strap anyway.
You took your second trip to the zoo on Monday. Maddie and Holden went with us, too (Daddy and I were exhausted after taking three kids to the zoo!). You enjoyed it much more this time. After we left the gift shop where Maddie was buying a stuffed animal, I looked down at you and you had a little piece of something white in your hand and a little piece sticking out of your mouth. I went fishing in your mouth and pulled out Maddie’s whole receipt! I told you we couldn’t take our eyes off of you for ONE second!
All in all, this has been my favorite stage of your life so far. It is such a treat to interact with you. You love to touch our faces, pull off Daddy’s hat, play peek-a-boo, and be tickled. Daddy and I eat it up, I tell ya. I’m always telling him, “Do that again” just to hear you giggle one more time. That sounds never gets old. You are so fun to be with and everyone just loves you. You steal the show every time. You always make Daddy and I laugh and we wonder what we did without you. It’s almost hard to remember life before you came. You have turned our regular old days into wonderful, priceless days spent with you.
Happy seven month birthday, baby girl.
I love you,
Mama
Dearest Katers,
This month has been marked by change. Physically, you can now crawl, stand up, sit up, pull up, fall over, shimmy, shake, pull things down off of higher places, throw things, feed yourself crackers, pull mommy's hair out, pinch, and thousands of other things you do during your busy little day. I am convinced that you are in a daily struggle to pull the photo album on top of your head before you're busted by mommy or daddy. Your first tooth is almost here, your crib is lower, your hair longer, your clothes bigger, your screams louder, and your cuteness is exponentially growing by the hour.
Your little personality is coming out more and more. Who knew that you could do an outstanding impression of Danny from the movie The Shining? Or that your 6 month sweet laugh would become a raucous squeal? Or that you would wrinkle your nose when you eat? The emerging toddler that is in you is dying to come out and I see that more everyday.
What will tomorrow bring? Sometimes I feel like I will walk in your room and you will say in a grown up voice, "Hello Daddy, I am ready to play today", and overnight you would have emerged as a big girl. Sometimes I think about the time when I won't be able to hold you like a little baby because you are too old for that now. But when those thoughts come I think about now- you sitting in your high chair chomping on baby food and making a mess.
Kate, there is a world for you to explore. New tastes, sounds, and sights await just outside your bedroom door. And I have the highest privilege to watch a beautiful girl discover.
Love Always,
Daddy
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