The Age of Discovery,

That is without a doubt the age Kateri is currently experiencing. She wants to discover EVERYTHING. And, not only does she just want to discover it, she follows through and usually does discover it, eat it, tear it up, and destroy it. All in the most loving fashion.

Things that were formerly beyond her ability to do, are now increasingly possible. The other day, while I was cleaning the counter with my back to Kateri, she found a very interesting cylindrical container with something inside. She wasted no time in exploring further, and I turned around to see this:

What exciting things there are in Papa-Bears gym bag! Maybe they even TASTE delicious!

Hmm. Well maybe not . . .

One thing that I have discovered is that we need to get out of the house daily, weather permitting. (Earth shattering news, right?!!) But it is REALLY REALLY worth it to bundle that baby up and get some fresh air. Mental sanity, people. So that's what we do!

Getting ready to brave the elements. Kateri had about 5 layers on and looked like a stuffed sausage. And Pat was able to come too!!

And No, she did not sleep on the walk . . .

Another new discovery of Kateri is her love for books. They don't even need to have pictures, she just loves the written word. The other night, I was down in the basement and Kateri happily pulled all the books from a bookshelf. Then she sat down, and carefully brought over one book, A Collection of Short Stories, by Flannery O'Connor. Yes, she has very literary, mature tastes! She then proceeded to quietly flip through the pages, over and over. For about ten minutes she sat there, content to turn the pages, looking at each one, ne'er a page was torn, nor a corner chewed. True appreciation for literature! There is not a single picture in that book.

Kateri loves having books read to her, and is starting to make exclamations during the stories. She has especially loved The Donkey's Dream, which is one of the best children's Christmas stories I have ever read. Here she is enjoying her sweet aunt Jeanne reading her a little book:

Oh Kateri! The world has so many wonderful things for you to discover!

"Oh How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning . . .

Oh how I wish I could stay in BED!"

I think that song was probably written about moms (specifically moms of littles), and then some time later switched to the military with a few changes in the lyrics.

Kateri sings an opposite song. It goes something like:

"Oh how I love to wake up in the night-time! Oh how I really detest to SLEEP!"

Hello, sleep strike! Time for bed? Think again, mom and dad! MAYBE I'll go to sleep once it's 10 or 11, though. . .

Sleeping for more then 2 (or one) consecutive hours? Nope! No thanks! She just loves calling to us after sleeping about an hour, eating, and then being rocked . . . and rocked and rocked and rocked in the glider. Oh and then rocked some more. There once was a day when she easily went to sleep after that midnight snack. But those days are GONE.

Sleep in until 7? and then contentedly talk and play in the crib? Think again! 0500 sounds like a delightful time to Kateri.

She has also decided that 'napping?! who needs it?!' Naps are overrated! 15 to 20 minutes MAX.

So all three of us became tired exhausted messes ready to tear out our hair, and trying to pull ourselves together enough to scrape by doing a few essential things (like eat). Oh and mainly by all three of us, I mean me.

And then, I saw Kateri do this:

She NEVER does that!

Finally, I realized a few things:

1. We have a very over tired munchkin, this is NOT just a life-change/part of growing up
2. Probably due to crazy days and complete lack of schedules/bed times over the holidays
3. This is not something any of us can maintain

So I sent out an SOS to my mom, who gave me some wonderful advice! And that advice went in to action immediately.

1. Bed time routines are great
2. Early bed times are even greater
3. Sleeping through the night is even greater than that, so no more midnight snacks!
4. When Kateri wakes up in the middle of the night, go in, pat her on the back and tell her you love her and to lie down and go back to sleep.

Wow! So change is in the air, my friends! Kateri is very happy to report that she now gets a daily bath-playtime session, which she loves, in addition to reading a story! And I love getting her in bed by 7:30. And, well, number four is a hard one to stick to, as Pat and I discovered on our first night with our New Plan. And though number three has yet to happen, I have no doubt that it will!

So thankful for the great advice and encouragement, mom! Bring on the zzzzzz's!!

First Words

The other day Pat had a very memorable dream. Realistic? perhaps! But I sure hope NOT!

Pat and I were sitting in our living room, watching Kateri. She was almost a year old by this point (hard to believe that will ever happen!) and was walking ALL over the place, so in order to contain her we used the ottomans to block her in the TV room.

Kateri was not bothered a bit. She kept walking and playing, babbling away. Then she looked at Pat, and pointedly said something. Pat suddenly realized he understood EXACTLY what Kateri said! He jumped up incredulously and translated for me,

"Kateri just asked me for a MILLER LITE! She said, "PASS ME THE MILLER! I can hardly believe it but it is TRUE"

I was skeptical that she said anything let alone ask for a beer. Pat then continued to ask Kbear to repeat herself until she finally was saying emphatically and quite clearly,

"PASS ME A MILLER!!!!!"

Football Season

Yes. We have passed Labor Day, which means only one thing! Football season is upon is! Today was the long-awaited first Bears football game. I had a previous engagement with Wrigley monster, and so it was time for a daddy-daughter date. Thanks to uncle Mike, Kateri even has a Bears jersey, AND it is the same one that Pat has: Devon Hester.

Look at those happy smiling faces! Any guesses as to who won today?

Kateri also got to try a new drink, first drink ever, in fact: apple juice. Per all reports: she loved it! She had a great time with aunt Mimi, uncle Johnny and unclebuncle Peter, Nanny, Mac and Mr Adam. All in all, this has been a week of joy, Bears, Broncos and Seahawks all win, time will tell how the Redskins do tomorrow evening.

This photo cracks me up . . . something about the way Pat is holding Kateri . . . Sack of potatoes, anyone?

Crunchy?

I have so much respect for those crunchy granola type moms who cook all their bread from non gmo flour, eat only grass fed beef, drink only fresh milk, eat only free range eggs, use cloth diapers and do baby led weaning. They have lots of neat ideas and some that I'd love to emulate. And there was a time when I considered myself to be of the crunchy leaning wannabe type . . .

Until . . . .

We were out in beautiful West Virginia, in the little town of Thomas, which basically consists of one-half of a street. There is only one side with store fronts because the other side is riverfront, so it is really quite picturesque. We found a little pizza place complete with a real brick oven. After we ordered our pizza from the two hippie brothers with half their heads cut short and part long in a funny little pony tail, Pat asked what sorts of drinks they served.

Well. They served water. But they didn't serve it. Guests went and filled up their water from a little plastic water dispenser. Pat asked if they had any beer on tap. The brother said, "Right now we are just a BYOB place. Still working on the alcohol license." Say What?! is that even legal? Either way, we did take advantage of it.

Meanwhile Pat enjoyed some delicious pizza . . .

And double fisting his BYOB beer . . .

And I greatly enjoyed the pizza as well.

Kateri followed every bit of food as I ate. She could tell the good stuff was there! And she knew she wanted some! So I couldn't deny my dear darling daughter her hearts desire . . . and boy was it EVER her desire . . .

She would not let go and would not stop chewing it. Oh Boy! Did it hit the spot!

So Kateri's first food: pizza.

Not long after, Pat and I decided to use a gift card (LOVE those) and we headed to a nearby ice cream place. We bought all too much ice cream. But someone was ready to help us eat it!

Oh boy! yum yum yummy!!!

\
And yes she absolutely loved every bite!


So, the other day, while considering my crunchiness (or complete lack thereof), I realized my daughters first two foods were pizza and ice-cream. She loved them! And I love them too. So, while we will at least occasionally eat super de duper healthy, I am going to just kiss my crunchiness goodbye for now. We all need some scrumptious unhealthy splurges every now and then, right?

Wednesday Picnic

Lucky for me, I have a very game sister and a very fun-loving adventurer niece! This makes for an exciting time whenever we get together. Today we decided that the weather was so gorgeous and perfect we must just immerse ourselves in it and enjoy every moment. So we threw together some healthy picnic food (sandwich, hint-of-lime tortilla chips, mint oreos (best most dangerous invention ever)) and headed up to Frying Pan Park.

The day was already perfect to a T, but the perfection continued and despite leaving separate houses and separate times with separate children, we pulled into the park right at the same time! Miracle indeed! Though perhaps it would be more accurate to say 2.3 seconds apart . . . no collisions.

And of course, being so ideal already, the day couldn't help but become MORE ideal. There is a farmers market that comes to Frying Pan Park every Wednesday. Imagine that! And we didn't even know! There were moms and kiddos galore, picnicking, walking, riding in strollers, crawling in grass, riding the carousal, checking out the wares. And the great thing is, there is so much space that it really wasn't one bit crowded. We laid down the quilt and set up a picnic. It was quite nice!

I was the extra special recipient of some lovely flowers hand-picked and carefully chosen by the beneficent Charlotte.

 

 

Look at that sweet precious girl!

 

 

 

I am the lucky one indeed! Kateri loved lolling around on the quilt, and once we were finished eating we headed over to check out the animals. We knew the pigs were nearby when a brick wall of stench hit us square in the nose. We walked into the small dark barn (no electricity) and as I leaned over each stall to give Kateri a good look, she started whimpering and crying. "No, mama, I don't want to get too close to these fearsome creatures today." Oh Kateri! It is just a little goat! Baby pigs! yada yada! Poor baby K, entering the fearful stage is not much fun but is a hurdle that must be jumped.

 

Next week: shall we carousal? or ride the tractor-pull? or milk a cow at 4 pm?

 



Afternoon Meanderings

Of late, Kateri is just starting to sit up at will. Perhaps I should specify . . . she can sit up at my will, with careful setting, spotting, and supporting, not quite at her own will at this point, but come on guys! She is only 6 months!

We recently discovered, to our great joy, that Kateri is big enough at last to ride in Charlotte's big red wagon! This is oh-so-exciting and oh-so-fun!

We talk about all sorts of things as we wander thru Lu's beautiful neighborhood streets. But mostly we admire the beauty and cleverness and adorableness of our offspring . . .

They are just so cute! There is no denying it ;)