When I picked Kaitlyn up from preschool today, her hands were fuschia. She had purple paint spotting her arms, and a huge splotch on the leg of her jeans. All in all, it looked like she had a great time. I'm so happy we enrolled her in this school. She loves it, and I'm really enjoying the "parent participation" aspects of it - working in the classroom, fundraising, field trips... I volunteered to be on the Board of Directors as the newsletter editor, and recently I raised my hand to redesign the school's website. That, along with the sewing I've been doing and working on my other blog, have kept me busy. It's a good busy though.
Our baby boy is due in a little less than 15 weeks, which is hard to believe. This pregnancy has been more challenging than my first - I'm tired most of the time, have horrible hip pain, less patience, etc. - but it's also seeming to go by much more quickly. Probably because we are all so busy! Kaitlyn is so excited to meet her baby brother. She talks to my belly every day, gives it kisses and hugs, and tells everyone about her brother "Jaskon" (Jackson). Last night she and I opened a box of newborn cloth diapers that had been shipped to me, and she went through them all, calling them "so cute." She is going to be the sweetest big sister.
My next appointment is at the end of the month, when I've reached 28 weeks, and we have a follow-up ultrasound then as well. Hopefully I will pass the gestational diabetes test this time around, although chances are I'll have it again. At least we're familiar with the diet by now.
I am so excited for the holidays, and I love being able to share that excitement with Kaitlyn as she gets older. This year she was able to tell me what she wanted to be for Halloween (Clifford), and I know she will love doing holiday crafts and shopping together. Although this age has been probably one of the most challenging, she's also such a delight to spend the day with (most of the time). The observations and discoveries she makes just bring a whole new element to life.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Summer Catch-Up
This has been an amazingly busy summer so far, full of friends, family and good things.
We recently came home from an eight-night stay in San Luis Obispo. Ben, his dad and his friend Gene went backpacking in the Sierras while Kaitlyn and I stayed with Cay and had our own adventures around town. It was a great opportunity for all of us: Kaitlyn got to spend some quality time with her grandma and great-grandma, I was able to get to know the area better (and fall in love with it even more), and Ben was able to leave his cell phone and computer behind and just be out there in the wilderness. When he came home, scruffy and dirty and a little wild-eyed, he held Kaitlyn in his arms and she said, "Daddy, I love your scratchy face!" It was a happy reunion.
Kaitlyn starts preschool in less than two weeks. She'll be attending in the mornings twice a week, and because it is a co-op preschool I'll be working in the classroom a couple of times a month. I also volunteered to serve on the Board for the school, so I'll be putting together the monthly newsletter - a fun opportunity to get involved, do my part and use some of those latent journalism skills.
Potty training was a success! We are happy to say that Kaitlyn is now completely out of diapers and pull-ups, even at night and naptime. Just in time, since our second baby is due mid-January. We find out in a week whether it is a boy or a girl, although Kaitlyn seems pretty confident that there is a "baby sister" in Mommy's tummy.
Kaitlyn had an eye appointment this morning. I had been concerned because her right eye tends to drift upward when she is tired or distracted, and it seemed to be more frequent lately. The ophthalmologist said it is called a disassociated vertical deviation and it is commonly seen in children with strabismus. The solution is another surgery, although he said that isn't necessary unless it becomes a consistent deviation. (At this point, as soon as she recognizes that the eye is drifting she corrects it herself.) We also learned today that her ophthalmologist, who has done both of her surgeries and been monitoring her strabismus since she was 6 months old, is retiring in September. A new doctor is taking his place but we will need to decide whether to continue going to the practice; she is supposed to return in six months.
We hope everyone is doing well and having a wonderful summer. We'll be posting news and hopefully some ultrasound photos from our appointment next week - boy or girl? We'll find out soon!
We recently came home from an eight-night stay in San Luis Obispo. Ben, his dad and his friend Gene went backpacking in the Sierras while Kaitlyn and I stayed with Cay and had our own adventures around town. It was a great opportunity for all of us: Kaitlyn got to spend some quality time with her grandma and great-grandma, I was able to get to know the area better (and fall in love with it even more), and Ben was able to leave his cell phone and computer behind and just be out there in the wilderness. When he came home, scruffy and dirty and a little wild-eyed, he held Kaitlyn in his arms and she said, "Daddy, I love your scratchy face!" It was a happy reunion.
Kaitlyn starts preschool in less than two weeks. She'll be attending in the mornings twice a week, and because it is a co-op preschool I'll be working in the classroom a couple of times a month. I also volunteered to serve on the Board for the school, so I'll be putting together the monthly newsletter - a fun opportunity to get involved, do my part and use some of those latent journalism skills.
Potty training was a success! We are happy to say that Kaitlyn is now completely out of diapers and pull-ups, even at night and naptime. Just in time, since our second baby is due mid-January. We find out in a week whether it is a boy or a girl, although Kaitlyn seems pretty confident that there is a "baby sister" in Mommy's tummy.
Kaitlyn had an eye appointment this morning. I had been concerned because her right eye tends to drift upward when she is tired or distracted, and it seemed to be more frequent lately. The ophthalmologist said it is called a disassociated vertical deviation and it is commonly seen in children with strabismus. The solution is another surgery, although he said that isn't necessary unless it becomes a consistent deviation. (At this point, as soon as she recognizes that the eye is drifting she corrects it herself.) We also learned today that her ophthalmologist, who has done both of her surgeries and been monitoring her strabismus since she was 6 months old, is retiring in September. A new doctor is taking his place but we will need to decide whether to continue going to the practice; she is supposed to return in six months.
We hope everyone is doing well and having a wonderful summer. We'll be posting news and hopefully some ultrasound photos from our appointment next week - boy or girl? We'll find out soon!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Oh my gosh, last post in April... I am so ashamed!
Well, things have been busy here and I did start up another blog, Domesticatedmama.com, so I suppose that is partially my excuse. Work has been crazy busy for Ben, and I've been doing some sewing and other fun domestic things when I get the urge. We had a pretty substantial leak in our laundry room from the upstairs bath, so dealing with that was an adventure. It's hard to believe we're coming up on four years in this townhouse, which means four years of marriage! We moved here as newlyweds less than a month after our wedding. Amazing.
Several of the neighbors who lived here when we moved in four years ago have left; some are the same. We've been spending a lot of time at the park, which is less than a block away, and it seems Kaitlyn meets a new friend there at least once a week. If I don't get a chance to take her during the day, Ben will take her when he gets home from work. They have a blast together, flying the kite, digging in the sand, playing with the basketball and getting dirty. We're so grateful to have this little playground so close to our home. And grateful, also, for the swimming pool. We finally have legit passes to the facilities here - and there are many to choose from. Countless swimming pools, tennis courts, a sandy lagoon open only in the summer, and you can even rent paddle boats and go out on the lake. We've already taken Kaitlyn swimming once this season; it didn't take her long to be jumping off the edge of the pool into our arms. We haven't signed up for swimming lessons this summer because the session dates always overlap with planned trips, but we'll be spending enough time in the water as it is.
It's a challenge keeping up with this energetic little girl sometimes. Thankfully when she's around other toddlers they usually just run around until they're exhausted - so it looks like we need to schedule more playdates! We're working on potty training; she needs to be out of diapers by September, when she starts preschool. Yikes! Preschool! When did this happen?
Kaitlyn is so excited to see her first movie in a theater, "Toy Story 3." She absolutely loves the first two Toy Story movies. Other things she loves right now are stickers, more stickers, stickers, puzzles, and anything related to her "baby sisters" (dolls). She still loves to be read to, and her memory is amazing - after reading a story one time she can often fill in the blanks if you leave out certain words. We go to the library several times a month to stock up on new books, something Kaitlyn and I both love.
Halfway into the year with a 2-year-old, I would say that this age is in some ways harder and some ways easier. But never any less rewarding. If possible, I may even get MORE hugs and MORE kisses and MORE "Mommy I love yous" than before. The only difference is, now she grabs my face in both hands to make sure I am looking her in the eyes before she tells me. Don't worry Kaitlyn - I'm paying attention. And I love you too.
Well, things have been busy here and I did start up another blog, Domesticatedmama.com, so I suppose that is partially my excuse. Work has been crazy busy for Ben, and I've been doing some sewing and other fun domestic things when I get the urge. We had a pretty substantial leak in our laundry room from the upstairs bath, so dealing with that was an adventure. It's hard to believe we're coming up on four years in this townhouse, which means four years of marriage! We moved here as newlyweds less than a month after our wedding. Amazing.
Several of the neighbors who lived here when we moved in four years ago have left; some are the same. We've been spending a lot of time at the park, which is less than a block away, and it seems Kaitlyn meets a new friend there at least once a week. If I don't get a chance to take her during the day, Ben will take her when he gets home from work. They have a blast together, flying the kite, digging in the sand, playing with the basketball and getting dirty. We're so grateful to have this little playground so close to our home. And grateful, also, for the swimming pool. We finally have legit passes to the facilities here - and there are many to choose from. Countless swimming pools, tennis courts, a sandy lagoon open only in the summer, and you can even rent paddle boats and go out on the lake. We've already taken Kaitlyn swimming once this season; it didn't take her long to be jumping off the edge of the pool into our arms. We haven't signed up for swimming lessons this summer because the session dates always overlap with planned trips, but we'll be spending enough time in the water as it is.
It's a challenge keeping up with this energetic little girl sometimes. Thankfully when she's around other toddlers they usually just run around until they're exhausted - so it looks like we need to schedule more playdates! We're working on potty training; she needs to be out of diapers by September, when she starts preschool. Yikes! Preschool! When did this happen?
Kaitlyn is so excited to see her first movie in a theater, "Toy Story 3." She absolutely loves the first two Toy Story movies. Other things she loves right now are stickers, more stickers, stickers, puzzles, and anything related to her "baby sisters" (dolls). She still loves to be read to, and her memory is amazing - after reading a story one time she can often fill in the blanks if you leave out certain words. We go to the library several times a month to stock up on new books, something Kaitlyn and I both love.
Halfway into the year with a 2-year-old, I would say that this age is in some ways harder and some ways easier. But never any less rewarding. If possible, I may even get MORE hugs and MORE kisses and MORE "Mommy I love yous" than before. The only difference is, now she grabs my face in both hands to make sure I am looking her in the eyes before she tells me. Don't worry Kaitlyn - I'm paying attention. And I love you too.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
All Kaitlyn
We're doing a little catching up on video for our loved ones - yes, you!
March 2010
April 2010
March 2010
April 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
The Magic of Having a Little Girl
I think back often on my pregnancy, trying to remember the myriad little details that all came together to form nine life-creating, life-changing months.
One thing that always strikes me as ironic is the fear I felt when we first found out we were having a little girl. I had long assumed I was carrying a boy, a little Davis or Jackson. We didn't even have a girl's name picked out. On one of our many (many) trips to Babies 'R Us, I cringed at the baby girl bedding - the butterflies and the princesses, the pink and the purple everything, the lace and poodles and ballerinas; and I nodded my head in approval at the boys' selection of farm or jungle animals, trucks and airplanes and dinosaurs. As a teenager I had babysat a family of four boys for years. Boys I could handle.
The day of our 20-week ultrasound, which was also my 28th birthday, we found out that little boy I thought I was carrying was actually a little girl. And panic set in, just a little. And I forced Ben to drive me to Babies 'R Us once more so I could come to terms with a room full of poodles wearing princess crowns. With purple fur. Wearing toe shoes.
More than two years and many shades of pink later, I sit "nuggled" on the couch with my baby girl. She's beautiful.
She's smart and she's funny and she loves to have tea parties, and bake, and dress-up in my clothes and shoes.
But she also loves to roar like a dinosaur, dig in the sand and dirt, wrestle until I beg for mercy.
She's the perfect balance of girly sweetness and rough-and-tumble tomboy.
She's my best bud. We shop, we paint, we giggle, we brush our hair together. Someday I'll paint her toenails and buy her her first "big girl" necklace. Someday.
For now we're just enjoying our girl time together. The hugs, the kisses, the 'nuggles. When she takes my face in her little girl hands as she's falling asleep and says, "I love you Mommy," I thank heaven for little girls.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Let's Go Fly a Kite
Is it possible to tell your child you love them too often? I hope not, because sometimes I feel like I am telling Kaitlyn "I love you" every five minutes. We give so many hugs and kisses in this house, and I hope it's building in her a sense of confidence and love for others that will stay with her as she grows.
I am filled with so much warmth every time I look at her.
Yesterday Ben, Kaitlyn and I picked up a picnic lunch and took it to a local park. After running around, climbing and sliding on the equipment, we had lunch under a tree. Then we packed up and walked over to the empty baseball field to fly a kite together. Ben got the kite up in the air and handed it over to Kaitlyn. She held on, walking forward while holding it, until she panicked and begged us to take it from her. We all took turns, running with the kite and seeing how far up it could go. If you haven't flown a kite lately, I highly recommend it.
Kaitlyn has a new toy microphone (generously given to us by a nice young man at a swap meet) and she likes to sing songs into it. We all take turns singing in the microphone and shaking the maracas. I'm not sure why our phone hasn't been ringing off the hook for professional engagements - I'll have to make sure the ringer is on.
This morning she and I had what I call Kitchen Dance Party. We put on our favorite Pandora station - Laurie Berkner - and, well, dance in the kitchen. She likes to grab my hands and run in circles, then has me copy her "moves." Like putting her hands on her knees, crouching down, and opening her mouth wide. Or putting her hands above her head like a ballerina and turning around. We also hop like frogs and shout, "Ribbit!"
But my favorite thing lately is her manners. Just now, I set a plate of food on the table for her lunch, and Kaitlyn said, "Sandwich time!" A minute later, "So yummy Mom. It's so yummy." Last night at dinner - skillet-baked spaghetti and a side of cut-up Persian cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and carrots - Kaitlyn said, "More vegetables, please!" (It may have been more like "vegables.") And the absolute best is this: "Wow, thank you Mom! Thank you SO MUCH!"
No Kaitlyn - thank YOU.
Photos
She ate the whole thing.
Learning from Daddy
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Teething... And Peepers
February is National Tooth Month. Well, in our house, anyway.
Kaitlyn is teething. Again. Did you know they get TWO sets of molars? As if the excruciating horror we went through with her first set wasn't enough. She has a marble-sized lump where the next one is coming in. I should know by now that if I'm at my wit's end with my baby girl, chances are she's cutting a tooth. Or that she's two years old. Either way. In this case, I'm 99 percent sure it's the tooth. Restless nights, finger gnawing, increasing irritability... and that's just me. Imagine what Kaitlyn is going through. Har har.
I won't even mention how much all the dental work that Ben and I need is going to cost us this year. Let's just say we could buy a car. Like maybe a Honda Civic from 2003.
All that aside, I can't complain. Well, I can complain about money. But money isn't everything. And money can't buy you love. And we have LOTS of love around here.
I know you all come here just to see pictures of Kaitlyn. And maybe Peepers. So I'll indulge you.
If you hadn't known her from the very beginning, would you believe this little girl is only two?
Look at that hair!
Look at that belly!
Kaitlyn is teething. Again. Did you know they get TWO sets of molars? As if the excruciating horror we went through with her first set wasn't enough. She has a marble-sized lump where the next one is coming in. I should know by now that if I'm at my wit's end with my baby girl, chances are she's cutting a tooth. Or that she's two years old. Either way. In this case, I'm 99 percent sure it's the tooth. Restless nights, finger gnawing, increasing irritability... and that's just me. Imagine what Kaitlyn is going through. Har har.
I won't even mention how much all the dental work that Ben and I need is going to cost us this year. Let's just say we could buy a car. Like maybe a Honda Civic from 2003.
All that aside, I can't complain. Well, I can complain about money. But money isn't everything. And money can't buy you love. And we have LOTS of love around here.
I know you all come here just to see pictures of Kaitlyn. And maybe Peepers. So I'll indulge you.
If you hadn't known her from the very beginning, would you believe this little girl is only two?
Look at that hair!
Look at that belly!
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