Lil' Monkey

Kate is all about crawling up and over things, if possible. So, it's only appropriate that she's wearing monkey pj's (Thanks, Grandma!) The action sequence below is a typical thing these days when she's playing on the floor. Only a couple of minor rug burns on the face in the process. Note in the 3rd photo, no limbs are on the ground. It's all belly!

Zerberts

Kate has become a prolific zerbert noise maker. Very skilled at it. In the video (which has poor visual quality - sorry), you can hear what she was working on for easily 10 continuous minutes last night. I find it so funny.

On a side note, I left the new camera in Oregon. So all the recent holiday photos will be shared in a couple of weeks, when my parents come up for Kate's baptism. Good thing we still have the other camera. :)

I KNEW better

I have a few rules about the holiday season. First, let it be known that I live ridiculously close to a mall, with all the accompanying stores. Which makes traffic HORRIBLE during the time right before Christmas. So, rule #1 - don't go out to do any type of shopping between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Of course, we need groceries, so rule #2 - if you must go out, do it on a week day.

However, because of the weather, I broke both rules yesterday, and trekked out to Costco. It was the window between snow fronts. We needed kitty litter and toilet paper if we were going to be snowed in for a few days. Fearing a power outage, I didn't buy any perishables. (Though Suzi reminded me that since it's so freakin' cold, I could just put everything outside).

1st sign that it was going to be bad - traffic was backed up 2 lights just to get into the parking lot. That was a new one. I battle my way to a parking spot, walk across the compact-snow covered parking lot, get into the store, just to see the check out lines backed up to the clothing area.

Remarkably, I didn't ankle-bite anyone with my cart as I traversed the mayhem. Truly, the worst part of it was getting back to my car, wielding a cart that easily wielding a 200+ pound cart (remember, I was getting kitty litter. . . . .) The cart had a hard time keeping traction. And the wheels would get caught on the icy bumps. Fatigued arms and gasping for air, I arrived at the car hardly able to unload the cart. At least I kept the cart from sliding into other cars along the journey.

Fortunately, the freeway was very clear. That is, until the exit to get to our house, which was backed up onto the freeway itself. Those darn holiday shoppers.

Was it all worth it? I suppose so. It makes a good story, and I DID survive. And now bathroom needs for all living creatures in our house are taken care of for the foreseeable future.

Squirmy Wormy

Our little Kate is definitely on the move. It's rare now for a diaper change to go by when she doesn't end up on her tummy. Trying to crawl off, or to see the greater view of the room.

She also had a lot of fun crawling through the cat toy post. It was fun watching her reaction as the feathers tickled her face. She did make it all the way through, too.

Snow Angel

Yesterday was gloriously filled with snow all day long. I think Kate looks soooo cute in this snow outfit that is borrow from Monica. The other times she's worn it this week, it seems to have just paralyzed her. She gets so relaxed and holds so still. Sort of like Randy in "A Christmas Story." The Snow Angel she made in the snow here is really a bit more of a Snow Ball. Hey, it's what a twitchy baby will do!
Overall, she was indifferent to the snow. Maybe with the next round she'll be more excited.

Baby Food

Since Kate has turned 6 months old, she's been 'enjoying' new tastes. I put it in quotes, because the first time she tries new flavors, she makes the most horrible I-hate-this-why-are-your-being-so-mean-to me looks.



However, the 2nd time we try the new flavor, she's all about it. This is a video of her eating apple-mango sauce, mixed with rice cereal. It's the 2nd time of her eating the apple-mango. She also loves to 'help', by grabbing the spoon. (Note the near eye poke out in this video.) Sometimes, I have to have her grab my pinkie fingers, and then go in with the spoon. Very tricky.

Future Date Picture

During dinner last night, Kate got carrots all over her clothes. The change of clothes was ready to go, as clean laundry was in the basket in The Theater. And a clean diaper. So I opted to change her on the floor, rather than going Kate's room.

I got so far in the change, when Kate decided to "take off." What a perfect opportunity for a picture. I joked that it would be a good picture to embarrass Kate with when she's about to go on a date. Doug one-upped me with, "We'll show it to her date and say, 'This is the only time you'll get to see her butt like this!'".

Playing Cards

Doug and I were playing Hand and Foot (think Canasta, super-sized). Kate had just woken up from a nap, and was chilling out in our arms while we played. As she woke up, she became more interested in the cards. Specifially, wanted to reach for them and put them in her mouth!

Likes to read and play with Dad

Over the past couple of afternoons, Kate has been especially cute with Doug. They've read books. They've made faces with each other. They are so cute!

This book is called "Yummy Yucky"

6-mo stats

Kate survived another round of shots. 4, in fact. She's a trooper, but a little bit on the fussy side tonight.

So, here's the deal: 19 pounds, 11 ounces (98th percentile), 27 inches (90th percentile). Strong, alert and sociable. All the doctor's words.

She's trying to sleep now, so no pictures.

6-month self-portrait

I find myself looking forward to this little tradition each month. Our self-portrait time. And Kate is willing to smile a little bit more for the camera, too. Tomorrow we get another round of shots (I'll get my flu shot to be in solidarity with her) and official measurements. Updates with that later.

New Camera

We upgraded to a new camera over the weekend. Thank the tanking economy that everything is on sale. I like that it will take pictures in quick succession. And its slick and small. Here are a few trial pictures, just to make sure it would work.

Idahoan Adventures

Kate and I are in Idaho, awating the birth of Baby R #4.  Oh, and generally hanging out with with the rest of the family.  In the first, you can see they boys watching "Cars" while Kate plays with the pile of toys.  She loves rolling on top of the pile, though that seems like it would be quite uncomfortable!
Not the best posed picture, but it does capture the moment!
Ahhhh, finally caught some smiles on camera.

Cute Onsies

Over the weekend, I did a bit of 'wardrobe' rotation for Kate. All of her clothes fit in one drawer right now (as long as I don't have to close it). This is the drawer of Clothes Kate Wears. Down below it is the drawer of Clothes That Kate Will Grow Into. So on Sunday I pulled clothes out of the top drawer that don't fit any more, and culled the bottom drawer for clothes that she would now fit into.

I probably should have done this two weeks ago. But my life is filled with a lot of "I should haves" right now, so there's no guilt here. For example, right now I should be grading the tests I gave to my Algebra 1 students on Tuesday. But I'd rather be doing other things. No guilt, I tell you, no guilt.

I know this is a side note, but it's quite liberating to just embrace the things I actually am able to do, and letting go of the rest. Like tonight - I made super yummy Cream of Potato soup. Well worth the time.

Anyways, back to Kate. She wore two very cute onsies this week. And I tried my best to get her to smile for the pictures. We came close with the 2nd one!

New Toys

We took a road trip to Tukwila yesterday, and Kate came away with a couple of new toys for the borrowing. She LOVES the Johnny-Jump-Up and has fun with the new lights and noises of the Leap Frog table. The legs come off, so it could be a floor toy or a table, for when she can stand up. For now, this hybrid version seems to keep her the most entertained.

Election Day 2008

Last night was a big one for our household. We've been following Barack Obama since we saw him speak in Seattle 3 years ago. And while he was pretty amazing back then, the primary and general election process has really strengthened his message. Needless to say, we were very stoked that he was elected last night.

We colored in electoral maps as different states were declared for each candidate. "Tim Russert Memorial White-Boards" were used to calculate the chances a given candidate would win a state based on exit polls.

Kate wore her Baaaa-Rock Obama onsie.

Doug was glued to the lap-top and the TV, giving us updates on vote counts and percentages of precints reporting.

And when 8pm PST rolled around, and the West Coast states were called for Obama, clinching the title "President-elect", there was much cheering. There were tears, from being so moved by the hugeness of the moment. It was great to be able to share the moment with Terry, Anne, Anton, Claire, and Mary.

5-month Self-Portrait

Has it really been 5 months already?

Halloween 2008

About a month ago, we were at Babies-R-Us getting Miss Kate a new car seat, for when she grows out of the one she is using now. Which will be soon. I was in another part of the store getting a baby shower present for a co-worker, and Doug comes up to me with the Halloween costume for Kate. He is so cute about things like that !

So, here is our newest black cat with our other black cat.

Look at me, all cute on the floor!

Meow, meow!

Last night, we carved the pumpkin. It was actually the first pumpkin that Doug had ever carved - a surprise to me. While he was carving, I prepared the seeds for roasting.

We got our template from www.yeswecarve.com . Yes, that's right, it's a Barack O'Latern.

Shoes

Kate is wearing her first pair of shoes in this picture. They were a gift from a couple of Kennedy co-workers who are fashion plates when it comes to shoes. Little kids look so cute in shoes, even if they don't really need them yet!

Reading and Sleeping

You just can't get enough pictures of sleeping babies . . . .
Or pictures of them reading with their daddies.

Roll Around Girl

If Kate isn't too tired, she just love to roll around, grabbing at toys. Occasionally, she'll do this magic trick where when I turn my head, she ends up 3 feet away from where I last saw her.

Early Vote