You cry, I laugh

When Kate is really crying, if you blow a puff of air on her face, she stops crying for just an instant. Puckers up her lips and lifts her chin. I think it is so funny. It doesn't seem to upset her any more than she already is. But it doesn't create a long term solution, either. Still very funny, though.

Toe Jam

Kate met two more of her cousins this week. Syndey and Zach have been just great with her. Each wanting to have time to play with her and hold her.

It was while Syd was holding Kate, and I was sitting next to them, that I got my first real view of Kate's toes when they weren't clenched.

And it was clear that I've been a neglectful mother, having never cleaned this part of her body. There were many nasty crusty pieces lodged in the crooks of her toes. Imagine a lot of dried up boogers. Just being clenched by her long toes.

No worries, though. It cleaned up easily, and I now will always remember to check the grips of Kate's toes. See, they are clean now!

J.J. Fan club

Kate has become an official member of the J.J. Putz fan club. For those of you not in the know, he's the closing pitcher for the Mariners. The team was giving out commemorative "Soul Patches" at one of the games. Can you see the resemblance? (Under Kate's hand is the Mariner logo.)

Songs that get stuck in your head

They certainly look cute! Sorry for getting the song stuck in your head for the day.

This entire adorable moment has been brought too you by Group Health Cooperate, Jill's insurance. Got the bill in the mail yesterday. It cost nearly $8,000 to bring this baby into the world at the hospital. We only have to pay $200. Go HMO insurance!

Oregon Trip

Kate and I made the drive down to Oregon yesterday without much trauma. A little fussy at the start, she settled down by Olympia. We stopped once for a diaper change and feeding, then went to Hillsboro. Kate really wanted to meet her Uncle Lucas, and spend more time chillin' with her cousin Owen.

A note about Kate's outfit. With the way it snaps, I call it a French outfit. And there's a duck on the front. So we have "Le Duck" which makes the sound "Le Quack". And to think I can figure all that out without having taken a single French class!
After dinner, went headed down to Salem. Kate got the chance to catch up with Grandpa Oshel, whom she hadn't seen since her arrival stay at the hospital.
What I like best about this picture is that it seems Kate no longer has a head. But I assure you it's just the angle of the photo!

Smiles!

It only took four tries. Thank goodness for the miracle of digital cameras!

No more no neck

Well, we decided to upgrade our baby swing. It just didn't seem right to have Kate doing face plants into the tray, or to have us propping her up with a lot of blankets.

So, off to the crazy land of Babies R Us we went yesterday. What? Going into that beheamoth on a weekend? Yes. We were that nutz-oid.

We brought along Kate, and had her sit in various swings. People wanted to buy the swing she was in, if she came along with it.

Narrowed it down to two choices. Each had their benefits. One of the plusses of the one we got: "Minimal assembly", versus "Assembly required".

Got home, and turned on "The Deadliest Catch" marathon and Doug began the assembly process. Among the quotes heard:

"Deadliest Catch harrowing? THIS is harrowing"

"I almost lost a foot" (when a piece fell on his foot)

"Minimal assembly? They are liars. The Fischer Price people with their assembly required were more honest".

All said and done, the new swing is now put together. The mobile has what I am calling "Spotted Owls." After all, I am an Oregon gal!

No neck Kate

Sometimes the only way we can get Kate to fall asleep during the daytime is to put her in the swing. However, and unfortunate side-effect is that her neck completely disappears! (Sorry I couldn't figure out how to rotate the 2nd video.)

Finally, "Don't wake me, I'll wake you" & "My Heart Belongs to Daddy".

Kate and Owen meet

Yesterday, Marla and Mom drove up so that these two cousins could finally meet each other. It was a great visit!

Rose Garden

Here are a few pictures of roses that have blossomed in the past week. We planted our rose garden in February, and I'm quite happy with the results of our entirely amature experience. (And if anyone has rose gardening helpful hints, I'll take them! At this point all I know is, well, nothing!)

Poo rocket

Yesterday, while changing Kate's diaper, we had a rocket of poo. I heard it coming, and even caught a lot of it in the diaper, but I was a little too late. See the laundry basket that is closest to the door? Yep. Poo made it all the way to that basket. She's got some skills, I tell ya!

Sneak Attack

Kate sure can be sneaky. Most recently, during the middle of the night diaper changing. Old diaper off - check. New diaper going on . . . wait a minute! How did the changing pad get wet? And your onesie, too? A total wardrobe change? Really?

The thing is, I didn't even see her pee. Things just got wet. And this has happened to me more than once. And she's fast at it, too.

What can I say. She has skills!

M's, round two

Yesterday we all ventured to our 2nd Mariner game. We parked in our usual wonderful spot. Decided to change Kate's diaper at the car before going to the stadium.

Fortunately, Doug put down the plastic protector. Once the diaper was off, Kate decided it was time for a little #1 action. With the angle of the car, most of it actually rolled off the protector into a puddle on the ground. But some did manage to hit Doug's pants. I just laughed. Tee hee.

Unrelated, the picture below shows it's never to soon to have your first self-portrait (even if mommy still needs a shower).

First M's Game

Yesterday, Kate went to her first Mariner game. She slept pretty much the whole time, except for when she was chowing down on a bottle. So I consider the adventure a success. We'll be going to another game tomorrow, so hopefully it will go smoothly, also.

Doug reading a book to Kate about baseball and the Mariners.



Two not-so-hot family portraits (maybe better next time!)

Two cutie pictures of Kate at the game.