kate had a big day at school, so we only had about an hour with her after she came home. i envisioned a family home evening, complete with special lasagna and cupcakes and presents.
but i was so sick, and andy was so tired, we gave her the cupcake, let her open 2 presents, and we were all wiped out.
so all the presents i was so anxious for her to open-she can do at the party i guess. i always get these big ideas in my head of how beautiful and perfect things can go, but then setbacks-getting sick (all of us) and i accept those and we had a great hour with kate and it was so fun. she loved seeing us, loved those special cupcakes that i took 2 days to plan, andy went to pick them up, forgot them while he was there chatting, so we sent a backup to pick them up, and they were just right.
tomorrow she has to go to school because i am so sick i can't take care of her.
i need to rest.
i love my girl. 2 years ago tonight, i had a brand new baby, was in recovery, it was 1 week after Katrina, and the hospital was a mess. i didn't get to actually meet and hold kate for a long time!
but the many days since then have been the best of my life, and i love that little girl with my whole heart.
and i love my husband for being an awesome dad, awesome provider, and he never gives up.
happy birthday, kate.

happy birthday, kate taylor!

kate will be 2 in 4 days.
2 going on 10. she's pretty smart and headstrong.
i love that girl.

come dine with kate! she has a table set for 2. we usually pull up chairs to sit with her while she munches on her goodies. it's still a little big for her, but she likes to stand and eat. (i hate that. i want her to sit.) but i think the chair is still 1/2 inch too high for her to sit and feel comfy. but come join us for a meal of veggies and fruit.

i love it when i see people's bdays on the milk expiration date. this is kate's bday (not her expiration date.) i was like, wow!

bike riding (not in the street, don't worry)

Here are some things Kate might like

my vintage hairbrush that she loves to use....

big girl loves her bathtime and FINALLY seems to enjoy brushing the teeth-maybe because of her new "tooth tunes" toothbrush that plays "YMCA". pre-bedtime photos are below. she went to sleep soundly after a long day playing at school, then playing with mom and dad and watching a little Elmo.

kate loves playing in her "barn" which is a tent we purchased for last year's birthday party-she squeals with excitement and loves to hide in it.
tonight she was full of fun, took a great bath and went to bed without any complaints.
she had a great day at school and was so glad to be at home with mom and dad.
we love our little tater!

kate is busy lately, trying out new words, loving to say goodbye and hi.
she loves to give kisses, loves to announce that she needs a new elmo diaper, and hates brushing teeth.
being almost 2 must be challenging...because mommy is tired and i think kate is too!

kate is recovering easily from the wasp stings. no complaining, i can't even see where they bit her-so she is a major trooper. thank God she is not allergic!
she had a great day at school. her teacher is leaving on friday, so she is adjusting to a new one, but she seems very sweet and i hope the transition is easy for kate. (it's probably harder for me.)
kate's ear infection seems to be gone, her nose is still running but i am trying some zyrtec to see if that helps her.
she is a lot of fun, and her newest, sweetest thing ever is that she will rub your face if you ask her. It is such a gentle, loving touch, and i think it is the sweetest thing i have ever known.
she was rambunctious at bedtime; very amused at the horse that you wind up that plays "the farmer in the dell" and rocks its head back and forth-as a baby, she didn't care for the toy, but now she loves it and laughs and laughs.
and that makes me laugh!
she is such a sweet girl. i sang her a song tonight called "kate is my little bunny" and those are the only words to it, aside from some "hop hop hop" here and there, and she seemed to be mesmerized by the song, so i might try it again to see if she remembers it.
she is learning a lot at "Skool". upon leaving she tells classmate ellen: "Bye bye elllllen!" and then we start naming all of our friends here in the Bay (Su su, Hannah, Anne, Jean, Ellen, Kellah, Katie) and that is pretty fun.
she can recognize the letter "k" because she knows that is her letter. she loves that letter.
i think she's a prodigy.
bedtime routine now includes supper, "milk", bath, coloring with bath colors, toothbrush time (she hates that part), diaper change, pj time, lotion, read Goodnight Moon and prayer book, then tuck in.
The potty training has not progressed nor has it regressed. She did wear some panties with no diaper, but still used them like a diaper. Then when she was wearing a diaper, i told her to go "throw it in the trash" (She knows how to do that) and she threw it in the toilet instead.
anyway, we're still working on that.

what a precious, sweet little napping baby. i love her so much. her naps make me so happy, and she is such a little baby. she cuddled her pony, her blankie, and she was so sweet. i had to wake her up to go visit daddy, but i didn't want to because her sleep was so sweet.

dad played guitar today

danielsgig

kate and i attended, and it was fun! she did get stung by 4 red wasps, but she is okay. we all lived through it.

kate had a great day playing, coloring, digging through old toys, and was soooo sweet at bedtime. she rubbed my face. that was a first. it was so adorable. she kissed me, hugged me, and patted my cheek. i felt so loved. it was amazing.
she was ready to go to bed promptly at 7, after a fun weekend, and she had a fun day cleaning out her closet with me and we just chatted, talked about her friends (she can say many of their names) and worked on the potty.
you'll love the photos!

A fun day at the doggie car wash

getting ready for that polka dot party!

kate is getting ready for her polka dot birthday party with some stickers she self applied.

Teething, ear infections, and submission are hard for someone who is almost 2. It is also hard for their moms and dads. But we are all working together to help kate, help kate learn how to help out and help kate learn to deal with her frustrations.
these days are fleeting in the grand scheme of things, but lately they are trying.
we are all having a hard time but it's good being a family.

I got a new job helping dad

I take paper and "colo" it and then file... after a nice wadding up session.