New Author...not really

Just FYI the blog now has another contributing author. Well, not really since I've been contributing a while already, but now I am me and not Jon. Hurray!

Another Man's Treasure

Of course, there are many things one learns when one becomes a mother. Recently, I've been learning no matter how long (or how well) a baby gets on one schedule, they're bound to change it. I guess I should have known Kate wouldn't need four nursings a day for the rest of her life...(yeah, shoulda seen that one coming). So we're adjusting to that and the addition of solid food. Despite a rough beginning (we haven't reintroduced the rice cereal again yet), she loves her avocado and oatmeal. We're trying to coax her into liking applesauce, but it's a harder sell. Squash is totally out--but sweet potatoes may be making a comeback. But I digress!

My good friend Courtney introduced me to one of motherhood's secrets--consignment sales. Yes, Kate's Easter dress was a consignment sale find (see posting below) but this past weekend, Courtney and I geared up for one of the biggest sales of the season. Because we didn't consign or volunteer, we had to wait until the sale on Saturday opened up to the public. That was at 9am. We were standing outside the church doors just before 8. Mercifully, the people in charge of the consignment sale handed out numbered tickets so we got our numbers (6 and 7) and headed back to the car for a few minutes to wait and warm up. About 8:30, after consulting our consignment sale map and designing our plan of attack, we got back in line to await the opening of the doors. Here's the line at 8:40 (the entrance is under the awning):

People were standing in line with laundry baskets, bags, and strollers--all to load up on whatever gems they could put their hands on (before the other parents beat them to it). Of course, you gotta have something to carry your treasures around while you search for more, but as Courtney says, the hunt is half the fun. Here's the line at five to 9, stretching about 1/4 the way around the building:

We could see people who were admitted earlier coming out with bikes, Barbie castles, play kitchens, basketball hoops, etc. Once the doors opened for the general public, we raced to the large items room (strollers, cribs, pack and plays, riding toys, furniture, etc) and the chase was on. Seriously, ugly things can happen when you get between a parent and something they want for their child. Thankfully, that didn't happen today. All in all, it was a great sale with lots of variety. How wonderful it is that people can get rid of their old items by passing them on (at a significant discount) to other parents. I mean, you should have seen the number of double strollers, cribs, clothes and used pottys (ugh). (It got a little ugly in the book room, but that's because it was very crowded.) My best find was a swim suit for Kate and Courtney found a fun bowling game for her son. Sadly, the swim suit doesn't fit, but I already have a bag of stuff to consign at the next sale so I can get in early and REALLY find the bargains. Here we are, heading home. Thanks, Courtney, for a fun morning!

Easter

Happy Easter Everyone! We hope you all enjoyed celebrating Christ's resurrection today. We had a great worship service, and then served in the nursery. It was quite the mad house with many unhappy babies in a tiny room. Afterwards we went out for a traditional Easter dinner at KFC.

But of course, we know none of you really care about all that, so here are a few requested pictures of Kate (and her family) in their Easter finest. Enjoy ...

Mommie found Kate's dress at a consignment sale. She just couldn't bring herself to buy an expensive new dress when Kate would only wear it once. Did I marry well or what!

Here's Kate showing off her new talent of sucking on her lip. If it's Kate's attempt to communicate something, so far we've failed to get the message.

Kate has also been getting better at sitting up. Here she is smiling at her Mom ...

... and posing for the photographer.

Hope you had a blessed Easter too. Now it's time to bathe Kate and then throw some steaks on the BBQ for a tasty dinner.

Spring!

One thing I really love about living on the East Coast is the spring. It's so much more vibrant than out West (as is the fall, for that matter). These trees are the first to bloom in our neighborhood and it's always exciting because I know warmer weather is just around the corner. Along with warmer weather is the fun of going on walks. Kate and I went on one today and I put a hat on her because of the sun. She looked so cute that I had to share. Don't you just want to squeeze those cheekies?

Couldn't help myself

Can you see Kate's newest ensemble addition? If not, look at the next picture.

I know. I couldn't help it. I can hear the "awwwwwwwwww!"s from here...or are those gales of laughter?

Rice Cereal: Day 4

Kate continues to take well to eating with a spoon. She is excited and willingly opens her mouth to accept the rice cereal (or gruel, as her grandparents have taken to calling it). I was really proud of her when today she ate a whole bunch of rice cereal. I gave her some water to help her swallow it and voila! Down it went. Hurray! She had almost finished the bowl (a small bowl, probably just over a tablespoon of cereal) when I saw her eyes water, tongue come out and UP came all the rice cereal that she had so proudly swallowed moments before. Blegggh. Sigh. So probably our next venture will be oatmeal. The pediatrician we saw today (for Kate's six month check) suggested oatmeal because it has a slighly "slimier" consistency and texture for babies to swallow. Feeding fun continues!

Six month stats: almost 25 inches long and 15 lbs 7 oz. And the doctor couldn't get over her fat cheeks and thighs. No feeding problems with this baby, the doctor said. Hurray!

Kate's First Meal

Today Kate got her first taste of semi-solid food, some brown rice gruel prepped by her loving Mom. We thought you'd all get a kick out of seeing her reaction to this new experience. Can't say as I blame her ... it's not like processed lukewarm brown rice is high on my list of favorites.

Disclaimer: No babies were (permanently) harmed in the making of this film

To Great-Grandma's house we go

Earlier this month, Kate and I were able to go visit my Grandma Doris. It was great to see some family and celebrate the soon-to-be new baby for my cousin Clay and his wife Amber. Another fun part was most people hadn't met Kate yet, so she was inundated with family members and was even able to spend some good time with her Nana. Unfortunately, my mom took some of the best pictures, so these are some of the best from the few that I took. Enjoy!

Great Grandma Doris

Cousin Kelsey and Aunt June (great face, Kate)

Cousin Nate and his fiancee, Molly.

Four generations
Kate, Grandma Doris, mom, and two of my aunts: Cindy and Dawn