Kate Turns 2

She loves swinging. She is very specific about how you will swing her and how she will swing herself.  On bootie. On belly. Mommy back. Daddy feet.  Fast. High. Twisty.  She is like a swing sergeant. 

She picks what she wears for the most part.  Sometimes I am allowed to offer suggestions. She continues to love hats, jewelry, and shoes. She always wants to walk in the parking lot and walk at the grocery store and walk down the busy road. She must climb in to the car seat. "Kate do it only Kate". She must buckle the top buckle.

She has THESE curls, and a really cute face. Nobody thinks she is a little fella anymore! What a milestone. She is busy and animated.  She does not like to meet new people. She does not like to be the center of attention, but she does enjoy going to new places and being in the middle of the action.  She wants "mommy hold you" when she is scared or when she is around people she isn't around all of the time.  Mommy is high up on her list, but you know who is higher?  Yup, Daddy.  Daddy does almost every bed time.  Daddy has to do brush teeth.  Daddy sit by you.  And if Hunter's truck is there when we pull in to the drive way, she won't even let me unbuckle her.  She prefers to sit in the truck and wait for me to go get Daddy to unbuckle her.  Strong willed, she is. 

She is not my milestone breaker like Wyatt was.  She did walk very early and she has a pretty good vocabulary, but Wyatt was already potty trained and having full out conversations at this age.  She is excellent at playing big kid toys.  She has rarely showed interest in playing with baby toys or age appropriate toys.  She just wants to play whatever Wyatt plays and picks up pretty good how it is supposed to go.  Speaking of Wyatt, she pretty much worships him.  When I pick Kate up from school, the first thing she says is Wyatt.  Get Wyatt.  So we run over to his classroom and get him and all is right in her world again. She wants to know where Wyatt is the second she wakes up in the morning and again at nap time.

  Her food loves are interesting.  She eats cheese 3 meals a day, and I let her because well she is barely on the growth charts.  Her favorite foods are pistachios, cheese, steak, macaroni, only chick fil a nuggets, pepperonis, dried blueberries, grapes, goldfish, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, strawberries, and most forms of pasta with sauce.  She doesn't really eat many desserts, but she finally likes ice cream.  And she does like chocolate candy.  I tried to think of a special meal to make her for her birthday and it was tough because her likes are so random. 

She is an excellent napper (usually 2 hours a day).  She is an excellent sleeper (8 PM to 7 AM)  When she is not in her own bed, all bets are off although she is doing better for the most part.  She is currently sleeping on a pillow, with 2 blankets, 4 animals, and the toy of the day.  She keeps hiking her leg over the crib rail but not throwing herself over.  She is so big.  But so small.  And so dramatic. But so sweet.  She is a mommys girl.  But a daddys girl.  She is 2 years old today!!!!

Baby Kate - 18 Months

Stats
Around 20 lbs
6 top teeth, 6 bottom teeth
Size 4 shoe.
Size 4 diapers.
Clothes size 18 month.
Hair....still little fella, but technically I can get some piggy tails in her hair

Eating
Kate has major snack envy. If she sees food, she needs to be eating food.  Sounds like her mama.
Loves PEANUT BUTTER!  She walks around the house saying butter and pointing at the pantry.  Nanas with butter. Bread with butter. Also loves pizza, pasta, mandarin oranges, berries, cheese, nuggets (but really only CFAs not frozen from the grocery store), chocolate, yogurt drinks, raisins, olives, tomatoes, grapes.
Won't eat ice cream even after trying it (except for one time when I got a peanut butter shake...she took 3 sips of that one).  Won't drink milk. Won't taste eggs. She has foods that she looks at and decides she will not ever put in her mouth.


Sleep
One nap. Starts on the way home from preschool pick up or at 12:15. Whichever comes first. She naps for about 2 to 3 hours.  Her bedtime is between 7 and 8 PM and she usually wakes up right at 7 AM. We read 1 to 2 books and sing twinkle twinkle.  Then she begs for her ink ink ink chugs some water and lays down in her crib.  Wyatt usually comes to read in the chair and sing with me. She likes it. 

Skills
Imitating big kid play. Playing playdoh. Coloring. Using markers. She sees Wyatt and thats what she wants to be playing. She doesn't really play with toys that much. She prefers to hold one toy and carry it around the house with her.  I always find her sitting at the table in Wyatt's room doing whatever big kid stuff he left out.
She brushes her own teeth pretty durn good for her age.  Thanks big bro.
She knows how to stay out of the road. We play out front with our best neighbors almost every day and that rule sticks.  Yay.
I can't remember how much Wyatt was talking at this age, but I think it was more. She is really starting to say alot of words though.

Dislikes
Church nursery, but she only cries the first few minutes and when we come in to pick her up.
The Chick Fil A cow. The people in costumes thing is horrifying right now.
New people...she still really has to warm up to people.
Dirty diapers. This is new. Wyatt never cared.

Likes
Jewelry
Shoes
Hats
I'm doomed. Luckily she hasn't figured out purses yet.
Daddy. When she cries, she cries for Daddy and not Mommy. I sorta feel like a mom failure every time this happens but at least she really loves him. What kid cries for dad when they are hurt?  I suppose the daddy's girl starts really early.
Play doh.
Color baths
Sandbox play
Playing outside
Playing at playgrounds...she is really into the swing right now.
Chalk..like sidewalk chalk. She likes to carry around a piece the whole time we play in the back yard.
Pushing strollers, wagons, carts, around.
Riding on her trike.
Wearing her bike helmet.

Really her idea of a perfect day would be sitting outside snacking on some crackers, drinking a water, and sitting with her family.

Happy First Birthday Kate

 

Happy First Birthday Kate

Stats
Haven't been to the Dr yet for our 1 year, but I am guessing around 16 or 17 lbs. 5th %ile is where we stay.
4 teeth
Size 4 Diaper
Clothes size 9 and 12 month

Eating
Eats 3 meals a day
Snacks...whenever she sees me or Wyatt eating she HAS to eat too
Nursing 4 times a day but after her 12 month appointment I am cutting her off..finito..I am so done. I hope she is, too but I think she will be harder to wean than Wyatt.
Loves water...she chugs like she just ran a 10K in 90 degree weather
Doesn't like milk, chocolate milk, strawberry milk, yogurt smoothies, juice, kefir, nothing, nada, oh well
Her favorite foods are cheese, pasta, avocado, banana, strawberries, grapes, blueberries, goldfish, chicken, pancakes

Sleeping
2 naps...9:30 and 1:45
Bedtime at 7:45...wakes up at 7 am.
Since her last sickness she has been waking up at 4 am too.   2nd kid you don't even care about night wake ups anymore.

Likes
Doing big kid stuff. She sees Wyatt doing everything so she just assumes that she sits in chairs, rides in cozy coupes, drives Gators, climbs in toddler beds, plays in sandboxes, goes down slides, climbs up steps.
Shoes...I have started hiding her shoes. She finds them and wants me to put them on immediately. One shoe, over jammies, Wyatt's shoe it doesn't matter. "Chews" "Chews" "Chews" until I just give in and put it on.
Headband...after nap time she looks at her little headband organizer and points at them until I get one. Then she has me put it on. Then she takes it off. Then she has me put it on. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Then she wears it for a few hours.
The beach...she loves playing in the water. Nothing will distract her from going back in much to the dismay of my back. It gets tired of holding her up and keeping her from going to deep.
Stroller rides
Daddy. She loves him. More than me. It's ok. I know I am just that lady who is always around. 
Waking up Wyatt from nap.
Picking up Wyatt from school.
Seeing Wyatt in the morning.
She LOVES her big brother.
Playing outside. She knows the words lets go outside...like a dog. Ha!
Dropping things and saying "Uh ohhhhh" or "Uh uhhh". Her first words..uh oh, uh uh uh, shoes, and cheese. It's a simple life.

Dislikes
Baby toys...I blame Wyatt. She only wants to play with blocks, cars, big kid toys.
Diaper changes...doesn't every kid?
Strangers...although she is much much better now. We need to try church nursery or gym care again.
Not getting her way. This girl has an attitude (compared to Wyatt) and will let you know what's up
When Wyatt doesn't share she tries to bite him.

And here is a little photo montage of Kate growing up.

And here is Wyatt's 11 month post and his first birthday post for comparison if you are crazy like me. 

Kate - 6 Months

Stats:
6 Months
13 lbs 7 oz
25&1/4"
Size 2 diaper
Size 6 month clothes

Eating:
Nursing 7ish times a day
Started purees...likes rice cereal, carrots, sweet potatoes
Loves squash and prunes

Sleeping:
Bedtime at 7 PM
I wake her up at 10 for the ol' dreamfeed trick that Wyatt never fell for
She wakes me up around 3 most days and then we are wide awake at 6:00 AMish
We were sleeping much better last month.  Not sure.  Sickies, teethies, whatevers...she is not doing as good nowzzzzz.

Skills:
Sitting up by herself
Getting toes in her mouth
Stroller champion
Necklace grabbing and hair pulling
No crawling or scooting yet

Likes:
Long naps
Watching big brother act crazy
Mommy (its true)
Daddy (took 4 months but she is a big fan now)
Wyatt (even though he is really rough with her)
Stroller rides
Naps in the baby carrier if she is not at home to sleep

Dislikes:
Strangers
Being out of her element
Playing when she is sleepy.  Her laughs turn into cries.

And one of big brother for ya

Kate - 4 Months

Kate weighs 12 lbs and 10 oz now.  She is 23&1/2" long.  She is 50th percentile for all her stats.

She smiles. She laughs. She coos. She rolls tummy to back. She falls asleep on her own (faster than rocking her with a terrific two year old running around). She is always happy right when she wakes up.

She is never happy when she gets tired. She almost jumps into her bed and closes her eyes. She will drift happily off to sleep in a stroller. She doesn't like the first 3 minutes in her car seat. She is still not a fan of noisy places. She still wakes me up in the 3 to 5 am range at night.

She loves to smile at people now...especially big brother.  She can grab some toys and move them to her mouth. She likes to watch the chaos of big kids playing. She is so sweet. She is growing too fast. She is 4 months old (and a few days)!

Kate - 3 Months

I play with toys now

My favorite toy is my hands..nom nom

Sometimes I am full of joy

Sometimes I am still a baby vegetable..with chins and cheekies.

Baby Kate (11ish lbs) is bigger than Wyatt was at this age.  Baby Kate seems to be talking to me earlier and interacting more.  Baby Kate has not adjusted to life in the real world (Target, Chick Fil A, family and friend's houses) as well as Wyatt.  Baby Kate has sensitive skin and we have only been able to use Aveeno unscented soap and put lotion on after every bath.  Baby Kate fought naps less than Wyatt.  Baby Kate does not hate strollers and sun in the eyes like Wyatt.  Hunter, can we pretty please buy the double Bob running stroller now? Baby Kate is growing up too fast and I am NAWT that sentimental ooey gooey pooey mushy mommy.  Or am I?  Maybe that is what happens with a second one.

And just so big brother doesn't feel left out, here is a picture of him from our 3 month photoshoot.  GAWSH he looks like Janet Jr here.  He is 2.33ish years old.

Kate - 1 Month

Stats
1 Month Old
9 lbs 3 oz
Size 1 diapers
Clothes size 3 month. Newborn onesies still fit but she has outgrown the newborn jammies

Eating
Nursing 8ish times a day
Mediocre burper
Not very much spitting up for now

Sleep
Wakes up twice at night for a meal but goes back to sleep like a champ
Major power struggle to go down for a nap but once she is down, I usually have to wake her up to keep her on a 3ish hour eating cycle during the day.

Skillz
Making a poopy diaper immediately after I change her
Rolling over on her side
Purty good head control

Dislikes
Falling asleep for a nap
When I have to set her down on the floor after Wyatt says "potty" or busts his head on something and is screaming
Being awake for more than 45 minutes
Sponge baths but her umb cord is FINALLY off so we can start real baths

Likes
Milk
Car rides
Baby swings but she doesn't really sleep in them...she just zones out (is that healthy?)

She Is Here!

Kate Elizabeth arrived at 3:47 AM on 10/26/2013.

On Friday afternoon, I was outside watching Wyatt play and mentally preparing myself for one more week or so of pregnancy and then POOF (or drip if we wanna get technical)...it was time to go to the hospital!

We had some heart rate tricks during this labor, and the nurses started preparing C Section paperwork, but we pulled through for a successful VBAC.  I am so very blessed to have had an easy labor and delivery and a healthy baby girl. 

I have quickly learned how often I refer to Wyatt with masculine nicknames.  I keep calling Kate "buddy".   I am working on using Mrs. Buddy or finding a better way to talk to my lil girl.  She resembles Aunt Jemima (in the cutest way possible)...ha ha! We are home from the hospital and working on resting while the families keep my buddy Wyatt.

Big brother isn't quite sure what to think of Mrs. Buddy/Aunt Jemima/Kate yet.  At the hospital, he had a few funny statements.   "What's that one?" while pointing at Kate and "He has no teeth".  Big cousin said "she doesn't have arms yet?" since they swaddle them up so tight.  Something to giggle about.

I am off to relax and await the next feeding.  Moo-Hoo!  Can't wait to take some more pictures...and some naps.