8 weeks

I need to start taking weekly photos of myself to start these posts. Hopefully I won't start showing anytime soon...although, they do say it happens faster then 2nd time around. We'll see...

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 8 Weeks

Size of baby: just over 1/2 inch long - like a kidney bean
Maternity Clothes: I hope I don't need these for awhile!

Gender: ??? David swears he already knows it's a girl.

Movement: Not yet

Food Cravings: salad! I thought about it a lot this week - ate it 3 times :)
What I miss: Diet Cherry Coke from Sonic. It's hard to go cold turkey!

Sleep: Dreams have subsided for this week - not sleep is just interrupted by trips to the potty

Symptoms: Not much yet...just sleepy a lot earlier at night, little bit of nausea

Best Moment this week: Getting to tell people our news
What I am looking forward to: Our ultrasound in just over a week! I go for my nurses appointment this Friday, then OB & sono next Thursday!

7 weeks

I've seen this little pregnancy highlights popping up on people's blogs & since 1/2 the reason I do this blog is to remember things, I thought it would be a good way to help me keep up with the details & keep you updated on where I was.

I was actually 7 weeks last Friday, so there'll be another update tomorrow...

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 7 Weeks

Size of baby: doubled since last week - about the size of blueberry
Maternity Clothes: I hope I don't need these for awhile!

Gender: ??? David swears he already knows it's a girl.

Movement: Not yet

Food Cravings: Just like with Kate, I am just STARVING! all.the.time. I am trying hard not to give in though so I'm not a blimp by the end!
What I miss: I have started dreaming a TON. Not sure if this is pregnancy induced or not?

Sleep: I'm sleeping ok other than the dreams.

Symptoms: Not much yet...just sleepy a lot earlier at night

Best Moment this week: Getting to tell people our news
What I am looking forward to: Our ultrasound in 2 weeks!

So Excited

Kate is so excited.

She is going to be a...

Kate, What does Mommy say?

This is what my sweet husband taught my daughter while I was at Bible Study on Monday. He said she was answering "No" to most questions he was asking her, so he decided to give this one a try. My favorite part is how hard he is laughing at his own wittiness.

Now he's trying to teach her to say "yes!" when he asks her what Daddy says. :-P

Animal Sounds

Here are a couple videos of Kate's animal sounds...

I think it's so funny how her Tiger or Lion growl sounds like a grunt!

Happy 16 Months, Kate!

Where are these months going??? So fast!

This month Kate:

--more new teeth - The top right (next to the middle) and the top molars have broken through - not all the way down - but I think I see all 4 corners on both teeth now. Bottom molars are bulging!

--new words: "duckeee" duck, "Moomaa or Moomee" movie (ever since we went to Austin a few weeks ago & she watched them in the car it's ALL she talks about. I hear this at LEAST 10 times a day!), changed from "Dada" to "Daddee", "baba" - this one goes for both bananas & blankets so I just have to check what she's pointing at, "peese" please, "dow" down (I think this was last month, but I forgot to write it down), growls like a lion

--dropped her 4th milk feeding - a little late, but we got there :)

--trying to repeat a lot of things again. Seems like last month she just wanted to say the things she knew - wouldn't repeat when prompted, but now she wants to try to say EVERYTHING.

--also started making animal sounds again - wouldn't at all last month - her favorites are meow & growling for the Tigers & lions. I'll post a video soon...

--if you say "I...love..." she'll finish it with "uuuu"

--learned "Deep & Wide" motions - walks up to me multiple times a day doing the motions so I'll sing it. Also does this by pointing her finger up for me to sing "This little light of mine"

--says "no" very clear, ususally with LOTS of emotion (good & bad!) - and FREQUENTLY!

--same sleeping - wonder how long I can hold onto this two nap deal??

--says "MMM" when you ask her if something is good

--is much more stable in her walking/climbing. She learned to sit down at the edge of a step to get down off of it & can step up by holding onto things around her, instead of crawling when she's unstable

---LOVES LOVES LOVES to be outside. Just this morning I went and sat at the end of the sidewalk & she just made laps up & down it, all around me. She is ALWAYS on the move.

--spends a lot of time reading books

--taps her fingers when she's watching something.

--wants to sit and watch cartoons more. Definitely can't just have the TV on in the background anymore. She used to ignore it...not anymore!

--says "dow doe" (down low) and puts her hand down after you say "high five!"

Bandit Reunion...minus 1

I have been trying to go visit my old college roommate Courtney since she had her baby LAST SEPTEMBER! With lives they way they are, we were finally getting dates together to do it sometime in March or April. Well, she figured out that they were going to get to have dinner with Michelle before she left for Africa - so I changed some things around and headed towards DFW a couple weeks ago.

Somehow, I got away without taking any pictures of mine & Courtney's kids together, but I loved getting to visit them. We always leave our time talking about how we wish we got more. Madison is super sweet & I LOVED getting to meet baby Cooper. He is just ADORABLE. I am so glad I finally made it over there!!

But I did get some picturesfrom our dinner with Michelle. She is currently serving through the IMB (International Missions Board) for a 2-year journeymen commitment. We are so excited for her & the adventures she's on, but sure are going to miss her at our reunions. We'll try not to have too much fun without you!

We met at Freebirds, and sat outside on the patio (thus the nasty windblown hair) for almost 2 hours visiting. It was so great.

The Bandits sans Ashley - we missed you!

Kate did NOT want to be in our picture

Michelle & Courtney

The Vest family with Michelle - aren't Courtney & Trent's kids too cute??

We are praying for you, Michelle!

SOOO far behind...

As I've been reminded frequently lately, I have fallen WAY behind on blogging. This week will be my attempt to catch up...I guess I'll just go in order of where I left off.

Spring Break 2010

(yes, it's been that long!)

For the 10th year in a row...David went to the Highschool Boy's State Basketball tournament with his Dad, my dad & some other East Texas men. They love it - the idea of 3 straight days of 6 games a day basketball makes me tired just thinking about it. The secret is I think they look just as forward to where they get to go eat in between as they do watching the basketball!!

This is the 2nd year Kate & I got to tag along for the ride & then, we stayed for a few days during my mom's spring break to play. We had a GREAT time - we relaxed, shopped, played & visited family. Nana always spoils us! Go get a snack...this is a long one.

Grandmommy came over to play & even took us to dinner at La Madeline while we were there!

Friday, since Nana was still in school, we went up to visit her so she could show everyone how big Kate has gotten...

We also got to spend a lot of fun time with Kristin & Connor! One day, Nana took all of us to the Austin Zoo. It's more of a rescue "zoo", but the kids didn't know the difference...

They had a little train you could ride...

and Nana fed the goats! They were HUGE!

One of the things we wanted to do while I was in Austin was Kate to Zilker park. I grew up going there & she loved it!

Playing on the playground...

We also got to ride the Zilker Zepher! So fun. I love getting to take her to do these things that I remember loving as a kid.

We had such a fun time & can wait to go back this summer!

That's my girl!

Saturday night, we headed to El Sombrero (David's favorite!) for some Mexican food. Kate loves Mexican food & was ready to really get into it...

*I took the video with my phone so I can't rotate it...sorry!*

All you can hear is me, but each time she put it in her mouth, she said "mmmm". She loved it!

I.Love.Camping.

Camping makes me happy inside. I had been begging David to go camping, but he wasn't so sure about the idea of a toddler, the woods, a fire & a tent. I finally convinced him when our friends the Bergmans agreed to go - AND they brought Bethany's parents too! We made plans to head to Daingerfield State Park for Friday & Saturday night. The same week, we got an email from our small group that some other family's would be there as well - so fun! Kate & I headed out early Friday with the Johnsons & Bethany while the boys finished the work day.

The boys weren't sad that we set up the tents before they got there...

The kids did SO GREAT! The first day they stayed right around us. Playing in tents...with toys...reading books, etc.

Stuck!

We went for a walk on the pier...

I let Kate put her feet in. Right after this picture she face planted in the water. In her clothes. Mom of the year.
Our redneck children. Did I mention I love camping?? There is no telling how much dirt they ate that weekend!

I just love being outside with my favorite things...

reading,

relaxing,

night time campfires complete with s'mores,

hikes in the woods,
precious friends,
blossoming love,
PRECIOUS faces,
I mean, is she not the cutest??
my favorite people,
Family.

We ended up packing up on Saturday & heading back at 9 o'clock that night. It was a much better night's sleep :) I can't wait to go next spring with a 2 1/2 year old and a 5 month old!!! So fun!

Easter at Granddad & Mimi's

David played for Worship team for the Sunrise service at our church, but without childcare & really not much desire to wake Kate (or myself!) up for that, we just let him go. He came home for a little rest in between, then we all went to the 11:00 service. It was a wonderful Easter service at church, then we headed over to David's parents for a great lunch, egg hunting & hanging out. Angela was there of course, and Bethany was able to come home. They only one we were missing was Mandy & her family. We spent most of the day just visiting & relaxing - so fun!

Kate ended up taking 2 more naps (after 1 that morning) - all that egg hunting wore her out!

Trying to get a few pictures in our "Easter Outfits" - she was super ready for a nap at this point!

Isn't her dress too cute?? Thank you, Nana!

Trying on Mimi's sunglasses :)

Petting the horses from next door

relaxing...

sunbathing...

we tried at least...

checkin out the goods

mmm...chocolate!

Adrianna found one!

Kate & David spent most of their time walking along the paths.

He's such a good dad :)

Me & my girl

Singing "Deep & Wide"

Can you see that they're both making the same face. Love catching moments like that...

David was shaking the tree & the girls thought it was so funny!