Reminiscing

I can't believe I've never blogged about this!!! It's hilarious in my mind and could be for many of you. As Katin approaches her 6 month birthday (on the 24th) I have been reminiscing about the day we left for the hospital. Then...after much of my brain skipped over many parts of the day(s)...I started to remember the drive home!

Any other moms out there remember their drive home?

Baby in car seat- sleeping peacefully.

Dad driving- with extra caution.

Mom leaning her head against the window- maybe drifting off.

And for me...

PEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MUST. GO. PEE.

Couldn't hold it any longer.

And definitely couldn't hold it for my long trek up three flights of stairs. (And it was long.)

So...as we pulled into Blue Sky Condos I told Thomas to pull over and help me get to the clubhouse bathroom. I was looking my finest. PJ's and a hoodie. Unwashed hair, slippers, and a slight hunch. We strolled in slowly only to find a nice woman to greet us. Or, rather, greet? us.

She was confused. We proceeded to tell her we lived in building 13 and that I couldn't make it home to go to the bathroom so we'd just be on our way to the "public" restrooms they provide.

A friendly nod was what we got.

And relief.

And you wonder if we really left Katin in the car alone...her first time in the car....what cruel parents we are. WRONG! Grandma Camera was our very first babysitter. She was following us home in her rental car and when we pulled over, she hopped in and babysat Katin. Thanks Grandma! You'll always be remembered as our first babysitter.

I made it up the stairs and into bed....the rest is a blur. Is she really going to be 6 months old? What happened to the past 5?

What's your story?

California

Well, here are some pictures of our latest trip to California. I felt like I achieved something after flying there and back by myself with Katin. I missed Thomas more than anyone will ever know, so it's good to be back home...where we can be a little family of three again.

Crazy Aunt Donna and Katin- that's the real Pacific Ocean in the background...yes, it was beautiful!

I thought this picture of Katin's cheek was too cute!

We watched a lot of baseball...Harrison is the catcher.

Katin LOVED, I mean, LOVED the doggies! She laughed every time she saw them.

GGMA and GGPA came to say HI.

Harrison was good at making Katin smile.

Momma's Babies...minus me :)

Good times. Good times.

Motherhood Moments Countdown

Aren't countdowns the best?! If you haven't learned to appreciate countdowns, watch VH1 for a day and you'll find one. The other day I saw snippets of the Craziest Moments in Reality TV Countdown. Of course, there was one about the Amazing Race, so I was hooked! Well, after watching a couple I was inspired to make a countdown of my own. Motherhood Moments Countdown. Here goes!

15.) The camera is always handy... it's always a Kodak moment around here.

14.) Ummm... that's not spit up on my shoulder, or pants, or jacket....

13.) Good look, Katin. Rice cereal in your hair really makes for a good 'do. Bath time?

12.) It's time to do laundry when your husband has two different socks on his feet- not just different kinds, but different colors! Couldn't find a match in there hun?!

11.) 7am and I hear her wake from her slumber through the monitor...so I turn it off!

10.) Story time means reading every word on the page as fast as you possibly can. Not because you want to get it over with, but because the pages look good right now. Board books anyone?

9.) Pulling my hair, scratching my face, eating her bib instead of her cereal...why can't she understand the word "NO" yet?!?!?!

8.) 1am- "Thomas, go check on her." "Kristen, she's fine." "I know but just go check and see." "OK...but you only get two of these per night." "Deal."

7.) Moms who don't sleep when their kid sleeps are missing out! Nap times are the B-E-S-T.

6.) Amazing Race is now a Monday morning show on the computer. During nap time. So maybe number 7 should be rephrased.

5.) The smile I get when I see her first thing in the morning is priceless. So much so that sometimes I sneak in there before Thomas gets there just so I can steal the smile for myself :) Sorry, sweetie!

4.) Hmmm...is that snow out there? (Three flights of stairs, a car to scrape, boots to find, jackets to wear.) No thanks, we'll stay inside today.

3.) There is STILL snow out there! Maybe Katin can learn how to build a puzzle today.

2.) We don't have the following things at our house. So when we went to visit Grandma and Grandpa, these things were fascinating and frustrating:
Home telephone- rings four times- during her naps, that's a lot- so I race to get it on the first ring.
Palm Trees- they sway in the breeze...very cool!
A porch swing to watch the cars drive by- hours of entertainment.
Lots of people- means lots of baby holding, means lots of getting spoiled, means lots of whining back at home.

1.) Drum Roll Please... I haven't had ice cream for 5 months! (if you know me well, you'd know that's pretty much impossible) Oh, the sacrifices you make for your child! And it's totally worth it! (yes, I am accepting invitations to go get ice cream as soon as this particular sacrifice is over)

Happy Countdowning Everyone!

The Thing About My Baby

The thing about my baby is that I can't get enough cuddles and kisses and smiles and laughs. I just can't.

Keep 'em comin' Katin!

Winter Olympics 2010

To Vancouver they go! I got such a kick out of my Olympic-themed party that I couldn't help but blog about.

To all of you who join me every night slouching on the couch or in bed with your eyes half closed...barely staying awake to watch the last ice skater or bobsled team or super G racer....this is for you. GO USA!!! And GO BOB COSTAS!!!

First off...my invitation included this poem written by me :)

The games are coming to Vancouver this year,

You must come celebrate- for USA we'll cheer!

Watching the snowbarders get wicked air,

We all better find a nice comfy chair.

For all day long we will stare at the tube,

Watching figure skating, ski jumping and the louge.

Cheering so loud for Ono and White,

Exciting winter games we'll watch for 17 nights.

Oh my gosh, I can't hold it in,

I'm just so darn excited for all the golds we will win.

Hearing our anthem play loud and clear,

We will join with our athletes shedding a happy tear.

Oh how the five rings bring a smile to my face,

I just can't wait for speed skating, hockey and the downhill ski race.

So join in the fun and bring your appetite too,

There will be snacks and drinks- it won't be the same without YOU!

Party goers were welcomed with a colorful, homemade sign of the Olympic Rings. Excited yet?

I made an Olympic Word Search...complete with the words Bob Costas, Bobseld and of course, Katin.

You can't have an Olympic party without Gold Medals...so, thanks to Aunt Donna, we made her delicious and famous sugar cookies. We decorated them with appropriate Olympic things like skiers, hockey sticks, and the word "gold" so you knew what they were :)

C'mon now...what's an Olympic party without a seven layer Hockey Rink???!!! We wanted to make two little hockey players punching each other in the face, but decided to keep it simple...and friendly. Yes, that's Tabasco sauce making the center line.

It's gotta be the cutest darn thing you've ever seen...ants on a log as the bobsled teams. So cute! And there wasn't any discrimination...two man teams are in the mix if you look closely.

Ta daaaaaa!!! The Olympic Cake! Can't get more authentic than that. I know you are singing the song in your head as you look at those beautiful rings. Duuuuuuunnnnnn....duuuunnnn....duunn..dunn...dun dun dun.....

So to all of you Olympic fans out there....keep it up....it's only every four years that you stay up til midnight secretly hoping someone crashes on the downhill course (no injuries though:))

Play Dates

Katin had a couple of visitors come over and play.

She had a lovely time with her cousin, Miriam...

Who not only shared the toys, but also shared some love...

Katin's Grandma Anne also came to town! "Grandma Camera" as we now call her, loves holding her granddaughter...

We love our visitors! Time to laugh and time to play always makes for a fabulous day!

There's a Man I Know

You know those moments when you finally sit down and your head starts to bob...

That moment when you put your hand on your cheek and it becomes your pillow...

Eyes become heavy...

I just had a moment like that. It's crazy how quickly I can fall asleep these days. No matter where I am or what kind of pillow I have at that very moment, I can just fall asleep. Sometimes I don't though. Because as soon as my little Katin Cutie Pie crashes in her crib, I think to myself....

dishes or nap?

laundry or nap?

cook or nap? (well, I never really think this)

blog or nap?

At this moment, I chose blog. So, here it is. My blog post for today. February 1, 2010.

There's a man I know, his name is Grandpa. He's tall, funny and thoughtful. Every time I see Grandpa he gives me a very strong hug...not some lame wimpy hug that you get from people who think they might break you- or you them. A solid hug. Grandpa is a solid hug giver, and I don't get them enough. And every time I see him he makes me put my hand on the table so he can pat it. It's his special way of saying I love you. I don't get those special I love you pats enough.

Not enough because Grandpa lives far away. Despite the 1600 miles between us, Grandpa seems close today. He seems closer today than ever before because Grandpa is sick. Grandpa is in my prayers all the time, but especially now. Now that he has some fighting to do. And although I want him to win the fight, there's something else I'm praying for. Jesus. I pray that today Jesus will give Grandpa a solid Grandpa hug and that Jesus will give him a special I love you pat. Will Grandpa hug him back? Will Grandpa pat him back? I hope so.

Praying for Grandpa- and quite possibly using my hand as my pillow soon...

Love you all!