Kate @ 11 Months: Teething, Crawling, Waving

Our little Kate is almost a 1-year old! How did this happen? Did I fall asleep for a really long time..?? Everyone said it would be this way, but you just don't realize it until it happens. I have mixed emotions about her turning 1. It is so exciting, but sometimes I want her to remain a little baby. We have lots to look forward to though. (the party, hello?!)

Here's Kate eating one of her favorites, avocado. Happy baby!
She just learned how to wave goodbye. She started doing it this week when we leave daycare.
I love it!! She's starting to patty-cake, too.
Over New Year's, we were able to visit with our friends Elizabeth and Michael and their son Whitley. Whitley is just a few weeks younger than Kate. It was so fun to watch them play! And it was scary watching Whitley - he was crawling very well and very fast all over the house. A sign of what's to come!! We were able to pick up some good tips on baby-proofing the house.
Look at these blank stares!! So funny. I think they were like: Really? Another photo??? Stop it already.
Kate is still sleeping great. She goes to bed shortly after 7 pm, and she wakes on the weekend around 8 or sometimes even 9 if we are lucky (I wake her at 7 am during the week). She sleeps solid through the night. She loves to sleep. I have no idea where she got that from. :D
We have recently had to lower the crib to the lowest level because she could sit up in there - who knows before she will be standing, so we were not taking any chances..
So here's the curious Kate. She's into everything!! This is that fireplace thing on the wall. She suddenly saw it for the first time and immediately went to check it out.

After Allie the cat..

In motion..

This was too funny. She decided to go between the TV credenza and the wall to see what was back there. She came out with TWO golf balls!! She had this look like, "well... what should I do with these?!" Of course her daddy sat down and told her all about the wonderful world of golf, sheesh.

Can you see the teeth?? There are 2 on the bottom. They came in very slowly. No sign of others yet, but I'm sure they are on their way.

When it comes to eating, Kate just wants to eat the baby puffs. They were great to start for finger foods because they melt in her mouth, but she enjoys them so much that she will cry if you don't give her more. We figured out quick that we have to give them to her at the end of the meal so she would eat other food. Otherwise she would have nothing to do with spoon feeding.

She also would only want the puffs - no other types of finger foods. We kept trying, and finally last night she started to show interest in the bits of pasta and peas we gave her. She's really good holding the sippy cup - wonder how she'll do when we put milk in it... :)

We decided to have just family over for the birthday celebration. The thought of having tons of folks over was stressing us out (okay, i admit it was stressing ME out, not James - he didn't care), so we just decided against it. Not to worry, we have plenty more birthdays for Kate to celebrate with a host of kids over.

Christmas

We had a great Christmas. wow, has it really already been a month?? I know you guys thought: this is it! Susan is done blogging. But I'm not, I promise! Things just got... full. And the cameras were full and no chargers could be found. Luckily, we were able to find them and we finally have photos on the computer.
We are stalking poor Kate like paparazzi - there are soooo many photos of her!! I'll have to do a whole other entry just for her.


Here is my one photo with Lanndyn!! I'm lucky I got it, I did ask, and she wasn't too thrilled about it, but of course she wasn't going to turn me down. :) We got to spend some time with Lanndyn on Christmas Eve. She was so excited about her gifts, and she told us later it was the best Christmas ever. Can't ask for more!! She gave us gifts, too, and she gave Kate a cute teddy bear that she loves.
Then it was off to Kathy and Gail's house. Here we are after Kate's bath time playing. Kate was talking a lot, so we were all cracking up at her.

Then we were off to Mel and Lisa's for Christmas lunch.
Kate seriously racked up some gifts from the trip. She didn't know what to do with them! she's got the hang of it now though, hee hee.
Then the weekend after Christmas, we got together with my mom and dad. We also got to see some extended family, but that was the weekend BEFORE Christmas. Did I mention our Christmas was really hectic?? It was also wonderful and worth it.
When we put up the Christmas tree, Kate was terrified. She would get scared if you took her to it. I just assumed she would be all into it!! Pulling off ornaments, etc. No deal.
Finally she got curious enough to check it out.

This is the weekend after Christmas, and sadly, our only photos of Kate at the tree.
I had hoped that I could get a photo of her sitting in front of it, perhaps with a new toy or 2, or looking up dreamily at the lights. Well... the little booger wouldn't sit still for that!! She has not. stopped. moving. And I know it's going to increase. She's starting to pick up speed now - it's really fun to watch her. You can't really take your eyes off of her, for fear that she will get into something. :)