Kaitlyn: Month Eleven

Kaitlyn Marie,

Kaitlyn witht Pigtails

I cannot believe that today marks your eleventh month, and neither can anyone else. As your first birthday approaches, I have received a lot of comments about how quickly time has passed. It seems to most that I was just pregnant with you and anticipating your arrival. At the same time, our life before you were here seems SO far away, it is hard to remember what it was like without you. You are such a blessing to our family, and we are so thankful to God to have you as our daughter.

Going to SeaWorld with Mom, Grandma and Gam Gam

You are becoming such a little toddler. You walk almost everywhere, and when you can't walk fast enough, you fall down trying to run and crawl at top speed. You seem to be off the charts with your motor skills while holding back on your speech (who would have thought that of my child….hahaha). You are so curious about the world around you and love to learn about everything.

"Look what I can do!"

You are quite the studious little girl; you have such a serious face while you taking in everything around you. You love to laugh and play, especially hide and seek with daddy! You could play for 30 minutes at least walking to the bedroom to find daddy and then running away squealing when he comes after you. You have even started to dance. About a week ago, we took you to Mass and you were bouncing on the pew to the music. Grandma and Grandpa said this past weekend you have started to do more than just bounce and you are even able to keep up with the rhythm. I hope that you love and enjoy music as much as we do as you get older.

Being Silly with Aunt Tara

You had your First Halloween and First Thanksgiving this month. For Thanksgiving, we spent the morning with your dad's side of the family and had lunch. You were finally able to meet the rest of your great uncles and cousins, and had a good time playing with Cynthia, Sophia, Zoe and Derek. We took a quick break mid-afternoon to put up the Christmas Tree and Decorations and then we had dinner with Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Jon. You had a plate of home-made sweet potatoes, Turkey/Cranberry/Apple baby food, lots of puffs, a strawberry Popsicle, and an incredibly small taste of pumpkin pie. I think that is the most that you have ever eaten in one sitting!!

Kaitlyn and Mommy for Thanksgiving 2010

More Eleven Month News:

Sleeping: Your sleep has begun to vary depending on who is around.  You love to wake up in the middle of the night for extra snuggles from your daddy. I keep warning him that will back-fire on him later, but he loves getting the extra time with you, and who can blame him. Otherwise, you have been sleeping about 9-10 hours straight and then falling asleep for an hour or two after having a morning bottle. You take about two naps for an hour or so throughout the day.
Clothing: 6-12 month or 9-12 month, size three and a half shoes (although, they are getting snug), medium diapers.
Mealtime: 16oz of milk in four and 2-3 jars of 4.5oz baby food, although you have seemed to be more resistant to the baby food and reach more for "regular" food this month. You still love your puffs, yogurt melts and fiddlesticks!

Daddy loves to be silly!

Developments:
-Waves "hi" and "bye" (when you want to…)
-Says "ma-ma" (Nov 19) and "da-da" (Nov 15) but not specific
-Learned how to give "High Five"
-Plays Peek-a-Boo
-Puts one object on top of other or into a container
-Stoops from standing position while not holding on
-Imitates wants with gestures
-Pushes toys while walking (your activity table is a favorite)

Dog Pile on Daddy

We love you very much Katie Bug and we are so proud to call your ours. Happy Eleven Month Birthday!

Love Always,
Mommy

I am thankful for the talented co-workers that I work alongside. They make the day go by smoother and we have a lot of laughs. It is nice to be on a good team.

I am so thankful the day is over. I am so tired!!

I am thankful for sleepovers with grandparents ao that I can sleep in an extra 45 min! (I am beginning to see a theme of thankfulness for sleep. Hey, I take it when I can get it!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is the "Mac Daddy" of Thankfulness.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I have so very much to be grateful for, as y'all have been reading along with me. I am so thankful today for wonderful childhood memories. Every year, Jon and I would run down the back alley to Grandma's house bright and early. All of our cousins would come over, and we would spend all day playing, stuffing ourselves and trying to eat just one more dessert. I was surrounded by family, my wonderful mom and dad, my cool aunts and uncles and the world's best grandparents.

Grandma always made such a wonderful Thanksgiving spread, and she still does! I wish that I were there to spend the day with everyone. To gather around the table with my 14 cousins, and their 20 children. I miss being able to see my whole family at one time; we are a big bunch. Now that we are older and have families and in-laws of our own, we aren't always together at the same time, but we always have that sense of family togetherness.

So today, I am so very thankful for the good roots that my mom and dad gave me and for the experiences, such as this one, that molded me into the woman I am today. And a special Thanksgiving to all the Murray clan. I wish we were there with you today. Love y'all.

I am thankful for family dinners. They are my favorite part of the day.

I am thankful for time spent together as a family.

Is thankful to have lost three pounds!! 22 more to loose.

I am thankful that we are able to give back to others. Got our "angel" from the Angel Tree today.

I am thankful for the ten months and 21 days I was able to pump milk for our Boo Bear.

I am thankful for the opportunity to spend quality time with good friends this weekend!

I am thankful for friends who are available to chat late at night when I need someone to talk to.

I am thankful for my mommie's generosity and excited for Katie's first birthday! It's going to be amazing!

"Me Time"

I am thankful for some free time to get away. With it being dark at 6pm and having worked more weekends this month than last, I am starting to feel secluded. Wake, pump, work, and sleep. Tonight, I managed to sneak away for a quick pedicure (first since July)! It felt good to just relax for an hour and not have to do anything.

I am thankful for the chances I get to take relaxing bubble baths.

I am thankful for weekend lunches with Katie (and sometimes Paul, usually my parents). I love getting to see her during my work day. It always brings a smile to my face and lights up my afternoon.

I am so thankful for my wonderful parents (and Katie is thankful for her amazing grandparents.) I could not have asked for a more loving and special mom and dad. They would (and have) do anything for myself, my brother, my husband, my baby girl, my friends...I love that they enjoy Kaitlyn as much as they do; it brings such joy to Paul and I to see them with her. Every weekend when my dad comes home, he is so excited to see Katie, and she inevitably ends up sleeping over sometime each week! :o) Mom has made it a point to see Katie Bug every single day since she has arrived (only missing two or three days), even if Katie is already asleep and she just comes over to hold her or smile at her. She is such a lucky and blessed baby girl, just like her mama and daddy. I am so thankful that our family has found peace and togetherness.

I am so thankful for good days at work! It has been a long time coming. The floor has been very rough lately.

I am so thankful for the freedoms that I am able to enjoy. Thank you to all the service men and woman who have fought and continue to fight for our freedoms and to protect this great county.

Happy 8th Anniversary

Today, I am so thankful for my loving husband. Over the past eight years, we have been through so much together and have really changed and grown as a couple. He is my better half, my rock and such a blessing to me. Honestly, I don't know what I did to deserve someone so good to me; he spoils me rotten and loves me unconditionally.

Last week, he came home from work and I hadn't showered yet (I had been with our attention monster! :o) ) He offered to watch Katie so I could shower, but I told him to go first because I wanted to take a bath and I knew he wanted to change. When I went into the bathroom, he had drawn a bubble bath, dimmed all the lights and lit candles "so you can relax." I love that he does these types of things for me to show me how much he cares.

At Bandera Bowl, 9.24.04

First Trip to Vegas, 10.22.04

Bahamas, 5.11.05



At Paul's Mom's House in Hondo, 11.6.05

 

July 15, 2006



SeaWorld Lazy River, 07.6.06



Paul's First Trip to Oklahoma, Christmas 2006



Luau in Maui, March 2007



Graduation Party for BSN, May 2007



Our First Home, 07.19.07

Happy New Year 2008

Our First Anniversary, 3.10.08

Christmas Eve 2008

February 7, 2009

April 2009

Christmas 2009

At the Hospital to have our first child, 12.29.09

February 2010

Easter 2010

July 2010

Happy Anniversary, Love....To Many More

I am thankful for the sound of Kaitlyn playing. She is such a precious daughter and a wonderful blessing to our family.

I am thankful for naps. I worked too hard over the weekend and all Katie and I have done today is lay low.

I am thankful for the extra hour of sleep that I got last night. I am hoping that it is the extra "oofphm" I need to get me through this long 12 hour day of work.

I am thankful for the occasional "short" day at work. Today I only had to work 8 hours and it was such a blessing. I was tired, my head hurt and i just wanted to go home and take a nap. Since I've been home, I've spent time with family, rested and snuggled with my Boo Bear. It's been a great day! :o)

I am thankful today for having a warm bed to snuggle into. It was so chilly this morning and this evening and I was able to snuggle up in the covers with my honey. I am so grateful that we were able to find our little house and turn it into a loving home.

The Return of Aunt Flo

Todays thanksgiving is for the 18 months and 26 days of freedom I had from monthly "lady business."

Plenty of friends have been tossing back hater-aide for this extended break, but I'm glad I had such a long stretch. This would probably explain how crummy I've been feeling and the more recent decline (almost non-existence) of milk I've been producing.

Walking

Up until now, Kaitlyn has only been taking a couple steps here and there. She loves to walk all around the house while holding on to someones hands. Occasionally, she has been turning loose of the furniture to venture out on her own, but the most she has walked at one time  has been four steps this past weekend.

This evening, Paul and I were both busy washing dishes and getting dinner ready while Mom was entertaining Katie. All of a sudden, she was calling for us, and Kaitlyn was walking halfway across the kitchen. I didn't get a count the first time, but the second, she did a total of TWELVE steps before sitting back down!!! Our baby is growing up right in front of our eyes......

We are so very thankful for our wonderful families and friends that are as close as family. We are so blessed to have such amazing people in our lives, and we are grateful that they are so willing to help us when in a pinch.

I am not feeling so well today. But I am thankful for indoor plumbing, and four walls around my bathroom. :o) And the ability to use sick leave if I need it. (But not using today!)

Happy Halloween 2010

We kept Halloween pretty low key at our house this year. Growing up, Halloween was never that big of a celebration, and I have kinda kept that with me as an adult. However, I did want to take Katie out to do a few things, like visiting the pumpkin patch and trick o' treating at families houses.

We headed out about 2:30pm for an early start. We wanted to be home by the time all the other kids were out so we could help mom pass out candy. Our first stop was Aunt TT's house.

Candy!!

Katie, Tamara and Me

We didn't get to take any pictures with Katie's best friend, Carmen, because she was taking a nap. She dressed up as a ladybug for Halloween.  Our next few stops were kind of a bust. We didn't tell anyone that we were stopping by because we wanted it to be a surprise, but that also meant we missed a few people. We tried Paul's sister's house, his aunt's and his cousins, but no one was home.  We headed on over towards Paul's dad's house and surprised him for some trick o' treatin'!

Trick or Treat Grandpa!!! OOOHHHH SUCKERS!

Paulie, Katie, Paul and his girlfriend, Amy

 A couple of Katie's aunts live in the same area, so we headed on over to Aunt D's to see Katie's cousins.

Katie and her Daddy

Sisters, Cousins

Aubree (she dressed as a ladybug, too), Andrew, Anthony and Katie

 Of course, we had to stop by and see Aunt Nomi and Isabella!

Hi Aunt Nomi!!

Bestest Friends

 Our last stop was the Grand Finale....GRANDMA'S HOUSE!!!!

"Stand right here Boo Bear, I'll ring the doorbell."

Popparazzi!!!

Grandma, Grandpa, Katie, Mom and Jon

Reading Katie's Halloween Cards

 And of course, my mother, who never let me go trick or treating.....had a bunch of Halloween loot for Katie. (Way to make me a liar, mom. I told Katie Grandma didn't "do" Halloween. Just Kidding. :o) Love you!!)She got lots of yummy puffs, a Halloween teddy bear, a light saber, a rattle, BUBBLES! and a special gift from Uncle Jon....



These are good!!!

HOME-MADE STRAWBERRY POPSICLES!!! YUMMY!

Our Family

Happy Halloween!!!

30 Days of Thankfulness

I am so grateful for my little family. For my amazing husband, Paul, and our beautiful daughter, Kaitlyn.

Pumpkin Patch 2010

I have never been really big on Halloween, as most of you know, but I am so excited to show you guys Katie's Halloween costume. This year, her dad and her uncle picked her costume. It came about from her absolute favorite song. Seriously, she will stop crying when she hears this song and listen....



So without further adieu....Katie's 2010 Halloween Costume!



Our Little Bumble Bee




At Northwest Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch




Katie with her Great Grandparents




Our Family



Kaitlyn: Month Ten

My Precious Boo Bear,

Today you are ten months old! And you think that you are quite the big girl. You are so independent and like to do everything yourself, especially feed yourself. You take the bottle out of our hands when we try to feed you, you reach for the spoon when you are eating in your high chair, and you shovel down your puffs or pasta like it is going to disappear any moment. I can’t believe your first birthday is only a couple of months away.

Katie Eating Lunch

You are making more progress towards walking, too, and becoming even more independent. You are such a fast crawler and you are into everything. You are off and exploring in the blink of an eye. You love to cruise around the furniture and have gotten rather fast at that, too. You haven’t taken more than two or three steps in a row together, but we think you are going to get brave and take off any day now! Aunt Nomi said you were trying to go after Isabella when you took a few steps away from the couch on your own (October 14th).

Big Girl Walking

Your bottom teeth have broken through, as well. FINALLY! Your left bottom tooth came through first on October 15th. The right bottom tooth was about a week later to break through on October 21st. You aren’t drooling as much and you aren’t as fussy since they aren’t bothering you, which is nice. You were working on cutting those teeth for several months. And boy are those teeth sharp, too! It’s like you have little razors in there. Needless to say, you don’t get to chew on our fingers nearly as much as you used to.



Katie and Mommy eating lunch

This month, Mommy and Daddy took their first trip without you. It was mommy’s first time away from you, as well, and it was very hard on all of us. We went to Kaua’i for five nights and you got to stay with Grandma and Great-Grandma. I hear that you had a great time and were such a good girl until about Wednesday; I guess you thought we needed to come home as much as we did because that was about the time we decided we were gone long enough (4 nights). Next time you will get to come along, too, or we will only stay for three or four nights.

Katie sending us off

More Ten Month News:

Sleeping: You are still touch and go. You normally sleep ten or eleven hours in a row. If we have been working a lot or have been away, you seem to wake up around 3am for some snuggles, though. You are still taking two naps for 1-2 hour or several cat naps whenever you "decide" to sleep.

Clothing: 6-12 month or 9-12 month, size three and a half shoes, medium diapers

Mealtime: 16oz of milk in four bottles (although you seem to be combining the last two for bedtime) and 2-3 jars of 4.5oz baby food. You enjoy lots of puffs and the occasional table food when Grandpa sneaks it in.

Grandpa's Girl

Developments:

-Waves “bye bye” sometimes after we already leave or “hi”

-Picks up things with your pincher grasp

-Crawls well (too well)

-Indicates wants with gestures

-Stands alone for a couple of seconds

-Cruises (11 month skill)

-Plays “Peek-a-Boo” (11 month skill)

-Understands “no” and simple instructions (sometimes) (11 month skill)

-Stoops from a standing position (But only while holding on)


Grandma and Katie

We love you so much Kaitlyn Marie; I hope you have wonderful Ten Month Birthday!

Love Always,

Mommy

The Beginning of the End

Of pumping at work, that is. Today is the first day that I did not pump at work. I have been pumping for nine months and twenty-six days...

While we were on vacation, I was only pumping twice a day, and I found if I pumped three times a day, I didn't get any more milk. I am now able to pump before and after work. No more lugging my bag and supplies back and forth to and from work and disinfecting everything multiple times a day.

I find this change bittersweet. I like that I am able to get my work completed in a more relaxed fashion. I love that I can socialize with my colleges and have time to visit with my patients rather than just rushing all day long.  But then, I miss the quiet 30 minute breaks where I can clear my mind and de-stress. And I think most of all, I know that the end of breastfeeding is near. I am pumping anywhere from 10 to 20% of the amount I was able to produce at six months. Katie isn't eating as much now as she was then, either, so I don't necessarily have to produce like I was. But I am not able to keep up with her demand. Last month was the first month she drank more than I could make.

I have plenty of reserves for her, and I should be able to come close to my 12 month goal. I just can't believe our little girl is going to be a toddler soon.

Katie, Our Musician

Post Partum Anxiety and Depression Awareness Week

Did you know that 1 in 8 women suffer from Postpartum Depression? Did you know that "women of every culture, age, income level and race can develop perinatal mood and anxiety disorders?" Did you know that symptoms can appear up to 12 months after child birth? Did you know postpartum disorders can be temporary and treated?

Did you know that you didn't

have to suffer in silence?

Are you feeling sad or depressed?

Do you feel more irritable or angry with those around you?

Are you having difficulty bonding with your baby?

Are you having problems with eating or sleeping?

Do you feel anxious or panicky?

Are you having upsetting thoughts that you can't get out of your mind?

Do you feel as if you are out of control or "going crazy"?

Do you feel like you never should have become a mother?

Are you worried that you might hurt your baby or yourself?

You don't have to have every symptoms, and not every woman will, but there is help out there. It can and will get better.  Making the adjustment of bringing a new baby into your home is hard. You will cry and wonder what the heck you were thinking the first few weeks, but that should be it. After a few weeks, it is no longer just the "baby blues." If you feel like you may be suffering from any of the above symptoms, please talk to someone...anyone. You do not have to suffer alone. Perhaps its just the baby blues that will pass, but it could be something more. There is no shame in asking for help.

Resources:

Mayo Clinic on Postpartum Depression

Postpartum Progress

Post Partum Support International

PPD Support Group