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

Kaitlyn: Month Nine

Our Dearest Kaitlyn,

Today you are nine months old! I have to say, this month, you are a DADDY'S GIRL! You really haven't wanted much to do with your mama until the past couple of days. If daddy is home, you cry and fuss unless he picks you up to play or snuggle with you. Also, daddy is the only one who can put your to bed, lately, and it makes him feel really special. (Of note: You have VERY bad separation anxiety, lately.)

Snuggling with Grandpa

 You have continued to grow and amaze us this month. I love to watch you play; you are so content playing by yourself and you find such enjoyment out of things I wouldn't imagine, like a water bottle and your Uncle Jon's "30th" over sized beads. Those two are your favorite toys. You have the cutest soft laugh and your eyes twinkle when you smile. You are very expressive with your emotions be they happy or sad.

Mommy gave me pigtails!

This month, you took for you first steps. The first time was at your Aunt Tara's house on September 6th and again last night for daddy. You also learned how to wave today, for the first time. You are so cute, too! You swing your whole arm up and down to wave, not just your wrist and hand. You have been doing all these new things with your left arm and foot, so we are curious to see if you are gonna be a lefty like your uncle.

Katie and Aunt Tara

You got your first boo boo this month. Mommy and you were at the new JW Marriott Resort to swim with Grandma and Grandpa, and we fell down when mommy's ankle gave out. Luckily you fell on the grass while I fell on the concrete, but you got a little bruise on your chin. I felt so badly and cried that you got hurt, but as soon as I calmed down, you stopped crying and forgot what happened. Unfortunately, mommy has very bad ankles, so I hope that doesn't happen anymore. It was quite scary.

Grandma and Grandpa Day!

 More Nine Month News:

Sleeping: You have been touch and go this month. We try to have you asleep by 8:30 or 9pm and you wake at 7:30 to 8am. We are pretty much down to two naps for 1-2 hour or several cat naps whenever you "decide" to sleep. Sleep has been such a challenge this month

Clothing: 6-12 month close, size three shoes, medium diapers

Mealtime: 16-18 oz of milk in four bottles and 2-3 jars of 4.5oz baby food. You LOVE apple or veggie puffs this month! You have progressed very well in trying to feed yourself.

Katie eating lunch with Aunt Nomi and Uncle Brian

Developments:

-Standing while holding on to something
-Cruising around furniture without our help
-Jabbering, you have a lot of sounds!
-Understands object permanence (You love to look for things when you drop them or they go "missing")
-Eats with fingers
-Bangs objects together (oh yes!)
-Waves
-Picks up things with pincer grasp
-Indicates wants with gestures (you do "gimme" with your hands, too"
-Stands alone for a couple of seconds (you did this when you were taking your first steps)

Slumber Party with Grandma!

We love you baby girl! You are the light of our lives!

Love,
Mommy

Tickle with Mommy!!

Laughter

First Steps

While Paul and I were out of town visiting Katie's godmother, she took her very first step (September 5, 2010). Tara and Katie were playing on the floor, and Tara let go of her waist, and Katie balanced by herself for a few seconds. She stepped forward with her left foot very steadily until Tara and I both screamed with disbelief. We were only just talking about how she'd be walking soon moments before!! Startled, Katie Bug sat back down and has not taken steps unassisted since. She has, however, been cruising all around the house while hanging on....