Kaitlyn: Month Five

Katie Bear,

I cannot believe that you are already five months old! Time has been going by so quickly, I am a couple of days late in writing you this letter. I was off all weekend, and we spent a lot of time snuggling and playing together. Daddy and I feel like we work so much, we don't get to play with you as often as we'd like. Too bad being home with you isn't a paid position or we would both take it! :o)

As usual, you continue to amaze us with your growth and development. Not long after you turned four months old, you were rolling from your tummy to your back. Now you have rolling down pat and you are rolling all over the house. If we put you down on the floor to play on your blanket, it isn't long before you have left the blanket and are clear across the room! You are trying so hard to figure out this crawling thing; I am sure by the next letter, we will be chasing you around as you crawl away. Right now, you sort of look like an inchworm with your bottom in the air and then you kind of flop forward to "crawl."

This month has brought a lot of "firsts" for you; you learned a a new trick this month. About three weeks ago, you learned how to make raspberries, although sometimes its more like you're just blowing spit. You are so excited with yourself for learning how to do this, and you like to show any and everyone that wants to see.

You took your first plane ride on May 17th for your very first trip to Oklahoma. Gam-Gam had her left knee replaced and you went with mommy, grandma and uncle Jon to help great-grandpa take care of her. You were such a good girl on the plane. You didn't cry or fuss anymore than usual, which is when you are hungry or sleepy. We stayed in the house that mommy and Uncle Jon grew up in and we both slept in my old room. It was very surreal having you with us. We were only away three days, but it was the longest that you have been away from your daddy since you were born.

You also went to Austin for the first time this month to see Uncle Jon swear into the Texas Bar. On the way home, we stopped at the Gristmill in Gruene, Texas and you sat in a highchair for the first time. You didn't like it very much and tried to climb out within five minutes.


This past month, we took you to the pool for the first time, and you also had your first day with daddy while mommy was was at work. Daddy said that you had a great time and stayed in your pajamas all day. I got a lot of pictures of you playing with your toys that day, and you sure did look happy. :)

And speaking of a happy baby, you laughed for the very first time on your fifth month birthday. Grandma was playing with your ticklish feet while mommy and daddy were away, and Grandma and Grandpa said that you were giggling up a storm.

Some other things that you have learned this month:
-You love to play with your hands and your feet. You are constantly grabbing your feet and everything, including your fingers, goes into your mouth.
-You recognize your name and turn to inspect new sounds.
-You are rolling in both directions (which is a six months skill).
-You sit up with help and your hands on the floor for a few seconds before you topple over.

We have not remeasured you this month, but your clothes are getting shorter, so we know that you have stretched out longer than you were at last month's check-up. You still fit into your 3-6 month clothes, for the most part, and you are still eating six four ounce bottles a day. You continue to be our wonderful sleeper (I am a bit afraid to type that as I worry you will go on a sleep strike...) and sleep about 12 hours a night from 21:30 to 09:30.

We love you so much Kaitlyn Marie and continue to thank God for giving us such a special blessing of you for a daughter. You are the sparkle in our eyes.

Love,
Mommy

Katie is a little fishy!

We decided to take Kaitlyn to the pool today. So far, she has really enjoyed the water. She likes to take baths not only in her bathtub, but in our big bath tub. She loves to get in the hottub and really likes sitting out by the pond at our house and Mini's house. I wasn't too sure how Kaitlyn would do at the pool, but she did pretty well!

Not too sure about this!!!

Kaitlyn after she got used to the water.

Daddy and Katie

Katie with Mommy and Uncle Jon!

Happy Mother's Day

Me with our Angel

Three Generations

Kaitlyn: Month Four

Katie Bug,

Today, you are four months old. You are growing so fast, and it seems like every time we blink, you are bigger than before. This week I have noticed how different you look. You are definitely an infant and not a newborn. You look so much bigger than last week, even. You are stretching out and putting on more baby weight. You are absolutely precious, and we couldn't be more in love with you.

This month was a busy and exciting one. Mama went back to work and you have been adjusting to your new care providers well and just started staying with Mini this week. Uncle Jon and Grandpa had so much fun babysitting you. So much fun, in fact, that Uncle Jon still wants mommy to drop you off each week so that he can watch you. You guys have a lot of fun together. I have noticed that you both have a very special bond. You have a smile for your Uncle Jon that I have not seen you give to anyone else. Something about him amazes you, and you light up so much whenever he is around. Even if you are in the middle of eating, you stop everything to stare at Uncle Jon with your beautiful brown eyes wide open. He loves to sing and dance to you and snuggle with you for naps. I know that you two are going to have so much fun together as you grow older.

We have been on the go quite a bit this month, and you seem to like being outside and staying busy with mommy and daddy. We took you to the Strawberry Festival, SeaWorld, The Battle of the Flowers Parade and the King William Fair this month. You were such a good baby, too, and happily played in your carrier and looked around, trying to take it all in.

Battle of the Flowers Parade

King William Fair

Even with all the changes around you, you are still on a pretty good schedule. You usually fall asleep between 9:30 and 11:00pm and will sleep until 6:00 or 8:30am. We have been putting you down for 8 hour stretches of sleep for quite some time now, and you love to snuggle and fall asleep on anyone (preferably Grandma) whenever you get the chance. You love sleep just like mommy!!! :o)

You are eating six bottles, roughly 24 ounces, a day now. You have grown so much, we have officially put you in your 3-6 months clothes. I got a little teary-eyed packing up all of your newborn and 0-3 month clothes. I really can't believe how fast time has passed, but it was time to move forward, and I know we will be putting you in 6-9 month clothes before we know it.

You have been exceeding your development milestones, as well. Grandpa is so proud of how smart you are. (As we all are!) At four months, you are now able to:

-smile
-bear weight on your legs
-coo and "talk" to mommy, daddy and anyone else listening
-grasp a toy, and usually your dresses and clothing
-play with your hands and feet (this is a 5 mo skill)



You are still working on cutting that first tooth. We don't know when it is ever going to just break through so that you can be done with it. It bothers you a lot, and you are drooling up a storm lately. :o)

I think the most exciting thing for Mommy and Daddy this month is that you ROLLED OVER! Monday night, while mommy was folding your clothes and daddy was showering, you decided to just roll on over from your back to your belly. You did it without any trouble, too, like it was the most natural thing and you had been doing it all along. Daddy clapped and cheered for you and we both told you how proud we were of you. Since then, you have been rolling over like crazy, although you keep getting your right hand caught underneath you and that really upsets you. It won't be long before you will be crawling all over the house.


We love you so much Booberooni, and we are so grateful that God has blessed us with such an amazing daughter. I hope that you will always know how very special you are to us and to our family.


Love,
Mommy

Kaitlyn Learns to Roll!

Kaitlyn rolled from her back to her tummy tonight! We were so surprised that she has already reached this milestone. Fortunately, we were both at home and were able to watch her reach this special milestone first hand!

Kaitlyn's Baptismal

St. Anthony de Padua

Kaitlyn’s Baptismal was a very special day. We baptized Katie at St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church on April 25th after the noon mass. We took a baptismal preparation class with TJ and Lindsay a few weeks before the baptismal with Deacon Joe. It was a bright sunny day, and we were excited that so many of our friends and family could join us. Those in attendance were: Mamaw and Papaw, Uncle Jonathan, Aunt Tara, Terence and Lindsay Potter, Uncle Jason and Aunt Melissa, Grandpa Paul, Eric, Denisse, Tamara, Carmen and Tye, Mark and Erin, Grandma and Grandpa Gauna, Mini, Gammy and Grandpa Judge, Nana, and Aunt Belinda.

Kaitlyn and her godparents, Terence and Tara

The father talking to Katie

Blessing of Kaitlyn

"I baptize you in the name of the Father.."

Blessing of Katie's blanket, rosary, bible and handkerchief

Katie did very well during the baptismal. She did not like having her clothes removed for the oil to be placed on her sternum. She also didn’t want to get her hair wet with the holy water. But otherwise she was good and she slept through the ceremony. Marcus came and took some great pictures of the baptismal for us. There was only one other baptismal that day, so it was a very intimate sacrament.



Our Extended Ross Family



Godparents, Tara and TJ

Our Family with Katie's Godparents

Our Family

Extended Medina, Gauna and Chavez Family

Afterwards, TJ and Lindsay, Tara, Paul and myself, Jon, and Mom and Papa went to eat at Paloma Blanca.  It was an unforgettable day!

Strawberry Festival

I am behind in posting about the Strawberry Festival, so I thought I would do a blog in pictures. Katie had a lot of fun at the Festival as did Uncle Jon, Grandma, Grandpa and Mommy!

Katie is all ready to go!

Mommy and Kaitlyn

Uncle Jon, Mommy, Kaitlyn and Grandpa

Grandma, Grandpa and Kaitlyn

Grandpa Days

Since I have returned back to work, Kaitlyn has been staying with my dad and my brother. It has been quite the adventure for Miss Kaitlyn. I understand that she is getting in lots of nap time:

It has been a lot of fun to see Papa and Jon taking care of Kaitlyn. Jon tells me that they have developed a bit of a routine where one will feed and play with her while the other one naps, does a project, showers, gets in the spa, etc. and then they will trade off for the next feeding.

I used to enjoy my "Papa days" when I was a little girl, so I know that "Grandpa" or "Pawpaw" days will be something that Kaitlyn will enjoy more as she gets older. I love that he has more time to spend with her, as I know he really missed seeing Jon and I grow up because he was working so hard to provide for us. He has been very innovative so that he can get his stuff done while she is there: he plops her in her baby carrier and wears her all around the house and the yard. They like to swing in the backyard together, too, and look at the birds and the trees.

Apparently, Katie had a bit of a blow out the other day, and Papa even made her a "Redneck Clothesline" in the tree. Poor Kaitlyn. That is going to embarrass the crap out of her when she is older. Haha! On my days off, us girls have been going over to mom and papa's house, too. We went out to eat the other day, and as soon as we sat down, Papa swiped Kaitlyn from me! :O He is becoming quite the baby hog. Mom even shooed him away when he tried to take Katie from her after mom had been working all day (and he had been with Katie all day).

Yesterday, he had to return to San An.gelo to go to work. It's gonna be two more weeks until he gets to play with her again, and I don't know what she is going to do since no one will be here to spoil her. (yeah, right...) She is definitely gonna miss Grandpa, that's for sure!

Happy Easter!

**This entry is backdated**

On Easter, our little snuggle bunny awoke to find herself several surprises from the Easter Bunny! Paul and I got her an Easter basket from PBK that she will able to reuse every year along with some books and an Easter bib. Her Aunt Tara surprised her a couple of days earlier with a beautiful Easter basket, and her Grandpa Paul and Grandma and Grandpa had each brought over baskets with books, toys and even candy for Paul and I (thanks Grandpa Paul for the candy!!)

Easter Sunday was Kaitlyn's first trip to Church. We have been so nervous about taking her because we didn't know if she was going to cry or fuss or have a complete meltdown. Turns out, we were worried for nothing. Our family went to the 8am service at St. Luke's and Kaitlyn slept the entire time. I took her with me to receive the Eucharist, and the priest blessed her. She looked so cute in her Easter outfit and everyone commented on what a good baby she was and how cute she is.

We went to the Mag.nolia Pancake House for brunch afterwards and Kaitlyn grabbed her toy for the first time ever!! I thought I was going to jump out of my chair I was so surprised.

We took a family nap after brunch and took Katie to my mom's house so that Paul and I could run some errands.

That evening, Papa hid the Easter Eggs that Mom and I made for Kaitlyn, and Paul and I helped her "find" them. She had absolutely no idea what all the fuss was about. lol!

I can't wait for next year when Katie is running all around the yard and excited to find the brightly colored eggs. It will be here soon, I am sure. Time seems to be flying by.

Happy Easter Everyone!!