Six months

Happy Half Birthday Katie Sue!  May your next six months bring you even more joy and life.  

I asked Wes what words he would use to describe Kate at six months.  He said "happy, pudgy, and mellow".  What more can you ask for really?  She still isn't much of a sleeper, but when she is awake she is exactly that.  She smiles when you play with her, laughs watching her big sister, and generally goes with the flow.  She was quite a trooper on our trip to Tahoe, content to be bundled in a snow suit, plopped in the ergo, and worn around while Emeline adventured in the snow.  I guess the fact that she doesn't sleep much, lends well to travelling, as she's not bogged down to a schedule.  

Physically she's been learning to sit up.  She is relatively stable, but I still don't leave her sitting unattended.  She's rolled over both ways, but hasn't put two and two together to start rolling around for transportation.  She seems content watching, so she hasn't shown signs of crawling yet, but that is fine with us :).  She started solid foods on her half birthday, and has seemed to enjoy rice cereal and sweet potatoes.  She seems into eating so far, and loves to grab at our plates and food.  She loves to drink water, and even does pretty well from a regular cup when we hold it up for her.

We're hoping she gets proficient fast with a sippy cup, because she still wont take a bottle, so perhaps the cup will be a means to leave her with sitters for a little longer.  Kate does pretty well with sitters and with nursery situations, but seems to be a little more clingy to mommy than her sister was.  But mommy loves to be appreciated.

Here are some pictures of Kate around 6 months.  She's sweet...

Sassy..

And happy!

 

 

 

 

Here are some pictures of her with Emeline (now 2 & 3/4).  It's very difficult to get Emeline to sit for a picture, so these are the best we could do.

Emeline is toy stealing... 

But Kate doesn't mind and still likes to watch her big sister.

 

Even when she wonders what's going on.

Emeline likes to help.

And sometimes even sit and smile!

 

Last but not least, watch Kate grow! 

 One week, 6 lbs 8 oz, 20 inches long (birth weight of 6 lbs 14 oz)

One month, 9 lbs 9 oz, 21 inches long

Two months, 10 lbs 14 oz, 22.5 inches long

 

Three months

 Four months, 14 lbs 8 oz, 25 inches long

Five months

Six months, 17 lbs 7 oz, 27.5 inches long

By the lake

I love the ocean and large lakes.  Standing next to them, taking in their breadth and depth remind me of the size and power and God.  That might sound terrifying, but for me knowing that God is bigger, deeper, stronger than I can imagine, even more so than an ocean or a body of water that I can't see the end of, is comforting.  It helps me feel rest, peace, and security.  

I knew this trip to Tahoe would be tiring.  Traveling with little ones always is, but I hoped that for 5 minutes, I might escape to the edge of the lake, in its snow covered wonder, and have a few moments to take it all in and remember God and His peace.  But unfortunately, temper tantrums, crying babies, and bad timing didn't let this happen.  It was a little hard to accept that in a 3 night vacation, I didn't get to have this 5 minute solo experience, but alas, it was the case.  

So, the morning before we left, we made one more attempt.  I didn't get to have the time alone, as I had to keep Kate with me, while Emeline and Wes had one last sledding hurrah, but I did get to walk around with Kate and take a few pictures.  Here are some of my favorites.

By the lake...

 

 

 

 

 

 

My sweet little owl.

 

 

 

Half Birthday Dinner

Kate's half birthday fell during our Tahoe trip.  We didn't want to miss this event for her, so we brought along our travel high chair, some rice cereal, and let her start digging in to solid foods!

Here she is in having the travel high chair experience.  

 

 

 

Impressed?  Maybe not.  Unfortunately the menu was rather drab too, rice cereal is not that exciting, but easy for traveling.  She went along with it just fine, and even seemed excited about eating.

Emeline was a little upset about sharing her bibs and spoons.  

 

And we got some funny faces!  

I forgot how much fun it is to introduce babies to food.  Stay tuned for sweet potato faces :)

Tahoe Snapshots

Traveling with little ones is exhausting.  It's not really a vacation, but rather a change of scenery for doing the things we normally do at home.  

For example, strollers with snow suits...

Bouncing in fleece...

And tummy time by the fire.

 

Add in a little less sleep and a lot more work, and you get very tired parents.  But very happy kids enjoying the snow!

 

 

 

 

 

And tired babies who will sleep just about anywhere.

 

 

 Throw in some beautiful scenery and time with Grandpa, and that just about sums up our trip to Tahoe.