Sunday, September 18, 2016

Kate's Birthday Weekend with MiMi and Gramps

What a fun weekend! MiMi and Gramps came up to see their little "grandoll" and Kate sure was excited. They got in late Friday evening so Kate got to see them when she woke up on Saturday morning! Of course it wasn't long before she got to open the rest of her birthday present from them. (Earlier this month they brought the high chair and cradle.) 



A baby doll and some baby doll food items! Kate was so excited!! This is her first real baby doll and it's the perfect size, just for her! 


Blake got his present from my parents too! Of course, Kate had fun opening it with him. 
(Nebraska shirts and REI socks!) 


Later that morning we went out to the Route 66 park and took Kate for a walk with her new trike. Then MiMi and Gramps played with her on the playground while Blake and I hunted down shade! It's surprising how warm it is this late into September! Still a nice morning though!



Blake and I headed out to the State Fair and Kate got to spend the afternoon with my folks. She was loving her new toys! 






 It sure is fun watching her learn how to play in new ways. I wish I would have remembered to take some pictures of Kate with my parents! Next visit I'm going to write it on my hand if I have to so that I'll remember! Anyways, Saturday evening Jake came over and we all watched some football and ate pulled pork potatoes. MiMi and Gramps had to leave on Sunday morning before church so it was a short visit but we sure are so blessed that we got to see them twice this month! 






Thursday, September 15, 2016

Kate Marie is TWO!

Today is the day! Kate Marie is two years old! 

In the morning Kate and I went to Covenant because I help babysit for their MOPs and Bible Study time and Kate had a fun time with her friends and teachers. I think her favorite part though was when Aunt Jenny and Henry brought her some birthday balloons with lolly pops! She's had fun with her balloons all day and she got to enjoy one of the lolly pops which she very much liked! She's been asking for more "pops" all day. Her balloons will float to  the top of the celling and she'll tell me "pie" "pie" but she really means "up high"! There was no nap today but oh well, I suppose you're allowed to have more play time when it's your birthday. :)





 We were really excited when Daddy came home! Blake had to leave for class around 5:15 so he got home a little early (3:15) so we could have fun celebrating Kate's birthday. Kate got to Skype with Blake's parents and they sang her Happy Birthday. Then it was card and present time! She opened up her cards that she got in the mail from family- she loved ripping open the envelopes but was not so patient for hearing the heartfelt messages inside. We'll have to hold on to them so she can read them some day when she's old enough to treasure it! 



She had a present from Uncle Ron and Aunt Colleen that we've been holding on to since our Kansas trip. I was really glad we had at least one wrapped gift for her today because our gifts for her were too large to wrap. Kate had fun tearing through the wrapping of course! Surprise! It was Curious George! She was SO excited to see George. This one was when he went to the aquarium, which Kate and I did in Galveston over the summer. So it was fun to bring up those memories again. 



Next it was time for her presents from us! We got her a convertible trike that we can use for family walks right now and as she gets more coordinated you can take off more and more pieces until it's eventually just a plain trike! Kate was pretty excited about her "bike" and couldn't wait to hop in! 


Daddy took her on a little ride to discover her next present! Her very own table- just her size! She was excited, but still more excited to be in her bike. We had fully intended on walking her down to park with her trike and spending time outside, but of course it rained almost the entire time Blake was home! We noticed that the rain had taken a rest so we went out to walk down the street. Kate loved it! 


 On the trike you can choose to have the child steering locked or open and Blake had it opened so Kate was having so much fun moving it around whichever way she felt like.  She'll be ready to have the feet rest off and play with the petals pretty soon I'm sure! 





Once we got backside the table became much more interesting to her! 


We ate dinner, potato soup for mom and dad and for Kate, her favorite- PP&J. Then it was time for a Birthday treat! Kate and I went out in the rain this afternoon and picked up some super cute cookies from Eileen's. I suppose I could have picked out a Happy Birthday cookie but Kate can't read yet and come on, these fall ones are so much more cute! 

 


The cookie was a hit! 
As Kate was eating it she continued to say, "Good! Good!" in between her licks and bites. 



Then, just like that, it was time for Daddy to go to school! I'm so thankful we got to have some time as a family though, that made the day really special. Kate got to FaceTime with MiMi and Gramps and then we watched some of her favorite songs on Youtube, read stories and went to bed! 

After we said her prayer and I was giving her our last snuggles before bed I sang to her the first song I ever sang to her after she entered this world. While I was pregnant I had picked out a song that I loved (Songbird) and I thought that would be the song I sang to her the most- the song she'd remember me by. But after I held her in my arms for the first time, the words to a song I hadn't sang in years came from my lips in a soft whisper. It's actually 2 songs, and I can't sing one without the other. And I've been singing it to her ever sense. 

Jesus Jesus keep me near to 
the precious cross- that's where
the fountain is flowing so freely 
it's free to everyone who looks to the Lord
I can see that it's flowing from Mount Calvary

Jesus keep me near the cross
there a precious fountain
free to all- a healing stream
flows from Calvary's mountain

In the cross 
In the cross
Be my glory ever 
Until my raptured soul shall find
rest beyond the river

Yes, my Lord. 

From the rising of the sun
to the going down of the same
the name of the Lord shall be praised

From the rising of the sun
to the going down of the same
the name of the Lord shall be praised

So praise ye, the Lord
Praise ye, the Lord
From the rising of the sun
To the going down of the same
The name of the Lord shall be praised 

I'm so thankful that the Lord put these songs on my heart that day, for they sum up life so well. The hold the message I want our precious daughter to know more than anything else in the world. 

Jesus saves you; praise the Lord!


Father God,
You are the great and might God. There is no one like you. Holy, is your name.
Thank you for the privilege of being Kate Marie's mother. For letting her daddy and I know her and love her, we are so blessed. Thank you for bringing this sweet girl into our life.

May she grow this third year strong and healthy, but also may she grow to know you more. Help her to learn more about you and what you've done for us. Help her to begin to understand that you are the Lord of all the earth. May her little lips learn to praise you. May her little hands learn to clap for your glory. May her little heart learn to help others. May her feet dance for you. May her smile show your love. May her song be for you.

We love you so much. You are so good.
In the name of Jesus,
Amen






Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Kate's last month of being 1

Here we are, the day before Kate's second birthday. It's so exciting! I remember when Kate was small I used to see kids who were close to two years old and it felt like they were teenagers. Now I see the little ones and I hardly see the difference. "Oh, my daughter is almost the same age", I often say.  I'm sure their parents have the same denial I once had! It truly goes by quickly. I'll start were I left off last time!

So we started Mother's Day Out! It's always so funny trying to take porch pictures because she thinks that we're standing outside to play. She was really excited to carry her backpack and nap mat, although after the first week the thrill was over and she now wants me to carry everything. She's only got to go twice so far because we were off for Labor Day and this past week we were getting over a cold but she enjoys it. She doesn't take a super long nap, but oh well, at least she gets some rest! Meanwhile, I love love love my Mondays! 



I'm trying to have something fun planned for her when she gets home from MDO so we can have some good mommy/daughter play time. We've been doing lots of apple play the past few weeks- sensory activities, songs, and books. Lots of fun! On this day I'd made apple pie play dough which smells amazing! So we enjoyed making apples. This was the first time she's really played with play dough which was exciting! I think she'll get into even more once I find some little tools to use with it. 


 We also did apple sorting. While she definitely knows her colors and knows how to sort, this didn't keep her very occupied. We'll try again next year! 


 Apple bobbing! She really enjoyed this one, although she preferred to not use the spoon. 


 I'll confess, we only did it with water once, now it's an indoor activity. :) Also she likes pulling the door mat or a blanket over to play on. Really cute! 


 She is really into having tea parties. She wants you to come sit with her and she'll pull over all of her stuffed animals. I did not show her how to do this, I think Blake may have. Anyways it's really fun. I can't wait to take her to Inspirations Tea Room in Edmond to have a little tea party and buy her a nicer tea set. (Then these can go back to the bathtub!) 


MiMi and Gramps came to visit and they brought her part of her birthday present! What a lucky girl! She loves her cradle and high chair for her dolls! She is really interested in pretend play. She enjoys putting her toys down to go night night or to have a snack. She also likes to pull the diapers out of the drawers because her little friends all need a diaper change. 



While my folks were here we went to see Jake play with the OC Summer Singers for the freshman. Pretty fun to watch them play as the sun was setting. 




 She's getting so grown up! Her hair is getting longer and she's learning how to do and say more each day. Sometimes I have moments when I look at her and just can't believe how grown up she looks. This was one of those moments! 

 She really enjoys helping me in the kitchen. I don't always feel like having a toddler helper of course, but I'm trying to look for ways that she can get involved. I've heard stories about my grandma Lehman cooking with kids and I guess I just feel connected to her somehow when I've got Kate up on the chair helping me. In this picture she was simply moving the veggies over from the cutting board to the pan- she loved it. 


We made an apple pie sensory bin that has proven to be loads of fun. Oatmeal with cinnamon sticks and apple pie spice. Also some pretend apples and little cooking tools. She can make a mess but it's just a quick sweep to clean. Worth the mess for the fun it is! 


We've also made apple pie, applesauce muffins, and applesauce! She loves to help. She wanted to help when I was peeping them so I gave her a little measuring spoon to pretend like she was peeling. Then she discovered that you could bit into the apple and it tastes pretty good! 


Our girl loves loves loves applesauce. This fall has been tricky for us though. All of my homemade apple sauce has been giving her a rash around her mouth- never happened in the past! So I've been trying different recipes. I used one that had less spices and was sweetened and used no green apples and she's been doing pretty good with it. 
Meanwhile, I've got lots of apple sauce in my freezer for muffins!!! 


On a personal note, I'm going to be facilitating our Monday night bible studies at church this fall so I've been getting a head start. We are going to go through Pricilla Shire's The Armor of God. I've been getting ahead and it is so so so so good. I'm excited to see how God will change me in the next few months. Blake has also gone back to school to get his masters in computer science at OC. He is gone just one night a week thankfully. So we've both got stuff we are working on! 


My cousin Candy loaned us a little dress that was her's when she was a little and was worn by some of the cousins as well. It was fun to see little Kate in it! Also worth remembering that Kate has started wearing bows again! She will finally keep them on her head and I'm pretty sure this was the first Sunday in a long time for that to happen! 

Sometimes there are moments when I look at Kate and see her daddy so so much. This was one of those times. :)


For Memorial Day we went over to John and Janine's and had steaks and potatoes for Blake's birthday! Jenny made a yummy cherry crisp-- so so good. I need to do a better job of taking more pictures when we are all together. Those Friend kids are so good with her. Lots of mental pictures. 

By the time Blake's birthday rolled around he was in school! We were able to give him his gifts and sing happy birthday to him before he left. He wasn't feeling that great so we didn't do anything special for eating, poor guy! 


Kate got this puzzle for Christmas last year and it's been put up because Kate mostly liked to throw the pieces everywhere. I decided to pull it out and she was occupied for a very long time! I was impressed that she could complete it! She would go back and forth between identifying the shapes and colors. So proud of her! 


And eating. Oh boy. Someone please tell me that it will get easier. I miss the days where she would eat what we offered her. When she would eat chicken, pork, and beef. Oh, what has happened? She does not have much variety but it's not because I don't offer it. She usually loves to eat carrots unless the are leftover so at least there is that. Her sources of protein are peanut butter, cheese, and yogurt. Favorite snacks are raisons, teddy bear cookies, and pouches. She also likes applesauce, bananas, peach and pear cups. Sometimes grapes. Sometimes green beans. Always bread. 
Hoping for some changes in her third year! 


She is learning new things everyday. Sometimes putting 3 words together! She is starting to sing more, she loves to sing "Head Shoulders Knees and Toes" "Wheels on the Bus" and "If You're Happy and You Know It". She loves her books and loves going to the park. She loves the swing the best but is starting to enjoy climbing and going down the slide. She loves going up to the church. And she LOVES to FaceTime with MiMi and Gramps! 

She will get to see Blake's folks soon too and I know she will be so excited! She's starting calling Blake's dad "PawPaw" all on her own. We've never ever called him that so that's completely on her! We tried correcting her but she wouldn't hear it! So PawPaw it is. :)

Lots coming up for our girl! 2 year check up on Friday, a visit from MiMi and Gramps this weekend and then next weekend Grandma and PawPaw and her birthday party! Woo Hoo!