What a week

This week was crazy busy but it was really good. Monday morning we had PDO, Monday afternoon Ruth and Libby came to visit, Tuesday morning we had Mommy group, then doctor and then volunteer work, Wednesday we had PDO and in the afternoon our neighbor told us that her father had had stroke, so we took care of her girls while she went to visit him in the hospital (he's home and doing ok now), Thursday we had Music, Thursday afternoon we had Elizabeth and Lila's going away party, Friday morning we met some fellow Mamas at Aldridge Gardens and finally on Friday afternoon we had NOTHING!!

So on Monday our best friends Ruth and Libby came to visit. They were coming through town on their way home from Memphis and got here when Kathryn got up from her nap. The girls are so precious together and play so well together and don't fight over toys. Kathryn was so snuggly with Ruth, and the girls kept hugging each other. I kept trying to get it on video but, of course, they wouldn't do it when I had the camera.



On Tuesday Kathryn and I started our volunteer work. We are visiting an elderly woman (Miss Ellen) at Brookdale. I'm pretty sure she has alzheimers. She LOVED visiting with Kathryn and Kathryn showed out BIG time. When we first got there and for the first 5 minutes Kathryn had her head buried in my chest but then Miss Ellen's sitter pulled out a talking stuffed dog and, as everyone knows, Kathryn is OBSESSED with "doddies." We stayed for a little over an hour and by the end Kathryn was sitting on the bed next to Miss Ellen, getting her to hold her sippy cup, trying to put Miss Ellen's shoes on Miss Ellen, putting Miss Ellen's shoes on her own hands, and emptying my wallet and handing the items one-by-one to Miss Ellen. Miss Ellen showed Kathryn how to shake hands and Kathryn couldn't get enough. Kathryn wanted to shake both hands at once and Miss Ellen started singing and Kathryn did her baby ghetto dance. It was a little boring for me but I know it was a good experience for Kathryn and I know both Kathryn and Miss Ellen had a great time. We are going to go back at least every other week.

Kathryn and Evey "rowing" along to a song at Music on Thursday morning.


Thursday afternoon at the going away party all the kids thought the lawn chairs were great. Kathryn loved carrying them around and all of them loved just sitting in them. Kathryn had a good time pretending to be a baby in Sydney's walker. She even completed the baby look by chewing on the attached toys!! It was such a beautiful day and the weather was perfect. Sarah has a wonderful backyard. It made me really want to do something to our jungle out back. I just want to clear it out, not really add many plants so it stays low maintenance. Robert is so cheap we'll see what happens.



Kathryn at Aldridge Gardens on Friday morning.




















Saturday afternoon was Jack's birthday party. It was so cute. The theme was fish and everything had an orange or blue fish on it. Tara thought of everything, including a "fishing game" for party favors and a beta fish to take home (fish food included!). Jack's dad said that Kathryn seemed so mature for her age. I was thinking "really, are we talking about the same child??" Kathryn got stickers in the fishing game and she shared them with everyone, including people we don't know.























My sweet girl wanting to snuggle after bath time.



Rob reluctantly taped the game for us (instead of watching it live) since we had the party. The Auburn/LSU game was on at Jack's house and I had strict instructions to wear a note around my neck that said "don't say anything about the Auburn game around me. -Sincerely, Lindsey." I was also told not to read the news or talk to my Mom (she's very into football). Rob turned his phone off so he wouldn't see any texts from friends about the game. When we got home Rob came outside and hurried us inside while Kathryn fussed to go back out. He said he was afraid I'd hear something if I went outside. I told him I was going to run down to the neighbors really fast and he told me before I even hardly see them to tell them not to mention the game. I went down there and THEY had the game on. Another set of neighbors were yelling and Rob turned on the kitchen vent so he couldn't hear what kind of yells they were.

Here are a few more of the outfits I have made for Kathryn. I have several more to post but they are all dirty or need to be ironed.

No, she isn't 2

NO, NO, NO!! It cannot be! I can't believe that on Wednesday my little baby will be 2! We had her birthday party on Saturday and had a blast. Kathryn loved being the center of attention and being a show-off! Everything was pink and Minnie Mouse, which everyone knows Kathryn is obsessed with. Side note, as I type this Kathryn is in bed happily yelling "no.....no!" It was great to see everyone but the party went by way too fast. I wish it could have lasted all day. The kids jumped in the bounce then we ate, Rob grilled out for us, then presents and cake. Kathryn was too busy playing to be bothered with presents though! She opened a few and was done.

I put pics of Kathryn from every 3 months from newborn through 18 months for the mantle decoration. If I should say so myself it was pretty cute!



Everyone loved the bounce house. This is Kathryn attacking Thomas.


This is the aftermath. Luckily Thomas is easy going.


Action shot. Kathryn was so sweaty for the rest of the party!


Look at Riley's sweet little hand on "baby Kathryn's" back.

Checking out all her Minnie gear.


Kathryn is not a fan of cake so we got her a cookie cake. She has eaten nothing but icing! The pic below is of Thomas trying to eat someone else's food. I realized yesterday that I have NO pictures of my mom from the party and only one of my sister. Hopefully someone else has some.

I just noticed Riley's little hand sneaking into the pic on the right!







































A pic of Kathryn from Caroline Lee's birthday party 2 weeks ago. She had so much fun. I didn't get her home and in bed till 2 and she didn't fuss at all.


I got these shots just playing outside with Kathryn a few weeks ago. I just love them! Actually I just love everything Kathryn does. I can not get enough of her!




My baby got her first haircut a couple of weeks ago. She was perfect and her haircut looks precious! If I'd known how cute it would look I would have done it before now.


A family day at the park.



















Here are a few of the outfits I've made for Miss Kathryn. I have lots more I need to post pics of. I've made Kathryn probably 12 outfits and Thomas 3. Oh and I finally monogrammed something for my mom and I did her initials in the WRONG order!!






































I'm getting over a minor cold I had last week and this weekend so maybe that will allow time to slow down from sewing and give me time to blog. There's so much to share!

Disney magic

Today we got home from our trip to Disneyworld. Kathryn did great on the plane. She watched a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVD and was so quiet I actually fell asleep for about 15 minutes.

I'll keep the details brief tonight but will definitely share more about our fun family vacation later this week. We meet my mom and my sister-in-law (Mallory) in Orlando. Mal lives in Tempe, AZ so we haven't seen her since Christmas.

The pic at the top was from when we went to the Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney. Kathryn loved the "rain storm"; that's what she's smiling and clapping for above. Her absolute favorite was when my mom walked her around and she saw the elephants moving. She also really liked and aquarium and the "ish" (another new word).

Kathryn wasn't so sure about Snow White, granted she only watches Mickey Mouse on TV so she has no idea who these other people are.
















Auntie Mal and my mom in front of Mickey's house. Kathryn looks unhappy but she definitely wasn't. She adored Mickey's house and tried to climb over the barrier to get in his living room.
















Meeting Chip and Dale. They are silly but Kathryn still wasn't sure. She did better when we went in the tent and met Princess Aurora, Cinderella, and Belle. My took the pics and can't see (where were her glasses???) so the pictures are more humorous than good!

It was the best family vacation in a very, very long time. Disney is truly magical and I'm so glad Mallory and my mom were able to join us. I'm already planning the next trip (or, maybe, a Disney cruise).


More of Kathryn's new words:
Milk, fish, and duck

A baby or a big girl?

Kathryn has decided she LOVES to sit in her infant carseat. She rides it on our walks now and makes sure we strap her in - safety first!

Kathryn has started talking quite a bit more lately. One day I asked her a question and she said "more", later on that day I said "yay" and she repeated it. Then that afternoon on our way over to Aunt Ash's we went slightly fast over a few wide speed bumps and I said "bump-bump" and once again she repeated me!! Wednesday at Gymboree play class a little girl said "wee" and Kathryn said it the whole class "wee-wee-wee-wee", then said "wow" and when the teacher was blowing bubbles for the class Kathryn said "bubbles." What a little smarty pants!!

Kathryn has been OBSESSED with Mickey Mouse for about the last month or so. Watching Mickey DVDs on the laptop in the car is the secret to making car trips pleasant. Kathryn will watch Mickey on repeat and we don't have to pull out all of our ridiculous tricks!

Two weeks ago Kathryn and I went to Memphis to visit our family. We got to spend lots of time with cousin Thomas (he's 18 months) and, as you can see, they love each other. Thomas is a wild man and Kathryn loves it!



















Kathryn and I had such a great time in Memphis. Ashley, my mom, and I took the babies to the zoo, the Botanic Gardens (they have an incredible children's section called My Big Backyard), and the swimming pool.



Here Gammy and Kathryn are making brownies at 10 am. The apron Kathryn is wearing was made by my Grandmother for my mom.

Anything goes at Gammy's house. Everyday Kathryn gorged herself on chips and Chick-fil-A and when we went over to Ash's she drank all the juice boxes and if anyone else tries to drink one she steals it!!

Ashley made dinner for us at her house one night and Kathryn made her hold her while she ate. She equally loves her Uncle Will! I honestly think she would move in with them!!



















After Gymboree class last week Kathryn and I grabbed lunch and ate it in the car. It was such a nice lunch. It was really quiet in the car and Kathryn was so precious, as you can see below. I would have done it again this week but I had thoroughly cleaned the inside of the car so. . .



Here are some miscellaneous pictures of Kathryn being Kathryn!! What a precious little pumpkin!





























Monday we are heading to Atlanta to visit my friend, Ruth, and celebrate her little girl's 2 birthday. We haven't seen them in several months so it will be fun to see our sweet girls together. Tuesday morning we are flying out of Atlanta to Disneyworld!! We are going to be meeting up with my mom and my sister-in-law, Mallory. Robert and Mallory are going to Disneyworld one day with us and then are going to Star Wars Celebration. They are both obessed with Star Wars! I'm sure I'll have tons of pics of Miss Kathryn Grace at Mickey's home to share!