First Family Vacation

We are back from our first family vacation with Kate and it was great! Zac, Kate and I drove to Florida to stay at an amazing condo in Destin owned by our wonderful friend Judy (Susan's mom). We got to meet David, Susan's 2nd baby, spend time with Reagan, swim at the pool, lay out at the beach, eat great seafood and hang out on the beautiful balcony overlooking the gulf.

I didn't do as good a job as I would have liked taking pictures, but what else is new? I didn't get any of Kate on the beach, we only took her out there one day and I was so busy trying to keep sunblock on her and sand and salt water off her that I just didn't get a chance to snap any pics. Next summer when we go to NC and she's a year and a half old I promise I will get some good ones.

After, Destin my mom and I drove up the east coast to go visit my grandparents (Kate's great grandparents). It was a great visit but slightly complicated by the fact that apparently Kate is going through a stage where she only takes 30 minute naps every so often in the car. Needless to say that made the 40+ hours in the car rather interesting.

Alright, now be prepared for a picture overload. I have a month of pictures to include!

Kate's first time in the pool w/her GiGi



At the Emerald Grande in the pool with Daddy. I think she is gonna be a little swimmer!



Hanging out on the floor with baby David.



Ok we want these 2 to fall in love and get married. Don't you think it looks like they are already on their way?


Heading out to the pool...


Kate loves her tongue and decided to stick it out at the camera.


Kate and her Great Grandma Gauthey
Great Grandpa Kratzer and Kate hanging out on the floor



He was trying to teach her how to crawl. It looks like she is paying attention, doesn't it?

4 Generations. Miss you Megs!

Kate and her Great Grandpa and Grandma Kratzer

Hanging out in a box! She loves to play with stuff that aren't her actual toys!


After our dreadful car trip I decided she needed to get in her big girl car seat STAT! She seems to like it. I can't believe my little baby is already so big!


Check back I'm gonna post some pictures of Kate's nursery.

6 months

So I thought that once school was over I would be a blogging machine, but as I've realized taking care of a baby and all the stuff that needs to be done around the house is harder than I thought! I rarely have down time to sit at my computer much less load all my pics and type something interesting.

But since Kate turned 6 months on Sunday and my dad is in Australia and mad that I haven't updated, I decided I would make time to do a post today!

I can't believe Kate is 6 months old already! Here is what she is doing...

Sleeping through the night, HALLELUJAH! From 7pm-7am (give or take 30 min)
Rolling over from Belly to Back and Back to Belly
Just started eating Rice Cereal (see pics) and will start other food soon
Sitting without Support
Babbling (DaDa and BaBa)
Laughs (kind of a dolphin squeal) and Smiles a lot
Puts EVERYTHING in her mouth
Drools all the time
Starting to show some attachment to her mommy =)
And doing some long division! (Her daddy wanted me to add that in)

Here are some pictures of our little cutie...


My little longhorn. We had to take this picture while Daddy was busy doing something else because
a) He hates this bow
b) He hates the longhorns

Kate's first meal of cereal (June 10th). Do you think she enjoyed it?

A few weeks ago I turned 26 and my awesome husband watched Kate so I could go out with my friends. Here are my amazing girlfriends, we have been friends since high school and I would say we are still as close as we were back then! Love you girls...

One side of the table

And the other...


Don't you want to just pinch those cheeks??
This is her laughing face =)

She wanted to have the spoon herself this day.

Hanging out on mommy and daddy's bed
A Close Up, playing around with my new lens for my SLR camera! LOVE IT!

Thanks for looking. Taking Kate swimming for the first time tomorrow. Hopefully I remember to take some pictures!!

Eye on the Prize

I was snapping some photos of Kate on Memorial Day. She was sitting so well so I grabbed my camera and I managed to catch a funny sequence of shots...

A close up of my cutie


Here's beautiful Kate sitting up

Uh-oh! My paci fell out!

How am I gonna grab this thing?

So close, yet so far.

One hand to balance myself while I grab it with the other!

AHHH!!!

ouch

Keep your eye on the prize


Mission Complete
Zac's comment upon looking at these pictures was "So Kate fell and was all smushed up against the couch and you just kept taking pictures?"

Finally!

I've been really bad at posting lately because I have been so busy at work. But all that will change on June 5th. Then I'll just be busy taking care of Kate and keeping the house in order! I can't wait!

Kate is growing and maturing so much I just can't believe it is happening so fast. I called one of my co-workers today to ask her a question and she just gushed on the phone how proud she was of me for staying home and that when she looks back that is her biggest regret. Her only child is graduating high school next week and she said she has been crying every day for the last 2 months because she can't believe how fast it's gone. Everything she said just reaffirmed everything I'm feeling.

Anyways here is a video of Kate practicing her sitting, she looks like a pro doesn't she?

And here is a video of her FINALLY rolling over. She had done this a few times here and there since she was about 10 weeks but today she did it about 6 or 7 times in a row intentionally so I finally feel comfortable saying she has FINALLY reached this milestone!

Pigtails, Sitting and Dedication

Our beautiful daughter...
Ever since the girls at day care gave her a ponytail they have created a monster! I am constantly doing things with her hair. Here are her pigtails, I love 'em!
Kate can sit unassisted for short periods of time now. I think her longest has been about 10 seconds.

The church that Zac and I attend does Infant Dedications twice a year in which you basically dedicate your child and your raising of that child to God. So today on my first mother's day we dedicated our beautiful little girl to the lord and it was wonderful! Most of our family was there (minus the family in West Texas an as and the Great Grandparents) and came back to the house afterwards for a wonderful brunch. It was a great day!!

There's us on stage and on the big screen!!
Kate insisted on having her pacifier in

She looked adorable thanks to Reagan's old outfit! Thanks Susan and Reagan for sharing your cute clothes with Kate =)

She loves her Aunt Megan!

The two uncles (Donny and Joe) helped to entertain at the house this afternoon.

Only 18 more days of school left. Wahoo!!