My Second Child

I have heard many people say that preemies have stronger personalities than full termers because they have had more obstacles, more challenges, and more to prove. Kaitrin - check.

Nothing like being fearless. We have found a new hobby that I can only refer to as climbing. We like to climb stairs standing up (mind you that she only started walking about a month ago). We like to climb onto step stools to reach items on the counters. We like to try and climb into the bathtub alone. We even (with the shortest legs ever) like to climb up and jump on the couch.

And for the adventurous...Kaitrin loves to explore. Digging in dirt, burying her shoes in the dirt, covering her skirt in dirt, thank goodness she hasn't eaten the dirt. And in the same breath, she found the hose...a turned on hose. She sat right down in the water. She rolled in it. She splashed in it. She successfully made mud with it. She even found the end of the hose and decided to have the flowing water soak her shirt. Bath time baby!

Indiana or Bust

This weekend, well just Friday, we drove to Indiana for a Vow Renewal. I was a little nervous about the drive - two kids and all. Thinking that Kaitrin would be more relaxed, we turned her car seat around so that she could see everyone and the DVD player. Wouldn't ya know the little stinker slept the whole way out on Friday and the whole way back on Saturday!

The Vow Renewal was just beautiful. Mike's brother and wife have been married for 20 years. My father-in-law performed the service, their kids were a part of the ceremony, old pictures and new pictures were everywhere...just a perfect evening to celebrate their marriage. And as most of you that know me...I am a total cry baby, so my helpful daughter escaped many times to let mom work around the tears.

Kaitrin was almost infatuated with the stairs in the Hall that we were in. She just couldn't get enough of climbing up and down the stairs...to the tune of about 23! And this was no crawling matter...oh, no...we went total big girl! There was handrail holding, mommy hand holding, and announcing every step with a "sep, sep". She was just a little stair climbing fool...which also had her sleeping by 8:00, but who was really paying attention?

Jacob was most thrilled about the hotel having a pool and going out to IHOP for breakfast. Issue number 1 - pool was outside. Now, had Mike's family lived in Florida...no issue, but Indiana was a big 'not so much'. Issues number 2 - all he wanted was pancakes. After some convincing, he decided that going to Uncle Gary's party might be cool, and the mass amount of Jelly Bellys didn't hurt either...thanks Gary!

Go Diego Go

We attempted to take both children to the GO DIEGO GO show at the theater. Surprisingly, Kaitrin did a pretty good job at holding still through the first act. The second act? She conned daddy into buying her an over priced DORA doll!

Jacob said that he was nervous at first because he wasn't sure what DIEGO was going to look like. He wasn't really thrilled with how loud all of the kids were. But a big positive - he conned daddy into buying some light up toys! All in all, a good time had by the kids...which is all that matters anyway!

Founder's Day

Jacob saw his first parade on Saturday. He and his friend were pretty confused as to why they were allowed to run into the street for candy. "But, I'm not allowed to run into the street Mommy." After explaining the concept of a parade, Jacob was on his A-game and ready to take all the candy that he could get. He even had the garbage truck honk the horn at him because he couldn't leave any one piece of candy on the ground!

He went to the fair afterwards and got his face painted as a spider. And not any little spider, but a spider that took up his whole face (and a lovely time cleaning that off!).

So many words, no enough time

Kaitrin just keeps saying more and more words. When I went to pick her up from school today, the teacher was showing Kaitrin flashcards. Little bugger said "Cow", "Soft", "Sand", "Flag", "Hi", "Blue", and "Green". She used sign language as she spoke.

Last night at dinner she mumbled "all done" as she signed it too. And of course everything is in her cute little munchkin voice...

FINALLY!

On Friday, Kaitrin finally said "Ma-Ma!" I had to keep asking her just to make sure that is what she said.

Jabber Jaws

More words just keep coming! She proudly points out the color 'boo' and 'grn'. She yells 'too' at the TV when Mickey Mouse counts. She announces that she wants to watch Dora the Explorer by pointing to the TV and saying 'doooor-a'. And I even heard a 'all dun' yesterday at dinner.

But she refuses to say Ma-Ma.

Toilets

Yes, he is sitting on the toilet. Yes, he is reading a book on the toilet. And yes, the book is the story of Jesus.

Jacob and I are driving to Gordon's last weekend. For those of you who don't know, Gordon's is a food service store that sells bulk items for those of us who completely forget to order it for work. I ask Jacob if he wants to get anything from Gordon's for the house. He says that he has something in mind that we need. Cookies? Nope. Pretzels? Nope. "I think that we need some new toilet seats, Mom" Really Jacob, because they only sell food there. "But what about the things on the sink that give us water?" A faucet? "Yes, we need some new ones of those, too."

Talkity, Talk, Talk, Talk!

Please pardon the fact that Kaitrin has food EVERYWHERE and her hair is trashed, but I finally have her on camera saying some things. She is very quiet on the video (although Jacob and I are incredibly loud), so please turn up the volume.

Gift of Gab

Kaitrin just continues to babble! She was playing with one of her toys the other day that has a car, train and duck. She grabs the car and says, "Beep Beep". Then she grabs the train and says, "Choo-Choo". It took her a minute with the duck, but eventually was able to quietly say, "Kack Kack. So proud of herself, she claps and squeals...

Jacob's birthday was this past weekend. Kaitrin always seems to show off something new when company is around. So my mom was walking her around (and around) the house when she said, "Bye Bye". My mom, surprised, looked at me not knowing that she said this...me either! So add 'bye-bye' to the list of babbling cute-ness.

"APPLE" of my eye...

At 4:00 this morning, Kaitrin got sick so I went in to clean her up and change her sheets. I sat her on the floor with a book while I fixed her bed. She pointed to a pumpkin and mumbled something. After turning the page, she pointed to the green apple and said, "AHH-PPLE". Her first two syllable word is Apple. Then, in true Cute Kaitrin style, she had to say it four times in a row and clap her hands. Too darn cute!

Chicken Dance

Easter Present from our SC Family.

as promised...

Kaitrin walking on Easter morning.

OOOPS

A bit ago I posted about my serious earring fetish...but like a dingus, I posted the wrong website, well not really a website at all. So, if you liked the earrings that I posted, please visit www.anneholman.com instead of the email address that I originally posted. (and the rest of her stuff is pretty cool too)

Chocolate Addiction Starts Early

Kaitrin's first chocolate oreo!

...and she walks

Kaitrin loves to cruise around the furniture. She has even taken to cruising around the walls. Her favorite is grabbing your hands and walking anywhere. After the awkward, stiff leg walk, she actually gets pretty good at balancing from one foot to another. You would think that she doesn't even need the hand that she is holding, because her balance is just that good. So, Mike and I have been trying to slowly remove our hand and let her walk...but the little stinker feels the slightest movement and drops to one knee!

Last night we were in the playroom and Mike was walking with her, towards me, with the same game plan...she took three freakin steps by herself! Mike let go and I was reaching for her but continued to back up and three whole steps came out of her!

Snow Bunny

She hated her hat.
She wasn't sure what the scarf was.
She didn't understand why the white stuff was cold and wet.
She wasn't even sure why it was so bright out.
Overall, it was a pretty confusing experience, but she sure did not want to go back inside!

Snow Man

Jacob has been waiting "like, 100 days" for it to snow! Bundled in any clothes we could find, Jacob got to help shovel, use his snow paints, and play with the neighbor kids. He is a little worried that there may not be enough snow for a snowman, though.

Winter Wonderland

For those of you with no TV or windows, this is what the mid-west looks like right now. That's a whole lot of white!

Big Chair

Kaitrin and Jacob have started a new school. Kaitrin is in an early intervention program for OT and PT. So, in the spirit of change, we decided to put her in a booster chair at the table with us. This picture is Kaitrin at the table for the first time. She was using her spoon, which she does for the first few bites, and then decided that her hand was much faster.

Besides trying to take my food off of my plate and throwing her own food when she decides she is done, it has been working out pretty well.