Almost 21 Months Old!

A week from today Kate will be 21 months old and daddy will be 30!  Wow. 

At her age, Kate keeps us entertained. I love her seeing her personality develop. Every day Kate will say a new word or want things done a certain way.

-Recently she started saying “Ah-Dee” (Audrey). Often when we get in the car, she picks up her pink cell phone and calls Audrey. I would love to know what she’s “talking about” because she says “Ah-Dee” and “Oh” over and over again.

-Mommy and Daddy’s shoes are one the latest things Kate loves to play with. I have a habit of taking my shoes off the moment I get home and Kate immediately runs over and puts them on. She can get one shoe on quickly and the second one takes her a minute or so, but she doesn’t give up until they are both on.

-She loves an Acapella cd Justin recently made and says “more” before each song is over so we know to play another one. She rocks back and forth and lifts her arms (like she’s conducting singing) – that car seat doesn’t stop her from dancing. Her favorite song is the same one as her Daddy’s: Mansion, Robe and Crown.

-Blankets are another recent joy for Kate. I think her motto is “the more the merrier”. When we get her out of bed in the morning she gathers them all up in her arms and takes them to the living room. She doesn’t walk around with them, but she prefers them to be easily accessible.

-Baby dolls have recently become one of her favorite toys. She loves to lay her babies on the floor and cover them up with a blanket and pat their chests. I bought her a mini baby at Michaels one day and we take that one with us most places we go. Its compact size makes it easy to fit in the diaper bag. I will see her rocking and patting the baby as we drive around town and it always makes me smile. Often it sounds like she’s singing or talking to the baby too.

-I have learned that time out devastates her. She will try once or twice to get up, and I say “sit down”, she folds in half and wails on the floor. It could be just her inner drama queen, but it seems to be the most effective form of punishment (for the time being).

-When Kate says “Up” and a blanket is nearby, she wants to be covered up. Saturday mornings she will get a pillow off the couch and lay down with it in the living room saying “up” over and over until one of us covers her up. She has even asked to be covered up while bending over and resting her head on a stool. Not sure where that came from but we do it.

My sweet girl is growing too fast. Before I know it, her second birthday will be here. 

Our entry for the Cute Kid Contest - unfortunately it didn't win (second year in a row).  I think Betsy needs to find some new judges - just kidding! The winners are very cute. Justin picked this picture, I was going to enter the picture below of Kate wearing my shoes and her ice cream cone pjs Aunt Katie bought her. 

Looking forward to the weekend and two days with my family!

Back to Full Time Work

Well, I made it though my first week back full time. It appears like my new work schedule of 8:30-5:30 is going to severely limit my time with Kate since doesn’t get up until 7 or 7:15 and typically goes to bed by 7 each night, but I’ll adjust. Thankfully she isn’t stuck at school from 8-6 because she has her Aunt Katie picking her up. I can’t express how much it means to me that Katie is willing to pick her up.


One of the upsides to full time work is an hour lunch break. I took advantage of it last week by running out to do some errands. Unfortunately, I got rear ended in the parking lot at the bank and my first thought was “you have got to be kidding”. That makes it the fourth time this year. There must be a sign on my car that says “Please hit me”. The lady asked if I was ok and I told her it was fine and I wasn’t worried about it. But my car has seen better days.

When I got home last Wednesday (my first “full time” day), Kate was standing in front of the window with just a diaper on and her face pressed up against the glass. I could faintly hear her yelling “HI”. That was the best greeting after being gone all day.

Last Wednesday ended on a good note because I got to hear Jordan speak since it was the first class of the Wednesday Night Summer Series. In the past, men from different area congregations have spoken but this year the “younger” men in the congregation are speaking. I’m always pleasantly surprised when I hear Jordan speak. He has an interesting view on the topic and can present it in a way that is enjoyable and easy to remember. The topic this summer is “Meant for More” and his three main points were we are meant for more spiritually, professionally, and personally. See Jordan, it stuck with me! I’m so proud of him and in two weeks, Justin will be speaking! Can’t wait!