Happy Halloween!!!

Our Ballerina LOVED her first real Halloween. She started the night,playing with all the costumed kids at a party. Later she joined Grandad and Queenie for doorbell duty. She quickly learned that when the doorbell rang, more kids arrived and she did not want to miss the action. Also by the end of the night, she too was saying "Trick or Treat"(or "Tee").

StrollerFit Halloween

I think of this Halloween as our first true Halloween. Last year we had just brought Kate home from the hospital, weighing no more than most chickens, and she was none to happy with the constant doorbell ringing. So this year I wanted her to be a part of the action.

We started the day at Strollerfit. Shelly held a "Halloween-themed" class and it was a great way to ease into the day.

Halloween Cupcakes

Kate and I decided to let off a little steam and bake. It has been a while and I was really looking to make something cute for Halloween...Here are my attempts(all of which are headed to Dan's office for tasting). Kate contributed by sneaking a cupcake off the table while it was cooling. She enjoyed every bite(her shirt is now covered in red dye...) so they must not taste too bad.

Bat Cupcakes(Chocolate w/cream cheese filling)
Red Velvet Cupcakes w/Cream Cheese Frosting

A note to the 6 o'clock game last night. Kate wore her burnt orange "Bevo Buddy" shirt up until it was time for bath/bed. Ironically the horns began their turn around just as Kate was nodding off...Coincidence???hmmmmm....

First Haircut (Belated)

Ok so these pictures have been sitting on my camera for over a week...Kate got her first haircut(badly needed-it was beginning to look a little "blond goth") on October 19th. It was a great place-she watched Elmo and sat in her car as the lady cut-it took all of ten minutes.



Kate went on a little adventure yesterday with her Queenie. While I was preparing dinner for the next twelve days (at a place called The Studio Kitchen), they drove to Brookwood. According to the reviews, Kate did great. She was met by my Granny, Aunts Julie and Nancy, and Lejuan(Granny's nurse). They had lunch (Kate loved the Squash Soup??) and shopped. Here is a picture from lunch(note Kate's stylish haircut)

More Pumpkins and More

Kate's 15 month check up was this week. She met all of her 15 month milestones(her dr does not adjust her age at all-she said there is no need!). Kate was not to pleased with the shot portion of the exam but suffered through like a champ. She weighed 20 pounds 7 ounces(although Sue and I both believe that their scale is off by about 2 pounds..) and is now 29 1/2 inches long. Dr Cardwell is not concerned about her weight at all and believes that she is just as perfect as we do.

We followed the exam by another trip to a pumpkin patch. This one was further north and was a great place for pictures! We met our friends, Sue and Jeremy and Cindy and Charlie-all alumni of the St Davids NICU. How amazing to think where they were a year ago and where they will all be next year! Ironically all the moms are pregnant and not expecting to revisit the NICU anytime soon!

Bubbette???

The man who did the ultrasound at 12 weeks was wrong. He did admit that he was only 90% sure we were having a boy. Leave it to me and this baby to be in that 10% of uncertainty....We are having a girl!

Her and I both got checked out today by Dr Barry, the perinatologist. Baby 2(since we are now having to search for our list of girl names!) looks great! Although her thumb was in her mouth for the first portion of the exam, she does have all ten fingers and toes. I was able to see all four chambers of her big strong heart and we have a great shot of her huge feet!

NICU Reunion

Hard to believe that one year and ten days ago(Oct 5, 2004) we were bringing Baby Kate home. She weighed 5 pounds, 12 ounces and we thought she was SO BIG!

Kate Going Home

What an amazing year it has been!
Today was our first St Davids NICU Reunion. We had no idea what a big event is put on every year and it will be even more fun next year when Kate is able to enjoy the ponies and games!

We did get to see some of our favorite nurses(Emily was missing though and we are going to try and see her soon!). Most important Kate did get to hang out with Dr Rivera. He pretty much put me in my place about Kate's walking(or lack there of). Hard to argue with the man who saved her life...(below is Kate telling him just how horrible a mom I have been this year)

All in Orange

Someone was a bit angry that I failed to mention some football game that took place on Oct 8th...I believe his exact words were "We're talking about cinnamon waffles but not the end of a five year drought against OU for her future school". I am not sure what school he is referring to in that Oklahoma is not scheduled to play Harvard this year??

We did watch THE game and Kate wore her burnt orange. Football central is alive and well here on Wampton and we are doing our best to pass on the traditions (Kate already LOVES remote controls).

Last week was Kate's first encounter with a field full of pumpkins...

She refused to smile for the camera but we managed to get a few good ones...

Little Bubba...

A New Vice

Ok so I am not going to win Mother of the Year but Kate sure does love me. A mom from Strollerfit recommended we try these frozen waffles with cinnamon. Kate will never be the same.
They are not THAT BAD for her and it is something I know she will eat when all else fails. AND since she has started eating them(daily) three teeth have sprung up(two on top and one on the bottom for a total of 7 teeth!!). Coincidence...???

Kate's Beepee!

Kate has a very thoughtful Great Aunt named Julie who has been working to give Kate a beepee. The term "beepee" comes from the blankets that all three Wood children cherished(made by their Grandmother Mimi) when we were growing up (although we suspect Laura still carries hers around with her.... )

Julie sent three great blankets but Kate fell in love with one(the pinkest one in the picture). It pretty much ranks up there with her "kitty" and will likely be another object we have to kiss good morning to everyday. From the pictures you can tell that she is feeling better. Her throat still bothers her a bit but she seems to be on the road to recovery. A sign that she is back to normal is that naps are once again a battle and she is not as eager to get to bed at night...and for once, this does not bother me in the least. I have my baby back!