In a routine

Quick house stuff and then no more house stuff on the blog... We canceled our contract yesterday. Paid for a lead inspection (the inspector told us only medical professionals usually ask for one because they're the only ones who see lead poisoning first hand. Well I've seen plenty of it when working in Hartford and was not going to let my little one go down that road.). We found out there was old chipping lead paint under the new paint job (which would be a problem in 1-2 years) and also throughout the yard. Which meant no living beings could go in the yard until it was taken care of. The only way to get rid of it was to dig it all out (and it's a huge yard) so we decided to tell the sellers we'd do all other repairs, but expected them to get rid of the lead. They said "no" so we canceled. Safe baby, and a few grand poorer, we're totally okay with the decision and ready to just stop looking for a while and go back to real life.

So this morning, baby Kate and Daddy P were downstairs getting coffee on and starting the morning. Daddy P went out the front door to dump the coffee grounds on the plants and when he turned around he saw baby Kate hightailing it to the front door. Apparently she had heard the door open and thought he was going to work because she was crawling at high speed and waving at him to tell him "goodbye"... A nice surprise that he came back in!

Kiss kiss

She's an equal opportunity lover. We are raising her to have good self-esteem and to do unto others and you would do to yourself. That's how it goes, right?



This is a picture of the daughter I am learning to know. This is the daughter that comes home from child care. You know, the one who refuses to nap there? Yeah, this is what she looks like in the evening now. And when she doesn't have that glazed look? Oh, then she's crying.



Poor baby Kate. We gotta get this girl some sleep! I miss my little one!!

Update

We are under contract on a house, and currently trying to negotiate repairs with the seller.

In more Kate-centric news... Daddy P thinks she's added another word to her vocabulary list (totally two, for those of you keeping count). He swears that when she woke up today and looked at her horse she said "osey" which is pretty darn close to the real deal. So, maybe she'll be an animal trainer or a vet. Maybe "Daddy" or "Mommy" will make it on the list once all the animals she's ever seen are covered. There's debate in the house over whether she's gotten "Daddy" yet... I heard it once, then never again, so we're waiting for the repeat confirmation saying. Will keep you updated.

Hair and Tooth Update

 

Kiss me Kate

(Don't tell Kate that she was named after "Taming of the Shrew"...)

Kate stands for first time!

Check out the poll after watching the video.

Just say "hi"

There are so many little adjustments you have to make to life with a kiddo. Obvious, right? But the marital adjustments I think can sometimes get pushed aside because of all the focus on the new addition and negotiating life. I was talking to a friend a while back about how those first few months just slowly eat away at your soul. Okay, well, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration... well, maybe not. Regardless.

One of the things I found myself doing all the time was this: Daddy P comes home from work, I've been home with the baby all day, I literally shove baby Kate in his arms, rattle off a list of things that have happened or need to happen and then fade away to do something I've been waiting all day to do.

One of the hardest things, my friend and I agreed, was to remind yourself that when that loving partner walks in the door, what you really need to do is "just say 'hi'"... Those last few hours before the honey comes home for the stay-at-home mom are the most important hours of the day. They are the hardest, the longest, and man if that person is late walking in the door, forget it. It was really easy to fall into a pattern of a no-hello hand off as soon as the lock turned. Even though I'm not a full time stay-at-home anymore some days I still have to resist fleeing the room.

It's that buffer time after work that is really tough for me. Even when I'm the one coming home. I'm the type of person that has to shed my work before I can enter our evening routine. When I walk in the door I have to first put my shoes on the rack, put my work bag away, and hang my purse where it goes before I can think of kisses and greetings. I think it has something to do with the symbolism of putting all my work away, and not letting my clients' problems enter the house and my home life.

Babies don't get that. They don't understand that need, and my baby at least wants immediate greetings and love. That's fair. When I walk in (or Daddy P walks in) she immediately crawls to us full speed and raises her arms to get picked up. I mean, I don't want to send the message "putting things away in an orderly manner is more important than you"... but it's been hard. Yesterday I did it. I dumped everything by the door in a huge heap (against all sensibilities) and scooped that baby up and gave my family hugs and kisses. Then, of course, I put everything away.

So my mantra for being on both sides of the door is now, "just say 'hi'"... I think that is a big step to a healthy happy family.

No House

Other offer was accepted.

The search continues...

Did someone say, "mama"??

Yesterday was allllll Ma ma ma ma ma ma's. Loved it.

I think she said it to her food and the book in the car, but she's got the sound down so I'm next, I can feel it.

We put an offer down yesterday on a house, but there is another offer on the table. Will hear tonight which the owner accepts. Will keep you all posted...

Short and sweet today due to thumb sprain (don't laugh).

Baby Love

Kate got some seriously loving on today at a baby shower. She was a hit with the hostess's 2 and 5 year olds who played with her and took care of her. They shared their toys, helped her to play with them, cuddled with her, taught her tricks. She had a blast!



And, my new favorite picture of Kate:



I've been trying my darnedest to get Kate on the video saying her version of "Elly" but I can't manage it. As soon as she sees the camera she goes for it so I'm going to have to surreptitious one of these days and just track her every move.

Other developments? Hm... First week of nanny sharing is this week, so hopefully all will go well and she will (fingers crossed!!) sleep in a strange place just fine for nap.

In other news, Daddy P and I have found two houses we like and are thinking we might make an offer on one of them soon... Daddy P needs to talk to his boss to check that we really can stay first... To be continued...

The Most Documented Tooth On Earth

Happy 10 Months, Kate!

At 10 months, Kate:
- is getting a tooth. very very slowly.
- is tall enough to bang on the keyboard.
- is eating pretty much off our plate for meals.
- is saying "Elly" ... in her own way... sounds like "Ezchee"
- is excited to see Daddy when he comes home. She'll crawl to him at a sprint when he walks in the door.
- uses four signs to tell us "more," "bottle," "drink" and "up."
- is able to unwind all the toilet paper.
- loves older boys.
- drinks her smoothies with a straw.
- pushes her walker (and the furniture) around the room.
- chooses the book she wants to read and turns the pages.

New Sharing Game

Kate suddenly loves to share. She wants to share everything. Her stuffed animals, her food, even dirt. After nap, she likes to hand me her horsey to hug and kiss, then she does it, then me, then her. This goes on for a long time...

Here she is playing with her favorite friends and sharing her bread.

tooth?

I mean, really? It's been a week.