Holding Kate

So Kate is the kind of baby who just loves to be held. The other day when she was taking a nap, she kept waking up unless I was holding her. I needed to get things done--so I enlisted my helpers. Allie held Kate for an hour and half, and then Luke took her the last 45 minutes. (I think she might have woken up with a kink in her neck! Good thing babies are so flexible) Allie and Luke were excited because they got to watch a movie the whole time, Kate took a great nap, and I actually had my hands free to get something done. It was a win-win-win.

Easter

It was a nice Easter. The kids found plastic eggs in the house before church and real eggs outside after church. It was windy, rainy, and freezing cold outside. Michael went out and helped and Kate and I stayed on the deck and watched and stayed dry! Luke smashed the first few eggs he found and then out of frustration threw the next egg. Michael asked what he was doing and he said (scornfully), "They're just ordinary eggs!" I guess he likes the plastic type with candy inside better. Allie was excited to wear her new Easter dress to church and wanted me to put a picture on the blog to show the shoes that she picked out herself. I can't believe she's getting old enough to shop for her own clothes. Yikes!

Tillamook Forestry Center

On Saturday we went to the Tillamook Forestry Center. It was really cool! Michael, Allie and Luke climbed up a fire lookout station. Kate slept almost the whole time--that made it easy! The weather was great--warm enough for a picnic outside (it was a cold, kind of windy picnic) But, it was so nice to see the sun again.

Smokey the Bear makes me happy. He reminds me of camping with all the Galyans at Morro Bay when I was little.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

So Allie and Luke do have strep thoat! The culture came back positive so we are home for another couple of days. I had just taken Allie to school when the call from the doctor's office came in. Kate is definitely learning to be a 3rd child--she spent most of the day in her carseat--going to Allie's school, the pharmacy, and the grocery store for popsicles. (They don't have sore throats or any symptoms--the popsicles were just for fun)


Allie and Luke are getting lots of good playing time together. They are banned from going anywhere near Kate. I took a picture of them when they were in the playroom. Allie was reading to Luke. They looked so cozy in there. They also made some pretty cool sock puppets today. It's been nice to have Allie home from school.


For St. Patrick's Allie got to wear Michael's old Cetics shirt from 1984. Luke has his cousins old Celtic's shirt. Kate didn't dress up--no time to even get her out of her pajamas until she had a blowout this afternoon in the car. Allie has worn Michael's shirt 3 years now and I think this was the last year. Maybe Luke will wear it next year. Go Celtics! (Are they good this year?) Anyway, that's it for the St Patrick's fun--maybe we'll have green milk with dinner.

3 Weeks

Okay, I guess Kate is closer to 4 weeks old today, but I did take this picture when she was 3 weeks old. It's just taken me a while to post it. She's still doing great--it's fun to have a baby in the house again. She still seems to have an easy going temperament. She can get upset but is very easily calmned. I'm hoping that it will stay that way.

Poppy the Penguin

It's Luke's turn this week to bring home his preschool "pet"--Poppy the Penguin. Luke loves Poppy and is always so excited when it is his turn with Poppy. They have a lot of adventures together. Poppy can be seen eating dinner with us and flying through the air in the house. Allie and Luke build elaborate houses and beds out of blocks for Poppy and Poppy goes everywhere that we go. By the end of the week Poppy gets out of control and usually spends a lot of time in time out. He gets lost a lot too. He was lost last night, but I found him this morning when I took the laundry from the washer to the dryer. (I guess Poppy is very clean now--I can't imagine how he wound up in the washing machine!) Luke was so excited to show Poppy to Kate and Kate to Poppy. He even let Kate take a nap with Poppy. We're so glad that we have our friend Poppy to visit.
It's been nice to have Poppy here too since we have been stuck in the house. On Wednesday Allie came home from school with a fever--she actually slept on the couch while watching a movie--something she never does. Luke had it too the next morning. The kids are feeling better today but we're still taking it easy!

Current Stats

I caught Kate smiling in her sleep yesterday. She smiles a lot--it's really fun. I think she's smiling about her hair. (And yes, it sticks up like that all by itself.)

Kate had her first doctor's appointment today. So she is up to 8lb 8oz (50-75%), 22" (95%) long and her head is 36cm (50%). I like the percentiles--usually our kids are at 90% for head and weight and 50% for height. We'll see what happens. It was nice that she has already gained back her birth weight plus some. So here's some things that Kate likes:

Baths--today she cried when I took her out so back in she went.
Jack Johnson--(she has great taste) 3 times now in the car she has been upset and as soon as I turn him on she calms down. Luke was a Norah Jones fan--she would do the same for him.
Massages--will elicit lots of happy grunts. Allie is learning how to give her little baby massages.

I have to brag about Allie and Luke. They are GREAT help. They can hold Kate if I need a minute, they are always picking up stuff and getting me things when I need them (without complaining) and today Allie vacuumed the whole house by herself. I've had a lot of help from friends too and that has been wonderful. We've had great meals and my friend has even taken Allie to school in the morning. It's not easy not being able to do everything I used to, but I'm so lucky to have so many people willing to help! Michael has even been home several nights before I went to bed and it's been nice to have some time with him. I would say things are going pretty well.