Happy First Birthday Kate

A year ago today! This is on our way out the door to the hospital. Check out that belly! I was induced because I was already 3 cm dilated, and my heart would randomly start beating 120-140 times a minute, which was making me exhausted/scared/anxious, etc. So, we decided that we would go ahead and induce to make things run pretty smoothly.

After a few hours of real labor, I was almost 6 cm, so I decided if I was going to get an epidural, I should go ahead and get one... Once the epidural was in, they thought I would move slowly, so my nurse and her orientee went to eat lunch and left another girl in the room with me. I told her that I hadn't been able to feel anything, but now I felt a lot of pressure and I could actually feel when I had a contraction... so she checked me out and Kate had worked her way down there and was trying to come on out. So, they quickly got my nurses and Brandon called Dr. Adcock (he is our doctor, but also a great friend of ours from our CMMA Bible study) and told him we were ready. I pushed 4 or 5 times and here she was! Kate joined us at 1:02 in the afternoon- and changed us forever! I can only pray that the next baby's entrance will be so pleasant. I would have to say that the delivery was the best day of pregnancy for me- I thought I would never get pregnant again... we see how that worked out! Thank God that He has given me a smooth pregnancy this time around- does that mean the delivery will be rough?

Her first trip to the beach at 2 1/2 weeks old... at least we enjoyed getting away!

Another beach trip at 3 months... chubby girl! I remember thinking that she was so active then, I had no idea just how active she would be a few months later!

At 5-6 months, she already had so much personality!

At 9-10 months, as sweet as ever. She was all over the place crawling and climbing.

This was 2 weeks ago at the pool. If I splashed my legs in the water, Kate would splash hers too! She is my little copycat now. And truly a waterbaby... she squeals and splashes her hands with the biggest smile on her face. She kicks her feet in the water, but I doubt she knows that is actually how you swim!

And this was her just the other day, just standing all the time, playing with everything, and selectively walking. She decides when and where she wants to walk.
This year has been one of the best years of my life- what a whirlwind! I cannot believe what all I have learned and how much Kate has changed us now that we are parents. She truly is a blessing, and I am so thankful for my sweet TODDLER! I know that God will teach us even more with another child, and I am so thankful that He lets us love each child so much, so I can't wait to make memories with our next baby!

This Dog is Walking on Thin Ice!

Tonight, I made yummy dijon crusted turkey tenderloin and we were enjoying dinner while we left the rest on the counter (like anyone would) in our kitchen. All of the sudden, we hear something hit the floor and see Bailey RUN from the kitchen towards our room, towards her kennel. She knew she was busted! There was a massive piece of tenderloin (probably half of one) and some slices we had cut on the floor! I was ready to spank the tar out of her, but Brandon just dragged her back to the kitchen, put on her training collar (you train them with a beep and if they do not obey it has a small shock) and showed her the meat and then gave her a beep and said "No ma'am!" I hope she learns from that, because I don't know if I will have that much patience while he is not here to calmly beep her! How are we supposed to eat in peace with this food thief roaming the kitchen?! I think we are going to have to lock her up in our room while there is any food out, isn't that sad? I am counting down days until we can get a home with a backyard so I can throw Bailey outside and not worry about my food surviving long enough for me to eat a meal!
All of this talk about food has reminded me that I have not posted my recipe club blog address for all of my readers to see. A few friends and I have a recipe club that meets every other Tuesday and we have a theme each week for recipes. We make the dish and post our recipes on a blog. Also, we bring our kids and let them play and we really just use it as a visiting hour. It may not be very interesting to you, but I have seen a lot of blog talk about recipes lately, so I thought I would post this site, and I will also add it to my blog links spot. It is recipeclubbirmingham.blogspot.com. Enjoy!

Susie Homemaker? Maybe Not!

I spent a few hours letting this dough rise today... and it made PERFECT sourgough bread, which is my favorite! I was so excited, I had sliced it and was letting it cool a little more before I wrapped it in foil... and then it was Kate's bathtime. After Kate's bath, Brandon called me from the kitchen and asked me where I had put my bread. I had not moved it anywhere! Bailey was laying on the hardwood floor panting really hard- she had just eaten everything but an end piece!!! That little jerk! I was so sad- it is not everyday that I make homemade bread and spend 4-5 hours letting it rise, punching it down, letting it rise, etc. Needless to say, I could care less if she is sick all night- she ate my delicious bread!

Kate has had a fever virus the past few days, so I have kept her at home so she can rest and so we don't expose anyone else... so we came up with a few homemaker things to do. This is the pillowcase dress that I made Kate today. I had bought this fabric a while back and let it sit there for a while, so I thought it was time to use it. Instead of an actual pillowcase, I just cut my fabric to the width of a pillowcase, and about half the height for Kate. Then, I hemmed up edges and sewed elastic bands on the front and back top so all I have left to do is put ribbon through the armhole edges and she will have a cute little sundress! I will post pictures when I am done. This was so fun to do and didn't take too long- maybe I should make a business out of this!
Somedays I really do not feel like a true stay-at-home mom or homemaker because the day slips out of my hands and I have no "proof" that I have been busy, so today gave me a little boost that I really do productive things. I think it is so strange when you go from working a full time job where you are recognized for your work (sometimes) and paid for it, you clock in and out, etc. But when you all of the sudden are at home, you feel like (it may just be me) you are not accomplishing much and no one really knows what you are doing all day long! I even catch myself listing off things that I have done to Brandon and he wonders why I am telling him a play by play of each day. This is one area that the Lord has been working in me in the last year. He shows me that there is purpose in changing diapers, doing laundry, washing bottles and sippy cups, getting toys out, putting toys up, etc. It is easy to forget the huge task at hand of raising Kate to be a woman, wife, and mother one day too. I am truly blessed to be with Kate and watch her grow and change everyday. I love watching the little wheels in her head turn as she watches all that I do each day.

New Pictures

On my way to Daddy! She is still pretty wobbly, but it is so cute to see those little legs toddling around!

And on my way back to Mommy. Do you see Bailey begging for attention since Kate is getting praised so much? Ridiculous!

Today, Kate napped for an hour and a half this morning, and this afternoon she slept for 3 hours! I really went in a few times to make sure she was breathing- she was OUT! But, this is a sweet picture of her turned around and sideways in her bed and cuddling with her bear with her legs. She didn't even budge when I was snapping pictures of her.

This was in Greenville this weekend when Christopher was practicing the piano music for the funeral. Kate just went right up and started playing with him! She loves music- when she hears it anywhere she sways side to side and claps, it is funny.

Guess Who's Walking?!

This past weekend, Kate started walking! She definitely chooses when she wants to and how long she will stand/walk, but we are up and moving! I started using bait a week or so ago of goldfish crackers on the couch, but she must have been showing off for her Papa G and JoJo in Greenville. She would walk back and forth to me and Jody, or me and Brandon. We would cheer and then she would squeal so loud! She was very proud of herself. She has a black eye from hitting the coffee table trying to walk last week, so we just got rid of the coffee table and put out an area rug so she can have more room to get around. Brandon is on call tonight so I couldn't get her to let me snap a picture, so we will get some pictures when he is around tomorrow.
I think Kate must have known that her JoJo needed some cheering up, because she LOVED playing with her this weekend. Kate has recently learned to kiss, and she would crawl up Jody's lap and give her big kisses! Jody sat on the porch with Kate and watched cars drive by and she taught Kate to say "Cah" (her version of car) as she pointed at them. She also let Kate "drive" the golf cart around and Kate would laugh so hard and squeal with excitement. It is amazing how much a giggling baby can lift your spirits!
Walking pictures to come soon!

A Hard Weekend

We were in Greenville this past weekend for Brandon's grandmother's funeral. It was his step-mother's mom, but she was like a real grandmother to us! She had a very short battle with cancer, and after just 7 weeks, Jesus was ready to have her back home and all to Himself! It is never easy to lose someone, but I think after the family saw her suffering, they knew she was much better off with such a short battle. I guess the pregnancy hormones were a little out of control, because I would think that I was fine, and then I would have a breakdown (at times when I did NOT want to draw attention to myself).
When Brandon lost his mother, just 7 years ago yesterday, his brother Christopher played Amazing Grace on the piano in the funeral. He also played it in our wedding, and he played it again at this funeral. He did a wonderful job and the music brought everyone to tears. Ann (Nana) played the piano, and she always encouraged Christopher to keep playing, so she would have loved his music!
Nana left a legacy of love and generosity. She truly knew how to make everyone feel special, and she never treated Brandon or Christopher like they were step-grandkids for one day, which I know they have always appreciated. I know that is where Jody (usually mentioned as Kate's JoJo) got her ability to love unconditionally as well. If Nana ever saw any area to give to someone or to share with them, she jumped at the opportunity. She knew how to find someone's talent or passion, and bring that out of them and she really gave her time and energy to everyone else before she worried about herself. The pastor that led the service asked the family if they had any Bible verses that would describe Ann, and the first thing that came to mind was the passage in Proverbs 31 saying "She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her; 'many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.' Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." She really did have the praise of her family and everyone that knew her because she lived her life clearly led by her personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I was really humbled at her funeral by the legacy she was leaving, am I really living up to the kind of woman, wife, and mother that the Lord has called me to be? Or am I just caught up in my day to day activities where I am the center of the world? Please keep the Dean family in your prayers as they (and we) are mourning the loss of sweet Nana!

Daddy, I'll Spot You

Brandon got these push-up pro things for his birthday, they are supposed to increase the intensity of regular push-ups. He uses them all the time, but Kate has just started to get curious about them and she will play with them more than her own toys! I don't think Brandon will attempt to do them with Kate on the floor again. He was laughing so hard that he couldn't get any done!

Crawling under Daddy while he does his push-ups!

She didn't even budge when he came down towards the floor. Notice the red face- I made him hold it there until I could get a good picture!

He couldn't do any push-ups because if she wasn't under him, she was pulling up on him.

Then she wanted to try them for herself. I have actually tried to do these, and I CANNOT! So, good luck, Kate!
By the way, Mother's Day was great. Brandon was on call Saturday night, but he made it out to my parents' house in time for lunch. Kate gave me a sweet card and some more plants for my garden. I got a large pot of mixed gerber daisies- I planted some last year and they kept blooming over and over again, so he knew I would love more this year! She also gave me a beautiful hibiscus plant that blooms all summer, so now I have some beautiful color along with yummy vegetables! Here is one of my rose blooms that Brandon cut and brought in for me before all the rain wilted it down!

Some new pictures

These are some recent pictures of Kate... she is always standing, and she can walk holding on to one hand/finger. She loves getting into everything on shelves, in drawers, in cabinets, etc. We are a little behind in the babyproofing department, so we have some work to do! She digs in my purse and her diaper bag to get out whatever she can find. She loves sunglasses, but will only keep them on for a second, so I snapped a picture! Daddy seems to have the touch when it comes to calming her down. He snuggles with her and her teddy bears and she just starts rubbing the eyes and winding down. I wish we could understand what she says when she sees him walk in the door. She just talks and talks and squeals right when she sees him.

When we went for her 9 month appointment, she had her 8 front teeth, 4 on top, 4 on bottom. So Dr. Peters said we were in the clear for a while until the molars start to come in after a year... well, they are coming. The top one on either side are breaking skin now, and the bottom ones are so swollen! Poor thing, she can't get a break! I wondered why she was waking up for a minute here and there during the night, and this explains it. I still don't go in there when she wakes up, she just stops and goes back to sleep! I should have started letting her cry it out a LONG time ago. Now I know for the next one!

Speaking of the next one, this pregnancy is moving along nicely! Some days, I feel horrible, and some days I have to remind myself that I am pregnant. It is way different than with Kate, I will say that much! I NEVER doubted that I was pregnant with her, I always felt it. I don't have a feeling either way if it is a boy or a girl, but we find out on June 3rd, so I will keep everyone posted!

Growing Garden

The roses are starting to bloom! This is the biggest bud, but more are coming along!

Onto the petunias that started out TINY! And the little pots are some zinnias, dahlias, bell peppers, broccoli, and cauliflower all planted from seeds. So it will be awhile before we see much else from them! Yes, that is the baby monitor on the table! Naptime is the best time to go outside and play in the garden and read my book!



This is one half of the garden on the ground. The rose bush is on the left, and the large pot holds a green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and yellow bell pepper plants. The smaller pot holds 3 more green pepper plants. In the ground, there are a few yellow squash plants, some more peppers, and a tomato plant. Do you like the scenic background of the building meters?

This is the other half of the garden. The pots hold different kinds of tomato plants. In the ground are some more tomatoes, more peppers, yellow onions, broccoli, cauliflower, and the large one on the right is zucchini. We are so excited about our fresh vegetables!

This is an up close picture of the zucchini. There are a few blooms already, so they should be getting started any day now!

There are a few tomatoes on this plant already.

And here is a little baby yellow bell pepper just starting out!
Brandon keeps telling me I need to post pictures, so here they are! This is a fun hobby, I just wish we had more of a yard to plant in! I know that some friends have heard me talk about my garden, now they can see that I really do have one and that we will have plenty of veggies to share!

Fun at the beach!

We got back from our whirlwind beach trip Monday night, and we had a blast! Saturday was beautiful, so we were outside all day! Can you believe that I forgot my camera though? Kate had a cute little ladybug raft that had a hood over it, and she loved being in the water. She tried to talk to everyone around. We played in the pool, and Kate played in her sun tent for a little while and I got to read for a few minutes. She didn't think it was too fun to see everyone else playing outside while she was in her tent trying to nap, so that didn't last too long. Luckily, I was able to put her down for a nap and sit outside on the porch and still get some sun. I don't know if it was the hot sun, or just the traveling, but she slept great the whole trip... she was exhausted! Saturday night, we went to the Red Bar for dinner, and it was delicious! Kate got to eat some of their famous Panne Chicken! I am glad that the Red Bar is such a crazy environment, no one even knew a baby was around.
Sunday was a little overcast, so we decided to go to the outlets and do a little shopping. It is not so fun though when you are in the "in-between" stage of clothes, so I don't want to buy regular or maternity clothes just yet. Kate did get a few things at the Carter's outlet. My mom always teases us about how Kate has too many clothes, but she really just grows so fast that we are constantly changing them out! And when Carters has things 70% off, why not?! Sunday night, we ate at the new Back Porch in Pier Park in Panama City. It was fun because we got to sit outside and enjoy the music. Once again, lots of craziness, so no one was offended by a babbling baby!
We left the beach around lunchtime on Monday, and it was a perfect time to leave. Kate stayed awake for awhile watching Praise Baby DVDs and then she napped for awhile too. I think Kelly enjoyed the trip as much as we did, it was very different from our old beach trips full of sun time and not so many stops in the trip, etc. Luckily, she realized that since I am pregnant, I needed to stop and snack just as much as Kate! Even though it was a quick trip, it was a much needed break and we felt relaxed after the weekend. Sorry no beach pictures, hopefully we will go again soon to take some great ones!