5 Months

Can't believe our little Cate is now 5 months old! She will be starting solids in a few weeks and finally drinking some water. Where has the time gone!?

She certainly had a busy month and is now rolling from her back to belly ( we have yet to see it), and loves to play in her bouncer and on the mat. She is grabbing more toys, is much more alert, LOVES to be talked to and play "super Cate". She watches Josie like a hawk and is drooling constantly. She has her whole hand in her mouth at all times and soaks through her clothes pretty quickly.

The spitting up is still the same, and we had to go to the doctor last month, for what I thought was only a cough, and ended up being bronchiolitis with a right ear infection. She finally finished her penicillin this morning. Man that stuff is nasty, brings me back to my younger days and having to take it- sick.

She continues to be the happiest baby ever, so calm and easy going. She is sleeping much better at night and rarely waking at all. If she does it's because she's pinned against the crib and wants her paci. I broke down and bought some glow in the dark ones, she seems to really like those.

This months stats:

Height- 25 in (approx)

Weight- 14 lb 9.5 oz

Clothes size- 3-6 mo

Diaper size- 2

She only gained a few ounces last month so I'm giving her an extra once in her bottles at Jen's, hoping that will help. She has the driest skin ever so I'm constantly slathering her with lotion and aquaphor. Other then that, she is the best baby and I can't wait to start solids soon. I think we'll start with sweet potatoes. 

Nick was at the grocery store when I decided to take her 5 month photos. I asked for Josie's help, thinking she would get Cate to smile, laugh, whatever. Judging from the pictures that didn't happen, but big sister decided she wanted in on the action. I've been waiting for the time when Josie wanted to hold Cate- she is finally taking an interest. 

this is my favorite

Ice Ice Baby

So I have been slammed at work, both girls were sick all last week, we got more snow and ice, and I'm so over winter.

By Sunday, Josie was finally feeling better and we got a bit of snow overnight, so Nick went out to shovel. I knew she wanted to go out, but refused to put on her snowsuit. She had yet to wear it at all...I tried to buy her snow boots this year and that was an absolute no go. She refused to put them on, let alone walk in them, so they went back to the store and I figured she'd never ever play in the snow.

So anyway, I basically stuffed her ass in the snowsuit, because I knew once she went outside, she would love it. And I was right.

Love this picture

that face-always

Unfortunately, she doesn't have the right gloves for gripping anything, so her "shovel" aka sand shovel, kept slipping out of her hands, but she had a ball anyway. At one point she was shoveling Jen and Paul's driveway! hahaha. Silly girl. 

Videos

Here is another video to show the excitement..not. Again we were waiting for a huge reaction, sure didn't happen. Maybe next year.

we have an ice dancer in the making

cowgirl

                                           

hillbilly accent

Swimmer

Josie started swim lessons a few weeks ago. Unfortunately we didn't get her in the water last summer, and she definitely has a fear of water- hate that I passed down that trait. 

Soccer was Nicks thing, so we decided that swimming was mine. We found a class at an area Y that starts about 10:30 on Saturday morning, so it works out well with her schedule and Cate's. When Nick was signing her up, of course they asked her age and based on that suggested a different class. We knew that was going to be a bad idea, so we put her in the beginners class. I'm talking she is the oldest by about a year and a half. Whoopsie. 

That's OK though. Seeing the babies in the class actually helps her. They aren't crying, and enjoy splashing, kicking and being in the water. She had a major death grip on me the first class, and cried most of the time. The second week was much better- no crying, she sang the songs, kicked, splashed and even let me get her hair a little wet. Fast forward to week three and it apparently was a debacle. I went to Cincinnati to visit friends on Saturday, so Nick was in charge. Honestly, she didn't wake up in the best mood that day, but class was a complete disaster. Let's hope for a better time this week.

Only real negative to us going alone is, I don't have any pictures of us in the water. All the other families have both parents there, video camera and phones going the entire time. Maybe at the end of the session, we can all be there together and take a pic in the pool- for now we'll have to take what we can get. A picture in the house with all our clothes on with shit-breath.

4 Months

Cate finally had her 4 month appointment yesterday so hence the delay on her post. Holy moley has she grown this past month. I looked back through her monthly photos and she has changed so much since month 1. What a big, pudgy girl we have- I couldn't be more proud!

Josie was definitely a sweet baby, but Cate is something else. She never cries and is always so happy to see us. She is still unsure of my glasses when I pick her up in the evenings, but I get big smiles as soon as I take them off.

She is still spitting up like a geyser, most days I go through multiple outfits and burp cloths. I was hoping she'd outgrow it by now, but no luck so far. Biggest accomplishment is she started sleeping through the night mid December! She still wakes a few times in the middle of the night, and sometimes wants her paci, but other then that, no feeding.

Here are this months stats:

Height- 25 in (65%)

Weight- 14lb 6.5 oz (50%)

Clothes size- 3-6 mo

Diaper size- 2

love those chubby cheeks!

Of course I swore I wouldn't let her be the typical 2nd child with less photos and all hand-me-downs. I cant say I'm doing a great job at keeping my promise. With Josie I had professional pics taken every 3 months, this time I was lucky to take one at home at 3.5 months. Shit happens, life is busy. BUT it was totally worth the wait. Best.Photo.Ever. She is just too precious for words.

I'll take it.

one of my special helpers during the shoot

Christmas Day

Might as well start with the video from Christmas morning! Sorry its so long, but we were waiting for some type of reaction. I think this is how she's going to be. Like- "Oh, look..there are presents. Hmmm....alrighty then." Totally nonchalant even though she liked opening everything. Thankfully she was happy to see Cate when she came down- that's a plus!

                                       

Santa ate his cookies and Andes mints!

baby doll from Great Grandpa

This year was all about the quantity and not necessarily the quality. I knew she wouldn't care what she got, as long as she could open presents. So the dollar aisle at Target was my best friend. She got stickers, coloring books, colored pencils, a new sippy cup, play dough, Finding Nemo dvd, etc. She loved everything of course, but her big gift was the Kitchen. We have been putting off getting one for awhile now, because we don't really have the room. But this small one fit the bill and she loves it! She cooks everyday for us and tells us "Be careful, its hot-OK!?" And she likes to make pizza for us and puts cinnamon on it. Only drawback is she likes to dump her milk in the sink and wash dishes. Totally gets the concept, but damn- what a mess!

After Cate's morning nap it was time to head to Mansfield! Grandma and Grandpa went all out again- the kids are so spoiled, but we had a great time seeing the kids play and tear into the gifts. I have to say, Josie was ALL about the presents at this point. She practically opened all mine, hers and Nicks. She also helped Chloe since she had a hard time. 

next year will be wild with Cate running around

love her suitcase!

my favorite photo of the day! hahahahahahhah

Frankie played with this all day

grandma's yearly calendar

snack time

passed out on the way home