Closer to crawling

 We spent Thanksgiving in Austin this year and luckily this meant we also got 2 thanksgiving dinners!  We had thanksgiving lunch at the Kerrs and dinner at the Forsbergs.  It was Katie and Andrew's first thanksgiving, and Lovey and Granddad are just so smitten with these two and of course with Will.  It was great to have them all together.

During our stay with Ahma and Bapa, Katie got a little closer to crawling as you can see here.  She has one leg out (just like Will crawled) but she cant seem to figure out what to do with the other leg.  Usually it results in her laying on her belly but I am curious if one day she will crawl.

 I just couldn't stop taking pictures of her with the beautiful natural light.  Her eyes just seem to sparkle!

Will's Christmas List for Santa

Will was going to ask Santa for 2 things: a school bus and a frisbee.  Will had a school bus and it broke, and we lost his frisbee about 6 months ago.  This was going to be the easiest Santa shopping ever - and he was going to be thrilled.

I immediately ordered a school bus from Amazon, and I was just going to grab a frisbee at the toy store before Christmas. 

We get a ton of Amazon boxes at this house.  Forgetting what could be in the box, I opened the school bus almost in front of him.  I quickly hid it behind some things so he couldn't see it. 

And then I forgot about it.

A few days later, Will found it!  He was so thrilled that he had a new school bus!  I was so bummed that I forgot to hide it - it was going to be such a fun thing for him to open on Christmas.  Oh well, at least I had the frisbee.

Then on Saturday, he found the missing frisbee!  It had been hiding behind a plant in our room for no less than 6 months.  He was thrilled to find it!  I was a little less excited.

So I asked Will what he would ask Santa to bring him for Christmas now that he had a new school bus and since he found his frisbee.  His answer - "a reindeer!" 

Oh dear.

Will she crawl?

 I am so curious if Katie will crawl.  She sits with her feet together and when she leans over, her feet stay in front instead of kicking out behind her.  She can bounce her way where she wants to go and she loves to stand but if you put her in the crawling position, she very clearly lets you know she doesn't like it.

Katie sleeps on her back with her hands behind her head and she doesn't move all night long!  She only moves once she wakes up in the morning and plays with her toys.  Our pediatrician mentioned that fewer babies crawl now that babies are sleeping on their back.  I wonder if she will be one that skips right to walking...

Katie loves to take out her bow - she always does it just this way which I find adorable even though I so want her to keep it in.

Quotable Will

Will and I were finding all his toys that live in the ocean.  He got them all but the crab.  So I asked him "When does the crab live?"  Will replied "Central Market."

Will had a cough, and Katie started coughing too.  I said "Will, you gave Katie your cough!"  He replied, "No, she has her own cough."  True!

Bath Time

I just love bath time for these two littles.  Will comes home from the park and is excited about his bubble bath and as soon as Katie hears the water, she starts kicking her feet and bouncing. 

Thanksgiving

 I love November in that I usually do spend some time reflecting on all the things I am thankful for.  There is no way to list them all, but each day I am reminded of how wonderful life is.  I think having small kids helps me enjoy the moment - the little things.  We get excited when we see a snail, the UPS truck, a newly put up Christmas tree.  Going to the store is exciting as is getting clean blankies of the dryer.  It is wonderful getting to see life through the eyes of a child. For that, I am truly thankful. 

Here are some other things on my gratitude list...

I am thankful for kids who fall asleep in the car after a fun trip to the aquarium with their dad.

I am thankful to have a little girl, and to see how Chad interacts with her and how both of their faces light up when they see each other.  I am also thankful that Chad has no problem with the amount of clothes I buy for her!

I am so thankful for Katie is a healthy little girl.  Her smile melts my heart and I love her blooming personality.  She lets us know what she wants, but she mostly just goes with the flow.  She is really social, loves to be around people, and loves to eat when others are eating.  I also love that her first word was Mama.

 

I love her eyes...

And I love her hair!  I also love this darling dress we are borrowing from my best friend Amye.

I love that Will and Katie have each other.  I love that Will asks where Katie is when she isn't with us and that he can make her laugh so easily.  I love that she looks for him when she is getting ready for bed and doesn't fall asleep easily until they have played together for a little bit.  It has become our routine.

I love that she isn't mobile which allows me to take so many pictures of her! 

I love that Will has a best friend.  They are so happy playing together.  They are like two peas in a pod.  When one of them is at the park and the other isn't, Loli says they seem a little lost.  They make each other laugh and play well together.  When we are at the store, Will always wants to get something for Armando.  Armando is always asking about Will as well.  I love that they are always thinking of each other.  I hope he continues to have friendships like this in his life!

I love that Will wants to be outside all the time.  That he will dig in the dirt looking for treasures or rolly pollys.  I love that he hasn't met a stranger, that he can get most people to do whatever he wants.  He has a charm about him, a sweetness in the way he asks for things.  I am so proud to be his mama!

Will

 It is getting so hard to take this little guy's picture!  When I have my camera (which is most of the time) he will avoid looking at me.  When he finally does, he will squint his eyes tightly together and say cheese. 

Here are my attempts today...

ready?

cheese!

After I told Will he can open his eyes and smile:

I asked him to not look scared:

goal tending

he always smiles in the firetruck!

9 months old!

Katie is 9 months old!  Time is flying by, but we are loving every single minute.  Each month gets better and better, and while I would love to freeze time, I also look forward to all the upcoming stages.

This month Katie:

* weighs 20.5 lbs (80th%)

* is 28 inches tall (70th%)

* head is 85%

* scoots around but isn't crawling

* shrieks when she hears her brother laugh

* loves to swing

* eats everything!  so far, she hasn't tried anything she hasn't liked.

* makes our family complete!