So Smart!

Katie can figure things out so quickly. Ryan was letting her play with the remote control while he watched a movie. He took out one battery so she wouldn't cause problems, then let her play with the remote with the battery cover back on. She tried once or twice, and took the battery cover off. Then, she started trying to take the battery out.
She also knows what we say. We'll tell her, "No Katie, don't touch that." And she won't, usually.
When I'm trying to give something to her, like a toy or something to distract her from the current drama, she will push it away once or twice. Then, she will take it, and deliberately throw it away from me so she can continue to throw a fit.
One of my favorite things that I've noticed lately is her skill with crawling. She will tuck a toy under her knee (on purpose, or accident, I'm not sure) and start crawling. The toy will be stuck under her legs, and be pulled along. She has her hands free, and a toy to play with when she gets to her destination. Now that's planning ahead!

Copycat

Katie was standing next to me, holding onto my leg, and she looked at me, and let go. She just stood there smiling at me. I think she just got tired of standing there, rather then needing to sit down. Her leg was slightly resting against mine, but almost imperceptibly. I think it just gave her the confidence she needed. One step closer!

On Sunday, Ryan yawned. Sometimes when he yawns, he gives a kind of yodel to accentuate how tired he is. This was one of those times. Katie immediately copied the sound and yodeled herself. It was very cute. We have tried to get her to do it again, but no such luck. When we cough or sneeze, she mimics us also. I think she might think we are just teasing her, or trying to get her to cough, since we laugh whenever she does it.

What DO I do all day?

I have a thing for kitchen tables. I own three. Two of them are almost identical. The third was a mess when I bought it. It was at a garage sale for $10 or $15, so I got it. I tightened all the screws, straightened some of the metal, painted it black, and recovered the chair cushions. It took me quite a while to finish, but I think it looks really good.
I really like the table that is currently residing in our kitchen, but if I drive by a yard sale, or look in the ads, and I see a kitchen table, I pause. "Would that look good in my kitchen? Does it look better than what I have? Is it a good price?" Examples of some of the questions that pass through my mind. Don't ask me where this compulsiveness comes from. I just know that I like kitchen tables.

Both (the two not currently in use) are fairly cheap tables. The tops aren't even real wood. Just laminated particleboard. And the laminate is wearing off around the edges. Sadly, I think we might get rid of one or both tables in a yard sale this summer. I might be able to think of a reason to keep one. Surely we could use a table that can fit 8-10 people around it. For, uh...um...holding DVD's? Or, um, oh, I know! Ryan can put some of his Star Wars stuff on it! Yay! It has a purpose!

Mom had given me some fabric to cover my kitchen chairs with, and there was some leftover that I used for the pillows. They aren't fancy, but I'm still learning how to sew, and I think the seams are very nice and straight, thank you very much. Here is a picture of them.


Mom came over and helped me sew a skirt. The fabric is extremely slippery, and we cut it on the bias. I'm not sure I could explain to someone what that means necessarily, but it makes the pattern tilted about 45 degrees. It looks pretty good, I think. I was going to include a picture of it, but I don't really like the idea of a full figure picture of myself. I also haven't found a top that looks just right with it.

My husband is fabulous. He is so helpful in so many ways. One of those being, if I tell him I want to stop eating so much sugar, he tries to help me. He will sacrifice his own needs for my own by taking the treats we have at home to his work. Just so I don't have the temptation at home. See? Isn't he great? No, really. He is wonderful. Sometimes I just wish he would forget that I had told him I was going off sugar. (Even though I tell him something to that effect every couple of days)
The other night, for instance. We had bought some ice cream, hot fudge, caramel, and bananas to make Domingoes (Sundaes in Spanish. I couldn't think of anything else Mexican to bring to dinner at Bowman's house, so Ryan told me to bring sundaes and just call them by their Mexican name.) It was late at night (about 9:30 pm), and I was guiltily filling a bowl with sliced bananas, and vanilla ice cream laced with chocolate, covered with strawberry jam, caramel, and hot fudge. I say guiltily because Ryan was downstairs (and I didn't invite him to have any) and I try not to eat too many sweets late at night. Well, just as I started to lift my dripping spoon to my mouth, I hear a "Hey!". I gave a little yelp and just about dropped my spoon. Apparently, as Ryan is fond of saying, I am way too jumpy.

Another thing that I love about Ryan is his skill in observation. Jerry was here the other night getting the plumbing ready for a water softener. I had been with Ryan for about 2 hours, eating, going for a walk, etc. Jerry said something about how nice I looked, and Ryan starting mouthing something at me. His expression was slightly confused. Now, I have an incredibly hard time reading lips, but I finally figured it out. He was asking me if I had changed my clothes. Ha! I thought it was pretty funny.

In all truthfulness, I would not be nearly as happy or positive as I am now if I didn't have Ryan in my life. He has increased my self confidence a hundredfold. He never criticizes me, because he knows I do it to myself often enough. He is extremely patient and loving. Sometimes I ask him the most cryptic questions and he usually know what I'm asking. He can catch on to my train of thought fairly easily. He makes me laugh, especially when I need it the most. Of course, the list could go on and on, but I don't want to make anyone reading this blog feel sick. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father put him on the earth for me.
I love you Ryan!

Life is good

Katie slept all night Sunday night! We were so excited! We had gone to a park and played on the playground with Katie and the Bowmans on Sunday. Then we drove around West Mountain and looked at Utah Lake. Then we went to Clarissa and Ryan's house and had pizza and dessert. So when we got home, she crashed! She fell asleep at about 9:00 pm, and didn't wake up until 7 the next morning. And that was just to nurse. She fell back asleep until 9:15. I was actually a little worried, but we could see she was breathing and everything, so it was alright. Unfortunately, she must have gotten all her sleep in Sunday night, because last night she woke up 3 or 4 times. Oh well. We are trying to train her to sleep longer, but truthfully, sometimes it is just easier to nurse her and put her back to sleep, rather than let her cry herself to sleep. We're working on it.

Katie had so much fun at the playground. She climbed up the steps, and slid down the slides. Ryan tried to slide with her once or twice, but they aren't really built for adults, so Ryan would just hold her at the top and I would catch her at the bottom. She really enjoyed it. The weather was so nice. The sun was shining, and there was a slight wind. Katie puts her mouth into an "O" shape when she feels the wind, or if we blow on her. She tries to blow back, and it almost sounds like she is whistling. Ryan says this is better than her mother, who can't whistle at all. Woe is me.




Last night Ryan was practicing piano and Katie wanted to play too. It was so cute! At first she just watched Ryan's hands, but after he put her hands on the keys and showed her she could play too, she had a ball! Especially when Ryan was playing also. Then it sounded like SHE was making the good sounding noises, and she could blame the dissonant ones on him.


When I ask Katie "Where is Mom's nose?" she points right to it. She hasn't quite figured out that other people have noses also, but she is getting the idea.


She also says "ruff" when Irma asks her what the doggy says. I can't get her to say it as often as when Irma asks, but Irma has been working on it. Especially as Ryot (Clarissa and Ryan's dog) is at Irma's house most Sundays. As are Ryan, Katie and I.

Wounds

Katie has gotten her first real wound. Irma will be devastated I am telling this, but it did happen at the Bowman's house. Of course, we don't know how it happened, but Irma noticed some blood on the handle of her oven. We thought maybe Katie had bumped her mouth against it, but then we noticed there was blood on her hands also. We investigated, and found that there was a small piece of skin hanging off her little pinky finger. It bled for a little while, but it didn't seem to bother Katie at all. Even as I was trying to keep it from bleeding, and I was dabbing the wound, she didn't seen to understand what the big deal was.
Irma, just so you feel better, last night Katie got a bump on her head at the Evans' house. Mom has this cute box that has drawers in it. The knobs on such drawers are very pretty and colorful. Katie has been fascinated with it since first sight. We have told her repeatedly that she can't touch it, and sometimes she even obeys us! Last night I didn't realize she was by it, and she pulled it on top of her. I thought it had just scared her and that was why she was crying. Ryan and I both told her that she wasn't supposed to be touching it anyways. Then, as I took her into her Dad, I noticed a bump on her head. Then I felt a little bad, but maybe she will learn that she isn't supposed to play with it. While I was nursing her I put a cold washcloth on it, so it isn't swollen. She just has a little bruise.

Money and Blessings

This morning, I was changing Katie's diaper, and what did I see? Besides the yucky stuff, the edge of something shiny. Turns out, it was a penny! On Tuesday, at dance, she had acted like she was sort of gagging on something, but we thought it was a sequin or bead. We gave her some water and Nilla Wafers to wash it down. She seemed to be fine after that. Apparently it was a penny, not a sequin.
Funny thing is, I was talking to Jonathan yesterday, and he was telling me about a lady at his work whose child had eaten a quarter. She had even brought the quarter to show everyone. I claimed that we didn't keep cash around the house, so I wouldn't need to worry about Katie eating any coins. Shows what I know. I guess if I was a good scrap booker, I would keep the penny and put it in a book. I'm not, and I think that would be gross.
For those of you that know Ryan well, you know he is a wonderful father and husband. He loves Katie so very much. This morning he displayed a show of love for both Katie and I. I was outside because the weather was fabulous (and Katie and Ryan were asleep) working in my yard. I get lonely out there without anyone to talk to. Ryan and Katie came out and talked to me. Now, you must understand, it was very bright and sunny. Ryan didn't even have his sunglasses on! He stayed out there to keep me company, and because Katie was enjoying being outside. He's so sweet.
I know I am so extremely blessed to have such a wonderful, fabulous man in my life.

Talking?

We think that Katie is starting to talk. We certainly feel that she understands what we are saying, and she repeats the sounds we make.
When we ask her if she wants to get down from her high chair, she says "Da!" and she has been saying "Da da" (for Daddy) for quite a while.
When we are tickling her and playing with her, we trap her in our legs or arms. We tell her she is stuck, and she responds, "tuck tuck".
The other day I told her "no" for something or another, and she shook her head back and forth.
She has also really caught on to the concept of being chased. She will squeal and get all excited if we start chasing her. She will also want us to chase her, so she will run away when she thinks we are coming towards her. But, she always looks back to make sure we are really following her. She will even wait until we get closer, so she doesn't have an unfair advantage.

Not about Katie

On a personal note, I am really enjoying my dance class. I am also going to a Stake organized workout on Mondays and Fridays. Well, I try to go those days. I bum a ride off my neighbor, and if she has something come up, or Katie is asleep, or anything else comes up, we don't go. I really do have good intentions though.

I am also trying to learn how to sew. At this point, I have sewn some slippers and felt balls for our Humanitarian ward service project and a skirt. I have plans to make pillows for our couch, and some dance pants.

I am trying to figure out how to edit the videos we have taken of Katie, so I can put them on my website, but that is taking some time. I have to figure out what I want to do with them first, and that is difficult. I don't think I'm very creative when it comes to video design, so it is slow going. Unfortunately, I feel I should be good at anything I start, and if I'm not, I tend to have a hard time learning it. Kind of close-minded, I suppose. Or laziness. I'm not sure what the right word would be.

I just wanted state that I am actually doing something with my time. So anyone that thinks I might be just sitting at home eating Bon Bons and watching Soap Operas is mistaken. I much prefer surfing the web and eating fudge. Well, and watching Katie.

Achievements

Katie has figured out that she can walk by using the furniture. She isn't extremely fast yet, but she just started doing it Tuesday. She walked across the front of the couch and over to the coffee table. And on her first try, too. We thought it was impressive.

She also tests herself to see if she can stand on her own yet. She will be leaning against something, and she will push herself slightly away and try to balance. She is managing to balance for close to 5 seconds now. Of course, she smiles and looks at me to make sure I saw her. I obligingly clap for her, which makes us both happy.

When Katie gives hugs, she has figured out that she needs to pat us on the back when doing so. I was a little perplexed trying to understand where she picked that up from, until I was burping her after feeding her, and AH Hah! I pat her on the back while her head is on my shoulder. Duh!

Mom was over helping me sew a skirt on Thursday. She was watching Katie while I sewed according to her directions, and noticed that Katie was moving her hands in a peculiar fashion.
I attend a dance class each Tuesday morning, and we spend some time each week working on hand movements. Apparently Katie is paying attention and has determined that rotating her hands is something she wants to learn. She even holds her hands above her head like we practice in class. What a scary thought. I'm not sure I'm ready for the imitate-mom-phase. Oh well, it isn't as though it will last long, right? :)