Snow!

It isn't even October yet, and we got snow. And not just a wimpy skiff either. Okay, it wasn't a whole lot, but still! The flakes were HUGE, and there is quite a bit on the ground.

Ryan wanted to show Katie the snow, so we got her all bundled up.

See? The flakes are big. It was pretty amazing.

I guess she likes it. It took her a little while, but it seems like she was having fun out there. Luckily, I had to stay inside so the camera (yeah, the camera, uh huh) didn't get wet.

Not much else to report now. I just look at these pictures and think how incredibly blessed I am. I love Ryan and Katie so much. I had no idea my life could be so fulfilling.

Tickling

Here are some pictures from September 8th, when Ryan, Katie and I went to a Carnival that Ryan's group was helping support (for more info, and pictures, click on Ryan's Blog. Some of the pictures are the same as on his blog, but seriously, how can you get tired of looking at this beautiful girl?

Katie is so much fun right now. She loves to lean back against the couch, with her head resting on the cushion, and just wait. I'll come and "eat" her stomach, and she just laughs and laughs. And then, she starts it all over again. She is also turning in circles repeatedly. She gets a little dizzy, and stumbles when she tries to walk, and it is so cute.
She knows exactly what she wants, and can usually portray what that is. Either by pointing and "huh?", or if I'm not smart enough to get that, we try playing the yes or no game. "Drink? Raisins? Crackers? Tomato? Brownie?" etc. I think she sometimes is trying to say "this?" when she is asking for something. I'm sure she assumes it is the name of whatever she wants, since I ask "this?" while pointing at most objects. She is also mumbling a phrase that Ryan and I want to believe is "Thanks Dad", but it doesn't seem to be very clear to anyone else. She seems to be "saying" more and more these days. I know that not many people would understand her, but I think Ryan and I (and maybe her grandparents) can figure it out most of the time.
So, the other day (okay, maybe it was more like a month ago, since that is when I actually started this post) Katie was at my parent's house. Evidently she tried to escape, and got the front door open! Their front door handle on the inside is a lever type, so you pull down to open the door. There was also a breeze that might have pushed the door open, but still! Unfortunately ALL the doors that lead outside at my house are the lever type handles. My life is going to get sooo much more interesting.
Also, for a while there, I was thinking of trying to start potty training Katie. I know, it is early, but I was trying to be positive. Anyways, I was getting her ready for a bath, so she didn't have any clothes on, and she was standing by the toilet. We had been discussing for a couple of days "Katie's potty" and "Mommy's potty" in the hopes that she would become familiar with the objects. Well, she patted "Mommy's potty", and while standing there, she proceeded to go to the bathroom. After I got the mess all cleaned up (thankfully I had taken the rug out earlier that week) I started hoping that it meant she was ready, but alas, she screams and looks terrified anytime she is place on either potty. Needless to say, I don't want to scare her from the idea, so we have put the potty away, and we will try in a week or so.

Right now some of her favorite things to do are: go outside, pull papers off of Mommy's desk, try to type and use the mouse on Mommy's computer, pull cooking utensils out of their drawers, make any sort of disorder out of the order I crave, get tickled, listen for and look at dogs or cats, and go outside to see her cousins next door. The highlights of the day are when Daddy comes home for lunch and dinner.

Life is great, and we are having lots of fun.