Yuck, yuck and YUCK

What a weekend!! On Friday, Kate woke up with her very first sickness. I know we're lucky that she's almost two and never been sick but, my, what a weekend it turned out to be. Kate had the stomach flu and got sick a few times. Kids are great, though, because immediately after she was sick, she'd play as if nothing were wrong. It seemed all cleared up by noon, but she was still pretty lethargic (for her). She'd actually take breaks on the floor or the couch for at least a minute or so. Those of us who know her well know that she never lays still for more than 2 seconds, so this did indicate she wasn't feeling perfect. I put off my trip to the coast to spread my grandma's ashes, and decided to wait to leave until Saturday morning if she was still better. She was fine, so I left early on Saturday. On a side note, my mom, uncle, aunt, brother and I had a wonderful day reminiscing about my grandma. Little did I know what was to come. By Saturday night, I talked to Ryan and HE was feeling ill. It really hit in the evening, so I made plans to come home earlier on Sunday, knowing from when I had pregnancy nausea that it is NO fun taking care of an active toddler when you're sick. But then.....in the middle of the night on Saturday, I got it!!! Yuck! It was very much not fun driving home from the coast while feeling as thought I needed to pull over every 10 minutes, but I really wanted to get home. Yesterday, Ryan and I were literally useless and could do nothing. Usually, I can rally when I don't feel well, but this was totally different. I can't even remember the last time I had the stomach flu (maybe high school??) and I was completely shocked that I could barely even move. Thankfully and to her credit, Kate was awesome all day and played by herself really well while we just sat and watched her. So, now it's Monday, and Ryan is pretty much well and I'm getting there. I went to bed at 7 pm last night so I know I'm rested! I think the baby is wondering why I am not eating anything, and is NOT happy about it (if that's what all the violent kicking and lodging him/herself under my ribs indicates). We're all on the mend, though, so that's good. I just hope it's a good, long time until Kate gets her second sickness and that we don't catch it. Nasty bug! I will post some photos that I got from the day with my family tomorrow because I am TRULY thankful that it was such a nice day and did my grandma justice.

My modern girl

As told to me by Kate, while playing with her little people and animals: "Mommy, this guy is listening to his ipod." Ha!



PS This photo cracks me up every time I see it. Kate in one of her favorite outfits (diaper & boots), carrying a purse, posed as if to say "watch out world, here I come." Indeed.

3 nights down!

Kate has been her "big girl" bed for three nights now, and it's going so well!! She seems to love it and we haven't heard a peep from her. Whew! I don't want to jinx it, but she's doing way better than I expected. Of course, while she slept peacefully, Ryan and I didn't get great sleep the first couple nights since we were each waking up thinking we heard her or thinking of all the freak scenarios that could happen to her in her new bed. Obsessive worry comes along with parenthood, I suppose!! I think the transition will take longer for us than for Kate! I can't believe she's such a big kid now. I'm really, really proud of her!!

First day of summer!

Well, summer's officially here and FINALLY we had some weather that looked like it. It was warm and sunny and just how "summer" should be. I'm definitely hoping today is a sign of a lovely season ahead. As I took Kate out in the stroller yesterday morning, I listened to (or, rather, re-listened to....) "Eat, Pray, Love" and it included a quote I thought was so perfect and fitting: "Little girls who make their mothers live grow up to be such powerful women." The first time I listened to and read this book I was just pregnant with Kate, and couldn't imagine who the little human growing inside me would be. Now I know and, yes, she does indeed "make me live." Isn't that just a wonderful way to express what kids can do for their parents? I had a great life before her, but it's so, so much more meaningful and so much more great now. It's one of those things that can't be described to you before you have kids, but you are infused with the feeling the moment they arrive. I, for one, think Kate WILL be a powerful woman one day. After all, she's a pretty powerful toddler.... Anyway, we "lived" the first day of summer by enjoying the sun. We went to a park that Kate chose because it had to "have swings and the bumpy slide." This park is in the middle of a few baseball fields and next to the middle school. We explored around, only to find Kate's paradise: the maintenance area of the school where there were two John Deere tractors and a backhoe! They were just sitting there, begging for her to "drive them." And drive she did. What a find!! Then some "really big kids" (I'd say 12 or 13-year-olds) came to the park on their bikes. Kate proceeded to practically drool all over them and their bikes. They liked her, though, and let her follow them around and even let her sit on their bikes. I think Kate almost died and went to heaven. The afternoon after that was probably anti-climatic but we did play with water and buckets in the front yard for quite some time. Then came the VERY best part of the day: when daddy comes home! I'd say it was a pretty perfect way to kick off summer 2010.

Birthday party!

Busy collecting party hats...a few hours later, she had donned broken swimming goggles and two party hats!

Two buddies playing cars & house

Ryan, the birthday boy!

What do I do with this thing?

Sugar high, Shaun?

We had so much fun at Ryan's 5th birthday party!! Josh and Jen (his parents) must STILL be exhausted from hosting that shindig. I can see what Ryan and I have in our future, especially if our next baby is a boy. All the kids did wonderfully, but it is mayhem, for sure! I felt guilty leaving their house since it looked like a tornado had passed through (or, similarly I guess, a whole bunch of 5-year-olds!) It was all good fun, though, and Kate really had a great time. We were there for 6 hours and I think she was only just hitting her party stride! She completely did not get the whole "birthday" thing and, true to her word, she DID NOT like cake. Jen made these fabulous cupcakes with DELICIOUS chocolate frosting (this coming from someone who likes her frosting!!), but Kate tried the tiniest of bites and proceeded to make some of the best food-reaction faces I've ever seen! She was scraping her tongue and contorting her face, only to announce, "I don't like pancakes!" So, perhaps we won't be serving traditional birthday cake when she turns two (at least not to her)! She did eat her weight in watermelon, so I guess she was right when she announced her intentions to us that morning. Aside from the food, Kate loved playing with all Ryan and Shaun's toys, especially the trucks. That's my girl! The sweetest part of the day came when Shaun announced that he was the daddy and "baby Kate" was the mommy, and their baby was his stuffed puppy. They made coffee in the play kitchen and it was enough to make this mommy swoon--at least until Shaun announced that I could be the grandma! :)

Happy Father's Day!

We love you, daddy! When I asked Kate what she wanted to write on daddy's card she said, "my dad rocks." I thought that pretty much summed it up. He does indeed rock and is, of course, so much more than that. Kate and I are the luckiest girls around because we not only have the best daddy and husband, but THREE fantastic grandpas/dads in our lives. Happy, happy father's day to Ryan, Mac, Bob and Bill. You make our lives immeasurably better. Ryan, Kate and I just finished our special pancakes and bacon breakfast, and we get to have Grandpa Bill and Grandma Connie over for a bar-b-que later today. We will miss Grandpa Mac and Grandpa Bob(bby)! You're there with us in spirit (and hopefully HERE with us for a visit very soon!)

It's 9 a.m....

Is your house as messy as ours?? If you have kids, I'm guessing it's possible. If you don't have kids and your house still looks like ours, well done--you must be having fun!! Here's to a fun (with whatever accompanying mess that entails) weekend. On our agenda: little Ryan's 5th birthday party. It's been quite some time since Kate went to a birthday party, so we'll see if she gets the concept at all. Somehow I'm doubting it. I asked her if she was going to eat some cake at the party and she said, "No way." If they have watermelond, though, she's a "maybe." That's my fruit lover!!