Rice, Rice Baby

"Mommy, what are you feeding me?! Can I hold the spoon myself?"

"Hmm.... maybe if I smile big enough Mommy will stop feeding me this gruel...?"

After a night of waking up every hour to feed you, our little Hungry Girl, Daddy and I decided to try feeding you rice cereal (I know, I know.... I said I'd like to wait to start feeding you food but you are just so hungry!). The baby book lists the following as signs that baby is ready to start solids;

-Baby has doubled weight (check- and then some!).

-Baby can sit with support (check).

-Baby shows interest when you are eating (check- One day you tracked Daddy's spoon from bowl to mouth and then back to the bowl when he was eating lunch).

-Baby smacks lips and leans in toward food (check).

-Baby controls neck (check).

-Baby lets you know when she is full (check- You usually purse your lips and turn your head away when full).

-Baby seems hungry (CHECK!)

So, we set up the cameras, mixed up the organic brown rice cereal (can we say, first time parents?!) and gave it a whirl, tonight. At first you just kind of smacked your lips and scrunched up your nose. Then, you ate/drooled a couple of spoonfuls of gruely, ricey mess. I wouldn't say it's your favorite, yet, but it was a solid start!

Date Night (afternoon)

Before Grandpa Jones returns home to N.J., he offered to watch you while Daddy and I went out for a "date." We took him up on the offer and went to see a Shrek matinee. We enjoyed the movie and thought the animation was great! As always, it's nice to see our friend, Josh West's name up on the big screen as one of the animators. However, it was so weird for just the two of us to be out WITHOUT you, Katy! We've officially become parents because while we were out (away from you, Katy), all we talked about was you, Katy!!

Memorial Day Cook-Out

Happy Memorial Day!

Katy gave Uncle Rob a complex- every time he tried to tickle her toes or say, "Hi!" Katy would scrunch up her face and cry.

The Grill Master, Ted

Dinner and a Show ;-P

Guys and the Grill

Bethany Reeves holding Katy

Karen Keys holding Katy

Karen and Cecilia Keys with Katy (Cecilia wanted to play and show Katy all of her toys).

"CHEESE!"

"Are you eyeing my Froggy Friend, Cecilia?"

Happy Memorial Day from Katy and her Froggy Friend

Yesterday, the Reeves, Charltons, Keys, Grandpa Jones and Uncle Rob all joined us for a Memorial Day weekend cook-out! Everybody brought a dish to share and we had fun grilling out, playing games and enjoying friendship and family.

Grandpa Jones Comes to Visit (cont.)!

Week two of your visit with Grandpa Jones, Katy, and you two are best buds! You ended the visit with a bang by "showering" poor Grandpa and creating extra laundry (and a change of clothes for the both of you). Grandpa learned several tricks to entertain you and quiet you and you learned that it's very easy to win someone over with that cute baby smile of yours! Thanks, Grandpa Jones for taking such good care of our baby girl!

Happy Feet (Baby Giggles)!

You can't help but smile at this video! :-D

Froggy Friend

Good grip on Froggy

Daddy likes Froggy almost as much as Katy ;-P

When you were born, Katy, our friends, the Keys Family, gave you a monogrammed Froggy as a present. It should come to no surprise- you are your father's frog-loving daughter, after all- that this has become your "lovey." With your increasingly good grip, you like hold onto Froggy and carry him with you. Hmm.... we might have to get another one as a "backup..."

Fourteen Weeks Birthday

Today, you are fourteen weeks old, Katy! This was your second week in the care of Grandpa Jones. A lot of smiles and silly faces were exchanged, this week, as the two of you had some fun and were more comfortable with each other. There were a couple of nap-less days but for the most part this week went pretty well.

This week's milestone was that you giggled for the first time! Cute, adorable baby giggling! You've love to have your tootsies tickled and you are starting to notice your reflection in the mirror. Daddy and I like to play the game "Kissy Monster" with you- we each take a side and shower you with kisses. This tends to elicit more than a few smiles and giggles which, of course, only make us want to do it more!

You seem to be going through a growth spurt because you are eating and sleeping more. Last night before bed, you ate eight ounces in ADDITION to nursing (Typically, you only eat about four ounces at a feeding)! Just don't get too big, too quick on us, Katy!

What a Difference Three Months Makes!

One Week Old

February 24, 2010

Twelve Weeks Old

May 10, 2010

Katy, look how big you are getting! What a difference a couple of months can make! The first picture was taken when you were just one week old and the second picture was taken when you were 12 weeks old (in the same outfit!). You are growing bigger and stronger and more smiley with each day. We are also happy to report that you now sleep through the nights in your crib and no longer sleep or nap in your "Happy Chair."

Thanks, Grandma Jones!

Thanks for the pink pants, Grandma Jones!

Thirteen Weeks Birthday

All Smiles!

Today, you are thirteen weeks old, Katy! You spent the week in the company and care of your Grandpa Jones (as you will again, this coming week). After a couple days of testing the waters and getting used to one another, you ended the week all smiles and coos. Personally, I think you have him wrapped around your tiny little finger! :-)

This week, we've noticed you drooling A LOT more and grabbing onto things with your hands. Your grasp is getting quite strong and you are starting to either push things away or start to pull them closer to you. You've been enjoying your musical toy from the Keys family (separate blog post) and kicking the pedals with your feet.

Grandpa Jones Comes to Visit (cont.)!

Day three of Grandpa Jones' visit and you two are starting to get into the swing of things, Katy. On Monday, you slept well but didn't feed well. On Tuesday, you decided to party and not do either sleeping or eating. Today, though, you slept AND fed well! Yay!

Wardrobe Malfunction

Silly hairbands and bows...

Sleepy time Bath

Sometimes, you like to skip your afternoon nap, Katy. When you do this, you tend to get more tired, earlier in the evening. Daddy and I try to keep you up as long as possible before you practically pass out from exhaustion (if you go to bed too early, you wake up too early!). The other night you were so tired that you fell asleep during your nighttime bath!

Bumbo Seat

Katy in the Bumbo Seat

Our friends, the Batys, loaned us their Bumbo seat. For those that don't know what this is, it is a molded foam chair for babies to sit in to help them learn to sit up and develop their back and neck muscles. Well, we put you in it for the first time, this afternoon and you seemed to really like it, Katy! You enjoyed being able to sit up and see what was going on around you. You looked just like a little girl sitting in it all cute and smooshy-like.

Mr. Lamp

Mr. Lamp

We don't know why, but you LOVE to stare and look up at our living room lamp, Katy. The light doesn't even need to be turned on for you to coo and babble! Whenever you are fussy and/or squirmy we know that if we position you so that you can look up at this light, you will instantly be soothed. We don't know what it is about this light, but it's your friend and we've come to call it, "Mr. Lamp."

Grandpa Jones Comes to Visit!

Yesterday evening, your Grandpa Jones came for a two-week visit to take care of you, Katy. I have a feeling that he's going to love on you and spoil you while Mommy and Daddy are at work, each day!

High Chair

Katy tries out the high chair

(Look at that massive five-point harness- you need a PhD to get into and out of that thing!)

One of the best baby shower gifts we got was the Your Baby's First Year Week by Week from Uncle Josh, Aunt Delinda and Cousin Kayla. This book breaks down baby's first year weekly, lists out applicable developmental milestones, concerns, activities to do with the child each week. One of the suggestions for this week was to, "...involve the child in daily family routines, such as dinnertime." Since Daddy and I are firm believers in eating dinner as a family, we decided to strap you into the high chair (another really great shower gift from the Keys family and Daddy's N.J. friends Justin and Joe) and have you join us for dinner (not that you can actually eat food, but at least to enjoy our company). Katy, you seemed to enjoy sitting in the chair and being able to look around (you are getting to be very inquisitive and wanting to see everything around you). You even watched us eat and smacked your lips as if you wanted some dinner, too!

Spring into Arts Festival!

Spring into Arts Festival

One of the many reasons we enjoy living where we live is because we are within walking distance to downtown Concord. This affords us easy access to all the festivities that go on downtown- Christmas tree lighting, Union Street Live during the summer, festivals, shops, library and restaurants. The Spring into Arts Festival was this weekend so we loaded you into the stroller, Katy, and took a leisurely half mile walk to enjoy the beautiful warm weather (almost too warm at 90 degrees!) and the arts and crafts. This is just the first of many festivals we plan on taking you to, Katy!

Daddy Daughter Week (cont.)

Katy, you've been keeping your Daddy busy, during Daddy Daughter week! During this week of role reversal (Me going to work and Daddy staying home to take care of you), we've both gained some insight and understanding into what it takes to stay home with baby- aka, nothing gets done and sometimes you end up taking a shower at four thirty in the afternoon- and going to work- sometimes you come home to a fussy baby and only get to spend thirty minutes of cuddle time before bedtime.

This week you went to the grocery store, out for a walk and to the Depot Antique Mall with Daddy. Sometimes you napped, sometimes, you didn't. You always took the bottle and sometimes you were even a little hungry for more. Daddy even learned to wrap you up and wear you (allowing Daddy a few quiet moments to get some things done!). Together, you enjoyed a little XBox and a little Muppets. Daddy even got some pictures from this week!

Mother's Day, May 9, 2010

Big Girl

Thinking...

"Oooh.... Cooo!"

Excited baby

Notice Fozzi Bear in the background!

Pretty Girl

Twelve Weeks Birthday

Cutie Pie!

Today, you are twelve weeks old, Katy! I can't believe that you are already three months old! You are getting very verbal and babbling all the time. I think that we have a talker on our hands. You smile a lot, now, and you react and interact with both Daddy and I. We've noticed an excess of drooling and bubbles so we wonder if you are getting ready to teeth. You are consistently sleeping in your crib (praise the Lord!) and sleeping through the night. As the weeks fly by you are getting chubbier and cuter and more animated by the day!! We love you!

Daddy Daughter Week!

Today was your first day of Daddy Daughter week, Katy! While I start back to work full-time after twelve weeks of maternity leave, you get to spend the whole week with Daddy! You did great, today! You fed from a bottle like a champ and you were extra smiley. Knowing that you are safe and well taken care of by Daddy makes the transition back to work a lot easier for me.

Happy First Mother's Day!

Mother's Day, May 9, 2010

The day you were born, Katy, made me a mother. So, this means that today is my first Mother's Day. Your gift to your father and I was the fact that you slept from 7:30PM to 6:10AM straight, in your crib. This is the fourth night in a row that you slept in your crib. You didn't wake for a feeding, or a changing, or anything! You slept soundly through the night and your Daddy and I got plenty of sleep (though, I think your Daddy wanted more sleep!). I checked on you several times to make sure you were okay, but you were sleeping like, well, a baby, and we couldn't be happier!

Mommy and Me

Mommy and Me

I'm just posting this picture because I thought it was cute (Plus, I'm getting better at the whole one-handed picture taking thing!). Oh, and look at Katy's cute chubby cheeks and double chin- you can ignore those on me :-)

Adoption Anniversary

Twenty-seven years ago, at age two and a half, I arrived at JFK airport from Seoul, South Korea to be adopted by my parents- your grandparents, Katy- Jim and Linda Tinkey. Every year growing up, we celebrated this date- May 6- as a kind of adoption "birthday." This year is extra special because we have you, Katy. By watching you grow we are allowed a tiny glimpse of the two and a half years we missed. I'm glad that I was adopted by my parents because I was allowed to have a life that I might not have had in Korea. So, thank you Mom and Dad for your love, support and faith! :-)

Party in Katy's Crib (cont.)

Guess what you did, last night, Katy? You slept in your crib the WHOLE NIGHT!! After yesterday's success napping in the crib, we decided to see if we'd get anywhere in getting you to sleep through the night in the crib. We put you down around seven PM and you fussed for a bit so we had to go in and check on you several times. However, you finally fell asleep for two straight hours. Then, you woke up for a feeding and a changing and then you slept for another SIX hours! Amazing....!

Eleven Weeks Birthday

Today, you are eleven weeks old, Katy! Here is your week in pictures...!

Baking bread with Mommy.

"I'm so smiley because I had so much fun at Kinetic Kids, today!"

Talking on the phone with Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Jones

Lunch date with Micah to Patterson's Farm

"I like going for car rides!"

Katy and Blanket Lumpy (Daddy was being silly).

"Fist Pump!"

Daddy loves his Baby Girl!

"High Five!"

**Starting next Monday, May 10, 2010, I will be going back to work full-time. Therefore, this will be the last of the long "Katy's week in pictures" post**

King's Keep Observation

Today, we went to your daycare center, King's Keep http://www.kingskeeponline.com/Main/homepage.aspx, to observe the infant room before you start attending June 1, 2010. We got to meet your teachers, Miss Silvia, Miss Susan and Miss Megan. Miss Silvia and Miss Susan were kind enough to walk us through the daily routine in the infant room. We got to meet your future playmates and observe how things work at King's Keep. I have to admit, the babies were all pretty happy and there wasn't a whole lot of crying in the hour and a half that we were there (a good sign!).

Party at Katy's Crib (cont.)

Today, we hit a record, Katy. You fell asleep in your crib for nap time not once but TWICE!!

Like we do every morning after we wake you, feed you and dress you, we put you down in the crib to talk to your friends, the Lumpies, while Daddy and I got ready for the day. When Daddy left for work, you were still talking away to your friends. I went about getting things done when I realized that I didn't hear anything coming from the nursery. So, I peeked my head in and sure enough you had fallen asleep on your own AND in your CRIB! You slept in your crib for about 50 minutes.

After this morning's successful crib time, I decided to try it again this afternoon. After some crying and fussing you finally soothed yourself to sleep by sucking on your thumb- this took about 15-20 minutes.

Maybe we are getting somewhere on this whole crib thing, after all...

Strawberry Picking at Patterson's Farm

Strawberry Shortcake

In front of Patterson's Farm Market

Strawberry Fields

"You can call me 'Pretty Girl.'"

*For more pictures from our Strawberry adventures, please check out Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=427084&id=771535393&l=01666cc35c

Yesterday, we joined the Cleland, Cocking and Aldrich families to go strawberry picking at Patterson's Farm. Each family picked a gallon basked of bright red, juicy strawberries- yummy! After we picked strawberries, we had a picnic lunch right by the fields. We ended our little play date with ice cream- double yummy! The weather was warm, the sky was blue and we had lots of fun with friends. Now, to make strawberry jam...