Soupy Meltdown

Daddy and I had a light dinner of cup-o-soup, tonight. You had already eaten your own dinner, as is the usual nightly routine so that Daddy and I can enjoy our dinner in peace while you play. Well, you ended up eating all of my noodles and then proceeded to eat Daddy's, too. Not only did you finish the noodles in our soup (leaving us with a broth only soup dinner) but you had a complete meltdown once all of the noodles were gone. I'm talking full-on, ten minute wailing tantrum all because the noodles were gone and there were no more left for you to eat (never mind that you had already eaten both Daddy and my portions!!). Welcome to toddler hood!

"Crackers for Cheese!"

Declaring his love for all things cheese, Wallace exclaims, "I'm cracker for cheese!" in the clamation series, Wallace and Gromit. I believe we should change that to just, "Katy's crackers for CRACKERS!!!!!!!!!!!" You love saltine crackers, Katy- you love them even more than puffs and sweet potatoes so that is saying something! Whenever you won't eat anything else, you will most certainly eat some crackers. Of course, these are the times that we end up having to vacuum you out of your seat since there is usually a crumbly, cracker mess left in your wake.

Doing the Charlie Chaplin

You are walking like a champ, now, Katy! You go here, there and EVERYWHERE on your own two little feet. Since we have hardwood floors, we are constantly hearing the little pitter-patter of your feet as you follow us around, push your toys and walk all over the place. Daddy and I have decided that your walk resembles that of the old-time black and white film star, Charlie Chaplin- you put out your tummy, thrust back your shoulders, use your hands to balance and off you go! It is the funniest, cutest sight!

Double Trouble (Cont.)

Hugs and Kisses for Molly!

Grandma and Pop-Pop Tinkey with Katy and Molly.

"Reach out and touch someone..."

Katy "helps" take the pacifier out...

...and "helps" put it back in Molly's eye... er, mouth (Katy's aim was a little off).

Little Drummer Girls

Molly, I'm using this picture as black mail in fifteen years ;-P

"Peek..."

"...a Boo!"

We had a great week long visit with Auntie Hope and cousin Molly. We were able to go to the park, walk around the mall and of course party at your first birthday party, Katy! You LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your little cousin. You constantly wanted to be wherever Molly was- stopping whatever you were doing to give her hugs and kisses. Of course, anything Molly was playing with seemed to be infinitely more interesting than all of the other hundreds of toys that you now own. Molly was very good about enduring your antics. It was so good to spend some quality time with family!

52 Weeks of Katy Grace

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In order to help document your growth and changes, Katy, I've taken a picture of your face for the past 52 weeks- 52 Weeks of Katy Grace!

12 Month Well Baby Doctor's Visit

Today was your 12 month Well Baby Doctor's Visit with Dr. Guerriero. You now weigh 20 lbs. 15 ounces and measure 29 1/2" long. This puts you in the 65th percentile for both weight and height. Your iron levels were checked and you are a-okay. They will send a blood sample to Raleigh to be tested for lead levels. Apparently, it's mandatory for all one-year olds in the state of North Carolina. We'll get the results at a later date.

The doctor says that you are healthy and growing. You are walking and babbling and developing right on track. He said that by 18 months you should be putting two words together to form simple sentances. I told him that you already say, "Bye, Dada," and the doctor responded that we've got a talker on our hands!

It's time to introduce peanut butter and whole milk into your diet, Katy. We've got to make sure you get enough calcium. Honey from the grocery store should be fine to feed you, now that you are over a year.

Katy, you were NOT pleased with the finger prick or the two shots that you received, today, though!! You cried and cried and were very clingy for the rest of the visit and even after we got home.

Cookie Monster Birthday Bash

Quintessential First Birthday Cake picture :-)

Cookie Monster Cupcakes

Yummy Desserts!


Our little Cookie Monster! :-)

To view the rest of the pictures of the day's festivities:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=626395&id=771535393&l=b0dff6d082

Taking your lead with your love of all things Cookie Monster (Gee, I wonder who you inherited your love of Muppets?!?), Katy, we decided to have a Cookie Monster themed first birthday celebration. Saturday, February 19, 2011, was the day of the party and it was a huge success!

All relatives from out of town arrived to our house safe and sound. Grandparents arrived with cookies galore and gifts for the birthday girl. In attendance for the party were; Grandma and Pop-Pop Tinkey, Auntie Hope, Molly, Nana and Grandpa Jones, Aunt Megan, Uncle Jason, Uncle Rob, Aunt Julie, the Keys family, Charltons, Foleys, Smilies, Allens, Hitchcocks- about 30 guests, total! What a fun, boisterous crowd!

You had fun showing off your new moves, Katy- walking like a big girl. You greeted all of your guests with smiles. You were certainly the life of the party and you managed to get fed more than a few cookies by willing aunts, uncles and grandparents. Since you woke up from your nice, long nap right before the party, you were in a GREAT mood throughout the party and your handled the noise, laughter, food and overall, general stimulus like a champ. You are most certainly my Party Girl, Katy! :-)

Guests enjoyed cookies, cookies, cookies and Cookie Monster cupcakes and ice cream. We played "Put the cookie in Cookie Monster's mouth" (Pin the tail on the donkey) and Anderson Hitchcock won. Caleb Smilie won the Cookie Jar guessing game by guessing 72 cookies- there were really 73 cookies in the cookie jar.

Katy, you had fun opening your gifts with a little help from friends Elizabeth Allen and Jordan Hitchcock. You received lots of fun toys, interesting books, stuffed animals and pretty clothes. Now, where to put all of your new toys...?

Guests mingled and had a good time. The weather was a perfect sunny 70 degrees. And, everybody got to be a Cookie Monster for the day with all of the yummy cookies!

Family and close friends stayed for dinner, after the party. I guess you could call it an "after party." We had lasagna, baked ziti and of course, more cookies for dessert. It was nice to relax after a hectic afternoon. You were very well-behaved all day- having fun, smiling and basking in all of the extra attention.

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY, KATY GRACE!

Welcome to the world, Joel!

Welcome to the world, cousin Joel Calvin Tinkey! February 18 is a GREAT day to be born and we can't wait to meet you in person! Congratulations to Uncle Josh, Aunt Delinda and big sister Kayla!

One Year (52 Weeks) Birthday

Pretty Girl, all grown up!

Vroom, vroom! Riding in the car cart at the grocery store.

Two babies + one kid = DISASTER area (aka, play area)!!

Today you are ONE YEAR old, Katy!! I can't believe that one year, 52 weeks have gone by! I can't believe how much you have grown in that year, Katy, and I KNOW that your Daddy and I have grown and matured!

This week was all about WALKING!! While you have been taking steps here and there for several months, now, this week you were off and running- LITERALLY! Your steps are still a little wobbly and we say that you look like you are "tipsy" when you walk, but it's pretty darn cute! You walk with purpose and determination- I have no idea where that comes from! You've walked from the kitchen the the living room- all the way through the dining room- without stopping or falling. Even when you do stumble, Katy, you are able to pick yourself up and keep going. Your balance is better and you are able to change directions when walking.

Auntie Hope and cousin Molly arrived safe and sound on Wednesday morning. We picked them up from the airport and then came home. We are having a good time with them! Katy, you love to go up to Molly and give her "kisses." Molly, for the most part tolerates your affections and will follow you around the room with her eyes. You have lots of new toys for Molly to play with, though you aren't always the best at sharing- we are going to have to work on that. It's great to see you girls interacting and "playing" together. We can't wait until you both are a little older and then the REAL fun/trouble will begin! You definitely feed off of each other- when one is crying the other may start. If Molly is crying, Katy wants to go see. If one baby is cranky the other is happy- quite and interesting balance.

Today was spent getting ready for your birthday party, Katy. We decorated cupcakes, decorated the house, got things ready, cooked and cleaned in preparation for what has to be one of the best attended one year old's birthday party.

As cliche as it sounds, this past year has literally FLOWN by! I can't believe how fast the time has gone! I feel like I've known you forever, Katy, and Daddy and I can't imagine life without you. Your sweet baby smiles, your hysterical maniacal laugh that always gets us going and your cries that start with a big, open mouth, then a tear and then a wail. You are happy and healthy and we couldn't ask for more.

While there are trying moments- aka, lack of sleep, sleepless nights, times where just seeing a project through from start to finish in one sitting seem impossible- the joys of watching your grow, mature, learn, explore and greet the world are beautiful and exciting! I've said it before and I'll say it again, having a child makes life very simple- measured in ounces, minutes, number of dirty diapers- yet, it makes life more complicated- college, safety, staying home to care for you, Katy. Life is just so much better with you in it, Katy Grace! Daddy and I LOVE YOU!

**One year later and 52 weeks, this post is the last of the weekly blog posts. I will still continue to update the blog with pictures and anecdotes of Katy's day-to-day life.

Happy FIRST Birthday, Katy Grace!!

Thanks to Lori Jackson of Unfolding Photography for braving the elements and capturing our beautiful baby girl's birthday milestone!

A Walk In the Park

Group Walk on the Greenway.

Elizabeth LOVES to push Katy in the stroller.

Flying high!
Molly's first time on the swing- she loved it!

Molly had more fun playing with the toys attached to the stroller.

Playing House

Walking Girl!

Fun times at the park!

The weather was BEAUTIFUL, today, so we decided to take a walk on the Concord Greenway. We packed up all three girls and took a walk to the park. We enjoyed the swings, slides, climbing wall and house at the park. Fun!

Double Trouble

Katy and Molly getting ready for a bath

Auntie Hope and Molly arrived safely in Charlotte, today. After getting the cousins together and playing, we have visions of the future with two little girls getting into lots of trouble! ;-P

"Forward, BOUNCE!"

Big Girl Katy riding in her forward facing car seat.

Katy and Elizabeth in the back seat.

This past weekend, in preparation for cousin Molly's visit, we had to rearrange the back seat of the SUV. So, while we were at it, we turned your car seat around, Katy. Yesterday was the first time you got to ride in it, forward facing. I put you in the seat and you started looking around and then got a BIG grin on your face! You were very excited to be riding like a big girl- so excited that you didn't even fall asleep in the car on the way home from the store. I believe that you like facing forward because you can see more of the world going by and it's much more entertaining than looking at the back of the seat. You are growing up way to fast, Katy!

Happy First Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day from our Little Sweetheart!

Getting ready for Molly

Big girl Katy in her booster seat!

192 diapers for two babies- that should hold us over for one week- RIGHT?!?

In less than a week, your cousin Molly and Auntie Hope are coming for a week long visit, Katy! We are so excited to have them come and keep us company. We've been busy getting ready for their visit. I ordered diapers online (for FREE, I might add :-D!). We are pulling out the other car seat and setting up the pack and play in the art room. Molly won't need to bring any clothes (except for the clothes on her back) as we have lots of hand-me-downs to share! Also in preparation for their arrival I've converted the high chair into a booster AND a high chair!

Speaking of high chair, I just want to say that the Graco Blossom chair is really awesome- it's one chair that can be converted into a high chair, booster, youth chair and seat two kids at once! http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3368240&CAWELAID=316031740

We can't wait to see you, Molly and Hope!

51st Week Birthday

"Mommy, what am I supposed to do with this mega leg?!"

So much for a clean kitchen...

"Thank you for my (early) birthday Dolly, Granny Petruzzi!"

"You're turning violet, Violet!" Katy LOVES blueberries!

Coffee Break!

Today you are 51 weeks old, Katy!

From letting us know what you would and would not like to eat to letting us know exactly what toy you want to play with, you have definitely shown strong preferences, this week. For lunch, one day this week, I heated up some soup. I tried to feed it to you but you kept shaking your head know and twisting and turning away from the spoon. I finally gave up on the soup and heated up some leftover turkey and stuffing and- pun intended- you gobbled it right up! You point to your sippy cup when you are thirsty, now, too!

I fed you blueberries, this week. While you have had blueberries in things, before, you've never had straight blueberries, yet. YOU.LOVE.BLUEBERRIES! You ate almost half the container of blueberries in one sitting. I had to cut the blueberries in half before feeding you- I didn't want you to choke, Katy. Good thing blueberries are full of antioxidants.

You are walking more and more, Katy. While you still don't have the confidence to completely let go of whatever "walker" you are holding onto, you are walking further and more frequently without any assistance.

You are a curious little thing! You are into everything and every day I find something new to put up and out of the way. You love to open doors and cabinets. The pantry door does not click closed, so that means that even though it is shut, you can still seem to pry the door open and get inside to get into mischief!

Speaking of mischief, you are starting to climb more, too. You like to climb onto the step stool in the kitchen. You climb up the stairs as speedy as can be. You climb onto your bike like a pro. Also, when on the bed, you've actually turned yourself around so that your legs are first when you get close to the edge- you have an understanding of heights.

The two teeth on either side of the upper teeth are starting to come in. I do not know the names of these teeth, but they do seem to be bothering you some. I have noticed your bite getting stronger and better, though, now that you have both upper and lower teeth in the front.

You did GREAT in the church nursery, last Sunday. They didn't need to page Daddy or I and you were as happy as could be playing with the other babies. Speaking of the other babies, you like to give them "kisses." Daddy doesn't like this because the two babies, Wilek and Beckett, that you've tried to kiss so far, are both boys! Daddy says that for every boy you kiss now, he's adding a year to when you are allowed to start dating. I believe you are up to at least 34, now. ;-P

Pink Bows

February 2010

February 2011

When you were born, Katy, our friends decorated our house in honor of your arrival. My friends from work had a pink stork delivered to the front lawn announcing your arrival and our friend, Bethany Reeves decorated our front door with bows and balloons. The decorations made our house feel more festive and we felt so loved with the outward showing of our friends' excitement in your birth, Katy. Now, one year later, we STILL have the pink bows up on the front door! It has become something of a landmark when we give people directions to our house, "We're the house with the pink bows." I'm impressed that the bows have hung in there so long!

Kissy, Kissy!

This afternoon, I was holding you when Daddy came up to us and gave me a kiss. You saw this and then proceeded to give me a kiss on the other cheek. Just to make sure this wasn't a fluke, Daddy gave me a kiss and then you gave me a kiss. Win-win for Mommy!

Blogging for Books- Little Star

Little Star by Anthony DeStefano is a children’s Christmas story about the star that shown down brightly on baby Jesus, on the night of his birth. Soft, beautiful illustrations by Mark Elliott help to depict the story of Little Star, as told by a father to his son. Little Star is small and mostly ignored by the other stars. Then, on the night of Jesus’ birth, Little Star’s curiosity and eventually his understanding of the true meaning of Christ’s birth, lead to Little Star’s bright, shining status. Themes of love, small but mighty and even the abstract idea of communion and Christ’s crucifixion are woven into the storyline. Little Star is a nice addition to any family’s Christmas collection of books.

"I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review"

Pillow Fight

As is becoming our normal Saturday morning ritual, we were playing in the big bed, this morning. Daddy was playing Peek-A-Boo with you, Katy, by covering his face with a pillow. You would then crawl up to him and "uncover" him and then squeal with delight. To mix things up a bit, I took the pillow and covered up my face. You promptly crawled over to me, took the pillow OFF of me and proceeded to cover Daddy with the pillow. It was very CLEAR that you wanted to only play Peek-A-Boo with Daddy and not Mommy!!

Cookie Thief

"Ooh, what's that up there?!"

"Cookie, I see you!"

"Almost there..."

"So close!"

50th Week Birthday

"Cheese!" 50 weeks, February 1, 2011

Wednesday afternoon story time (Elizabeth is holding Katy up front)!

Katy finds a friend at the Library!


Katy LOVES watching the fishy swim in the aquarium at the Library!

"Hmm... What's inside of this bag?"

Baking Cranberry Nut Bread with Mommy

Salon time with Elizabeth!

Today, you are 50 weeks old, Katy! Can you believe that in two very short weeks you are going to be one years old?! I cannot believe it!

You grew another tooth, this week- your fourth! It is the upper right front tooth. We hand you a toothbrush in the morning while we get ready for the day. You mostly chew the bristles, but we are trying to show you to brush your teeth.

We went to Asheville, NC, this past weekend to see the Biltmore estate. This marks the first getaway we had as a family of three (not including trips to see family). Other than wanting to talk to EVERYBODY and EVERYTHING inside the house, you did great, Katy!

You are mimicking our sounds and intonations more and more. Daddy and I could have sworn you said, "Puppy," last night but the jury is still out on that one. God must really have a sense of humor if your first word after "Mama" and "Dada" is "puppy." There are times when it truly sounds like you are trying to ask us questions or tell us something. I also believe that your impeccable sense of timing is actually the start of a budding sense of humor. The other day, when I was talking on the phone with Grandma Tinkey, you walked back and forth with your Dino waving and smiling at me mischievously.

Speaking of walking, you took eight consecutive steps, this week. This is a personal best for you, Katy. You still aren't walking independently, but you do take steps here and there as long as point A is close to point B. :-)

You had your first real tantrum this weekend. Isn't that a bit early to start?? Daddy had given you his keys to keep you quiet as we were checking out of the hotel. Then, when he went to grab them from your hands so he could unlock the car, you all-out threw a fit because Daddy was taking away your new "toy." *Sigh* I guess this is just the start...