Doctor, Doctor

Hi, everyone. It was a pretty normal week for us with the exception of two trips to the doctor.

Earlier in the week Caroline had a stye on her eye. It didn't seem to be bothering her, but then the next day her whole eye lid was puffy, so Dad took her to the pediatrician for a look. No big deal, but they did prescribe some eye drops. Let's just say there was some serious baby wrestling going on to get the drops in at times. And the instructions said, we were supposed to have her keep her eyes closed for two minutes afterwards . . . yeah right!

She is walking up a storm. She will walk across the whole room and even stop and bend over to pick something up. She is also saying "Mama" (which makes Mama very happy!)

My trip to the doctor wasn't until Friday evening. Thursday when Mom picked me up at school I was not my usual self and had a fever. I stayed home from school on Friday with Daddy and felt okay, but still had a fever and was a little wheezy. I got to pop into Mommy's office and have a lunch date with her, while Daddy spent an hour in his office. When Mom got home from work, I was still asleep from my late nap and when I woke up I had a bad seal-like cough and it hurt when I coughed. Since Mom had heard that croup was going around, we decided to go to urgent care and get it checked out. They thought it was croup and I got a single dose of medicine and was feeling much better by Saturday morning.

Due to my illness, we skipped the gym on Saturday and spent the morning with Mommy while Daddy got caught up at work. We took a long walk and played legos. Then when Caroline had her nap I did work (gluing stuff on a butterfly) while Mommy sat with me and did her work (reading).

Both of us moved into bigger car seats this weekend and Caroline is enjoying facing forward and I am excited that I can click my own seatbelt.


Sunday I was feeling much better and I went to Sunday school, which I am really enjoying. After that Mom and I went shopping and I got two new pairs of school shoes, which always makes me happy!

Go-ohhh . . . Irish

I woke up from my Saturday nap in pretty much my usual state: sluggish and strangley dressed. Yes, I am wearing a swimsuit top over a t-shirt with a fall skirt and a random belt. After I woke up a bit, we decided to get in the Irish spirit and cheer for ND. Unfortunately, Caroline and I lost our oomph after the first half and so did the football team. However, after the team's horrific start, we're grateful just to see some touchdowns!

Sunday was my first Sunday school class and I was pretty excited about it, until I walked in the door and got shy. Mom and Dad had a pretty quiet time at mass while I was otherwise occupied. Their main entertainment was when someone squeezed in in front of them and Caroline kept kicking the lady's back and trying to pull on her shirt.

I made a beautiful picture at Sunday school (and the photo below shows me telling Mommy and Daddy all about it) and I sang some pretty songs for everyone on the drive home. I am an excellent singer and love to start a song with the normal words and then change the tune and lapse into stream of consciousness. "I am special. God loves me. God loves trees. Trees are tall. God. God. God. I love the stop sign. I love the grocery store . . ."

When we got home Mom and I made homemade applesauce, which was delicious. I think I ate a whole apple while we were cutting them up (one for me, one for the bowl . . .)

Then Caroline and I got in some good playing. She loves climbing on top of her Rubbermaid toy bins and sitting up there like the queen of the world. Tooth #8 has come in, giving her four teeth on both the top and bottom. She is a lot more confident in her walking this week and when she walks from one person to another, it no longer ends in her hurling herself into their arms. She is getting to be such a big girl!

After our nap (Caroline) and non-nap (me) we went to Mom's friend Ricia's house for her little boy's second birthday party. I had a terrific time playing with Griffin and was more than happy to fulfill any birthday duties that he was unable to perform, including opening gifts and blowing out birthday candles. Caroline loved eating all of the yummy food and playing with Griff's toys.

Got the Shot

For those who tuned in last week, you will be happy to know that we had a more successful photo shoot today. Caroline got a little worn out and preferred moving the props around as opposed to posing, but we did get more smiles out of her. This one in the rocking chair was our favorite. Daddy got her to give some nice smiles by blowing in her face, but Mom rejected those shots because it looked like she had feathered hair!

We had a good week. Caroline did her usual nap avoidance routine at school, although one night Mom arrived to pick her up and found her asleep in her crib, which has never happened before. And by Friday, she just didn't have enough energy to even make it through dinner . . .

Saturday, we hit the gym and once again took Caroline to the mat room. She enjoyed climbing around and was not hesitant to crawl over things, slide down the ramps or anything else! She is a busy bee. She said something that might be Katie ("Tee-tee") and made her first attempt at a kiss today. She imitated Mommy's kissing sound and puckered up.

Saturday afternoon Mom went to a baby shower and got to see college friends Meg and Sarah. I was excited to see them both, too. Mom enjoyed the shower and ended up being pretty grateful that she missed the first half of the Notre Dame debacle.

Today we all went to church and were quite well behaved. After mass we went to meet my Sunday school teachers and official classes will begin next Sunday, which I am very excited about.
After another stop by Meg's parent's house to adopt a chair, the rest of the day flew by with lunch, naps and the usual Sunday scene-- Dad watching football, toys everywhere, Lily right in the middle of everything and Caroline and me playing.

Two other funny things this from week: Dad and I went to the grocery Friday evening and when we came home I told Mom that we bought rolls to make meatball "slubs" which has become our new favorite word. One other night this week Mom was reading me a book from the library with the Backyardigans (another series of books that Mom hates reading! And Jamma may remember reading about Pablo and Uniqua, too!) and one of the characters was playing a butler. Even though Poppy always tells me "he's not the butler" I asked Mom what a butler was. And she said it's someone who does things for you like make your food and bring it to you, pick up your things, etc. All of a sudden my eyes lit up with understanding and I said "You're the butler!!!"

Miss Photogenic

We got some cute photos of Caroline this weekend, but unfortunately none of them were at the photo studio when Mom took her to get her one-year-old pictures taken. They had an appointment for Sunday morning and for whatever reason Caroline was grumpy as soon as they got there, despite the photographer's valient efforts to engage her. The best we got was a 1/4 smile and a variety of pouty lips and crocodile tears--very unlike Caroline. After weeks of postponing it due to sickness, scratches, scrapes and bumps, we will wait another week. And next time I will go too so that I can help make her smile.

While Mommy and Caroline were doing the pictures, Daddy took me to see a movie. This month Strawberry Shortcake is playing and I was "berry" excited about that. Mom was excited that she didn't have to go since she finds the use of the word "berry" berry annoying in the Strawberry Shortcake books that we get at the library. Daddy asked if it was sad that this was the only movie he's seen in the theater this year! And Grandma and Poppy asked if Daddy got in a nice nap or possibly listened to some secret sports radio-- surprisingly neither was true!

We've been looking forward to fall, but continue to have hot, humid weather here. We ventured out to a nearby sunflower field on Saturday and got some cute photos. We really enjoyed it until I noticed all of the bees.

This weekend I helped Mommy bake some brownies wearing the new apron that Mommy got me last weekend and we enjoyed brownie sundaes while we were busy not enjoying the Irish game.

Overall it was a pretty calm weekend, which we all needed. Caroline and I both had nights when we didn't sleep well this week and Mom and Dad were exhausted by Friday night. I have been working on my stalling tactics as usual. The funniest thing I have said recently was when I was trying to drag out my prayers and bless everyone we have ever met ("What was our old neighbor's name?") and Mommy told me that I could lay in bed and continue to bless people on my own. I cried histerically and said "I can't do it by myself, I might say potty talk to God!!!!"

Daddy Time

Wow. What a week! We finally got over our sickness and then I had to look after Dad and Caroline on the weekend as Mom was visiting friends. First I had to help Mom make brownies for her work picnic. As you can see from the picture I got paid with cookie dough. It was good which is more than I can say for the finished product. Mom blamed it on the job Dad and I did greasing (or overgreasing) the pan with Crisco. The chocolate chip brownies tasted like feet, or so Caroline thought--and she should know.

Friday we had Old MacDonalds for dinner. I had a wrap and Caroline had a happy meal. Saturday we got up and went to the market for breakfast. I had my dream meal- peanut butter and fluff sandwich, potato chips, fruit snacks and a juice box for just $3. What a deal! Caroline loved the free samples, especially the cookies. After nap time we went and watched the Notre Dame football debacle at my friend Caitlyn's house. I was a good girl there. Like Notre Dame's defense, I didn't hit anyone. As you can see, I was tired from my busy day. I fell asleep on the couch while Dad was putting Caroline to bed.

Sunday we went to the grocery store and we behaved. No more foot fights like the ones that caused Caroline to get upset last week. She just isn't very good at them or it could be that I had shoes on and she didn't. Dad had an easier time getting the list right as Caroline was not upset. We then had a nap and went to a festival at the school where Dad coaches the "hockey boys." I even saw one of my boys. I got to go on three rides all by myself- the elephant ride, the car and the jungle. I had a blast. Caroline was not tall enough to go on any rides. We then ate dinner there- I had a corndog and Caroline had a sausage and fries.

Monday we went to a parade. First we had to get our donuts from Tim Hortons. We shared a box of ten, but Caroline and I each got our own box to hold them. Man, can Caroline eat timbits! She inhaled her 3 so I shared and gave her another one of mine. When we got to the parade I was upset that I couldn't see until Dad said the parade hadn't started. The parade was fun. I loved the bands and the cheerleaders. The parade stopped as someone got their foot run over, but they were okay and the parade restarted.

After lunch Mommy got home and I was so excited to see her. I really wanted to take her back to the festival for more rides so after my nap (or lack of one), we headed off. I took Mom on the elephant and got to drive my car again. I attacked the jungle again and went on a big slide. We then picked up their famous chicken dinners and headed home. I didn't feel like eating dinner and had a huge meltdown afterwards when I wasn't allowed a treat. I was "SO HUNGRY" and I had to have some yogos to fill me up. Mommy cut me some slack since it takes a lot of energy to look after Dad and Caroline.

That's it for now. Peace out.

Katie (with help from Daddy)