It's the simple things

I was fixing dinner the other night and this picture is what i saw, so i quickly grabbed my camera to snap these pictures. It is so precious to me a daddy/daughter relationship, I have a special one with my dad, and David is fortunate enough to have two precious relationships to nurture and grow over the coming years.

Not sure what Katelyn was asking him about, but she looks so comfortable ( feet propped up and laying back) and confident that whatever she needs, wants, asks, Daddy can do it!

Cheese!


Then tonight, I was able to capture this sweet moment! It must be something with that chair David is sitting in that makes him so special!

Dress Up!

Katelyn has gotten into dressing up these days. Some days she includes us and Haley, other days it is just her being a pretty princess! I just had to show these cute pics and mark when she started playing dress up, I always loved to dress up!

Katelyn styling her hat along with Haley, who is hidden underneath her hat!

Daddy was taking pics and mommy got in this one, it was early in the morning.

Pretty princess with her veil and tutu!

At one point she did have high heels on, but i guess they were already hurting her feet!

Visit Back to Charlotte

A couple of weeks ago, David had a conference he needed to attend for a few days back in Davidson, where he used to work. I had been wanting to get back to see everyone back in Charlotte and take Haley for everyone to meet, so we decided to all head back as a family.

We headed out on Sunday when it was nap time. Haley slept the first half and Katelyn slept the second half, both did really well for a 3 hour road trip. We went first back to Harrisburg to our old neighborhood, to see our neighbors. It was wonderful to see Ray and Lillian, our backdoor neighbors. They took really good care of all of us, but most importantly Summer. I know Ray was sad that we didn't bring Summer back, but it was already a tight squeeze in the car without her. After some hot tea and cookies, we headed over to see the rest of the neighbors. It was wonderful to see everyone and to see how much all the kids have grown in only 6 months, it was crazy! I was so mad with myself that i left the camera in the car and didn't get any pictures of this. It was also weird to see our old house being lived in by someone else. Everyone said too that these people pretty much keep to themselves, so they dont seem to be the best neighbors, which i feel bad about, wish we could have picked who bought the house! Looking forward to seeing everyone again soon!

After leaving Harrisburg, we headed to the hotel in Davidson about 30 minutes away. Katelyn loved the hotel, she started running laps inside our suite from room to room and looking out the windows. She and Haley had fun laying on the big bed and watching TV or reading books! We told her too there was an indoor pool and she was so ready to go swimming. It was really warm water and I enjoyed it too! We went both nights we were there.










The next day, David went to work and the girls and I headed out to see some of our old friends. We met up with Claudia and her two girls down at the play place in the mall. It took katelyn a little while to warm up, but soon she was running around playing with the girls. Jovi, Claudia's oldest, even missed preschool to come hang out with us, which was so sweet, because she loves going. Hopefully we will meet up soon in Durham to hang out!




After lunch there, we headed to Ikea to shop around some before heading down to south Charlotte to see one of my coworkers and meet her new husband! Debbie oriented me to the floor when I first got to Charlotte and she is a wonderful person and friend. She has several grandkids so she has lots of toys to play with too, so Katelyn was in heaven. Thanks to Deborah and Mike for their hospitality and it was so nice to meet Mike.


After a better night sleep than Sunday, we headed for breakfast downstairs in the hotel. Katelyn thought this was the neatest thing too, because she was able to pour Fruit Loops out of a neat container into her bowl plus she loved they were so colorful and sweet!

From here I managed to load up everything in the car along with two girls and we headed down to my old work place. I was trying to explain to Katelyn that this was where she was born and that many of these nurses we were going to see took care of her, but she kept saying, " No, mommy, Haley is the baby." One day she will appreciate it and understand. We went up to the floor and saw several people I used to work with. It was weird going up there after not working there for over 6 months, but then again it felt like i had never left. It was great seeing everyone and it was busy as always. Katelyn enjoyed looking into the nursery and seeing the babies and she also enjoyed showing off her baby sister! Here is a pic with just a few a the wonderful ladies i worked with!


We left the hospital and headed to Shannon's new house so Katelyn could play with Owen and Oliver for a little while before we headed home!

It was a great trip and I am so glad we were able to go, but poor Katelyn eventually got a bad cold then her first ear infection and was put on her first antibiotic! Lots of firsts for this trip, but it was a wonderful to see everyone!

4 Months Old

Happy 4 Months Sweet Haley! You are a very sweet, easy going baby until it comes to sleeping for long periods of time. You are not a fan! You go to sleep pretty easily, but you do not like to stay that way for long. You continue to be a mommy's girl and are starting to hate to take a bottle, which mommy is not a fan of this at all!

You have the sweetest little laugh and love to smile at people. You are starting to talk or coo a lot more these days. Katelyn loves playing with you still and she enjoys you talking to her. She gets so excited when you start talking back to her. You love your baths and you are chewing on everything, but no signs of teeth!

Weight: around 14lbs ( official appointment in 2 weeks)

Height: around 25 inches

Head:

Clothes: Mostly 6 months and a few 3-6 still fit.

Diapers: Size 2

Activity: Have rolled from stomach to back a few times. Love to play in exersaucer and to stand up while someone is holding you.

Feeding: Totally breastfed still. Every 2 to 3 hours during day and every 4 hours at night.

Sleeping: Still taking 3 naps during the day ranging from 45 min to 2 hrs, then sleeping only 4 hours at a time at night, but you easily go back to sleep and sleep til 7 or 8 in the morning which is nice.

Marbles Museum

Last Friday David and I took Katelyn to the Marbles Museum for the day. David's uncle had given us tickets for her birthday and we had to use them before the end of the year. This year has been kinda crazy, so of course it came down to the last day, but I am almost glad we waited because she could play and understand so much more than the last time i took her earlier this year. She bounced around from one thing to another with a little persuading from us. She would have stayed in the kitchen the whole time if we let her! She absolutely loved it and we loved having some one on one time with her!

Chef Katelyn, soon to host her own cooking show!

Playing with a dollhouse

Daddy and Katelyn on the pirate ship

Working with tools

Playing in the water

Playing with snow!

Snow much fun! haha!

What a Year 2011 Was!

David and I started off 2011 finding out I was pregnant! What a wonderful way to start a new year!

On Valentine's we told our family that Katelyn was going to be a big sister!


In March, David interviewed and then accepted a new position with his company back East, which we were so proud and excited for him and us!

In May, we sold our house and said goodbye to great friends. We also celebrated Katelyn's 2nd birthday!




In June, we moved into our new house!


In September, Haley arrived and changed our family of 3 to 4! Katelyn started preschool too and loves it!





In October, I turned the BIG 3-0! And David and I celebrated 6 years of marriage! What a wonderful 6 years it has been!


In December, Wes and Heather got engaged!


What a year it has been and what a wonderful year 2012 will be!

Day After Christmas!

Whew! Are you tired yet of reading? There is still some fun to enjoy! The Day After Christmas was with my parents, brothers and families, and cousins since my mom had to work on Christmas Day this year. With 5 kids ages 6 and under, it gets a little crazy to say the least. Presents and paper go flying again and the noise level gets even higher, but the fun watching my parents try to see what all is being opened is alot of fun. They try really hard to see what all is going on, but there is no rhyme or reason as to who opens what with the number of kids and people we have now in the family. Katelyn still didn't get in to opening many presents, so David and i opened most of them for her and of course we opened all of Haley's. Thanks again to everyone for all their wonderful toys and clothes! We also had an amazing fried turkey and lots of other good foods to eat! It is my favorite meal, just like my grandmother used to make!
Sealy and Haley

the whole gang opening presents

Haley and Uncle John

Haley in her Christmas bib

Can you find Ahma and Ahmpa?

Christmas Day!

Christmas Day started with the girls not waking up til 830! I am sure this will be the last time this happens! It was tradition with David's family, that you wait patiently at the top of the stairs ( though the girl's room are downstairs, but we will keep this going, haha) then run down to see what Santa brought. Katelyn by passed all the toys and went straight to the plate where the cookies were. ( my child loves sweets!) All she could talk about was that Santa ate all the cookies and drank all the milk! She even called Ahma, who was working, and the first thing she told her about was all the cookies and milk being gone! Too cute! Finally we got her off the cookies being eaten and get her to go through her stocking and play with her new doll house, which she loves! Ahmpa, Gigi, Unlce Wes and Aunt Heather made it over to see what Santa brought too and eat breakfast with us. It was very nice this year to let Katelyn just play for awhile before we headed to our next place on Christmas, which was Gigi's!

Santa's spread, including Summer's new bed, which she loves!

Daddy, Katelyn and Haley, ready to see what Santa brought!

Mommy video taping the reaction

Look!

Santa ate all the cookies! " Where are the cookies?" ( that is what she kept asking over and over again!)

What's in the stocking?

Love my new dollhouse

Calling Ahma to tell her about those cookies!

Katelyn, Daddy, and Haley going through everything



We arrived at Gigi's around 1130 to open presents with her, great Ahma, Aunt Cathy, Wes and Heather. Again Katelyn started out strong opening presents, but then she wanted to play and it took some persuading to get her to keep going. Thanks to everyone for all our wonderful gifts!

Family photo

Haleys 1st Christmas!

Mommy, Daddy and Haley

Aunt Cathy with sleeping Haley

David wearing his dad's signate ring. A very special gift, that all of us became emotional about. Wes received his dad's wedding band which has he and lyn's wedding date engraved in it and this is the date Heather and Wes picked to get married on as well. We miss Grandpa Grady! The rings are a wonderful reminder of him.

Katelyn started entertaining us with her bib on and putting ornaments in them! So cute!



After Gigi's we head to David's Aunt Florine for some good home cooked food. It was delicious as always. I always feel so badly for going, eating, then leaving so quickly, but I truly think she enjoys watching everyone eat her wonderful food.

Next and last on the list for the day was to my dad's parents to have dinner and open presents for all the youngest cousins or great grand kids. This is absolute mayhem with the noise level and amounts of presents and paper flying around, but always a good time to see everyone. We found out this year a new little cousin will be arriving in July! Congrats to Amanda and Mark! We are so excited for yall! So next year another little baby will be joining this crazy time! Thanks to everyone again for all the girls presents, love all the clothes they received too!
Great grandmother and Haley, both pretty in their red

Grandaddy and all the big great grandkids enjoying Christmas dinner!

Aunt Kim, Cousin Brooke, and Cousin Brileigh with Haley

Sleepy Katelyn

The whole gang!