"Cate the Great" and the bananas that ruined my night

Last night I fed Cate some watered down, smashed up bananas. She only ate a few bites, but I think they made her stomach hurt because WE were up for the better part of the night. She wasn't happy and neither was I. We'll wait on the food for a little longer I think.
But, anyway, here she is gagging on the bananas. She'll hate me for this picture some day, but it's so funny. I'm not sure she liked them. HmmmmmClosing her mouth so I have to force the spoon in. I am rethinking that decision now.
Here is a lovely rendition of our family song "Cate the great" (to go along with "Thank you God for giving us food" sung to the Superman theme which Aiden learned in preschool). It usually makes her smile and laugh, but the camera was all she could focus on. Notice the chaos that is our life and Lewis trying to study in the background. Poor guy can't have a quiet minute.

Six

These are the first digital pictures I have of Aiden, at about a year old, because that's when we got a digital camera. The scanner won't work, so we'll have to deal with it...
This is Aiden in Ghana. It's one of my favorites.

Aiden's first camping trip. She collected lots of sticks. And kept trying to get in the water.
Riding the "Make Way For Ducklings" ducks in Boston Common.
Opening presents on her first birthday in our CRAZY first apartment in West Hartford.
AND NOW:
Riding the horse at the children's museum at the Gateway in Utah.


Marching band with Jimmy.


With cousin Tillie, don't they look alike?

How has it been 6 years since my sweet little Aiden came into the world? After being in labor for about a day and a half, my contractions stopped for a few hours. At about 11:30pm my water broke, I woke Lewis up, called everyone and headed off to the hospital. After 4 hours of intense pain, I got an epidural and 4 hours later Miss Aiden made her grand entrance. She let us know she had some serious business to get to and didn't do much sleeping. In fact, sleeping has never been one of her strong points, but we love her anyway. She is becoming such a great kid. And makes sure to let us know that she is "the shortest in her class. And the smartest."

Do you have Mario Kart?

Cause we do and we'd love to play against you. It's so fun. And I rule. Right Jackie? So if you think you can handle it, let us know. Go Peach!

A few randoms

Thanks Lewis for posting about our trip last weekend. I've been meaning to do that........BUT anyway, here are a few random tidbits:

-we woke up at 5 this morning to the lovely sound of A and B fighting on the top bunk about the covers.

-they didn't go back to sleep. none of us did.

-yesterday I tried to "mix it up" at the gym and try this machine that is like a treadmill but with two tread things that go up and down alternately. it was a disaster. i wiped out at least 3 times with one time including a bonus remote flying off and breaking.

-i won't be trying that again.

-Brooks got into the preschool at the elementary school for next year. he had to go in one day this week for a "screening" and amazingly enough, he did great. Not one tear, and I just dropped him off with Aiden in the morning. He was talking their ears off. I am so glad we waited on preschool for him. This year with storytime and gymnastics has given him a chance to grow up before starting preschool. He just doesn't need it like A did, but will love it next year. It's 5 days a week from 8 to 1:30!!!!! Hooray! (and a HUGE blessing that he got in because it's a lottery and I almost didn't get him signed up because no one would call me back but it all worked out and we are so grateful)

-Jimmy loves pacifiers. He chews them like crazy. I bought 6 more today. We bought this bitter nasty stuff at the pet store that I hope works because I am sick of buying those things. Maybe I should put that stuff on my fingernails so I'll stop biting them.

-we were at walmart tonight ( I know, I know, I've sworn it off I promise but I NEEDED pacifiers) and the two women in line in front of me were discussing the problem that our new president wasn't even born in the United States. Lovely.

-our fence is done in the backyard and that totally rules.

-I have been raking up a storm, but I'm done now.

-Cate is trying to eat the computer.

-Lewis is reading Despereaux to the kids, I have a problem with stories that have rats or mice as heros. Can't stand Ratatouille. Can you imagine eating food that a rat prepared? Gross.

-Tonight we went out to dinner at a Vietnamese place that we really like and the 5 or 6 teenage boys working there were eating Chick fil a.

ROAD TRIP!

We went up to Bowling Green and Beaver Dam, KY, where we met up with Brian and Jackie last weekend. We had a blast and went to a Western KY basketball game. Aiden even made the FSN show at the end of the game. Brian's brother was at home in Missouri watching the game and he called to say that as the final score was shown it had Aiden and Big Red playing together in the background. Our movie star! The kids were great in the car, (a few DVDs never hurt). They had a blast with their cousin, Tillie, and Uncle Brian even helped Brooks tuck his socks up into his pants. Thanks Brian! We had a beautiful sunset on the drive home on Sunday evening. When we got home, I had MLK day off, so we went around in downtown Birmingham and took pictures of the old city. We also went and watched Madagascar 2--and do not recommend it.

hey lew

Dear Lewis,
Who are those kids? Anyway, happy anniversary the other day!! How crazy is it that we have 3 kids, 2 dogs, 4 1/2 years of residency left, and live in Alabama?!?!?!?! If you would have told me 9 years ago on our wedding day I probably wouldn't have believed it, but it's so great. An adventure for sure. (and I have the same hairdo today, is that a problem? yikes.)
You rock.
No, seriously, look how awesome you are. (oh, and you too Matt, John, and Ryan)
Thanks for letting me go pick Cate up last night. After 2 1/2 hours of crying (on the fourth night of "sleep training") I decided enough is enough. It's just not worth it. She's just a baby and before we know it she'll be off to kindergarten then off to high school and thinking we are so lame and then off to college and never looking back. So, while she's small I think I'll just rock her to sleep and hold her while she sleeps. I remember a woman that I worked with before I had Aiden telling me that she rocked her last baby to sleep for naps every day and then just held her while she slept. I totally didn't get it then. It seemed like the BIGGEST waste of time. But. Now I get it.
I totally get it.
See, it's just not worth hearing her cry and cry and cry. It's different than Aiden because Aiden wouldn't be rocked to sleep. She just hated (or should I say hateS) to sleep. It's not like Brooks either because he cried and cried if we were holding him or not. It really wasn't so bad listening to him cry himself to sleep because he was crying all the time anyway and at least when he was in the crib we could close the door! Am I right or what? But, with Cate it's just so sad. She never cries. Seriously. Isn't it amazing? If she does ever cry or fuss we just don't know what to do because it's so out of the ordinary. She is absolutely, positively, the sweetest and most gentle person I have ever encountered. Her soul is so tender and sweet, she is so mild and wonderful. I think that's what makes it so hard for me to listen to her cry.
So, thanks again for not minding that I'm giving up on sleep training my little love bug. Cate the great. I do want her to be able to fall asleep on her own and learn to soothe herself, SOMEDAY. But for now, while she's still so little and so easy to get to sleep (1:39.05, a new record!!!), I think I'll just rock her. Plus, she sleeps through the night, so I can't complain. Thanks for being so understanding and for not judging me.
We appreciate it.
(this is Cate sitting on my mom's lap while Aiden is admiring some ostrich eggs in the background. seriously, how many grandmas slash yayas have ostrich eggs at their house?)
I'd better run, yeesh. The kids are pushing the exersaucer up and down the hall with Cate IN IT!!!!
love, JJ

sleep training?!?!?

I am sitting here listening to Cate cry and cry. She cried for 2 hours earlier tonight, finally fell asleep, only to wake up a half an hour later screaming again. It's been an hour and a half this time. I just want to go pick her up and put her in my bed. This 3 and a half hours of crying tonight is honestly more than she has ever cried in her life until today COMBINED. And I am totally not exaggerating.
Ok. I feel better now. Tomorrow night will be better. Right?

Cate's birds and quilts

For Christmas Jordan gave me these cute birds and instructions for making this adorable mobile. Isn't it great? (the pictures don't do it justice). Cate will just stare and stare at it, she is now sleeping (mostly) in her crib at night, so she's glad for the company I'm sure.

Hey, the exersaucer is serious business.




This quilt was made by my Grandma Krieger. It is so beautiful. The pinks are very peachy and sweet. I love this quilt.



Just before Cate was born Lewis had a patient at the VA who came a far distance for treatment. His wife made this quilt for C. I think the guy must have liked Dr. Lewis. We love the Dick and Jane books. Another beauty. You might remember the note that came with the quilt, it referenced the "gift" "from God" which Cate absolutely is. 100%.



This one was made by my amazing Mom. I love the flowers and the triangle border.



And last but not least is this cute one made by Jordan. It's the perfect size for throwing in the car seat.



Cate is a lucky girl. She has lots of quilts made just for her.
I have to go make dinner so I will fix the words and pictures later. I know they're a mess and I'm typing with one hand so take it easy on me.

14 lbs. of brute stremfth

So, Jimmy is stronger than you might think. He drug poor little Brooks across the driveway. It was one of those falls where their whole body is up over their head and he almost did a front flip. ouch.


And speaking of 14 lbs. of muscle, Cate had her 6 month well child visit this week and she weighed in at a whopping 14 lbs. What a little peanut. She is a joy as always, but is in no hurry to eat baby food (thank goodness, that stuff REEKS!!), sit up, or do much of anything except hang out and be happy. She is so sweet and if she ever does start to fuss, we just have to sing a rousing rendition of her song "Cate the great" and she calms right down.

Christmas Pictures