Rain

Today it is cloudy and rainy, the perfect backdrop for my mood.

Jon is gone for at least a week. I am a bored single parent. And all my favorite tv shows have been re-runs. Perfect timing tv networks!
Even Kate is bored. She walks around the house saying 'dad dad dad'.

But Jon called with good news. Next week we are getting new windows for our house, just in time for summer! Yay for cheaper electric bills! Hopefully he will be home by then, so I can see him before I go out of town. Oh yea, in positive news, in 9 days I will be in Utah having a blast with friends and family! I can survive this week!

Rain rain go away!

Just what the doctor ordered!

Jon and I have barely seen each other for the past week. Usually we at least get 2 or 3 nights a week where we can relax together, but not this week! Today I was supposed to be husband-less all day. I woke up at 9 and hear him feeding Kate, which meant he skipped the meeting he was supposed to attend. This NEVER happens. Jon is the type of man who NEVER and I really do mean NEVER misses his meetings. But, I think this one time was inspired. I was feeling really neglected due to his busy schedule and the fact that his job is sending him to South Carolina for 1-2 weeks on Monday morning. I feel so rejuvenated now! And it's only been half a Saturday! When I walked out into the living room and asked him why he was still here he said "I thought you needed this". I'm so grateful he knows what I need and put my sanity first!
And he has been busy working on my 'to do list' items! He changed out all the hinges in our house so they are all pretty (not even on my list but helps make everything look so fresh!), put a new door nob on our closet door, fixed a tool on my vacuum, fed Kate breakfast and lunch, hung towel racks in our master bath, and took an old tv out of our room, and pulled out a bush in our front yard! And it's only 3! I really have an awesome husband!

In other news, Kate can now say "love you" when you tell her to! It is the sweetest thing! Just melts my heart. Jon was shocked when I got her to say it to him this morning! She also enjoys saying Chance's name....that really just sounds like chassss. So cute. Our little girl is getting so big! Sometimes it makes me sad, but I'm finding that her learning is really fun! I like her to do her tricks and show off! Man, I am the luckiest lady alive!

Update

Today's post does not come with a cool title. I just don't have one!

I just wanted to write a post with a few updates on Kate and our life in general. We have been keeping ourselves busy with work, friends, and church! The weeks are starting to pass by faster, and I am starting to get behind on my blogging and scrapbooking (that is quite an understatement....I haven't scrapbooked past Kate's 2nd month of life!)

Kate LOVES LOVES LOVES animals...but mostly dogs. She chases Chance around singing to him and trying to pet him all the time. She loves to grab his toys and run away screaming and laughing....apparently being chased is going to be a new favorite game...she has started getting a thrill out of runing away from us too! Today we went to the park (ya know... cause here in TX it is already shorts weather...and I don't know if that makes me happy or sad) and Kate threw a FIT because there were some dogs running in a big open area and I wouldn't let her go chase them. She LOVES to hug stuffed animals. She is just an animals girl. I really like that!

She has started bringing everything to us to see. Here she is coming to show me the plastic bag and camera case. I don't get it--but we have to see everything and tell her how cool it is. Again at the park today she kept giving me pieces of mulch and rocks. It isn't an entertaining game for mom....but at least she has developed a good trait--when she does put something in her mouth that isn't food (which seems to happen a million times a day! I'm pretty sure today she swallowed a few rocks that I didn't see!) she will give it to you when you ask her for it.

Kate is a huge ham. If you try to take her picture she will run away and be totally cheesy! Makes me laugh every time. She LOVES people to pay attention to her. She is totally content to hang out with other people....ALL the time. She is happier when we have company over. We had friends over for games on Friday and Kate enjoyed it as much as us I think. She thinks she is older than she is...

She also has more teeth! She has been working on her other middle top tooth (does that even make sence?) for awhile now, but not it is in and looking all cute. She is just getting so big. Sometimes it blows my mind. Oh, and I am laying the foundation to start potty training. After her baths (and sometimes before) I put Kate on her potty seat. She farted the first time I did it and I celebrated for her. She then decided that was a cool reaction and pushed out a tiny poop! Basically she and I thought that was the coolest thing ever! So now she just pushes every time she is up there. At least she is learning what is supposed to happen! I want to get her potty trained soon....whenever we decide to have another one, I want her out of diapers! If anyone has any tips PLEASE leave them. I'm up for suggestions!

Anyway--Life is really going great here. Sometimes I worry that things are TOO great... ya know how life always goes. When you think things are perfect and you get too comfy something goes wrong! Ah well-- guess I will go enjoy my perfect afternoon! Kate has only been sleeping for an hour a day lately...so my freetime is getting more scarce!

Valentines

Valentines Day at our house was awesome! Jon brought home some pretty flowers, and I gave him a construction radio (I still don't get why he wanted it...but oh well!) We had some sweet friends who offered to watch Kate for us so we could go out. Since we can still go to dinner with Kate, we decided to go on a movie date. We saw Just go with it, and we both really loved it! It was funny stuff! I have never heard Jon laugh that loud in the theaters. It was such a nice way to spend the evening....free time laughing with my amazing husband! Hope all of you had as great of a time as us!
This morning Kate's breakfast was really festive! I gave her a fruit bar and she seemed to forget where her mouth was....she took each piece of the bar and rubbed in on her forhead. I don't get it--it's like she was playing stupid or something. lol. It made for some cute pictures!
"More please mom!" Kate is loving talking to me in sign language. She now says more please and all done. She uses more please to tell me she is hungry also. As soon as she wakes up in the morning she starts signing more please which means I want food and drink please. She says it all the time. Makes me excited. I also am starting getting her used to the potty. Yesterday she started grunting while we were in the bathroom so I threw her on the potty and she tooted a few times for me. I'm hoping to get her potty trained before she is two.....yea I know its a lofty goal.

Random funny times

Today is a mostly boring, but not bad Monday. You know those days, nothing major to report, and nothing exciting either. Kate and I are just hanging out. We went to the grocery store and that is about all we have planned. I was looking through my emails cleaning out old stuff and found these pictures I sent myself and forgot to post. This first picture makes me smile every time I see it-- It was 2 saturdays ago, only a few days after Kate's seziure. I had a Relief Society meeting in the morning, and came home to this:Dad and Kate crashed out on the living room floor from all their fun playing. They didn't even wake up when I came in the house. Melts my heart.
Then next (even though the pictures are small and I cant seem to figure out why...) We have Kate and Nikki at the grocery store. There was a "huge" storm down here and Nikki got the day off work, so we headed out into the "ice" and went shopping. Kate loved shopping with Nikki because she gives her rides on her shoulders. Her mom just isn't that cool. lol. But I'm ok with that!

Hope you are all having wonderfully boring/exciting Mondays like us!

Feelin' Good

Our little girl seems to be back to normal. I am still praying that no seziures happen again, but for now she doesn't have the virus anymore. Jon helped me sanitize the house....we had to open the windows because the lysol smell was so strong! I'm praying that she doesn't catch it again. I don't think I can handle another sickness for awhile. I'm still trying to mentally recover from this one. I've turned into paranoid mom....you know what she looks like. The mom who doesn't let her child out of her eyesight, and jumps at the slightest sound (or in my case the shortest silence). And I have an irrational fear of running the vaccum.....since that is what I was doing before the seziure. I hope that passes. Anyway: here is photo evidence that my kid is back to her normal self. I think in this first picture she was trying to tell me she wanted washed like her laundry....a few moments later she tried to climb into the bathtub.

Our latest past time is taking clothes out of the dressers and putting them on her head. My recent favorite is a pair of Jon's whitie-tighties and putting them on her head. She kept them on for a very long time! She even cried when they fell off and promptly put them back on. It is so great to have this happy face back! I am so lucky that she is alright.

Scariest day of my life

Yesterday will go down in history (my personal history that is) as the scariest day of my life. It started just fine. Kate had what we thought was just a stomach flu. First thing in the morning she had dirreha not fun but I can't complain now. She also threw up a few times. I started to think I should take her to the doctor just to be sure she was ok. After her afternoon nap things got interesting. She seemed happy enough, a little groggy maybe, but good. We ate a snack and then I decided I was going to go vaccume my bathroom. I sat Kate down about 3 steps away from the bathroom door with a toy so she would be happy. I started to get the vaccume ready. I glanced at her before I started and saw her on lying on her side. I thought she had just fallen over. It happens alot in our house. What made me look again was Chance. He was looking at her confused. So I took a step toward her to see if maybe she was playing with his toys or something. To my horror, she was frozen, that's the best I can describe it. Her eyes were locked and she wasn't breathing or moving. I immediately thought she must be chocking so I flipped her into my arms and started the heimlich, but nothing happened. So I checked her mouth and started again. By this time I was shouting a prayer to Heavenly Father that she would snap out of it and that I would know what to do. She still wasn't responding to the heimlich, so I decided my initial response must be wrong. I started to put her on her back to do CPR or something and she passed out in my arms. I have never felt so cold and scared. Her poor little body was limp and blue and I was the only person there who could do anything. I just about lost my mind. I knew I had to call 911. I started having an out of body experience. Sounds totally cheesy, but that's the best I can explain it. I scanned the room for my cell phone. Seriously, I remember thinking, I have it in my pocket 90% of the time and now when it could be life or death I don't know where I had it last. Thankfully Heavenly Father knew I was too insane to think about where I had left my phone, because He inspired my Sister in law to call me. I heard it in the living room and sprinted to the noise. I answered her call and started telling her in a not so in control way that Kate was unconsious and that I didn't know what I needed to do. She told me to calm down and that she would call 911 for me, and that she would call Jon. As soon as we hung up I called 911 anyway, I couldnt just wait in silence. I laid Kate on the floor and started to do chest compressions while I waited. I remembered my Advanced First Aid teacher in college being obsessed with us learning to talk to the victim before we started CPR. So in my ultra-calm-poised-CPRtrained way I started yelling at Kate. I kept telling her that she had to wake up, that she couldn't do this to me....and any other motherly threats that I don't remember. I continued talking to her as I started compressions. (all the while I was on the phone with the ambulance dispatcher. So picture me answering questions while still talking to me kid...I'm sure I sounded like a mad-woman. But let's face it-I was!) I only did a few compressions before she opened her eyes. Then she shut them and I got mad. lol--totally irrational but that's what happened! I yelled her name again and she opened her eyes and started crying. The ambulance dispatcher asked me if that was my baby crying, and when I said yes he told me that was a good sign. I then started to focus my efforts on keeping her awake. I got off the phone with 911 and started walking around the house with Kate. I was so frazzled but trying to think of things to keep her awake. That is when I realized that I didn't have a bra on. lol. TMI I know, but I hurried with Kate back to my room and threw one on before the ambulance got there. (by then Kate was alert so don't think I was being irrisponsible....I just didn't want to scare the paramedics!) So the ambulance pulls up, they check her out. No fever, no signs of anything wrong. They told me it was my choice what I wanted to do. I decided to just call the peditrician and get her in there. Luckily the doctor was able to get her in an hour later. At the doctor we found out that Kate has Rotavirus. One of the symptoms can be seziures when the baby's body temperature changes too quickly. But other than that, the symptoms are the same as any old flu. Sadly there is no cure, just like the flu. So we are supposed to give her motrin and tylenol around the clock to make sure she doesn't have another seziure and pump her with fluids. The doctor also told us to moniter her while she sleeps just in case. Yay. So last night was one of the worst nights sleeps I've ever had, but no more scares. Kate seems to be acting much better today. She is grumpy as ever though, I think because she had me up till 4 am and was up at 7am.

I am so grateful that this horid day didn't turn out any worse. I seriously thought I had lost her for about a minute. I don't know if I will ever fully recover from that scare. I told Jon last night, this made me not want any more kids. If they are going to scare me that bad I can't handle it! Heavenly Father was there with me. I owe Him everything.

I just want to thank everyone who has shown us their support. I recieved so many phone calls and texts and messages that it will take me a long time to respond to all of them! All the prayers on our behalf have been felt. I can't even type this without crying, but I am truly blessed. My daughter is apparently fine (we are still praying that is a totally true statement but after her priesthood blessing I felt comforted), and I have so many amazing people in my life that have been praying for her. Thanks again for everything.

Here's hoping something like this never happens again!

My Old man and Little girl

This week has been a birthday week at the Walter house. I love birthdays! This week Jon turned OLD! He's 27! Can you believe how close to 30 we are getting?! I can't! For Jon's birthday he got a new calling in church (Elders Quorm President *Yikes!*) so he wanted some new suits for his birthday present. So one Saturday later he is the proud owner of 4 suits! (well he will be the owner when they are done being tailored......but someday soon I will have pictures to share of my sharp dressed man!) For his birthday party we just had family and friends over for pizza and cake. The gifts all went with his suit--new dress shoes, new belt and ties, dress socks, and dress shirts! Basically my man will be the hottest guy at church (not that I didn't already think that! I just mean the clothes!)

Blowin' out his candles. You know the Jeff Foxworthy jokes "you know your a redneck when..." Well I've started my own "You know your old when..." So one of those is, when the package of birthday candles doesn't contain enough for you! So Jon and I are both old now! (for those of you unaware....most packages have 24)

Kate crawling on the table to help Dad. It is so cute she calls him Dad now. She is getting so old too! Thanks to everyone for helping make Jon's birthday such a fun time! We are truly blessed to have such amazing friends and family.

The second 'birthday' we had was Kate's 13 month day. I can't believe she is officially 1, let alone on her way to being 2! So here are some quick milestones our little cutie has passed lately:
She walks everywhere. It is to the point that she doesnt like to sit on anyone's lap for long cause she wants to run free!
She speaks her own language. Her favorite thing to do is walk around the house with her toys and say "loyosyoquioqudoiqqi" while nodding her head up and down. She tells quite the story....too bad I have no idea what she is trying to say. I need to capture it on video sometime...its really funny!
She also LOVES to dance. Anytime music comes on at all she dances. Commercials, toys that play music, someone singing, the organ at church, you get the point.
She also will show you her muscles. It is too funny. She grits her teeth and holds her arms out in front of her. Fun fun!
And lastly, she blows kisses! Too cute! She loves to give people kisses and blow them to anyone who asks. Here is a picture of her blowing kisses.

Christmas Rewind

So I know its officially January now, but I'm just now home and trying to get back into the swing of 'real life' and updating my blog is now one of the things on my to do list. I should probably be doing something else on that list, but this is the most enjoyable. Who really wants to clean, do laundry, wash dishes, unpack, and dust?? Not to mention plan activities for the next few months at church. I always hate the holiday letdowns.....you all know what I mean. That unwelcome, overpowering doom- feeling of everyday life. The magic of the Christmas season melts away and you are forced to get back to the grind of the rest of the year. Of course there are still fun things to be done, but i digress.
Christmas was spent in Ohio. We were so lucky to get to spend time with my entire side of the family! We haven't all gotten together in a long time! We were sorry to miss the Walter family Christmas in Texas, but being my brother's first Christmas home from his mission, we headed north. Kate was a PERFECT traveler. She was good on the plane, and slept anywhere I put her on vacation! She couldn't have been better!

Here she is opening presents with Dad. She was really good at it! And she loved playing with everything. She mostly likes to eat the paper still.....

Kate LOVED playing with her Uncle Zach. One day Jon, Zach and I were gone for a couple of hours, and when we returned Kate ran squealing right for Zach. Who cares if Mom and Dad just walked in....she only had eyes for Zach! I feel the love Kate.

Kate of course got LOTS of presents. She was spoiled. I need to buy a new shelf to organize all her toys! Any suggestions?? I like the idea of the little tubs on shelves but I want a cheap version of whatever I get! Anyway (can you tell my mind is 100% scattered right now! I can't even type a blog post without getting off track!) One of Kate's favorite gifts was from Grandma, for her big girl room. She painted/draw some amazing pictures for her room and got this bear to match. Kate LOVES giving it kisses. She has also started kissing lots of people. She thinks it is funny to give kisses. So I am posting 2 shots of her kissing the bear. I couldn't decide on one. lol.

Too cute!

More pictures of hanging out with Uncle Zach. Between Zach and my mom, Kate was totally happy. She would cry when my mom left the room, but didn't seem to miss me!

Kate had a few 'firsts' while in Ohio. Some of the biggest were her first time sledding. She didn't really do much.... Jon said a few times he thinks she smiled, but otherwise she was indifferent.

She thought Grandpa was funny. She liked to laugh at him.

She got her 5th tooth! It is on the top, but not one of the middle ones.....she is starting to look really funny!

She also learned how to walk! She walks everywhere now. I can't slow her down. Goodbye baby, hello toddler.

All in all, our trip was amazing. Now we are back to work and life, working on those resolutions. I hope everyone else had as wonderful a Christmas as we did. Nothing brings me more happiness than spending time with family and friends.

Happy Birthday!!!

Kate's first birthday was a success! She had a great time being the center of attention! The party didn't start till she normally would be in bed, but Kate was great for the whole thing! I'm still sad my baby isn't a baby anymore, but I'm the only one! Kate loves her independence.
Her birthday outfit from my grandma. She looked super cute. She loved playing with all the kids at the start of the party. I was impressed, she didn't cry at all! Not even when the balloons popped.

She wasn't sure what to think about this candle. She tried to grab it at one point. Her cousin had to blow it out for her.She started by just licking the icing off her fingers. Then she got brave and tore into it!

"I wonder how much cupcake fits in my mouth at once....let's see!"

"Ummm I could get used to this"

Smiling pretty!

She kept trying to share with anyone who walked by.

Polishing off cupcake number 2! She devoured number one so fast we decided to see if she wanted another, and she quickly consumed it.


We then had to take her to the bathtub to get the cupcake out of her hair, arms, legs and nose. Then we came back to open presents; hence the wet hair and pj's.

I just love this picture cause she looks so mad. But she was happy playing with the baby! Maybe I had just taken the tissue paper away or something.

Slowly getting the hang of the wrapping paper.
"I wonder what this could be..."

Family Picture!
My sad attempt to make the cupcakes look like the 'Rainbow Fish'. Just pretend I did a good job.

My banner I made for the occasion

The Grinch has stolen Kate's Heart

My dear friend sent Kate the Grinch who stole christmas book and stuffed animal. She is obsessed with him! It is so cute... she takes him around the house with her while she is playing and gives him hugs and kisses.

Merry Christmas!

4 teeth!

So Kate's 4th tooth broke through today! Not only is it the 4th, it is the first on top! (now that explains the terribly grumpy girl I've had on my hands lately!) Sorry, no picture yet....its incredibly hard to get her to sit still for a normal picture-- let alone a toothy grin.

In other news, I'm mourning the fact that my baby turns 1 this Friday. She won't technically be my baby anymore....and I'm not sure I'm ok with that. That means she will be a big girl soon. And that means I will have to get the courage to have another baby someday far far away.... I really don't know how I feel about having more than one kid. Ok I need to stop being all sad....kids grow up. That's what they do. Even when we aren't sure we want them to.

But be anxiously waiting for pictures from Kate's birthday!!!!