Mommy/Daughter Date

This past Saturday, Mommy and I were chilling at the house all by ourselves.  Auntie moved out a few weekends ago and Daddy was doing a video shoot for church...so we were enjoying some mommy/daugther bonding time.

While we were eating breakfast I asked Mommy, "Is today the day we stay home?" (that staying-home-day is always my favorite day of the week).  When she told me that it was, my next question was, "Can we go on a date?"

Now before I go any further, I should probably tell you that Katelyn dates in my family are quite proprietary.  Daddy has dibs on Chuck E. Cheese. Mimi and Poppy take me to Chick-Fil-A. Gramma and Grampa are the McDonald's and Candy Store people.

Mommy, however, doesn't really "own" any date places.  That probably has something to do with the fact that the two of us are together a whole lot.  It's kind of hard to have dates when you're trying to get the normal day-to-day errands done, you know?

So, back to the kitchen table on Saturday morning...Mommy took a few moments to think about where we could go on a date (I really wanted Chuck E. Cheese, but Mommy was not about to try that place by herself at 8 months pregnant...plus CEC belongs to Daddy).  Then, she came up with the most brilliant solution: the fountains!

So, the two of us slapped on some sunscreen and traveled down the road(s) to the splash fountains at a nearby shopping center.  We got there just as the day was warming up, so the weather was pretty much perfect.

I enjoyed running through the water,

posing with the statues (I very specifically requested that these pictures be taken),

and watching other kids play.

About 15 minutes into the fun, though, I decided that I really needed a "play friend".  So, even though I had a great time with just Mommy, I think I'll try to turn the fountains into a play date next time.

Happy Easter!

He is risen, indeed!

Auntie is Getting Married!

Yup, it's true!  And we are sooo excited!!

Sometime in early September, Auntie (finally) started dating my "Uncle" Dan.  Mommy and Daddy had been suggesting him as a "prospect" (that's what Auntie and her best friends call someone who has even the remote possibility of becoming your spouse) for the past few years, but every time they mentioned him Auntie would come up with some reason as to why that wouldn't work.

They knew her mind and heart were changing, though, when they brought his name up again in August.  Instead of the usual excuses, she replied with a sassy, "Well, he hasn't asked me out yet, has he?!"

By early January, Auntie knew that Dan was the man she wanted to marry.

And this morning he proposed!

I've called Dan my "Uncle" ever since I was born (with the exception of those first few months they were dating...Mommy thought that may put a little pressure on him), and I am so glad that he will be my real Uncle very soon!

Here's a picture that shows how Dan used the walls in his house to propose.  He had printed out words that he feels describe Auntie, Scripture that he prays over her, and a few quotes about love.

3 Year Checkup and Mommy's Belly

A few weeks ago Mommy took a day off work and we headed to my 3 year Well Child appointment with our favorite pediatrician.  Mommy was a tad bit nervous going into the appointment because it was my first WC visit (ever) that Daddy wasn't able to attend.  He usually keeps me distracted while Mommy fires off a lengthy list of questions, so she was a little unsure about how I would do without his presence.  Thankfully, I've matured a bit since my last checkup...so there was really nothing for Mommy to worry about.

Here are some things that helped this appointment go off without a hitch:

It was the first time I didn't have a mini meltdown when it was time to get on the scale.

It was also the first time I got to wear a little dressing gown...and I loved that thing!

The horzontal, full length mirror right behind the little checkup bed.  I love that thing, too.

There were no shots!  Dr. Hull did warn us to get ready for next year's checkup, though.

Here are my stats:

29.6 pounds (25% percentile)

38.5 inches (75% percentile)

And here's a little picture of Mommy's belly, in case you are interested.

Zoo Fun Fun!

Today I had the pleasure of joining Poppy, "Uncle" Oscar, Ian and Preston (my two best buds) at the Dallas Zoo for a day of fun!

If you live in the Dallas area and haven't visited the zoo lately, you really should give it a try.  In the past, my family has always considered the Fort Worth Zoo to be far superior to Dallas' version.  After our trip today, though, Poppy was incredibly impressed with how far the Dallas Zoo has come!

They had this little wading pool that I quickly took advantage of.  Thankfully, Poppy had the foresight to take off my leggings before turning me loose in this thing.

There was also a great petting zoo area.  I ran from animal to animal, checking them all out and giving each one a speedy little pat.

Preston and I even got to ride on a real live camel!  How cool is that?!

This butterfly bench was the perfect spot for Ian and I to chillax in while enjoying a little popscicle snack.

 We were able to feed the giraffes a little snack, too.  No popscicles for them, though...only lettuce.

As we were leaving the zoo, I noticed a vendor selling popcorn.  I asked Poppy for some, and he said he'd make some for me when we got back to his house.  Ever true to his word, Poppy let me indulge in popcorn and a PB sandwich before my afternoon nap.

Thanks for a great day, Poppy!  I sure did have fun.

A Little About Baby #2

It's been a while since I said much about the baby growing inside of Mommy's belly.  I'm super excited about being a big sister, though, so I guess I should fill you in a bit.

First of all, he is a boy!  I really thought I was going to have a baby sister, but now I'm looking forward to a baby brother.  It may or may not have helped when Daddy pointed out the fact that I won't have to share as many of my toys now.

Second, Mommy gets lots of questions about how this pregnancy has compared to her pregnancy with me.  Over and over, I hear her say that this pregnancy was been very different.  She dealt with "morning sickness" and exhaustion much further into the second trimester than she did with me.  She's also had headaches, backaches, and lots of pelvic pressure this time around.  Thankfully, her doctor says that's all pretty normal with baby #2.

For the most part, the above mentioned issues have all resolved themselves.  The backaches and exhaustion are still hanging around, though.  Mommy really hasn't been able to pick me up much since the beginning of the year because it really bothers her back.  I have learned to be satisfied with her "holding" me while she sits on the couch or a chair, though, so it's not so bad.

If you ask me, the best part of this whole pregnancy thing is watching Mommy's belly grow.  I love to pat her tummy and talk to my baby brother.  I tell him that I'm his big sister and I'll teach him a lot when he gets here.  So far, I plan to show him the ropes of baby signs, drinking from a bottle, and sitting in a high chair.

Auntie has been taking official baby bump pictures of Mommy, but Mommy won't approve any of them for blog purposes.  They've all been taken at night when she looks and feels totally exhausted, so I can only post this mediocre picture right now.  It was taken last Saturday after a commercial shoot that Mommy and Daddy were part of.

(In case you aren't sure, that's Mommy in the green shirt.) 

This week is Spring Break for Mommy, so maybe we'll manage to get a belly pic of her in the morning when she's looking her freshest.

Very Hungry Katerpillar Pary (1 month late)

My 3rd birthday party was almost a month ago, but I still have fond memories of that fun day.  Here are a few of the highlights.

By far, the star of the show was the Very Hungry Caterpillar cake that "Aunt" Michele made.  Isnt' it gorgeous?!

As you can see, the cake's beauty didn't keep any of us from devouring it! 

 Of course, presents are always a hit at a kid's birthday party, too.  Some of my favorite gifts were the games Pop the Pig, Don't Break the Ice, and What's on My Head.  I also really like the myPC keyboard and mouse that Leila gave me!

Mommy, of course, loved all of the new additions to my closet.

Mommy completely forgot to get a picture of the food table, but if you squint juuuust right you can kind of make it out in this shot.  And, if you look extra closely, you can see that the VHC quilt my Nana made for me before I was born.  It made the perfect party tablecloth!

Just a few days before the party, we found out that my Hill Country cousins were going to be able to make the 6 hour trek to join us for the celebration. I was sooo happy to be able to spend some time with them! This is me with my baby cousin, C-Wa. McB and I apparently never stood still enough to get a picture of the two of us taken.

Mommy thought I should throw this picture in because she thinks it looks like Leila and I are praying together.  In reality, nothing nearly that serious or mature is going on here.  We're just checking out that keyboard she gave me!

If you've seen any of the pictures from my 1st and 2nd birthday parties, you can tell that Mommy didn't put so much effort into this one.  That's okay, though, because I had a ton of fun with things just the way they were. 

 And, as my "Aunt" Brandi has already told Mommy, "You're pregnant...that's an excuse for a minimum of 18 months."