Tricky Little Girl

The other morning, this is what I woke up to find in Kate's room. She had not only unbuttoned and unzipped her sleeper, but when she got out of her crib, she decided to "hide" from mom behind her curtains! What a little trickster! By the way, doesn't she look a bit like Elvis with her unzipped sleeper? 

I'm A Walker!

This is some video I shot on the driveway last week. My favorite part is how, around the ten-second mark, she says, "Hot!" to describe the concrete she's walking on. Enjoy!

- Steph

Big Stuff

Just recently, Kate has begun walking. She could walk easily for the last several months, but always with mom or dad's help right beside her. Developmentally, she has been able to do it but she has been scared to venture out walking without mom or dad right next to her. Everyone told us that all of a sudden, one day, she would just figure out how to walk on her own. Well, they were right. About ten days ago, Greg and I were sitting in the living room, and she was walking the few feet between us on the floor. After several attempts, she seemed willing to keep practicing walking, so we slowly started to move across the room so that she would have to walk further between us. Suddenly, I was down the hallway and Greg was over by our fireplace. She was having so much fun running between us that she didn't even notice that walking is a bit scary for a little girl. Since then, she has been on the move and hasn't looked back. Thankfully, I don't have to hold her fingers anymore. I was getting a little uncomfortable bending down and walking all over with her considering how hot it has been, the fact that I am 6' 2", and I'm also over six months pregnant!

- Steph

Grandpa's Girl

Kate is lucky enough to have two fantastic grandpas. She loves hanging out with both of them and seeing what she can get away with. The correct answer to that? Way more than with mom and dad! My dad and Art are very different, but they both love Kate so much. It's clear that she loves both of them very much, too. 

This is what grandpa time looks like at our house with my dad:

Eating pizza with Grandpa Leon.

Telling him exactly where the light is at our house.

Smiling because he just let her get away with something!

Loving being in his lap.

Stealing some more of grandpa's pizza.

Trying to get him to flip her upside down.

Telling him her hair tie needed to come out. Immediately.

Making a goofy face for mom.

And this is what grandpa time looks like down on the Uebinger farm:

Sitting in grandpa's John Deere mower.

Trying to shift the levers and get into trouble.

Looking like she will take off mowing at any minute.

Steering the big mower all by herself.

Sitting with grandpa and having fun.

This is what her feet looked like when she finally took her shoes off in the shed. Yuck! 

- Steph 

Hey Mom, Whatcha Doin'?

As some of you may already know, I am almost done with my classes this summer to earn my Masters in English. Yay! After two years (and two pregnancies!), I am finishing up my last classes in preparation for my upcoming exam and oral defense. Often, when I need to study or type a paper, Greg takes one for the team and stays inside entertaining Kate while I go out on our screened-in porch to work. He does a great job keeping her entertained; have I mentioned that he's the fun one around here? Invariably, though, she will figure out where I am and scoot and wobble her way over to our French doors to say hello. Loudly. While banging on the glass from inside the house. This is the view I see when she does this, so I obviously take a minute to look away from my textbooks in order to say hello back to her.

- Steph

Do I Have Anything on My Face?!

This is what happens when Greg is fully in charge of Kate's supper: They eat his favorite food - spaghetti. The kitchen looks like a disaster when mom gets home. And they have so much fun doing this while I am gone that I can't even be upset! I mean, look at this face!

I'm All Ready for my Walk Around the Neighborhood!