Kate & Reese: June 2009

Laura

I know there are little things here and there that definitely constitute as communication, but we just had a reallly cool moment!

I was on the computer while Kate is eating dinner, and I looked up and Kate was signing "more." She had polished off both her broccoli and strawberries, so I wasn't sure which one she wanted more of. She looooooves broccoli, so I started with that. I brought a spoonful of it over, and she shook her head no as I held it in front of her. I then went and got a strawberry and showed it to her. She signed "more."

It was just sooo cool to be able to "talk" like that with her and not guess at a need for once!!

Laura

I thought I'd post a picture quickly.

When I saw this outfit, I HAD to have it! They really don't make many baby things in periwinkle, so when I saw it, it was all over! I sure hope Kate has a baby sister someday, or all these clothes will go to waste! Either that or I need a niece. :)

Kate is doing so great, and growing up so quickly. She is walking like a pro, and is talking more and more every day. I love to run through her words with her. She is also picking up signing really well! It's really exciting for me (and for her too, I'm sure!) to finally be able to communicate a few of her wants and needs.

Laura

I know I'm overdue for a good, long post, but I wanted to post these stories quickly before I forget.

On Saturday we took Kate to a mall in Plano that has one of those soft, padded indoor playgrounds. When we got there, she was a little bit afraid and sat in my lap for a few minutes, but as she watched the other kids play, she wanted to join into the action. A few minutes in, she fed off the excitement of the other kids playing, and went crazy. She didn't know how to express her excitement, so she got down on her hands and knees, crawled in a circle a few times, screaming. It was the funniest thing we have ever seen.

Tonight I was folding Kate's laundry. One of her beach towels is a Barbie towel. I've had it for a few years - I don't remember when or why I bought it. So anyway, it is now Kate's. She's never really looked at it before, so I held it up and got her attention to look at Barbie. When she saw Barbie, her face TOTALLY lit up, and she walked over and kissed Barbie right on the lips! Then she said "Awwwww" and hugged the towel. She is so funny!

Laura

It's been a while since I've posted! I'm sorry! These days so much of it seems to be same old, same old! In the last few days Kate has really started walking more and more. In fact, today, I'd say Kate walked more than she crawled. I really need to get it on video! She has also really started to utilize her push toys just about full-time. She'd use them sporadically up until now, but just yesterday and today that's all she wants to do is push push push push! It won't be long now until she's a full time walker, if we're not there already!

Her language development is coming along well too!! Quite often she repeats words after me, and I'll have to stop and think, "Did you REALLY just say that???" Of course, her favorite word is still "Bow." It's the cutest little thing, with such a southern belle accent... She uses it in place of any word she doesn't know, and I know I'm going to miss it desperately when she stops saying it. It's one of my favorite things about her. There's even a little boy at day care who has started saying it too, just because of the frequency with which Kate says it! haha.

This past weekend we had our good friends Pete, Emily, and Gabriel Kleiber in town on a visit from Minnesota. It was so much fun having them! We took the kiddos to the zoo and pool, and just enjoyed each other's company. Kate had a good time at the zoo - it was a little hard for her to see the animals, but she did get a close-up glimpse of a big white bird. She was transfixed on it!

In other news, Kate has another brand new cousin! Dylan Blake Hall was born on May 28. We can't wait to go up to Chicago to meet him! He is such a sweetie.