Just a few random things there and there to update! First of all, Kate is sick again. On Friday morning she woke up with her nose running like a faucet, and running a low grade temp around 100.5 . Since then, her temperature has come back down but her nose is still bad. I think this is the first time she's ever had just a plain cold, something without a fever! I also think this is the first time that she's gotten "sick" that (so far) we haven't had to take her to the doctor for. When she wakes up from overnight or her nap, however, she does sound a slight bit croupy, but maybe it's just all the gunk in her system because she sounds better after an hour or so.
All of her immunology bloodwork has come back, and everything is normal. Her immune system is functioning correctly. She is, however, a strep carrier. All that means basically is that whenever she does get sick, it may or may not be strep, but she's going to test positive for it every time. So the doctor has to make a judgment call on whether or not to treat her with antibiotics based on all her other symptoms, rather than the results of the test.
She is growing mentally in leaps and bounds lately. It's amazing and so much fun to see her develop verbally. Jeff is now "Daddy" instead of "Dada" which is cute, but a little sad too! I'm still Mama. :) She also has a cute but annoying habit of wanting to tell and how me EVERYTHING. She will say, "Mama, mama, mama, MAMA, MAMA!!!! MAMA!!!!!!!!" Until I say, "What, Kate?" And she will reply with, "hi!" or "bow?" or "bye bye!" or "Bailey!" or "Backpack!" and so on. She will not give up until I say, "Yes, Kate, Bailey." I know it's very cute, but it just goes on and on and on and on!!
She loves repeating words. I ask her to try lots of words, and she makes an attempt at repeating everything. I love it! She is internalizing a lot more than I give her credit for, too... I'm constantly amazed at how much of what I say to her she is understanding.
Normally every night we read her favorite book, "Goodnight Moon" at bedtime. During the month of December we read a Christmas book, "Angel Angel." Well, Goodnight Moon is lost right now, so we're still reading Angel Angel. Basically, it follows the same premise as "Brown Bear Brown Bear," but insert Nativity figures. Her favorite part is where Baby Jesus enters the book. Everytime we get to that page, she points to Jesus, her eyes light up, and she turns to look at me with the BIGGEST smile on her face! It's so sweet. :)
One week from today Jeff and I will be sitting on the balcony off our room on our cruise ship, somewhere in the Caribbean. :) We are so excited to take a vacation! We will miss Kate but we know the Grandparents will enjoy some special one-on-one time with her.
