Eight Months

My baby girl is eight months old today! I just can't believe it. I'm starting to think about her first birthday party. It's only 4 months away! I have no idea what I'm going to do yet, but it's fun to think about ideas.




And one of my friends just pointed out to me what an idiot I am - I put "2008" on her piece of paper! haha! Oops!

Christmas Pictures

There are way too many pictures from Christmas to post here, so I'll just post the link to my Facebook album. Enjoy!

Click Here for Christmas Pictures

My Big Girl

Kate has rung in the new year with a new sleeping position! Yesterday, when I went to get her up from a nap, she was laying on her belly! Ever since that point, she's been sleeping all her naps and overnight on her tummy! She looks so cute asleep like that, but part of me is a little sad that she changed, I don't know why! I guess just because she's growing up. I think it's cute though that until now, she has slept just like Daddy - on her back with arms above her head. Now she sleeps just like me, on her tummy with arms up by her head. So cute. She has also learned how to clap AND wave in the last week! She is making such big strides!

We are still at my parents' house for one more day. We've had a great time with my family, although we have been the house of sickness while everyone has been here. I think it started with me - on Christmas night I started feeling sick, and spent that whole overnight feeling like I was going to throw up. Thankfully it only lasted overnight. Then my brother got the flu. It seemed to stop there, but then Micah got sick (the doctor thinks strep throat) and Andrea & Steve caught it too. So it's been rough around here, but still a lot of fun to be with family none the less.

Merry Christmas!

Dear Friends and Family,

We decided to try blogging our Christmas letter this year. Hopefully you got the hint and followed the link on our Christmas card!

2008 has been quite a year with big changes for our family. Late winter and spring kept us busy getting ourselves and the house ready for the arrival of our beautiful little girl, Katherine Marie. She was born on May 5 and we never could have imagined the blessing that she would be to us. It was so amazing to have the doctor tell us, "It's a GIRL!!" after nine months of waiting.





For now, Laura is enjoying the unexpected opportunity to be at home with Kate. Her job as an Environmental Consultant became a fatality of the economic downturn a few weeks before Kate was due, and it's no surprise that the job market is still so incredibly slow. She is continuing to look for another job but is definitely making the most of all the precious time she is able to be with Kate.

Jeff is still enjoying his job at Watson Wyatt in downtown Dallas. He played a lot of softball this year with some friends in a softball league in Plano. He loves being a dad and has a very special bond with Kate, who definitely looks more like him than her mommy!



The week we brought Kate home from the hospital, our dog Bailey had a few seizures. We weren't too surprised, she had gotten to a point where she was having a seizure once every 3-6 months. They continued in the next few weeks, so her vet did some testing and diagnosed her with Epilepsy. We are able to control the seizures for the most part with her medication, but she still has one about once a month. Thankfully the vet told us that the seizures aren't dong any damage to her; they only look scary. Bailey takes it all in stride, she is a little scared after one happens, but that's nothing a little comforting won't fix.



Laura sadly sold her horse of twelve years, Blaze, earlier this month. It was definitely a bittersweet moment. A nice family with a young girl bought her. It's nice to know that Blaze will surely make them as happy as she made Laura. They have already taken Blaze to a show and on trail rides - it's great to hear that she is being "used" again. It was very hard to say goodbye, but it was the best for everyone. We're just not too sure Kate will be pleased in a few years when she finds out that she "used to" have a horse! :)

Kate is growing up so quickly. We can't believe she is already almost 8 months old. She is a very happy, easy-going baby. She is on the verge of crawling, which will add a whole new dimension to our lives! We were able to take her on three trips - Minnesota, Atlanta, and Chicago, to see friends and family this last summer and fall. She's a great traveler and it was so special to get to show her off. We are looking forward to spending Christmas this year with Laura's family and everyone flying in from out of town. Kate is excited to see her cousin Micah again, and "meet" her next cousin on the way (Laura's sister is due in May!).

We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and blessed 2009.

Love,

Jeff, Laura, and Kate Blair

Evening Update

Through the afternoon and evening today, Kate seemed to improve by the minute. By this evening, she was almost back to normal! She had a great time in the bath tonight, here's a quick video we took!

Poor Sicky

Kate's fever is under control today, but she has thrown up twice so far...

But I thought it would be funny to swaddle her - she hasn't been swaddled since she was 3 months old! She LOVED it! She just smiled and laughed, and I tickled her through the blanket, she was just laughing and squealing... So sweet! But look how LONG her body is! Her feet are touching the bottom!

Sick Again

Poor Katherine is sick AGAIN. She had a 102 fever today. So she's essentially been sick since the first week of November. I don't know what to do anymore! I just feel so bad for her, every time she's on the road to recovery I wash her bedding and disinfect everything she touches... I wonder what is wrong with my little girl! I just want her to be well again... :(