The Playground

I love going to the playground. There are a number of different playgrounds all around us. Some have baby swings, some have big kid swings, some have slides that go straight down and some have slides that curve around and around, there are even some with forts and rope nets and see-saws! Doesn't matter what's there, I can always find something to play on. Below is a montage of our most recent trip to the playground. It was an exceptionally beautiful day so there were tons of people out. I made a few friends, two little girls who especially wanted to play with me and some little boys were poking my mom! luckily no one was poking me though! It's hard to say what my favorite thing to do on the playground is, but I think it might be swinging. I could swing for hours!

People Food...

I don't know that we have really talked about this, but now a days I got to eat real people food - not just that mashed up stuff, but real pieces of food. Today I had bananas... Mmmmm, I love banana! It was a little tricky trying to figure out how to get them in my mouth though, they're kind of slippery! It was a lot of fun and I didn't do too bad. Mom and dad always think it's so funny to watch me try to eat. I'm not sure what they are laughing at, but as long as they keep giving me bananas, I don't really care.  I'm looking forward to have more people food soon!

Chillin with Dad...

I get to spend a lot of time with my Dad. He's so much fun, he's always taking me on walks and out to playgrounds and the bars. Today was an especially beautiful day so we went to the park for a while and then Jack and his Dad Matt and then my Dad's other friend Kam came over and we went to Lottie's, the bar across the street. We sat outside and all had drinks (I had my bottle) and Dad had tater tots... which I wasn't allowed to have, but they looked really good! Later mom came home from work and met us there too! It was a perfect day!

It's a party

To celebrate turning 9, Jack and his mom and dad (Angie & Matt) came into town again for a visit. We went over to Joey's house and had a big party. I can't believe how big Jack is getting! He's becoming quite the looker... although Joey's red hair is hard to beat.

Here we are all playing and hanging out...

And here I am getting up close and personal with Jack... look at him check out my behind! Watch out buddy! My dad could beat up your dad!

9 Months Old

Today I'm 9 months old. That's pretty old. I'm not really a baby anymore and I'm starting to feel like big things are just around the corner for me. We'll see! I'm so excited to be 9 months old! Here's some new Kate stats:

• Height:     27 inches      25th percentile
• Weight:    17 lbs 4 oz    25th percentile

• Head Circumference:    17.5 inches     50th - 75th percentile

• I sleep 12 hours at night - usually from 8 - 8 (that's right - till 8am!)
• I take naps from 11 - 1 and 4 - 5, typically. That second nap is a little less scheduled. 

• I still have 4 6 oz bottles a day but I also have 3 "meals" a day too! 
• In the morning I eat rice cereal or oat cereal with some mashed up fruit - I love the prunes and the banana/peach/raspberry combo. Next month I'm going to try Yogurt!  
• At lunch I get a snack of cut up fruit, peaches, bananas, pears, blueberries, watermelon, or more recently avocado! (which is amazing),  so that I can work on my pincher motion. Currently I just rake everything off the tray and into my mouth. Get in my belly! 
• For dinner I have a mashed up veggie - sweet potatoes and squash are my favorites, but I also like peas and beans. I still don't have a taste for carrots though. Oh well!

• I crawl around like crazy and like to stand up on everything. I can even walk along the tables in our family room. Sometimes they call me the bulldozer because I will crawl over anything in my way when I'm on the move. 

• I am pretty good at waving bye-bye and hi to people and sometimes, if I feel like it, I'll give out high-fives

• I still only have the one tooth - my bottom right front tooth. 

• I don't say any real words yet, but I babble a lot, saying mamamama or dadadada or babababa, or just scream in delight! I really like to just scream! 

Sounds like I'm already a pretty busy baby huh? I can't wait to learn to do even more!!! 

Bubbles

During the summer I went to a class at Bubbles every week. I love being at bubbles. We play with all sorts of fun musical instruments - like clappers and eggs. This was our last week at bubbles so Betsy took pictures and video of me so that I could always remember it.

Queen of the Castle

We had a jam-packed weekend. First I hung out with my friend Joey again. He's funny and made me a crown and dubbed me Queen of the Castle. I like the title. I think I'll try to make it stick and have Mom and Dad try calling me the Queen too.

The next day we headed to the pool for a little fun in the sun. The Bucktown Country Club (really it's just the local park district pool, but we like to pretend) is really close to our house so we walked over there and played in the kiddy pool for a while. I love to splash around! On the way home I got a sweet treat too - frozen watermelon! I love sucking out the juice through my cool fruit holder.

Finally, we ended the weekend with a Movie in the Park... they played Despicable Me in the park right in front of our building! So Mom and Dad's friends, Katie & Derek came over and we all played outside in the park and then had dinner and watched the movie. I got a little borred in the middle, but didn't do too bad overall. It was a great weekend!!

Grandma & Grandpa Stoltz!

Daddy went to this place called Vegas this weekend - some place out west I'm apparently not allowed to go to till I'm 30. It's okay though because Grandma & Grandpa Stoltz came to visit! We had so much fun! They arrived early on Friday and babysat me while mom was at work. We went to the park and played a lot! Then we had a nice quite dinner at their friends house, Jim & Marie's. Jim and Marie are so nice, they made this amazing risotto and sang funny italian songs to me.

Then on Saturday we went to visit Charley! She's a bit older than me and already running around like crazy! She taught me a few things, like how to play the piano (I'm quite good). Her parents, Michelle and Dave, and her grand parents mimi and pop pop and friends with my mom and dad and my grandma & grandpa. Thats a lot of friends. Anyway, we went over there for lunch and a play date. It was great! Did I mention they have a dog too!!! Maddie! She was so nice and I loved playing with her too!

Finally, grandma & grandpa had to leave. I was really sad to see them go, but I know I'll get to see them again soon! I love you both soooo much!!!

Rainbows

My first rainbow! and a DOUBLE rainbow at that! Mom says I must be really lucky to see one of those, if only I could talk she'd have me pick out some lotto numbers!

Take me out to the ball game...

My first baseball game, and what a perfect game it was! It was the Cubs vs. the Reds, which made my dad really happy. I got all dressed up in my pretty red dress and headed to the game with mom and dad and their friends Dana & Luke. Dana & Luke were super nice and kept taking turns holding me so I could get a better view of the field. We had great seats, we were so close to the field it was crazy.

It was, however, super hot! Mom and Dad kept getting worried about me so they took turns taking me to the first aid room of the stadium where it was air conditioned. I actually had a lot of fun in there because I met so many kids my age in there too! I guess all their mom's and dad's wanted to get them out of the heat too. I didn't really mind the heat though, and by the 5th inning we were in the shade, so it ended up not being a big deal. What I did not like was that lady that went around misting water on everyone. That was weird. Anyway, the Reds won and we all had a great time! Daddy said I was a good luck charm and should start watching all the games with him from now on! I wouldn't mind that at all!

Another Dog!

Today I went over to my mom's friend Kelli's house. She has a super cool apartment with super cool stuff in it that she let me play with - including her dog, Rudy! Rudy was so much fun, not as cool as Jake, but I still liked him a lot. And I really liked this hat... what do you think? How do I look? It might have been a little big, but I'm still growing so eventually it will be perfect!

Michigan Vacation - Part 4: Jake & Kate

Jake, Jake, Jake. I. seriously. love. Jake!

Did you know how amazing dogs are? They are so soft and cuddly. And seriously, Jake is the best dog ever. He was so nice to me all week long. Even though I was scared of him at first, he didn't hold it against me. And even though I would get so excited about seeing him that I would scream as loud as I could, he didn't mind. And even though I loved him so much I basically ripped chunks of his fur out, he still loved me back. I know it. I miss him the most of all from our vacation days. Jake, where ever you are... I miss you! and I will always love you! You'll always be my first love!!!!

Michigan Vacation - Part 3: Family Photo Shoot

I am quickly learning that no family vacation is complete without an absolutely ridiculously long family photo shoot. You wouldn't believe how long Will and I had to hang out with these people and act happy. Without any food, water or toys! They are lucky we are so well behaved. As soon as I can talk I'm going to tell them to relax a little, I'll always remember this vacation - even without the photos!

Although I have to admit, Will and I look pretty darn cute in all of these...

Michigan Vacation - Part 2: The Lake

The lake was beautiful! It was so pretty to look out on all that water. However, the waves crashing onto the beach were really loud and kind of scary. I didn't mind being taken out into the water and playing, but I did not want to be anywhere near those waves. Well, not at first anyway. By our last day I finally got up the courage to get close, I even let one of the waves crash up on my feet. The sand felt so squishy in my toes and it was kind of weird how you sink into the ground once it gets all soft from the water. I guess it's really not scary. My only regret now it that I put so much darn sunscreen on I didn't get even a hint of a tan!

Michigan Vacation - Part 1: Chillaxing

Vacations are awesome!!! Mom & Dad took me on this long car ride up to a cute little town in Michigan. My Uncle Billy's family has a cottage up on the lake - the big one, Lake Michigan! Aunt Julie, Uncle Billy & Will were there, along with Billy's parent's Mimi & Papa and my Grandparents - Nancy & John. Oh and Mimi & Papa's dog, Jake, was there there too. I LOVED Jake. We spent a week together just hanging out by the lake, going on walks, and chillaxing on the giant screened in porch. Here are the pictures of the house and the beautiful lake and some our my favorite chillaxing moments.

Can you believe it was right on the water like that!  I want to go back already!!!! Thanks for inviting us up for a fabulous time!