I'm back!

Sorry for the hiatus everyone, but I had no idea how hectic the holidays would be! There's so much to do - visiting friends and family, making cookies, shopping for the perfect gifts, visiting Santa, eating cookies, dressing up for parties, and on and on! It was an exhausting month, but I survived, probably becuase I'm big time now that I'm 1. Speaking of which, I went back and added videos to the very first birthday in Chicago blog (One!) so you might want to go check those out. If you've already seen those then don't be dissapointed, I promise to post a new blog entry every day this week! I've got plenty of material from all these crazy holiday happenings so hold tight... I'll try not to dissapoint!

One, again!

While in Texas, we celebrated my birthday again! I actually turned one while I was there so Grandma felt it only appropriate that she should throw me another party. I won't complain about that! She threw a wonderful party, it was completely duck themed and she had a giant smash cake for me!

It was so exciting and I was feeling so grown up I also decided I should take a few steps! That's right, I'm walking! Not too far yet, but across the room and I'd say that is a great start!

Technically My Second Thanksgiving

As you probably know, I was born on Thanksgiving day last year, so technically this was my second thanksgiving. I, however, would like to count this year as my first Thanksgiving. Let’s be honest, I wasn’t really with it last year on Thanksgiving. I had just decided to come into this world and did not expect there to be so much action and activity all around me. I don’t think I even realized I was a part of this world until I was at least 3 weeks old and finally figured out I could do something besides eat, sleep and poop.

Based on everything that Mom and Dad have told me about Thanksgiving, it seems to be a pretty awesome holiday - You get to spend time with your family, talk about why you love each other so much and why you are so thankful for all the blessings in your life, all while eat a lot of amazing food. We had so much fun down in Texas this year that I’d really like to remember this as my first Thanksgiving. So I will from now on refer to Thanksgiving 2011 as my first REAL Thanksgiving.

So what did we do? We flew down to Texas for 6 whole days with Grandma & Grandpa Stoltz, Uncle Joe and Maggie the DOG (yes, I am even more in love with dogs now)!!! I was especially excited to see Uncle Joe as he lives in Colorado and we don’t make it out there too often. He and I had a great time playing with my toys and with Maggie and I’m so happy we were all together. We couldn’t actually get in the pool as the heater broke the day we got there, but I was still allowed to lean over the edge (don’t worry, I was fully supervised, I know not to go by a pool on my own) and splash around. Grandma also bought me a walker so I could cruse around the house and patio as fast and as often as I wanted. I am super fast and Uncle Joe says I should start considering professional race car driving for the future.

 I also participated in all the Thanksgiving preparations. While I didn’t eat any turkey, I watched in awe as it was prepared for the deep fryer – it looked bigger than me! But don’t be fooled, I still had about 5 pounds on it. Then we prepared all the sides, which I did eat – sweet potatoes, mash potatoes, corn casserole, and stuffing. YUM! We accidently forgot a green vegetable (but I don’t think anyone minded).  We spent the whole day together as a family talking, laughing, cooking, cleaning and chilling. We talked about all our relatives that weren’t there and how thankful we are to be surrounded by such a loving family. I was so happy and I am already looking forward to my second thanksgiving next year!

One!

On Friday I'm turning ONE!

It's very exciting. I even learned how to hold up my hand in the #1 sign for the occasion, although blowing out candles is still a little beyond my grasp.

Since we were going to be away for my actual birthday, Mom & Dad threw me a party the weekend before. I know it will be hard to believe, but my Mom was actually against the party at first. She figured my grandma would have a cake down in texas so it wouldn't be a big deal. She was probably right, but at the same time, I'm so glad she was convinced otherwise! You may not know this yet, but once my mom get started on party planning she can't be controlled - which is awesome for me! Here's how it all went down...

First here's the nice unassuming invitation that went out to our nearest and dearest 30 friends...

(not the more flattering picture of me, seriously, the camera does add 10 lbs)

The invite was a little too plain for my Mom, she decided we needed a theme and settled on the Hungry Caterpillar. This was approved by me easily, I love that book! So we had hungry caterpillar wall decorations with pictures of me in month's 1 - 11, ballon annimals in the shape of caterpillars, mantel decorations of giant green balls that doubled as party favors, cupcakes in the shape of caterpillars and mini cupcakes decorated to look like the pretty butterfly that emerges from the cocoon and of course party favors - or really party buckets of fun for all the kids to take home. She was about to start making cake pops in the shape of apples and pears with bite holes in them until my Dad finally reeled her back in from all the craziness. There was also an amazing BBQ spread from Smoke Daddy - of course they only settled on Smoke Daddy after having a BBQ taste test the weekend before with my Grandma & Grandpa to ensure that they had the best 'Q at the party. This along with a wonderful selection of fruit, kid cheetos, mac n' cheese, and squeeze pouches for us kids. Oh yeah, my Mom is slightly crazy. But the 20+ adults and 6 kids all had a wonderful time - me most of all!

Oh and I almost forgot about the cupcake eating, I had my first SUGAR RUSH!!! That frosting was something else. I didn't really understand what I was doing, but everyone was staring and smiling at me and of course singing, so I kept going. Mom had to give me a quick bath after all this...

...but it was totally worth it. I can't wait to do it all again down in Texas - and don't they say eveything is always bigger in Texas?? This is going to one heck of a Birthday celebration week!! Thanks Mom & Dad for the great party - and thanks to all our friends who came over to celebrate with us. I love you all so much!!

UPDATE: Here's some video of the big event too!

Presents, Presents, Presents!

Cake!

My First Sugar High...

Going Under Cover

This week I discovered how much fun it is to crawl under all my toys, and all the tables and chairs I can squeeze myself under too. If you can't find me, chances are you'll be able to see me hiding out in one of these places. I'm hoping Mom and Dad get the hint and start making me forts, but sometimes they're a little slow, so we'll just have to wait and see.

Good Morning!!!

Mom and Dad and I have a special routine every morning. First I usually wake up on my own and roll around and talk for a bit by myself or turn on my mobile and watch that go round and round. After about 15 - 20 minutes, just as I start getting bored with my alone time, Mom and Dad come in to get me. It's really exciting whenever they open the door! They say GOOD MORNING KATE!!! and I pop up over the crib railing to say good morning too (in my head at least). Then since I can't have my lovies or nuks out side of the crib we play 1, 2, 3... and on the count of 3 I chuck the lovie and then the nuk back into the crib. I'm so good that now, I don't even have to wait for them to say 3. Its so nice to wake up with Mom and Dad!

Baby Dolls and Fishes

This weekend Grandma & Grandpa Roudabush came to visit! Since I'm not going to be able to see them on my actual birthday and for even longer after that, they said they had to come and visit me. That is of course totally fine with me! When they first arrived on Friday we had an impromptu birthday celebration... this birthday thing is pretty cool by the way. I'm still not 100% sure what I did to deserve a birthday, but it means everyone is extra nice to me, I get presents, and people sing to me! It's sort of fabulous. Grandma & Grandpa game some really pretty clothes and this amazing Baby Doll. Check it out...

The next day we took a trip to the Shedd Aquarium downtown. We had so much fun looking at all the fishes and seeing the whale and dolphin show.

Before everyone left on Sunday we headed to the park one more time. Grandpa pushed me on the swing and helped me down the slide, he even taught me how to do it myself! I am pretty good at going down the slide all by my self... sometimes I get a little too excited about it, but usually it works out just fine.

Thanks for coming to visit Grandma & Grandpa! I love you so much!!!

Hide N' Seek

I've been having a lot of play dates with my friend Joey this week. He's a lot of fun and we've found a new game to play together... hide n' seek! Look at how much fun this is!

Grandma & Grandpa Stoltz!

This weekend Mom & Dad went to this place called Vegas where they said babies aren't allowed. That sounds like a pretty boring place to go if babies aren't allowed! I didn't mind though because Grandma & Grandpa Stoltz came to baby sit me all weekend long! We had so much fun going to the park, having friends over for dinner, hitting up a bubbles class, and taking walks to the Starbucks! I really enjoyed getting to spend so much time with them and was a little sad when they had to leave and Mom and Dad finally came home. Thanks for taking such good care of me Grandma & Grandpa! I love you!!

Just Another Week...

This past week was pretty uneventful. I went to the park a lot - usually with Joey) - although now I have to wear this ridiculous hat since it suddenly became winter here in Chicago.

I also ate a lot of yummy things! Apples, sweet potato, and rutabaga mish mash pouches (yum!), Hummus and baby mum-mums (hummus is awesome), and sweet potato fries (made from scratch by my mom), organic spinach and cheese ravioli (definitely not made by my mom from scratch), and black beans (my o my how I love black beans!)...

I also got all dolled up in my country best for a play date at Joeys. We hung out by the refrigerator for a long time - we both love playing in the fridge! Then we went downstairs and he let me play with his new toy car. It looked really fun, but mom and dad were busy talking and they weren't taking me for a ride in it so I had to take matters into my own hands and get it all set up for a ride! Check it out!

What a great time!

A Trip to the Cell...

Today I went to visit my mom at work - at the Chicago White Sox! The Sox have been one of her clients forever and she really wanted to introduce me to everyone. So Dad put me in my Sox T-shirt and jeans and we headed to the "Cell" late one morning. First up, we stopped for a photo op with the world Series Trophy in the lobby...

Then Mom led us back through the stadium to the accounting offices. Everyone was so nice, and once mom told them I liked bling they all busted out the biggest bling-iest rings I have ever seen! I need to figure out how to get me one of those world series rings! bling bling! My mom's team was also there - Nicole & Drew - so I hung out with them in the audit room for a while too. I showed them my calculator and how to do some basic addition on it. I think they were impressed. 

Mom said I behaved so well I was invited back for a game this summer! I can't wait!