Kate: Six Months

My little Kater is growing. She went to her 6 month check up and these are her current stats:

Weight: 14 lbs. 8 oz.

Length: 25.8 inches

Head: 43 cm.

Kate is a happy, happy baby. She gets PLENTY of entertainment from sisters and a brother who are always putting on a show to make her laugh. Oh, and an Aunt Tawna who she has so much fun with. Honestly, they are in love with each other.

She got the boot out of our room soon after turning 4 months and had to go to her own crib in the "girls room". I was so, so sad packing up her pack n' play. I really missed her those first nights, but truth be told, I still let her nurse to sleep with me when she wakes up in the early morning. And shocking to me, having all three girls in one room together is actually working. Ava WOULD NOT go into Zachary's room (which was the plan all along) because it is a boy's room, so they are all together. So far, so good.

Sleeping in the pack n' play at the foot of our bed.

Her very own crib.

I snuck in one night to find this. She really does hold on to this dragon from Jessica to fall asleep.

And sometimes just conks out on the floor when she is just too tired.

This girl loves her toes! She always plays with or sucks on her toes. Very easily entertained and still very cute! I don't remember the other kids having such an obsession. Wonder if I should be worried.

Remember how Kate HATED a bath in her earlier posts? Like I was torturing her anytime she had to touch the water? Well, someone has changed her tune. She LOVES splashing in the water in the bath now. And especially loves that she gets to play with Ava in the tub. It's so funny to watch. She laughs and giggles and squeals the whole time.

One thing that has for sure NOT changed is the amount of times a day Kate pukes. Just ask Jessica. It is a lot. All the time. I'm just used to it being on me and the floor and the couch, but now it is carrots and sweet potatoes too!

That is right. Kate has started eating rice cereal and baby food in just the past week. She has taken to it like a pro. Still our chunkiest baby and this is why . . . she is a much better eater than anyone before her. It's a real joy.

 

Another new trick . . . scooting all over the floor. She went very quickly from rolling to her tummy, to rolling all over the floor to scooting/army crawling everywhere she wants to go, usually chasing after a toy. Doesn't she just look so proud of herself? Adorable.

A Little Too Close for Comfort

I had a birthday. My 37th birthday. I am perfectly happy with my age, with what I've done with my 37 years and with my life at this age, but hearing the number "37" made me get really nervous for how close that is to the number "40". I just can not even imagine that I will be 40 in a few short years. No offense to anyone, but THAT number does sound old to me right now. I guess I'll just have to live it up in my thirties before I become so decrepit. Oh, and look forward to my big plan to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu for my fortieth birthday!

This birthday was a very nice one. I was at home in California with so much of my family. Scott had arrived home from his hike the day before allowing the best birthday present I could have asked for . . . . sleeping in the morning of my birthday after being up for a few nights with sick kids!!! Hooray!

It got better from there. I went to meet my dad for lunch at a Peruvian restaurant with Jessica, Krista and my mom. Lomo Saltado! My favorite!

I then spent the afternoon floating on a raft in the pool ALL BY MYSELF. Scott floated with me for awhile, but all the kids were too sick to swim anymore. Sad for them, but oh so heavenly for me!

We had a raging party that evening when my cousin Jennifer arrived with her family of five girls adding to our mix. We had a delicious dinner, more swimming and then a BIG chocolate cake. Couldn't have asked for anything more. So happy.

Me, Bryce and Jennifer blowing out the candles. We all had birthdays that week.

And oh happy day . . . I got a new Hobo wallet from Scott for my birthday. My sister in law, Laura, told me how this wallet "changed her life". Her sisters and mom agreed. I've met a few other women with a Hobo wallet and they all say the same. I'm hoping for the same magical experience for me and my new wallet.

My mom and Rama gave me money for my birthday which I quickly determined would be used to buy the HUGE wall clock I had been eyeing, but didn't feel justified spending the money on. It's big and it's a beauty! I love it. Thank you!

And, last but not least, we got a new piano!! This was not a birthday present, but came along the same time as my birthday and I was the one wanting it so badly. So, technically it was for me. Brielle and I have both started piano lessons. Woo hoo!!!

On to number "38"! Yikes.

Meanwhile, back at home . . .

The hikers left for their week of adventure climbing Mt. Whitney and we hit the pool . . . literally, all day every day. No joke. Me and the kids shared mom and dad's house with just Krista. We would wake up in the morning, eat breakfast while watching the Olympics and then go directly outside and jump in the water. The kids would come out for lunch and then go right back in until dinner, baths and bed time. I treated it like our very own California getaway resort. 

The Allred Resort and Spa.

Jessica was at the Skinner's house watching Laura and Brian's kids. They would all roll in about 10 or 11am to join us for our day of swimming and lounging. The kids had a great time playing together and Jessica, Krista and I just hung out (along with running kids to the bathroom, sunscreening bodies, changing in and out of swim suits, making lunch, cleaning up, breaking up fights, putting naughty ones in time out, etc.)

Lunch served pool side.

Zachy "swimming"!

Blake and Brie lounging at the pool.

Alicia and the hooligans.

Ava and Lila, best buddies.

Ava transporting Zachy around the pool in her rickshaw.

Kate got over her aversion to water and loved it.

This girl really did learn to swim those two weeks in the pool. She is all over the deep end now. So happy! I keep paying for swimming lessons, but all it took was days in the pool to really learn.

We even had a night swimming party and let the kids stay up way too late swimming in the dark with the disco ball light mom left for them. 

Night swimmers.

Along with all the swimming, Auntie Jessica ran a regular kid's summer camp for all the cousins. She tie dyed shirts with them that turned out AWESOME.

We took them to Dewar's Ice Cream shop to eat ice cream BEFORE dinner!

We let them tattoo their entire bodies.

We let them eat Burger King kids meals for dinner. Which (don't tell Dad) then came up a little in the pool when swimming right after. Lila puked a little chocolate milk shake and Zachy puked his chicken nuggets. Now we know why we should wait 30 minutes to swim after eating, don't we kids?

We let them wrestle baby Kate. Obviously, she won.

And watch all the Olympics they wanted.

The outing that won us the most praise though was a little trip to John's Incredible Pizza. It was a fun day of playing games, riding rides and eating all you can eat pizza.

Kea and Davin hit the jack pot big time!

Turns out Jessica and I put on a pretty good time! It all came to a crashing end when we ended the week with kids with 104 degree temps., deep coughing, sore throats, ear infections, and green hair. Scott was back, so we packed up and headed home. 

My kids have asked me every single day since if we can please go back to Grandma and Grandpa's pool!

Mount Whitney

That is right folks, it has taken me awhile, but I have finally tackled the 800+ pictures of the Mt. Whitney hike. They may not be in order, but what do I know, I was at home lounging in the pool with the kids. 

This was THE hike. It was a BIG deal. The hike was talked about and planned for a year leading up to it. They mapped out their route. They shopped for and bought new gear. They weighed every ounce of food and clothing that they would pack. They went on training hikes. Etc. etc. etc.

The hike was a celebration of my dad having a new heart through heart transplant and actually being able to hike again. Since heart disease started for him 13 years ago he had not been able to be up in the mountains and hike. Something he really loves. So, once he recovered from the transplant he started dreaming, hoping and planning for a hike with his family to the top of Mt. Whitney. The highest peak in the continental U.S. 

The 60+ mile hike was also to recognize the 60th birthdays of both my mom and dad. They did this hike together. Seven days and six nights of hiking about 10 miles a day.

Here is the group heading out on their first day - Brian and Laura, Bryce and Serena, Mom and Dad, Evan, Scott. Landon would join them on the trail (after a CRAZY ride getting there).

When I asked Scott for details of the hike he said, "We walked, filtered water, walked, filtered water, walked, set up camp, slept, walked again. Oh and filtered water."

Setting up camp for the night.

A very cute picture of Laura, the hiker.

Bryce and Serena relaxing by the river and filtering water.

I love this picture of Scott taking a break to ponder on the complexities of the universe.

Over the river and through the woods.

Looks like what I'm sure was a very refreshing dip for everyone in Guitar Lake where they camped the night. Here is Landon having his bath/swim.

Camp for the night.

The view from the tent in the morning. Beautiful, I say.

Brothers.

From Guitar Lake, they left their packs and tents and headed up to the summit of Mt. Whitney.

Brian and Laura arriving triumphantly at the top! They all made it!

Scott jumping for joy at the summit of Mt. Whitney. 14,504 ft.

Bryce and Serena at the top.

 They called us from the summit on Friday morning, which was very exciting. I talked to them while in my swim suit in the pool. We then realized they still had 3 more days of hiking out to get back home. So, they began walking again.

Evan got to celebrate his birthday on Saturday with some dehydrated ice cream. Happy Birthday to you!

Gorgeous!

The end. They finished it, went to breakfast for some real food finally and then showed up at home a little tired, a little dirty, a little scruffy and ready to jump in the pool with the rest of us. 

A big congratulations to all the hikers. I am so happy they all made it safely up the mountain and back home.