Mexico, Mia and Music

Stephen and I just returned from a fabulous five days in Playa del Carmen. While we were away, Kate and Mia had a lot of fun. Here are a few pictures from their week while the parents were away.

Sunday afternoon Nana accompanied Kate and Mia to church to hear a handbell concert.  Kate apparently loved the music even though her yellow dress was a bit tight!

Every morning Kate enjoyed her breakfast in Mia's room while watching the Today show.  I think we can see why that dress was snug.  That's a full belly!

While we were gone, Kate didn't want to miss her weekly music class.  Nana came along and got some cute pictures of all the craziness. 

Kate shows off her mad drumming skills.

While Kate and Mia were gallavanting around Austin, Stephen and I enjoyed a very relaxing trip to the El Dorado Maroma resort just north of Playa del Carmen.  We managed to exert a little effort and took a few pictures while we were there.  The most active thing we did was take a jet ski/snorkeling tour.  Although since our camera wasn't waterproof we have no evidence of anything more strenuous than signaling for the beach butler to bring another round of drinks!

Here's the view from the breakfast and lunch restaurant.  Those thatched huts are where we spent 90% of our time.  It was pure bliss.

Stephen catching up on a little reading. 

We did manage to clean up each night and pull ourselves away from the beach for dinner.   

Enjoying a local specialty - Coco Loco.

Getting friendly with Coco Loco.

Our home away from home.

The sky and the water were absolutely gorgeous. 

While I still think 7 Mile Beach in the Cayman Islands is the prettiest beach I've been to, this one definitely takes second place and a close second at that!

Who wants to come with us next time?

Kate had her eighth month birthday while we were gone, so her photo shoot was a few days late. She doesn't stay still long these days.  This was the best I could do for the traditional shot.

She flips right over as soon as you lay her on her back.  While she isn't crawling yet, I think it's going to happen pretty soon.

I love this last picture.  That look in her eyes just cracks me up.  I think I see a little mischievous glint in them.  She must get that from her father :-)

May Madness

While the calendar still says May it sure feels like summer around here. One warm Sunday a few weeks ago, Kate had her first dip in Mia's pool. Unfortunately the water temperature was a bit chilly. Kate hung out poolside with Mom in her shades while Dad chilled in the pool.

After she screamed when her foot touched the water we decided, yes, it probably was too cold for the baby. 

I pulled out the camera one afternoon before bedtime while Kate and Dad read 'Tails', one of Kate's favorites. 

Apparently Kate had had enough of the paparazzi for one afternoon!

For my first Mother's Day, Stephen treated me to a fabulous home cooked brunch.  Afterwards, I still had some room so we went to Amy's where I indulged in a very yummy milk shake.  Kate and I took the opportunity for some Mother-Daughter pics in the sweltering afternoon heat.

Thanks Dad and Kate for a special and memorable first Mother's Day. I love you both so much!

Back at the house, Kate looked like the cat that ate the canary or in her case, the giraffe!

 

This past weekend, Kate's cousins Tanner and Teagan came for a visit. Teagan thought she'd keep Kate company in her crib.

 

After a bit of a cool front, the temperatures dropped out of the 90s and we were able to enjoy a fun hike Saturday afternoon on Bull Creek.

 

 

Teagan shows off her 6 year old determination to carry the perfect throwing rock all the way to the creek.

 

Kate had a blast watching the antics of her older cousins.

 

We capped off our hike with a trip to Phil's Ice House for some yummy burgers which also happens to be attached to Amy's Ice Cream. Mia tried her best to get a grandkids photo.

 

Back at the house we attempted to heat the water in the hot tub a few degrees so that Kate could enjoy a dip.

 

She wasn't quite sure what she thought about it, but cousin Teagan kept her thoroughly entertained the whole time.

 

Tanner shows off his flipping skills in the pool. I also want to point out an endangered species pictured in this photo - the diving board!

 

Another first for Kate this weekend was eating meat. She loved the turkey and applesauce. Bring on the steak!

 

With the cousins headed back home and the temperatures still cool, Kate was back in the bjorn as we hit the hiking trails at Wild Basin.

 

 

Kate got to enjoy a picnic while we stopped beside the barely trickling waterfall.

 

The fun didn't stop there and in the afternoon we headed to the swings at Northwest Park.  Mia got a funny action shot of Kate coming in for a close up.

Stephen and I head to Playa del Carmen this weekend for a few days of R&R.  Kate and Mia will be holding down the fort at home.  Hasta luego!

Seven Months Here and Gone

I just realized that I never posted pictures from Kate's seven month photo shoot.  I can only imagine the outrage you must be feeling as I have made you wait for these photos.  Ha!  Without further ado, I give you Kate at seven months.

At seven months she is starting to sit up pretty well.  Although I wasn't able to capture it on film this time around.  Not having an assistant to help with the photo shoot, Kate thought it was a fun game to topple over every time I sat her up.  Guess we'll have to wait for the eight month pictures to document that milestone.

Here she is in mid laugh.  Her laugh is more like a gasping shriek which totally cracks me up.  While she is quick to smile all the time, you have to work pretty hard for those 'giggles' (a term I use loosely here).  Attacking her with 'the claw' or giving her zerberts on her belly are guaranteed ways to hear that shriek. 

Still trying to gnaw off Sophie's leg.

Poor baby, her hair has been the subject of much amusement since her birth.  Now that her hair lays down flat, she is plagued by what we lovingly refer to as her rat tail or mullet.  There have been numerous threats to cut it off but I'm confident she will grow into her 'party in the back' hair.   

First Road Trip and First Easter

It wasn't long after Grandma and Papa headed back to Georgia that Kate packed up her bags and went for her first road trip. Mia, Stephen and I tagged along for the ride up to Frisco, TX to visit her cousins Tanner and Teagan and Uncle Rick and Aunt Clancy. The ride up was mostly peaceful until the last 45 minutes when it was about an hour past bedtime and Kate let us know she was not happy to still be in her car seat. We finally arrived and by morning Kate was in a much better mood and ready to play with her cousins.

Tanner was a lot more interested in Kate this visit and asked on multiple occaisions to have his picture taken with her. So sweet!

Although he might not be so keen on her after she was intent on grabbing his ears.

Teagan also managed to get some quality 'Kate time'. 

Cousins!

Wasn't long before Kate was up to her usual tricks - hair pulling and face grabbing!

Teagan helps feed Kate some bananas.  Yum!

Tanner and Teagan had soccer games that Saturday.  Kate was snoozing during Tanner's game although she heard he played great!

After a slight delay due to some missing cleats, Kate cheered Teagan and her fellow Grasshogs!

 

Getting some hugs from Mia.  Won't be long until we are watching Kate play!

Before we get to Easter, I just have to share one of my new favorite pictures of Kate. She loves the maracas we got as freebies from her weekly music class. Future mariachi band member, perhaps?

Easter morning started off with helping Mia snap green beans while still in her PJs.  She definitely enjoyed chewing on the green bean more than when I tried to feed her some cooked ones later that week!

While she didn't make it to church, Kate did put on her Easter dress for a photo shoot with her Easter basket.

While she has gotten pretty good at sitting up, we still topple over sometimes!  Thank goodness Dad was there to rescue her.

Family photo while being eaten alive by mosquitoes.  Ah, how I missed those little devils while we were in San Francisco.

Back inside, Dad and Mia worked hard to get the Easter feast on the table.  Dad carves the roast.

Mia "lets the steam out" of the popovers. 

Finally ready to dig in.  Happy Easter!