Katelyn's First Derby Day

Saturday's Kentucky Derby was a hit with Katelyn! Our friends, the Kragers, hosted their annual Derby Party, so we busted out our Sunday's best which included a cute dress for Katelyn, seersucker pants for Michael, and a big hat for me! It was a lot of fun and the kids looked especially great all dressed up (there were about 8 little ones under the age of 4 at the party). The adults enjoyed mint juleps and some friendly bets. Katelyn was a wonderful little party-goer! Thanks for a fun party, Kaki and Kent!

Socializing and enjoying the races!

Family pic (Katelyn in her comfy pj's at this point)

Sleepy Katelyn meeting her new buddy Cooper. (She goes for older boys - he's 10 months ;)

First Trip as a Family of Four

Last Friday, Michael, Katelyn, Malone, and I (plus several pieces of luggage, the Pack n Play, diaper bag, and Malone's bed) loaded up the car and were bound for Iowa to see all kinds of family and friends. It was a great trip! We had such a wonderful time in Ames and are so very grateful for all the visitors taking time to come meet Katelyn. She loved being held and cuddled (so much so that on Monday she wouldn't let me put her down :) 

It's such an honor that people came from Des Moines, Perry, Sac City, Kansas City, Carroll, and Marshalltown to visit us - thank you one and all! Now on to the photos of Katelyn with all of her new friends (warning: if there is a limit to the number of pics contained in one blog post, this one is probably pretty close)...

With Lacey, a dear Gamma Phi friend who also studied with me in Wales. (She's due with her first baby on May 28! Doesn't she look great?!)

With Sara, another great G-Phi friend (and mama to Madeline and Jack - they're adorable!)

Sweet little Madeline did a great job holding Katelyn (you can tell she's a big sister :)

Lacey, baby Wendel, Madeline, Sara, Jack, me, and Katelyn. During our senior year of college, the three of us lived in the basement of the house we rented with 9 girls. Little did we know at the time that those late nights and early mornings would prepare us well for motherhood - ha, ha!!

With Great Grandma Rehm - we loved hearing stories about when my mom was a baby :)

Four generations on the Rehm side

With Great Aunt Cindy and Great Uncle RJ

With 2nd cousin Campbell and her mom Kristin - these two are going to have lots of fun in the years ahead!

With Great Grandma Ridnour

Four generations on the Ridnour side

With Great Aunt Ronda - look at those smiles!!

A quick family pic

With Grandma and Grandpa Ridnour

Having fun with Grandpa Ron!

Grandpa Ron teaching her how to fist bump - boo yaah!

A little tummy time before the next round of visitors.

With Steve, Cheryl, and Courtney - family friends for years... no, decades (I was the flower girl in their wedding back in the 80's)

Hanging out with Steve (can you tell she likes to look at the ceiling fan?)

With Kevin, baby Isabelle, and Julie - we've been friends since middle school!

Future Gamma Phi Beta girls!

With Aunt Carly

With Uncle Ryan and Aunt Carly

With Grandma Kathy and her friend, Lucy (who has 8 grandkids and one more on the way!)

Snoozing with Daddy after a weekend of visitors

Sleeping babies are some of the sweetest moments a camera can capture.

Some quality time with Grandma Kathy

On the road again... here are the kids on our trip back to Minneapolis :)

Thanks again to everyone who was able to visit us and meet Katelyn. We loved the weekend. If we didn't catch you this time, we will next time!

LOL!

Katelyn laughed this morning! She caught me and Michael a little off guard, but I was holding her and she was watching Michael comb his hair in the bathroom mirror. She was completely focused on him and then he looked at her and she started laughing; we're talking close to a belly laugh here, folks! She was bouncing up and down on my shoulder making a "huh, huh, huh, huh" noise with a big grin on her face. It was so darn cute! After the fact, Michael and I were joking that she was laughing at his hair style ;)

We had a great time in Iowa over the weekend and I'll post photos from that soon. Until then, here are a couple pictures of Katelyn's new favorite thing to do...

"Ah-ha! There it is!"

"Let me try a taste first..."

"Yup, it's as good as I remember! I just love this." (Sound effect: nomnomnomnommm)

"Are you done with the pictures yet, lady?"

Ouch!

Katelyn had her 2-month check-up yesterday and it involved three vaccination pokes and one oral vaccine. I was not looking forward to this appointment, but she was a trooper and only cried for about 30 seconds after the shots. Thankfully the pokes were quick and in rapid succession. (By the way, administering shots at pediatrician's office would probably be the worst job ever, in my book!) Katelyn checked out great and is growing very well. We give thanks everyday for our healthy, thriving baby girl!

Height: 24" (90%)

Weight: 11 lbs. 7 oz. (70%)

Head circumference: 15 3/4" (80%)

She's not shy about showing her disgust with the shots.

The battle wounds (at least she got pretty purple band-aids!)

A happy camper after a 2-hour nap following the appointment. 

2 Months Old

Katelyn is two months old today! The changes and development we have witnessed in her are amazing and it's only been two months. What kinds of things will we see by her first birthday?! 

You've heard of jazz hands, but one jazz hand with corresponding jazz foot? Now that's talent!

At two months old, Katelyn is ...

~ Smiling throughout the day, mostly in the morning and when she's on the changing table

~ Cooing and "talking" a lot in the mornings (she also has what we've named "the fake cry" which is when she's trying to talk but does it by way of a crying sound. We love hearing her "voice" :)

~ Eating about six times a day (every three hours starting around 6 a.m.)

~ Now sleeping exclusively in her crib (no longer in the basinet in our room)

~ Sleeping between 6 and 8 hours a night (she loves her Sound Spa that plays a heartbeat sound and projects moving images on the ceiling when in her crib)

~ Fussiest in the evenings (almost like clockwork from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. she fusses and cries - unfortunately, during the week this is the only time Michael really gets to spend time with her. Hopefully it's just a phase!)

~ Enjoying looking at books, listening to music, looking at faces, tummy time on her Boppy, and riding in her stroller on walks.

~ Holding her head up for longer stretches, sometimes up to 30 seconds at a time.

~ Getting some good exercise with us "pedaling" her legs. Supposedly it helps alleviate gas, which she gets frequently. Here's a pic of this move:

 

Today was Katelyn's first trip to Weaver Lake (a lake near our house that we love to walk to during the summer). We look forward to many more visits in the warmer months ahead. Here are some pics from this outing:

(I swear I'm not a traitor! Just trying to bridge our "house divided")

Snuggle Bunny! (Thanks for the outfit, Great Aunt Sandra and family :)

Here are some more photos taken in the last week...

Sleepy burrito girl!