Today Kate is 121 days old. She is truly a beautiful baby. Full of joy. Happy in the morning. Giggling. Cooing. She exudes warmth and cheerfulness. Our little miss sunshine. Before she came I knew that I loved her but I wondered if I would have as much love to give to Kate as I had with Colin. With the first child everything is new and wonderful and it’s hard to imagine having more to give. I discovered, however, that my heart overflows with love. It’s an unending fountain.
Mommy & Kate, Trinidad, CO (photo by Aunt Amy)
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger to a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
Melody Beattie
So many things to be thankful for….a loving God, my wonderful husband, my beautiful children, treasured family, & dear friends (old and new)
My word, Gratitude, is coming full circle this week….
Colin enjoying some Halloween candy
Kate sitting in her bumbo chair for the first time
Ballerina girl
Puppy Dog eyes (can we go home now)
Snuggly in her winter bundle
Boomer Sooners
Sweet baby girl
Brotherly love
The post “Finagled” has reached an all-time high comment count of 5 comments. Wowzers. This is a new record for me. Keep ‘em coming. I always enjoy hearing from my dear readers, and that means you too Sara!
I’ve been tagged to list seven random things about myself…
1. I played piano for 8 years
2. I’ve always wanted to learn to play the cello
3. I love to read and currently have like 10 different books I’m reading (no joke)
4. I secretly want to open my own coffee shop or B&B
5. I’m a Francophile*
6. I’ve been to France, Germany, England, Switzerland
7. I can fold my tongue in half 
I tag Katy, Sylvia, and Amy
*francophile: a person with a fondness for France and things French.
I was finagled out of $21 by Sears on Sunday. I went to pick up Kate’s 3 month pictures and when they pulled out the sheets for me to inspect the salesgirl said, “Oh look they sent some extras. If you’re interested, that’ll be $20.” I couldn’t very well let 4 more sheets go to waste. I mean really, my sweet baby’s pictures would’ve been trash in 2 seconds had I said no. Well this is what corporate was hoping for. I had sucker written on my forehead because I bought the extras. I figured they’d make good gifts but what am I going to do with a huge 10X13? But look at that sweet smile…how could anyone resist?
Sticks and stones
Battle zones
A single light bulb
On a single thread for the black
Sirens wail
History fails
Rose-colored glass
Begins to age and crack
While the politicians shadowbox
The power ring
In an endless split decision
Never solve anything
From a neighbors distant land
I heard the strain of the common man
Let it be me
(this is not a fighting song)
Let it be me
(not a wrong for a wrong)
Let it be me
If the world is night
Shine my life like a light
Well the world seems spent
And the president
Has no good idea
Of who the masses are
Well I’m one of them
And I’m among friends
Were trying to see beyond
The fences in our own backyards
I’ve seen the kingdoms blow
Like ashes in the winds of change
But the power of truth
Is the fuel for the flame
So the darker the ages get
There’s a stronger beacon yet
Let it be me
(this is not a fighting song)
Let it be me
(not a wrong for a wrong)
Let it be me
If the world is night
Shine my life like a light
In the kind word you speak
In the turn of the cheek
When your vision stays clear
In the face of your fear
Then you see turning out a light switch
Is their only power
When we stand like spotlights
In a mighty tower
All for one and one for all
Then we sing the common call
Let it be me
(this is not a fighting song)
Let it be me
(not a wrong for a wrong)
Let it be me
If the world is night
Shine my life like a light
lyrics by Indigo Girls
Kate Sinclaire, October 31st, 3 months minus 2 days
Kate is officially 3 months old. I cannot believe how fast times flies. I say this every month, but it’s true. Especially true now that I have two. I reflect at the end of the week, every week, and wonder where it all went. But enough about time…
Kate weighs 13 lbs now. That’s more than Colin weighed at his 4 month appointment. She has all these jelly rolls that are increasingly difficult to clean around during bathtime and diaper changes. Kate is starting to watch her hands and she seems fascinated by all the ways they move. Speaking of hands, Kate grabs on to my hair like she’s hangin’ on for dear life. This has led to thoughts of chopping it all off because frankly I don’t want to wear a ponytail every day. But that’s another post for another time. Rolling to the side is another milestone and I’m sure she’ll be rolling over soon but not too soon because she really doesn’t like being on her tummy. Tummy time is normally short and full of drama. On the up side, it helps get the stuffies out of her nose better than the bulb syringe and Little Noses Saline drops. She still enjoys being swaddled every night when we put her to bed. I had to break down and by a large Swaddle Me blanket and it is worth every penny. I’m thinking I need another for backup. She’s starting to spit up a little more, so when you see her, she may be sporting a bib. Kate will be going back to the Doctor for another round of shots in a few weeks. I decided to do an alternative vaccine schedule. I highly recommend The Vaccine Book.
Her and I share some very sweet and private moments in the morning time. I get oodles of smiles. I play this little game of kissing her neck and chin and she will almost laugh and make the funniest noises but she will only share this with me and no one else. I take that back, she did do her “laugh” for Stephen the other night but for no one else. I try all the time in front of my parents but to no success. I love that we have something that only we share. Kind of like the snuggle times with Colin at night when he sings to me. Talking about Colin, Kate loves her bubba. He does a good job at making her smile.
My children truly are a blessing each and every day. I have much to be thankful for!
The end of the month always brings about a longer work day for Stephen because he has to run all the reports for the organization. It leaves me to fend for the kids by myself in the evenings. So this Halloween, like every Halloween past, left me to take Colin trick-or-treating by myself. However, the difference this year was that I have two children, not one. So I loaded the kiddos up and took them to see their cousin all dressed up as a bag of jelly beans. Then we headed over to Meme and Grandad’s for treat bags. My mom goes all out on the treats. They ended up watching Kate so that I could take Colin to a carnival and spend some one-on-one time with my favorite little guy. We had a fun time playing games and grabbing handfuls of candy, but I did feel sorry for myself. Sorry that Stephen was missing all the fun. Sorry that Stephen has missed every Halloween since Colin was born. Sorry that Colin was missing his daddy. Sorry that everyone else was there with their families and mine wasn’t complete. Next year will be different. Halloween will be on Saturday. Yay!
