Already stealing Daddy's money!

BUSTED!

Daddy's little sleepy head

Kate fell asleep in the car on the way home from a cookout, and NEVER sleeps on our shoulders like this anymore, so the transfer from car seat to crib was so precious...how big is this kid getting!?!

A little static stretching in the car...

And of course we should all check to see if our feet smell before going out...

KISSY FACE!!

Saturday fun...

We spent a family day on Saturday, shopping, walking, bookstore, and Kate enjoyed some new scenery...

Shopping with the munchkin...

Maryland State Fair...

Kate is now a HUGE fan of animals, real or stuffed! So the Maryland State Fair was a treat for her last weekend, and she wasn't shy about petting some of the bigger animals this time...

Another visit with the Reinhart cousins...

11 steps!!

My favorite things...

Is there any question why these two are my absolute favorite beings ever!

Swimming with Daddy...

Kate being Kate...

Just look at that devilish little face...

Dining hall fun...

We were at the dining hall at Towson for dinner and the soccer coach brought his little cutie, Tripp. Right away, Tripp came over and gave Kate a big hug...Not long after, he was running away from our little monster! (notice the back off hand gesture as she pins him against a table!) 

Playing peek-a-boo around the pole...

...and the random foreign dining services guy who ALWAYS wants to hold Katelyn, and just picked her up here!

First steps!!

So Kate's been soooooo close to walking for so long now...and she finally just let go and gave it a whirl tonight before bed! Only a few steps, but she was able to do it about 4 or 5 times when we set her up for it. So look out world, here she comes!

Welcome to the family Leah!!

Aunt Gina and Uncle Jared are new parents!! Leah Elizabeth was born on Monday, August 11th at 12:48pm. She was a tiny thing, weighing only 6 lbs. and measuring 18.5 inches. She's so sweet! 

Congratulations on your new addition, we can't wait to meet her!!

Another pic from Kim's shower...all dressed up with Mommy

We had a busy day. After the shower, we visited one of Mommy's old teammates Erin Higgins and her family, and another friend/teammate Katie also came by for an evening cookout. Most of the night, us parents played human jungle gym for all the kids. It was fun, but we were exhausted on the way home! 

This is Kate and Daddy playing with Stella (dressed as a fairy for this normal occassion!)

And here's Stella's daddy, Mike, helping Kate ride the giraffe. She was very focused on staying balanced!

Thanks for having us over Erin and Mike!

Aunt Kim's baby shower!

We helped throw Aunt Kimberly a surprise baby shower last weekend. I think we got her, but she definitely had an inkling that something was going on. Here's her posing with Kate up top, Katelyn's first experience with a lemon wedge, visiting with Grandmom, and helping Kimberly open some baby presents...

Picture People...

We went to Picture People for Kate's 9 month pictures. They made us wait like 45 minutes after our appointment time because they were behind schedule, so we had to try to entertain Katelyn for that time, and keep her happy so she still felt like smiling after being cooped up in that store all that time. She was obsessed with this little boy and terrorized the poor guy! She pulls herself up on our legs all the time, so she doesn't quite understand why little boys his size can't also hold her up!

oops...

So...Kate's newest fussy spot is her changing table. She's so mobile, she cannot fathom lying still for even a quick diaper change. And, I think she truly enjoys being naked (who doesn't right?) ...unfortunately, once she gets away while you're trying to change her...mistakes can happen. This is not a first, but a first at our place (sorry Nana!) and she's posing by the evidence!

A "box boat" from her box of diapers...

Hello!

Curious Kate...

It started as an innocent search...

Then she went deeper...

and deeper...

um, anybody looking??

And a satisfied Katelyn looks to Daddy for cleanup...all you new mommies out there - here's a disection of an overstuffed diaper bag! (and yes that's a fortune cookie by her leg...from a recent lunch outing)

9 month checkup...

Hmmm...paper

plus big gaping mouth...

equals lunch!

So Kate had her 9 month apppointment last week. Doc says she looks great. She was 19 lbs. 8 oz. if you can believe it! 28.5 inches long and her head is still really big! The paper she's eating is of course the little stat sheet we've been using for her post-appointment pics all along...only now it looks really appetizing (I still don't get how paper is tasty, but she seems to think so!)

We went for a walk with the front carrier, and Kate was a bit impatient when we got back to get down and play...

During a trip to the mall, we stopped at the kiddie play area to see if it was a place Kate was able to "play" with the big kids. Turns out this little "flower plant" thing was about the only thing her size...while LOTS of bigger kids ran crazily around her...we didn't stay very long!