10 Months - Week 4

This past week was busy! Lots to get ready for and lots of firsts!

Cate has been standing up on her own without support. She gets in a crouch stance and then stands up, usually holding a toy or something. She seems completely oblivious that she's doing it. Then as easily as she stood up, she sits back down. I imagine it will not be long before she attempts her first steps.

Cate came home with a one of her creations from school for the holidays.

Cate has also discovered the stairs, with Daddy's help! We were spending some time upstairs wrapping the last bit of gifts and Mike too her downstairs for a diaper change. he led her back to the stairs and decided to climb up a couple to see if she would follow. Sure enough, she followed and then passed him! She climbed up all the stairs all by herself. Mike hung back a few steps to catch her in case she tumbled, but she never did! Now we need to watch her more closely around the stairs since *someone* showed her what they are for!

On Thursday morning, we all loaded the truck and headed for Shreveport to spend Cate's first Christmas with everyone. We arrived and spent some time exploring Mike's parent's office. Cate discovered the candy canes and decided to enjoy one for herself. She was also bombarded with noisemakers.

That evening we had Christmas with my mom. Cate played with tissue paper before realizing the real treat was under the tissue paper.

We also went outside to enjoy all the Christmas lights Mike's dad put up for her. Her favorite thing was the giant ornaments, which she thought was a big ball for her to eat.

On Christmas Eve/Aunt Christie's birthday, we went to my Dad's house to have Christmas and visit. Cate opened every one's gifts! We also came home with my old My Buddy doll that I got when I was 5 years old.

That evening we went to Shogun to surprise Aunt Christie for her birthday. Cate got to meet a lot of people. She cried when the cook made the big fire on the grill but did rather well with the rest of the night. She enjoyed the grilled veggies very much!

On Christmas morning, we all watched cartoons until everyone else woke up. We passed out presents and played with ribbons, tissue paper and tape while everyone took their turn opening gifts. Cate cut in line and opened a few of her before going down for a nap. Her face was priceless after opening her second gift. She looked so surprised and excited!

Mommy had to open the rest of her gifts since she seemed disinterested after a while. She was too busy taking in everything else and all the excitement surrounding her.

That evening Cate enjoyed some sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and peas for dinner with everyone and played with her new toys and new friend Gabe (Mike's brother's girlfriend's son....got it? lol). She followed him around the living room and kitchen. Then he eventually got down on her level and crawled around following her. It was very cute!

Cate had a hard time going to bed that night knowing there was still much excitement happening without her downstairs. It was a rough night. And a rough next morning. She did not want to nap even though she was very tired. We decided to make out way home with a very fussy Cate the whole way.

Last night and this morning seemed better. But after her up and down morning nap, she's been very fussy and has been crying most of the day. She has a fever, runny nose and cough. She has barely allowed up any pics of her in her new Saints outfits. Poor thing does not feel well at all. At least we all are off this week to take care of her.

10 Months - Week 3

Cate started waving this week. She had been just picking up her arm and spreading her fingers out. Then she started flapping her whole arm up and down. Now she does a hybrid of those two and has also started moving her fingers around too. It has to be the cutest thing I've ever seen! This isn't the best 'bye-bye' she's done...we'll have to keep trying to catch her on camera doing it.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZXw7C4VEeY

 

This week at school, the babies made Christmas cards. They are very cute.

 

Cate is becoming more ticklish and her laugh is becoming more defined. You can't help but laugh with her!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noZ8c6JBb2c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfQ1uNCkXRw

She has also started drumming on things more often. She climbs up to the couch and starts beating the cushions or crawls up to the table and starts hitting it. She even drums on us sometimes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wsr6DhKzwpM

Here are a few others pics from the week:

10 Months - Week 2

On Monday at school, Santa came to take pictures with the kids. Too bad Cate was still feeling icky. She no longer had a fever, but still was not feeling well. She stayed in her bed all day at school and played or laid down. So when it was time for the Santa pics, she was not very happy she was taken from her bed.

By Tuesday, Cate was feeling much better. So much so she felt like dancing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLcWKShnvDA

She has gotten good at mimicking movements or words. She will smack the couch when you smack the couch. She is getting closer to waving. She picks her hand up and will stare at her hand but hasn't mastering moving it back and forth fully. She has also started trying to mimic what you say. Mike said "oh dang it" when he dropped something and Cate said "ohhh da" right after him. At school on Wednesday, one of the teachers said "Ian! Ian!" when Ian started playing in the paint they were using to do a project and Cate said "Ia! Ia!" right after her.

She also attempts to answer you when you say something or ask something. This morning we turned on Super Why? A show on PBS that she likes. It's more interactive, which I think she likes. The characters read a story and help teach letters and reading. One character this morning asked "what letter is this" and Cate said "ahh!" (it was the letter 'W' lol) then the character asked "What sound does 'W' make?" and Cate answered "ahhh!" Then the character asked "what does this say?" and Cate answered "da! da!" lol She only answered when the character asked a question! It was too funny!

10 Months - Week 1

Cate is 10 months old!

Cate now has 6 teeth in. She's been chewing more on her fingers trying to reach to back of her mouth. So I guess she's getting closer to cutting more teeth. She still puts everything in her mouth, except maybe actual food! haha We are still trying to get her to eat more solids and get off the baby food. It's not really working out right now.

On Friday, I got a call that Cate had a fever of 101 and needed to be sent home. Mike went to pick her up and got her down for her afternoon nap. When I got home from work and after her nap, we took her temp again and it was up to 103. I called the doctor and she said that after sleep your temp is typically up, give her some Tylenol and a warm bath and if it was still high in the morning to bring her in. Cate ate normal and played normal. She was pretty tired though. She would play then come lay on me for a minute then play again and then lay on me. She did this off and on for an hour. We gave her a bath then put her down for bed. Her temp was 100 when she went to bed. In the morning, we got her up, she ate and we went to the store. After we got home I took her temp again and it was 99. She ate and played normally the rest of the day, but I continued to take her temp just to be sure. She stayed around 99 throughout the day. This morning Cate's temp was 98. I can only blame the cold we have all been fighting to the fever.

Saturday, we started putting up Christmas decorations in and outside the house. Even though Mike and I were in the house last year for Christmas, we have not put up decorations before. Last year, we had just moved in, I was pregnant and on bed rest, so we have an excuse for last year! But none this year!

We then went outside and helped Daddy put up lights. Cate checked bulbs while Mike put them up. Then that night, since it was warmer out, we went for a walk to see neighborhood lights.

Sunday, we braved the mall and went Christmas shopping.