Surgery Update

Just a note that her surgery date was rescheduled due to the surgeon being out of town. It is now (3 days later) on Friday, May 11th. So if she is in the hospital for the expected 2 days, we'll spend our first Mother's Day together at Children's Hospital.






Don't you just love springtime?










Both Kate and Murphy were watching Ryan.

"What the heck is that kid doing?"
"I have no idea."

Progress

Hey, check it out...I'm sitting next to the big scary dog!









Trying to look casually brave and nonchalant...





Just showin' off! :)







Well, first item of progress, obviously is Kate's comfort with Murphy. She is still a bit timid if he moves too quickly, or makes a funny sound, but she feels more secure around him, more often. (as she tries to prove in the pictures!)

Kate and Ryan have also come to realize the other can be quite fun. When Kate first came home, they played in the same room, but not really with each other. That has changed in the last 2 1/2 weeks. Ryan will push her in her walker (way too fast), laughing like a madman, and Kate tries to keep up running, like the Flintstones in their car. They also play 'come & get me' and a 'peek-a-boo' behind the dining set. It's very sweet to hear them both giggling & laughing together. It makes a house feel happy.

Miss Kate no longer cries or hollers when put to bed. I discovered the trick was to not close the door, and to putter around her room for a minute before going out...(at which point she will giggle and try to entice me to play a game of peek-a-boo under the blanket with her), I casually walk out, blowing her a kiss (only close the door half way...very important detail). When I come back to check on her, for a moment you would swear she is not in the crib. Then you can notice fingertips holding the top of the blanket, or a couple toes poking out. Pulling back the blanket, there she is...hands above her head, looking as if she had no problem sleeping with a blanket over her face! I tell myself not to touch her or she may wake, but I can't resist... My hand will stroke the perfect skin on her cheek and brush aside her messed hair. Sweet baby. I'm glad you're mine, I whisper to her.

The warm shower has become her friend. :) It's pretty funny...she first acted as if it were acid pouring down on her, but has come to realize it brings warmth, and can be kind of fun to play in. She will stand in the shower and try to wash her hair (even though there is no shampoo on her hair), then open her mouth to let the water go in her mouth, and smile at me, as if to say, "Did you see that?? Pretty cool, huh?" The turning point seem to come when I put her in with Ryan. The plug was in the tub so there was a few inches of water from the shower and Ryan was kicking and splashing and making it look like the most fun ever. She did not take her eyes off him, and started laughing and splashing herself, like, "Is this fun? I guess this is fun. O.K., I'm having fun! I'm having fun!"

Then it happened. Ryan got a glimpse of the plumbing. His eyes were as big as saucers. "What did you do with her peeper?!" "She doesn't have one. Only boys do, and she's a girl." He looked at her with such pity...oh Lord have mercy darlin'...you poor thing...I'll pray for you....how on earth are you expected to go through life like that? I tried to explain that there was absolutely nothing wrong with her, and that's just how girl's are, but he just couldn't stop saying, "oh, poor little guy." "She's not a guy, she's a girl, and girls are just made different." I guess I shouldn't be surprised. He lives in a house with 4 other guys.

Kate has a handful of signs that she uses often. These no longer include Mommy, and Daddy, but rather eat, more, milk, and owie. We've been demoted below fishy crackers and boo-boos. Nice.





Grass has become do-able, as long as she has shoes on. See? Shoes - no tears. Barefoot - tears.







Her interest in strangers holding her has also waned. If someone outside her immediate clan is holding her, she will usually lose interest very quickly, and reach out for Mommy or Daddy to take her back. Excellent choice. :)

Life With Brothers

Hanging out with my brother Brendan in his room.

















I'm very tired. Kate falls asleep every night by pulling a blanket over her head. Mommy goes in to check on her and pulls the blanket off her face.












DARTH KATE






Are you watchin' my moves?










You do not know the POWER of the cute side!...cute in pink, that is!







Our backyard was having a very photogenic day! Colton, Kate...and of course, Murphy.







Darth Kate and Jedi Colton join forces! (Isn't Kate beautiful in this picture?)







Mommy pretends to tickle Kate to make her smile, and Kate pretends to tickle right back! Her shirt says, "Don't tell my parents, but they don't look a thing like me!"

Easter

The day before Easter, we spent a couple hours with Kate at Children's Pool, at La Jolla Cove. It was Kate's first day at the ocean. The rocks behind us, along the water's edge are actually seals! Kate did not seem to even notice them.
















Easter Sunday –

After the church service, there was an Easter egg hunt. Everybody laughed as we watched Kate clinging to big brother Bryson like a baby monkey. Kate was not thrilled about getting down on the grass, which, ya know, tended to slow down her egg-grabbing ability. (We’ll work on her technique for next year.) For now though, Bryson came in handy, and kept her from coming in to contact with the dreaded grass.

















Our family with all my guys, and baby-Kate. We met and picked up Kate in China 6 weeks ago. (Bryson and Brendan are trying to look as if they don't have a mouthful of candy.)

Some Bunnys Ready for Easter!

Ta-Da! I'm ready for Easter...whatever that means!
















Can you believe we have been home with Kate for 4 weeks? It's so funny...in a way it seems like only a few days ago that we came home, and in another way, it seems like a lifetime ago that we were on the plane coming home from Hong Kong. Now, we're ready to celebrate Easter and Spring is here. It's a great day!