Happy Father's Day!

The transition from dada, to daddy, to dad, to father is one that I know well.  I had my dad wrapped around my finger starting at a very early age, and throughout the years he embodied each of these fatherly words.  He was dada when I was a baby and was just learning who he was.  He was daddy when he played with me outside and took me to get ice cream.  He was dad when he taught me lessons and disciplined me.  Now I call him a father, which encompasses all of these words and includes the lessons he's still teaching me on how to be a good parent.
When it comes to dads, I pretty much feel like the luckiest girl in the world.  I have such a wonderful father, father-in-law, and husband.

Kate is so lucky to have all these great role models in her life.  Brandon is such a hands-on dad, he's always involved in whatever Kate is doing.  He even took off one day last week so that he could see her at swimming lessons.  He never hesitates to ask me if I need "time off" and lets me go out for the evening (even if it is just to the store!) while he puts her to bed.  I know it kills him to have to go to work and miss out on so much of what Kate's doing, but he does it selflessly and without ever complaining.  There is no way I could stay home with Kate without his support.  So, even though my dad will always be my first hero, the first person I knew as dada, daddy, dad and father, I am also beginning to know Brandon is all of these roles as well.  

Take some time today to wish all those dads a Happy Father's Day!!  (now I have to go give Brandon his homemade gifts and a breakfast taco!)

Even with a broken arm he's a good dad, although he did get out of changing a lot of diapers!

Another Word-full Wednesday

I was planning on having a really cute wordless Wednesday post of Kate swimming like a fish, but the weather just wouldn't have it.  It stormed all night, and we got about 1.5 inches of rain.  I got up when Brandon left for work (about 6 a.m.) and everything looked completely normal.  I did my normal "before Kate wakes up" morning routine, and by the time I was done, 11.5 inches of rain later, this is what the front of our house looks like....

Needless to say, our morning has been anything but normal since then!  A county officer drove by when I was taking pictures, and told me to stay put until he came back and gave me the okay to leave (our roads are completely submerged), then he asked if we needed anything.  He was very nice, I told him we didn't need anything at the moment, but he gave me his number just in case.  I just hope we get to leave before the end of the day, I get a little cabin-feverish if we have to stay in all day long.

I feel very lucky because I've already talked to people in much worse situations that ours!  I'm hoping for no more rain so that roads and houses can dry, stay safe everyone!

Take Two!

Swimming lessons today....success!  Kate did so much better!  She kicked, blew bubbles, floated on her back (with assistance, of course) and even jumped in.  She had her pink pony with her, and the pony did everything she did.  This was a great idea, and I have a feeling the pony will be attending the rest of the swim classes with us, thanks again Jenna!  I didn't have to get in, but I did wear my suit just in case.  I didn't get any pictures today, I was too busy cheering from the sidelines.  I'll definitely post some tomorrow.

I forgot to post the traditional "picture in the bluebonnets" of Kate, so I'll end on that note today.  We didn't do any of her by herself, so the only one I have is from my sister-in-law and includes all her kids, too.  From left to right it's Gayton, Emma Rose, Will, and Kate.

Not so Much....

Today was the first day of Kate's swimming lessons.  I've been talking to her about them all weekend, and she seemed super excited.  She even wanted to try on her reusable swim diapers and model them for me last night....too cute.

When we got to the pool, she went right in.  She kicked for the instructor, and was about to blow bubbles when she started crying for about the next 25 minutes.  I got in a little bit with her, and the instructor and I made sooooo many attempts to get her back in the water, but she refused.  I even had my camera ready to take some super cute swimming pictures, but she wasn't having that today!  It's totally hard knowing when to encourage her to take risks and when to be sensitive and just hold her.  However, she says that she's really excited about going back tomorrow, so we're going to try again (I can't be sure if she actually wants to swim or if she just wants another popsicle at the end of class).  She even says she wants to swim on her tummy and her back, so we did a little practicing in the bathtub earlier.  Tomorrow I'm going to wear my suit in case I need to get in and assist.  I'm also going to take Jenna's advice and take her favorite toy (I meant to do that today, but completely forgot).  So her favorite "my little pony" is going to get a swimming lesson, too.  

Hopefully tomorrow goes better so those cute swim diapers aren't just for show!!  

Swimming

Kate starts swimming lessons next week.  She has been in and around water a lot since she was a baby, but she's recently developed a dislike of all things water related.  We went to a swimming birthday party recently, had a swimming playgroup today, and have gone swimming a couple of times this season at my in-laws house.  She always gets excited to put her suit on, then she seems very excited to get into the water, but she balks about 5 minutes after that.  She says, "Mommy, I get out now, I put my clothes on now, I go in now (occasionally crying ensues, but not always)."  I'm afraid that I'm going to spend the whole 30 minute swimming lesson convincing her that she likes to be in the water.
I was just wondering if anyone else has had a similar situation with anything toddler-realted.  She's definitely not scared of the water, just doesn't seem to want to stay very long.  Any advice that will make the lessons more enjoyable?

Like Mother, Like Daughter

I absolutely love listening to Kate talk to herself.  Right now, she's sitting on her potty, reading a book, and saying, "is this Bambi?  No!  It's Rudolph.  Is this Bambi?  No!  It's Rudolph."  This phrase has been on repeat for a while, but when we were painting earlier she was telling herself who she was painting, and it was pretty funny (Amy, you should see yourself as portrayed by Kate).

I know that all kids talk to themselves, but I also realized that I talk to myself quite a bit.  I talk to myself at the grocery store, while I'm cleaning, making lists, and sometimes even while I drive!  So I wonder if Kate's cute habit is nature or nurture?  I guess we'll find out when she's older!

A Few Things...

Okay, so it's been forever since I've posted, and I have the lamest excuse!  We got a new computer (we're Mac people now), and it's taken me this long (about 3 months) to figure out how to convert all my pictures and camera software to the Mac.  I don't think it would have taken me this long to do it if I would have made myself sit down and do it earlier, but I kept putting it off, and putting it off, and putting it off, etc.  I'm a little irritated with myself because I'd like to print this blog and save it for Kate when she's older, but I'm so terrible about keeping up with it!  

Kate is absolutely fabulous.  She's really into pretend play these days, and we play for hours having tea party and putting different kinds of dolls and animals into her doll house.  She loves puzzles and books, and she's pretty social, although still pretty scared of men.  We go to baby yoga on Tuesdays in New Braunfels, and she typically loves the class.  However, last week a new teacher took over...it's a guy, and Kate has yet to leave my lap.  I'm sure she'll grow out of it someday!

Potty training just got easier as of Sunday when Kate began to no longer need a diaper at home (other than nap and bed time).  I still put one on her when we go out, but I have a few brave friends who have gone cold turkey and no longer use diapers away from home.  I'm not quite that brave yet, but I'm sure I will be one day, soon hopefully.

I'm ready for winter, is anyone else?  Brandon killed one rattlesnake that was on the back porch with our dogs, and there have been 2 others near our mailbox.  They're baaaaaaaack (and unfortunately, we're still here)...

Here are a few pictures of the Kater lately.

She set the chess board up all by herself, I think this was taken sometime in March.  Brandon and I play sometimes, and I've been showing her how to set it up so she can "play" too, but I didn't know she was actually taking it all in (after I took this picture, she finished setting all the white pawns up, I guess I didn't get a picture of the finished product)!

This picture needs no caption!

She's very proud of her "potty" chart.  She gets to put a sticker on it every time she goes.

I thought this was funny because it looks like these three are having a meaningful conversation.