Pumpkin Patch 2011

 Happy Fall Y'all!!!  (PLEASE notice those sweet kissable thigh rolls peeking out from her dress!)

Of course, no fall is complete without a family trip to the pumpkin patch.  Last Saturday morning was our turn to venture out to the Scott Pumpkin Patch. 

 Both of the girls posed and enjoyed the gorgeous weather and picking out a pumpkin.

 It was a great pumpkin miracle- everyone looked at the camera and the stranger I asked to use it!

 Sydney loves the tire swings they have all over, and she also enjoyed the hay ride for the first year. 

 But both of the girls were in awe of the pig races.  Kate leaned over the fence so intently every time they ran by. 

 Sydney trying to cheer on her favorite- Miss Potty

 All in all it was a very sweet and fun morning, until they both reached the point of no return...

And super dad took all his girls to Sonic afterwards, which made everything in the world right again.  Well, that and a 2 hour nap for us all :).

Kate's 1 year old stats

Since this will be my girls scrapbook, I want to document their milestones and remember their development along the way. At her one year check up, Kate weighed 19.9 pounds (25%) and was 28 3/4 inches long (25%). She is signing "more" and "all done" and is saying or repeating: hi (her first word), Daddy, Momma, Sissy/Sydney, baby, yeah, Hay-ee (Hailey is one of her babysitters daughters who is severely handicapped and Kate loves her!), cheese, juice, Uh oh, peez (please), shoe, and gives big ole kisses "mmmmmmmmmuh". I love love love this stage of baby/toddler. She is a busy baby and is almost walking, she takes several steps at a time. We have moved completely to milk in a sippy cup and table foods and she is a good eater. So far this weekend she has tried: chicken enchiladas, rice, beans, cheese, blueberry muffin, banana, grilled cheese and tator tots along with milk and watered down juice. Love you sweet Kate!!!!!


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Our little pumpkin is turning ONE!!!

My sweet Kate Emerson turned 1 on Saturday and we celebrated with friends and family at one of our neighborhood parks/pavilion.  We could not have been blessed with a more perfect weather forecast.  My theme was pumpkin, sentimentally because when I was pregnant Sydney would ask me every day when her baby sister would be here and I always told her "When the pumpkins are ready", and because I am currently obsessed with all things pumpkin!

 We had YUMMY pumpkin spice cupcakes with cream cheese icing, rice krispie treats with and without candy corn, Cheetos balls, veggies and dip, and mallow pumpkins.  I also made the table runner so every fall I can pull it out and remember Kate's first birthday.

 Her little smash cake was a beautiful pumpkin

 Thank you to Somer Clark Day for the personalized pumpkin (she named this the Kelly Stamps bow-head pumpkin for those of you who read Kelly's Korner)

 AND a huge thanks to Aunt Erin and Gigi who helped set up!

 Each child got to pick a little pumpkin to decorate with face stickers to take home and enjoy this fall.

 Kate's invitations had this polka dot pumpkin and Dayle helped me create a sign as you walked up to the pavilion.

 

 Struggling to snap a cute family picture of all 4 of us!

 Katy and Ben

 Catherine, Cora, Maria and Ava Lile

 Grandaddy and Kate

 Presley, Bridgett and Paul

 Mrs. Heather!!!!!

This is my amazing friend Heather who keeps Kate (and her best friend Walker) during the days.  As you can tell, both babies adore her and I thinks he is pretty crazy about them too!

 Sydney, Elli and Stevie

 plus Emma

 Oh my!!!  Guess who loved her cake!!!

 Really loved her cake!

 Andi and Emmy

 Maddox and Addie

 Friends decorating their pumpkins

 One very happy and blessed birthday girl!!!!!

We love you Kate Emerson and thank God every day that you are in our lives.

One last attempt at a picture with some special friends!

Kate's First Haircut

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Kate Update- 11 + months

 This big girl LOVES to eat! Her reflux and difficulty with weight gain seem to be in the rear view mirror PRAISE THE LORD!!!! She got discharged from her pediatric GI specialist and our pediatrician is going to take care of any other problems she might have. She is eating tons of table foods: meat, veggies, cheese, bread, fruit, yogurt, etc. Today at lunch her daddy gave her a pickle and she was thrilled as you can see! She is still getting 4 bottles a day and I have tried whole milk in a sippy but she isn't that interested. I guess we will drop her bottles down over the next 2 weeks because her first birthday is October 1!!!! What?!?!

 This is Kate meeting Alice Levin for the first time and I know they will be life long friends!

 At 11 months, Kate loves to read books, play ball and hug babies, dance to music, hold a phone up to her ear and say "Hi" and swing in the back yard with her big sister!

She has taken several steps and is very controlled walking while holding onto one finger of someone, so I am bracing myself for when she takes off running! She is really funny and full of personality and laughter and she is very verbal. She is always "talking" and singing and whining for what she wants. So far, she says:

Daddy, Momma (but not as much as Daddy), Sssseee (Sydney or Sissy), Hi (her first word), and Hay-ee (which is the daughter of the lady who keeps her for me who has severe disabilities. Seriously, Kate is obsessed with Hailley! She will crawl down the hallway calling her name and loves to climb all over Hailey in her wheelchair. She loves to give kisses (mmmmmmmmmmuh...) and waves the sweetest little princess wave where she only moves her hand like she is Princess Kate Middleton. I will try and upload a video of it soon. We are blessed beyond measure with our Princess Kate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love you Baby Cakes!

Boot Scootin' Boogie and Hog Heaven

Sydney's class had a huge western week last week, and Wednesday was a Boot Scootin' Boogie Party.

We walked in to see cattle to practice ropin, a covered wagon, a "horse" with a saddle, and tons of snacks. I got to stay and practice a little line dancing and square dancing. She learned a lot too, about the wild west, like that night when I was putting up her bandanna she said "Mom, did you know that cowboys and cowgirls use their bandannas to wipe sweat and even to blow their nose on???" Hee Hee! And she now has a new love for country music, which is just fine with this Momma! She is in the SENIOR room this year, which is a big deal since she has moved up through all the classes- infant, toddler, then sophomore, junior and now finally, the senior room.

And this week was all Razorback.  Because, lets be honest, there isn't much I don't love about the Hogs; I was thrilled.  They learned a lot about the University of Arkansas and compared and contrasted the other teams in the SEC (state shape and mascot).  Then they had cheer leading clinics, football clinics, learned the fight song and of course how to CALL THOSE HOGS, a tailgate party, and Friday they lead the entire school at a pep rally for the Razorbacks.  Then the seniors went outside for a little football game where the boys played ball and the girls cheered or coached.  Did I mention that Channel 7 was there to film a little segment?  :) It doesn't hurt that one of her classmates has a mommy that works there. 

MAJOR love for her class and teachers this year!!!! 

We are so thrilled with everything Sydney is learning and how much she loves going to preschool every day.

Stay tuned for future pre-k fun!