PLAY DATE WITH NOLAN

Today Nolan and Courtney came over for a play date and we had so much fun! We thought this picture was so funny and called it parallel or independent play-Katelyn and Nolan are doing their own thing and aren't even aware of each other. Today is Nolan's 6 month birthday and we were floored by how fast time flies. We know it is SO important to cherish each kiss, each snuggle, each hug as they grow up too fast! Happy 6 month birthday Nolan!


Loving on our babies!

STARTING SOLIDS.....

I can't believe we have started rice cereal, I don't want my baby to grow up:( She really took to the spoon pretty well and decided her sippy cup was a teether....LOL We just handed her the cup to see what she would do and she brought it right to her mouth and started trying to drink out of it. We gave her like 3 sips of water for fun--it was precious!

The directions on the box said to desired consistency.. We were like, What consistency is that for a 1st time?!

I am ready Mommy & Daddy!

Yum, this is good!

I don't know if I like my hands or the rice cereal better? Hmm..

All gone! She did great for her 1st day of cereal and we are gradually going to increase the consistency and move her on to better foods like veggies and fruits!

WEEKEND OF MANY FIRSTS FOR KATELYN

First time to ride in her new stroller! We had to cross the straps as the stroller is still a little bit too big for her




1st time she sat in her highchair and ate dinner with us. She was so funny as while we were talking at the dinner table she was babbling with us!


Did we really pack this many bags for a ONE NIGHT STAY to Galveston?! YES! Ryan and I never knew how much stuff you need for one little baby!

1st time K got to use her new suitcase and her sunglasses!

Hat too! She is now ready for the beach! Galveston, here we come!

We made it after one stop to nurse and another to change a blow out diaper! Onto the 2nd outfit for the day, NO PROBLEM:) Why do the messiest diapers seem to be in the car?! Thanks Laura for the Piddle Pad recommendation in the car seat! It came in handy already!

Chillin' on the bed at the San Luis Hotel

People are starting to think Katelyn looks like her Daddy... I think so too!

Ryan made her a make shift "activity center" on the bed

This was K's first time in a Pack & Play. Thanks Adam & Jess for letting us borrow it! She woke up multiple times in the night, but I think she wasn't sure where she was. She is so much more aware of her environment now!

View from our hotel room. Apparently, San Luis is a party hotel as they had blaring music playing from the pool until 2:30 am! We called downstairs to complain as it kept waking up Katelyn. Are we getting OLD or what?!

1st time to go swimming in a big pool!

Katelyn was sleepy after swimming

Time to go home in her new "big girl carseat". This was a first for her to ride in it and I think she LOVES being able to sit upright and look around. She did great on the drive home except for another blow out! Good thing I brought a whole box of wipes and extra outfits! We had a fun 1st adventure on our FIRST ALLEN FAMILY vacation to Galveston! Looking forward to many more!

MOTHER'S DAY OUT

On Wednesdays, PaPa (Katelyn's grandpa & my Dad) has been coming over to watch Katelyn some, so I can run some much needed errands. It is has been a HUGE help! Yes, I know that I can take Katelyn with me everywhere, but sometimes it is so much easier for my Dad to watch her, so I can run errands more efficiently. Plus, I don't interrupt her naptime. Lord knows we don't want to wake a sleeping baby;)

Yay! Aunt Katie came back into town! She has been at Camp Ozark for the summer and she couldn't believe how much Katelyn has grown. She said the blog doesn't do justice to the little personality Katelyn is developing. She is her own little person and is becoming so much fun! She is starting to be a ham for the camera because I take so many pictures!

FUN TIMES...

Katelyn lounging in her new polka dot chair


She is going to be sitting very soon!

Play Date with the Boys-Brendan, Blake, Nolan

FIVE MONTHS OLD!

Almost trying to eat her dress

Five. Months. Old. Wow! I really can't believe our little girl turned 5 months today. When people say it goes fast, it really does!

Well, I took around 30 pictures today to get 3 that she was looking at the camera! Little Katelyn is definitely teething as she wanted to eat her dress or hands in almost all of the pictures!

At 5 months Katelyn is:

• able to roll front to back and back to front
• grabs at her feet and tries to eat them
• developing quite a personality, she is very social and loves to get out and about
• loves going on walks in the Baby Bjorn
• laughing & cooing ALOT! (more like a squeal when she is happy: see video below)
• Loves Peek a Boo, Bailey, Leap Frog, any teething toy, books (especially the ones she can feel different fabrics), loves for her Mommy to sing to her (glad someone does:))
• developing really good eye hand coordination (able to grab at all items on activity mat) & has been raking objects in her hand grasping them and bringing them to her mouth- Yes I am a proud Occupational Therapist Momma!
• smiles really big for Mommy, Daddy, & Mema
• sleeping better lately, but we are still working on this one. It depends on the night, but she usually sleeps 6-8 hours consecutively
• Able to sit supported & play
• On her tummy she now pushes the floor with her hands and flexes her feet & actually starting to enjoy tummy time more
• LOVES to look in the mirror and babble at herself- So funny!
• loves to blow bubbles
• Learning cause & effect: when she pushes Leap Frog's Belly-he sings ABC's-now that she has learned this, she does it OVER & OVER & OVER. Sometimes Ryan and I are ready to throw Leap Frog OUTSIDE!
• Knows her name! When you say Katelyn she turns her head to look at you!
• Loves it when we make silly faces with her and she laughs out loud-We are happy to know someone thinks we are funny!

Needless to say, we feel so BLESSED to have this little girl in our lives and count our BLESSINGS EVERYDAY that she is healthy and growing well. Katelyn Grace we love you to pieces and don't even remember what our life was like without you. It has changed for the better!

FUN WEEKEND

I can't believe I actually caught a smile on camera! She usually gives me the deer in headlights look. She smiles all the time now-such a happy baby!


Never too early to pray-look at those sweet eyes!

This weekend we went shopping to think about the transition of a new car seat & stroller because before we know it she is going to outgrow her current system. Katelyn was so good in the store and met another little girl that was precious and close to her age. They really stared at each other and started to babble. Who knows what they said in baby language, but it sure was cute! It makes me think of that movie "Look Who's Talking"....

She loves to put EVERYTHING in her mouth! Especially her clothes! I caught it on camera!

Ready to go shop with her 2 new buddies! Sophie (the giraffe and teether) & Leap Frog. She has learned this week a little about cause & effect. She pushes Leap Frog's belly and he sings the ABC's. She also likes to eat Leaps legs & arms!

We progressed to the Halo Sack over the weekend! Hooray! No more swaddling! We made it a slow progression as she loved to be swaddled (i.e. one arm out for about 4-5 days then both arms out for 4 days and then she slept well with just the sack!)

CONGRATS RYAN! Ryan did his 1st sprint triathalon over the weekend in Cypress, TX. It is a 525 yard swim, 14 mile bike ride & 3.28 mile run! Wow we are so proud of him and he did great! Katelyn and I unfortunately didn't get to go cheer him on because he had to leave at 4:00 am and we didn't want to wake Katelyn! We were with him in spirit...

PEEK A BOO....I SEE YOU!!!

Ryan and I filmed this video one night when we were getting her ready for bed. She is so funny and this week LOVES Peek a Boo!

WEEKLY UPDATE

Katelyn had her 4-5 month pics made this week and this is one of the "Sneak Peeks" I can't wait to see more! Our photographer is Deb Evans and she does a great job!

Sarah Chandler had her beautiful little girl Mackenzie Ryan and she weighed 5 lbs. 14 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long! She is absolutely beautiful! Congrats Sarah & JP!

Life has been busy as usual at the Allen household & Katelyn's sleeping through the night came to a SCREECHING halt 8 days ago. Hence, why I haven't blogged lately. We have been very tired! Although we have to celebrate last night, she made it 8 hours again! Ryan and I were ecstatic!

Last Saturday night, we went to the Astros game at MinuteMaid Park with Ryan's good friend from Texas Tech and groomsman Clint Cushman & his wife Kristi. We had so much fun and had great seats! We didn't get a picture of all of us, but if you see below I got one picture of the park and it is sideways! I couldn't fix it! Sorry!

Newest development this week! Katelyn LOVES her Bumbo and sits up really straight!

Hanging in Daddy's chair being serious

I LOVE that smile! It is hard to capture it on camera! Usually when she sees the camera I get the deer in headlights look. When I bring the camera down to talk to her, she laughs! Such a stinker:)

Our sweet friends Lindsay & Claire came over to visit and we had so much fun! Lindsay gives great parenting tips and is such a wonderful Mother to Claire. I have known Lindsay since Pre-K and we used to call each other MELON & LEMON. We think it is so neat that Katelyn and Claire will get to grow up together.

Lindsay & Katelyn

Katelyn went to a 1 year old birthday party for Rhys Longmire while Mommy & Daddy went on date night to the movies. MeMa and Pepa said she was very social at the party and had a great time!

Ready for the party!

Pepa giving Katelyn a bottle. I am so blessed that she will still nurse well, but also take a bottle of my breast milk so I have freedom to go out and do things often!

Lauren and Rhys (1 year old birthday boy!)=Katie we missed you!

Katelyn trying to eat her dress & falling over on Rhys!

She is such a "Daddy's girl"-This picture made my heart melt. I love seeing them interact. Katelyn loves her DADDY!