Cate's "clasp & drag" move

Cate is really getting good at moving around on the floor. She's now developed this "clasp and drag" move, where she puts her little hands together, reaches out in front, and pulls, while her legs kick around and provide a bit of "umph" from the back.

A lovely day in the park

So mid-morning I was on the phone with Rick (who was working), and he got a call and had to run. Shortly after, I heard lots of sirens headed toward the shipyard. I noticed Rick had left his pager at home, so I turned it on and discovered there was actually a real fire. After Cate and I finished lunch, it sounded like things were still happening, so I put her in the stroller, and we walked the few blocks down the hill to the river where the shipyard is located (though it probably stretches over a half mile lengthwise on the river). Well, we didn't see a stinkin' thing. No smoke in the air, no engines- I don't know where they were, but that may be a testament to the size of the place.

Anyways, Cate and I continued on through downtown where we stopped in at Reny's (the everything store) for a couple of picture frames and some toothpaste and then on to the library to return a book. After that I plopped a blanket down in the library park under the shade of a big oak tree, and we hung out there for a while.

Couldn't she just be the poster child for Bath? So cute.

She really enjoyed the grass. Our backyard is pretty much weeds and dog poop, so we really don't play in it. This was a nice treat.

I'm tired & my gums hurt

Tonight Rick went out to play golf, and Cate and I were home having dinner. She was really cranky, probably a result of more teething (we suspect), and another nap-less day at daycare (though she was asleep in a stroller when we arrived- no surprise there). Plus, she seemed a little out of sorts yesterday afternoon, and last night she felt warm. I took her temp and it was 102! We gave her some Tylenol, and she was fine this morning, but we're not sure what that was all about. Being her first fever, I had convinced myself of the worst, but we made it through. :)

Anyway, Cate was fussing through dinner, and I remembered I had a set of new teethers in the fridge- a gift from Great Aunt Tish that came with my birthday present. So I gave them to Cate, and once she figured out what to do with them, she was very content. But that picture on the left shows kind of a sad little face, doesn't it? But tomorrow Rick is working, I'm home, and Cate doesn't have to go to daycare. Hopefully it will be a quiet, restful day at home. Then Thursday is my first day back at work, but let's not go there or I might start crying again.



Ok, there's a little bit of that Cate personality coming out! Love those eyebrows!!

Cate's first lobster bake

Tonight was the annual Shift One lobster bake/party at Mike Drake's house in West Bath. It doesn't seem that long ago that we were at last year's party and I was pregnant with Cate. Mike has a great little house on a picturesque point on a tidal river that flows straight out to the ocean. On his off days, Mike lobsters, so when he does a lobster bake, not only are they literally right out of the water, but he cooks up plenty for all! Below, Cate is getting up close and personal with her first lobster. On the right, Lynda (Mike's fiance) is showing Cate the art of steaming lobsters, clams, and corn in a big pile of seaweed over a fire.



Just a few cute family pictures below. Mike's lobster traps made a nice little seat for Cate!



I think Cate thoroughly enjoyed her first lobster bake!! Oh, and that's Mike's lobster boat in the background that we got to take a ride on after dinner (well, not Cate- no baby life jackets available!!)

Evening lobster boat ride

After everyone had filled their bellies at dinner, Mike offered to take anyone who wanted to go out for an evening cruise on his lobster boat. Rick offered to stay behind with Cate so that I could go. Below we are pulling away from the dock. I don't think you can see Cate and Rick, but they're up there waving goodbye!



It was such a pretty evening as the sun was setting. We saw tons of ospreys out fishing, pogies jumping around in their schools, and even a seal. I love the picture below of the kayaker.



Though there is no lobstering allowed on Sundays, I guess fishing is permitted. We went past these two boats (which use drag nets for fish), pulling up a big net full of pogies.

Lobster lessons & Fireworks

Just for fun, Mike pulled up a couple of his traps just so we could take a look. Both traps had quite a few lobsters in them, but only one was a keeper. He just banded its claws and put it back in the trap for the time being. The one above on the left is obviously too small- but it was kind of cute, in a lobster sort of way!




After returning back to shore, it was getting dark, so the guys got the fireworks out and ready. They buy serious fireworks down in New Hampshire, and I think everyone in the bay comes out to watch. It wasn't quite as big a production as last year, but it was still pretty impressive. Amazingly, Cate didn't get scared at all, and in fact, I think she enjoyed the show!

Mommy's birthday

Saturday was Mommy's 31st birthday, and luckily, it was a beautiful Maine day! We went down to the wharf at Five Islands and had dinner on the dock with our friends John and Julie (Julie's birthday was on Wednesday). We also ran into friends Pete and Jackie, who joined us at our picnic table. It was a gorgeous evening but a little breezy & chilly down on the water. After dinner, we headed back home for cake and ice cream.



Here Cate is snuggled up and enjoying the view. Once she spotted all the gulls flying around over her head, she couldn't get enough of them!

Shake, rattle, and roll

Cate is really starting to move around on the floor by dragging herself with her arms. I got a good video of her doing it today while trying to get to her toys. She can also spin herself around on the floor on her belly pretty quickly. It's like a flashback to some 80's breakdancing move. haha!!





Cate with one of her favorite rattles - from Gr. Aunt Kathy & Gr. Uncle Larry. It makes a wonderful noise!

Downward dog

So as I was posting the pictures on the blog this morning, Cate was playing on the floor. I looked over and noticed she was pushing her whole body up off the floor, and I caught this picture of her doing it. It's kind of a yoga/Twister move, but she has all of her weight supported on her hands and feet! I think we may be crawling soon!

Cate turns 7 months old!

Our little one turned 7 months old on Saturday. Here are a few pictures to mark the event!








Ugh, still drooling from those teeth!! I guess I should have wiped her chin first- sorry! :)

Mommy & Cate at camp

Since this was Gramma and Grandpa's last week at camp, I took Cate up Wednesday night and Thursday for a visit. We left Daddy and Zoe at home, :( but we know Daddy got out for some golf with his friends.




















I love this one of Cate getting her bath in the kitchen sink. I think she's enjoying herself!















Cate rolling around on the floor and getting all tangled in her blankie, having a morning snuggle with Mommy, and hanging out in the big chair with Grandpa.

A family of toothbrushes

I remember years back- probably post-college but pre-marriage, I went home to Ohio, and Laurie was home too. Mom said that once we had gotten settled Dad told her, "It's nice to have four toothbrushes back in the holder again." It was kind of cute and sweet, but this week I had a similar experience. Now that Cate has teeth, I thought it would be fun to get her a little toothbrush (even though the dentist said at this point, just wiping them with a washcloth would be sufficient). Well, when I put it in the holder with Rick's and mine, I just had to say, "Awww!" It was a little family of toothbrushes! It was something of a visible reminder of how we have changed, and I just had to take a picture.

A few more animal pics from our trip

Turkey

Painted turtles

Black bear

Mallards, Cate, and Mommy

Moose (nice antlers!)

A day for teeth... bears, deer, and Cate?!?!

We enjoyed a really nice day today after several days of lousy weather. It's really been kind of a lousy summer, weather-wise, but today was rain-free. We decided to head over to the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray. It's run by the Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and houses many Maine critters that, for various reasons, cannot live in the wild anymore. After spending a nice afternoon there, we returned home, and I discovered that Cate's two bottom teeth have come in!! Well, they're not really "in," but when I rubbed my finger along her bottom gum (as I've been doing daily for weeks), I felt something sharp. Upon closer examination, sure enough, both bottom teeth have just erupted through the gum. All I can say now is, thank goodness I'm pretty much wrapping up breast feeding! :)

Anyways, here are some pictures of our trip to the Wildlife Park....

We were feeding the deer corn, so this one came right over for a visit.

Cate was really interested in the bears and squealed with delight when they came over to the fence to eat their bear treats, which we bought for a quarter. Here, she is looking at them quite intently!

This nice big bull moose was toward the back of his pen but came over to see us. Well, really, he walked over to us, took a big poop, turned around, and walked away. So much for hospitality!