A lazy Saturday morning

Rick went off to work a little before 7 this morning, and I was so thrilled that it wasn't me leaving for work! As he was heading out the door, I heard Cate start to stir. I kept my fingers crossed that she wouldn't decide to get up yet, and luckily, she did eventually fall back to sleep. Then, she didn't get up until 9:30!!! I guess four days home playing hard with Daddy and one at day care can really wear a girl out! Even she needed a day of rest. I went in her room at 9 am just to make sure she was still breathing. Here's what I found.

8 months old today!

Ok, so these two pictures were taken last night, but close enough! We were getting ready to have dinner.



Since both Rick and I worked today, Cate had to head off to daycare. Ugh. Early morning for all (notice it's still dark outside). Certainly not the way I would want to spend a big event like my 8th month birthday, but we had no choice. Luckily, Cate had a great day at daycare and even napped for a full hour while there. That translated into a good evening here at home. And a little shout out to the Dunlaps- thanks for this super cute outfit with the baby owls on it. So adorable.



Tonight while talking to Mom and Laurie on the phone, I tried putting Cate in her Pack 'n Play to see if she would stand up and hold on to the sides of it (Mom was curious). She did, but of course by the time I got the camera she was sitting, and I couldn't get her to do it again. She just wanted to sit and play with her toys before bathtime.



This picture was actually from last week, but I decided to throw it in anyways. I got home from school and found both Cate and Rick passed out asleep in the chair. Rick woke up before I got the camera ready, but they were both so cute. Looks like Daddy wore her right out!

8 months highlight reel

So we're into our third week of school (gag), and Cate and Daddy are having lots of fun at home together. They pal around all day- going out on the town, taking walks, and playing at home. I think Rick may even be getting better at getting her to take naps than I am. When I got home from school the other day, I discovered this video on the camera.



Cate's food repertoire is slowly expanding. She has now had a little diluted apple juice in a sippy cup, and she had some chicken with her sweet potatoes this week. We've also added wheat cereal ("mixed grain") as a more flavorful substitute for rice, with dinner. We decided to see what she'd do with "finger foods," so we gave her a few broken up pieces of Gerber Graduate Banana Puffs- they're about Cheerio sized but claim to melt easily in a tot's mouth. She likes the taste and seems to be doing ok eating them, but she doesn't quite yet have that "pincer" grip down to really get them into her own mouth. I suppose it doesn't help that we broke them into even smaller pieces, but oh well. As a side note, tonight I gave her a few puffs to eat (play with) while she was hanging out in her exersaucer and I was making dinner. The crushed remnants were left in the snack tray when I took her out to go to the dinner table. I later noticed that all traces of the leftover puffs were completely cleared out of the exersaucer. Hmmmm, who could have possibly snuck into the kitchen and licked the exersaucer snack tray clean?????? I suspect a big white dog.... :)

Crazy bouncing baby

Back in the spring, our neighbors loaned us this doorway jumper (they've loaned us half the stuff we have!), and I recently brought it up from the basement so that Cate could give it a try. We put her in it way back then, propping her up with blankets, but of course she was too small and just got mad and cried. Well, she's started bouncing in her exersaucer, so we thought the time had come to try it again. What a riot!! She loved it!! This first video is her just trying to get it figured out. She's a bit out of control, but luckily, she didn't crash into the sides of the doorway.



Here's another video after she had gotten the hang of it a little better. I think we may have a new favorite activity!! (And it may be the most entertaining one yet for us parents!)




That made you smile, didn't it?? :)

Future Red(skin)hawk??

Trista sent this onesie to Cate when she was born, and I'm thinking maybe the Alumni Association needs a picture!!

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.