Intervale Farm

After leaving the Pinelands, we went a little further up the road to Intervale to the pumpkin farm. For 50 cents, we were able to buy a cup of feed for the goats. Of course, that's the first thing I did, and Rick suggested (correctly?) that it was probably the most exciting 50 cents I had spent in a while. I think Rick's really glad that we have Cate, because it doesn't look silly when I'm feeding goats while holding a baby, but Rick would probably have been embarrassed by me feeding the goats as a childless adult. And we all know I would have still fed the goats! :)

While we were eating at the Pinelands, another family was next to us with an 8 month old little girl. She and Cate were checking each other out. They also ended up at the pumpkin farm and offered to take a family picture.

Cate and I are trying to pick out Mommy's pumpkin. Rick said it wasn't nearly as bad as me trying to pick out our Christmas tree, but maybe close to it.

Mom and I found this farm last October after seeing it in an issue of DownEast magazine. She took this picture of me (6 months pregnant with Cate), so I felt it only proper to do a similar shot this year with a 9 month old Cate. What a difference a year makes!

Thompson's Orchards

After leaving the pumpkin place, we went up the road to Thompson's Orchards in New Gloucester. We checked out the horses, though we didn't do the wagon ride (if you look at Cate's face in the apple, you may be able to tell that she was pretty much worn out). We did go inside and bought some cider and two fresh, homemade pumpkin doughnuts. Wow, were they ever good! After we were done, we headed back home. It was a great Saturday!

One box = tons of fun!

This shoe box has become Cate's favorite new "toy." As soon as we put it out for her, she immediately tries to climb on it. Then, she figured out how to straighten up her legs and stand leaning over it. Just a few minutes ago, as Cate was joining me in the attic to update this blog, she crawled up on something a little bigger than this box, then she grabbed the bookshelf next to it and stood straight up!! She just amazes us with new tricks everyday. As for crawling, she's spending a lot of time up on all fours, but she still isn't crawling yet on all fours. The closest thing I've witnessed was her "walking" with her back legs but not moving her arms, and she just kind of fell on her face. I don't think it will be long, however, before she's really doing it!

What a difference (almost) 9 months makes

When our friend Julie saw Cate in her carseat the other day, she commented how her feet are starting to hang off the end. She said, "Gosh, you're going to need a new seat for her soon." I think Rick and I had to stop for a minute. Sometimes we forget that she's growing up and won't be using the same things forever, like her carseat (** Cate: "Mom, Dad, my date is here." Me: "Ok, sweetie, tell him to wait a second while Dad straps your seat into the back of his car."**) It's easy to forget how much she's grown in a relatively short period of time. Even while visiting our friends Marc and Andrea recently, who just had a little boy (who was bigger than Cate when we brought her home, mind you), Rick and I couldn't get over how small he was.

So anyways, today when Cate and I got home from Walgreens, I snapped this picture of her, to compare to the picture we took of her when we first brought her home from the hospital. Crazy, isn't it? My dear college roomie, Nikki, gave birth this week to a little girl. So Nik, this will be Sophia come next July. Enjoy every moment (ok, except for the crying- yours and hers- you really don't have to enjoy that part) :)

Cate's new tricks

Ok, so she didn't stand up on her own, but she did a good job holding herself up on the chair. Of course, right after I took this picture, she fell over and crashed on the floor. I was sure there would be tears and screaming, but she just gave me the sticking out bottom lip and little wimper. A quick hug and it was back to the toys.

Cate's newest trick, which she just started doing within the past few days, is to get up on all fours. It's so funny how she learns new things. It's like, suddenly, one day, the legs tuck up under her, and then she's done it! Just like that! It makes me wonder how they figure out how to do these new things. And once she figures out something new, there's no stopping her! So far, the most we've seen is rocking back and forth, but we're still impressed.

Cate still finds the "commando crawl" the quickest and easiest mode of transportation. She can really get going fast, too, especially when she sees something she wants - like a toy, her Zoe, or something she's not supposed to have. :)

The many voices of Cate

So after posting "The many faces of Cate," it seemed only appropriate to post "The many voices of Cate." She was hanging out with me while I was making dinner the other night, and she was chattering away. I couldn't help but film her making all of her funny noises.

We are.... Penn State!!!

Cate is modeling her new Penn State sweatshirt her Grandpa Davis bought for her. I'm sure he's hoping she is a Nittany Lion in the making.



The last few times I've gone into Cate's room to get her, I've found her peaking out over her crib bumper. Usually, she's also chewing on the edge of her crib bumper. It's so cute, though, I had to take a picture.

Nan & Grandpa come up to visit

On Tuesday, Nan & Grandpa drove up from Rockport to stay with us for the rest of the week. Cate was so happy to visit with her other grandparents, who spoiled her rotten!! I think they were surprised how much Cate has changed since they last saw her in person (in May!), and they just couldn't get over what a happy baby she has turned out to be.



Cate sure likes to check out facial hair!






Hanging out with Nan, who likes to make all sorts of funny noises with Cate!! She's so much fun!

A day in Rockport, Mass.

Last Sunday we drove down to Rockport, Massachusetts for the day. Rick grew up vacationing there, as did his mom. His parents (Nan and Grandpa) were there for several days, so we went for a visit. They had a nice ocean view room, and Cate thoroughly enjoyed sitting up on the deck and watching the waves and all the people on the beach down below. We did go down on the beach to see the water up close and to chase sea gulls around.

We also walked around the corner and down to Bear Skin Neck, the area of Rockport where all the shops are located. Of course, we had to go to Helmut's (the struedel (sp?) place) and sit on the deck while eating pastries. And of course, we had to call Rick's sister, Aunt Chrissy, to tell her we were at Helmut's to make her jealous - it's probably her favorite place in the world.

Cate and I also got to try out the new Ergo backpack carrier that we bought the day before. Cate was a little unsure of it at first, but I think it's going to work out just fine. And it's much more comfortable for me!

The many faces of Cate

A few weeks ago, we got this bib in the mail from Mom and Dad. Apparently the Ashland University Alumni Association sends them out for new children/grandchildren. I decided to try and get her picture with it today. All I can say is, what did we do before digital cameras??? I must have taken between 15 -20 pictures before I got the one I wanted. Then as I was flipping through all the shots I thought, hmmm, these pictures all together really show so many of Cate's funny looks, and the "not perfect" shots really do tell a story about her personality. So I'm posting more than that one "perfect" picture. Enjoy!

This was the one I was going for!