Cate doing random things

Sometimes we play music from YouTube on my laptop, and Cate dances to it. Right here I'm pretty sure she's trying to figure out how to get up there and bang on the keyboard.

Oops! What happened to that block?!

I finally figured out a way to do a little cleaning and keep Cate content. Just let her swiffer!

Cate wearing Rick's hat.

Cate wedged herself between the hutch and the wall in the dining room. Not sure why, but she thought it was hysterical.

Our house lot

This afternoon after Cate and I were at Target, we drove out to our property to see how things were looking. I haven't been out there for quite a while (even though it's only 2 minutes from our house!). We had really warm temps this weekend, and that helped with the melting, but as you can see, there's still plenty of snow in the woods.

The view below is of our partially cleared lot. This is where our driveway will go someday. Don't you love the big rock outcropping at the front? I think that's such a cool "driveway entrance feature." The photos below that show what is sort of our front yard, and the view from the driveway across the road.

And here's what Cate was doing while I took the pictures!

Say a little prayer for Cate's ear

We had Cate back at the doctor Monday, and her right ear is still a little red. So she's back on another 10 days of a slightly stronger antibiotic. If you would, please say a little prayer for her health, that she gets back to feeling like her old self soon. Thanks!

Cate yelling at blocks

One of Cate's new favorite activities is knocking over blocks. I set them up; she knocks them down. I started yelling "Ohhhh!!!!" every time she'd hit them, so now she yells at them too. It's pretty funny!

Yep. Still cold & snowy in Maine.

Sorry for taking so long to get new pictures up. Two days after that Valentine's Day wedding, we had Cate at the pediatrician with a double ear infection. A day later, Rick and I were getting prescriptions filled for our sinus infections. After a round of antibiotics for all, we are doing better, though Cate is still having a tough time. She's cutting at least three molars (I've been watching for the 4th), so she's had a few restless nights, not including when she was sick. We have a follow up appt. with the doctor tomorrow (scheduled for what will be probably in the middle of a snowstorm), but hopefully her ears will be healed, and maybe Dr. Phelps will have a suggestion, or at least words of encouragement, for her teething pains.

As for the weather, as I just alluded, we're still having snow. We're expecting another snowstorm tonight and tomorrow. I was talking with Mom earlier tonight who was watching the Weather Channel. They are calling this a "Mega Storm," which I found quite funny. We're supposed to get about a foot, but I don't think it's going to be worse than any of the other storms we've had this year. I think it's only getting that label b/c it's a storm that's going to hit DC, NY, Boston, oh, and those unknown places north of Boston (read: Maine). Oh, NOW it's a big deal! :) But we just had a snowstorm last Sunday night and a snow day last Monday. Luckily, we did not lose power, but there were many- teachers and students- who didn't get power back until as late as last Thursday, so I'm guessing many are not wanting to go through this again. How many more days until spring??















Yesterday I took Zoe for a walk in the woods near our house. When we returned home, we found Rick and Cate walking up and down our street. She was wearing her dog hat, which was so cute we had to snap a shot or two. Last week after our snowstorm, I took Cate out in her sled. I got her in the snowpants and baby Ugg boots (a hand-me down!). If Cate looks upset in the sled, it's probably b/c I had her in snow so deep, she kept nearly flipping over and out of the sled. I quickly discovered my plan for a Norman Rockwell-esque excursion was not happening, so I took this picture and we crawled back out of the field and onto solid (relatively speaking) ground.


Cate wore her red turtleneck and matching red monkey Robeez the other day. So cute I had to take a picture. Again, with her attacking the camera, this was the best shot I could get.

Mommy, give me the camera!!!

I know we're nearly 11 months from the official start of the terrible twos, but Cate is definitely learning how to throw a temper tantrum when she doesn't get her way. Gone are the days of quickly substituting the offending item with a more appropriate toy! Cate is a girl who knows what she wants and won't stop until she gets it. We are definitely in for a test of wills! :) Below are pictures of Cate trying to get the camera from me. I can't remember what I originally was going to take pictures of her doing, but this is what it turned into (her hanging on my legs, trying to get the camera).

Cate around the house

I just thought these pictures of Cate in her pj's were cute. She had just gotten up, and I gave her a bowl of Cheerios, which she munched on while wandering between the kitchen and the foyer.

Cate recently figured out how to sit on her lion, though she mostly just goes backwards. She's getting pretty good at getting on and off of it by herself.

A Valentine's Day Wedding

For Valentine's Day, we were invited to the wedding of a young woman I teach with. There were quite a few other Morse High faculty there, so we had a good evening. The wedding was down in Freeport- the service at the old Freeport Meeting House, and the reception was at the hotel right next door. Though we didn't stay very late because of Cate, we had a good time, and I think she did too.

I found this little Valentine's dress for Cate - it even has heart pockets on the front. She is studying my Eiffel Tower name card (did I mention this woman is our French teacher?)

This little girl was sitting at the next table over from us. She and Cate were checking each other out, so we made introductions. Turns out, she was born the day before Cate! But I'd just like to point out that she could not yet walk on her own, and she didn't have enough teeth to eat the crackers off the h'or doerves (sp? you know what I mean) table, like Cate did. However, in classy-gal style, Cate shared her Cheerios and puffs with her new friend.

Cate getting some love from the flower girl. Another new friend!

The end of the wedding, and the day after

Cate never seems to mind being the only girl on the dancefloor! The trouble was keeping her off when the special dances were going on.


But every girl reaches her limit, and Cate did eventually collapse- literally. We took this as a sign that she was ready to go home.


She was doing better today, and I think she was looking pretty cute in this new outfit from Gramma and Grandpa Pappas. I bought her the shoes last weekend at Target. So cute.

Cate being Cate

Poor Cate has had a rough few days. She got sick Saturday night- as in, I went in to her room to check on her before I went to bed, and she was just laying there, awake, surrounded by her own vomit. So gross. That was my first experience with real honest-to-goodness throwing up. And wouldn't you know, it was a night Rick was working! When I really could have used an extra pair of hands, he was conveniently at work. But I worked through the grossness and got Cate cleaned up and the crib changed out. Gag. Luckily, there was no more throwing up after that night, but now she has a cold too and is all snotty and coughing. So I stayed home with her today.

I took the above picture of her this evening, after I brought in a couple of big totes that I bought. She enjoyed checking it out and climbing inside. But now we have a new problem with picture-taking. Cate has always been fascinated by the camera, but now she's getting a bit demanding. She has figured out what button to push to flip through all the pictures on the camera, and she'll just keep doing it forever. But I won't let her walk around with the camera. So tonight, when she decided she wanted to run off with the camera, I had to take it away from her, and there was a complete sobbing, tear-producing, throwing herself on the floor meltdown. Seriously. I think that's one of the reasons we haven't taken as many pics lately. She really makes a scene when the camera comes out.

Isn't she a nut? I just don't understand why she likes to take off her socks and shoes and eat them?

On a separate note, Rick left a little bit ago for an overtime call, and I just watched both the engine and the ladder truck zip down High St. with lights and sirens. I'm guessing that means he won't be home anytime soon. I'm sure he'll be sorry that he actually has to WORK on this overtime call, as opposed to just hanging out in the recliner watching Sports Center. haha :)