Happy Thanksgiving!

Last week we went to Illinois to spend Thanksgiving with Aaron's family. We actually had two Christmases as well. We had a wonderful, relaxing time. Kaitlyn was clingy, of course, but she allowed others to love on her at times. Here are some pictures...


Kaitlyn got to meet her second cousins. When she saw Brielle she kept touching her face. She loves other kids right now. She starts smiling and making noises when she sees them.
Kaitlyn with Aunt Samantha. Kaitlyn looks so much like Sam did at this age!
Playing with Great Grandma Rocke
Playing Settlers of Catan
Loving on Great Grandpa Rocke. I had to take this picture quickly because it didn't last long!

7 Months

Our little lady is just growing up so fast! I love seeing her do new things and learn about her surroundings. I never get tired of watching her play with something and examine it so thoroughly. That girl is so observant, she doesn't miss anything that goes on around her.

Kaitlyn...
*is now eating real foods! So far she has tried sweet potatoes, carrots, squash, and peas. Her favorite is squash!
*loves playing with things that aren't really baby toys
*has her first tooth!
*learned that she can control her tongue. She's been sticking it out quite a bit lately.
*loves to stand
*doesn't seem close to crawling. She wants to be able to move but doesn't know that crawling will make that happen.
*has been trying a sippy cup. She is definitely still getting used to it.
*has been learning about her hands lately. She's been staring at them as she opens and closes them and turns them over.
*loves her door jumper


It's never too early...

Halloween-The prettiest flower you'll ever see :)

Trying out the sippy

Like Mother, Like Daughter

For Christmas last year my mom gave me a bunch of my clothes from when I was a baby for Kaitlyn to wear. Here is a picture of me at 6 months.
This past Sunday I put Kaitlyn in that same dress.

Cripe Visit

This past weekend my parents came to visit and brought along my oldest step brother Ronnie, his wife Heidi, and two of their kids JoEllen and Luke. Aaron was gone for most of it because he was with the teens on a fall retreat. Obviously we wouldn't have preferred it to happen that way but that was the only time that worked for my family. They got in Friday afternoon. That evening didn't quite go as I had imagined it. While we were getting supper ready I cut my finger and Kaitlyn was also pretty fussy and didn't want anyone but me. It was pretty stressful for me. We went to have my nurse friend check out my finger and she didn't think I needed stitches so she just bandaged it up for me. Saturday went much better. We did some sight seeing and spent time talking. Aaron got home that night and was so tired. He preached Sunday morning too. We had lunch after church and then they were on their way. Here are some pictures from our time together...