Fun Times!

We're getting all geared up for an afternoon walk with mom and dad. It was about 85 degrees in sunny South Florida today. What a beautiful day...what a beautiful baby!

Dinner Time! This cereal thing is all still very new for us. Can you tell? Notice the gunk on my arm? What you can't see is that it's in my hair and dripping down my leg!

Bed Time!

All cleaned up and ready for PJ's!

Sorry that we don't have any bedtime pics...Kate fell asleep nursing and we didn't want to wake a sleeping baby with our paparazzi like enthusiasm.

Good night to all...sweet dreams!

How many inches makes a ruler?????

The one at our house is 25 1/2 inches and her name is Kate the Great! Just kidding--she hasn't mutated into a total dictator, but she has been a bit more demanding lately.
We're not all that sure what happened. A few weeks ago, all was well. Kate was sleeping through the night, napping during the day. And then, BAM! She changed all the rules on us and we've been trying to figure things out (again) ever since. I know, "It's just a phase," "this too shall pass," and all those other mommyisms. Bottom line, being a mommy is tough work sometimes. But, then again, the pay off is HUGE!

Sweet Valentine

Kate hit the jack-pot! Thanks to Grandma and Granddaddy, Nana and Pops for all the Valentine's Day loot! She is one loved baby!

And on that farm he had a...

FROG!

CHIC!

Hello, Bright Eyes!

Pops...this one is for you! Love you bunches!!!

Rollin', Rollin', Rollin' in my crib!

As promised, here's a pic of Kate rolled over. She likes to play this clever little game where she rolls over as soon as I walk out of her nursery. It goes like this:

Kelly: [Laying Kate down for a nap.] Sweet dreams, baby girl!

Kate: mmm....ahhh.... (and other sleepy sounds)

[I leave. Sit down, get comfy...]

Kate: ha ha ha ha...cooo....ha!

[I go back into the nursery. This (look to above picture) is what I see.]

Kelly: [Rolling Kate back over.] Silly girl...go to sleep. [Return to couch..get comfy...]

Kate: ha...coooo....aha!

And that's the gist of it...who knew that a 4-month old could have such an ornery side?

Dog days!

Here's another photo of Dillon for Larry, his new best friend! We're sorry to see Dillon go, but one high-maintenance baby is about all we can handle!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!!!

Today was a big day in the Burton home...Stephen turned 28! Just two years away from the big 3-0! I've now known this kid for over half his life; isn't that crazy!

Kate turns 1...

...sort of. It was just about one year ago today that Stephen and I first learned that our very own Baby Burton was on the way. It was Super Bowl Sunday and I had stopped by the grocery store on the way home from church to pick up the ingredients for Dad's famous chilli. As I passed the aisle with pregnancy tests, I nonchalantly picked one up and tossed it in the cart. A total long-shot, I thought. There's no way I'm pregnant.
Once home, I took the test and then went to throw a frozen dinner in the microwave, mac and cheese...yummm. I was so distracted by my lunch that I forgot to check the results of the test. Again, I was positive that I wasn't pregnant. But, as it turns out, the test was positive that I was. I sat in my bathroom for what felt like forever staring at those two lines, reading the test box, looking back at the two lines. Then I cried, and laughed, and cried some more.
Stephen was still at church. I wouldn't have taken the test without him if I had any inkling that it would turn out positive. But it did, so Dillon and I hopped in the car and headed off to tell Stephen that he was going to be a daddy.
I'll never forget that moment. Stephen was walking across the church parking lot; I started crying as soon as I saw him, and, just like that, he knew. He took one look at me and knew that I was pregnant. We walked around the church where no one could see us and hugged, cried, laughed, and then hugged, cried and laughed all over again. It was perfect.
And now, one year later, Kate is here. She has occupied my every thought since that moment one year ago.

Take a look at me!

Kate, Stephen, Dillon, and I all took a walk this afternoon around the pond. Despite the clouds, it was a beautiful day in South Florida. Kate has finally taken a liking to her pacifier. It took a little coaxing (I dipped it in apple juice), but she has taken to it like a pro. We are desperately hoping that this will improve the traveling conditions on our trips to Miami.
Kate is really coming into her own these days...laughing, reaching for toys, watching cartoons and, of course, Oprah! Watching her grow in to herself is the most fun I've ever had. Sometimes, I still can't believe that I get to be her mom.

I just took a peek at Kate...she has fallen asleep in her swing (dreaming of nana and pops, I'm sure) and she is still sucking on her pacifier! What a cutie-patootie!

Kate and long-time friend Dillon...

I know this is an old picture of Kate (look how tiny!), but we needed to post a picture of D-dog for his future home. Yes, everyone warned us that this day may come. We love Dillon...he's such a good dog. But, we simply can't give him the attention he really needs now that Kate has arrived. It will be a sad day when he leaves us, but we've found a good home for him where he can run around outside as much as he likes without being scolded by the eldery neighbors. (For those of you who don't know, we are the youngest family in an otherwise geriatric community).