Katie Marie - 8 Months

8 Months Old

She's turning into such a big girl! It's amazing how many new things she does in just 4 weeks time!

New Things

Katie has joined the scooter club! She sits on her butt and scoots with her feet out in front of her. She hates the idea of crawling and honestly doesn't have the arm strength. We're working on that with more tummy time.

She sleeps on average 10 to 12 hours a night.

She is a big eater~ I swear she ends up eating more solids than milk. She Loves her fruit and oatmeal in the morning. Some type of veggie and fruit for lunch and an actual meal for dinner, like Chicken and rice, Lasagna, Spaghetti and meat sauce, Mac and cheese, her current favorite Mixed veggies and beef. Along with a side of either a veggie or a custard like dessert. This girl loves her food. Still however has NO interest in feeding herself or holding her bottle. She also loves watered down pear juice but again, she won't hold the cup.

Play time. She is just getting into EVERYTHING. I hate it and I love it. She always wants what is in our hands and she is really starting to play with the puppies now. Her favorite toy right now is actually her Johnny Jump Up. She actually swings from it and takes a running start!  He enjoys pool and bath time finally.

She has a 9 month check up shortly so we'll get her stats then.

Here are some pics to enjoy. 

She mimicks Joe and I all the time. 

Labor Day Weekend at Blue Lake

Spur of the moment we decide to go to Blue Lake one last time for the summer. I begged Joe to take time off work so he could join us this time. So Friday afternoon my Mom, Katie, Joe and I loaded up the car and off we went east of the mountains.

The trip there was NOTHING like our first one Memorial Day weekend. With Joe driving we made it in record 3 hours~ It at best is normally a 3.5 hour drive. Joe has a semi lead foot.

While mom and I unloaded, Joe fed Katie her dinner outside.

Nothing better than 80* and enjoying her meal outside with Daddy!

After her dinner, daddy entertained her while mom and I made dinner for the adults. After that we all settled in for an early night.

So happy to be back at Blue Lake!

The next morning we all woke up around 8.  Katie had slept with Nana and was up a few times for bottles that night but otherwise had a good sleep. We had a delicious breakfast made by mom and had a nice leisurely morning in the sun. It was gorgeous out. 

She LOVED playing with the grass!

Daddy helped Katie put the duck up! Blue Lake Tradition. It lets our other family know that we are there! We have family that have other properties in the private resort. 

So happy to be doing a big girl job. 

We headed into town to run to the store for a few things we forgot for Katie. Like inflatable toys for the lake. After that we stopped at Dry Falls. Always amazing no matter how many times I see it.  Dry falls was once the BIGGEST waterfall in the world. The world is an amazing thing.

Dry Falls!

The Milichs (Boot and all)

She's so loved. 

She was flirting with EVERYONE who passed. 

This trip with Katie was so different than last time because she is so much more independent then before. She is content to sit on the floor with her toys and play while you do other things around her. Like cook or clean. 

Later that Saturday we went down to the beach for some fun in the sun.
 We bought a blow up duck boat for missy, she enjoyed floating but wasn't happy when I splashed her with the semi cold water.

She much rather sit in the sun!

This is her new thing! Tilting her head and batting  her eyes.

I stripped her out of her suit for some naked time. Not only because she had a minor rash but because Hey we're at Blue Lake, let loose and be free is the motto!

Nothing but a hat on.. So cute. 

Right after this was taken I had missy on my lap bouncing and my most embarrassing moment happened.  She pooped on me.. AHHH she had just peed and pooped before we took her diaper off so I thought we were in the clear for a little bit.. The worst part was daddy got it all on camera.. Oiy, he says he's going to send it in to Funniest Home Videos but I hope not. I'd just DIE...

Later that night the resort put on a dance for everyone. With the property on the cliff overlooking the whole park we pretty much had front row seating. While getting dinner ready (steak, potatoes, and salad.. NUMM) we shook our hips to the music. We ate at dusk outside and listened to the DJ mix it up. Even Katie enjoyed the tunes.  

After Dinner Joe built us a great fire and we bundled Katie up in her sweat suit and gathered around the fire for adult drinks and smores! Good combo I think!  Aunt Sue and Uncle Dave showed up around 10 and visited for a bit, sharing news that their son Dan and daughter in law Angela is expecting their second!!! So exciting. Happy for Dan and Angela!  Katie fell into a deep sleep to the music so I took her inside and laid her down, then went back out for more visiting with the neighbor Mrs. Parks and her two daughters. Everyone there is so nice. I've been going there since I was six weeks old and I am happy that I can carry on the tradition with my own family! Joe and I also danced through the grass for a few songs. One by Elvis ! He can really serenade a lady. 

The next morning daddy and I were headed to Sun Lakes State Park for a round of golf. Part of his birthday present.  So I loved on Katie a bit before we left her with Nana for the morning.

We had a fantastic time golfing. The beginning was rough as there were A LOT of people there. We ended up behind some real jerks who were slow but acted like top stuff.. So Joe and I decided to skip the third hole to by pass them.  Good thing we did. We ended up meeting up with a nice couple from Vancouver BC and we joined up with them as a foursome. We enjoyed the company and the game after that! Apparently they have been going to the State Park all of their lives with their families too! Small world. That just goes to show what an AMAZING place this is that we have the luxury to go to in the summers. 

Chillin' in the golf cart!

I need to work on my drives.. 

After golf, we got back around 2 we filled up Katie's duck floatie and turned it into a pool! She had such fun splashing around!

Then I decided to take advantage of the gorgeous weather and have her 8 month photo shoot!

Isn't she just a gem. This dress is the same one she wore for Easter.. Believe it or not it is a size 3 month.. Such a peanut. 

She did NOT like her bow. 

Her reaction after I told her "NO" for trying to take it off. 

Playing in the grass.. Look at that view in the background!

Snarling at me for again saying No at her trying to take the bow off.

Yes she snapped her head here. ! No she didn't cry

Rather she just tried again!

SUCCESS

Such pretty feet

Happy girl up high in the sky

a No Make  up mommy! Oiy

Joe and I had some alone time while Nana and Katie were napping so we walked out to Rattle Snake Rock. It was so nice and peaceful. The Evening fishing was just starting. 

 Later Dave and Sue came by with Nachos for appetizers. We visited for about 2 hours and just enjoyed family time! Mom and Sue were exchanging grandma stories and enjoying one another. Sue went camera crazy and took so many pics of Katie. She even got a cute one of Katie having a bath in the tub! I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. One of my most cherished pics of me at Blue Lake is one of me and my two brothers all tan and in the tub together. I was maybe 1 year old. So cute!

Later Joe built another fire. I was missing the music this time though, so we turned on the outside radio and made our own party!

Love this man!

He man, he build fire!

Just look at those coals! Perfect for roasting Mallows!

Then off to bed! I didn't sleep well this night because I was too busy thinking about the morning and all that had to be done to leave by 10 am.. Lots of laundry and clean up and packing. So of course I stressed about it all night and got only 3 hours sleep and was up at 7 am. We didn't hit our 10 am goal but that is due to a few delays that were so needed. 

After we cleaned the trailer and packed everything away.  Mom and I took Katie down to the swings ( a family tradition on leaving day, the kids were always sent to either the beach or the park to play while mom and dad cleaned and packed) 

Katie enjoyed the swing while Daddy finished washing down the deck and trailer. (the bats had made a mess in the month of no one being there) We wanted to leave the trailer better than we got to it as so Daddy also re stacked the fire wood and weed eated around the deck. He also dug out all of the summer's ashes in the fire pit and steam cleaned the BBQ.  Did I ever mention that I LOVE THAT MAN?  Well, I do. Even on his vacation he worked. 

Once he was done we all loaded into the car, stopped off to say good bye to Dave and Sue, dropped the garbage off in the dumpster and hit the road at Noon.. just a little off schedule!

All throughout the trip I had been writing in the log book (A mandatory task when staying at the lake) so that on leaving day I wouldn't have to rush through my log. I had mom and Joe write their favorite things. I melted when I read Joe's, His favorite part was getting the chance to enjoy his family and really just play with Katie and see how much she's changed. He's been working so hard the last few months that he hasn't had as much family time as he's been wanting. This was the reason why I made Joe come. Katie is growing SO fast and I didn't want him to miss it because he's earning a living for us.. He is such a great father and provider. I am happy that he got to enjoy Katie. That makes all of the planning, packing, and cleaning worth it!


To end this long blog, here are some pics of Katie on the swing and a few of the wind turbines in Ellensburg. Oh and it turned out to be a 6 hour drive since we left at noon on Labor Day MONDAY! Including a stop in Issaquah for dinner at Denny's and a blow out change/bath in their restroom.. FUN way to end the trip.