New Hobby

Lately I have been really into taking pictures. So much that my family sometimes makes fun of me for how many pictures I take or how my camera goes everywhere I go. Well, after much research (and patience), I finally bought a DSLR camera today. I have been looking at the Canon Rebel line for a few months but just couldn't bring myself to spend that kind of money on a camera when we had a perfectly good point and shoot camera already. Enter nice man who put his Canon Rebel XT on Craig's List for only $220. Although it's an older model, it is a great camera and a perfect upgrade from our current camera. And it is in great condition. Today, we filled up a 512 MB memory card (about 150 pictures) before we even opened the instruction manual. Here are some of our favorites from today.

Happy Memorial Day!

Have fun and be safe!

6 months!

Happy Half Birthday Katelyn!

Back to Normal

Things are finally getting back to normal around here. Between being so sick (and poked and prodded at the doctor's office) and going away on "vacation", Katelyn has been a little thrown off. Okay a lot thrown off. She went from sleeping through the night or only waking up once to eat to waking every hour and needing to be comforted and waking up to eat twice. She was also only napping for 20-30 minutes at a time. On top of not sleeping (and probably related to being so tired), she would not let me put her down. Anywhere. We tried laying on the floor, swinging, exersaucer, bumbo seat, bouncy seat, and car seat. No way mom (screaming at the top of her lungs), I just want to be held please. Since she's getting more rest, that is getting a little better too. Whew!!

I did manage to capture a few pictures of her being happy somewhere other than my arms. Of course that was with me standing right beside her with the camera. We also had a couple of playdates this week. Collin got to play with Carter, Colt, and Sam, and Katelyn had fun with Ethan, Marley, Campbell, Cohen, and Will. (We got together with some friends from college and it was kid/baby central. Times sure have changed since previous parties!)

May So Far

Wow, what a busy month we have had so far. So busy that there hasn't been much time for blogging. I'll apologize in advance for how long this post might be, but lots of exciting things have happened in the past two weeks. It might take me days to write this/upload pics, so here goes...

1. Camping Out! Mike and Collin pitched a tent on the porch one Friday night. Collin was super excited. After we got Katelyn in bed for the night, we headed outside to roast marshmallows. On the gas burner for our large boiling pot.
Then I came inside and Mike and Collin settled into their tent for the night. It wasn't exactly what you would call "roughing it". They played computer games and watched Veggie Tales on Mike's computer. Collin did stay up until 11:00 which I thought was pretty impressive for a 3 year old. It was Mike's idea to go to sleep even then.
I think Collin had a great time. All day prior he kept telling me how excited he was to go camping. Afterwards, he kept asking to go camping again. Can't wait to take him camping "for real" one day.

2. Katelyn has started sitting up for short periods of time by herself. Up to a minute without falling over so far.
3. Mother's Day. Collin and Katelyn each got me a rose bush for Mother's Day. We had a great time at a cookout at Nanna's house. The kids had fun in the mini water park and makeshift slip and slide that Gumpy made for them.
I think it got a little cold.
Happy Mother's Day Mommy!
4. Katelyn got really sick on Mother's Day. She started running a fever that evening. I waited until Monday afternoon to take her to the doctor. I kept hoping maybe she was just teething. By the time we got to the doctor, her fever was 102.8. I was sure at this point that her ear infection had not cleared up. I wish I was right. The doctor could not find the source of her fever and so proceeded to try to find it. He had to use a catheter to get a urine sample to check for a UTI. He also stuck her heel to check her white blood count. I finally got her calmed down after that torture, when he came back to say that her WBC was really elevated (20,000). He said they needed to draw blood from her vein to send for blood cultures. He suspected a bloodstream infection because of the high counts, but said it could still be just a virus and not to worry. Yeah right. She also needed 2 antibiotic shots in case it was an infection. It was definitely the worst doctors appointment to date. We had to go back the following day for another round of antibiotic shots. The doctor said that day she probably had hand, foot, and mouth disease (a common childhood virus) because now her throat was red with pinpoint blisters. She said when we were there the day before, the other signs probably just hadn't shown up yet. Her fever lasted another day or so and so far she hasn't gotten any blisters on her hands or feet. Her urine and blood cultures were negative for any sort of bacteria. She's been fine since Thursday.

5. BEACH! We were supposed to leave for St. Simons on Tuesday but had to postpone until Wednesday since Katelyn was so sick. We went with our good friends Hugh and Ashley and their 3 year old daughter Macey. Here are some pics from our trip.

Katelyn's first time on the beach...
Shopping...
Beachtime...
Mmmm...ice cream!
And more beach...
Collin and his girlfriend, Macey...
Me and my babies...
6. And last but not least, Katelyn got her first taste of solid food tonight...oatmeal cereal! She also started drinking water from a sippy cup.