The Path to Lost End

Wherein Sammy Plays with Alligators

2009-01-24T18:51:13Z

Back when Kylie was a few months old, we took a picture of her with an alligator for her room.

Kylie Marie at two months old (!?! Do you realize she'll be two in a few months! Holy Criminey that went fast.)

So, in the interest of symmetry, we (and by we, I mean the amazing Kyle) did a similar photo shoot with Mr. Sam.

Sam at three months. (Yeah, we were a little busier this time around. If necessary, we'll average and tell everybody the pictures were taken when the kids were two and a half months. That should work, right?)

I love my babies.

Wherein Sammy Smiles

2009-01-23T09:41:24Z

October 16, 2008

Wherein We Celebrate Daddy's Birthday

2008-12-12T16:00:00Z

One of the nice things about living in San Antonio, is that even in October, the weather is pretty nice. Kyle's birthday is on October 13 and to celebrate, we had an adventure at the zoo. Kylie had a blast -- a place where she can shriek and run around and no one objects! A child's paradise.

We did have a bit of a scare where it appeared that Kyle had lost his wallet (nothing like the thought of replacing all your credit cards to put a damper on the day!) but all turned out well when we found in in the parking lot by the car's trunk. So we went back into the zoo, only to run into the Spencers! So Kylie and Tara got to have fun together and, all in all, the day was a success. Go Mommy for organizing everything!

(And here's a thank-you to Nana for watching Kylie and Sammy later that night when Kyle and I went out to eat at the Melting Pot Considering that my children do not like sleeping, it was a more arduous task than she expected. But what do you expect from a family of vampires?)

Starting off the day, well-prepared! (Though we did end up going back to the car to leave a few things behind.)

Mommy and Kylie and random fake fossils.

Kylie, Running.

Kylie and Daddy, with Alligator in the background

This was taken at Kylie Marie's favorite exhibit, which is partly underwater, so everything appears kinda blue. It was very cool.

My Beautiful Girl

One of the other neat things about the San Antonio Zoo is their petting zoo. They have the most darling miniature goats. Though Kylie was more interested in the brushes than in the actual animals at least to start with.

But once she go the idea, I think she thought they were kinda cool. Though Mommy insisted on using a ton of wipes afterwords.

It was a wonderful day. Sorry it took me two months to blog about it!

Wherein Kylie and Sammy Pose in Honor of Daddy

2008-11-25T03:23:05Z

One thing Kyle and I do is homemade cards for birthday and stuff. So for Kyle's birthday, my idea was to get a picture of the kids looking nice that I could use to make a card. I learned a few things from this experience.
One: children will always change their expression in that split second between when your finger descends on the shutter and the picture actually snaps.
Two: taking pictures of two children with no helpers is crazy-hard.
Three: my kids are cute enough that it all turned out all right anyways (and me taking about 50 shots helped also). Thank goodness

For those keeping track, these were taken October 10, 2008. Kylie is in her Sunday dress her Nana bought her, and Sammy is in his blessing outfit.

This is the picture I used for the card. Aren't they beautiful!

Kylie and Sam, sharing a moment. (Kylie is poking and Sam is enduring. Pretty typical, really .)

Trying to keep Kylie in one place was a bit of a challenge. That is one squirmy girl I have! I took this picture right before she dived off the couch, and spent the next fifteen minutes trying to keep her hands off of the camera.

My beautiful boy.

Wherein Kylie Drinks Her Bottle

2008-11-24T07:27:38Z

For those who are keeping track, these were taken about the middle of September.

Kylie loves her bottle. (Unfortunately, I think we missed the easy weaning period. But we're down to two a day, one in the morning and one at night. Score!)

Daddy, please play with me.

Wherein Kylie and Sammy Play Together (Two Months Ago)

2008-11-23T08:20:59Z

Two months ago. Kylie is 17 months and Sam is 2 months.

Playing together! Though with adult supervision. Mommy thinking oh this is so cute, Kylie please don't kill your brother, adult supervision.

Big Yawn!

I took a photo of Sammy I liked and an online tutorial ('cause I'm geeky this way) and made a wallpaper for my computer. It's actually still up, which is a bit of a record for me, since I tend to change my pictures every few weeks. But I like this one.

Wherein We Visit the Past

2008-09-06T18:27:18Z

So I was going through my computer the other day (always a scary thing) and I found all these old pictures that I'd scanned in once upon a time. So I thought I'd share. Hopefully my siblings won't kill me

My maternal grandfather died about five years ago. He was an amazing wonderful man, who always thought I should marry an Idaho Farm Boy. Instead, I got Kyle. I think Grandpa would have approved.

My Dad and my brothers Daniel and David (Dan's in the middle). I think this is circa... let's see. It's when we were living in Holiday, and that was the year I was in fifth grade, and that would make it... Christmas of 1988? So twenty years ago... Wow. I feel old. Anyways, aren't they darling?

Now this was later. We're in the Avenues now, so I was probably somewhere between sixth and maybe eighth grade... Say early nineties and be done with it. The children are, in order, my sister Margaret, my cousin Elizabeth, my sister Elizabeth (yes, it got a little confusing sometimes while growing up ), my brother David, and Me! Looking like I want to be back in bed. Yeah, I was probably in Junior High by that point.

Me and my siblings! This was just after David came back from his mission. We went on one last vacation to Highlands, North Carolina (My Paternal Grandparents had a vacation home up there). It was wonderful and we had an amazing time. I'd forgotten how short my hair was -- though this does remind me why I don't usually post pictures of myself. Well, that and I'm usually the one taking the pictures. In order: Me, David, Margaret, Daniel, and Elizabeth.

And finally, we'll end with a current photo of Kyle and his children. I actually posted this picture already, but I was making it look artsy, and I really liked the way it came out. So there.

Wherein We Play at Peter Piper Pizza

2008-09-06T17:51:13Z

So again, on the Weekend of Birthdays. After Jackie's birthday on Friday, Taylor had his eighth birthday on Saturday! We celebrated at Peter Piper Pizza (A little older version of Chuckee Cheese, with lots of arcade games that you play with tokens and win with tickets that can be traded in for dollar-store prizes.) Kylie's a little young for the games -- I think mostly she liked wandering around and just looking at all the people there.

The Birthday Boy! Taylor's a big Batman fan, and that was the theme of his decorations and cake. Luckily, that's pretty easy stuff to find right now . The joys of merchandising.

One of the rides there available for the little kids was a miniature carousel. Daddy walked beside Kylie to make sure she didn't fall off (it was rather high off the ground) while Mommy wielded the camera. Kylie started off a little apprehensive, but I think she was enjoying it towards the end.

Jackie on the carousel.

Another ride, this one a little train that went around the track. Notice the belt that was very necessary to keep Kylie from trying to ride standing on the front of the train. No fear, this girl.

Mr. Tate, doing a photo-op with Kermit.

Ah, the joys of baby-hood. If only I could nap when and where I pleased!

Even Kylie eventually winds down. Taking a juice break with Daddy.

Daddy and Son Bonding Moment.

Wherein Kylie Goes Swimming

2008-09-04T06:05:39Z

About two weeks ago, we had a weekend of Birthdays. First off was Jackie, who is Kylie's Aunt's Sister-In-Law's Daughter (Say that five times fast.) Jackie was turning... I think it was six? Anyways, we were invited to the Birthday Party at Jackie's house which has (drumroll, please) a gorgeous swimming pool! Kylie, it turns out, is part fish, and she had an absolute blast. Her only frustration was that her Daddy insisted on holding her and wouldn't let her drown herself. Poor baby .

Kylie Marie being beautiful in the water

Practicing the breast stroke

How high can she go!

Wandering around

Daddy mugging for the camera

So sad when it's time to go!

Wherein Daddy Plays With His Babies

2008-08-13T04:54:02Z

Wherein Sammy Turns One Month Old

2008-08-11T06:33:49Z

On Friday, Sammy was one month old. It's amazing how fast time flies. In honor of the occasion, I took pictures. And look, I'm posting them sooner than one week! We'll pause for all the 'thuds' of people fainting in shock .

Sammy asleep. (If only I could convince him to do it as well at night...)

Kylie and Sammy sharing a moment.

Kylie getting ready for her eventual DJ career.

Rolling on the floor together

Sammy's close-up

Kylie practicing with her stroller.

Enjoying the day.

Wherein We Wave Goodbye to Grandma

2008-08-03T01:38:36Z

My mom (hitherto known as "Grandma") came to stay with us for about a week and half right after Sammy was born.

(Well, actually she came a few days before Sammy was born which allowed us to do a little shopping together. Last time, when Kylie was born, Kyle and my Mom went around to all the stores and all I did was sit in the hospital and later in bed at home. This time I wanted the chance to go around as well! I hope my Dad has forgiven us for taking her up to the Outlet stores. How was I supposed to know that there was a Villeroy and Boch store out there?)

Having my Mom here made everything a LOT easier and I had a pretty hard time of it when she left. But before she did, we took pictures!

We no longer have a guest bed, so the night before Grandma got here, we bought an air-mattress for her to sleep on and set it up downstairs in the living room. Grandma said it was pretty comfortable, but I think Kylie appreciated it more than anybody. She thought it was the funnest thing to play on since the last time we had empty cardboard boxes in the house Of course, she did manage to tumble off once and hit her head on a plug-outlet. Luckily she didn't crack open her head. Unluckily, she did crack the outlet. Daffy little girl.

During a performance of "Itsy, Bitsy Spider".

Grandma and her Grandbabies. (Some of them, at least.)

Despite an inauspicious beginning, I think Kylie really is rather fond of Sammy. She loves patting his head, though we have to watch this since she'll get so excited that patting his head mutates into patting his face, which is not so good. The refrain in our house these days is "Gentle! Gentle!"

Mommy and her Sammy.

Wherein We Introduce to the World a Funky Raisin

2008-08-01T19:32:49Z

Forrest Samuel was born on July 8 at 12:37 PM and was promptly christened by his father as "The Funky Raisin". He weighed 7 lb 1 oz, and was 19.25 inches in length. And yes, I know it's been three plus weeks since he was born, but life with a newborn AND a toddler is a little chaotic. But everyone's doing fine, Sammy's growing big and strong, and I'm mostly recovered from my c-section. And at last, here are some pictures.

Taking his first breath in the mean, cruel world.

Mommy, Daddy, and Sammy. (And in Mommy's defense, she'd just had major surgery, so forgive the frumpiness.)

Mommy and Sammy, sharing a moment.

It's funny, but from the very beginning he was different from Kylie. I don't remember Kylie ever looking quite as worried as Sammy does. Of course, considering that he's got a very demanding older sister, he might be right to be a little apprehensive.

Kylie's first introduction to Sammy was not auspicious, though that was partly our fault. Kyle tried to sit her down and put Sammy in her lap. The thing with Kylie is that her independent streak is a mile long. If it's not her idea, she's convinced it's a bad idea. So she took one look at Sammy, burst into tears, and proceeded to throw a min-temper-tantrum. It took her about a day to get used to him, and now the problem is keeping her away. It's always one thing or another, isn't it?

Sammy and Grandma

One Day Old.

Wherein Kylie is Confined

2008-06-01T07:46:06Z

Last week I had to go into work on a Kylie-day to print a few things. And I soon realized that my daughter's view of the world as her personal playground didn't translate very well behind the desk at FedEx Kinkos. (Her attempting to chew on the various plugs was a pretty good sign.) So, it was time to think creatively.

One of my co-workers thought my solution was hilarious enough to take some pictures, which he was then kind enough to pass on to me. All I can say is, it worked, I printed my stuff, and we were on our way without property damage OR bodily injury. So there.

Wherein Katharine Rambles About Food

2008-05-28T06:40:35Z

Food makes me paranoid.

Especially since I have a toddler (and, as an aside, before Kylie I really didn't realize why the phrase "toddler" is so appropriate, but seeing her lurch from side to side like a sailor on a drunken bender, it's all become clear. But I digress...) food has become my nemesis. Not only am I paranoid about what's appropriate to feed her and how much and such, she also has become an incredibly picky eater over the last few months and has decided she'd like to subsist on a diet of milk and occasional apple juice if she's in the mood and I put it into a bottle.

This can be very discouraging.

Part of the problem is that I've always had anxiety about cooking in general. I don't enjoy it. Or, more accurately, I don't enjoy the time it takes. I have all the attention span of a caffeinated-squirrel and I have a bad habit of picking up a book while I'm waiting for a pot to come to a boil, only to realize a chapter later that my stove is on fire. This is not a good thing.

Also, it can be very stressful trying to cook for someone else (i.e. a husband). Because while I might be willing to try something new or even eat something that I've ruined, he might not be in the same mood. And then there's the "I've just got home from work and am tired and don't want to think about food" mood and the "I've just spend all day with a frenetic toddler and don't want to think about food" mood and... well, you get the idea.

I'd like to be a good cook, I really would. I think the first thing I need to do is to change my attitude -- telling myself I will always be a bad cook is probably a self-fulfilling prophecy. And I really want my family to be eating healthily (see this frightening series about childhood obesity in the Washington Post if you'd like some more anxiety in your day) and then there's the frugal nature of eating in, which I've also been thinking about lately. So, conquering my fear is a necessity.

Any suggestions?