Starting Solids...

At Katie's 6 month check-up the pediatrician gave us the green light to begin solid foods. Its been an interesting couple of weeks in which Katie has started to explore all sorts of new foods.

Here are a few pictures and a list of things we've learned so far:

1. What they call "solid" foods, aren't really solid.
2. Making your own baby food is time consuming....and this company called Gerber seems to have plenty of experience in this arena.
3. More food ends up on our face, clothes, and hands that what gets swallowed.
4. Katie is more interested in mommy and daddy's food than her own.
5. The cleanup process is much easier when Katie is wearing only a diaper....and bathtime/bedtime follows the meal.
6. Meal time is more successful if Katie gets to hold her own spoon.
7. Washable bibs are a MUST!
8. Katie likes sweet potatoes, carrots, butternut squash, and bananas. Katie is not a big fan of rice cereal, green peas, or peaches.
9. Sweet poatoes look the same going out as the do going in. Eww!

6 Months Old

Last week Katie had her 6 month checkup. She got a clean bill of health and 4 vaccinations as a parting gift! She weighed 15 lbs. 4 oz. (40%), measured 26 3/4 inches long (88%), with a head circumference of 16.5 inches (25%).

On Katie's actual half birthday, we got our 3rd significant snow storm of the season. Matt and I joke that Katie is our little snow queen as her first winter has brought more snow to Richmond than the past 5 years combined! With the cold temperatures and repeated snow storms, its been difficult to keep Katie entertained. Grandma and Grandpa Brammer have found several ways to get her out of the house including trips to Byrd Park, Maymont, and Lewis Ginter. Here are Katie and Grandma at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens...

Who doesn't get bored stuck inside the house for days at a time? To kill the boredom, Katie has found a new hobby. She loves "reading" the newspaper and newspaper adds - okay maybe not reading....more like destroying.

A few other pictures....just for fun.

She is SOOO Daddy's little girl.

Sitting Up!

Over the past week Katie started sitting up - YAY! I thought I'd share a couple pictures of the big milestone. You may notice she is flanked by pillows....just a precautionary measure against the occasional crash landing.

I look forward to each of the milestones that Katie crosses, but I know it is all flying by. She will be 6 months old soon...her first year is almost half over. :(

Checking Email Already!

Katie....aren't you a little young to be playing on the computer?

Uh oh! I'm busted! Maybe if I smile and look cute mom won't get mad....
Enough of this computer stuff....can I get back in my jumperoo?!?!

5 Months Old!

What's changed from month 4 to month 5? Our little girl is getting more curious and active, not to mention talkative. What's unchanged from Month 4 to 5? Katie still has virtually zero hair, her cheeks are still HUGE, and she still hates tummy time! I'll let the pictures and videos show you some of her activities over the last month.

The other morning, while I was making my breakfast, I put Katie in her Bumbo seat. While my back was turned I heard her toy fall. I turned around to find this....

Apparently she decided to trade in her toy for a more festive model!

Look mom - I found my feet! These things are quite convenient when no other toys are around! :-)

Ending on a good note, here is a video of the best sound in the world....Katie laughing. She absolutely loves it when Matt tickles her tummy!

Helmet Fitting

Some kids have shoe fittings, dress fittings...our little one has helmet fittings! This week Katie was fitted for helmet #2. Since many of you have asked questions about the helmeting process I thought I'd blog and post some pics about it. Plus, its pretty cool from a technology standpoint (I guess that's the computer geek in me).

Below is a picture of Katie before we left for the Orthotics office. Its not informative or explanatory in any way, but I thought she looked cute! :-)

Getting down to business...

The process starts with Katie taking off her current helmet and placing a white cap with receptors on her head. Her face has to be covered in little "sticker" receptors, strategically placed to get the best image. Does this receptor cap make my cheeks look fat?? Now comes the fun part...the large scanner. For lack of a better description, it looks like the one at the grocery store...just alot larger. The scanner has a cord attached to a laptop. As the scanner is scanning her head and face, it simultaneously loads the image into software which generates a 3-D replica of Katie from the neck up.
The image is then sent to OrthoAmerica - the firm which makes the helmet. The helmet should arrive within a week....and so we start all over again. One helmet down - 2 more to go!!

Crazy Christmas

Christmas 2009 has been rather CRAZY! We've had multiple celebrations, some health issues, and one more celebration remaining. I apologize for not posting sooner, but my dad has spent the past several days in the hospital recovering from a small stroke. Needless to say...his health has taken priority - even over Katie updates.

Our Christmas began Christmas Eve night when Bob, Coral, and Jake joined us for dinner at 1903 Colgate. We had a nice meal together and said our goodbyes until the next morning. Below are a couple pictures from the night. Christmas morning was very special to Matt and I...Katie's first! We decided to take a picture of our favorite present...for future memories! :-)

After opening presents at our house we headed over to Bob and Coral's for Christmas breakfast and celebration #2 of the day. Katie spent most of the time in her bouncer, trying to chew on most of her gifts.

On our way home from celebration #2....we decided to crash another family's Christmas morning. Matt's friend Trevor was only in town for a couple of days and only available on December 25th. So, we stopped by his house Christmas morning so Trevor and his wife Natalie could meet Katie. I just had to post a picture of Trevor and Miss Katie together! :-) Thanks Trevor and Natalie for letting us crash...
On December 26th we packed up and headed to the farm to see Ganny, Rob, Kat, Claire, The Eisenburgs, and the Rozakis family. It was quite the crowd at the farm and I was so excited that Katie got to see everyone!

Finally, on the evening of December 26th we arrived at my parents house. Unfortunately I don't have many pictures of the evening because our celebration was cut a little short. I hope to have some good pics in the new year with Grandma and Grandpa Brammer!