Our Little Casa

I've been wanting to take time here lately to look back and reflect on this past year, to document some of my thoughts, memories, and emotions of Cate's first year, and our first year as parents. It just seems we've been so busy, as life is now and always will be, and I think of things here and there that I want to say and write out, but I am now making it a priority now, now that her parties are over, and things have settled down, a bit, so I can get her first year memory book made of all her blog posts!
So here it goes..
Cate Elisabeth, I don't think words can express what an absolute blessing you are to us. This past year has been the best year of Daddy and mines life. You bring us pure joy and happiness, and we can't wait to see what the next years bring us. The day you were born you completely stole your Daddy's (and my) heart. It's fuzzy, but I remember the days we spent in the hospital he was so smitten by you. He hardly put you down and jumped right in changing all of your diapers, etc. pretty much only giving you to me to nurse, and would reluctantly let others hold you, only to take you back after a few minutes. It was so amazing to see Matt as a father. There was not a doubt in my mind that he would be a wonderful father, but to see how he was with you those first few hours, days, weeks, months, and through this first year, completely melts my heart and makes my love for him grow more than I could ever imagine. His love for you shows so much and your face completely lights up when you see him. Your love for him shows too, being that your first words were "da da"!
The first weeks and months are somewhat of a blur, but I do remember little things here and there, and we took TONS of pictures and videos during that time that we'll have to look back on forever. One of my favorite videos during the first few weeks was one of me swaddling you after your bath, I got you all wrapped up, picked you up, and classic moment, you spit up everywhere. I'm so glad that we went overboard with pics and videos, because we can never go back to those times, but we will always have those memories. You had many visitors come to see you and welcome you into this world. You were already loved so much! I remember having the feeling of true bliss knowing you were our baby, but it took a while to actually "sink in" that you were actually OUR child, and that we HAD a child. I know partly it was because I nannied for a year before I had you, and was always caring and loving so much for those kids, that when I had you, we were so in awe of you that it just took a couple of months, (in the blur of it all with sleep deprivation, going thru the motions of just keeping you fed, changed, and happy, etc.) for it to sink in you were OURS! Now, there is no doubt, obviously, that you are my baby, and it's so surreal to me every day. I see so much of myself in you, but I also see a lot of your daddy too! You are the perfect blend of both of us, the most perfect baby we could ever dream of having. We could just kiss your sweet cheeks off and squeeze and love on you forever. Especially because there is so much to squeeze on=), and we wouldn't want it any other way!
As a newborn, you got into a good pattern of eat, play and sleep, which allowed us/me to somewhat "plan" our days. You were a cat napper up until about six months, which was good sometimes, other times, well, mama needed naps too, and they didn't happen! But, you were a great sleeper at night, so we were thankful for that. One funny memory from the early months is that Daddy had to go out and buy him an extra pair of ear plugs (like the ones he uses to mow the lawn), because you absolutely HATED your baths, and would scream SO loud at the top of your tiny lungs, Daddy and I couldn't hear each other talk or even think straight. Pretty funny! Now you hardly ever cry, LOVE your baths, but still have a loud squeal that ear plugs would be nice for! With all of the memories we've made this past year, Daddy and I often talk about the different "stages" that we went through. They all started with bringing you home. I remember driving away from the hospital with you in tow, and I was SO nervous, thinking, "how can they let us go home with you?" But, they did. I have never seen your daddy drive as slow as he did on that ride home. It was kinda funny really, we were both nervous wrecks! Then, we get you home, and the good times started rollin'! The first few months were all about timing, keeping you fed, happy, content, and if you were upset, trying to guess the 1out of 5 possible things that could be wrong, you were sleepy, wet/dirty, hungry, gassy, or needed something different. Then the next stage you were "talking," smiling, cooing, to us. Before we knew it you were on to the next stage, of sitting up, and playing with us, rolling over, etc. Then we were feeding you cereal, and began to start the baby foods. That was fun. Something new, something different, and something else to mix up the schedule with. From there we moved onto baby proofing, because you were mobile/crawling and into everything! Then it quickly turned from crawling to cruising, and then to walking right at your 1st birthday. I don't understand how the days, weeks and months flew by, but they did. It was quite interesting to experience all of these stages, all of them were so busy and involved keeping you our number one priority always and keeping you happy and healthy, but looking back, Daddy and I both think that the newborn stage was probably the easiest, but most sleep deprived!=) When we think about these stages we laugh. Just when we mastered one thing/stage/schedule, it was on to the next. Now we are probably at the busiest stage, but definitely the most fun, and I'm sure it will only get more busy and MORE FUN, as we continue going through the next stages and years.
It has been such an amazing experience to be your mommy this past year. BEST. JOB. EVER! I should have started this job a LONG time ago, especially since none of my others ever really worked out! I've loved every minute of being able to stay home with you, take care of you, see all of your developments and hit all your milestones and firsts, document everything accordingly, and just enjoy every minute of every day I have to spend with you! It's so amazing to look back at all the monthly posts and pictures to see what you were doing, how big you were, and where you are now. When I look back at the posts and past pictures, you look like a "baby" to me. That may not make much sense, but since I am with you every day, it's hard to see how you change and grow, but looking back on the pictures from say, four, six, months, etc, I see myself saying, "look at how baby she was" compared to how much of a big girl you are now, six short months later. Now, you are totally a toddler, toddling around everywhere. I think you pick up something new every day. I didn't think that would necessarily happen at this age, but literally the week after your first birthday you changed. You started signing, saying more things/words, understanding what some words mean to where we now have to spell things like go "outside" or go "bye bye" because you know what they mean and expect the action to be carried out when they are spoken. Just absolutely amazes me. It's so exciting, but obviously at the same time, sad. Sad, because I think, "where did my baby go?" and "how did it happen so fast?" But it's also very very exciting to think about what's ahead. We can't wait!
From here on out, I know our lives will be constantly busy, there will always be ups and downs, and never a dull moment. I always want to remember to be so thankful every day for what I have, from the little things, to the big things, in the happy moments, and in the not so happy moments, because you Cate Elisabeth, are so very special, and worth it all. All we have is all we need, and having you sweet girl, is the most incredible blessing we could have asked and hoped for!

Just look at Miss Sassy Pants. In the past couple of weeks since Cate's first birthday, she has changed SO much I just had to blog about it. It couldn't wait for the next update, because I didn't think I was going to do monthly updates anymore, we will see though, guess it all depends on her...=)
~She started signing "more" and "eat," If we are feeding her and ask her if she wants more, she will sign more. She also does the sign more in the correct context while playing with toys, Bernie, outside, etc. If we ask her if she is hungry or wants a snack, or wants to eat, she will use the sign to eat. Today she did the sign eat without me asking, I think she is getting used to her schedule of eating 3 meals a day and 2 snacks a day and thinks she needs to tell me what to do, ha!
~She started blowing kisses, cutest thing EVER!
~She started saying "dada" directly to Dada!
~Her walking has improved
~She knows what the words outside and bye bye mean. If we ask her if she wants to go outside, she will look at the back door because that's where we go outside to play. If we ask her if she wants to or is ready to go bye bye, she will look at the garage door because that's where we leave. SMART girl. Yes, we are having to start spelling things now.
~She knows Bernie's toys are his and loves to go get them and take them to him. He has been great and taking them gently from her.
~She knows, and has for a while, that the TV remote turns on the tv and will bring it to us to turn her shows on.
~She started using moving her arms when she dances now, but she stops bouncing up and down when she starts to move her arms. CUTE! and still trying to get it on video.
~She knows that birds are an outside thing. When I ask her where the birds are and we are inside, she will look to a window, and sometimes point.
~Today she waved for the first time to a stranger who was waving to her. It was so sweet. She continued to do it the rest of the day when I asked her to, and waved at Dada when he got home from work, and waved at both of us when we were outside pushing her on her trike. So she now waves, and blows kisses!
~I'm pretty sure that she tried to say "hi" tonight. We were outside pushing her on her trike, Dada was in the driveway and I was pushing her on the road, Dada was waving to us and said a loud "HI!" and it seriously sounded like she tried to say it back, same tone and everything. So I will definitely keep working with her on that.
~Her new favorite thing is to get in and out of Bernie's bed, sit in it and watch her shows, etc.
~I think there is a whole lot more that she understands now too, but can't quite say or communicate it yet, but she sure is trying and you can see it in her face. Her sponge has been working the last few months with everything we have been telling her and showing her. Almost every day she shows us something new and it's incredible. I just wasn't expecting this quite yet, but it sure makes the days fun and keeps me on my toes!