Kate is 1

I still can't believe that my sweetest, cutest, most precious baby is no longer a baby. Where did the year go?  I also can't believed I survived it, and survived it well. Never thought in a million years I would be a stay at home mom with two kids a year and a half apart. My patience has been tested, my life's purpose certainly derailed from native american rights and social justice to diaper changes, playing with footballs, cars, and pretend kitchens. My day is about playing, playing, reading, singing, dancing, cooking, cleaning, and more playing. I remember so clearly when Kate was just the smallest thing, always tucked in my sling, or nursing in the ergo. My friends joked that in the first 6 months of her life, they only saw the back of Kate's head and her dangling feet, as she pretty much never left the ergo. That is what you do when you have two young children, and one of them is a 19 month old curious boy who NEVER. SLOWS. DOWN. You strap the smaller one onto your body and chase your son around the park, the beach, everywhere.

Kate has always been the happiest, calmest, and easiest baby I have ever seen. She developed a strong personality from the get go, and we all know that she will be a fiery pistol as a toddler, and we eagerly await that stage. Already, she has a strong sassy attitude, and a great sense of humor, my mom says she reminds her of me,  a scary thought since I was unbearable during my toddler years. :)

She loves to chase her  brother, laugh at everything, make her scrunchy face, and now she has mastered the frankenstien walk. She is determined and has opinions about everything. She is a great eater, loves to play, loves to look at books, and is very smart. She has pretty much mastered most things months before her brother did, not sure if that is the result of watching her bro, or being a girl. But she sat up by 6 months, crawled at 7, started standing up with no help in the middle of the room at 7.5 months, and started walking before her first bday.

She is picking up signs quickly, and Charlie is adorable at signing with her. She knows the sign for yes, dog, milk, food, and more. She says YEH to everything you ask her, and says dada, mom, and lilly. 

One of the cutest things she does happens in the middle of  night. She sits straight up, what little hair she has, all messed up, and just starts babbling, talking and looking around to make sure she isn't missing anything. 

Her favorite two people in the world are her brother and her dad, no suprise there.

She loves to dance and really brings the funk to the forefront of our dance parties. 

We love you little Kate, more than words could ever express. Tonight when there is peace throughout the house, and a glass of wine in hand I will write you a letter my dearest Kate. Happy birthday!