Pics that make me laugh

Katie is such an independent girl; when she's awake, she likes to sit up so she can look around. I think she looks so funny sitting in the corner of the couch.

"Oh man could I use a nap! It's rough being 2 months old!"
Kevin called me upstairs the other night and this is what I saw...
Let the video games begin!

Cousins

Aunt Kendra took her son Haden and Katie to get pictures together (I was working so I couldn't be there). Turns out neither Haden nor Katie wanted to smile that day. lol

Haden & Katie ALMOST share a birthday - he was three on April 21st.
If there's one thing Katie can do, it's sleep! (even in a basket of flowers, lol).

Soooo Tired!

Katie was just passed out the other evening. I thought she just looked so funny with her arms just thrown out there. It's like she'd give Kevin a bear hug if only her arms would stretch that far!

This pic ALMOST looks like she's awake, but she was completely out.
Later that night, she decided she wanted to watch some tv. She is such an independent girl that she likes to be held up so she can look around the room (but I'm also told that sitting straight up helps her relux keep from bothering her).
Looks like EVERYONE in the house is excited about football season! I think I just heard her say "Go Buckeyes!" :)
P.S. Some of these pics are a little deceiving - they kind of make her hair look red, but it's really not red at all. It's just a light version of Kevin's color.

Cincinnati Zoo

As a fun day before I went back to work, Kevin & I decided to take Katie to the Cincinnati Zoo. At first, it was going to be just us, but we decided to invite my mom, and then invited my Aunt April too. Amy happened to call me while we were on our way to the zoo to say she got off work early that day, so she joined us. It was nice to spend the day with family. We had PERFECT weather, and Katie had a wonderful first visit. I'm sure she'll remember it always (but in case she doesn't, we bought her a little stuffed giraffe to commemorate the day). :)

Some of the animals we saw. The giraffes were the coolest because they were all stretching and straining to get the leaves off the tip-top of the trees. Although the lion looks dead, I'm pretty sure he was just napping...at least I think. The other animals...

My mom & Aunt April Me, Kevin, & Katie
Katie & Aunt Amy
(Katie just looks upset because she didn't get the funnel cake she was asking for)
The best alligator wranglers in Ohio.
Give us a call for all your gator removal needs!

Katie "Talking"

This is a video of Katie on her changing pad (as always) "talking" to herself and whatever is on or near the ceiling that she is so taken with.
(Sorry the quality is so bad; I took this with my digital camera, not the video camera).

Mother's Day and Father's Day

This year, Kevin and I had the pleasure of celebrating our first Father's Day and Mother's Day. We are so thankful that the Lord has given us such a sweet baby girl. It seems impossible that after only two months, we can't imagine life without her.

For Father's Day, I had a shirt made for Kevin that says "I love Katie Holmes" and I had a onesie made for Katie that says "I'm Katie Holmes *No autographs please."

"I hope you have a happy Father's Day Daddy, but please don't ask me for my autograph!"
Notice that as usual, Katie is smiling because she's at her favorite place in the world - her changing pad. Kevin tells her that if he could build her changing areas all over the house, he would. Can you imagine what the living room would look like! lol

Katie had the pleasure of attending her first Mother/Daughter Banquet when she was just eleven days old. I won a prize for having the youngest baby there.

Pictured left to right (back row): my Aunt Barb, my cousin Ashley, Me & Katie, Amy, Starrbug (front row): Barb's mother (Gloria) and my Grandma Thelma.

Four generations.
The older I get, the more I realize how blessed I have been to have grown up with both sets of grandparents living. They had more influence in my life than they probably realize. I am thankful that Katie has all her grandparents to grow up with and learn from (and that they can babysit occasionally). :)

announcements

When Kevin & I got married we, like many people, sent an announcement to the White House in addition to sending announcements to family & friends. We also sent one to Ohio State Buckeye's football coach Jim Tressel. We have never had the opportunity to meet Coach Tressel, but everything I have read or heard about him is that he is a dedicated Christian, who cares more for the souls of the players than just what happens on the field. Because Coach Tressel sent us two signed pictures after our wedding, Kevin sent him a picture annoucing Katie's arrival. This is what we got back...

Inside of the card

Outside of the card (the silver part is sparkly, like the OSU helmets)
Coach Jim Tressel
And here is Katie's "welcome" from the White House

(thank goodness we got this back before the next election!)
Just a pic of our little cupcake. :)

Something I noticed

I was looking at my pics, trying to decide which to post and came across the one of Katie on the right. I think it's a pretty close profile match to the ultrasound pic of Katie 20 weeks into development. I guess I just always thought that babies grew and changed so much, so quickly in the womb that they wouldn't look the same 6 weeks into life. Makes you wonder how people can go through with abortions, and if they would if they realized this.

I also think it's good proof that Katie WAS smiling in the ultrasound picture, not yawning like Kevin said (he insisted she was yawning, "like her mom" - yes, he's quite the jokester). lol

Ziggy

Kevin came to me laughing one day and said, "look at her. She looks like Ziggy." I wanted to argue, but as you can see...she does. lol My mom hates that we call her that now, but I think it's cute on her.

I'd like to tell you all that Ziggy is smiling at me in this picture, but no. She's actually looking in the mirror at herself. She's laying on her changing pad adoring the girl in the mirror. :)
So sad! Miss Holmes has really developed a perfect little pout (although this isn't the best picture of it). Aunt Kendra says she will use it to always get her way - and she's probably right. The pout is too cute for me to stand. lol
Catching a few z's