One Years Old

Time has arrived!!! Katy Gray is one year old. As I returned from work late last night, I started to think where I was at that exact time last year. I was getting ready to meet our sweet Katy Gray. Ryan and I knew that life would be different, but we have been blessed so much more that we could have imagined. KG has had many first for only a year. MSU football games, swimming, a wedding, Science Museum, Neshoba County fair, several trips, beach, deaf club parties, and so much more. She continues to learn and grow. These days she is running, so inturn we run too. She has five teeth, and looks like one more will be poking through soon. She wants to eat what you eat. She can make several animal sounds, but she likes the dog the best. It has become her favorite thing to say lately. She still loves her books, and she carries a bright red purse around these days. She is for sure our little girl!! Our social butterfly!



My Three Little Witches!
I took Mary Kellan, Sarah, and KG to the Natural Science Museum last week. We had fun.



KG definitely has her daddy's cleaning habits. She has already picked up on the dusting thing. And believe it or not she's pretty good at cleaning off the TV stand.



KG's first 'in the house' tent. She had fun crawling in and out!



KG celebrated McKenzie's graduation by dressing for the occasion!

What can I say, she likes to help clean! I'm not complaining. Although I think she was amazed my the soap bubbles just as much as the cleaning.

The three of us were able to go visit some friends of ours that live on the coast. We were so blessed to just be visiting with them, and then Dewana went over and beyond making it such a wonderful weekend. It was great!!! KG swung, slid, and even went to the beach. She wasn't too sure of the sand, but she definitely liked the water.

To say we have been blessed, just isn't enough! God has given us so much! Praise be to Him for KG and all the other blessings that He pours out on us. Thank you Lord for all things.

Time Flies!!!!

KG was such a trooper Easter Sunday! She loved her hat that Nonna (my mom) made, and she showed it off at church. Bless her heart she was one of the first babies in the nursery at 6:30 that morning. Ryan and I went to 6:30 so we could serve in the 8 and 9:30 services. KG had a blast though, and we got to Granny's in time for her to nap before everyone else arrived. Morning stuff doesn't bother her at all!

 

I can't believe, but it's finally the end of the semester and KG is almost 11 months old! KG continues to surprise us. She is taking a few steps here and there. The day before Easter, mom and I were doing some sewing, and she took a few steps between us. We got so excited she sat back down. Then on Easter Sunday, everyone went to Granny and Gandy's for lunch. KG would take a few steps here and there to show off for a second and then she would just sit down. I don't think she has realized her ability yet. If she understood what she was doing, I feel like she would be off. She has really good balance when she actually tries.

All the grandchildren in our family, have an Easter basket that looks alike. The boys had blue ribbons and the girls had pink ribbons, and the eye color match that of the grandchild. Well, KG, of course, had to have one too, but it was decided that the next generation would have purple for girls and green for boys. She was very proud of her basket.

I have said before that she is full of determination, and I will say it AGAIN!!!!

She has learned how to open all the cabinets in the house, and all the cabinet drawers in Granny's kitchen. Her favorite cabinet in our house is where her food is located. I find her in that cabinet more often than the others picking out her food.

She is learning the concept of hugging and giving kisses. Not many people are brave enough to receive her kisses yet, BUT me of course. Those hugs though are the sweetest thing EVER!

Baylee and Antony sent her a little package last week. Baylee's friend, Emily, makes the cutest headbands. So KG has three new headbands. You can tell in the picture on the left, she knows that she got something new and is showing it off. She's such a picture ham. I guess if you have a picture made everyday, at some point you just have to get use to it. The picture on the right is on the way home from church. As I parent, you never know how your child will act at church around other children, especially if they aren't in daycare. I'm blessed, b/c the Sunday School teachers just love her. They reassure me that she is the life of the party. The cutest thing is she carries on conversations with the other babies. She is definitely one of the most mobile and active in her class. Oh how I wonder what she is telling them! The only thing is she doesn't get her morning nap, b/c she's too busy in Sunday School. So the way home, she CRASHES!!! I'm glad she is a sweet baby when we aren't around. Makes me smile! Let's pray she continues this trend. 

  

For Easter, KG got several things of sidewalk chalk...36 pieces of sidewalk chalk to be exact. She is beginning to get the hang of it. I know it's early yet, but she likes making these pretty line with the different colors. She has the 'lines' down pat!!!

She can really show off! She has had the top two teeth break through now. Bless her heart, I guess she gets teeth two at a time. She still just as happy as can be!

This is a copy from KG's 9 month professional photos.

 Don't let anyone tell you she isn't spoiled!!! My grandparents have had a basketball at their house for many years. All the grandchildren have played with it at some point. But it has gotten where it won't hold any air. It hadn't seemed to bother KG. She will throw it up and let it hit the ground with a thud. I guess it bothered Gandy that it wouldn't hold air, b/c this is the video I got today from their house. KG got a new basketball for their house, not any basketball but a MSU basketball. I think she is very proud of it!

Getting Stronger...strength and will power

KG is a very determined little child! I guess I knew she would be from the beginning. Even in the womb she was determined to come early. And I'm thankful she did.

She has had her first few little illnesses in March. A sinus infection first then viral pharyngitis. The sinus infection didn't slow her down, except when we had to use the nose bulb thing. Whew...she can get mad! With the viral pharyngitis, we could tell she wasn't right, b/c of fever and she wouldn't eat. Her little throat was hurting her...but don't think she hasn't caught back up.

At our 9 month check-up during spring break, she was 18lbs. and 7 oz (I think that's right). And she was 28 3/4" in height. A week later when we went for illness, she was already up to 19lbs. 5 oz. She was excited to hear the doctor say she can eat from the table! REAL FOOD!!! We have moved to the 3rds in the baby food jars, and she tries whatever we are eating. Spaghetti has not been her favorite in the baby foods. Hopefully when she gets the real stuff later she will like it better.

The sun bonnet she has on is one that my grandmother bought for me at a flea market when I was little. It is so sweet on her.

She does so good at standing by herself till she realizes she's not holding anything. Then she freaks out and plops down to the ground.

 The picture above is Aunt Betty and the one below is Uncle Dale. These are Ryan's great aunt and uncle, and our soon to be neighbors. We are trying to sale our house, and move into Ryan's grandmother's house in Star. We are excited about being in the country, KG will love all the land.

These are my sweet friends that just returned from California with a new baby. Jacey (the baby) has spinal bifida, so Jamie (the mom) had to deliver at the hospital in California. After delivery the doctors there were able to do some surgery on Jacey to help her in the future. Their return home what a huge gathering. Jason (the dad) is the narcotics guy for Pearl PD, so we were able to get them a police escort home. It was amazing seeing the police guide them home, and welcome one of their own back. It was such a blessing to see them come off that plane. Praise the Lord for all their safe return.

Crawl, Stand-up, Teeth, Walk...

KG has conquered lots of stages in life for a little person. Eight months now, KG is crawling all over the place. She has learn recently, that if she uses her right foot instead of her knee, she can gain speed. Sometimes it's nice, b/c I can say "come on KG"...and she follows right behind. Other times, I want her to stay and I'll come right back, but she's right under my feet when I turn around. After she conquered the crawling thing, walking has been her focus. She is trying so hard to get to her feet. She LOVES the walker. Her need for speed and the wheels on the walker to assist...boy, she can GO!!! A week ago yesterday, I noticed she was chewing even more than normal on everything!!!! Bless her heart, I think she has been teething for four months. Well, I checked again, and YES there was a sharp edge of a tooth. I got so excited! Two days later, we can see two coming through. I know TWO teeth at the same time. And yet she is still in such wonderful moods. A few more dirty diapers; pints, quarts, no gallons of drool; and little cat naps...she is still such a happy baby even through the pain of teething. We couldn't ask for a better baby and so healthy!



There's always fun when she's around!

 

We had a wonderful visit with Ryan's grandmother! She was in such great spirits.



KG is definitely an outside girl! After we struggled through the cold weather, KG has loved being outside. I think she has even learned what it means when someone says outside. Those little ears perk up, and she's ready to go.

KG had a great Valentine! She got to see family from Philadelphia, Uncle Jeff came to play, helped Nonna pack the car for Grumps to go out of town, and then a nap...Wow a busy day!

 



She acts so Grown sometimes! We couldn't get her to finish her bottle the other night. She wanted a glass instead...so I put the milk in the glass. She drank every last drop. Talk about big girl!

Sometimes we have good days with Gerdie. Normally Gerdie does her own thing and ignores KG, but I guess she got bored b/c we had been inside all day. I love how sweet it shows them both with the fire glowing in the back ground. :)

 

Again Mrs. Emily has come through for another day of fun with toys!



The new favorite is to chase the dog up and down Nonna's driveway. The dog has to be quick, because she can really go!





Overalls!!!



Yeah...It was a beautiful day! KG really enjoyed getting ready for St Patty's day and the sunshine. After she took several trips outside with Nonna, we came home and took our walk too. She loves to ride around the neighborhood, but she doesn't like the sun in her eyes. She spent part of the time chewing on the bar. I'm sure there's little tiny holes in that thing now. But it's just so cute! After all that playing, we realized she got her first splinter in her thumb. It didn't seem to slow her down though.