Christmas time in Pasadena

Last Monday Catie and I headed to Pasadena. Catie was perfect on the plane and slept the whole flight in my arms. We had a great week baking, Christmas shopping, seeing my grandmother (Little Nonnie), hanging out and spending time together. On Friday my mom had her annual open house brunch for all of her friends and it was a big success. Catie wore her Christmas dress and new patent leather shoes. Speaking of Catie's shoes...she has such small feet. Her shoes are size birth to 6 weeks and they are a little big on her. Catie is 16 weeks and wearing shoes that are meant for a 6 week old!! I guess that she got my feet.

Unfortunately, my dad a.k.a. Bampa came down with a bad cold and sore throat that started on Wednesday. He spent the last 5 days waving at Catie from across the room or being in another room all together. I know that he was really bummed because he couldn't wait to see Catie...and Colin and I too. Bampa, Catie can't wait to snuggle with you over Christmas!! Feel better dad!

On Friday Colin flew down for the weekend. Colin, myself, Dana, CJ, Lissa and Matt all went to dinner at Spitfire Grill in Pasadena. Colin and CJ loved the 24 oz PBR beer in a can! Dana, Lissa and I loved the cocktails and wine. The food was great and we had a wonderful time chatting and catching up..love you girls!

On Saturday Colin and I went to the USC vs. UCLA game. We figured that since it was at the Rose Bowl (which is a 5 minute walk from my parents house) we had to go. Nonnie and Bampa babysat for us. Thank you sooo much! It was Colin's first SC vs. UCLA game and of course SC won. It looks like we are Rose Bowl bound!

On Sunday we had breakfast, packed up and then went and walked around the Huntington Gardens. It was beautiful and we had a wonderful time. When I saw a pile of leaves I had to place Catie on them and take pictures. She is just too cute!

It's Christmas Tree time

Both Colin and I grew up cutting down our own Christmas Trees. We decided to carry on the tradition and do so with Catie. On November 30th the O'Connell's came over for brunch and then we all headed to Petaluma to a local tree farm. We have vaulted ceilings so we can get a very tall tree. Colin was in charge of measuring one and when I heard him say..."Kim, this one is off the charts" I knew it was going to be a biggie. (Colin and the measuring stick).

Colin cutting down the tree.

Thanks for holding the saw Catie....what a helper (ps...Tom a.k.a. Pops is holding the saw).

Catie sitting on the couch watching me decorate the tree. Too cute Catie!

Holy Christmas tree. We hardly have enough ornaments to decorate it but we love it and so does Catie. She loves the lights on it. Now it's time to wrap the gifts and put them under the tree!

Catie's first attempt at rice cereal

On Wednesday we gave Catie her first taste of rice cereal. She didn't understand what was going on and didn't really care for it at first. I would put some in her mouth and she would just cry. I discovered a little trick...put some rice cereal in her mouth and then give her the pacifier. This would make her eat the cereal. After doing this two or three times she caught on and figured out what she needed to do. We are just giving her a small amount each day so that she slowly adjusts to it.

After it was all over Catie was very full and super content. Happy eating Catie!

Faux Thanksgiving

On Saturday night we all had a Faux Thanksgiving. Hillary had gotten a free turkey and decided that it would be a good reason to all get together. Great idea Hillary and thanks for the delicious bird! In the early afternoon we all went over to Lizzie and Jay's house in Larkspur. It was a potluck and everyone made something. Hillary made the Turkey and stuffing, Lizzie S. the cranberry sauce, Susie the green beans and mushrooms, Jackie the yams, Lizzie H. the apps, Marni the salad, and I made spinach balls and pumpkin cake. It was a night filled with many reasons to give thanks; delicious food, good friends, wine, and great times. I can't wait until next year! Love to you all.

Catie's 4 month check up

Catie went to the doctor today for her 4 month visit. She weighed in at 13 pds 13 ozs and is 23 3/4 inches long. She is in the 50th percent tile for height and weight. She also had 2 shots today and handled it like a champ. The doctor said that she looks great and is doing everything that a 4 month old should be. Way to go Catie!!! My baby is getting so big. Here is a picture of a great onesie that her Auntie Susie gave her. It still cracks her up everytime she sees it.

A wonderful weekend

I am sorry that it has been awhile since we have posted anything. Last week was crazy around the O'Connell house. I left Catie overnight for the first time and I did it TWICE in 3 days. On Thursday I left Catie with Colin after he came home from work and I headed up to Napa to celebrate Jackie's 30th birthday. We drank wine, sat in the hot tub surrounded by vineyards, and celebrated Jackie. She has had a tough year and we all love her to pieces. I only called home a few times but Colin said that Catie was perfect (duh).

On Friday night we went to Colin's high school football game and SI won...congrats. Catie was great and loved watching the game. On Saturday morning we dropped Catie off at the O'Connell's since we were headed to the SC vs. Stanford Football Game. We unloaded Catie's gear, went over all of her things, kissed her goodbye, and headed out. My heart broke a little as we left only because this was the second time in 3 days that I was leaving her. The one thing that gave me comfort was that she was in great hands with her B and Pop. Thank you so much for taking her for the night.

We got to the game and tailgated for awhile. Lesley, Lissa, Adam and his brother meet us. At 3:45 we went to the game in Stanford's beautiful stadium. The stadium was really nice and we had a great view (thanks for the tickets Mr. O'Connell). We left at half time when it was 17-17. Let me tell you...we ran to the car to listen to the radio. For awhile we were a little scared but in usual SC style, we pulled ahead in the 3rd and got the "W". We drove to the city, quickly showered at my sister's place and then headed downtown to the Bubble Lounge for Jackie's 30th birthday. The party was fantastic and it was great to see all of our LA friends and it was wonderful to toast Jackie turning 30. Welcome to the club Jackie. Happy birthday!

We stayed at Susie's place on Saturday night (thank you soooo much) and on Sunday morning Colin woke up and picked Catie up. He went without me so I could get a little more sleep and also chat with Susie...we had to summarize the night! After Catie and Colin got back we got dressed and meet Lesley, her boyfriend, and Lissa for lunch at the Yatch Club (yes, we are so fancy). It was a wonderful lunch and the company was fantastic, the was food delicious, the view stunning and the wine was perfect. Thank you so much Marty and Kirk Elliott for taking us to lunch. After lunch we walked to the Water Organ (Susie and I had never been) and then we went to the park and met Marni, Franny and Katie. It was a beautiful day in the city and we loved spending it with great friends.

Overall, it was a perfect weekend. A big thank you to everyone that made it happen. We love you!

Sunday/ Fun Day

On Sunday Colin, Catie and I went into the city and had breakfast with the O'Connells. We wanted to see Auntie E one more time before she left. We had a great time and we can't wait to see Auntie E again in two weeks. After breakfast Catie and I went to her Auntie Susie's apartment and hung out for awhile. We walked down Fillmore street and had some lunch. After lunch we met Jackie, Marisa (welcome back) and a few other people for a glass of wine. Both Jackie and Susie got a lot of snuggle time with Catie. Overall the O'Connell's had an amazing weekend.

Catie's first sporting event

On Saturday morning Catie, Colin and I got breakfast and then went for a long walk. We wanted to get out before the rain began. When we came home Colin gave Catie a bath and then we all got ready to head to Stanford to watch the men's basketball team play Seattle Pacific University. Catie got dressed in her SPU shirt and off we headed.When we arrived we attended the SPU booster's party and watch Auntie E do her thing. She did an amazing job attending to everyone and even spoke about SPU athletics (well I think that is what she spoke about. I had to take Catie out of the room during her speech because she was crying). Tip off was at 7 pm and Catie slept for the first half which amazed me because the band was there and we even sat in the 3rd row. Around half time she woke up and sat on my lap for the rest of the game. She loved looking around and nothing seemed to both her. Even though Stanford came away with the victory it was a great day.

Catie's trip to the East Bay

On Friday Catie and I had a big outing to the East Bay. In the morning we stopped by my cousin Jenny and Kelly's house for coffee. Her daughter Ella gave Catie her bottle and held her the whole time. It was every little girls dream...a real baby doll.

After we left the Beardlee's I took Catie to get her hand and footprint done. Colin and I tried to take Catie to Color me Mine to get her hand prints and footprints but it was a royal disaster. We would paint her hands and then she would clench her fists and once we pried them open there was no paint left on them. We ended up leaving Color me Mine with a screaming baby covered in pink paint. I was determined to get her hand prints and footprints done so I could show her someday how little she was. I told my cousin Kirstin about the episode and she suggested a women in Lafayette that did her girls prints. I took Catie to Paw Prints and Susan was able to get an excellent hand and footprint of Catie. It will be ready in a few weeks and I can't wait to hang it up in her room. Here is a picture of the unfinished product.

After we left Paw Prints I met my friend Bella and her 8 week old son Tres for lunch in downtown Lafayette. It was great to catch up and see Tres. We are planning another outing for the kids to get together soon.

After we got back home Catie and I both quickly changed and then headed into the city to meet Colin's parents and his sister Erin for dinner. Erin is the Athletic Director at Seattle Pacific University and she flew in because SPU was playing both Cal and Stanford in basketball. We had a great Mexican dinner and Catie and I both fell asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow.

Thank you Lizzie and Susie

Last night I had a Junior League meeting and Colin was knee deep in studying for his exam. I knew that if I left Catie with him that his studying would abruptly come to an end. We both agreed that if we could get someone to watch her that would be the best thing. I quickly called Auntie Susie and Lizzie and they came to the rescue. I dropped Catie off and Lizzie and Jay's place and Susie headed there. They all hung out and Catie even went on a walk with her friend River (the dog). I was a very bad mom and forgot my camera so I didn't take a picture of all of them together. I promise that the next time we are together I will get a picture of Lizzie and Catie...and maybe River too! Thank you soooo much Lizzie and Susie. You are the best!!

Today Catie and I went to boot camp and let me tell you, it was a doozy! It consisted of sprints, long runs, more sprints and even longer running segments! I love Catie's new running stroller but sometimes it is annoying because she doesn't cry at all anymore since she is now moving the whole time. After my 5th wind sprint I looked and her and whispered, "Throw me a bone Catie and please cry so I have a reason to stop". What did she do...she looked and me and smiled. Thanks Catie....back to #6 wind sprint!

After boot camp and Catie and I meet up with my friend Liz and her 6 month old daughter Peyton. We had lunch, chatted and the girls stared at each the whole time. It was great seeing them and it was fun to see what Catie would be doing in a couple of months. I am now off to run some errands and as soon as Colin comes home we are going to go vote. I hope that everyone voted today. Remember, your work legally has to give you time off to vote (that is the HR side of me coming out). Until tomorrow. Here is a super cute picture of Catie that I thought that I would post. xoxo

What to do...

It rained most of the weekend which meant that we had to entertain Catie. Colin has been studying all weekend for a green construction exam (I don't know all of the details...ask him). Good luck Colin! Anyways, on Friday night we did surprise trick or treating. We stopped by Lizzie and Jay's new place in Marin and in the city we went to Colin's parents (B and Pop) and the Nicolai's. Everyone loved the little pumpkin trick or treater and everyone was surprised!


On Saturday it rained all day long. Let me tell you that entertaining a 3 month old is very tiring (all of the moms reading this are now saying "duh"). We read books, walked around and around the house, went in the swing, played on the play mat, bounced in the bouncy seat and did whatever else I could think of to do indoors. Catie loves her play mat and in the past few days she has started to reach up for the toys that are hanging above her head. As my dad (her Bampa) would say,"You go girl"!


Here is a picture of Catie playing on her activity mat





Catie has been sleeping from 10 pm to 7:30 am which has amazed me (I know that I am lucky). I wasn't sure what would happen with the time change this morning but she did really well. She got up at 5:45 am and I gave her a bottle, we played for a little bit and then we both napped. Once everyone was up we went and got coffee/ jamba juice and then went on a very long walk outside. It was wonderful getting out and Catie loved it!



As for a misc. thought. Everyone knows that Christmas is my favorite time of year. I just love it! Well, I saw my first Christmas commercial today and proceed to sing Christmas carols to Colin. It took him about 1 second to say, "Enough Kimberly. It isn't even Thanksgiving". I know Colin...but it is close!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Love your little pumpkin Catie.

Catie has a new ride

Thanks to B and Pop (aka Colin parents) Catie has a new ride...thank you, thank you, thank you!She has officially become a runner thanks to the new Bob stroller. Last month I signed up for baby boot camp. Before I became pregnant I use to do a boot camp 3 times a week from 6:30 to 7:30 am. Once I got pregnant I stopped, and I never thought that I would have said this, but I missed it. I was nice to work out along the water staring at the Golden Gate bridge. It was also great to get your workout done in the beginning of the day and chat with people as you did it.

After my 6 week appointment with Dr. Green (thanks for delivering Catie Dr. Green) I was given the go ahead to start working out again. I found a boot camp that caters to moms and their kids, commonly referred to as baby boot camp. A bunch of mom with their kids in strollers work out along the water. It was perfect. It is the exact same thing (in the same location) as I did in my old boot camp (minus the stopping to feed Catie, put her pacifier back in, give her Lilly, or change her diaper).

Well, for the last month when we would get to the running portion of class I would have to leave Catie with the instructor because she shook too much in her stroller (thanks to the gravel/ dirt path). Catie would be ok for the first 30 minutes and then she would start to cry halfway through the class because she was tired of sitting in her seat and not moving. Well, both Colin and his dad (Pop) are big runners so we decided that we should get a running stroller. Thanks to Pop and B we have one and let me tell you folks, Catie loves it!

Today's class consisted of mostly running so she was able to come along with me. The first part of class she was making "cooing noises" and the second half of the class she slept. She didn't cry once!! She loved her new stroller and loved running with her mom. Here are a few pictures of her.

Well, I am now off to have some drinks with the moms that live in our neighborhood....so much for all of the running today :) Have a good night everyone.

How time flys by...

Happy 3 month birthday Catie. You are growing up so quickly. This is a picture taken on Catie's 1 month birthday....

and this is her now. She is getting so big.

Happy 3 month birthday sweetie. We love you.

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Nap time

Tomorrow is Catie's 3 month birthday and I am trying to get her use to her crib. As soon as she turns 4 months and starts to eat rice cereal she will begin sleeping in her own room. To help with the transition I have started to put Catie down for actual naps in her crib. Sure, every once in awhile she still falls asleep in her swing, her bouncy seat, or my arms, but she is now starting to nap twice a day in her crib. My mom and dad gave Colin and me a baby monitor that has a camera and comes will a small flat screen monitor (can you tell that Colin picked it out). Once I put Catie down for her nap I turn on the monitor and proceed to stare at it. Normally when she sleeps in her swing or on the couch I take this time to get my stuff done. Now that she is napping upstairs I don't get anything done because all I do is stare at the monitor to make sure that she is ok. I wonder if by the time she goes to college I will have stopped watching her sleep?

Great friends and good wine= Sonoma!!

This past weekend one of Colin's best friends from college was in town. Greg and his wife Lindsey were in from Chicago celebrating Greg's 29th birthday. Happ Birthday Greg!

On Friday night we had everyone over for dinner to kick off the weekend and to meet Catie. Colin and Greg were up to their old antics and as the pictures shows...they are voting NO on Prop 8.

On Saturday we went up to Sonoma for the day. We went to 4 vineyards, tasted lots of wine, laughed a lot, and had a total blast. It was also the first time that Colin and I had both been away from Catie for the whole day, but according to Auntie Susie she didn't seem to miss us that much. She went shopping, went to the park and helped welcome Lizzie and Jay Sternberg to Marin (congrats on moving into your new house). We had a great time with everyone in Sonoma and we are looking forward to the Kelley's next visit. Come back soon!!

Lilly

A couple of weeks ago Auntie Susie gave Catie a blanket that has a lambs head on it. We decided to name it Lilly the lamb. Lilly has become one of Catie's favorite things to cuddle with since she is now starting to hold things in her hands. She sucks on her ear and hold it in when she sleeps. Since Lilly quickly calms Catie down we decided that it is necessary to have a backup Lilly in case one is in the wash or heaven forbid gets lost. Here is Catie with her Lilly's....she loves them!

As promised...

I promised a few people that I would take a picture of Colin the next time that he changed Catie's diapers. Colin is really great at changing her but he always first asks, "Is it poopie one"? Well I always say no primarily because he hasn't caught onto the fact that every morning she does have one. On Saturday morning I asked Colin to change Catie and counted down...5...4...3...2...1...and I heard "Oh my god" once he started to change her. I ran up stairs and this is what I saw.

Goodnight everyone....

Night, night. Sleep tight. See you in the morning bright. Don't let the bed bugs bite. Night, night. Love you!

(Thanks Auntie Erin for my bunny slippers and thanks Nonnie and Bamps for my bathrobe).

Love you all,
Catie

A perfect night and an even better day.

Last night was a perfect night. I dropped Catie off at Colin's office and I got this amazing smile from her before I left...


Then I left and met the girls at Houston's for dinner. It was a beautiful WARM night in the city so we sat outside and so the night began. We were out celebrating the fact that Jackie is officially done with radiation. It was a night filled with great toasts, wonderful wine, funny stories and great friends. We can't wait to celebrate again on Nov. 3rd when Jackie finds out that she officially killed Turk.

Today Catie and I went to boot camp in the morning. Catie did well but had to be fed half way through- thanks Russ the instructor for feeding her (although I would have rather fed her so that I didn't have to do 50 push ups). After boot camp Catie and I met Jackie for lunch at the Grove. We sat in the sun and chatted away. It was a perfect day because it was spent with a very special friend. We love you Jackie!

Catie's new stroller and mommy and me class

Here is Catie in her new stroller. As you can see she loves it (thank you B and Pop)!
Catie and I have been going to a mommy and me class for the past month. Today I was really able to see a big difference in her now versus when she first started. Today she was wide awake during the whole class and doesn't fall asleep anymore. She really loved looking at the other kids and she even laughed (no sound yet) and smiled! Way to go Catie!!!

It's time to get ready to head to the city. I am off to dinner to celebrate with Jackie (her radiation ended today, whoo) and the girls and Catie is being dropped off at her daddy's work. Until tomorrow.

Catie had a slumber party last night!

Last night Catie's Auntie Susie came over for dinner and spent the night. Catie was held the whole time, told how amazing she was, smiled like crazy and made all of our hearts melt. It was fun having Susie here and Catie can't wait for her to babysit this weekend while Colin and I go to Napa for the day.

Catie can now hold up her head and has control of her neck so last night Colin turned Catie's stroller from a bassinet to a big girls seat! It is so exciting yet so sad because as Colin pointed out, "She is growing up so fast". Stay tuned later today for a picture of her first ride in her new stroller!

Well Catie is waking up from her morning nap so it's time to feed her and get ready for the day!