The walk

Katie loves to walk around with her hands behind her back. She does it unconsciously, seemingly in deep thought. It happens more often at night, when she is wandering from room to room before bedtime. I was finally able to capture it on camera tonight, right before she switched gears and ran in the other direction.

The funny thing is, my dad tends to walk the exact same way. I don't know if things like this are genetically inherited, but it definitely seems like more than just a coincidence.

Sunset on Liberty Street

Backyard fun

Bath time is always fun time at our house, as Ryan and Katie demonstrate in this picture. It doesn't have anything to do with this post, but I thought it was worth sharing.

Earlier, Miss Kate and I sat on the deck storage box, legs dangling, and shared a honeydew popsicle. Kroger has been making Melon Pops for as long as I can remember, but I hadn't had one in ages. As we sat there, popsicle dripping, beating our legs against the hard plastic box, I remembered similar days, long ago.

After that, we moved on to the bubbles. She can't blow bubbles yet, but it is fun to watch her try. She did wave the wand around though, and was able to make some thanks to a well-timed wind. You could tell she was very proud of herself. She then let me try for a bit ... I blew bubbles in her face, which always brings on the giggles.

I am grateful for Katie in so many ways, but I admit that one of them is a bit selfish ... I get to go back and experience childhood all over again. And this time, I will appreciate it so much more.

The lip

Here is the expression I mentioned yesterday. She had it out in full force while I photographed her eating her first chocolate chip cookie. I of course couldn't contain my laughter, which made her do it even more.

Today was a good day. It rained most of the day, which usually spells disaster for a stay-at-home mom. But we played hide-and-seek in the caterpillar (the one from the previous picture, minus the grandpa) and did a lot of bouncing on the upstairs beds. Kate loves to roll around on the beds. She'll run up to them, saying, "bup, bup" ("up" in adult speak) and will start giggling before you even put her down. We tickle, we jump, we look in the mirror (see previous post), and we laugh like crazy.

We laugh a lot around here. I want her to know how important it is to laugh ... at yourself, at life. I can already tell she has a good sense of humor. I hope she keeps it with her as she grows.

Tonight's dinner entertainment

Ann Arbor

Yesterday we took Katie to Ann Arbor, stopping first at Gallup Park, and then Downtown. She was enthralled with the ducks and geese at the park, and could have cared less about the playscape. After leaving there, we took her to Stucchi's for some Key Lime Pie frozen yogurt (Daddy's favorite). She ate some of her cone before it melted, then walked around for a bit on the diag (not on the M, for you Wolverines). She flounced, actually, in her little pink skirt. Somehow I, the tomboy, am raising a bit of a girly girl.

NOTEWORTHY ... Our current favorite Katie expression is "the lip." She sticks out her bottom lip and looks like she is mad at you. But if you do it back to her, she giggles. She is especially fond of doing this in the mirror. Actually, she is fond of doing everything in the mirror lately. I am hoping this doesn't last, at least until she is in high school (when it is inevitable).

Welcome

Stay tuned for posts about life with Katie D.!