The Kate Effect

leaves.

 

 

 

 

 

taking a "coloring" day

Kate told me today that "dad is working really hard, he should take a day off to color." 

yes. yes he should.

i'm off to schedule a family "coloring" day

bad day.

this is what a bad day looks like. 

kate and I had been at each other all day - just plain cranky. and I was trying to finish up my gift for brad for valentines...which needed to be sweet but free since he got me a killer gift and i had no budget. 

all day long i worked on compiling photos and loading them onto the photo frame that I was no longer using for biz stuff ... and finishing up a fantastic graphic I made just for him. it would be something original and something I made just for him and free because I already had the frame.

then it happened. 

kate tripped over the cord which made the frame fling off the table and the glass shatter into pieces.

so there we are both in tears which turned into giggles.... 

we ended up taking all the glass out of the frame and the screen still worked - all was fine. 

In the end kate's crayon drawing got MANY more raves than my awesome graphic work. Moral of the story: paper doesn't shatter and crayon drawings are way faster. Keep it simple next time.

why I love my husband:

because he takes more take home boxes than he needs and later that week makes us home-made general tso shrimp and serves it in take out boxes so we can eat on the couch and watch tv. oh yes, he is mine, all mine.

photo dad.

i love stealing brads phone and scrolling thru his photos - He is always taking photos of Kate and they are so different from the ones I take. Some people occasionally look at my images and say things like "carrie, i would never have thought to take this this way - what a unique perspective." 

I have to tell myself it's a compliment at times because sometimes my head hears" your kind of weird." It's not because I am lacking in confidence but because I don't think it's a unique perspective. It's usually just what thought to do first and I often surprised when people say that it's not normal. 

In that same way I am in awe of the way my husband sees Kate and captures her. The things he thinks to photograph. I  am amazed and often envious that he thinks to snap a shot and it didn't even cross my mind. 

this is a great example.

Kate's chart - she filled it up by doing all her chores and we were headed out to get her prize - Brad remembered to photograph the proud little girl. I love this.

 

or this one from the Lowe's kids workshops he takes her to on Sat mornings. Details that crack me up: white fake pearls at the wood- working workshop, the headband she herself put on like a true 80's chic, the fact her toes are the most in-focus part of the photo.

as close to a family photo as we can get.

our little saints

super-bowl fun this year consisted of flags and Fleur's and shrimp po-boys.

(as well as what we now refer to as 'the incident' which you can read about here.)

it was relaxed and fun. although we didn't really have a party .. four adults and four kids cheering the saints on in our little house could have rivaled any college frat house at times.

the kids were into it which was great. our friends brought a Saints flag that we hung outside and the kiddos had the necklaces that had been sent directly from family in NOLA.

i only recently claimed the Saints as "my team" and I need to state I did this before I realized they were heading to the playoffs. One night I sat with Brad and watched the last half of a football game. It was just me and him - I was doing anything else which is rare, I only sit down with him while he watches sports if I have something to do - I was actually watching. Since it was quiet i asked a few questions about the players etc...

Then Brad gets all excited. He begin telling me his developing theory that I would enjoy ...even LIKE football if I just knew more about the players. For instance I am interested in UT footballl because I know about the player and I live int he town full of UT culture. He tells me I need a connection.

While I agree that 'knowing' the players helps but the time to learn about all the players and stay focused is just not what I want to spend my energy on. Everyone knows so much more about the game, players, history...blahblahblah. It's easier to just not try.

Thats when he suggested picking one team. One team to follow and watch for a year and see if maybe that would make it fun. At first I played along not really taking in seriously. I was having a blast shooting down every team due to their awful team colors or mascot or based on the fact i didn't like the city they were from...Then Brad said " How about the Saints? You loved your trip to NOLA!"

He had me.I loved New Orleans. So I agreed. I even, like the nerd I am, pursued the internet learning about the Saints.Then they went to the playoffs. I bought a shirt. Then they went to the super-bowl and WON! I have to admit that Brad's plan is working. I enjoyed the game. I even was able to tell someone who missed the game about the plays ( WHOA ).

I still don't have "Fan-Turrets". you know, when fans who are calmly watching the game suddenly and involuntarily erupt is LOUD response to a play. I think that kind of passion is cultivated.

enough rambling. geaux saints.

brad's new project

brad was GIVEN this bike that needs a lot of work.

it's a great new project and the joy it brings him makes me happy too!

i did make sure his life i nsurance was up-to-date

and brad promises me that i do not have to become a "biker babe". whew!

how i annoy my husband

some wives nag, some wives write hiney-do lists, some wives interupt football games - lets face it we all have ways to annoy our hubbies. 

I whip out the camera. it's a double edge sword. brad loves that I have a hobby turned buisness but he hates when I photograph him. HATES.

I grab a few snapshots of him enjoying his Friday afternoon with a little guitar practice.

enjoy. i most likely will get introuble for posting these. if the posting suddenly stop, send a search party!

**update: i just saw that I mis-spelled 'honey-do list' but I really like the idea of 'hiney-do lists' too, so i am not going to correct it. it makes me giggle.

peanuts.

We (Brad, Kate and I) were driving around the other day and decided to get some icecream. While Brad was driving I noticed there was something printed on the pocket of his cargo shorts. I reached over and pulled at the pocket a little so I could read it. It said something about "ART & SCIENCE" blahblah blah...I was about to ask brad what brand the shorts were when he said "stop touching my penis!" 

yeah, reread it. i was shocked too. brad usually doesn't say things like this - that my job.

My mouth dropped open and then I giggled because you could tell by the huge grin on his face he was trying to shock me and be funny about me messing with his pants. (the pocket was no where near the "man parts")

Suddenly Kate says, "Your peanuts? I'm not touching your peanuts."

Brad and I are trying to contain our laughter which is coming out in sputters and spurts. Not really sure where to go from there we keep looking at each other with HUGE eyes and open mouths - silently laughing until it hurts.

The whole time Kate is going on and on about peanuts.

"Where are your peanuts? Is mommy touching your peanuts? I can't see peanuts."

After we calm down a little and pull into the drive-thru I tell Brad I want "the Peanut Buster thing he always gets."  Kate on cue begins to ask me about whether I like to 'eat peanuts' and do I like 'chocolate on my peanuts'.

Brad finally had to end the conversation by telling Kate should doesn't need to have peanuts until she is all grown up and to eat her icecream.

Now when some one mentions peanuts she tells them "Dad says I can't have peanuts until I am 30."

washing the car with dad

this is by far Kate's favorite thing to do with her daddy. Click the continue link to see how well she cleans it!

this picture sums it up.

 

poor Brad was had a bad weekend, last week.

I think we are now at the point where it is funny but it was not funny at the time. Nothing terribly major just random little things piling up. i am not sure what started it but here is the short list:

• speeding ticket - he was passing a car
• needed to update our registration...ticket.
• dished out $$ for registration
• accidentally dropped a glass dish
• Brad decides to wash car... Paisley chewed hose in half.
• While Brad gets new hose out...Paisley tears car washing sponge to shreads
• Toilet backed up - had to take the toilet completely off and later re-install (we only have one bathroom)
• Paisley gets bit by neigbor dog - gash in paw gets infected
• Kate's hand gets smashed in car door ... as we get in the car to go to vet
• Dish out more $$ for dog meds
• Brad goes to dr due to sore side...he has Shingles

If I were him i would have just crawled in bed and stayed there for a few days.

Nope, he pushes through. I am sure the fact that his daughter follows him around singing "Don't worry, Be happy" helps.

Gravity

Brad (thanks to his friends JM) has a new way of answering Kate's numerous WHY? questions.

Gravity.

Every time she follows up a comment with a WHY? Brad answers Gravity.

The first few times were cute because Kate would repeat the word back to him slowly like she was trying the word out. She would crinkle her eyebrows and purse her lips and puzzle over this strange new word.

Feeling pity for her, I try to explain the correct answer or the meaning of gravity. This breeds more WHY? questions and she only gets half of the concepts. This leads to something I call the swiss cheese effect, where a concept is full of huge "holes" due to the lack of vocabulary, in-experience with subject or the inability to comprehend. Kids tend to fill these "holes" with concepts they can relate to which results in amazingly funny conversations.

Eventually I began to just answer Gravity, too.

The interesting part is a majority of the time it is a good, if not perfect answer.

For instance: I tripped over Paisley today and Kate asked What happened mommy? - Gravity.

OR

Today we headed out to do some shopping and as we parked Kate whined "i don't want to go in there. i don't want to go to the store."   I calmly said "We are going to this store. Mommy needs a new bra and that means we are going in this store."  As usual Kate says "Why?"

"Because Mommy's boobs will get saggy." (let me just say i was very tired and cranky, which lends itself to a little sarcasm.)

"Your boobs will get dirty??"

"No. baby - saggy..."

"Why?"

Brad interjects. "Gravity"

Yep. I can not wait until Kate gets in her first fender-bender and Brad asks her something like... "Kate what happened to the car?" 

"It was Gravity, Daddy."

coloring with dad

 

stubby tongue man, oh how I love thee

Sunday's with Dad

so full of air.

  father's day i am told is to honor father's. and that is what we did. what did brad want to do for father's day? be at home and do what he wanted with out me asking why are you doing that? or why would you do it that way? or why do you have to do that now?

do you see the theme? so i obliged him and gave into the request. then i spent the first half of the day ask if this was really what he wanted.

he finally lost it and said YES!!! thanks you carrie for doing exactly what i asked for- nothing .. I want to stay at home and do nothing. you have given me Exactly what i want.

i finally gave in. damn it. i really want to go out to eat steak.

a week before father's day Brad came home and announced that he had "saved me the time" and purchased his father's day gift. i was a little perturbed. the holiday was turning out to be only fun for him. he now owns an air compressor that some day he will mount to our future garage and run some hose with ports and ..blahblahblah... i don't really inderstand it. Some how that little can of air has made him happier than I have seem him in weeks.

above is the card i made - just so i could say i gave him something. I usually don't give him cards. he understands the point of cards about as well as I understand mounting air to your wall. the card was cute though and he seemed mildly impressed. all the raving went to kate for her art work (that i framed for his desk). she spent most of the day wishing Brad "happy mother's day" and asking for cake.

what was that?

today kate would NOT stop touching me.  if you have ever see the Sword and the Stone and remember the scene where they are squirrels...the two female squirrels come along and just pester the heck out of them!!! that is the perfect picture of kate today. It's a pestering born out of love but it soon becomes a fatal attraction. the more I push her away or try to distracte her the more she hugs and leans, and pulls and tugs. (yes, all you parent experts out there. i realize it is a desperate cry for attention so stop formulating your comments in your head.)

the worst part is I am having flash backs of when I did this very thing to my mom. I have not let her live it down. I have heaped mounds of guilt on her by telling complete strangers how she would tell me to STOP TOUCHING HER!! and hear I am uttering the very same words. (I am so sorry mom)

So I tried to get over my self and lighten up the mood by play running from her into the kitchen. She didn't miss a beat. running on her toes which her arms outstreched, lunging forward to grab my thigh...only I turned and escaped her grasp. Funny thing about two year olds; amazing ability to move forward at record braking speed, not so great at stopping.

Her body flies right into the wall, head at the perfect height to hit the window sill CORNER with her mouth, cutting her gums (which bleed) (alot), bouces stightly backwards from impact into the cabinet doors, where she slides down tot he floor and begins to wail.

I gather her up telling her how silly and stupid mommy is for running in the house. She's a trooper and pulls it together quickly while we sit at the table. thats when i hear this odd rumble thump. What was that?!

That was the love of your child for you hitting the floor. answered Brad who saw the whole event. (it was really the dishwasher starting)

Let's just say the Father's day gifts got returned.

saturday projects at Lowe's

on our way  into Lowes to purchase a fan for the Garage we stubled across a row of tables srrounded by little kids and their dads making stuff. brad decided he wanted to do a project with kate. (i promise that i did not make him)

kate manage to sand the table and hit daddy's finger with the hammer a few times.

daddy read the directions and created a very nice sail boat/car while trying to keep the interest and include his toddler daughter.

she got a patch, apron and the finished sailboat/car.

daddy got sore fingers.

oh don't feel to bad I rewarded him later for being the Best Dad Ever. My rewards are way better than a patch!

i love it when brad cooks

card for him that really is for me...

i am very aware that cards are not my husbands "thing". He can appreciate the gesture but lets just say that it doesn't really make him feel more loved. I think more than anything is makes him awkward - wondering whether he should keep it or throw it away and where and how long should he keep it... Or that awkward moment when you open the card and it is really long. you feel like you should read it in front of the giver because you know they are looking for a reaction but you only scan it because you can't focus on that many letters under pressure.

Yeah, he definitely does not FEEL love through greeting cards. So i just don't get them for him ... until this Valentines when I found the coolest card and had to have it. The only problem is: who buys them self a cool card that says happy valentines.....

the minute Brad opened the card he said: this is really for you, isn't it? and i replied: it's a good thing I got a card because you forgot to get me one...

I love the style on this card - the shirts are fabric sewn on!

the plague

where have I been? why haven't I posted? because of the plague.

a few nights ago I was pleasantly reading in my bedroom (which is not near the garage at all) and i heard the ear piercing noise of a locust - it was so loud i couldn't read or think! there's no way that is coming from our side - i thought. So I walked through the house closing in on the ridiculously loud noise and flipped on the garage light. The noise halted. Ah-HA! you are in the house little bug - I mused.

I scanned the room and on the garage door blinds I spotted him, only he was not a 'little' bug. He was the most enormous locust I have ever seen. I turned off the light so he could not see me, shut the door and ran to Brad who was on the phone. He bravely hunted down the locust after a brief moment of mocking me.

Of course I knew all of you would understand the situation, so skipped my blogging time that evening. (for those who don't know : the garage is my office and Kate's play room)

Then the next night rolled around. I was standing at the counter with my coffee mug in my hand waiting for the coffee to brew. I was thinking about my day and all the things i would look up on the web when I heard the noise again! Just as loud!

I slid to the garage and flicked the light on. It halted again. AGHHHH! I immediately accused Brad of not really killing the first intruder which was a wrong move because then he refused to killed what now seemed to be a second insect on a re-con mission to find his MIA buddy.  Finally he did the deed because he loves me and know I have quite a few "good deeds" I do for him. So know the plague a come and my new project is to caulk the garage door. I will also paint it and reorganize my office.

Do note that last night the bugs and crazy loud noise did not prevent Brad from standing in the dark look out the garage window to watch a some guy get his car searched and then eventually arrested - right in in our front lawn. Now when Brad says he is going to watch "COPS" he grabs a coke and lawn chair!

 

my little playboy bunny

Last week Brad put on his Super-Dad cape and took Kate to the local library. In the world of dads this is a slam dunk activity worthy of Super-Dad points. There are no sweets or caffine involved, no dancing purple dinosaurs or annoying spanish speaking cartoon characters - just books deemed as educational. Kate loves books which makes this the perfect activity. It is like success in a can.

In our children's section of the library there is a porcelin bathtub. I am sure the person who decided to place the tub there imagined kids climbing in with stcks of books on mermaids and whales. They probably invisioned children reading for hour on end, feeding their creative young minds, in this inovative and fun reading nook. Unfortunately, my kid see the bathtub and thinks BATH.

Kate sees the tub as she enteres the children's area and runs over to it yelling BATH. Then she begins to undress. Brad probably seeing the humor at first tries telling Kate that this bathtub is for reading but she continues to strip. As he puts clothing back on she just as quickly removes another piece of clothing.

Realizing that a two year can not be reasoned with Brad picks up Kate and her pile of clothes and head to the nearest EXIT. Thus ends the trip to the library.

Stop and imagine the scene...If this does not make you smile, your face is most likely broken.

i can do anything you can do better

While away at the conference in Orlando, Brad become Super-Dad! I was amazed to arrive home to this take charge - I am on top of it daddy. He was anticipating Kate's needs and prepared. He was able to coax her back to sleep and firmly say no to her billionth whine for more icecream. I was terribly impressed. 

A few nights after my return home I watch Kate climb into her daddy's lap and play witht eh mouse while hie tried to finish an email he was typing. Both of them ended up giggling and wrestling. "You could totally do the single dad thing." I commented. I meant it as a compliment because i was comforted to know that they would be OK with out me if the unspeakable happened. (I am typing it so it is still considered unspoken...just no longer untyped.)

Brad stopped dead, "No way! I almost had a break down on Sunday."

"Really?!"

"Oh, yes. Maybe when she is older but now right now - she is a handful."

The bittersweet, but warm, thoughts of how they would triumph in the shadow of my death as a closely bonded father and daughter vanished and were quickly replaced with pride in his confirmation that I ROCK as Kate's mom. 

my very own make a wish foundation.

christmas this year brought a new tiny little man into my life. the greatest gift my hubby could have bestowed on me, second only to another baby, is my new iPhone: iKie.

i was blown away by this gift. i think brad watched too many Sears commercials...

"Don't give a gift, grant a wish."

Well babe' you are my wish come true and iKie is a rockin' gift.  Thanks!

we bleed orange.

My grandfather  grew up in Norman, Oklahoma and my dad (his son) graduated from the UT school of pharmacy.  Let's just say the "Red River Rivalry" was a common phrase amongst my family. I still remember the year my dad gave my grandfather a t-shirt depicting a the recent UT win over OU with a Longhorn bootin' the Sooner in the behind. As if that isn't kicking a man when he is down, my dad had the UT football players sign the shirt. Now thats how you show some you love them. Remind them that your hometown team bit it that year and commemorate it with a t-shirt signed by the enemy - on Christmas day!

By the time I met Brad and fell head over heals for the boy, it was obvious that this family could not handle another rivalry. This is how I knew Brad really loved me - or just blinded by my beauty.  Brad was offered a scholarship to Texas A&M but chose to marry me instead. This may also be the reason I occasionally find  him in the closet banging his head against the wall.

This past weekend Brad and I drove to Dallas and attended the TX/OU game!  It was my first time to the Red River Rivalry and to the Cotton Bowl! I was amazing. Don't misunderstand me though, I don't understand anything about football. I have tried. I have read magazines and books about the game. I have tried to sit and watch games with Brad. I have attended high-school football games (after all this is TX and only dead people don't go to the high-school football games) and college games and even Bronco's games. I concentrate so hard and watch everything and yet it seems like a total blur.

Sort of like when you are trying to read something but you are so distracted that you focus and say each word out loud but at the end of the sentence you can't put the thought together or remember what you said. That's me and football. It's like when to awkward  people meet and try to hug and yet they always go the wrong way and are not sure how to do it and it's just a mess.  That's me and football.  I am even worse trying to play it. I can't keep up with where everyone is running and and why. It's pitiful, I know.

So here we are at this game and it is awesome. Awesome because the stadium is completely split down the middle: Orange and Red. Everyone was branded like cattle. While at he state fair outside of the stadium the two herds mingled, inside the stadium you were either for us or against us. Those brave souls who sat in the opposing teams fan base received indirect but brutal taunting. If you were to ask how the game was I would answer this " It was UT's best game of the season but it just wasn't good enough. We lost it at the 10 yard line with the turnover."  Keep in mind I would have no clue what that means but just like pre-k kids mimic their parents and parrot their thoughts and words, I would say this convincingly. then i would ask if you had seen the most recent episode of Heroes to quickly change the subject.

The state fair was fun if you like fried foods (which Brad and I have sworn off for 12 weeks) or enjoy carnival rides ( where the lines are long) or want to buy a jacuzzi (unfortunately, even the smallest one would not fit in the back of the Honda).  Who the heck buys a jacuzzi at the State Fair?  If you have ever bought a jacuzzi or a new set of cookware at the State Fair please leave a comment and I will apologize. Otherwise - That's NUTS!

All in all it was a great time. My cousin G joined us at the game and out of the three of us he was definitely the most excited to be there. In awe is a better word. I spent more time taking pictures of the boys cheering then anything else. Brad is funny about football. He analyzes and is pretty laid back watching everything and then out of the blue this emotion just erupts from him. In seconds he jumps to his feet and yelling. It makes me wonder if I have had something create that kind of instantaneous reaction of passion. So forceful that he can not stifle if even after I hit him for the 20th time and because he has woken Kate up from her nap.

Though the Longhorns didn't succeed in handing out the proper *ss whipping, I did succeed this weekend. I wore the colors, I cheered at all the right times, and I withstood the temptation to buy solar paneling at the State Fair. (Who buys Solar paneling at the State Fair? Crazies)

* favorite memory of the weekend : Wondering why there was so much RED at the fair and worrying that that OU would have a stronger representation at game time only to discover upon entering the food court bldg wall to wall orange. I was never so proud to order my margarita and yell "OU Sucks"

yes, Kate you may go play in the gutter water!

Brad and I have very different ideas of Saturday afternoon fun. For instance, this is what I saw as I pulled in the driveway at 4pm.
  Grabbing my camera I came out to take pictures and act as traffic cop. Our home is on a corner of a well know "cut through the neighborhood street" and there is no stop sign. this is source or many nightmares for me. You don't consider things like that dangerous when you are barely 20 years old and married without kids and buying your first home, actually you don't think period.

Brad lets Kate do all sorts of thing I would never let her do - like squish her toes in the mud and grass that floats in the gutter water. YUCK!
But I am glad for this. I am glad she has more that just my perception of life and what is fun. I am glad to have Brad who balances out my need for stop signs and antibacterial soap.

After all, I was the one who all most got ran over while I LAID in the street trying to get a picture of the house.

muggles and foot massages

Recently Brad cracked open a Harry Potter a began reading.  He has since read every night.  I was thrilled to see this because I have wanted to share the Harry Potter experience with him for years.  Up until now, his ability to relate to my love of Harry has been based on movie experience.  If you are a fellow JK Rowling fan you will understand how limiting this is at times.

I just assumed when I saw him reading that he had found my stash of HP novels at the back of Kate's armoire.  I have been keeping them there for two reasons.  First, so that none family or friends will see them and be tempted to do me a favor and burn them while lecturing me about how ungodly wizards are.  Secondly, so that when I pass thenovels on to Kate or begin to read to her at night, it will be like pulling out  a special family treasure she has never seen before.  There are many books stashed in the back of the armoire.  Little House on the Pairie series, The Lord of the Rings (including the Hobbit), The Lion the Wardrobe Series, and my very old and very loved on children's Bible.  It's not like the children's Bibles sold in the bookstores today with the cartoonish little people smiling from inside a whale. This bible has pictures rich with detail that accurately depict beheadings and plagues.  There maybe a little of my own original artwork as well.

I digress. Back to Brad visiting Hogwarts.

I wondered how Brad knew where I kept my HP stash.  I figured that he just stumbled upon them while looking for the back-up package of diapers.  Then tonight he said he was going to finish up the book he was reading and I asked him if he wanted me to pull out the next volume before I put Kate to bed.  Brad looked at me and said, "You have the Harry Potter novels?"

"HUH?! of course I have them. Are you not reading one of mine?"

Brad, "No, one of the girls I work with loaned it to me."

"You borrowed from 'some girl' at work instead of asking your wife who is a huge fan?!"

Brad, "Well, she offered and I didn't realize you had them all. Are you jealous?"

"Maybe. After all, you are out discussing Harry Potter and borrowing books from the 'girl's at work', thats good enough reason to feel jilted."

Brad, "It's not like I got a foot massage from them - I just borrowed a book and I didn't know you had it."

"Well, for future reference - They can massage your feet all they want, but you come home to me to discuss the Harry Potter!"

Yes, I can now see my own strangeness.  I have since apologized to Brad for my ridiculousness,  but continue to hold out on the foot massage issue.

 

IM with kate

Instant message chat from this afternoon.

Brad: how is the snot rocket?

me: I just wiped her nose and I think there werechunks of br o ccl ii i n th e re fb rombluncbh

so rry ka te i s  he  l p i n g    wi tht he space bar

Brad: I can see that

me: ,bwddddddw111

Brad: Hi Kate!

me: vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Brad: $20 this is going to end up on your blog

you know me well babe'

he did good

In past years brad and I have often let Valentine's go by without a big deal for many reasons.  For one, our anniversary is almost exactly a month before and we are still recovering from the romantic events. Then there is the fact that we have been poor college students.  I am not saying that Brad does not acknowledge the holiday, just that I didn't expect much. 

These past weeks have been busy and frankly, valentine's snuck up on me.  I realized this while talking to my mom and hearing what my dad got her and how we need to get together so that Kate and I could receive our Valentine's day gifts.  (I love it that my dad still gets me chocolate or flowers.)  My mom asked what brad was getting me and I told her that I hadn't reminded him about valentines and i had a photo class that night.  This basically translated to nothing, at least not on that day.  My mom is her infinite wisdom replied, "Carrie, he works above a grocery store. He can not help but notice it is Valentine's."  Still, I laughingly brushed it aside.

When Brad can home that evening I was washing dishes.  I heard him come in and told Kate her daddy was here could she please go play with him.  After few minutes I noticed an odd silence.  It was not really quiet because Kate was whining but there was the absence of noise and movement.  Thats when I turned around and saw my man in the kitchen doorway holding a HUGE bouquet of orange-yellow tulips. When I say HUGE I mean HUGE.

I melted of course.   

The rest of the evening was spent at my photography class.  I am just as thankful for the opportunity to get out and take a class as I am thankful for the beautiful flowers. 

Can you hear the 'ka-ching'.  Thats Brad adding up his brownie points.

baby bean counter

she is alot like daddy!

we call Brad 'the bean counter' because he works for Whole Food Market in the Corporate Account Team.

Kate has found she likes to count beans too. Well, actually she likes to dump them out of bowls and smash them with her feet, to be exact.

Maybe she is more like her mother.

safety test

he claims he was just making sure it was safe for kate to play on. I think he liked it. thank God it stays at grandma and grandpa's house or we might find the recliner gone and a plastic horse it it's place.

daddy lessons

Last night Brad surprised Kate and I by coming home a little earlier than usual. He bounded in in a great mood to find me on the phone with my mom and sewing Kate's quilt (yes, I have found my motivation again) and Kate engrossed in Finding Nemo. The poor thing has been begging to watch her favorite movie all week but I, the evil mommy who is determined to ruin her life, have been trying to find other things for her to do rather than watch TV. I had finally given into to the whimpering girl who was clinging to my legs and holding the DVD case up in the air a mere 20 minutes before Brad arrived home.

Less than pleased with the greeting from his adoring family, Brad walked over to the DVD player and turned it off and then preceded to turn the TV off. Before Kate's eyes could de-glaze he scooped her up and tossed her here and there. He girly squeals spilling out and silencing my cries of protest. It's not that I don't love to see them play or to hear her laugh as he tickles her mercilessly, but what heck does that teach her? That it's OK to just turn off the TV without warning or interrupt something just because YOU want to? 

I of course run into my room to make my hair dis-shelved,throw on my ratty shabby housedress and apron, and grab my wooden spoon so I am adequately dressed when I play the nagging wife role.  Brad rolls his eyes and claims "she likes it, look she is laughing. she doesn't even care."

"But it's rude and she does care!"

"Well, I wanted to play with her. I couldn't get her attention with that movie on."

Another costume change and I am the loving wife jumping in the car to go eat The Worst BBQ in Texas. A little later that night Brad was on his computer and Kate was playing the office. Thats when I heard...

"Oh, Kate! Why did you do that?!  UGH!!!"

"What did she do, babe'?" I called from the kitchen.

"She crawled under the desk and pushed the button on the power cord. It shut everything off! The computer, Internet, printer....and I was in the middle of something."

*snickering from the peanut gallery*

"Maybe she wants to play and couldn't get your attention, honey."

T is for Tetris

kate is exposed to the finer things of life. Gameboy.

married with children

brad and i celebrated our 6th anniversary this weekend, which explains why there has been a lack of posts - i have been celebrating (wink wink).  SIX years!  I had been fore warned about the 5th year hump or slump or misery. Unfortunately, and to my dismay, our hump slid into a slump and was sprinkled with a little misery that invaded year six as well. Yes, there was time when I pondered the likely-hood of surviving the year without a Prozac prescription and wondered whether the insurance would cover plastic surgery to un-furrow Brad's eye brows. At last - here we are alive, relatively drug free, and quite happy with each other.

Miracles happen. 

This past year has been tough.  Who knew a moving back and forth from Denver, having a newborn around, trying to graduate college and work full-time, begin a new career - could be so stressful?  The sad part is that those are only the highlights. You would think that we had taken a poll asking what are the most stressful events to manage... and then decided to tackle ALL of them in one year just get them out of the way. 

In spite of all that has happened (cue sappy music for heartfelt monologue) we have come out stronger, wiser, and still loving each other. I am so proud to say that Brad graduated. I know I didn't help write any papers or attend classes - actually most of the time I was whining that he studied all time - but it was a goal we set together four years ago when we lost our minds and decided to move to Colorado.  It is the biggest long-term goal I have ever finished.  We did it! 

The past few months have been good for us - as a couple. Things have settled down and there has been time to get used to each other. Brad has time and brain power to put away his stuff, play with Kate, and love on me - instead of study. (yes, I still have some resentment towards educational reading material. you would too if it was upstaging your booty calls)  I am learning to talk softer, less, and stay on topic. This of course is HUGE for me. I have not full mastered this ability but I am making great head way.

These months have been good. I did not say fun, I said good. If I learned anything this past year in marriage I learned that the fun things vanish into thin air, but the good things you work hard for are the most rewarding and life changing.

Thanks Brad, for working so hard in so many areas. For your dedication to providing for Kate and I and still making it a priority to spend time with us. Thank you for your steadfastness and determination to finish what you have started. Thank you for being my complete opposite and having long-term and future goals. Thanks for knowing how to make, save and stretch our money. Thank you for being faithful in all you do - for that why I fell in love with you in the first place. love, Carrie

I snapped this picture over the martini glass at The Melting Pot where we had dinner. I took many pictures that night but all of them were blurry, excluding the two in this post. Brad assures me that I was sloshed after my one and only martini that night - don't believe him. I admit I may have been tipsy, seeing that I don't drink often but sloshed?? hmmm - the photos are sort of incriminating though.

thank you

brad, thank you for...

• staying calm when Kate hurts herself so that I can freak out
• working so that I can stay home with our baby
• supporting in my constant need for change
• being frugal and wise with our money, even to the point that it annoys me
• encouraging me to study God's Word
• being willing to take over the bedtime routine so I can go out with a friend
• helping with the laundry and  not expecting me to make sure you have clean clothes
• taking out the trash
• keeping our car clean and in good condition
• excelling in your job but never putting it before your family
• being willing to work from home or take time off so that I can go to the dentist, doctor, etc
• encouraging me to have a healthy lifestyle
• making an effort to bring home flowers (even if the are potted and I keep killing them)
• being patient when I am emotional
• not being moody when I am moody
• not being prone to yelling or outbursts
• controlling your anger and your words - choosing to walk away when I want to pick a fight
• loving Kate and taking great joy in her
• playing with Kate and showing her how to fall off the couch and land right
• paying the bills on time
• stressing out about the big stuff because I am too busy stressing about the little stuff
• cooking when I don't feel like it
• allowing Kate and I to disrupt your quiet drive to work so that I can have the car (aka freedom) for the day
• standing up for me
• letting me learn things for myself
• accepting that I am loud and not embarrassed by it
• picking up diapers on the way home because I forgot
• wanting to be around me when I am grumpy

thats just off the top of my head.

need I say more?

ear plugs anyone?

The worst part of a child being sick is not always the actual sickness. It is the repercussions of being sick. Two weeks of colds, fevers, intolerances, and rashes has created a tiny monster out of my child. Admittedly I am part to blame since I have take this opportunity to spoil her. At night when she cried I would bring her to bed with me - after all she didn't feel good. I would hold her and cuddle her on the couch during the day and let her watch Curious George twice. I would let her have juice/water instead of milk because I was trying to get liquids in her and she snacked all day due to a lack of appetite at meal times.
Kate has slowly morphed in to a gremlin of a child not wanting to sleep, stand on her own feet, be by herself, drink milk/formula, or eat anything at meal times. She does on the other hand really want to sleep with mommy, stay up late, snack all day, watch TV, and scream bloody murder. The worse part? I knew this would happen and I still enabled it.

blown away

The trek to retrieve Brad from work on days I have the car is not one Kate and I look forward to. At 3 o'clock the sun seems hotter than the rest of the day and the drive seems long. On a good day Kate is stuffed into her seat belt after a great nap but is restless and mad at being confined and unable to expend all her newly found energy. On a not so good day Kate is reluctantly strapped in after little to no nap and is exhausted, whiny, and fitfully trying to nap in a very uncomfortable position.

You have to time the trip just right so that you are not too early and have time to kill with your anxious toddler in tow or too late and hit traffic and receive the dreaded "where are you?" phone call from the stranded hubby.

Once Hubby and toddler are reunited, a scene resembling some foreign film about long lost love reunite after years of separation, it is a rush to stay ahead of the 5 o'clock traffic that begins at 3:30. If you dawdle too long your 20 minute ride home may turn into a road-trip.

To say the least it is not our favorite time of day - thank goodness it is not every day!!! The wonderful weather inspired Brad to roll down the windows of this treks home and that is when Kate was blown away!

Throwing her hands up in the air to feel the rush of wind and she squealed wheeeee. There was so much wind in her face that her eyelashes were blown in different directions! Her complete JOY is unexplainable. I snapped a picture or two and when we arrived home I downloaded them immediately. Kate, who was sitting my lap, squealed wheeeeeeee the moment the pictures popped onto the screen. I was floored that she related the picture of herself to the experience.

Needless to say - we have found a highlight to the trips home.

up high

Is this not the best thing for a kid?? to be on top of their daddy's shoulders. First of all your tiny legs don't get tired from trying to keep up with all the big people and second you can see everyone and everything. People have to look up to you instead of you always straining to look up and see them.

there are some scary parts for the mommy though. Like the possibility of falling to your death... but daddy has big strong hands and is careful to hold on tight. Alson concerning is the chance that you might bonk your head on doorways, ceiling fans or treelimbs. Then again daddy's are always looking out for dangers and avoiding them.

Incase daddy's arms get tired or his eyes go blurry - there is mommy to yell warnings and hold out her hands to catch any falling babies.

happy birthday hubby/daddy

today was Brad's 26th bday and kate and i did our best to make it special with a few streamers and homemade cake. katertot help with the cake by stirring the batter for a little while and was rewarded with a spatula of icing!

(yes, i am bad mommy letting her have so much sugar and no, it wasn't an entire spatula of frosting just and smidgen)   

Kate must have been excited about daddy's birthday because she woke us up at 6:10 am. Despite my temptation to stick her in her bounce bounce baby and subject her the very boring mr. rogers show (hey, it my opinion. i can think it's boring.) so i could at least snooze on the floor beside her - I got up and we started our day early. After all - when your baby wakes up giggling you can't just ignore her!

Caught In The Act!

today i found these two very guilty looking people sneaking ice cream before dinner!