Another Good Week

I don't remember what we did on Monday of last week, but it sure set us up for another good, full week.

Tuesday = Cousin Love

On Tuesday, my cousin Brianna, who lives in Oakland, got to meet Kate for the first time when she and her mom (Great Aunt Rosa) came to Santa Monica for lunch. It was an afternoon filled with a lot of love and laughs as we ate, got coffees, and walked along Montana Ave. 

This photo shoot was very comical (and sweaty).
When we couldn't get it right, Brianna took over and snapped some selfies of us while Rosa photo-bombed!

Just wait until I post a picture of the new shoes they got "Stevie K" (The name Brianna and Rosa gave Kate because she looks so much like her dad!)... They are adorable!

Wednesday = Mommy & Me Milestone

Wednesday was a special day because it marked the end of the first 8-week session of our Mommy and Me class.

Here they are, the End of May/June 2014 Pump Station Babies:

Front Row: Archie and Riana
Second Row: Kate, Ali, Chelsea, Arrington, Emily
Back Row: Shanta, Sophia, Sydney, Addison, Bryce

Good thing we got one good picture in because this happened seconds later.
Once Kate started crying, her buddy Ali joined in with sympathy tears.

Even though a few of the moms are returning work and won't be able to join us on Wednesday afternoons any longer, hopefully the network of support we created will continue on.

Thursday = Pilates Place

On Thursday, Kate and I attended what has become one of our favorite weekly activities... Mommy & Me Pilates. We can walk to the studio from our place and some of the moms and babies from our group join us.

There's no way we'll drop these weights!

The teacher and owner of the studio has a 3 month-old so she "gets it."
She is patient and has spent part of every class holding Kate for me and even giving her a bottle.

Friday = Daddy Duty

I had to attend a thesis defense for one of my Master's students at Pepperdine on Friday, so Steve was solo with Kate and Otter. He packed up and left the house early with both kids (Otter was going to the groomer) so I could get ready for the day in peace. I was a little nervous for him until I got this picture:

At the Third Street Promenade.
All eyes on dad!

I love that Steve dressed Kate in his favorite dress for their outing. He said all the attention he got while he was out and about with her was a little too much.

Saturday = Girl's Evening Out!

Steve had to work again on Saturday and Derek and Shane were out of town, so Kate and I headed down to Costa Mesa to spend the evening with Rachel and Ella. We went big...shopping at Target and Chick fil A for dinner (Ella's pick)!

Both girls seemed to agree with our choice of activities.

Sunday = Lazy Family Day

We ended the week by going out to breakfast together at Snug Harbor -- our first time with the three of us!

Both of them clearly didn't think this photo was necessary.

Checking out the menu.
Kate convinced me to get an omelette AND a short stack of pancakes.

Big shot sitting up at the counter.

There was nothing overly spectacular about it, but it was another really good week with our girl!

Kate on the Couch

I love these new pics that Steve snapped of Kate as she lounged on the couch on Sunday in her diaper:

She sure is growing in size and personality!

Happy Birthday to Me

On Wednesday I got to celebrate my first birthday as a mom. 

The day started by opening a special package that arrived in the mail right on time from Jamie.  

Jamie always picks out the perfect presents.
After living together, and sharing a closet, for several years, she knows me very well!

Flowers and a nice card from Steve arrived later.

"Wow Dad! Way to go!"

We ended the day with a sushi dinner at our favorite spot, Roku. We went early and got our favorite outside, end table. It’s the perfect spot for parking the stroller and letting everyone enjoy the meal.

On Saturday, the birthday celebrations for both Steve and me continued when Nici and Aaron took us to brunch at the Cannery Restaurant in Newport Beach. It was a perfect, sunny afternoon and we had a great time sipping mimosas and watching the luxury boats and paddle boarders go by. Nici and Aaron got us a fun (and daring) birthday present:

A trip to Catalina with Kate!

And, Kate kept us all entertained at the table.

Perusing the dessert menu.

Thank you Nici and Aaron.
We love you!

I have a feeling my 35th year is going to be one of my best yet!

Feet!

Kate’s big discovery this past week was her feet! Now that she has found them, she can’t get enough of them. She really thinks they are great. As soon as we lay her on her back she puts them up in the air, kicks them, and grabs for them. She is also quick to show them to almost everyone who peeks in her stroller to see her.

"Hey Ot, I'm glad you're back up on your feet, wanna see mine?"

Here they are!

It really is so much fun for little things, like feet and toes, to be such a big deal!

Mommy and Me

For the past seven weeks Kate and I have spent our Wednesday afternoons at our Mommy and Me class. 

I was very reluctant at first to join, but I am so happy I did. We really enjoy the fun songs we learn each week and the important topics that we discuss.

Jenna, our group leader, with the bubble machine.

Lauren and Sweet Sophia.

But, best of all, I have been introduced to 14 other bright, caring, and kind new moms. Our babies were all born in late May or June so we get to experience the same new mom joys and concerns together.

Jaclyn and Sydney.

Brooke and Arrington.

Kate's Mommy and Me Friends Chelsea and Ali.
Out of the class of 15, 12 of the babies are girls!

Oh Otter!

It's been a hard past week and a half around the Williams' house.  Otter hurt his back again while going down our front stairs last Thursday night. When he hurt his back two and a half years ago it also happened when he was going down some stairs near the beach. That injury lead to an emergency surgery and a long, hard recovery.  So, when it happened again, I immediately feared the worst. Kate was already in bed for the night and Steve had to work in the morning, so Otter and I headed to the pet hospital. After waiting until almost 3 am, we got some good news. Otter was clearly in a lot of pain and wobbly when he walked, but he wasn't paralyzed in his hind legs like the first time. They gave us an arsenal of pain pills and an anti-inflammatory and sent us home to monitor him and wait.  

For some reason laying down, and especially putting his head down, causes Otter more pain.
The first night after his injury Steve stuck close by and made sure he had a good headrest.

After Otter did okay over the weekend, all last week was a roller coaster. He would be in really bad shape with heavy panting and uncontrollable trembling (to the point of his teeth chattering at times) for most of the night and early morning, but then he would improve in the afternoon and all along he was eating well and drinking. By yesterday though, Steve and I were exhausted -- Steve from having to carry Otter up and down our inside and outside stairs multiple times a day, even coming home on his lunch breaks to do so, and me from running back and forth all day between Kate and Otter trying to keep both of them from crying.  So, we headed back to the pet hospital. It was just our luck that they were very busy, and Steve, who only has to work one or two Saturdays a year, had to go to work.  He headed to work from the hospital and Kate and I, waited and waited, for almost 4 hours!

Mom, Where's Otter? And, why are we still here?
It was a long Saturday afternoon/evening.

The vet gave Otter a shot for pain and adjusted his medications. During her exam she did not see any neurological deficits. This means that he can recover. Keep your fingers crossed for him.

If one good thing did come from last week, it is that Kate is now sleeping in her crib! In all the chaos and after Kate and I got bit by something overnight (that's another story), I stripped the two covers from her bassinet to wash them, and when it was bedtime, I realized that I never put them in the dryer. After our nighttime routine, when I laid Kate down in her crib to zip her into her swaddle sack and wait for the dryer, Steve said, "Why don't you just leave her there." I did and just like that she transitioned into sleeping in her crib. I thought it was going to be a big ordeal to move her, but I guess not! It really hasn't interrupted her sleep at all.

Sleeping Angel.
She looks so small in that big space.

Steve took these pictures in a dark room.
(Yes, I am putting laundry away in the background.)

Kate's sleeping accommodations in our room are quite nice. Between her Twilight Turtle that projects colored stars on the walls and ceiling and her Sleep Sheep that plays the sound of a mother's heartbeat, the girl has no reason to not sleep well.

Kate looks so proud now in the mornings when she wakes up in her crib. As for me, I am probably sleeping less. Instead of reaching over with my hand to feel her chest throughout the night, I now spend a good part of it glued to this:

Sweet Dreams!
(Don't worry, it's not really 87 degrees in our room like the monitor says!)