January. Very short and quite sweet.

Just a couple little pictures from January. Kate grows so fast and is so smart. It never ceases to amaze me how fast she picks up on things and - even more startling - the things she picks up on. She has an amazing eye for tiny details. She is becoming so very very stubborn and independent in many areas.

Kate's reading glasses

My little model

december. at least i'm almost in the right year.

December was a busy month! We went to Utah for a month and celebrated with our families. It was an exciting season for me this year because it's so fun to watch Kate finally understand well the concept of Santa, being good for Santa, and really get into the excitement of gift-giving and family fun. It's almost better than being a kid myself. It was wonderful to be around family again. I missed my cats but besides being a little matted and angry, they were in good shape when we returned.

This is Kate in her cute kitty outfit. It was from some friends of mine who saw it and thought of her. It fits her perfectly. She's little wild woman. :)

Christmas Morning. The pictures are a little out of order but I'm far too lazy to go back and download them all in the right order. So here's Christmas in reverse. We went to Jon's mom in the morning and his dad in the afternoon. Kate had fun seeing her cousins.

Kate was in charge of a gift for Hudson and gave him a little fire engine. Included was a personal demonstration from Kate. :D

My beautiful little girl

Jon teaching Kate to play ping pong.

My parent's house Christmas Morning. I love their house, it's so beautiful.

Christmas Eve was spent with my family. It was so good to see Nathan and Kim's family. Kate LOVES playing with her cousins. They opened gifts from each other and we ate a good dinner.

Kim and Ainsley

Pants opening her gift

Kate checking out her new tiger binoculars with LaRisse.

Grandpa being a grandpa

Maggie and Ninj watching the entertainment

The rest of the month was spent much as usual, watching Kate progress and grow. I got some news - I found I was pregnant. Kate had fun in the snow and was still working on potty-training.

Kate watching DVDs on the potty. Whatever it takes to get her on it!

Kate helping Grandpa shovel snow. She helpfully shoveled it off the grass onto the garden. Eventually Kate decided somehow that it would be easier to vacuum up the snow with her toy vacuum.

Typical mom, I can't get enough of seeing my beautiful little girl. She just looks like she belongs in some remote Alaskan village or something. :)

I took three tests to make sure I was pregnant. Technically I shouldn't have been able to know but somehow I knew before I took the tests. I guess I was just symptomatic REALLY early.

plugging away! here's november.

The beginning of November we were still in Utah and had a dinner with Janet and John, and the rest of Jon's family. We got some great Halloween shots. Kate loves being around her family.

A new cup-holder for Matt...

Tinkerbell, Scottish style.

Wait Hudson!! I think this is hilarious, Hudson just CANNOT sit still for a few seconds... Plus Sam in the background apparently in complete protest. Heh heh. :)

Reasonably well-sat picture I guess. Hudson is still in revolt...

Grandma and Grandpa with the little fairy-child.

I just have a huge thing for our Scottish heritage and Kate looks so cute in everything.

Crazy pants getting a little fun in before the snow flies...

My friend Lisa. Can't visit Utah and not visit darling Lis!

We celebrated Thanksgiving in New York. Brian drove up from Philly and my mom and dad flew in from Utah. It was so much fun to have everyone there. Dinner was a little stressful but it's so rewarding to see everyone enjoying it.