Mommy, I do not like the sand a’tall.

Last weekend the family made the journey East to the beach. Now before I start, let me remind everyone that the beach and the shore are very different things. We don’t refer to the place where the ocean meets land as the Shore here. It’s the Beach. There are no amusement parks, boardwalks and the like. Those would be at the Shore. We went to the Beach. =) Lesson over.

Each time we’ve journeyed East we are amazed at where we live. In one state within 4-5 hours you can be in gorgeous mountain territory or lounging on the beach. Some people think 4 hours in either direction translates to “we live in the middle of no-where”. I’m choosing to go with – “How awesome is that?!”

I do believe we’re getting significantly better at packing Katherine’s “stuff”. She still needs a lot of “stuff” but I’ve decreased the volume a bit and learned a little more about how to pack said “stuff”. And that makes for a happier Mommy. Daddy’s happier too because he’s in charge of hauling it all into whatever place we are sleeping at.

We made the trip as my little brother Jason was going to Hatteras for vacation. His girlfriend, Amy, spends a week each summer in OBX. It’s a whole family trip: Brothers, sister in laws, children, parents all descend on OBX for a week. We were ancillary descend-ers. =) They were kind enough to invite us to stay with them for a couple of days. We had a great time. Amy’s family was very kind and welcoming to us and we even got in a little beach time – although, leave it to us to go to OBX for a few days when a hurricane is off the coast.

Katherine’s trip to the beach was, in my opinion, quite amusing. Apparently Katherine feels very similarly to sand as she does grass. She hates it. She won’t move when placed on it. When we lived in Pennsylvania and we witnessed our neighbor’s daughter suffering from the same syndrome. At the time we thought it funny. I’ll admit I still find it funny with our own daughter. She’ll do anything she can to avoid having sand (or grass) touch her feet or hands.

We didn’t take much to the beach with us aside from a towel and a magazine. The magazine was for Stephen. (Anyone who knows Stephen well, knows just how much he loves the beach. Maybe that’s where Katherine gets her sand issue?!?! Curious…) When we got there Stephen spread the towel and I put Katherine down. She ran for the towel. Standing on it, just looking at the sand. Over the course of two hours Katherine threw sand (trying to make it go away); couldn’t figure out how to get it off of herself so she kept wiping her hands on Daddy’s shorts; ate sand (trying to get it off her hands); drank more ocean water than I would have liked her to (She thought it was a giant water fountain!) and eventually warmed up a bit to allowing her piggy toes to touch the sand… briefly.

Maybe next time she’ll love the beach. At least that’s my hope.

We continue to see progress on the walking front. She’s now at a quick walk. She can’t quite run yet, but she’s definitely headed in that direction. I rue the day. She’s already too quick for me. She escapes so fast!! And the girl will not be caged. She likes to roam the house. Fortunately she’s only roaming one floor at a time! I did catch her up on both knees on the first step leading to upstairs. This was not pleasing at all. Baby gates… here we come!

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FrankenNugget, Dinosaurs & Chocolate

Katherine is now moving at a rather brisk pace in her walking. She walks FAR more than she crawls. It goes something like legs spread shoulder with apart, arms out to the sides and yelling aaaahhhhhaaaaahhhhhh hehehehehe. Oh. And you MUST be watching her. If you are not watching her amazing walking effort she’ll come tug your pants or hit your leg (if you’re not wearing pants) to get your attention. What you say? My daughter is a ham? No. Never. =)

Last weekend was very nice. Katherine and I went for a run at the park on Saturday. I’m not sure how one gets lost in a park – but if it’s possible, I can do it. Really, it wasn’t my fault. Who designs a park path that doesn’t go in a circle around the park? Bozos I tell ya! Bozos!! At one point we just ran around the parking lot. Ok. I ran, Katherine slept. Apparently my running is very taxing for her.

Sunday we went back to the park for another run. The same park that was designed by Bozos is apparently run by Bozos too. What park is closed on a Sunday morning at 10am? Craziness. It didn’t stop us. We were a crazy Mommy/Daughter team. We parked at the front of the park and hiked into the track. I will say, we weren’t the only ones who did that. And yes, I’d use that as my defense should I require one.

Sunday afternoon we met up with my cousin DJ and my Godson Richie. We met them at the Museum of Science downtown. It’s one of our favorite museums. There’s so many cool exhibits for kids. Katherine totally dug the creature room. She dressed up like a fox. I know what you’re thinking: She IS a fox!!! Why yes, yes she is. There was a little girl and little boy who thought Katherine was the cutest little thing. They helped her get dressed up and showed her how to use the mask. She was like a duckling with them. Quite cute.

We all went to the Chocolate Exhibit too! Very cool! Although I do wish there were sampling throughout. It’s a bit of a tease to read about chocolate for 20 minutes with none around. Of course, brilliant museum marketing had you ending your tour in a chocolate gift shop where you could, if need be, buy an “emergency chocolate bar”. Richie went home with his emergency chocolate bar. Okay… home might be a stretch. Let’s say he left the museum with his emergency chocolate bar! How was that chocolate Richie? =)

Katherine has been doing very well at daycare the last couple of weeks. This week she has been excellent. Dropping her off goes great. Picking her up is where we seem to be challenged lately. You see, somehow my daughter has manipulated all of the teachers in the school to let her be the official greeter in the lobby of the daycare, in the afternoons. She stays in the lobby running around waving to all of the parents as they coming; blowing them kisses and giggling and the dads. (Flirt? Her? No!) On more than one occasion this week I had to chase her around the daycare and trick her into going outside so we could leave. You see, if I drag her outside a melt-down ensues. No no. It must be her idea. (Manipulator? Me? Nutah.) She’s got the Director & the teachers wrapped around her little bitty pinky. I’m doomed aren’t I? Wait. Don’t answer that.

This weekend we are planning to go to the beach to spend some time with my brother Jason and his girlfriend, Amy. Amy’s family rents a house each summer and this time they invited us to come for a few days. I’m rather surprised that Stephen agreed to go to a b-e-a-c-h but I’m not questioning things. He might reconsider!!!

I did happen to capture Katherine in all her walking splendor this week. Of course my obsession with the video camera has led to a decrease in the number of pictures available. You’ll forgive me though, right? I’ll try to do better next week. =)

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We went Norf

Oh what a week… Sing it with me! To say that the last week has been busy would truly be an understatement.

The week started off with some very sad news. My step-father (John) passed away on August 2nd. He was a man who deeply loved my mother and would have done anything for her. He had a very kind heart & will be missed by many.

Services for John were scheduled for August 10th. This was two days after a Cooper-Robinson family reunion that I’d been helping plan with one of my cousins. Stephen and I decided we’d break up the journey North by going from NC to Maryland to NJ. We thought for sure this would be easier on Katherine. Needless to say it make for QUITE a trip.

Friday we started our journey North. A trip that should have taken 4.5 hours took 11. To say there was attitude in the car would be an understatement. And it wasn’t from Katherine, or me! Katherine and I sat in the backseat watching Baby Einstein… over… and over… and over… and over (you get the point) again. Because I feared being left on the side of 95N if I asked Stephen to switch the radio to the DVD, I narrated the video… over… and over… and over. The first time Katherine watches it with audio she’s going to think it’s a whole new movie. “ooohhh look Katherine!! A train!! What’s a train do?? Choo choo!!! Chuga chuga chuga chuga choo choo!!! T-R-A-I-N… Train!!!” Oh yeah. I’m a master narrator. Be jealous of my skill!!

Upon arrival in Annapolis (home of hotties in uniform) we unloaded the car & proceeded directly to the mall next to our hotel for food. We learned during our walk & evening meal that Katherine is as big a sucker for a guy in uniform as her mother. With one difference, SHE gets attention. (Harumpf.) It was parent’s weekend for the incoming freshman at the Naval Academy. While they were a little young for me, they were quite appealing to Katherine. I just kept begging her not to TOUCH them. Ug. White uniform & messy toddler REALLY don’t mix. Fortunately she settled with blowing kisses, giggling and playing peek-a-boo. She not only suckered the plebes, she usually suckered their dad’s in too. We kept telling them, she’s like an animal at the zoo. You feed her… She’ll keep coming back for more. Most were very kind and continued to feed the beast. =)

Saturday was the big Cooper-Robinson family reunion. My cousin and I had been planning the event for the last 9 months or so. We held it at a park in Annapolis, as a park is about the only place that can handle the volume of people and provide an array of activities for all ages. (Ages ranged 14 months to 80+) The park had all of the requirements: grill, beach, big grassy field for games, parking that was pretty close & bathrooms right next to our pavilion. (Helpful for the 65+ age group. =)

One thing you can count on when you put 100+ Irish together… alcohol. And it was a mighty hot day!! Fortunately no one over-imbibed and the day was very nice. There was a TON of food and I believe everyone had a really nice time. (See Cooper-Robinson Reunion album for pictures)

Sunday we continued our journey North. We got a hotel room in Edison NJ. We figured if we were heading North we’d stop and visit Stephen’s family too. Stephen’s Mom, Aunt Helen & sister Patty came to the hotel to visit with Katherine for a bit, prior to going out for dinner. Katherine got all sorts of new toys. All of which she’s enjoyed playing with since. The talking doggie “spoke” all the way home from Cape May to Raleigh. Oh yeah!!

We all went out for dinner & met up with Stephen’s other sister Mary Ellen & her family. We went to a place called Harold’s. You may have been there before, or perhaps read it about it or seen it on TV. It’s a pretty amazing place. They make the biggest sandwiches, cakes, éclairs, etc. you’ve ever seen. A sandwich typically feeds 5-6 people. (See Aleksza Family Visit album for pictures) We ended up ordering three sandwiches so we could accommodate everyone’s culinary desires. We had ham, turkey, pastrami, corned beef, roast beef… a plethora of meats! Basically the sandwiches are giant cold cut platters that they “sandwich” between a couple of slices of bread. I *think* everyone had a good time. We certainly did. We really enjoyed visiting with everyone.

Monday morning we headed down to Cape May for the services. The preacher gave a nice eulogy and gave everyone in the room a thing or two to think about.
After the services we started the trip back home to Raleigh. We left Cape May at around 3:30pm and arrived home shortly before midnight. We stopped twice: Once for gas and a diaper change (Katherine, not Stephen) and another time to change Katherine for bed & find a little grub. All in all that ride was pretty uneventful.

Tuesday was back to the routine for the whole family. We’re looking forward to a little down time this weekend! I think we all need to catch up on some sleep. And you know this family… we’re all about some napping!! =)

Katherine’s still toddling along on the walking. Tonight we took a walk out front. She walked from our house to the neighbor’s house and back. With assistance of course. It took us 20 minutes. She was pretty mindful of everything she was passing. She blew kisses to cars, grass, mailboxes, her Daddy, me, flowers… anything she saw. She really likes walking out of daycare in the evening too. I think a little bit of it is the “See ya suckas!!!” coming out of her as she tries to run out. But again, she’s blowing kisses and waving goodbye to everyone. And at 5:45 in a daycare that closes at 6pm… there are a lot of kids & parents to do that to. It takes us awhile to get out. =) I’m still working on some video. We aren’t that great at staging it. Ok. Frankly, we stink at it. I promise, you’ll get some before she heads off to Kindergarten.

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I got my baby back!!!

That’s the tune I’ve been singing this week. You know the one… I want my baby back baby back baby back ribs. =) Our daughter has returned to the sweet thing we had gullibly believed would be her temperament always. I know. We’re naïve first timers. What do you expect?

We have also learned that this patch of wildness may have been brought on by the disruption to her schedule. Apparently she can handle a few days where the schedule is slightly different but more than that and she goes a little ape crazy. There was even one night where Stephen (AKA Mr Cool) took her from her highchair during dinner and put her in her crib because she got so wild. I sat like a broken woman about to sob because my child wouldn’t stop screaming, hitting me, throwing food & her cup. All the while there wasn’t a tear on her face. It was a pure temper tantrum. As Stephen was taking her up the steps and the volume was increasing, I looked heaven-ward & asked God, “Really?? Seriously?? You tricked me!!!”

Alas, His tom-foolery has ended. For now. After 6 days of being back into “the routine” all is well. Little girl is back to behaving at bedtime and behaving in general. She has only had one small fit since Saturday. Her note from school today said she had a “wonderful morning”. YAY!! (The note we received on Thursday was NOT good. Something to the effect of “Katherine had a “challenging” day today.” Hm. Does that translate to OMG what a terror!?)

After Katherine’s first steps last weekend we’ve been practicing. She very much likes walking around now. Of course she can still only go a couple of feet on her own, but walking while loosely holding your finger, is quite popular. In fact tonight, I’m pretty sure, she visited every table in the French restaurant we were eating at. I’m not so sure the wait staff liked it – but it kept her quiet. She was feeling a bit cooped up. The patrons in the restaurant (for the most part) thought she was the cutest little girl ever. I concurred. How could you think otherwise when FrankenNugget is hobbling towards you (sans bolts coming out of her neck) and when you look & say hi she’d giggle & squeal in delight. Does that not define cuteness?? I challenge you to find something better. =) (For those that are curious I had a cheeseburger & “French” fries. Yeah, that’s me. Adventurous. Katherine had chicken fingers. =) Stephen had French onion soup & the remainder of the food from our plates. Apparently Katherine and I leave enough food between us that it’s enough for an adult man to eat and be full from. Imagine that.)

Friday was my birthday and Stephen & Katherine gave me, what could be, quite possibly the best birthday present ever. A Flip video camera!! SOOO dern cute!!! (Slipped into southern there… how’s it fit?? Is it me?!) This cute little video camera is literally smaller than my cell phone and records some pretty amazing videos. See the album for this week. I am quite impressed!! Look for more videos to be forthcoming. Of course, Katherine’s still adjusting to the fact that it’s not a quick picture so she stops doing what she’s doing and poses. Not exactly what I’m looking for – but funny never the less.

This coming weekend is the big Cooper Robinson Family Reunion in Annapolis. I’d say I hope the city is ready but the reality is the Naval Academy has parent’s weekend this weekend for the incoming freshman. That translates to me into: hot men in uniform. What reunion? =)

Photos/Videos for the week:

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