Kate's Boston Obsession

....an obsession, compulsion, addiction, or any other term for being absolutely focused on only one thing and needing it at all times. This has become Kate's world. Addicted to puppies. Yes, puppies. I'm not sure if she's just missing her own two while away from home or if this is a new phase, but while in Boston all she wants to look for, play with, talk about, or ask about is puppies. On Saturday morning before the conference started we took her to Boston Commons (think Central Park, but in Boston), to let her run around on some grass and get her kid legs back after a long day of plane travel on Friday. She wanted to do only one thing--find a puppy, run to the puppy regardless of distance, talk to the puppy, pet the puppy, and find another puppy to track down and start the cycle all over.

Luckily most of the dog owners were nice enough to oblige our cute little girl as she would run up to them asking "Puppy? Puppy? Puppy?" Since that stretch anytime we go anywhere in Boston, all she wants to do is point out puppies and try to pet them. Here is a series of pictures to represent one of these moments.

This is Kate and I moments after arriving in Boston Commons, taking a picture in front of a stature I confidently assured Amanda was Paul Revere--only for it to be George Washington. Old white guy on a horse; same difference. Besides George already has his likeness all over his own city. Can't Paul Revere get some love from the city he saved from the Red Coats? Anyway, this is me looking at the camera, while Kate has spotted and is now pointing at a dog across the park.


Kate now running toward the dog she spotted. All the while yelling, Puppy! Puppy! Puppy!


Kate still running after the puppy, but closing in on her target. Still yelling puppy.


Target acquired. "Hi puppy. Hi puppy. Hi puppy. Arf. Arf. Puppy. Puppy. Puppy? Puppy?" Okay, you get the gist.


After leaving this puppy, she gives us the sign language learned at school for "More," while saying "more, more, more." All while looking for her next target.

Welcome to Bahstan!

(Kate looking out of her 18th story crib in Boston. I can't imagine why she's scared to sleep in it, can you? Not exactly the view from her Lubbock bedroom.)

...arriving in Boston. Or if you are from the New England area the phonetic spelling is Bahstan. Why don't you New Englanders like O's? Anyway, we made it safely to Boston on Friday, but it has taken a couple of days for all of us to feel adjusted. Had Houston not been such an ordeal this time around Boston would have been fine for Kate. However, Kate has been off...for Kate that is. She has refused (or more specifically "screamed incessantly with large tears and a very red face") to sleep in the crib in our room, so she has been taking up residence in the bed with us for the first time ever. It's actually kind of fun, but we are all looking forward to being back in our own beds (or more specifically Mommy & Daddy are looking forward to not sharing the bed with a kicking toddler). Today though she took a good nap and had some relaxing quiet time in the room and we decided to keep it low key this evening. I think Amanda and Kate are headed for the New England Aquarium tomorrow.

The group from my office arrived later on Friday night and we met up on Saturday morning before the conference got started. Boston has been nice so far, and we've spent some time on Newbury Street, at Boston Commons, at Fanueil Hall, the Boston Harbor, and at Harvard in Cambridge. More pictures and posts to come soon (the hotel charges to use the internet in the room, so I'm not sure how soon more will appear). Oh, and for our Oklahoma and Texas readers who were suffering with snow on Saturday--it was 70 degrees in Boston.


lunch with the Tech gang.


Bruce trying, and failing, to avoid having his picture taken.


Walking down Newbury Street. Kate took the picture. Not really. She was in the store buying us more coffee.


Kate and I outside by our hotel Friday night. As you can tell she's not quite herself in this picture.

(Kate after her eye exam. Her eyes are still dilated, so she's not really interested in looking at the camera flash.)

...our last trip to Kate's ophthalmologist for a while! We are here in Houston--she did great on the plane yesterday--and had her eye exam today. There has not been any major change since her last eye exam, so the doctor said we don't need to come back until she's 3. Kate turning 3 sounds like it should be so long from now, but I know how fast this past year has gone and I can only imagine it will go faster. By the way, having a full-blown toddler is exhausting. It's fun, frustrating, humorous, challenging, and tiring all at the same time. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Well, here are few pictures from our time in Houston, and then off to bed. We are leaving for Boston early tomorrow morning.


Kate with Minnie.


The waiting room area at the Texas Children's Hospital Opthalmology clinic.


Our mandatory picture with the bejeweled dancing cows.

Surgery Follow-Up & Clothed 4-Wheelin'

(Kate looking for Granny & Papa the morning after they left, which was also the morning of her follow-up testing)

....Kate's follow-up testing from her bladder reconstruction surgery which she had at Thanksgiving. Good news---all of Kate's tests came back excellent! The surgery completely fixed her problem!!

Here are some recent Kate pics.

They were rough tests, but they all came back great!


Kate riding her 4-wheeler...with clothes on this time. Out of gas or needs a push start?

Granny's Birthday

Kate, Granny, and Papa with their "get excited" faces.

....Granny and Papa coming to visit for Granny's birthday. Granted, the visit and birthday were last weekend, but we have been so busy lately a week behind doesn't seem so bad right now. We still have some busy days ahead of us too this month. We leave soon for Houston. Then we leave from Houston to fly to Boston, which we are very excited to all visit Boston for the first time. After a few days in Boston we fly back to Lubbock just in time for Amanda to defend her dissertation! It's all good stuff, so don't think I'm complaining...just been busy is all.

We have managed to get a few pictures of Kate recently. She has been really funny lately, and here are a couple of pictures to show off her personality.

Turn Your Speaker On!

...some videos of what has been happening around our house lately--set to a very appropriate couple of songs. Kate has been so funny lately, and this video collection shows some of the funny everyday things that just crack us up. Even Papa Steve makes a cameo at the end. You are going to like this one!! Be sure to watch the whole video and make sure your computer speakers are on.

A Day of Firsts

...deciding Kate's mullet needed to go. I called my good friend, and hairdresser, to get Kate her first haircut. I was so excited all week. We went to the salon this morning and I was nervous about how she would do. Lisa gave Kate her first sucker and the rest was history. She enjoyed her sucker so much she never knew her hair was being cut. It looks so cute and really shows off her curls. Great job Lisa!

We were feeling pretty after her haircut so we decided to go see Michael at work. However, he was not there. We stayed anyways and had a GREAT time with his coworkers. Kate dances, jumped, posed, and twirled to entertain everyone during their Oscar party. I am so thankful Michael has so many wonderful people to spend his days with and that they let Kate and I tag along. I do realize, however, that I am merely Kate's ride!
While we were at his office, wait for it, Kate said her first sentence. I realize it was probably an accident but she managed to get all the words out. She looked at Michael and said, "Hey Daddy, read the book." We are so proud and pretty sure she is a genius.
What a day and to top it all off her Granny and Papa came to visit today. She is on cloud nine. It is always good to have company!