This year was exceptionally fun for us parents as we got to witness Katelynn opening her presents. Well, the opening was not the fun part because we got to do that. The fun part was watching how excited she was to play with her new toys.
Her Grandma and Grandpa Patrick bought her a doll set this year, complete with cradle and all. I think that Katie enjoyed sitting on the cradle more then she will ever enjoy putting her new doll into the cradle. Lets hope she grows out of it before the cradle breaks.
After 2 months of not mailing out our Christmas Letter here it is on the blog.
December 20, 2008
Dear Family and Friends,
This year has had a lot of firsts for our daughter Katelynn.She had her first birthday, first time rolling over, first and second plane rides, first time in the ocean, first steps, first time in Disneyland, first time on Lake Powell, first haircut, first time Trick-or-Treating, first time playing in the snow, first time in a big-girl bed, first time in Nursery, and not to forget the first time with marker on her face.
The year welcomed us with Jed being diagnosed with Chrons disease. Once again our little family spent more time in the Emergency Department with test after test being run on Jed but after months of testing and pills Jed's Chrons is now under control.
Katelynn celebrated her first birthday this year.We had a party with our parents and some friends.Katelynn seemed to be more excited about the boxes and her little first birthday cake then she did with the actual presents.We couldn't bring ourselves to let Katie tear through the entire cake so we just gave her a piece to eat.All would have gone fine until her Grandfather Patrick gave her an orange frosting balloon; it is amazing how far that frosting can go to mess up a cute little girl's face.
We went to Hawaii with the Barton family where we participated in many of the Barton Hawaii traditions.Jed's personal favorite was the daily haupia pie from Ted's bakery.We stayed in a beach house with all the Barton's, including the newly married Stephanie and Travis as well as Matt, Nicole and Parker.Katelynn learned to walk in Hawaii, which Jed thinks she did just so she could hang loose with the rest of the family.We went to visit the temple while we were there which was the chance of a lifetime.The hardest part of the trip for our dear sweet daughter was take off and landing of the airplane, with her Aunt Stacie taking care of her, the actual trip was very smooth.
This year seems to be our year of trips, where we also went with the Patrick family to Disneyland to visit Mickey and Jed's sister Tia.It was a fun experience to take little Katelynn down to see Disney, Jed however was very glad to have one of those child leashes to keep Katelynn close to the family.Katelynn really enjoyed taking pictures with Mickey and Minnie along with other Disney guests who enjoyed taking pictures of our cute Katie.We stayed close to the park so that we could get Katelynn to bed on time while maximizing her Disney time.It was great to go with Jed's parents due to the great help they were in taking care of our little Katie.
In September we found out that we are expecting another baby, which we of course had to double check before we were sure.We recently found out we are expecting another baby girl, Abigail Mae, due April 27,2009.
We went to the Deer Hunt this year with the Barton family, yes even Jed.It was an interesting experience; Jed went out on the hunt one day much to Carrie's surprise and actually spotted the deer that Royce shot.
We began the long, and ever increasing in length, process of building a new home for our family.It will be the house that we raise our children in and make our permanent home.After months of thinking we would be moving out of our current home it now looks like we will begin breaking ground at the beginning of next year.
Jed did it!Despite a ton of problems, setbacks, and other issues preventing him from finishing he has finally finished school. He now has a Bachelors of Science degree in Information Technology Management.He had thought about this moment for so long, what he would feel, do, how he would act. His first thought... “Gee should I go back and get my masters degree.”Thanks to Carrie, who basically sacrificed her world with Jed in order to let him get finished, and we would like to thank Jed's parents for the time they let us hang out with them so Carrie and Kate would not be alone
On the work front, Jed has become the resident fix it man around the area he works.All of the information technology staff in the State of Utah has been centralized into one department along with Jed.So although he hasn't moved buildings he now works for a completely different department being there go to guy on cell phones, computer specification, and software recommendations.
Carrie is one of the greatest stay at home moms around.She and Katelynn are the tightest two people in the world.Whenever you ask Katelynn who she loves it is always Momma.
The year has come to a close with a few more medical problems for Jed.We are currently scheduling appointments to check on Jed's enlarged spleen.Carrie had the opportunity to substitute for Jed's mother for the whole week before Christmas, including her Christmas program, which proved to Jed how completely attached Katie is to her mother.
We would like to wish all of our friends and family a Happy Holiday season.Although we are late at sending this letter, realize that we care about each and every one of you.
Love,
Jed, Carrie, and Katelynn
P.S.We have jumped on the Blog bandwagon and wanted to include our address in this letter.
After many months of calling Abigail a boy we went to the ultrasound appointment to discover that he was actually a girl. In my mind, this was her way of telling us to please stop calling her a boy because she is most certainly a girl.
Since that date, I have not called my daughter a boy once although I have been tempted many times, despite the overwhelming evidence seen above to call her a boy. This may seem like I am bragging at my ability to catch my self, it is.
We are very excited to have our new little one join our family and I for one am very excited that she is a girl. I suppose you could say that I have become used to having a baby girl around and was nervous about a little boy.
We made cookies at my parents house, with lovely Christmas shapes. After frosting them, we handed one to Katelynn. She proceeded to lick the frosting off the cookie without eating the cookie.
Yesterday during church Katelynn went exploring. The bench behind her, come to find out, is not that far away from the wall. My dear little child attempted to walk between the two getting the left side of her face stuck between the bench and the wall. On one hand I was concerned for my daughters welfare, and on the other it was a very funny image. I suppose you had to have been there to understand the humor in it. Huh.....She got out without any lasting damage or issues, and with some momma time she was right as rain.
My dear Daughter has now discovered how to take the lids off of markers, which to my surprise she proved she could draw a straight line. Doesn't she just have the most satisfied look on her face?
After visiting Carrie's Family we were told to get new tires for our Highlander. The best prices around are from our friends at Costco. Well, I suppose you pay for the price by the wait time. Carrie, Katelynn, and I spent two hours waiting for our tires to be replaced. So, me being the intelligent person that I am decided it would be funny to stick Katelynn on top of some tires. First problem, the hole was too big. So I found a stack of tires about her size and Katelynn went in the tires. She cried when I took her out of the tires, much to my surprise, but I guess its all worth it for a cute shot. O and then there is the 30 seconds it took off the wait time.
The Barton Family has a mechanical Santa that they bring out each year. We wanted to introduce Katelynn to Santa and so we decided to start with the Santa. We may have rushed it a bit when they had to remove the head from Santa to get him to work right. He has a little remote sensor on the front that if you walk close to him he starts singing, well you guessed it, someone tripped the sensor and headless Santa started singing and dancing. They fixed his head and after a little coxing, Katelynn started to Dance to him. I may be biased but I think she is a good dancer.
Carrie was showing me pictures she had taken over the past several months when she came upon this one. She and I are teaching Katelynn to smile. Here we actually have her captured in digital film that smiling can happen with our daughter. I for one think that she is a very cute kid.
*Note the cute little chair behind her right shoulder. Since mom had a rocking chair I guess that Grandma Barton thought Katelynn should have one too. The amazing part is it seems that Katelynn actually enjoys sitting in it.
Announcing the all to soon arrival of Little Baby Otis Patrick. You get to be one of the first few people who see this debut photo. We don't know the Gender yet, but we will next month. Right now we know that we have a baby with a very strong heartbeat. If he/she is anything like Katelynn they will be impatient to join the world...
Carrie has installed a counter to the left that will count down till our due date.
It snowed in our little neck of the woods today, so Carrie took Katelynn outside to play. Bundling her up so she would stay worm, putting gloves on her, and visiting the neighbors Katelynn played on the swingset in the neighbors back yard.
That happy face let me, her father, know that she would be an outdoors lady for the rest of her life. I know if I went out in the snow like that I would not be the happiest person in the world........Maybe that's why I work with computers?
When we went to Disneyland to visit Tia & Richie my parents bought Katelynn an entire tinkerbell costume. Note the wand in her hand. At first I thought that her mother would not be able to keep the costume on her. I was mistaken when Katelynn left the costume on all night, and loved it. She even left fairy dust, glitter, behind her wherever she walked. I still have some on the floor of my house if anyone is interested.
Chalk one up to Carrie and her ingenuity, after we received Katelynn's costume she went about figuring out what we would be. Her dress was made by my mother to match the rest of us as Peter Pan, Wendy, and Tinker Bell. Do you think Peter Pan looks great with facial hair?
Katie's grandmother noticed that her hair had grown enough that it was time for an "even me up" trim. I, her father, did not notice that it was not even. So we went to our favorite hairstylist for katie's first haircut. Do you think Katie looks happy about this?
I did it, despite a ton of problems, setbacks, and other issues preventing me from finishing I have finally finished with school. I had thought about this moment for so long, what I would feel, what I would do, how I would act. My first thought...Gee I should go back and get my masters degree. I must be an insane man, should I not be happy for a moment.
Thanks to Carrie, who basically sacrificed her world with me in order to let me get finished, and I would like to thank my parents for the time they let us hang out with them so Carrie and Kate would not be alone.
Katelynn loves snuggling with her grandpa who she refers to as boppa. In this photo they are watching the disney playhouse show "my friends Tigger and Pooh." Carrie is substituting for my mother today and so Katelynn gets to hang out with the boys. O yah, and lets not forget Her blanket.
Katelynn has decided it was time for her to be a big girl and eat at the bar instead of in her own chair. Carrie tied her to the chair with an old belt of mine commenting that at least my ugly gray and blue belt was good for something.
Katelynn now eats breakfast from the bar every morning, until she sees her moms breakfast shake. I think that our little daughter is a one year old going on twenty.
**The food she has on her plate is banana bread made by Carrie the fantastic chief.
Katelynn decided she wanted to investigate the inside of the oven, so while mom wasn't looking our little curious child put her hands on the inside of the oven door.
Carrie took our little one to the doctor who bandaged her up. Not very timely since Katelynn has begun grabbing everything with her little hands.
I don't think that Katelynn will touch the Oven for a very long time.
Mom decided to play dress up with Katelynn to see how her Halloween costume worked. She sent the photo to the whole family including me. Doesn't Katelynn look just happy to be dressed up like that?
Our family went to Disneyland the last week of August with Grandma and Grandpa Patrick to visit Aunt Tia and Uncle Richie. Katie was able to fly for her second time in her young life. We stayed in the Fairfield Marriott right across the street from the park so we could see the lights of Disneyland from our balcony and see the fireworks. We really enjoyed spending time with Tia and Richie and to see them in action at the Jungle Cruise and Indiana Jones. Richie was even able to get us priority seating for the fireworks, which were amazing. Katie enjoyed meeting Eeyore, Mary Poppins and Bert, Mickey Mouse and especially Minnie. We were also in the park to feel the earthquake that hit Southern California. It was so fun to watch Grandma and Grandpa try to get a picture of Katie's every reaction.
In the past month Katie has perfected crawling and pulling up on any object. She also has gained a new tooth on top and can now climb UP the stairs. (much to her parents worry) Katie will now play on the floor by herself for a while so mom can get a few things done in the day and will let anyone know when she is not getting her way.
Katie on her very first Easter morning. We tried to color eggs with her, but she decided to sleep instead.
This year was exceptionally fun for us parents as we got to witness Katelynn opening her presents. Well, the opening was not the fun part because we got to do that. The fun part was watching how excited she was to play with her new toys.
