Sweet Girl

My girl and her daddy

An Achievement

My girl and me

Making the most of it

This is my last week of maternity leave. *sigh* I'll be honest, it will be difficult to go back to work. Kate truly is my daily dose of all things sweet and adorable and I will miss her tremendously. So, this week, we have been trying to make the most of our time together.

Hiking with our little Ewok at the Tualatin Wildlife Refuge.

Seven States

We have been recently been competing with Ryan and Dacia to see who has visited the most states. Ryan is in the lead and one ahead of me with 37 states as I sit pretty with 36. The rules are that you have to have set foot in that state--alas, airports don't count.

Well, Kate is only 11 weeks old and she already has seven states. She picked up Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming on our road trip and she just added Texas and Nebraska last week. What an experienced little traveler!

Here is our fabulous trip home, by the numbers:

New states Kate visited: 2

Flights taken: 4

Flights Kate slept through: 2 Yay!

Miles traveled by air: 4,070

Miles traveled by car: 816

Great-grandmothers visited: 2

Grannys visited: 1

Grandpas visited: 2

Omas and Opas visited: 1 each

Texas high school football games attended: 1

Pounds of delicious Texas food consumed: too many to count.

Baptisms performed: 1

Godparents met: 2

Combine rides taken: 1

Combine rides Kate slept through: 1

Nebraska friends visited: 12

Amount of homesickness acquired: tons.

B's Granny and Kate get acquainted.

Kate and I hang out at the Magnolia, TX pumpkin patch.

The whole family--Mark, B, me, Kate, Flora and Linda.

I honestly think this is our first official family portrait.

Randy and Tippy keep a watchful eye on Baby Kate as she goes for a ride in the swing.

Kate's baptism in Wayne.

Friends and Godparents--Liz, Abbie and Tom.

Four generations.

Kate and Oma hanging out at home.

A farm kitty gives Kate the once-over.

Another farm kitty comes in for some snuggles and possibly a little drool.

Baby's first combine ride was a smashing success. Obviously, Kate thinks so. B with my Uncle Don.

Enjoying the Wayne Herald.

Harper and Kate--six weeks apart, already best friends.

Omigosh, my friends had kids! Ben, Christian, Kate, Hudson, Skyler, Harper and Cadence.