Top baby names of the decade

I do love looking at baby naming trends! Babycenter has published a list of the 50 most popular baby names, both boys and girls, of the decade. Jack landed at #6 on the boys' list (which kind of surprised me, as we actually don't meet too many other Jacks), and although neither Kate or Katie shows up, Katherine is #41. Our Kate is spelled "Katharine"... and I don't think they take different spellings into account. Always fun to look at...

http://www.babycenter.com/babynamer/50_most_popular_baby_names_of_the_decade.html

Love my vintage stuff

Someday, I want to be organized enough to actually use these gorgeous gifttags:
http://hubpages.com/hub/christmas-gift-tags


Check out this adorable Santa! Don't you want to just pinch his rosy cheeks?
http://hubpages.com/hub/vintage-Santa-graphics

I also love these sweet little pictures; they remind me of being a child at Christmas, how utterly magical it can be.

http://hubpages.com/hub/antique-toys-vintage-christmas-cards

Rest in peace...

...my beautiful, vivacious Aunt Joanne. You are now free from the pain that ravaged your body these past few years. I know that you are in a better place, but we will miss you!

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 8:31

...and more Kate

Can you tell I'm in LOOOVE with my baby girl?

P.S. Finally got her in for her well check. She's 15 pounds, 4 ounces, and is 25 inches long. Growing girl!

Half a year

Hard to believe, but my little girl is six months old today. The snowfall prohibited us from taking her in for her well-check today, but when I do get her in, I'll make sure to record the stats. Kate is busy, feisty, determined, dramatic, and usually content. Solid foods, so far, have not been her "bag," but she is starting to enjoy carrots and applesauce. And she's now taking a bottle, even from her dad, which gives me a little more freedom. She'll sleep for a good ten-hour chunk most nights, but her naps are not quite up to par. She loves manipulating toys, especially now that she can sit up in the Boppy for up to twenty minutes at a time. She can almost bring her new pink sippy-cup up to her mouth to drink. Almost. She also looks at Jack like he hung the moon. Jack does his best to entertain her; he's a magnificent older brother! Today they play-wrestled for the first time, and both of them laughed like crazy.

A fortunate November

Wow, November... what a month! Beautiful Kate is already five months old..
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We went trick-or-treating in the Wild West town of Virginia City, Nevada...

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We celebrated Jack's third birthday in three different states, with three different cakes...

I survived a plane trip (alone, with the kids!) to Dallas to visit TT and my parents, and to meet RJ...

Then we met Brian and his parents in Phoenix for the NASCAR race (and froze our tooshies off dry camping in our RV--who knew Phoenix would be so cold?)...

And we hosted Brian's mom on Thanksgiving week. Aahhh, Grandma time...