First, just took little Katie to the doctors office yesterday. She’s 13 pounds 15 oz and 23 inches long. So that’s 95 % weight and 75% height. The doctor said not to worry about her weight (Which I wasn’t until he said something, so now of course I am) because as long as it’s all breastmilk she can get huge, it will “melt off” (his exact words) when she’s older. I suppose I shouldn’t worry. . . at 2 months 2 weeks JD was over 16 pounds, so it appears I just have large kids. She had to get her shots, which she hated. Boy the look of. . . well, betrayal(!) in her eyes. It brought tears to mine. I’m holding her arms down with my head by hers and she’s looking me right in the eye and she screams – and it was like she was saying “How can you do this to me?” She still has huge, very expressive eyes!

It other Katie news, she is ONE fussy papoose. She has this indignant scream, which I assume other babies use for things like limb amputation, that she pulls out for something as minor as mommy quits pacing and actually sits down. She has her fussy period every night starting at about, oh, 6:30~7ish. It’s not always colic, it’s just that she doesn’t know what to do with herself, and cries at a moment’s notice. So I spend every evening being eaten alive by misquitos as I push Katie around the cul-de-sac in her stroller. I look like the pied piper because the other kids – sensing they have a trapped victim! – following me around talking to me and asking to push the stroller. So I’m getting to know everything about what interests 5 year old girls, mainly a group called the Spice Girls. (Ack!) So that’s what we do until dark. JD is usually outside on his scooter, and John is either playing with JD or walking with me. (His tolerance for the neighborhood kids is much lower than mine. I tease him it’s because my immunity is built up since I’m with them all day long every day)

All fun aside, it’s quite frustrating because nothing seems to make her happy in the evenings. She’s totally awesome during the day – smiling and cooing and such. But at night I’m up till 11 just to keep her from screaming. Never mind an actual smile after 6. Note this does not leave much time for John and I do be alone. Another sad thing is that I’m starting to watch TV. There’s a show on at 6 called Great Egypusians that I’m quickly becoming addicted to. As far as I can remember, she’s a bit more solom than JD; I’ve got to work a little harder for my smiles. But like JD, and me too, I guess, she has a smile that engulfs her whole face! Which is so adorable.

JD is still a little hellion with legs. He’s got Attitude – wants to do everything by himself. “I do it” he says constantly. Also, my dear husband taught him to say “Go away bee” so now all he says all day long is “go away mommy!” Joy. So glad I’m giving up my career for this. ( (OK, who taught him to say Go away? And John laughs hysterically) Also, he’s a real big fan of “Go away mommy, daddy do it.” (fine!) So he’s a great kid. I love how his mind is expanding every day. He now knows everybody’s name and asks to play with them, mainly a little boy named Kenny down the street. Also, (this is so cool) Amanda left her sandels in our yard and JD pointed at them the next day and said “manda’s shoes.” So I was super impressed. He counts to 4, although I’m not sure he has the concept of numbers. He knows purple, red and yellow – sometimes blue and green. He also knows the letter “G” and that’s it. (??)

Katie now up and in my arms so this will be typed with one hand. My buddy Juli (college roommate) had her baby somewhat unexpectedly last Sat – 5 weeks early. So that’s been a little tough for her. I start class tonight. My final class – hip hip horray. (yep, I’m on the 10 year plan ) This is really going to be tough on John because he’ll have to put JD to bed around 8:30 – right in the middle of Katie’s fussy screaming period. Also, she really doesn’t like the bottle and only takes it under protest – muttering and wimpering all the way. SO I’m eagerly anticipating getting out of the house and feeling very sorry for John at the same time. When Katie gets less fussy I’m going to try to get a sitter for Thursday nights because it is John’s softball night and I’d hate for him to miss it.

Let’s see. The week of labor day – what is that, September 8th? Anyway, John took that whole week off and I think we are going to go to the beach. I’m really hoping that Katie quits being so fussy at night or it may not be as much fun as we first anticipated! All the kids will be back in school so we should have the beach and hotel pool to ourselves. Am really looking forward to it.

Last, John and I got a new computer. Actually, what has been decided it that the new computer becomes mine alone, and John is getting our old one. This is because I like to actually USE the computer, while John like to take it apart and insert some 200 dollar gizmo the size of my thumbnail causing the whole system to crash for days on end. So I anticipate a lenghly list of “new” parts flowing to my mom..