the best babysitter ever!

ok, so maybe i'm a bit biased with regards to being the best, but... nahhh, i don't think so!

right before i left for christmas, devon asked if i'd be willing to help out and babysit miss piper. i said, of course!! and so, on monday the 20th i spent the day having all kinds of baby fun!

and here is a day in the life of piper with katherine!



first we played in her awesome toy. she's a little short so she's standing on a box. perfect!


yep, we watched tv. in defense of the babysitter, the today show was on when i got there and i just never turned the tv off of nbc. so here we are with the real housewives of nyc. piper was totally in to ramona and her googly eyes!


we ate twice and here is one of the bottle times. she was super duper hungry and not thrilled when it took me forever to figure out how to get one of the bottle lids on the bottle. so i scrapped that bottle and went with one that was easier. trust me, that thing was hard! during the second bottle that needed warming up, piper was less than thrilled to be put down while i turned on the stove and got everything together for her. and now i know how moms lose weight: they don't ever get to eat. miss piper was having nothing of hanging out while i tried to put together some food for myself! but that's ok - i discovered mini peanut butter cups from TJs. YUM! and easily eaten with one hand!



after bottle, we stared at the red apple boppy. it was a serious source of excitement.



so much excitement that before we knew it, it was nap time! miss piper did not want me to swaddle her (my first swaddling!)... and she cried for awhile... but i sang made up lullabies b/c i couldn't remember the words to all of them. she seemed to like it. she might be the first to actually like my singing.


and then, about half an hour later it was time to get up and PLAY some more! yay! here is a shot of miss piper hanging out on the floor and grabbing my hair for dear life. um, i'll admit it took awhile to extract myself.


just hanging out!! way way too cute.


after playing long and hard, it was time for another nap! dev's said she'd probably sleep for like 2 hours. um, no. try 30 mins. but! she was out like a light before i even set her down. it made swaddling her much easier!




after piper's nap, we played some more and watched the cold cold world out the windows. here we are looking at allllll the pretty christmas cards... and our pretty selves!


self portraits in the mirror are hard!!


after my day with piper (and once devon came home!), i got to go get my allergy shot and then run home and pack. time to get ready and go home to houston and the family!

kandy kane ball.

the kandy kane ball is an annual event which i attended last year as well. this year, i hosted a pre-party at my place with some appetizers and wine. then we headed to the ball at joe's on weed street which is a huge bar. you buy a ticket and then it is all you can drink until a certain point. also as part of your entry, you are required to bring a toy for a child. this year they also had a photo booth - free! - that we took many many pictures in - they even had various festive hats to dress up in. i'll have to scan some of those in... but in the meantime... here is our night.


santa was there! stefanie, nicole and i all went to the ball and took pics with santa and danced the night away!


shots... always a good idea! it was an ice luge shot.


nicole and me.


i swear... no drinking had been going on!! haha

my momma's visit

i've been a terrible blogger these last couple of months...i have no excuses other than being totally and completely lazy.

my momma came out to visit in early november. we had a lot of fun shopping, playing, visiting the LP zoo, navy pier and meeting piper!

the week my mom came was absolutely gorgeous! and b/c it was so nice out, we decided to try and do as many outdoor things as possible.

the impetus for this trip was the book/author series with the junior league. november's author was nancy brinker - the sister and founder of the susan g komen foundation. i thought it would be a great way to spend some time with my momma especially b/c it is a cause so close to our hearts (my nana, my grandma, and my aunt have all had breast cancer). she's a fabulous woman and so accomplished. she's truly an inspiration and was a fabulous speaker!


after the luncheon, we had our books signed and asked if we could have a picture with her. she was so nice and posed with me and mom. loved her!!

after the luncheon with nancy brinker, we went to the zoo. mom had never been so we went to see all the animals. some were hiding, some were out and about. we had fun walking around and checking them out! afterwards, we did a bit of shopping which was really really nice!

the next day, we slept in a bit and then made cinnamon rolls. yum! and then we decided to go to navy pier. i hate the pier. usually. but the pier was really nice that day - sunny, warm (for nov), and not crowded at all! we went on an architecture cruise which we thought for a time that we might be the only ones on the boat! but a few more people joined and there were maybe 30ish people on board. all tourists. and me! it did get a little chilly toward the end, but it was a great trip.

after the boat, we meandered down the entire pier and then made our way back via the stained glass museum. i'd never seen it before - it's free. i just never wander down there. but it was gorgeous glass - tons of tiffany glass there! and then it was time for the ferris wheel. i really wanted to ride it. never ridden this one before. my mom is terrified of heights. truly scared. i convinced her to do it with me. and i even made her take some pics.


we're still on the ground here...


the view from the almost top


me and mom at the top. mom was so nervous! but, she did it!!

later, after the pier, we got to go to devon's and meet piper! patrick had to go to a work dinner so we didn't get to see him. my mom was in heaven. she looooooooooooves little babies.


luckily when we left, she didn't try and steal pipes. phew!!


piper had just started rolling over - she was rolling from her back to her front and my mom wanted to see this big step. so here she is encouraging piper to roll. eventually she did roll for mom!

and then, before we knew it, mom's visit came to an end. we had a lot of fun!