Allergies & Smiles

It seems that Katherine has inherited more than her Mama's eyes and mellow personality. She has allergies! She is allergic to the regular baby lotion that makes her smell so good. Instead we have to apply Eucerin lotion morning and night. She's also been sneezing, coughing and snorting. The allergens at this time of year bother me more than any other time (even with my daily allergy pills), and they are bothering Katherine also. The doctor said she is too young for us to do anything about it other than try to keep her nose suctioned. Last weekend, Katherine rubbed her eyes constantly and scratched up her face. Our efforts to keep her hands away from her eyes this week were successful, and she is looking much better. Through all of it, Katherine is still a happy baby sharing more and more smiles every day.

Looking pitiful last Saturday.

Receiving her daily beauty treatment.

Studying the singing frog.

Laughing at the singing Daddy.

Holding her head up even longer.

Eyeballing her Mama.

Growing weary of the paparazzi.

Katherine's First Two Months

Some of you have seen these pictures before, but others are just reconnecting with us. So, here's a look at Katherine's first two months in photos! We thank God every day for giving us the desire of our hearts by allowing us to have a child of our own.

I had high blood pressure towards the end of my pregnancy, so labor was induced. It was incredibly long (I had been in the hospital almost 33 hours before Katherine was actually born). But, I was able to deliver her with the help of forceps. She was perfectly healthy!

My parents both stayed with us for the entire labor and delivery. My mom was a huge help at the beginning and still is!

Going home from the hospital. Katherine is a great sleeper. She woke up twice a night for a couple of weeks, then moved to once a night. She's been sleeping through the night now for almost two weeks (she's 11 weeks old today).

The doctor was a little afraid Katherine might develop jaundice, so Andrew took on the duty of "sunning" her while he watered the flowers. It worked, and she was just fine!

Katherine LOVES to swing! She smiles and laughs when she's awake in the swing, and likes to take little naps in it also.

Making funny faces with Mama.

Andrew is a great daddy. He has been super helpful from the beginning. I didn't change a single diaper in the hospital. She was 1 month old in this picture.

Princess Katherine received her crown as a gift from Bob & Gail while we were still in the hospital. They had been teasing me that she will want to enter beauty pageants since I am NOT a beauty pageant person. They wanted to make sure she gets lots of practice wearing a crown.

The entire Maxey family came to meet Katherine for one week in July. She was 6 weeks old and did well with everyone there. Katherine has been a very flexible baby so far. We take her everywhere - we even took her to South Carolina to the Campus Challenge scholarship competition with the youth choir when she was two weeks old. This is a picture of all the cousins.

Katherine started daycare (we call it school) at First Wesleyan Church where I work on August 6. That was my first full day back at work (I had been working a little as needed since she was 3 weeks old). Katherine and I were both pooped at the end of the day!

Last weekend, our church had a pool party. Katherine was a hit in her ocean princess bathing suit.

Bouncing Katherine

Here is Katherine in action!

Wee (and not so wee) Maxeys

We've been having such a good time reading about our friends at their blogspots that we decided to create one for our family. We thought there would be at least a handful of people out there that would like to stay in touch with us. A brief update on our lives: Andrew & I have been married for 8 years now. We lived 2 years in Indiana, 4 years in San Diego, and have been in Tuscaloosa, Alabama for 2 years now. Andrew is still teaching High School English. I am working at the church I grew up in, First Wesleyan Church, in the music department. Our first child, Katherine Elizabeth, was born on June 7, 2007, and we are loving parenthood!