We've almost made it a month!

These past few weeks have flown by, just like the first two of Kate's life.  Kate experienced a few firsts since I last wrote: 

She took her first road trip!  Along with Cassie, Chris, and Abby, we drove out to Big Sandy to meet the newly ordained Fr. Hank Lanik!  We were blessed to get to join him in celebrating his very first mass as a priest.  Hank was the camp director at The Pines for many years, and had a huge impact on all of the Mechler's lives....and I will venture to add our husbands in that group as well.  Cass and I were talking after the mass and we were discussing how the weirdest part of seeing Hank as a priest was that it really wasn't weird at all.  He's played the role of a spiritual father for so many years, that him as a priest just makes sense!

My view from the backseat of our road trip!

She smiled for the first time (we think)!  She was sitting with Uncle Chris and gave him 2! big smiles.  Mommy and Daddy are still waiting for the second smile directed towards us :)!

After her first smile!

She slept for 6 straight hours!  Jake and I were hanging out with friends from camp playing Settlers, so we didn't get to experience the greatness of 6 uninterrupted hours of sleep, but it was pretty neat knowing she is growing up.  Before we know it, she will be sleeping through the night.

I have been reading Baby Wise to get some ideas of how to establish in Kate good sleeping patterns from the very beginning.  Since she is still so little, right now we are working on good patterns:  starting with a full feeding, then awake time, and ending with a nap.  I can already see a difference when I make a conscious effort to follow this pattern:  she sleeps better at night and seems to be less fussy during the day.  We are now learning what kind of toys she likes too to keep her entertained during her awake time.  It started with a frog bouncer seat when she was born, but Kate knows the trick now- that we are trying to get some work done when we put her in it....so the frog is no longer working.  I just figured out that she likes the fisher price aquarium that is on her crib...so I put that near a receiving blanket and let her watch to her hearts content.  Yes, that's what she is doing right now as I write this :).  Kate also loves bath time.  As long as Mommy and Daddy keep her warm, she is a happy camper.

After bath time!

Loving her aquarium!

All in all, the first month of Kate's life has been amazing.  We have been blessed with such a sweet, loving, and mainly content daughter.  Who could ask for anything more?