Happy Halloween!

We had a fun time today for Kate's first Halloween. Our little lady was a little ladybug and loved wearing her costume!! Our neighborhood had a get together this afternoon and Kate also enjoyed checking out the other kids in costume. We hope that everyone has had a safe and Happy Halloween! Here are some pics of our ladybug--

Visit to the Pumpkin Patch

Kate and I went to a pumpkin patch on Friday with friends Scott, Candace and Adi Levy. Kate had a great time! As always she was just happy to be outside and had fun checking out the pumpkins. She also LOVED riding in a wagon! Here are some pictures from our little adventure

At home before we left for the pumpkin patch

Checking out the little pumpkins

Kate and Adi

The wagon ride was her favorite part

First Steps!!!

Big news around the Speyrer house! Miss Kate finally decided to brave her first few steps!! Over the weekend Nick went to the Florida/LSU game in Gainesville and he kept saying before he left that he didn't want to go because he just knew that Kate was going to start walking while he was gone. Well she didn't just take off walking, but she did start to build up her confidence a little starting on Friday afternoon. She would take about 2-3 steps as she kind of fell forward into my arms. We had a busy day on Saturday so no time for major practice and then as soon as Nick got home on Sunday she took like 4 steps where he got to see it. I tried to show off Kate's new trick to Mondy, the babysitter, yesterday and Kate was not having it and really wouldn't try all day. Then this afternoon, once Nick was home from work we gathered up a few items to try to entice her to take a few steps and she did great!! We were even able to catch a few video clips to share. Forgive us for the shaky video but remember our equipment is an iPhone and it took some coordination between the 2 of us to get her going. Our baby girl is growing up!

11 Months Old

I cannot believe that we are less than 1 month away from having a 1 year old! Kate is weighing in at just over 26 lbs, holding steady with 4 teeth (even though I think she is working on another one right now) and is strolling her little legs off but still no walking. By far her favorite thing to do right now is push her stroller (see Strolling Along... post). We have had a great time lately playing outside in the evenings thanks to some gorgeous weather down here! Also, Kate and I have been jogging (Kate riding) most mornings for another chance to enjoy the nice temperatures. Kate is still eating great! She will try anything that we give her and regularly eats whatever we're eating for dinner. She is sweet and has gotten more affectionate over the last month handing out kisses to Mama and Daddy (we're working on kisses to others) often. Kate jabbers constantly and I know she's got a lot going on in that little head that she wants to tell us all about but she can't quite get it out. She doesn't really have too many new words. She's adding Mama back to the vocabulary after a long hiatus...Hooray!!...and is trying hard to repeat the things we're saying without much success yet but I know it won't be long before she gets the hang of it. We continue to have a blast with out sweet girl on a daily basis! Enjoy some of the recent pictures...

After one of our morning jogs. You can tell how much Kate enjoys it.

This was our third week in a row tailgating and since LSU had an early game (2:30) we were able to see the band march down the hill. Kate and Daddy really enjoyed getting to see this together.

Strolling Along...

Yesterday, Kate finally decided to put her stroller walker to good use. We've had it for a while and she's just been interested in the toy aspect of it but not really interested in trying to push it around. We got it out yesterday to play with and Kate decided to take off! She strolled all over our house probably several times over. We thought it was good walking practice. Anyways, we thought it was pretty cute and wanted to share. Hope everyone has a great week!

Kate's First Tailgate!!

This past weekend Kate got to go to her much anticipated first LSU tailgate. Daddy could not have been happier and prouder! Tailgates have been a huge part of Nick's life in the fall since college. I don't know that he's missed too many home games for LSU (even when we lived in Atlanta) and there was a while where he didn't miss any away games either. While it is still a tailgate, we laughed on Saturday at how much things have changed! After a scan of beverages in hand at our tailgate, I noticed that there were almost as many sippy cups as beer cans in hand among the group. Kate loved the whole experience! She was happy to be outside and in the middle of so much activity. Enjoy some of the pictures from our fun afternoon.

Daddy and Uncle D went out early. Daddy was so excited when Kate got to the tailgate.

Kate has her very own tailgate chair that is just her size.

Another first at a tailgate--as we were trying to take this picture the Laperouses were singing "What's gonna work? Teamwork!" from the Wonder Pets so that Kate would look at the camera. My how things have changed!

With Uncle D

Kate and Daddy with Paul and Annie Grace Laperouse. We ended up getting one good one of the Daddies with their girls after some pretty funny expressions and squirms to try to get all 4 to look at the camera at the same time.

After we got back home and Kate got a nap we went back outside to take some pictures in the front yard.

Labor Day Weekend Lake Trip

We were lucky enough to spend Labor Day weekend at an awesome lake house on Lay Lake, a little south of Birmingham. My whole family was there--Papa, Nonna, Aunt April and Uncle Alan with their 4 kids Camden, Owen, Langley and Harper, and Aunt Anna and her 3 kids Mary Emma, Daniel and Liza. We also celebrated a wedding while we were there and welcomed a new uncle (and brother-in-law) and cousin into the family. We are so excited to have Uncle Jason and Conner as the newest members of the Johnson clan! Anna and Jason had a beautiful, sweet ceremony on the lake house property. We were also lucky enough to have Granny and Granny Betty (my Great Aunt and Granny's sister) there with us for the whole weekend.

There was a pool on site and Papa rented a pontoon boat so we spent most of our time enjoying the fabulous weather and beautiful days. Kate still loves to be outside so this weekend was right up her alley. The weather was perfect so we spent the majority of our time outside on the porch when we weren't in the pool or on the lake. Kate loved being in the pool and wanted to be pulled around the pool either in her swim ring or just with her legs kicked out behind her. She had her first little dunk in the pool (it really was very minor) and luckily Uncle Jason was there to lend a hand getting her out. Kate had fun playing with her cousins and seeing what all she could get into at this new place. Overall it was a perfect weekend and we are SO VERY THANKFUL to Nonna and Papa for the trip!!!

Pool fun!

Boat riding with Daddy

More of a happy girl on the boat

Riding on the boat with Nonna

First game day of the football season poor Daddy had to be surrounded by a bunch of Bama fans...even Kate

We have been trying to teach Kate how to give kisses. Over the weekend Daniel puckered up for Kate and she decided that she'd give him a kiss. She doesn't hand out too many so we were tickled that she was so willing to give kisses to Daniel. She always goes in for a kiss mouth wide open.

Here are some quick pics snapped during the wedding festivities. Kate was very well behaved.

Waiting for the wedding to start with Daddy

Playing with Papa and Liza after the wedding.

Looking at Camden through the glass door.

The whole family.

A couple of pics we snapped just before we left Tuesday morning. We were all sad to leave because we had such a great time!

Taking one last look at the lake and surroundings with Papa before packing up.

Thanks again Nonna and Papa for such a great weekend! We had a great time, and as you can see from all of the pictures, Kate had a blast! Here is a link to a slideshow of some of the wedding pictures.