Residency Graduation

Last weekend, Matt graduated from residency! It kind of doesn't feel real yet, because he still works until the end of June, but it was a fun celebration anyway.  For those of his classmates that are going on to do general pediatrics (like in an office setting), they will be finished with their training at the end of the month.  We have a little bit to go:)

For those of you unfamiliar with the medical world, they keep track of training by Post Graduate Years (PGY), so Matt's first year of residency, he was a PGY1.  He's finishing his PGY3 year, and when he's the chief resident, he will be a PGY4.  He'll then spend PGY5-7 as a hematology/oncololgy fellow.  So, by the time he finishes, he will have completed 4 years of undergrad, 4 years of med school, 3 years of general pediatric residency, 1 year of chief residency, and 3 years of pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship.  Seriously, that's a lot of training.  And he's seriously smart to prove it!

Matt's parents came up for the graduation, and my parents attended as well.  I know all of us are proud of Matt, but I'm really, really proud of him.  And since I'm his wife, I get to be the most proud:)

The 3 Musketeers

friends! 

future Chiefs giving out awards

all the graduates

just a little light reading for Monday morning

Kate loves to jump on beds, and she made it very clear that I was no longer going to be able to make the bed because she was going to play on it.  My Type A personality is usually always going, going, going and wanting to get things done, but instead, I stopped and enjoyed some playtime and reading with my little lady.  I'm thankful for the little reminders of what life is all about:)

silly goose! 

my little laundry helper

Sorry for all the background noise; the washing machine was running:) Isn't she a great helper?

mama's shoes

After we went for a run, Kate said 'mama' and then put my shoes on...and she walked in them a few steps before falling down:)

18 month fun

I know I've said this before, and I'm sure I'll say it again, but 18 months is such a fun age! Kate seems to be changing every single day.  By next week, some of these things will have passed, I'm sure, but for right now, here is a glimpse into our amazing little girl...

• she LOVES bubbles and coloring with sidewalk chalk
• she likes to push her baby in the baby stroller and go for rides in the wagon
• her favorite thing seems to be the construction equipment around our neighborhood.  she's always saying "beep, beep, walk"meaning that she wants to walk to go see the trucks working (they go beep beep whenever they back up)
• she wants to be outside ALL THE TIME and often cries when she has to come in
• she enjoys sitting on the couch
• she likes to identify things by whose they are.  for example, my pillow is 'mama' and Matt's is 'dada'.  same goes for shoes, cups, coats, chairs, etc.  it's very cute.
• when she's leaving a room, she either says, "see ya" or "bye" to let you know she's leaving you behind
• she likes to hold hands on walks
• when Matt asks her to snuggle, she puts her head on his shoulder/chest and smiles.  it doesn't last very long, but it's super sweet
• she's great at going up the stairs, but not down
• she likes to share her snacks and drinks with her baby dolls
• she loves to find the ducks and the geese at our neighborhood pond
• anytime we talk a walk, she tries to lure us towards the playground so she can swing.  i'm pretty sure she would swing all day long
• anyone who is mowing their lawn or using lawn equipment is 'dada' (so cute!)
• she likes ice cream and cake and everything chocolate...that sounds like someone else I know:)
• she is super friendly...on her terms.  she loves to say hi to other people (especially kids), but if you approach her and start talking to her, she might be really shy
• she still has 12 teeth (4 top front, 4 bottom front and 4 molars), and her I-teeth have yet to make their debut.  she's been working on them for a long time, but they just keep coming and going.  they cause her to lose a lot of sleep:(
• she is now sitting at the table to eat.  still in her high chair, but her food is on the table instead of the tray
• she calls most bugs flies and she stomps on ants
• she likes to clean things with a washcloth.  after I wipe her hands and face after a meal, she'll walk all around the room 'cleaning' things for me:)
• if other people are laughing (especially loudly), she joins in with a few 'ha ha's' of her own
• she loves to play on our bed and to 'fall' down on our pillows.  she also likes to jump on the bed and on the couch
• she's just getting into the stage where she likes to copy people...watch what you do when you're at our house!
• she still loves dogs
• when you ask her a question and she's looking for something (e.g. where is your baby?), she looks around and goes 'hmmm' with her pointer finger on her lips

We certainly have our share of screaming, running away, not sleeping, being a picky eater, and temper tantrums, but I try to forget about those.

first words

Kate is talking like a maniac.  She has over 50 words now, and I've been scribbling them down as she says new ones in an effort to keep track.  For memory's sake, I'm going to write them down here so it will be easier to remember and find in the future.

hi
bye
ice
bubble
shoes
pop
up
down
duck
geese
birdie
elbow
knee
foot
toes
please
out
outside (side)
swing
slide
woof
meow
moo
neigh
beep
eyes
yes
no
ball
mama
dada
potty
night night
blue
walk
uh oh
bite
cheese
sit
fall
fly
airplane
bee
vitamin
go
see ya
belly
bike
five
Kate
pretty
cookie
dirt
milk
fork
baby
bowl
pillow
book
hockey

She can repeat lots more words, but these are the ones she says often and uses in context.

weekend visitors

The MHSAA state track meet was in Hudsonville this year.  Tessa and Grandpa Pridgeon wanted to see a few of the runners from Reading, so we got to spend a day with family! Kate was a little shy with everyone at first, but warmed up pretty quickly.  As usual, she loved her Uncle Bri:) She even called him Bri guy when we asked who he was later in the afternoon...so sweet!

listening to Uncle Bri's heart

sushi lunch!

Saturday night was my cousin, Lincoln's, open house so we spent a little time there and then came back for a quick strawberry shortcake dessert before everyone had to head home.  

Thanks for making the trip up, we'll see you again soon!