Kate when he learned to say her name. Kate actually loves being called Cake so we went with it and she hopes he continues to call her Cake well into his adult life). In fact, I must thank Kelan for bringing her into my life. Kate - and her family, the Smiths - have been a wonderful addition into the McGradys' lives and I will always be grateful for them.Kate and I met at the Ballard toddler room when Kelan and her son, Mac (read more about Kelan and Mac: Stating the Obvious), were a little over a year. The boys would sometimes play together and we would chat. We continued to see each other occasionally over the next several months in this toddler room - although never exchanging numbers or planning a playdate. Soon we realized that we were both pregnant (due dates about a month apart). We ran into each other again when it was about two weeks to her due date. I decided to ask for her number - anticipating it would be good to make friends with someone about to be in the same situation as myself.
We did not see each other again for a couple of months and in that time she had her daughter, Libby, and I had Lauren a month later. I came up for air when Lauren was a month old and emailed Kate for the first time. We planned our first playdate with our toddlers and newborns. This was the first of many. We spent this first summer chasing after Kelan and Mac wearing our daughters in
Baby Bjorns. We laughed, cried, bitched, shared, and rejoiced about the first year as moms of two children. I do not think I could have managed that initial year of Lauren's life without her. We have survived sleep deprivation, potty training, nursing, tantrums and high energy kids. Our children have become the best of friends (Lauren and Libby are now playing together). Aside from the fact that I like her as a person and would be friends with her sans kids, I think the fact that we both were in the trenches with two young kids at the same time cemented our friendship.
Kate and her kids have become an integral part of my life (we call each other almost every day), so you can imagine my utter joy when they moved into the rental house next door (they are doing a major remodel on their home several blocks away). Since September, we have spent many afternoons with the kids playing in front of our houses. Riding bikes, digging in the dirt, splashing in a baby pool -
naked - and running up and down the sidewalk - sometimes, naked. Truly a gift to be able to do this. Not only have we become closer (not to mention the kids), but our husbands have gotten to know each other as well.
Baby Bjorns. We laughed, cried, bitched, shared, and rejoiced about the first year as moms of two children. I do not think I could have managed that initial year of Lauren's life without her. We have survived sleep deprivation, potty training, nursing, tantrums and high energy kids. Our children have become the best of friends (Lauren and Libby are now playing together). Aside from the fact that I like her as a person and would be friends with her sans kids, I think the fact that we both were in the trenches with two young kids at the same time cemented our friendship.
Kate and her kids have become an integral part of my life (we call each other almost every day), so you can imagine my utter joy when they moved into the rental house next door (they are doing a major remodel on their home several blocks away). Since September, we have spent many afternoons with the kids playing in front of our houses. Riding bikes, digging in the dirt, splashing in a baby pool -
naked - and running up and down the sidewalk - sometimes, naked. Truly a gift to be able to do this. Not only have we become closer (not to mention the kids), but our husbands have gotten to know each other as well.Sadly for us/me the Smiths are moving back home. It has been wonderful having good friends so close, but I know they are excited to be in their house again. Living in limbo is never easy. However, I think it is always harder to be the one left behind. I will always look at their house wanting to see them and I know Kelan and Lauren will continue to run next door to see their friends and play in their yard (I hope the new tenants like kids...). They live less than a 5 minute drive up the street and we will continue to see each other all the time, but the ease in which we can just walk outside to play is gone.
Their last night next door is Saturday. I hope the weather is nice so we can play outside.
1 comment:
Loved this story about your two families bonding; suspect that even though they won't be next door neighbors anymore, the connection is cemented into your lives.
BTW; my girlfriend Brenda has a son named Jonathan who couldn't pronounce Kate either and called me "Aunt Cake". We still laugh about this 21 years later!
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