Finally Meeting Cousin Colton

My brother, Eric, and his wife and son, Katie and Colton, were able to make it in from Minnesota on Monday.  Colton is Natalie's only cousin and this was the first time they met face to face.  He was great with her, they had a wonderful time with one another.  Natalie is wearing the hat that Colton got her for Christmas in the first two pictures, isn't it adorable!!!

Christmas Time

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas.  We certainly did, children just make Christmas so much more special.  I think we were all surprised by Natalie's participation in opening gifts.  She loved to rip the wrapping paper (not for what was inside but rather to put the paper in her mouth- oh well it looked convincing and made for some great pictures).  We unfortunately missed capturing pictures of present opening with Gary's family except Nat in her ball pit (see below).  

Quite possibly the coolest ball pit ever

Thanks Brad & Jen

It zippers up and you can carry it around- she loves it

Very interested

Unwrapping on her own

Her new book- Mom's new favorite

"On the Night You Were Born"- it will make Moms cry

Natalie's new hat Mommom had Whitney make

Christmas Dress from Chad & Nic

Opening with Mommom

Surrounded by her new toys

Oh course I buy her the loud obnoxious toy- drums

Cutest baby ever- wearing my headband while giving some 

lovin to her new Nittany Lion Daddy gave her

Children really are the greatest blessing and gift- she makes everything better than ever imaginable.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Family Pictures

A few weeks ago (or months, I can't remember) we had some family pictures taken by our friend, Wendy Parrish, who recently started her own photography business.  She was such fun to work with and we are really pleased with the pictures.  When we got home from the photo shoot, I was a little upset at first.  The shoot went great except Natalie, who is normally a very smiley baby, barely smiled at all!!  She did smile on two occasions.  Once when we were just standing there talking and Gary was holding her.  The other time was when we got home, we had Wendy take some pictures in our yard with Sasha.  Of course, Natalie sees Sasha and smiles.  Oh well, Wendy still caught some great shots, and as she put it, at least Natalie didn't cry at all.

New Aunt

We have now "officially" welcomed Jen into the Updegrove family though she has been a part for a while (in fact for 4 years longer than I have!!!)  Gary's middle brother, Brad and Jen got married on November 20th.  It was Natalie's first wedding and I must say she did very well during the wedding.  It was a very long weekend for her but she was a trooper and I do think she had a great time.  Brad and Jen planned a wonderful and beautiful wedding and we are so incredibly excited for them.  We wish them many more years of happiness.

Congrats you two!

Cara, Natalie and I took pictures of the guys before the wedding.  Here are just a few:

First family picture at the Nittany Lion

Meeting Uncle Eric and Aunt Cara for the first time

Christmas Activities

Three posts in one day- what is going on?

I feel very blessed by Gary's schedule this month.  Don't get me wrong- he is still working a TON.  Most of his days are 15+ hour days but at least he has the weekends off for the month of December.  This means he will be able to spend Christmas day and New Years day with us and for that we are so thankful.  It also means that we have been getting in a lot of family time these past few weekends.  We went and cut down our own tree, went and saw Santa (post on this coming soon), went to Gary's work Christmas party, as well as our condo Christmas party.  We also went to Hershey Park's Christmas Candy Lane with my parents this past weekend.  Natalie has enjoyed all of these activities but has loved spending time with her Dad the most.


Cutting down our tree

(Doesn't it look like I have a toddler strapped to me)

Gary getting ready to cut the tree down

Best family pic we could get with our tree

Hershey Park Christmas Candy Lane

She didn't look quiet as big when Poppop carried her

Poor girl can barely see with her hat over her eyes

Some how I don't think her winter coat/bunting is going to fit her 

all winter- she already looks a little stuffed in

Ready for Christmas

Looking pretty in front of our tree

Sitting like a big girl

Sasha too

Finding some rest while she can

Only two more weeks till Christmas- we can't wait.  We are so excited for Natalie's first Christmas and so excited to spend time with our family and friends.  Hope you are all having a great holiday season.  Check back for some pictures of Natalie with Santa in a few days!!!

Leg Warmers

Leg warmers.  They deserve their own post- they excite me THAT much!!!

Mom and I were shopping the other month and we saw leg warmers for older kids but they were out of them in Natalie's size.  We were so disappointed.  I NEEDED a pair for Natalie- they were too cute to pass up.  Then the lightbulb turned on.  Louise, our wonderful downstairs neighbor, just adores Natalie.  She can't get enough of her.  When it was still warm we would try to stop by Louise's once a day just to say hi, cause Louise always said it made her whole day.  Louise has been so kind to knit Natalie two beautiful sweaters already so I knew leg warmers would be a breeze for her.  She made them in less than a week and they are AWESOME.  Natalie wore them to church today and got sooo many comments.  Louise offered to make her a pair in another color, I am considering taking her up on her offer.

They even have a cable print down the front of them!!  How adorable.

6 Months Old

This post is long over due.  Natalie has been 6 months old for a good 2 weeks now but to my defense we did just have her 6 month doctors appointment on Thursday.  The poor girl got 4 shots in one day but she handled it like a champ.  A little screaming, and a lot of evil eyes to the nurse that gave them to her (I can't blame Natalie, she wasn't very nice!!!!)

Natalie is still towards the top of the growth chart.  It is just amazing how quickly she is growing.  She has more than doubled her birth weight in 6 months.  She was 8 pounds 4 ounces as birth and is up to 18 pounds 9 ounces (89th percentile).  At birth she was 20 inches long and she is now 27 1/8 (91st percentile).  Natalie seems to just be loving life, she is such a happy and content baby!!  Her mommy and  daddy are loving her even more!

Here are a few pictures from her 6 month birthday!!