Natalie's First Snow

Happy Thanksgiving to all.  Natalie and I are down at my parent while my poor husband is back home sleeping cause he worked last night and has to work tonight as well.  We are just getting ready for our big Thanksgiving meal but I wanted to share some pictures we just took.   Natalie is getting to experience her first snow fall so we had to take some picture.  Poppop just came into the room and says that if the snow keeps up he wants to take her for her first sled ride- so fun.  She seems to like the snow- she just kept her tongue out to let the snow fall on it!!!

Looking back at this year we have so much to be thankful for.  Last year I was 3 months pregnant and anxiously awaiting our little ones arrival.  Now here I sit with a happy, healthy little girl who is perfect in every way.  Gary and I could not feel more blessed.  We have our perfect 'little' family that we have been dreaming of since we met, we are surrounded by the most wonderful family and friends, we live in a town that we love, and are fortunate to be doing things that we love as well. So today as we sit around that table with some of our wonderful family, we are so thankful.  Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Thank you Mom

God Bless Mothers!!  I can't express how much my Mom's visit this week was appreciated and needed.  For those that have noticed, I apologize that our blog posts have been infrequent recently.  Gary and I (and Natalie somewhat) have been sick for about the past 6 weeks- literally.  Gary and I have each had two colds, strep and now recently the GI bug.  Gary and I blame daycare, though fortunately (THANK YOU GOD) Natalie has had nothing serious, only one or two mild colds.  Gary and I were both getting over our recent cold when my Mom got here Tuesday evening.  By 11:30 at night, I was calling for my Mom to come grab Natalie from me cause mid nursing Nat I had to run to the bathroom to throw up.  Had she not been here I don't know what I would have done in that Gary was at work.  Unfortunately for Gary, he got home from work Wednesday morning, was feeling fine and by noon he was also throwing up.   We are just praying that Mom doesn't come down with it.

Nonetheless, Natalie had a great time with Mom while Gary and I laid in bed recovering on Wednesday.  She just loves spending time with her Mommom.  Natalie is getting so much more interactive and coordinated.  Her stacking cups are one of her new favorite toys and she is a champ at knocking them over.      Mom also got Natalie hooked on a new activity.

Yes that is Natalie sitting in a diaper box with a string through the handle to pull her around by.  She will just sit there for like 20 minutes as long as you keep moving, with the same look on her face- a very serious look (I swear she likes it though). 

Thanks again Mom and we are so sorry for exposing you to this virus, we really hope you are spared!!!

Sitting Up

Over the past week, Natalie has drastically improved on her sitting. It seemed to happen all of the sudden. Now she can go pretty long sitting up all by herself, though if Sasha comes close or someone distracts her, she still sometimes topples to her side. Nat is just in love with Sasha. I hope to get a video of the two of them soon to share as well. For now, here is Natalie showing off and sitting up all on her own.

It's 1:30pm

So it is 1:30 pm and my 5 month old has been up since 7 (thank you Daylight savings).  That's not even the good part.  The best is that she has not taken any naps yet!!!  I laid her in the crib when we got home from grocery shopping just hoping she would sleep.  This is what I found when I went in 5 minutes later.

She doesn't look tired one bit!!!!  How?  And how does one resist those eyes?

Nat's First Halloween

Yes, I was "that Mom", or so that is what some are telling me.  I thought Natalie's costume was perfect but some thought that she should have been something a little more feminine.  Nonetheless she was absolutely adorable (I'm not biased though) and we really got good use out of her costume, wearing it 4 times (Musselman's camping weekend, Playgroup Halloween Party, Trick-or-treating at my work/daycare, and handing out candy to Trick-or-treaters at our house).  And by the way- the heart on her butt says little stinker and there is a pink bow in her ear to show that she is a girl skunk!!

Mom & Gary at Blue Lake

Look at that tail!

With my cousin Matt's son, Liam the dragon- he just

loved 'Baby Natalie'- if only I write it how he says it!!

So I had to put this picture on here cause it CRACKS me up.  This is Louisa, our neighbors' daughter who is 3 months older than Natalie.  Natalie seriously looks like she weighs thirty pounds here and like her cheeks are about to explode.  They are both so adorable though!!!

Natalie's Dedication

This past Sunday we headed back home to have Natalie dedicated at Zion.  Having it done back home was very important to me.  Most off my extended family attend Zion, and also it was where I was dedicated, as well as my Dad, and probably his father as well.  Zion is also where we would love to end up when all of Gary's schooling is said and done.  So therefore, we wanted our little princess dedicated there as well.  She was a gem through the service and did not cry one bit (I can't say she didn't babble though).  As Hunter carried her around to show her off to the congregation, she just stared at everyone.  Hunter did an exceptional job as always and we are so thankful he did the service for us.  We just hope that by the time we make it back to Zion regularly, Hunter, Grace and the kids are still there.

Our happy family

My baby

Natalie with her godparents, Chad & Nic

Mom & Dad with their first Granddaughter

Hunter, Natalie, Gary & I

Gettysburg

For those not on facebook, I figured I should post our pictures from Gettysburg.  This is the one thing we got to do on our weeklong vacation before Gary and I got sick.  Gettysburg is just an hour from our place but neither of us had been for close to 10 years.  We had a great day, the weather was perfect and Natalie was really a trooper with all the in and out of her car seat she endured.

Sorry for the quality of the pictures.  I am having trouble getting them to upload properly and they appear blurry (though they really are not).  I have no idea how to fix it and will have to have Gary take a look at it, sorry!!!