Weekly Natalie - Week 121, 122, & 123

I would like to formally blame a certain pint-sized munchkin for preventing me from posting updates. Grumpasaurus Nat has been visiting recently (even though NO one invited her - rude.) and I just haven't had the energy to post an updates. And it's also why the latest pictures are from two weeks ago. Grumpasaurus Nat is not photogenic.

Team Smith's inaugural kite flying expedition.
Nat was super excited to see Buzz and Woody on the kite.

Trying to reach the kite - so cute!

NOT a good kite-flying-helper

Boing-y PIGTAILS!

Once Nat and I were far away on the other side of the playground,

the kite took off. I tried not to be offended.

Posey McPoserson

Showing off her Chuck Norris moves on the fountains

My little love. I could just eat her up.

Ha!

Right in the kisser. Awesome.

Sweet baby girl

So excited about the fountains!

And what better way to end a trip to the fountains,
than to splash your mother. Punk.

April 2011 - Recap

Oh my silly, silly Natalie,
This has got to be one of the funniest months in recent history. You're talking in real sentences now, and the things that come out of your mouth are nothing short of hysterical. Here are just a few that I can remember:

• Come on babies, let's (yet's) go read! (said to your baby dolls after I told you that I couldn't read another story because I had to go make dinner)
• I okay! (said after falling down then quickly getting back up)
• I so fast! (said when crossing the street)
• I found me! (said after coming out from underneath a blanket)
• I'm so happy I found you! (said to the mall. Yes, to the mall.)
• Fire trucks (twucks) are loud (woud) cuz dey help people! (said to a fire truck after one of the many times I've explained how their sirens are loud but not scary)
• I all dwessed up and I yook boo-tiful
• I a pwincess! (and when I politely tell you that no, you are not, in fact, a princess, you say "No, I a sweet girl" Yes, yes you are.)

And you also love LOVE to sing. You sing the ABCs no fewer than 20 times a day. You also love singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Here are the lyrics, according to you:

Twinkle twinkle, yiddle staw
Uppa buppa world so HIGH
Yike a diamond in da SKY
Twinkle twinkle, yiddle staw
Uppa buppa world so HIGH

You and I also do a pretty sweet Jesus Loves Me duet. I'll sing a line, then you sing the next line, and so on. Did you know "dey are weak but He is stwong?".

Whenever you do something physical (throwing a ball, running around the living room, being chased by Daddy or me, etc), you say "I Mouse-kercizing! I Mouse-kercising!" Thanks, Mickey Mouse, for teaching my child that exercise is fun. I owe you one.

For some reason, you've just NOW realized that you can scream (I'm not complaining by any means; I just think it's funny we made it 27 months with nary a scream [your tantrums are plenty loud, trust me, just not scream-y]). Needless to say, you learned about Inside Voice and Outside Voice this month. You've also learned about Whiny Girl Voice and Big Girl Voice. One of them makes Mommy's ears hurt; the other makes Mommy happy. I'm really proud of how quickly you've picked up on that concept. When you come up to me fussing about something, I'll ask you what kind of voice you're using. Nine times out of 10 you'll say "Big Girl Voice" (though 10 times out of 10, it's not). I ask you to try again using your Big Girl Voice. And you usually do. It's helped a LOT.

Daddy and I are working with you on using full sentences when you want something. In the past, you've said (for example) "Snack!" and we've asked you "Would you like a snack?". Now we're trying to teach you a more socially acceptable way of asking for something (you know, like "Pardon me, Mother Dearest, loveliest woman in all the land, might I trouble you for a morsel of food?"). Except that we haven't been good at teaching you different ways to ask for things. Like, you're pretty good at asking "Mommy, may I have a snack?" but you also ask "Mommy, may I have take a walk?" A+ for effort; C- for grammar.

Speaking of "have take a walk", you love taking Fire Hydrant Walks. There are two fire hydrants close to our house. One is big; the other is little (yiddle). You like to go back and forth between the two of them, talking about how they're red. How one is clean (cwean) and the other is a messy mess (thanks to Minnie Mouse for teaching you that phrase). How both are heavy. How Mommy won't let you pick up either one of them. I sure hope our neighbors don't mind you playing with the fire hydrants in their yards.

You've decided to have favorites this month. Your favorite color? Yellow (you've liked this color the best since before you turned one). Your favorite number? 1. Your favorite letter? A. Your favorite shape? Circle. Your favorite animal? Cat. Or doggie. Or pig. Or horse. Or whatever animal pops into your mind.

You've turned into quite the Backseat Diaper Changer this month. When it's time for a diaper change, you (loudly) remind me to use wipes and diaper cream. I don't know if you're aware, but I've been cleaning your rear end for 28 months. I got it, thanks.

When Daddy or I come get you in the morning or after a nap, we always ask you if you had sweet dreams (answer: yes). Then we ask you what you dreamed about. We had gotten used to these wild and fantastical dreams you would tell us about. But this month, the answer has been the same: horses. And pigs. And when we put you down to sleep, you automatically say "Dream 'bout horses!" So cute.

One of your favorite games is "How Many?" I ask you how many [insert body part here] and you give me some wild, off-the-wall answer. And then you giggle hysterically. It's like this:
Me: Natalie, how many eyes do you have?
You: Fourteen!
Me: Fourteen eyes? Oh my GOSH!
You: Oh my GOSH!
Me: Natalie, how many ears do you have?
You: Seventeen!
Me: Seventeen ears? Holy moly!
You: Holy moly!
Me: Natalie, how many toes do you have?
You: (in a totally serious voice) Ten.

Of course you have ten toes. How silly of me to ask.

So while this month was a really, really funny month, it was also a sad month. You learned how to say 'eleven'. Which means no more 'yum-yum-yum." Not that I want you to be 18 calling it yum-yum-yum, but still, I miss it. A lot. And you also learned how to say Pluto. So no more 'boe-toe." I guess you're growing up. Or something.

You melt my heart on a constant basis. Just last night, I was reading to you out of your "My First Bible." We got to the story of Jesus' birth. I pointed out Mary and Joseph, and when I was about to say "Baby Jesus", you said "Baby God." I mean really. Are you kidding me? That level of cuteness is beyond my wildest imagination. And that level of cuteness totally makes up for you having 14 eyes and 17 ears.

Hugs and smooches,
Mommy & Daddy


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Headlines for May 1, 2011:

• Volunteers Across the South Tend to Storm-Ravaged Communities
• Tornado Victims Seek Comfort in Sunday Services
• NASA says no new launch attempt before next Sunday
• Charlie Sheen Slams Chuck Lorre Again: 'No One Cares About Your Feeble Show Without Me'
• Prince William, Kate leave palace in helicopter
• Legally blind runner wins women's marathon in Ohio
• Gates gives $20 million for digital learning

This headline came late last night, after I had already posted your recap. This is big news, my love. You'll learn why when you're older:

• President Obama Confirms Osama Bin Laden's Death