The Adventures of Team Smith

Month 2 - Recap

2012-01-09T08:47:00.002-06:00

My sweet little fuzzy-headed munchkin,
I had forgotten the world of difference there is between a one-month-old and a two-month-old. And now I remember! You've definitely woken up from your 'newborn hibernation thing' that you had going for the first month. You're so alert, and we love watching you check out the world around you. Your favorite things to look at are the ceiling fan, the lamp, and Natalie. I won't say which one, but one of those three is a humongous ham and gives you awesome material to check out. You've started cooing (are you KIDDING me with the cuteness?) and I got your first purposeful smile on Natalie's 3rd birthday!

You're still a Snort Fest when you sleep, but I think you're doing it less than you were last month. Or maybe I'm just getting used to it. It's funny to think that the sound of a herd (flock? group? gaggle?) of feral pigs might not even register with me anymore.

We gave you a bottle for the first time this month. And, if I were more observant, we wouldn't have had such a disastrous time for your inaugural bottle. When the package of bottle nipples says it's for babies who are 3-6 months old, it wasn't kidding. Just because you can wear 3-6 month clothing doesn't mean you can drink like a 3-6 month old. Once I gave you a more age-appropriate bottle nipple, you were much happier. Which means that Daddy and I got to have our first post-you date (you'll soon realize that Daddy and I love our dates).

You had your well-baby appointment this month. Your height is in the 75th percentile; your weight is in the 50th percentile. And, in keeping with the Smithkid tradition, your head is in the 95th percentile. You handled your shots like a champ, but they turned you into a Grumpasaurus for the next three days.

You're sleeping better at night (those dimples of yours were SO your saving grace when you were getting up 3 and 4 times a night). I feed you around 9pm and you usually start fussing around 2. Daddy or I will usually go into your room and rock you in your bassinet, trying to get you to go back to sleep for another hour or so. After that feeding, you sometimes sleep until 6 or 6:30. Other times, you wake up again (totally STARVING, of course [insert eyeroll]) at 4:30. I can totally function the next day with you getting up once a night. My ability to function goes down exponentially with every subsequent time you get up. I hate to put a guilt trip on someone who just learned to hold his head up, but ... well ... there ya go.

I can't express how I love you. You make my heart melt. You like to snuggle, you make awesome faces, and you've only peed on me twice.

Hugs and smooches,
Mommy & Daddy

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Headlines for January 9, 2012:

Alaska town hit by 18 feet of snow
Excedrin, Bufferin recalled over mislabeled pills
Giffords leads vigil as Arizona marks shootings
Locals call BP's feel-good Gulf ads 'propaganda'
Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s Security Prevented Man from Visiting His Twins at Hospital, He Claims
Joe Paterno's Son Speaks Out

Weekly Smithkids - Week 156 and Week 8

2012-01-05T17:20:00.003-06:00

Enjoying her birthday cupcake

Hooray! A purposeful smile!!!

20 Questions from a Three-Year-Old

2012-01-04T11:23:00.004-06:00

My sister was perusing Pinterest (our latest favorite time-suck) and she came across a scrapbook page done by a mom who asked her three-year-old daughter 20 questions. Each year, on the girl's birthday, her mom would ask her the same 20 questions. She thinks it'll be cool to see how her daughter's answers change from year to year.

So, in keeping with true Pinterest fashion, I'm stealing the idea.

I asked Natalie these 20 questions on her third birthday:

What is your favorite color? Yellow
What is your favorite toy? Fishing rod
What is your favorite fruit? Apples and strawberries and oranges
What is your favorite TV show? Little Einsteins
What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Cheese
What is your favorite outfit? Shirt and pants
What is your favorite game? Hungry Hungry Hippos
What is your favorite snack? Granola bar
What is your favorite animal? Doggies
What is your favorite song? Silent Night
What is your favorite book? Moo Baa La La La
Who is your best friend? Eliana
What is your favorite cereal? Banana and milk cereal
What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play ball
What is your favorite drink? Water
What is your favorite holiday? Easter
What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Elephant and Lauren Bear
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Banana
What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Blueberries
What do you want to be when you grow up? A princess

I can't wait to see what she'll say when she turns 4. Here's hoping she picks another answer for #20 ...

2011 - Year End Review

2012-01-01T14:06:00.002-06:00

Happy 3rd Birthday, my sweet girl!

You just keep getting cooler and cooler, and keeping up with you is getting harder and harder. I can't believe how much you've changed this year! In keeping with last year's recap, I'll now present several Top 10 lists.

Top 10 Things You Love:

Bubble Guppies
Little Einsteins
Playing outside
Making up stories
Singing
Charlie
Playing Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land, Uno Moo, and Hungry Hungry Hippos
Christmas lights
Reading
Your doctor kit

Top 10 Things You Don't Love:

Chili
Brushing your teeth
Getting your hair brushed (by me)
Using your indoor voice
Being quiet when someone's on the phone
When I don't get you from your nap when you wake up in a grumpy mood (our rule is that if you wake up grumpy from your nap, you didn't sleep long enough. So you either have to go back to sleep or you have to play in your room until you un-grump yourself)
Bringing your table and chair into the kitchen for mealtime (you always try to farm out that chore to whoever you can. Except me. You rarely ask me to do it because I (most) always say 'no'. Daddy, Bob, and Pep on the other hand ....)
Going to sleep (even though you tell us every day that you don't like to go to sleep, you're usually fast asleep in mere minutes after your head hits the pillow)
Time out (duh)
Soda (I think this is mostly my doing - I've told you from an early age that you don't like it. And you believed me. Score one for Mommy!)

Top 10 Things You're Good At:

Singing
Going to school (you're not always happy when I drop you off, but you always cheer up quickly and always have a great time)
Writing the letter L
Spelling your name
Memorizing song lyrics
Being a big sister
Eating
Sleeping
Using your manners
Making everyone around you laugh

Top 10 Things You're Not Good At:

Sitting still at a restaurant (Daddy and i take turns running around with you outside)
Trying new food (you'll do it, but not before making a MAJOR stink about it)
Being polite when you're hungry or tired
Leaving things at home when we run errands ("Momma, I HAVE to bwing my baseball and my doll stwoller and dis piece of stwing and dis spoon with us to Target! I HAVE to!")
Folding clothes (climbing into the basket of clean clothes and throwing underwear around the living room is NOT helping me fold clothes)
Keeping a straight face (when you pretend to be grumpy, you last about 2 nanoseconds before you burst out laughing)
Sleeping normally (you start out the night with your head on the pillow and your blankets pulled up around you. But you never ever end up in a normal position. You change positions approximately 75 times throughout the night. Sometimes you've got your feet the pillow, sometimes you've got your knees on the floor and your head on the bed, sometimes you've got your body on the bed and your head hanging off the side, sometimes you're curled up into a ball, sometimes you're splayed out at the foot of your bed. Seriously, even IF we wanted toco-sleep with you, it'd be impossible unless there was a mattress size that was 10 times the size of a California king and even then, Daddy and I would probably still get karate chopped in the head.)
Okay, so I've run out of things you're not good at. Stop being so smart and maybe I can think of some more.

From January 2011 to December 2011, you've gone from someone who only said 20 words to someone with a limitless (and hilarious) vocabulary. (Not two days ago, you came up to me and touched the area between my nose and my lips. You said - and I kid you not - "I just booped you in your filtrum!"). You've gone from someone who had all the potential (and gene pool) to be a nerd to someone who is, in fact, a certifiable nerd. (You talk about how circles don't have any angles; you talk about what things are vertical and what things are horizontal; you often say "Yet's talk about things that are [red/hot/tall/old/happy/other random adjective]). You've gone from someone who fusses and whines when she can't properly express herself to someone who can come up to me and say "Momma, I'm sad. Yet's talk about it." (Granted, you still fuss and whine at times, but I love that you can tell us how you're feeling). You've gone from being an only child to being the best big sister that Charlie Bear (and Daddy and I) could have ever hoped for. You've gone from someone who needed prompting to do just about everything to someone who (sometimes) puts her cereal bowl on the counter without being asked. You've gone from sleeping on the floor to sleeping in an actual bed. You've gone from being ambidextrous to ... still being ambidextrous. We haven't the foggiest idea which hand you'll use.

You're an amazing little girl. You're remarkably tuned in to other people's feelings, you have an uncanny ability to turn ANY phrase into a song (you inheirited that ability from Bob), and, unfortunately, and the ripe ol' age of 3, you're far smarter than either Daddy or me. It's kind of annoying. You're incredibly sensitive, practically becoming inconsolable when one of your friends gets in trouble. You're tirelessly curious, wanting to know what EVERYthing is and what EVERYthing does and what EVERY person's name is. You perhaps have a severe hearing problem because you ask the exact same question over and over and over and over and over and over again. You perhaps do NOT have a severe hearing problem because you hear me grumble something quietly under my breath and immediately squawk "What you say, Momma? What you SAY???!!!". You perhaps have a severe vision problem because you're incapable of finding your shoes when they're 1 nanometer from where you're sitting. You perhaps do NOT have a severe vision problem because you able to find scissors/a lighter/the annoying book we've read 1000 times/cookies even when we try to put them out of your field of vision. Leave our cookies alone, ya hear?

You, you talkative, expressive, helpful, singing, sensitive, curious girl with-or-perhaps-without a severe hearing and/or vision problem are simply astounding. Daddy and I the luckiest parents in the history of the world. To watch you grow and learn is an honor of the highest order. But seriously, leave our cookies alone.

Hugs and smooches,
Mommy & Daddy

December 2011 - Natalie Recap

2012-01-01T14:02:00.002-06:00

Sweet Puddin' Pop,
Oh wait, I didn't tell you that I call you Puddin' Pop? Well I do. And you call me Butterscotch Puddin' Pop. And it's pretty embarrassing to admit this, but these nicknames are from a cartoon you love. Bubble Guppies, to be exact. What's even more embarrassing to admit is that these nicknames are the names of a mommy cow and her baby cow (don't ask how there can be cows [complete with fish tails] in a show about mer-children; it's one of the many, many, MANY things that make zero logistical sense about the show).

Daddy has started not bringing anything with him when he walks in the door in the evenings. His briefcase just gets in the way when Toddler Road Runner (that'd be you) bombards him at full speed. He can't even get the door shut before you (sweetly but oh my GOSH so loudly) ask him to play Pillow Fight on the bed. Pretty much regardless of the day he's had, because he's an awesome daddy, he plays right along with you and races you to our bedroom. I usually stay in the living room with Charlie to let you two get some quality Daddy-Nattie time. A few weeks ago, you decided that an even BETTER game than Pillow Fight is something you call Smacky Wacky. How it's different from Pillow Fight escapes me. The only difference I see is that when you two hit each other with pillows, you say "Smacky Wacky". And this causes you to lose your noodle with laughter.

Speaking of quality Daddy-Nattie time, you two have had a lot of time together over the past two months. Taking care of a newborn is fairly time-consuming, and as much as I'm bummed we don't get to hang out as much as we did before, I'm over-the-moon that you and Daddy have had some serious quality time. You two go to the grocery store a lot (and you're ZERO help with making sure Daddy sticks to the list and doesn't end up getting chips and cookies). You also do a lot of projects together - washing the cars, cleaning the garage, and discovering the latest happenings with the Guppies.

Three random, but nevertheless funny things - you call Nilla Wafers "Banilla Wipers", you call a thermometer a "fur-MAH-the-ter", and, according to you, Charlie's full name is Chaw-yee Bear Ee-yi-juh Smith.

Hey, I've got a question for you! Did you know it's easy for an almost-three-year-old to partially dislocate her elbow? And that it can pop back into place as the Urgent Care x-ray tech puts the almost-three-year-old's arm on the x-ray table? It is. And it can. [And did the mother of the aforementioned almost-three-year-old know that the aforementioned almost-three-year-old would get not one, not two, not three, but FOUR lollipops to keep her happy while she was in the x-ray room? She did NOT. She DID, however, keep her snarky comments about how the aforementioned almost-three-year-old has probably only had four lollipops in her entire LIFE before that day and that she would be sending the dental bill for the aforementioned-almost-three-year-old to the x-ray tech.]

Having a newborn, having inSANE nursing-related issues from practically Day 1, and it being so close to Christmas has meant that Bob and Pep have spent a lot of time at our house helping me out. Lately, I've noticed Pep and you have a little routine when he comes over. He gets a comb from your bathroom and sits down on the living room floor. You hop into his lap, and he combs your hair. It's pretty dang adorable. And pretty dang annoying. Because when you see ME come toward you with a comb, you immediately begin freaking out and insisting that you don't NEED your hair combed. You don't NEED a hairbow. It all HURTS. And it all FWUSTWATES you so you're gonna fold your AHMS at me. But when Pep does it? Yeah, it's the best thing ever. Yeah, you're a punk.

Your latest favorite game to play (other than Smacky Wacky, of course) is Hide-and-Seek. I had no idea how much fun playing Hide-and-Seek with an almost-three-year-old is. When it's your turn to be the Seeker, you dutifully cover your eyes and count to 10. You don't even seem to peek (at least I don't think you do). You've got the Seeker job down pat. Now the Hider job? You could use a little work. Actually don't. Don't work on it. You're a hilarious Hider. When I close my eyes and count to 10, you often tell me to count slower because you haven't gotten to your hiding place in [insert hiding place here]. And when I say "Ready or not, here I come!", you say "Momma! I'm in da [insert hiding place here]!!!" And when I come to the [insert hiding place here], the look on your face is priceless. You're legitimately surprised that I found you. You look like I'm the best Seeker EVER. And it's AWESOME. So yeah, don't ever become a better Hider.

My sweet little Puddin' Pop, I can't believe this is your last recap before you turn three. Because I'm pretty sure I gave birth to you yesterday. But that's silly. Because if I were to EVER give birth to a 37-pound baby, I certainly wouldn't be able (or alive) to write a hilariously witty (or mildly amusing) monthly recap. Thanks for rocking my world for the past three years. I had no idea that my world, in fact, NEEDED rocking. But it did. In a big way. And you did it.

Hugs and smooches,
Mommy & Daddy

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Headlines for January 1, 2012:

Poll: Romney has slight lead over Paul in Iowa ahead of caucuses
Times Square, world ring in 2012
Woman donates kidney to her former boss
Stolen monkey found scared but healthy
Forecasters see bumpy ride, but better 2012
Cops: Man tried to use $1,000,000 bill at Walmart

Weekly Smithkids - Weeks 154 and 155 and Weeks 6 and 7

2011-12-29T09:48:00.003-06:00

Merry Christmas from Team Smith! I hope you and yours had a joyful day.

Charlie Bear's first Christmas!

The $1 jump rope in Natalie's stocking proved to be the best present.
Girlfriend NEVER tired of trying to clear the rope.
(Note: she was only successful once, but kept a smile the whole time)

Puzzle time with Bob

I love him too

Not purposeful (yet), but still so sweet

Natalie was playing the Charlie guitar :)

Weekly Smithkids - Week 153 and Week 5

2011-12-15T09:32:00.004-06:00

Cookie Decorating Time at the Smith house

You might need to see the dentist after looking at this picture

How Charlie spent Cookie Decorating Time. Lazy.

Month 1 - Recap

2011-12-09T16:37:00.003-06:00

Hooray! We all survived your first month! (Not that there was any doubt, but still, it's nice to survive something as world-changing as a new baby).

I'm going to try really hard not to spend your recaps comparing you to your sister. Not that I would ever (consciously) do that in a negative light (NATALIE did this when she was a baby; why aren't YOU?), but I want you to have your own recap, with your own (embarrassing) stories. You've got a little grace period, however, because newborns hardly ever do anything embarrassing (... besides peeing on your shoulder. You did that, by the way. Daddy and I may or may not have laughed.)

Here are my observations thus far:
You love being swaddled, you love your bassinet, and you love being outside. You don't like laying flat, so I'm wondering how moving you to your crib in your room will pan out. You are the sneeziest, snore-iest, snortiest, and hiccup-iest baby I've ever seen. You typically sneeze in triplicate and get the hiccups no fewer than twice a day. I think part of your sneeziness and snortiness might be due to your swollen nasal cavities. At your two-week checkup, Daddy and I mentioned how your nostrils seem small. She agreed and said they looked pretty swollen. We've started using nose drops on you in the hopes it'll open your nose up a bit. You eat a LOT. I'm not fighting it, because I don't think putting a one-month old on a feeding schedule is any kind of possible. But I'm hoping in the next month or so, you'll learn to be more efficient with your nursing. I try not to let you go more than 2 hours in between feedings during the day, trying to fill you up so that you'll sleep well at night. It doesn't work. You're like a teenager - you sleep all day and party all night. I feed you between 9 and 10pm and you can usually make it until 12:00am or 1am. That's your 'long' stretch. Har. After that feeding, however, it's anybody's guess as to when you'll be hungry again. Sometimes it's 2am. Other times it's 4am. (Side note: I know you don't know how to tell time, but 4am is waaaaay better).

You have reflux. Not even a hundredth of the degree that Natalie had (in other words, I'm not covered in baby vomit 24/7), but you seem to be in pain after every feeding. I'm hoping

Zantac will help reduce the time each nursing session takes (nursing + burping), because an hour is a wee much. Just a wee.

Your Daddy rocks (hopefully you're well aware of this when you actually read this). After your last feeding at night, I go to sleep in our bed while Daddy sleeps on the floor in your room. He does a great job at trying to get you to go a long stretch before your next feeding. He'll rock you, he'll turn on the hair dryer (side note: you're really comforted by the sound of the hair dryer), he'll put you in the swing, he'll do whatever he can think of just so I can get at least 3 or 3.5 hours of sleep in a row. See? He rocks. After the next feeding, Daddy goes back to our bed and I sleep on the floor in your room. Wearing earplugs. Because on my GOSH, you're so noisy. (I know I could sleep in my own room and just go get you when you start to fuss, but you sleep so lightly at night that you wake up a lot. So if I'm only inches from your basinet, I can stay half-asleep while I rock you. And I know I could sleep in my own room and move you to our room so that I'd still only be inches from your bassinet, but I want Daddy to get a long stretch of uninterrupted sleep since he has to go to work in the morning.) Hey, I've got an idea. Why don't you just start sleeping 5 hours at night consistently. Then Daddy and I can sleep in the same bed and neither one of us has to sleep on the floor. Sound good? Good.

Instead of having your 2-week growth spurt in one or two days, you dragged it out for over a week. Survey says? NOT cool. I'd much prefer a rough 24-36 hr stretch instead of a rough 5-hr stretch every day for 9 days. Perhaps you could change your method for your 6-week growth spurt. I'd hate to have to return you to Baptist Hospital for being defective. I'll find the receipt, trust me.

I know you're a boy and you won't want to read something like this about your mom when you're older, but it must be said. So I'll just put three words. Mastitis. Thrush. OhmygoshohmygoshohmyGOSHpain.

Your head gets patted a lot by Natalie - it's her favorite thing to do with you. I'm not sure if she thinks a genie will pop out of your head or what, but your head is never lonely. It's actually pretty adorable and you don't seem to mind at all, so it's a win-win situation. She's a pretty great big sister - she's only yelled at you twice to stop crying. I had to politely remind her that yelling at you doesn't do any good. If it had worked, though, I might have given her $5. But, alas, it didn't.

I seriously can't wait for your first purposeful smile. You do a lot of milk-coma-smiles, and if your actual smile is even a tenth of the cuteness of your milk-coma one, I might, in fact, have a tiny heart attack. Your dimples are simply delicious. As are your feet. And your neck. And your belly. I thank God so often for you. You're simply magnificient, my sweet Charlie Bear.

Hugs and smooches,
Mommy & Daddy

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Headlines for December 9, 2011

Secret Santas pay strangers’ layaway bills at Kmart
Injured model sees face after propeller injury
Police: Virginia Tech gunman acted alone
Romney Hints at Gingrich Face-Off
Osama Bin Laden's Wives to Go Free

Weekly Smithkids - Week 152 and Week 4

2011-12-08T15:18:00.002-06:00

Charlie is fairly allergic to sleeping flat on his back,
so this is a rare shotMy Nataroo, one month before she turns the big 0-3

Weekly Smithkids - Weeks 148-151 and Week 3

2011-12-01T08:14:00.005-06:00

As if I was bad enough trying to get a weekly recap for Natalie done on time, I'm now combining Natalie's and Charlie's weekly recap into one recap. Hopefully their recaps will be done more than quarterly ...

Me and my baby boy

The new 4-membered Team Smith

Holding 'Baby Chaw-yee'

Charlie Bear!

Feeding Charlie some ketchup - such a good big sister

All dressed up for Thanksgiving!

Smooches :D

He gets a little lazy during Tummy Time

Super duper cheeseball

November 2011 - Recap

2011-12-01T07:55:00.006-06:00

My dear sweet Big Sister o' Charlie Bear,
You're all about schedules. You like to know what we're doing each day, and in what order we're doing them. Sometimes I show you a picture schedule; lately, though, I just tick things off on my fingers. Well you, my little master negotiator, have started ticking things on YOUR fingers to change the schedule. Case in point:

Me: Nat, it's time for a bath.
You: What's after bath? (actually it's more like WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! I don't WANT to take a bath!!! *continued wailing and gnashing of teeth for 10 minutes* THEN you ask what's going to happen after the bath)
Me: (ticking off on my fingers) Take a bath, put on jammies, brush your teeth, read a story, go to sleep.
You: (ticking off on YOUR fingers) Pway (play), bath, jammies, book, seep. We pway first and I don't need to bwush my teeth.
Me: (glaring at Daddy because he's practically falling off the couch from laughing so hard at the exchange between us)

Your life is one big musical, with "Jesus Loves Me" as your theme song. Seriously, if there's a millisecond of quiet, you immediately fill it with song. I don't know if you're uncomfortable with silence or if you think Daddy and I are uncomfortable with silence, but it's like you feel every waking second of the day needs to be filled with talking, singing, or some other noise. Case in point, let's revisit the above scenario.

Me: Nat, it's time for a bath.
You: What's after bath? (actually it's more like WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! I don't WANT to take a bath!!! *continued wailing and gnashing of teeth for 10 minutes* THEN you ask what's going to happen after the bath)
Me: (ticking off on my fingers) Take a bath, put on jammies, brush your teeth, read a story, go to sleep.
You: (ticking off on YOUR fingers) Pway (play), bath, jammies, book, seep. We pway first and I don't need to bwush my teeth.
Me: (glaring at Daddy because he's practically falling off the couch from laughing so hard at the exchange between us)
Me: Come on kid, scoot it to the bathtub.
You: (as you're walking to the bathroom) WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! (cue tears, gnashing teeth, and general discontent)
(2 nanoseconds later)
You: JESUS YUHVES ME! DIS I KNOW! FOR DA BIBLE TELLS ME SO!
(2 nanoseconds later)
You: (remembering that you're mad about taking a bath) WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
(2 nanoseconds later)
You: YITTLE ONES TO HIM BEYONG. DEY ARE WEAK BUT HE IS STWONG!
Me: (my head explodes trying to keep up with whether you're about to be mad or prepare for an encore)

Speaking of Jesus Loves Me, you like to change the lyrics to that song. Perhaps Daddy and I (mainly me, cuz I'm probably nerdier than Daddy) use too many grown-up words with you, but something I often say to you (like when you're in the middle of one of your AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! fits) is "Natalie, your attitude is completely unacceptable. Please act like a big girl." Well you, my little Creative License-r, decided to sing "DIS is unacceptaBLE! Dis is UNacceptable! DIS is unacceptaBLE! DIS IS UNACCEPTABLE", all sung to the tune of Jesus Loves Me. Mmmmm, this humble pie sure is tasty.

You like to sing the blessing before we eat - it's the song you sing before lunch at Mother's Day Out every Tuesday. It's ridiculously adorable. There's a part that goes "We will ask your blessing", but with your awesome lack of L-pronounciation, it sounds like "We will ask your be-yessing".

I almost feel like I've run out of things to teach you. I've actually felt this way for almost a year now. You picked up on shapes, colors, letters, and numbers so quickly that I'm not sure what's next. Algebra? The Dewey Decimal System? The 50 states in alphabetical order? I've been floundering for a while and then I remembered some advice from a friend who said to teach you my phone number and Daddy's phone number. Well it took a grand total of 30 minutes before you could easily repeat our phone numbers. The speed with which you can memorize something absolute floors me. You also know how to spell your whole name. Again with the flooring of your mother.

The biggest news this month is that you became a big sister. Wait, I take that back. You like to remind me that you've already BEEN a big sister for the past 9 months. (Excellent point, kid). I'll rephrase: This month, you became a big sister to someone who doesn't live in Mommy's belly anymore. You've done remarkably well for having your world turned on its ear. You're a great big sister to "Baby Chaw-yee". You like to tell Charlie 'good morning' when you come into the living room each morning, you like to point out his tiny features (specifically his fingers and nose), and you like to show him your books, toys, and stuffed animals. You also like to to tickle him - and you're totally impressed when he responds to your tickling (even if his response is just a snort or a wiggle). You don't like it when he cries, but Daddy and I try to remind you that Charlie doesn't know how to say "I'm hungry" or "I'm tired"; all he knows how to do is cry. Sometimes, though, when he cries, instead of getting panicky, you come up to his bassinet and say "It's okay, buddy! Don't cwy!" You're a great helper - you ask to throw his diaper away, you bring him a stuffed animal when he cries, you boop his nose when you feel it needs booping (which is often). Periodically throughout the day, you like to come up to Charlie, give his soft head a little rub, then continue on to your destination. Daddy and I are so SO proud of you. Seeing you with Charlie, interacting with him in your own perfect and unique way, makes our hearts so happy. You are the perfect big sister for Charlie.

This past month, you seem to have grown and aged by leaps and bounds. I was told by many people that as soon as Charlie arrived, you'd seem bigger to me. It sounded silly, but dude, it's so TRUE. You seem so ... grown up. Your hands seem particularly ginormous. Big kid hands. Hands that were the exact same size on November 8th, but somehow, on November 9th (actually November 10th, since that's when I first saw you after Charlie was born), your hands seemed like they belonged on a 2nd grader. I stopped picking you up when I was probably 7 months pregnant, so the first time I picked you up after Charlie was born, I was all "DUDE! When did you get so HEAVY!?" You were all "DUDE! You keep feeding me! I'm going to GROW!" Thanks for that little reality check.

As cool as I think it would have been for Charlie to have been a girl, I'm stoked that he's a boy. The main reason I'm stoked? I can still call you my best girl. I love you more than my heart can profess; I'm proud of you more than words can describe; you will always, always be my best girl. And I will always, always consider myself immensely blessed to know and love you.

Hugs and smooches,
Mommy & Daddy

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

School picks blackboards over iPads
Kanye tops Adele in Grammy nods
World-traveling sea turtle comes home
$13,000 stuffed in suit accidentally sent to Goodwill
97 mph! Santa Ana winds batter LA
Sandusky Threatened Boy's Family

Charlie's Birth Story

2011-11-19T15:21:00.011-06:00

I've heard that 2nd babies come quicker than 1st babies. I was in labor for 15 hours - and pushed for two - with Natalie. Needless to say, I was SO hoping you would make your debut in fewer than 15 hours. The short story of your grand entrance: boy oh BOY did you ever come quicker.

Here's the long story: 39 weeks, 1 day. I was fully in the "Everything Hurts and I Can't Sleep for Nothin'" stage of my pregnancy, and the thought that I might be pregnant for another 2.5 weeks was really discouraging. Natalie and I had a pretty typical morning - breakfast, cartoons, picking something cute and pink for her wear. We went to Baptist Hospital to visit Pep, who had been admitted the previous night for a blood pressure issue. (Side note: kudos to Bob for asking the paramedics to take Pep to Baptist, as you'll soon realize). After we left the hospital, we went home, played for a bit, had lunch, and took our naps (in case you aren't yet aware, I looooooove naps). I didn't feel great after we woke up, so Bob came over to help me wrangle Natalie until Daddy got home from work. I found it really hard to properly entertain an almost-three-year-old while being nine months pregnant, so I'm eternally thankful for Bob and Pep and their willingness to help me out with Natalie. Daddy called me before he left work and asked what kind of treat I wanted him to bring home. I initially thought ice cream, but then I decided that perhaps something spicy would be better. After all, Thai food triggered my labor with Natalie, so perhaps I could have the same luck with you (even though you weren't due for another 6 days). I asked Daddy to bring home some spring rolls (with lots and lots of sriracha) from Tu Do. As we were waiting for Daddy to come home, I noticed that I was having a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions. They didn't necessarily hurt, but they certaintly didn't feel good. I dove into the spring rolls as soon as Daddy walked in. I put waaaaaaay more sriracha than a normal person would (but being that pregnant left me feeling ANYthing but normal). I ate two spring rolls and it wasn't five minutes later before I noticed that my contractions were getting more and more intense. Just for kicks, I started timing them. They ranged anywhere from six to nine minutes apart. It was around 6pm.

I asked Daddy if we should have Bob go home and bring back an overnight bag. He said that we should just wait a bit - a few timeable contractions might not mean anything. Well it wasn't more than 45 minutes later when we realized that the contractions were getting closer together and more intense. Daddy called our midwife and explained that I had been having contractions five to six minutes apart for about an hour. We fully expected her to say something like "Okay, when they're more like three or four minutes apart, think about heading to the hospital." Instead she says "Well don't wait too long before you go to the hospital!" Bob quickly left to go home and pack a bag while Daddy finished packing our hospital bags and wrangling Natalie. Meanwhile, I had hit a level of contraction intensity that prevented me from simply breathing through them. I squirmed, I grimaced, I sounded like a humpback whale. Natalie came in a 'checked' on me a few times. She patted my back, said she was sorry I didn't feel well, then asked if I would play Pillow Fight with her. Your sister's sense of timing cracks me up.

When Bob came back to our house, I looked at Daddy and said "We've got to go to the hospital NOW." Daddy loaded up the van and helped me outside. I was unable to walk on my own; the contractions were so intense and my legs felt like Jello. We got to the hospital at 10pm. Daddy went to find a wheelchair for me and when he came back, it hit me just how scared I was. I physically couldn't get out of the van and into the wheelchair without Daddy doing 99% of the work. Everything was so different from my labor with Natalie; it really made me panic. We were whisked to the L&D floor and arrived in our room. As soon as the nurses helped me out of my wheelchair, I practically fell to the ground. The contractions were about three minutes apart and were lasting almost two minutes. The nurse checked me and said I was at 6cm. I was so relieved to hear her say that; when I got to the hospital with Natalie, I was only dilated to 2cm (despite being SURE I was dilated to 9cm). I didn't have time to bask in that relief, though, because the contractions were practically coming one on top of another. Our doula arrived and she filled up the bathtub (where I spent a lot of my labor with Natalie). The nurses brought me the birthing ball and helped me sit on it. It helped so much with my labor with Natalie that I just knew it'd help with my labor with you. Again, the vast differences in the two labors became apparent, because I couldn't find a comfortable position on the ball. Of course, I couldn't move OFF the ball because my legs had forgotten how to work, so I just stayed on it.

We learned in our birthing class that contractions typically reach their peak intensity at 30 seconds and last from 1-2 minutes. I didn't realize it at the time, but while I was on the ball, I had entered into the 'transition' phase of labor, where contractions come one on top of the other, with little-to-no break in between them. Daddy was timing my contractions, and after the two-minute mark, he said "Okay, they should start to ease up now." They didn't. They didn't at ALL. And it freaked me out.

Our midwife came in and wanted to check my progress. She told me that I needed to empty my bladder before she checked me. Daddy and our doula had to practically carry me to the bathroom (again, because of the whole legs-not-working thing). My water ended up breaking in the bathroom (so convenient) and our midwife said that I needed to get to the bed ASAP. Again, this was all happening so fast that I didn't realize what she was saying. She was essentially saying "Hey goofball, get your tail to the bed because this kid is coming." I made it back to the bed (with the help of Daddy and our doula again), got checked, and before I knew it, the nurses were putting up the squat bar and it was Go Time. The pain was so intense at this point that the nurses had to pry my arm off the bed to get me to hold on the squat bar (my legs-not-working thing also applied to my arms). I pushed once. I pushed again. And, according to Daddy, I let out a scream that sounded like someone had a knife to my throat. I remember screaming, and I remember saying to myself "Suze, shhh! Stop being so loud!" And then I said back to myself "Zip it, self. This hurts. I'll scream if I want to." I pushed a third time. And screamed again. Then our midwife told me stop pushing. She said she saw the head. Daddy thought she meant that she could see the top of your head. Nope. What she meant was that your head was out. And on my fourth push (and after only 15ish minutes), you entered the world at 11:42pm. 1 hour and 42 minutes after I got to the hospital. 5 hours and 42 minutes after my first timeable contraction. You came so quickly that Daddy didn't even get to catch you!

Your umbilical cord was wrapped around your chest and shoulders (didn't even know that was physically possible). Our midwife held you up to me and Daddy with your legs closed, then made the big reveal. There was no doubt - you, sir, are 100% boy. I giggled, looked at Daddy and said "You got your boy!" He looked so proud and so excited. (Just between you and me, he *might* have let a tear or two [or 100] fall). If there's one thing this world needs, it's a boy raised by your Daddy. He's the best and hardest working man I know, and you, baby boy, are so lucky to have him as a role model. And I consider myself the luckiest girl in the world to be his wife.

You aced your Apgar test, but you had to get tested for diabetes since you were over the threshold of a 'normal weight' for your gestational age (39 wks, 1 day). Anything above 8lbs, 3oz is considered 'big' for that age, and you topped the scales at 8lbs, 12oz. (PS: Thanks for coming when you did. Had you been born on your due date, you'd have been over 9lbs. And had you been born 6 days late like your sister, we might have had a 10 pounder).

Some funny things about the day you were born: You were the 9th baby born on the 9th; it was 75* when we got to the hospital, it was 45* when we left (Pensacola weather is confusing)

It was about 12:30am or so when our delivery room finally cleared out, and it was just you, me, and Daddy. It was pure bliss. And still pure disbelief that you were here. Even now, 6 days later, as I watch you sleep as I type, I still can't believe you're here. You're actually HERE. You, Charlie Bear, are perfection. (Not sure where 'Charlie Bear' came from. It just fell out of my mouth when we were in the hospital.) You nursed (like a rockstar, I might add) while Daddy and I chowed down on pizza and hamburgers. I know hospital food has a bad rap, but the food at Baptist Hospital ROCKS.

I was wheeled to the recovery room at about 3am. Not too long after that, there was a knock on my door. I assumed it was a nurse, but lo and behold, it was Pep! He had left his room (against medical advice, I'm sure), toting his rack of IV fluids behind him. I asked him why he wasn't asleep and he said "I got a text message from your mom at midnight saying that I had a new grandson! There's no way in the world I was going to sleep before I got to see him!" It was really sweet. On his way to my room, he stopped by the nursery and saw you and Daddy. Based on the look on his face, he more than approved of his new grandson. Pep and I talked in my room for a while, then they brought you to me. You were still adorable, still sleeping peacefully, still my boy.

Bob brought Natalie to the hospital the next day to meet you. She was a little shy at first (but that could have been that I was in a hospital bed, had an IV port in, and was wearing lots of hospital bracelets), but broke into a big grin when she saw you. She commented on how tiny your fingers were and how cute your little face was. You have no idea how lucky you are to have her as a big sister. She's got big plans for you kiddo. Plans that MIGHT involve playing Princesses or having a tea party, but plans nonetheless.

Bob and Natalie brought cupcakes to my hospital room so we could have a little birthday party for you. Natalie even sang Happy Birthday to you! The only bad part was that the birthday boy didn't get to partake in any of the cupcake festivities. You missed out, buddy. They were goooooood.

You looked just like Natalie did when she was born - chubby cheeks, several chins, button nose, long fingers and toes, and absolutely, positively, take-my-breath away adorable. Seriously, stick a pink flowered onesie on you and I could swear we were transported back to January 1, 2009. (Trust me, though, I'll never put you in a pink flowered onesie. You may be pretty, but you're a manly kind of pretty. Or something.) A big difference between yours and Natalie's appearance (besides the obvious, um, gender differences) is you have a dimple in each cheek! We didn't even notice them until our midwife pointed them out. But there they are, making your impossibly sweet cheeks even sweeter.

If you ever have more than one child, you might worry how your heart could possibly love the 2nd child as much as you love your 1st. Or if there's room enough in your heart to love another person so wholly and fiercely. Trust me, Charlie Bear, the second I saw you, it was as if my heart grew to twice its size. I immediately loved you with an unstoppable intensity and it now seems so silly that I was even worried about it.

You, baby boy, have made our family complete, our hearts full beyond measure, and our lives beyond joyful. And our laundry a little more blue.

Hugs and smooches,
Mommy & Daddy

Weekly Buzz - Week 39

2011-11-08T17:08:00.002-06:00

Oh sweet baby, we're nearing the end of this incredible part of our relationship. As much as I love being pregnant, these past few weeks have been rough. Nothing out of the ordinary, and really, the fact that I made it till 36 weeks before I got uncomfortable is great. But I can't wait to hold you. I can't wait to munch on the toes that have, for the past month, been firmly planted in my ribs. I can't wait to find out if you're a Buzz or a Buzzette. I can't wait to introduce you to Natalie (she can't wait to meet you either!).

I had my 39-week checkup, and I'll just say that I've made progress (advertising on the Internet exactly how much progress my lady parts have made seems mildly weird). I know progress doesn't necessarily mean anything, but it was still nice to hear that we're moving in the right direction.

Feel free to NOT follow your sister's footsteps of being 6 days late. There's a full moon on Thursday. Think about it. Jus' sayin'.

Weekly Natalie - Weeks 146 & 147

2011-11-03T17:32:00.002-05:00

Know what's cute? A little munchkin in a Dorothy costume. Know what else is cute? A little munchkin in a Garden Gnome costume. Know what's even cuter? Paying $2 for each costume.

Seriously, c'mon. Have you ever seen such sweetness?

No Flower Gnome is complete without a teeny tiny pumpkin

All hopped up on lollipop sugar

October 2011 - Recap

2011-11-01T07:56:00.002-05:00

Okay, so the ickiest part of this month was definitely you saying "I don't yuhve you". I had no idea I'd have to deal with THAT kind of statement until you were 13 (or, even better, never, seeing as how I'm totally lovable). Daddy was quick to remind me that you're two. That even when you say "I yuhve you", you don't totally get what that means. So even though "I yuhve you" is insanely cute and adorable, you mean it as much as when you say "I don't yuhve you." But seriously, saying "I don't yuhve you" to your hormonal, 8-month-pregnant momma is not cool.

This month, you've asked if everything is either icky, scary, and/or healthy. For instance:
Me: Ooh, Bob and Pep are coming to see you this afternoon!
You: Are dey scawwy?
Me: Bob and Pep? No, they're not scary at all.
You: NO! Dat's siwwy (silly)! Dey not scawwy at all.
***
Me: We're having turkey sandwiches for lunch.
You: Are dey icky?
Me: No! Turkey sandwiches are delicious.
You: Mmm mmm! I yuhve turkey samwiches!! Dey're deyicious. Are dey healffy?
Me: Oh yes, very healthy.
You: Are dey a sometimes food? (Many thanks to Cookie Monster for introducing the notion of 'sometimes food' and 'anytime food')
Me: Nope, they're an anytime food!
You: Are chips an anytime food?
Me: Negative. Chips are a sometimes food.
You: Cuz dey not healffy, wight?
Me: Right.
You: Are tables healffy?
Me: Um, tables?
You: Yep! Tables! Are dey healffy?
Me: Well, no, cuz they're not food.
You: Oh yeah! You can't eat tables! Dat's siwwy! Is Mommy healffy?
Me: For the most part, yep. Mommy eats lots of anytime foods to stay healthy.
You: Lemme see! (You then proceed to "bite" me to see if I'm tasty and healthy)

Have I mentioned how you're often very polite in your outright disobedience??
Me: Natalie, please take your table and chair back to the dining room.
You: No sank you, Mommy.
Me: Hmm. I'm pretty sure there wasn't a question in that statement.
You: *giggles* You funny, Mommy.
***
Me: Okay, kiddo, it's time to leave the park and go to the grocery store. Let's head toward the van.
You: No sanks, Mommy. I just stay here. You have fun at da gwocery store and I just stay here.
Me: I appreciate your politeness. But move your booty. Now.

There's a new frozen yogurt place by our house. First off, they have amazing frozen yogurt. Second, they have the best toppings (fresh fruit, crushed candy bars, cereal, cheesecake, cookie dough, etc). Third, they have a ping pong table. You are most interested in the ping pong table. We took my parents there one day, and Pep saw how enamored you were with throwing ping pong balls that the next time they came over to our house, Pep brought you two ping pong paddles and two boxes of balls. You were in hog heaven! Your latest favorite game is to sit in the kitchen, dump out all the ping pong balls, and whack them around with your paddle. This is a win-win for both of us. You get to play with ping pong balls and I can rest assured that despite how many balls are in my kitchen, they're not messy, they won't break anything, and they keep you gloriously occupied for at least 2 minutes.

Sesame Street has introduced you to rhyming. And you are now a Rhyming Machine! Of course, you don't quite understand the concept that while "dommy" might RHYME with "Mommy", it's not actually a word. And you get really annoyed when you ask me "What word wymes wiff _____?" and _____ happens to not have a word that rhymes with it. Case in point: "Mommy, what wymes wiff 'wefwigewator'?" Or you'll ask me "What word wymes wiff ____?" and ____ happens to not even BE a word. Case in point: "Mommy, what wymes wiff 'basketballhoopgoal?" Yep, you read that right. Basketballhoopgoal.

You picked up on the concept of opposites in record time. Like nanoseconds. One of your books has a picture of a big kid and a little kid. I explained how 'big' and 'little' were opposites. You immediately asked what other words were opposites. I said that 'loud' and 'quiet' were opposites. And when I said 'tall', you immediately chimed in with 'short'. SO cool. The only problem, as with the rhyming delimma I described above, is when you ask "What's the opposite of ____?" and _____ has no opposite. Like 'cookie'. Or 'basketballhoopgoal'.

Daddy has started something with you we like to call a Racecar Kiss. He'll scoop you up and give you a humongous kiss on the cheek, all the while making the sounds of a revving and shifting racecar. You think it's the funniest thing in the world. And when he's done, you squeal "Dat was a wacecar to da moon!" No idea where you came up with that phrase, but it's painfully sweet.

One of your Let's Delay Bedtime for as Long as I Can tactics is to look around your room and insist that you can't go to sleep without it. Which is why you currently have approximately 249 things in your bed with you. This list is not exhaustive, but includes three baby dolls (one of which was mine when I was your age); two stuffed critters you won from the claw machine at CiCi's (one of which is beYOND creepy looking); three animal finger puppets; a pretend potato chip from your kitchen; a remote control; an Elmo slipper (just one; you left the other one on the floor); a toy teapot; a stuffed Aflac duck that screeches "AFLAC!!!" when you press its rear end; your favorite stuffed bear (that you've named Lauren Bear); Minnie Mouse; Pooh Bear; Clifford; a prairie dog; Larry the Cucumber (from Veggie Tales); your bumblebee Pillow Pet (that you've named Buzz Buzz); one of those toys that you slam on the ground to get him to talk (in this case, it's an angry golfer who says lovely things like "I hate this sport!"); a plastic Easter egg; several animals from your Animal Bowling game; a wooden airplane; a plastic fork. It's impressive how there's still room for you in your bed.

Speaking of your bed, you've been insistent that you have a book with you (or, preferably, 5 books) before you go to sleep. I think it's so cute (and nerdy) that you want to 'read' before bed. And what I love even more is that you're doing SO well in your big girl bed. Sometimes you get up in the middle of the night, but you're so easy to put back down that I don't even mind doing it. Most of the time, though, we put you to bed, you sing and read for anywhere from 10 minutes to 2 hours, then you go to sleep. No fuss (or at least minimal fussing), no nothing. It's glorious.

You've learned new songs at church, MOPS, and Mothers' Day Out, and I LOVE hearing you walk around the house singing them. For instance, right now, you're supposed to be sleeping. Instead, you're flipping through a book singing "My God is so big, so stwong and so mighty, dere's nossing my God cannot do!". Should you be sleeping? Absolutely. Am I going to go tell you to stop singing and go to sleep? Not on your life. Sing away, my sweet love.

So this is your last month as an only child. This is last recap I'll do as a mother of one. If it's possible to be 100% terrified and 100% stoked, that's me. I hope Daddy and I have done an adequate job of preparing you for Buzz's arrival. You seem to understand that I'm not actually giving birth to a Space Ranger, and you seem to understand that we're not actually naming the baby Buzz Yightyear (though if you want to call him/her Buzz, it'll be A-OK with us). You seem to understand that Buzz will cry a lot ("Momma, if Buzz is cwying, I'll pat his back and say 'It's okay, Baby Buzz. Don't cwy!'"). You also seem okay that Buzz won't be able to play with you for a while. This is mainly due to you wanting to play with all of Buzz's toys first ("I'll pway wiff dem first, then I'll yet [let] Baby Buzz pway wiff dem. I gots to show him how to use dem!"). Daddy and I have talked to you a lot about how fun it is to be a big girl and how babies don't get to do NEARLY the amount of fun stuff that big girls can do. So periodically throughout the day, you'll come up to me and list off more things that you can do that Baby Buzz can do. I'm hoping this list will motivate you to help Buzz LEARN how to do these fun things and not rub it in his face that he CAN'T do them yet. So far, these are the things you seem excited to teach Buzz how to do: build a Yeggo (Lego) tower; build a Yincoln Yog (Lincoln Log) house; jump; have a piwwo (pillow) fight with Mommy and Daddy; eat a peanut butter and jewwy samwich; sing Jesus Yuhves Me; cowwor (color); do a somersault; cwimb (climb) up on Mommy and Daddy's bed; dwink from a sippy cup; get dwessed; do da Hot Dog Dance from Mickey Mouse. You also seem excited to feed Buzz a bottle ("but not fiwwed [filled] wiff MY milk - he's too yiddle to dwink MY milk") and to show him how to properly play with his toys (namely his rattle and his tummy time mat). Buzz is so SO lucky to have you as a big sister. I know we'll have our rough days, but I have no doubt that you'll be the most amazing big sister. Know who else is lucky? Daddy and me. We've hit the Awesome Kid Lottery.

Hugs and smooches,
Mommy & Daddy

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Headlines for November 1, 2011

Right rallies to Cain over sexual harassment claims
Scientists: World to be hit by more weather disasters
Yoga eases chronic back pain, study shows
Murray to decide Tuesday whether he'll testify
Hope scares up a decent dance on 'DWTS'
Kim Kardashian files for divorce after 72 days
Can Halloween scare your immunity?

Weekly Buzz - Week 37

2011-10-25T15:54:00.003-05:00

I do believe, little baby, that you have indeed dropped. My belly has gone from a basketball-shaped mass to more of a Pinocchio-nose-shaped mass. You make me look a lot pointier now, and while it's not as cute as a basketball, it means we're making progress. Keep it up!

I lost a pound this week. Of course I'm not trying to lose weight, but since I've only gained weight for the past 9 months, it was kind of nice to hear that I lost something. I'm sure it's due to being outside more thanks to the lovely weather we've been having.

Daddy and I are packing our hospital bag this week (shame on us for not having it done earlier!). I've packed four outfits for you: two pink outfits in different sizes and two blue outfits in different sizes. I'm assuming you'll be too big for a newborn outfit (Smith babies are anything but small and dainty), but I'm bringing two, just in case. I cannot believe you'll be here soon. Like for REAL soon.

I'm pretty sure that Daddy and I have finalized your name. We have our #1 boy name and #1 girl name - and we also have backup names in case the #1 name doesn't suit you for some reason. And funny enough, they happen to be Natalie's favorite names for you.

Oh, and according to SLPA, you're the size of a Swiss chard. A 6.5-lb Swiss chard.

Weekly Natalie - Week 145

2011-10-21T12:38:00.003-05:00

Maybe it's because I'm very pregnant and very emotional, or maybe because she's becoming a big sister in a few short weeks, but she looks so gigantic in this picture. A gigantic baby-faced munchkin. Who I love so, so much.

Weekly Natalie - Week 144

2011-10-14T06:45:00.003-05:00

Natalie's latest favorite thing is for me to take a video of her and for her to watch it afterward. She calls the 'Natalie video' a 'show'. As in, "Yet's watch da show, Momma!"

Here she is 'reading' Pat the Bunny to me.

(Yep, you heard that right. She asked if Paul and Judy were healthy. Silly kid.)

Here she is 'reading' Scuffy the Tugboat to me.

In case you're having a hard time understanding her, here's what she's saying: Scuffy was sad. He [something, something] loud things. My arm. The teddy bear came into the storm. And one day, they catched the polka-dot tie with the man with the hair with the boy's hair. With the bathtub. With the water things. And, uh, and the end!

Weekly Natalie - Week 143

2011-10-07T16:12:00.005-05:00

We've had some amazingly top-notch weather here recently, so I took full advantage of it by visiting lots of parks. Being 8 months pregnant doesn't allow me to be the most fun park buddy, but Nat didn't seem to mind. Let's hope this trend continues!

She scares me to death every time she does this.
In my mind, she's gonna swing too far and launch herself off the slide.

Singing "Jesus Loves Me" at the top of her lungs

Boingy, boingy, boingy!
(Braided PIGTAILS!!)

Boinging with Daddy

Where did my tiny, tiny baby go?!

Weekly Buzz - Week 34

2011-10-04T14:32:00.002-05:00

So Super Lame Pregnancy App (SLPA) continues to baffle me in its description of you. This week marks 34 weeks. And to what did SLPA compare you to? Not just a cantaloupe, no sir, but an average cantaloupe. I can assure you, dear baby, that you are anything but average. Team Smith doesn't contain any average members. Kooky? Yes. Spazzy? Sure. Mind-blowingly awesome? You betcha. Average? Ha.

Onto other you-related news, you are now head-down. I think you must have moved this morning, because I was pretty sure you were still lying sideways last night. And birthing a kid who insists on lying sideways ain't happening. You're too young for an anatomy lesson, but trust me: sideways != good ... head down = good.

And you are definitely your father's child. Because while your body is measuring at 34 weeks, your head is measuring at 36w+2d. If you decide to come on your 'head due date', you'll be here before Halloween. That's in just a few short weeks. A. Few. Short. Weeks.

I think another holiday baby would be awesome. I was just thinking of Veteran's Day.

September 2011 - Recap

2011-10-01T21:30:00.003-05:00

My dear sweetness,
Have I mentioned lately how you're good for the ego? Because you so are. When you belly-laugh at something Daddy or I do, it's the best thing ever. Even when your belly laughs are super-fake, it's still the best thing ever.

I'm big on giving you choices. "Do you want to wear your pink shoes or brown shoes?" "Do you want to brush your teeth first or second?" "Do you want to run to the car or hop to the car?" If you don't want to do something (which is happening a lot, actually. Knock it off.), you've started saying "I don't want to do ANYSING (anything)! I just want to go home and take a bass (bath)". Um, okay, what?

We moved you to a big girl bed this month. And I literally mean 'moved'. From December 2010 until March-ish 2011, you slept on the floor, as close to the entrance of your room as physically possible (you practically had baby gate marks on your face from being so close to it). You didn't want a mattress and you were barely okay with us putting a blanket on the floor for your to sleep on. You had a toddler bed to sleep in, but I think when you got your first ear infection, you associated the pain of that to your new toddler bed (since the ear infection and the transition to the toddler bed happened within days of each other). So in March, you finally got okay with us putting your crib mattress on the floor by the door. So you slept on that until August. We tried to be sneaky and slowly start to move the mattress further and further away from the door, but you were on to our little games. You insisted that wherever we put the mattress wasn't close enough to the door unless it was physically touching the baby gate. We took the toddler bed out of your room and bought you a twin bed with some extraordinarily cute bedding (polkadots, paisley, butterflies, and plaid - oh my!). You were STOKED. Until ... you realized that the big girl bed was where your crib was (ie: in the normal place where a bed goes, NOT by the door) and that we weren't moving it to be closer to the door. We explained at length about how your big girl bed was too big and heavy to move, and that you didn't need to sleep by the door anymore. You weren't 100% happy with our explanation, but lo and behold, you stayed in bed all night. I was convinced that you'd get up multiple times during the night and fuss about your new sleeping arrangements, but you surprised me, Little One. You don't always stay in your bed, though. On several occasions, you've woken up and brought your pillow to your trusty spot by the baby gate and fallen back asleep. But you do it without fussing or crying. And in the mornings? Instead of squawking for us to come get you as soon as you wake up, you read your books and play with your toys for at least 10 or 15 minutes. Many times, I've come to check on you and you're laying down on the floor by the baby gate, with your feet propped up on the wall, reading to yourself. You'll look up at me and say "I'm not weddy for bweckfast. I'm still weeding my books." It's awesome.

Speaking of your big girl bed, you insist on showing everyone your big girl bed. This includes people who have already seen your big girl bed. Multiple times. Like Bob and Pep. And even Daddy. Often, when he comes home from work, you run up to him and squeal "I got a big guhl bed, Daddy! Come yook at it!" Your favorite thing to show people is how you can do somersaults on (and often off) your bed. I think gymnastics class is definitely in your future.

With many thanks to Dora the Explorer, you can now count to 10 in Spanish. It's muy cool-o.

You still say that school is 'scawy', although each time I've picked you up, you tell me how much fun you had ("I pwayed wiff a BALL at da GYM!" "I ate a peanut butter and jewwy SAMMICH!" "I colored a PICTURE!"). And you're not shy about saying "I did cwy a yiddle bit, Momma." You're always curious if I cried during whatever I did while you were at school. "Did you cwy at the gwocery store?" or "Did you cwy at Bible study?". When I tell you that I did not, in fact, cry, you giggle and say "Noooo, dat's siwwy (silly)!"

You were in your first wedding this month. One of my dearest friends got married; you were the flower girl and I was one of the matrons of honor. When she first asked me if you'd be the flower girl, she said she completely understood the inherent risks associated with asking a two-year-old (in particular, MY two-year-old) to take part in a wedding. She said that whatever you did (or didn't do) would be fine, and that kids make weddings funnier. (God bless her!) We figured the easiest thing would be for you and me to hold hands and walk down the aisle together. Two minutes before it was our turn to walk, you decided that you didn't want to do it. Instead, you wanted to play on the stairs in the lobby of the chapel. I loudly whispered that we could NOT, in fact, do that, and that we DID, in fact, have to walk down the aisle. You got all huffy and protested a bit more, but then you finally let me lead you to the entrance of the sanctuary. When it was our turn, you grabbed my hand and we started our walk. One footstep into it, you decided you didn't want to hold my hand. You wrenched your hand from mine and said "Don't hold my hand, Momma. I can do it mySELF!" To me, it sounded like you yelled this. But nobody else said they heard it. Daddy and I had already decided that after you and I got to the front of the chapel, I would lead you to him and he'd take you out of the chapel to play outside. Because you being still and quiet during a wedding? Yeah, not gonna happen. So we got to the front of the chapel and you decided you wanted to sit on the floor. I tried to get you to sit at my feet where I was standing with the other bridesmaids, but you had another idea. You wanted to sit right where the bride would be standing. As I was trying to quietly but forcefully suggest you scoot your booty, Daddy swept in, scooped you up, and got you out of the chapel before you could pitch too big of a fit. All in all, I was really proud of you for how you handled the day. And baby girl, you couldn't have looked cuter if you TRIED. Bob made your flower girl dress (a sweet pillowcase dress made out of a gorgeous white paisley fabric with eyelets) and the bride's aunt made you a flower crown to wear.

I don't necessarily think of myself as having a strong Southern accent, but you have picked up this insanely Southern accent from SOMEwhere. Maybe we watch too much Paula Dean on TV. You pronounce milk like "MEE-ulk". You pronounce "gazelle" (you have a stuffed gazelle; otherwise, I assure you that the word "gazelle" probably wouldn't enter our vocabulary much) like "guh-ZAY-ul". And if I wasn't suffering from severe Pregnancy Brain, I could rattle off loads more words. But trust me, you sound like you could star in Steel Magnolias.

You've gotten really good about telling me about your feelings, and I'm trying to make sure we talk about your feelings, why you're feeling a certain way, and if there's anything we can do to change your feelings (if they're bad). You often get really "fwustwated" at me when I fuss at you for doing something you shouldn't be doing. Sometimes you tell me how "fwustwated" you are with the tone of a grousing, sullen 13-year-old girl. Sometimes you come up to me with your head lowered, looking all pitiful, and telling me you're "fwustwated". I love that you tell me how you're feeling (even if you don't always know why you're feeling the way you are), and as much as I'd like to tell you I'll work on not "fwustwating" you, alas, I cannot. I'm your mom. "Fwustwating your daughter" is the first item on my job description. In case you're wondering, the second item is "Blubbering your daughter's belly." I'm also awesome at that.

Hugs and smooches,
Mommy & Daddy

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

'Let us go!': More than 500 arrested in Wall Street protest
Official: Al-Awlaki's death will make al-Qaida afraid
Snow already? Chill falls across eastern half of US
Christie buzz increases
Medic: Info from Jackson doctor didn't add up
Eat This, Not That: Worst kids' meals in America

Weekly Natalie - Week 142

2011-09-29T17:12:00.005-05:00

Reading her latest favorite book - a cute book about manners

And no book-time would be complete without a Fancy Nancy book

Smooches for Daddy <3

Weekly Natalie - Weeks 140 & 141

2011-09-22T15:52:00.006-05:00

These were some seriously action-packed two weeks. Natalie has discovered the fabulous-ness of her big girl bed and one of my very best friends got married last weekend - so I had ample opportunities for pictures.

My love and me (why, yes that IS a flower girl crown I'm wearing -
don't tell Natalie that I took it)

Being the flower girl wore her out, so at the reception she
decided to take a little breather

Team Smith (the littlest member would rather sing
Jesus Loves Me than look at the camera)

Lee decorated my van for my birthday :)

Natalie approves of the decorations

What do you get a 31-year-old? Bug's Life, of course.

Her somersault form is quite impressive

Over she goes!

Ta daaaaaa!

Smiling, yes. At the camera, never.

Making sure I'm watching her

Pretty pleased with herself

Weekly Natalie - Weeks 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139

2011-09-09T07:57:00.003-05:00

Who's got two thumbs and is Mother of the Year when it comes to updating the blog? Not this mom.

Yikes. Between houseguests, pregnancy brain, and just general exhaustion, I have been sorely slacking in my picture-taking and blog-posting. Here are two pictures from the past month to prove that we still exist.

In the middle of doing the Hot Dog Dance

The 'here's a smile to get you off my back' smile

August 2011 - Recap

2011-09-01T15:39:00.002-05:00

You might notice (you know, when you can read and stuff) that this recap might not be as detailed as previous recaps. The main reason for that is our fun houseguests we had for almost two weeks! My very dear friend Nicole and her sweet girls (5 1/2 years old and 2 years old) came to visit us this month. I've never really seen you fully interact with other kids before, so I was a little nervous as to how you'd handle our visitors. Sure I've see you play *around* other kids and *near* other kids but not really *with* other kids. Well all that's changed. You and Nicole's girls played so, so well together - it honestly floored me. You three built Lego castles together, colored together, made Play-Doh sculptures together, and did unknown (but, from what Nicole and I could gather, some very giggly) things together back in your bedroom. Nicole and I would be sitting on the couch, actually having grown-up conversations (you know, ones that don't involve poop, sippy cups, and/or tantrums) and you three girls would be playing nicely in your room. And this happened many, many times over the 12 days. It was wonderful seeing you so comfortable and it was wonderful that you didn't need me by your side the whole time they were here. After you ate your breakfast in the mornings, you couldn't WAIT for Keira and Naomi to come out to the living room to play. As soon as you heard their door open, you jumped up and ran to see them. And most mornings started off with you chasing Keira around and around and around the living room and dining room. I loved every second. I'm so proud of you for being perfectly content playing with the girls. I know it might sound like a small thing, but trust me, my little love, it was a huge thing. You're making so much progress and I'm tickled pink over it.

Well Mommy and Daddy did it. We're official surburbanites who now drive a minivan. My Accord was totally fine, but as my belly is expanding at an exponential rate, it's getting harder and harder to bend over to get you strapped into your carseat. Having two carseats in the back of my car could have worked out fine, but with the amount of gear that you require plus the amount of gear that Baby Buzz will inevitably require, it just made sense to get something bigger. I only had two requirements (automatic sliding doors and rear air-conditioner), but those two requirements are standard on pretty much any minivan made in the last decade, so I was easy to please. You're completely fascinated by the doors opening and closing by themselves. And I'm fascinated by how much easier it is to get you in and out of the van. I'm also enormously thankful that now, when I get you out of the van, you're not a sweaty mess anymore. You're now an air-conditioned mess.

You started 'school' (ie: Mother's Day Out) (ie: a nice four-and-a-half-hour break once a week) this month. I was so, so proud of how you handled it. We walked up - to a new place, with new teachers, with new students, with lots of other kids crying in the hallway - and you started to panic a little. Totally understandable. We talked a bit about how much fun you'd have, about all the fun toys they have to play with, and about how you'll get to drink JUICE with your lunch (sidenote: you having juice is a rarity. You're a water-or-milk kind of kid, but I figured you'd feel left out if all the other kids had juice boxes with their lunch and you had water.) Hearing about juice really perked you up and you let me walk you down the hall to your room (the Kangaroom Room, by the way). I dropped off your bag, signed you in, and led you to the box of gigantic Legos. You were halfway through building an impressive tower when I reminded you that I wasn't staying and that it was time for me to go. You teared up (again, totally understandable), but looked at me and said "Momma, I'm gonna twy to be a bwave girl." It was quite possibly the sweetest thing I've ever heard. When I picked you that afternoon, the teacher said you did a great job but that you didn't sleep during 'rest time'. She said that you kept saying "I yike to seep in my own bed!" Ha. When you saw me at the door, you jumped up and squealed "Momma, I obeyed!! And I'm seepy. I need a nap." When we got in the van, I asked what you did at school. Your reply? "I ate yunch!" Then you asked me what I did while you were at school and I simply said "Oh, I just ran some errands. Nothing fun." In reality, though, I went to Barnes & Noble and ate a blueberry scone while I read magazines. Then I went home and watched a little bit of The Price is Right. Then I met with Daddy to sign some paperwork for our van. Those four-and-a-half hours were delicious, and it was made all the more delicious knowing that you had a great time at school. Oh, and for your second week of MDO? As we were walking to your room, you looked up at me and said "Mommy, school's scawwy but I gonna be a bwave girl in shining armor." Just when I think you can't get any more adorable.

I'm hoping so very much that this was the last month where it's too miserably hot to play outside. I long for Fall when we can spend as much time as we want outside without the fear of bursting into a ball of flames (or a ball of sweat - both options are awful).

One of your latest favorite things is to round up Daddy and me and have us sit on our bed. Then you climb up, open up Daddy's bi-fold business card case like a book and 'read' to us. You usually say something "Are you weddy for my good stowwy, Mommy and Daddy? Are you? Are you?" After you're satisfied that we're appropriately ready, you begin. "Once upon a time, but not too yong (long) ago ..." Then you look at us and ask for more confirmation that we are, in fact, ready for your good story. Then you announce you're going to turn the 'page'. You close the business card case, open it back up, and squeal THE END! I didn't do the cuteness any kind of justice by typing it all out, but believe me, little love, it's cute overload.

You actually say 'Smith' now, not 'Smiss'!! You looked so tickled with yourself when you first said it, in part because you saw how my jaw hit the floor when I heard you make the 'th' sound. You like to pronounce 'air conditioner' as 'eshen guntainer'. Sometimes you'll pronounce it correctly, but then you'll quickly 'correct' yourself and say it wrong. You also like to sing the wrong words to the Sesame Street theme song. FYI: the air is SWEET, not CLEAN. SWEET rhymes with STREET. CLEAN ... not so much. But you think it's hilarious to say 'clean' and try to get me to correct you. Have I mentioned lately how you're a funny little punk with an awesome sense of humor? Because you are. Funny. And a little punk. And you have an awesome sense of humor. And you're also a little punk. Did I forget to say that you're also a little punk? My punk. My awesome little punk.

Hugs and smooches,
Mommy & Daddy

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

Rhode Island also feeling big Irene impact
Flooded Vermont sees slow progress
After taking $800k pay cut, generous schools chief to donate reduced salary
US marks first casualty-free month in Iraq since 2003
Gadhafi vows no surrender: 'Let Libya burn'
Venus Williams: What Is Sjogren's Syndrome?
Nancy, Graceful? Will She Be Dancing's 'Bad' One?
Sebastian Bach Loses Home to Hurricane Irene

Weekly Buzz - Week 29

2011-08-30T15:59:00.003-05:00

You are quite the squirmy little munchkin, Mr. (or Miss) Yightyear. I hope that doesn't sound like a complaint, because truly it's not. Feeling the baby move is my #1 favorite thing about being pregnant, hands down. I love watching my belly jump and wiggle; I love that an actual person is making it jump and wiggle. Your kicks haven't been painful, and I'm hoping they'll stay that way. My one request is that you kindly move off my lungs because it's not cute to have to sit and catch your breath coming back from the kitchen.

Oh, and you're now the size of a butternut squash! Very fitting since you'll be eating lots and lots of those when it comes time for solid food. Just ask your sister. She'll tell you they rock. Unless, of course, she doesn't. In which case she'll be lying.

Weekly Buzz - Week 26

2011-08-09T16:43:00.002-05:00

Super Lame Pregnancy App (SLPA) says you're now the size of a hothouse cucumber. The size? Really? Length, sure. Shape, most assuredly no. Your big-headed self is anything BUT the shape of a hothouse cucumber. A hothouse cucumber with a mango on top, perhaps.

Weekly Buzz - Week 25

2011-08-02T21:59:00.002-05:00

Hey guess what! You went from 23.5 weeks to 25 weeks (well, not really, but as far as me keeping track, we completely skipped over your 24th week. Sorry about that.) I had my routine monthly appointment today and my midwife said that she forgot to tell me at my last appointment that she moved my due date up. So instead of being due on Thanksgiving, you're now due on 11/15. I vote for 11/11. Having both your and Nat's birth days full of 1s would be neat.

In all honesty, a different due date doesn't change anything. You're going to come when you're good and ready. Just ask your six-days-late sister and how her tardiness cost Daddy and me the tax break for 2008 by 15 hours. Don't tell her I said this, but she soooooo owes us.

July 2011 - Recap

2011-08-01T07:56:00.001-05:00

My darling Miss Independent,

This month marked the "I can do it ALL by myself. I don't need ANY help" stage. And for the most part, I obliged. Even though that meant watching you try to stand up after you put both legs through one leg hole of your shorts. Or watching you try to take your just-slightly-too-small shirt off only for it to end up over your head, looking like a shrug. Or watching you try to put your hair in a ponytail by stretching a rubber band and laying it on top of your head. Or watching you try to do a somersault without quite knowing how to tuck-and-roll. And if Daddy or I even THINK about helping you do something you know how to do (like getting in your carseat by yourself, for example), whoo doggies. Watch out. It was raining one day so I was carrying you from the house to the car (since you have a tendency to both dilly AND dally on your way to the car and I didn't want you to get soaked). I made the fatal error of transferring you from my arms into your car seat. Cue the Meltdown, Armageddon Style. You sobbed and wailed and shrieked, "I want to do it MYSELF!! Don't put me in! I do it!!!!" We get a similar reaction if we fasten the chest strap of your carseat for you. That's your job. And we best not forget it.

You like for me to make faces. Namely Happy Face, Sad Face, Mad Face, Angry Face (not quite sure why you insist on BOTH Mad Face and Angry Face), Surprised Face, Scared Face, and Sleepy Face. When I do Sad or Mad or Angry or Scared Face, you frown and say "Ohhhh ... Mommy's sad [or mad or angry or scared]. I come and make her feel better." Then you walk over to me and gently pat my face. In return, I put on my Happy Face and thank you for making me feel better. For some reason, you find this to be the best game EVER. You get so tickled when our Sad Face turns into Happy Face. For the record, you make quite an awesome Mad Face. You glare and pucker your lips like you're about to kiss me. Not that I've kissed you when you do your Mad Face. Cuz you don't look cute or anything. You like to make those faces too. And when you've got your Sad Face or Scared Face, you ask us (in an appropriately Sad or Scared Voice) to make you feel better. Your Feel Better Face is your Surprised Face. It rocks.

So last month I mentioned how you're enormously curious about the songs that come on the radio, and that's how come we listen to KLOVE the vast majority of the time. Well you're now able able to hear the opening bars of no fewer than 17 songs and immediately tell me the title. Seriously. No lie. And you look so proud of yourself when you recognize a song. And I have to say, I'm super proud of you. The things you pick up on are amazing.

Speaking of songs, one that you've requested a lot is "The B-I-B-L-E Song", or, as you call it "The B-I-L-E Song". It seems like we need to have the "Taking out just one letter from a word can really REALLY change the word" chat.

So you're a little shaky on the proper spelling of 'Bible'. But what you're NOT shaky on is how to spell Mickey Mouse. Thanks to that infernal (not really, but kind of) show, you now go around the house hollering "M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!" You sing the theme song to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse approximately 749 times per day. Perhaps 4 of those times are done in your Inside Voice. The other 745 times are done proudly in your Outside Voice. (If you've never seen MMC, feel free to jump down to the next paragraph - because what I'm about to describe won't make a lick of sense to you). When you come across something that's broken or something that's dirty or something that's out of reach, you immediately shout "I need a Mousekatool! Oh Tooooooooooodles!! I need [some tape/some cleaner/a ladder/a baby elephant/whatever]!" Oh, if only Toodles were just a shout away. Because sometimes, a baby elephant would come in handy.

You had your first M&Ms this month (I know, I know - could I BE any less fun?). And instead of calling them M&Ms, you call them "Madams". It's very strange to be walking in a store with you, see you point to an M&M display and shout "Momma! Dere's a brown madam!!"

So we haven't gotten to the "Why?" stage with you. Instead, we're smack-dab in the "What kind?" stage. Let me give you some examples.
You: Momma, wass dat? [pointing to a tree]
Me: You know what that is!
You: Oh yeah, a twee. What kind of twee?
Me: [suddenly aware that the only trees I can identify for sure are palm trees and pine trees - and this tree is neither] Um, it's a green tree.
You: Oh yeah. What kind of gween twee?
Me: Umm, a green tree with leaves.
You: What kind of yeeves?
Me: Green leaves.
You: What kind of gween yeeves?
Me: Uhhhh, big green leaves.
You: What kind of big green leaves?
Me: Big green leaves that are on the green tree.
You: Oh. Yeah. On the twee.

You: Momma, wass dat? [pointing to an airplane at the Aviation Museum]
Me: It's an airplane, silly.
You: Oh yeah, an airpwane. What kind of airpwane?
Me: Ummm ... it's a big airplane.
You: What kind of big airpwane?
Me: Um, it's a big grey airplane.
You: What kind of big gwey airpwane?
Me: The kind with a propeller.
You: What kind of pwopey-yer?
Me: Ummm ... the kind that spins.
You: What kind of spins?
Me: The spins that a propeller does when the airplane is in the sky.
You: What kind of sky?
Me: Look up - that sky!
You: Oh! Okay!

You: Momma, what are you doing?
Me: Making dinner.
You: What kind of dinner?
Me: Spaghetti.
You: What kind of spaghetti?
Me: Noodles with sauce.
You: What kind of noodles and sauce?
Me: Yellow curly noodles with tomato and meat sauce.
You: What kind of tomato and meat sauce?
Me: The kind of sauce that has tomatoes and meat.
You: What kind of tomatoes?
Me: Canned tomatoes.
You: What kind of can?
Me: [my brain explodes]

Your inquisitive nature has forced me to admit several things: 1) I know very little in-depth information about most things 2) I have, on occasion, made something up so you'll stop asking me questions. 3) I will not win Mother of the Year this year.

You had your first experience with authentic New Orleans beignets this month. Your pregnant mommy had a hankerin' for them and your wonderful daddy suggested that we all take a road trip to Cafe Du Monde for some powdered sugar-covered tasty treats and delicious chicory coffee. Daddy and I had you pretty pumped up the whole drive over to New Orleans about getting some beignets (or, as you insisted on calling them, Donuts wiff White Sugar). And, blissfully, the beignets disappointed nary a member of Team Smith. They were hot. They were sweet. They weren't the least bit greasy. They were perfect. And they were gone in a matter of seconds. We even stopped back by Cafe du Monde for another two batches as we headed back home. Beignets aren't the ideal road trip food, but hey, we were in a rental car. Rental cars are made for beignets. On the way back home, your method of eating beignets changed drastically. Instead of scarfing it down (like you did earlier that morning), you simply licked all the powdered sugar off of it, dropped the now-gummy-and-soggy beignet on the floor of the car and asked for another one. Guess who lost all beignet-eating privileges on her ride home?

My belly is getting bigger and you're becoming more and more aware of it. You've decided that since I have Baby Buzz in my tummy, you have Baby Woody in your tummy. You especially like lifting your shirt to show me your tummy (and presumably Baby Woody). You've started showing me how you comfort your babies when they're 'sad' or 'crying'. You put them on your shoulder, pat their backs, and say "It's okay, babies. Don't cwy." It seriously makes me melt. I have no doubt you'll have your moments when you won't be quite as sweet with the real Baby Buzz, but to know that you have a nurturing heart is so amazing. You're going to be such an awesome big sister. And as an Awesome Big Sister, one of your jobs will be to answer all of Buzz's "What Kind?" questions.

Hugs and smooches,
Mommy & Daddy

Headlines for August 1, 2011
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Key vote looms after deal OKs $2 trillion in budget cuts
Wall Street set to rally on US debt deal hopes
Smallest med school in U.S. opens with 8 students
An electric plane you can (almost) buy
Al Pacino's daughter arrested for DWI
Divers Search Pond for Signs of Missing N.H. Girl

Weekly Buzz - Week 23

2011-07-28T14:25:00.003-05:00

According to the incredibly cheesy pregnancy app I have on my phone, you're now the size of a large mango. Maybe it's me, but this just strikes me as odd. You were a 'mango' a month or so ago. And this week you're a 'large mango'. Will you be a 'larger mango' next week? And an 'even bigger mango' the week after that? Because to me, the aforementioned cheesy app should be able to describe the weight of a fetus without having to add an adjective to a fruit (the same fruit that it used to describe you a month or two ago).

A large mango, according to Google Images

Oh, if it only looked like I were trying to smuggle a large mango under my shirt instead of a 20 lb turkey ...

Weekly Natalie - Week 133

2011-07-28T14:17:00.002-05:00

Man. You know you've had a slow week when the only pictures you take are of your silly kid eating a BBQ sandwich.

Weekly Buzz - Week 22

2011-07-21T14:47:00.003-05:00

I'm about 16 weeks overdue posting a Weekly Buzz, but better late than never, right?!

I found out I was pregnant with you on March 14, 2011. I took the test early that morning, saw that it was positive, and had to muster up some iron-clad restraint not to wake Daddy up and show him. I wanted it to be a surprise, so I casually laid the test on his bathroom sink, knowing that he would find it when he woke up. Your sister (fun fact - that's the first time I've ever seen the word "sister" in print when referring to Natalie. Cool!) and I did our normal morning routine while I anxiously waited for Daddy to get up. Wouldn't you know that he chooses THAT day to sleep in. I felt like a kid at Christmas who just couldn't wait for her sleepy parents to wake up on their own. So I went to our room, lovingly patted Daddy on the shoulder, and oh-so-sweetly asked if he was ever going to get up. Because he needed to get up. Now. He opened one eye, looked at me and asked "Did you take it?" I said I had and he wanted to know the results. I said that if he would simply go to his sink (like I thought he would an hour ago!), he'd see for himself. Cheering, laughing, and crying ensued. Natalie didn't know what was going on, but she thought it was great anyway.

It didn't take long before Natalie named you Baby Buzz Yightyear. And it's stuck. I sincerely hope she's not mad when she finds out you're not actually a Space Ranger. Though, by the time you get old enough for a career, "Space Ranger" might actually be a job. So she might have been right all along.

Let me just say again how glad I am that God isn't swayed by my persistent prayers. Because if I had gotten pregnant when I had wanted to, I would have had you in May. And let's just say that wasn't the best time to introduce a wee little munchkin into Team Smith. I think November will be muuuuuuch better. A November birth will put you and Natalie at about the same age difference that Aunt KK and I are (almost 3 years). And to me, that's perfect.

I first felt you kick on June 19th, Father's Day (what a sweet gift!) at 17 weeks, 3 days. Daddy first felt you kick on July 9th at 20 weeks, 2 days.

We decided not to find out your gender ahead of time. Daddy didn't want to find out with Natalie but I was all looney-tunes-first-time-mom and said that I couldn't possibly NOT find out. I liked the idea in theory, but not in reality. And when we found out you were coming, Daddy said he still didn't want to find out. After some convincing, I got on board. And I am SO excited to wait. The moment you're born is going to be so amazing. (I apologize in advance if the moments leading up to you being born are loud, teary, and profanity-laden. I'm doing this drug-free, so bear with me).

Your due date is 11/24/11 - Thanksgiving Day (which is fitting, seeing as how Natalie was also born on a holiday), but at my 20-week appointment, you were measuring a week-and-a-half ahead, which would put my due date at 11/12/11. My midwife didn't move my due date, but I know starting at the beginning of November, I'll be on pins and needles. Side note - it'd be cool if you were born on 11/11/11. That's also a holiday, and I'd hate for Natalie to have a day off of school for her birthday and you don't. Because then you might try to convince me to let you stay home on your birthday since SHE doesn't have to go to school on HER birthday. So in all fairness, go with 11/11/11 or 11/24/11. Thanks in advance.

I love you so much, Baby Buzz. And I can't wait to see you. And kiss you. And discover you're a mild-mannered excellent sleeper (ha!). And introduce you to the pure wackiness that encompasses Team Smith.

Hugs and smooches,
Mommy

Weekly Natalie - Week 132

2011-07-21T14:35:00.004-05:00

I seriously have the most amazing husband ever. He humored his five-months-pregnant wife and drove her and the munchkin 3 hours just for beignets. I doubt many people voluntarily go to New Orleans in the dead of summer (in case you haven't been there in July, it feels not unlike jumping into a fire pit.) But I've been dying for a beignet (they're the closest thing I've had to a craving this entire pregnancy). So last Saturday we took a quick day trip over to the Big Easy. We didn't do too much touristy stuff - it was too hot and too crowded, but we did make it to Cafe du Monde. Twice. And I'm not ashamed to admit it.

At the mall, after we took Nat to see the Winnie the Pooh movie
(Review - super cute and blissfully short [only an hour long])

Happy, happy pregnant lady

Mid bite - even happier pregnant lady

Random pic of our cheeseball daughter. Seriously. She's too much.

Weekly Natalie - Weeks 130 & 131

2011-07-14T06:08:00.006-05:00

What a fun couple of weeks. A good friend and her cute family came down to FL for vacation and I got to hang with them for a bit. Nat was highly amused (and highly concerned) over my friend's husband's bald head. She was insistent that he had left his hair in her room and proceeded to spend a good amount of time looking for it. It was awesome.

Wearing his hat. Seriously, I need to buy her one of her own.

Showing off her Surprised Face

Her PJ-clad Sad Face

PJ-clad Happy Face

Bustin' some sweet moves during the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Theme Song

Pretty little love

Fishing with Daddy. LOVE these two together.

I rarely fix something for dessert. So when I do, Nat shovels it in as
fast as she can, knowing it might be a looooong time before it happens again.

A satisfied Blueberry Crisp customer

This kid and her desire to pile things on top of her ...

Relaxing at the beach

Her Sand Throwing technique is pretty spot-on

Rocking Daddy's shirt <3

June 2011 - Recap

2011-07-01T06:04:00.003-05:00

Sweet, sweet pumpkinhead,
Guess what! You scraped your toe. And you got an ant bite. You like to remind Daddy and me (and everyone else you see, including complete strangers) of these travesties on a daily (sometimes hourly) basis. That's all well and good. Except these travesties happened over a month ago. And you're still talking about them. And fretting about them. And still requesting that we put Band-Aids on these healed-long-ago injuries.

You like to say your whole name. It sounds like "Natta-yee Jane Smiss". It's AWESOME.

Know what else you like to say? "Whassa big idea?" and "Whassa going on here?" Daddy and I can think Donald Duck for those little gems.

You are so interested in songs on the radio. Every song that comes on prompts a "What song is DIS?" from you. One of the many reasons why my radio is on Christian radio 95% of the time is so I can feel 100% comfortable with you hearing every song that comes on. I don't have to worry about quickly changing the station because the song that just came on talks about things that two-year-olds (let alone your 30-year-old mother) don't need to hear about. You're picking up on lyrics and titles very quickly and I just can't handle the thought of you knowing the words to most of the songs on Top 40 stations. Phil Whickam? Yes. Natalie Grant? You betcha. Lady Gaga? No way, man. Ke$ha? Please, oh please, no.

You had your very first full-fledged, no holds barred stomach bug this month. You were sick for a total of 10 days - those 10 days tested all of us down to our very core. Thankfully Daddy never got sick and I was only sick for a day. So it made it much easier for us to take care of you. But we were waaaaaay not prepared for the sheer ickiness that is a Toddler Stomach Bug. I've never done so many small-but-I'm-sure-as-heck-not-putting-these-disgusting-clothes-in-with-our-regular-laundry loads of laundry. I had my very first experience of public vomiting (you might never be allowed in Panera Bread again) complete with my very first experience with trying to rinse you off in a restaurant bathroom sink (Verdict? Near impossible.) Daddy and I also had our first experience with having to wash every blanket on your bed (total: 5), every stuffed animal (total: 3), AND having to give you a highly unpleasant but oh-so necessary shower at 5am. Dude. We also watched an obscene amount of TV during those 10 days. Our DVR has never been more handy. Though I can say without hesitation that I am sufficiently tired of Sesame Street, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Baby Einstein.

The bright side of your sickness was that you fell in love with Finding Nemo. You've never had the patience (or desire) to sit through a whole movie before, but laying on the couch for 10 days straight instills in you different patience and desires. You're okay with 99% of the movie, but the scene where the diver scoops up Nemo scares the pants off you. Not sure why the big Great White Shark doesn't scare you, or why the barracuda doesn't. But the diver, whoo doggies, watch out. As soon as that scene comes up, you say "It's scawwy, Momma! Puh-tec (protect) me!" Thank goodness for the fast-forward button. We've probably watched Nemo 20 times and suprisingly I'm not tired of it. I'm sure I will be, but for right now, I still love that little fish.

Your sense of humor just keeps getting more and more developed - and Daddy and I LOVE it. You've already picked up the humor in saying "Me three!" after someone says "Me too!". We made it to "Me Forty-Seven!" one day before you (mercifully) lost interest. You think it's hilarious to say the wrong noise for an animal ("Momma, a cow says 'woof woof! Hahahahaha!"). You think it's funny to pronounce 'animals' as 'aminimals'. You think it's funny to say that Daddy is a girl and I'm a boy (Daddy finds this slightly less funny than you do). You think it's funny to say that Daddy doesn't have a mustache and that Mommy does (Mommy finds this slightly less funny than both you and Daddy do).

You like to go around saying things you shouldn't say - not in a disobedient way, but more in an OCD way. For instance, a big thing we're working on with you is to not say "no" when Daddy or I ask you to do something. "No" is a perfectly fine word, but not as a response to something you're asked to do. So if you say "no", I remind you that it's not an appropriate response. You say "Oh yeah. Don't say 'no'. Don't say 'mine'. Don't say 'me first'. Don't say 'now'." You like to repeat that list a lot. I find it funny a lot.

Speaking of saying "no", just when Daddy or I think you're saying "no" to us, you follow it up with "pwob-yem" (problem). "Natalie, please go to your room and bring me a diaper." "No!! .... (insert charming smile here) ... Pwob-yem". You're only two-and-a-half and already a wise guy.

You like to take something called a Fam-ee Seep (Family Sleep). After Daddy gets home from work, you like for all of us to go to Mommy and Daddy's room. You and I play on the bed while Daddy changes from Work Clothes Daddy to Comfy Clothes Daddy. Then he joins us on the bed. You (loudly - we're still trying to work with you on volume control) announce that it's time for a Fam-ee Seep, which means that all of us have to get under the covers, put our heads on the pillow, and pretend to sleep. Daddy and I could fall alseep for REAL if your Fam-ee Seep ever lasted longer than 10 nanoseconds. But you, my darling wiggle worm, can't sit still for much longer than that. So you start poking our mouths (or our eyes, ears, chin, neck, whatever) with your little bony fingers, saying "Time to wake up, Mommy! Time to not be in bed any more! Time to stand up on da floor!"

It's hard to believe that just 5 months ago, Daddy and I were worried about your lack of speech. Many people warned me that once you learned to talk, I would be wishing for the days when you didn't. Never fear, I'm so not even CLOSE to being there. I love hearing you talk. You come up with the neatest things. I put on an old t-shirt the other day and you came up to me and said "Oooh, dat's a boo-tiful shirt you got on dere, Mommy!" After I painted your toes (with some awesome sparkly nail polish), you said "Oh, tank you, Mommy, for painting my toes wiff sparkwy powwish. I yuhve dem." As we were driving around town one day, you noiced a fire hydrant that was missing its top white part. You said "Mommy!! Dat fire hydwant is missing its white hat! We need to find it!" You found a copy of the New Testament in your room (the one the hospital staff gave you when you were born). You were carrying it around the house and saying "I weadin' da Bible. It's about God and Jesus. Once upon a time ..." After I cleaned you up after one your many (many) vomiting episodes, I scooped you up and we snuggled on the couch. You looked at me and said "Tanks, Momma, for holding me in your yap (lap)." After you asked me what I was eating one day and I told you it was lasagna, you giggled and said "Yasagna. Dat's a funny word. Yasagna yasagna yasagna". After eating a banana, you came up to me and said "I need to cwean my hands. Dere all banana-y." Yep, you're totally my child. Already making up words by adding a "-y" to the end. I'm so proud.

You like to tell me what letter that words start with. If I say to you "Please get me your sippy cup", you say "Sippy cup starts wiss (with) yetter (letter) S! SSSSSSSSSS!" Perhaps you use it as a distraction method so you don't have to do what I asked right away. Or perhaps you really are just that nerdy and love everything about letters. Or perhaps it's both.

I love you top to bottom, heart and soul, my sweet Natta-yee Jane Smiss. Please don't throw up on me again.

Hugs and smooches,
Mommy & Daddy

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Headlines from July 1, 2011

Los Alamos fire to become state's biggest ever
Casey Anthony won't testify; defense rests
Simon, Paula back bickering on 'X Factor'
Venezuelans stunned by Chavez cancer revelation
Sources: Strauss-Kahn case near collapse
William, Kate draw heartfelt ‘awwww’ from Canadians
NASA gives sneak preview of shuttle finale

Weekly Natalie - Week 129

2011-06-30T05:40:00.007-05:00

Because sometimes, she just needs a good, old-fashioned

foot blubber.

And in this house, foot blubbers often turn into Natalie pendulums.
(side note: where did my baby from those pictures on the wall go?!)

Yaaaaaay!

Weekly Natalie - Weeks 127 & 128

2011-06-23T06:31:00.003-05:00

It's impressive that I've taken ANY pictures these last two weeks. Natalie had her first full-blown stomach bug and it brought poor Team Smith to its knees. Thankfully Lee and I didn't get the bug, but it was still r-o-u-g-h. Our spawn does NOT handle being sick well.

Once Nat started feeling better, Lee put her to work. He asked her to help him with a 'project' (ie: putting the cover back on the AC). You'd have thought he asked Nat if she wanted a big bag of cookies. She was so excited. She was the official flashlight holder :)

Helping Daddy organize his tools

Holding the flashlight

My awesome in-focus love and my
awesome blurry little love

Weekly Natalie - Week 126

2011-06-09T22:01:00.005-05:00

This was a pretty slow picture-taking week for me, but we did get our pictures taken in a silly photo booth at the mall a few days ago.

This may not seem like much (besides being adorable, of course), but it's HUGE. These four pictures bring to about FIVE the total number of pictures I have of the two of us smiling in the same picture. Five out of 70 bajillion. We're making progress.

Weekly Natalie - Weeks 124 & 125

2011-06-02T13:34:00.006-05:00

Lee's birthday was this past week and his one request was to take Natalie bowling for the first time. Genius idea!! Air conditioning? Check. Nat gets to roll a ball? Check. Nat gets to knock things down? Double check. It was a winning idea all the way around.

Did you know that bowling shoes could be adorable?
They are if they're a size 7. LOVE.

Doing a little pre-game dance

About to bowl her first game
(Apparently if you're two, you can cheat and use a ramp.
And bumpers.)

Knocked 3 pins down the first time

Aaaaaand knocked the rest of them down for the spare

So proud!

Getting ready for our Babydoll Parade

My mom made Natalie this sweet dress.
With a matching purse. And a matching dress
for her baby doll. And a matching blanket for the
aforementioned baby doll.
My mom = adorable.

The Babydoll Parade takes off!

Twinsies!

Stopping mid-march to show off her mad dance skillz.

LOVE her.

May 2011 - Recap

2011-06-01T09:02:00.001-05:00

So this was kind of a hairy month. You didn't feel very well, I didn't feel very well, and Daddy didn't feel very well. Here's hoping June in all its annoying humidity and beginnings of hurricane season fares a bit better.

One thing I've recently discovered is that you like to take credit for things that I do. For instance, let's suppose that you can't find your pretend slice of pizza (a common occurance in your world). You run up to me and report the devestating news. With my Mommy Cape flapping in the breeze, I march over to your play kitchen, locate the missing piece of pizza and hand it to you. Your eyes open up wide, you smile a huge smile, and proudly proclaim "I found it!" Um, no, in fact, you didn't. I found it. Stop stealing my thunder.

I'm sure that you'll think I'm hopelessly lame for posting this (because Muh-THER, Twitter is SOOOOOO 2011), but Bob (ie: my mom) recently made an observation about you. You would be the perfect Tweeter. You (typically) speak in 140 characters or fewer. I've considered creating a Twitter account and just post the random things that come out of your mouth. It wouldn't be any less interesting than some of the off-the-wall things that other people post. In the span of 5 minutes, I could post the following tweets:

I wearin' shorts
I ridin' in Mommy's car
Mommy's dwiving da wheel
I have bwown hair
I yike to sing
My mouse (mouth) hurts
I weadin' a book
Wass dis song?
I yike dis song
I yike cookies wiff spinkles (sprinkles)
I eatin' a snack
Yots (lots) and yots (lots) of cars
Dat fire hydwant is dirty. Get some cweaner and cwean it! (Many thanks to my dad for showing you how to clean a fire hydrant ...)

Seriously. This all came out of your mouth before we barely got out of our neighborhood one day. But then again, you're two. And I'm willing to bet that something similar to these phrases show up on grown-ups' Twitter accounts. You get a pass. The other guys? Maybe not.

You had your very first trip to the dentist this month. I wasn't planning on taking you until you were three, but you were complaining (a lot ... no, make that A LOT) that your mouth hurt. You had bumped your mouth on your bathroom counter a few days before that, and while I never saw a bump or any blood, I wanted to take you in just to make sure you didn't do any damage to your teeth. Come to find out your teeth are fine. You just need to learn to get your tongue out of the way of your new two-year molars. The dentist took one look in your mouth and said "A ha! I see the culprit!" He showed me a huge blood-red spot on the side of your tongue where you must have bit it when you hit your mouth in the bathroom. The annoying thing about biting your tongue is that it's easy to keep doing it. Over and over. And over. And over again. Needless to say, you were pretty miserable this month with teething-and-continuing-to-bite-your-swollen-tongue-over-and-over-again pain. I say this with all the love in my heart, but you are NOT pleasant when you're in pain. A bright moment came when you were convinced that a frozen GoGurt (to help numb your tongue) was ice cream. Why yes, yes it is. Absolutely.

Daddy's birthday was this month and his one big request was to take you bowling for the first time. I thought it was a GREAT idea. And let me tell you, it was hee-LAR-ious. You had the best time! You didn't care if you knocked down zero pins or 10 pins - you were just tickled to watch the ball roll down the alley. And I was really proud of you for waiting your turn so well. You didn't freak out when it wasn't your turn to bowl (you did, however, run laps around the bowling alley while waiting for your turn though). I'm proud to report that Mommy and Daddy both beat your score. (Yes, I was intent on beating my two-year-old at bowling. That's pretty harsh, I know). Granted I only beat you by 2 points, but winning's winning. And in my defense, you got to use a ramp AND bumpers. But I still beat you. Ha. Ha ha ha.

A super cute thing that's happened this month is that instead of me singing to you before bedtime, you've started to sing to me to me. You sang both verses of You Are My Sunshine. Seriously, kid, your cuteness brings me to my knees sometimes. Another one of your current favorite songs is In The Good Old Summertime (Bob sang it to KK and me when we were little, so I like singing it to you now). Except you don't call it "In the Good Old Summertime". You call it "In Da Gouda". Methinks I need to work on my singing annunciation.

You've known this for a while, but it's finally Internet Official. You're going to be a big sister!! I'm enormously glad that God doesn't always listen to me. If I got pregnant when I wanted to, I'd be having a baby this month. And that is a scary, scary thought. I know that plenty of two-year-olds do just fine with a new sibling, but I just don't think that you fall into that category. Thankfully God knows best, and instead, you'll be almost three when the baby comes. And I truly feel that's an ideal time for you to be a big sister. Since you were such a late talker, I'm still constantly in stitches, laughing at the things that you say. I want to soak up every minute I can with you before November. I have no doubt that you'll be an amazing big sister, and Baby Buzz Yightyear (I'll give you zero guesses as to who came up with that name) is so lucky to have you. You already talk to Buzz; you already pat my belly; you already try to feed Buzz food (both real and plastic). Daddy and I decided not to find out if I'm having a Boy Buzz or a Girl Buzz. Pretty much everyone thinks Buzz is a boy. Either is fine with me, though I think you having a sister would be neat. I love your Aunt KK so very much and I think it'd be neat for you to know that bond too. I know you won't care either way. My only concern is that you're going to be mad when I don't give birth to a Space Ranger.

Hugs and smooches,
Mommy & Daddy

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

After 122 million miles, Endeavour's work is done
Expert: NYC, San Diego overdue for hurricanes
Heat just too much for Mavs in Game 1
Friend back on stand in Casey Anthony trial
Oral rounds begin at Scripps National Spelling Bee
Charlie Sheen Could End Up a 'Freak Show' Like Mike Tyson or Pee Wee Herman, Expert Says

Weekly Natalie - Week 121, 122, & 123

2011-05-19T06:16:00.007-05:00

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

2011-05-01T19:27:00.003-05:00

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

Weekly Natalie - Week 120

2011-04-30T08:53:00.005-05:00

We had quite a fun Easter around the Smith house. Holidays are exponentially more fun since Natalie came along. We don't do the whole Easter Bunny thing, but she got a big kick out of looking for Easter eggs. And an even bigger kick out of eating her very first batch of jelly beans.

"Yook Momma! More eggs!!"

Yes, I know there's a egg over there. I put it there.
It's your job to retrieve them.

Pleased with her loot

A jelly bean!!!

I love my girl. She rocks.

This is her jelly-bean-eating face
(she's trying to chew and get the jelly beans unstuck
from her teeth at the same time)

Sweet, messy PIGGIES!

Weekly Natalie - Week 119

2011-04-21T05:59:00.009-05:00

On Tuesday, I took Nat to see Disney on Ice (though if you asked Natalie, she'd tell you it was called "Mickey on Roller Skates"). I really liked it; Nat gave it a solid 'eh'. She gets really panicky around loud noises and the Civic Center was a pile of loud noises. Loud Disney noises, mind you, but loud noises nonetheless.

Showing me how excited she is on the car ride to the Civic Center

Her excitement only lasted a few seconds -
she had to get back to squealing the ABCs

Me and my best girl

Goofy making Mickey the Sorcerer's Apprentice

Dancing brooms (or, dancing zucchini flowers)

Yaaaaaay for Minnie!

Jack (she was most definitely scared by this music)

Cinderella (or, if you're Nat, Cinder-edda)

All the princesses and their various princes

How I got her to sit still when she started to get fussy

Peanut butter crackers = win

Silly Goofy

Mulan's backup dancers

Way cool Chinese dragon

Christmas Minnie

Toy Story! Nat's and my favorite

LOVE Hamm.

Tink

The whole Disney gang

Here's the latest video of Nat. She's showing off her musical (?) talent with Lincoln Logs. Pretty ingenious.

Weekly Natalie - Week 118

2011-04-14T15:06:00.003-05:00

Such intense PIGTAILED! focus while trying to take off
her Elmo slipper (which she wanted back on as soon as
she took it off)

You know whose clothes those are? Corduroy's.
You know who's just outside the camera's shot?
Naked Corduroy.

Wacky, goofy, silly ... mine.

Weekly Natalie - Week 117

2011-04-07T06:41:00.005-05:00

I didn't take any pictures this week, but I DID snag a video of Nat doing her ABCs (minus the N, of course) and counting. I love that kid.

(Oh, and if you were wondering, those are, in fact, tutus [5, to be exact] she has around her neck. She's such a fashion pioneer.)

March 2011 - Recap

2011-04-04T06:03:00.006-05:00

Oh my sweet, thank-goodness-you're-finally-sleeping babygirl,

Whew. We have finally gotten a hang of The Horrible Debacle Known as Putting You Down for Naps and Bedtime. You had been doing so well back in January and then when you got your ear infection in February, you decided that your bed was evil. And you wanted nothing to do with it. But I'm stubborn and I was insistent that you sleep in your bed. That meant that naptime and bedtime was a fight of epic proportions. There were a few nights where I lost count at 50 for the number of times Daddy and I had to put you back into bed because you kept getting up. It was a nightmare. Fast-foward to March. One night I hit my limit with the bedtime tantrums. Instead of putting you back into bed, I went to the living room for a minute to catch my breath and calm my nerves. You squawked at the baby gate for a minute or so and then you went quiet. I went to see what kind of mischief you had gotten into (because of course, a quiet toddler can be a scary thing to a momma). Lo and behold you were fast asleep on the floor. Again, because I'm stubborn, I wanted to pick you up and put you back in bed. Because you have a BED! You don't need to sleep on the FLOOR! So I pick you up and gently put you back in bed. Your eyes fly open, you realize where you are (ie: the Bed of All Doom, Misery and Sadness) and you start your tantrum all over. I leave the room and 2 seconds later, you're asleep on the floor. I decide to let it go and we'll try the bed again the next night. A big fat 'ha' on that one. You are now officially a floor-sleeper. You want nothing to do with your bed and after a few weeks, I got to be okay with that. It really bothered me at first. I mean, you have a bed. It's a nice toddler bed with a pretty pink sheet. Your favorite stuffed animals hang out there. Your cushiest blankets are there. But you prefer the floor. In the grand scheme of things, it's not a big deal. Daddy made some excellent points: we don't live in a tent and your bedroom floor isn't tile or hardwood. And a friend put it very well: "Would you rather have a child you sleeps through the night, or a child or sleeps on the floor? Because right now, Natalie is trying to tell you she can't do both." And I choose having a child who sleeps through the night. I'll always choose sleep. Always. Al. Ways. So, hooray! THDKaPYDfNaB is no more.

You've really started liking certain songs this month. Not cool songs, by any stretch. But songs nonetheless. Your favorites are the ABCs, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (or "Chrinkle Chrinkle"), London Bridge ("Bidge"), and The Wheels on the Bus ("Wheeeeeeeee-uhs on BUS"). As annoying as The Wheels on the Bus can be, it's really cute to hear you sing it. I sing the main part and you do the 'fun' part ("round and round", etc). It's hilarious to watch you say "swish, swish, swish" for the wipers and "moooooooove on back" for the driver. Recently, though, you're making up lines (or rather, wanting ME to make up lines) to the song. You always want me to start with wheels. When I'm finish round-and-rounding, I ask you what's next. Sometimes you say something for which I know the next line (like the baby - she goes waa, waa, waa ... or the lights - they go blink, blink, blink). But sometimes? Yeah, sometimes you throw out words that I have NO clue how to incorporate into the song. Do you know what the leaf on the bus does? I don't either, but apparently you think I should. How about run? Yep, there's a verb on the bus and I haven't the foggiest idea what to do. Other 'on the bus' words you've thrown at me are five, happy, B, arm, and no. (In case you're wondering: the leaf on the bus goes 'blow, blow, blow'. The run on the bus goes 'fast, fast, fast'. The five on the bus goes 'I'm bigger than 4, bigger than 4, bigger than 4'. The happy on the bus goes 'I'm really happy, I'm really happy, I'm really happy'. The B on the bus goes 'buh, buh, buh'. The arm on the bus goes 'I'm an arm, I'm an arm, I'm an arm'. The no on the bus goes 'no, no, no'. Don't judge. I don't work well under pressure. And since you take The Wheels on the Bus so seriously, there's a LOT of pressure.)

You're now a full-fledged ABC-sayer. With the exception of the letter N. Just a helpful hint, sweetie pie: you need to learn the letter N. It's kinda critical to your name. And instead of saying "Now I know my ABCs, next time won't you sing with me?", you say "Now I ... sing with me, ABCs". It's awesome.

You still love to count. And I'm thrilled to report that you still pronounce 'eleven' as 'yum-yum-yum'. Please don't ever change that.

I've known this for a while, but it was confirmed to me by a friend just a few weeks ago. You're smarter than me. Let me explain: I'm going a different route trying to get you do things. Instead of saying "Please bring me your shoes" (to which you would invariably proclaim NO!), I've changed it to "Do you want to bring me your pink shoes or your white shoes?" I'm trying to give you some semblance of control in the hopes that you'll still do what I want. The end result is the same and it's what I want (shoes on your feet) but you get to control HOW you get to the end result. Giving you choices worked really well for a few weeks. Then you caught on to my little game. I mean, sometimes you oblige and bring me whatever shoes tickle your fancy. But more and more, you either give me a blank look that plainly says "You're ridiculous, Mommy. I know what you're trying to do. I know you want shoes on my feet. But *I* don't want shoes on my feet. So there. Nanny nanny boo boo" or you choose an option that was not part of the original options.

Example:
Me: "Natalie, do you want to push or pull your chair into the kitchen?"
You: "Cheese!"

Me: "Natalie, do you want to wear your green dress or your purple dress?"
You: "Twelve!"

Is it any wonder that I have gray hair? I knew parenthood would keep me on my toes but I had no idea I would have to change tactics on a weekly (or daily ... or minute-ly ...) basis. I'm afraid my brain my explode soon.

One of your favorite toys this month was Daddy's tools. You like lining up his screwdrivers and hitting the garage floor with the rubber mallet, and you love LOVE his socket wrench. I see a cute pink toolbox in your future. Another favorite is the play kitchen we got you earlier this month (thank you Craigslist). From the second Daddy brought it home, you were all over it. It's a pretty sweet kitchen - it's got a bunch of cabinets, a fridge, a microwave, an oven, a stove, and a sink. And it came with a boatload of food. So much of your playtime is spent making me hotdogs, hamburgers, and tea. I've gained 20 imaginary pounds this month.

You gave me your first, unprompted, unsolicited 'love you' (or, 'yuhve you') this month. It was just a regular morning. You woke up, threw open your door, and started chattering. I came over to you, took away the baby gate, and was about to change your diaper. Just then you looked at me, smiled, and said "yuhve you". It melted my heart into one gigantic Mommy Heart Puddle. I immediately burst into tears, grabbed you for a giant bear hug (to which you were immensely opposed), and tried to savor every second. You are so very savorable, sweet girl, even though you oppose my hugs. I can't quite put into words how much I yuhve you.

Hugs and smooches,
Mommy & Daddy

Weekly Natalie - Weeks 112, 113, 114, 115, & 116

2011-03-31T13:06:00.016-05:00

Duuuuuuude. Five Weekly Natalie's. How lame that I can't find time to post once a WEEK. Boo to me.

Question: If a toddler's pants are too long, do you roll them up?
Answer: Nope, you hike 'em up, Urkel style.
(if it wasn't obvious, she's holding a rope and jumping.
Jump. Rope. Genius, yes?)

Oak leaves are 99% annoying.
Here is evidence of the 1% of fun:

Trying to catch bubbles that Daddy's blowing

When Lee said he'd only blow bubbles two more times,
master-negotiator Natalie promptly held up
three fingers and said "Fee more times!"

My loves at the Mardi Gras paradeFive minutes after the parade began.
She's not a fan of loud noises. :(

In the past few weeks, we've gone on quite the Tour of Pensacola Parks.

Nat the Surprised Bus Driver

She oozes grace when climbing down stairs

She loves tunnels!

And to demonstrate that love, she busted out some
mad dance skillz.

I see you!

A solo see-er (or saw-er)

YAY for parks!

Busting out with some more mad dance skillz

Making sure I'm watching her

Her PIGTAILS! look funny when she jumps

A PIGTAILED! pilot

Pleased with her flight, she busts out even more
mad dance skillz. This looks like The Robot.

Giving the ladybug a hug

Giving the ladybug a smooch

She loves her some Elefun

LOVE HER

Her eyelashes kill me.

Cute pouty lips.

How many is too many tutus?
If you're Nat, there's NEVER too many tutus.

Whereeeeeee's Natalie?

There she is!!

Goodness

2011-03-17T12:31:00.001-05:00

Man, I haven't posted a Weekly Natalie in forEVER. I have pictures, but our computer has been acting screwy and I haven't been able to upload pictures. Major boo.

Hope to have a bunch of pictures to show really soon!!

Be Still My Heart

2011-03-07T06:59:00.003-06:00

On this day in history ... I burst into tears before 7am.

After I came into Natalie's room this morning, she made the sign for 'I Love You' and said, completely unprompted, "yuhve you".

I yuhve her so very much.

February 2011 - Recap

2011-03-01T12:53:00.003-06:00

Good heavens, it's a good thing that I update your monthly recap periodically throughout the month. Because if I didn't? The only things I would remember from this month would be croup, snot, too much TV, more snot, ear infections, and not sleeping well. So there's that. And then there's this:

Have I mentioned how you, my analytical child, never cease to amaze me. Your tricks this month include counting 30 and counting to 10 on your fingers. I'm glad you learned 11-20 before you were old enough to get annoyed by how those numbers have a weird pattern (THIRteen [and not THREEteen] and FIFteen [and not FIVEteen] would start a nuclear meltdown for SURE). You count everything - leaves, blocks, toes, people, Cheerios. For some reason, when you learned how to say 'seven', you said 'foe-foe' instead. You also say 'yum-yum-yum' for 'eleven'. Daddy and I joke that we need to run to the foe-foe-yum-yum-yum to get a Slurpee. I have a feeling when you're 25, Daddy and I will STILL tease you about this. (side note: you've now learned how to say 'seven', but Daddy and I will always call it foe-foe).

You also like to sing your ABCs. Granted, some letters never make your final cut (sorry, E, T, and W) and some letters have new homes (S is often close to the front of the alphabet), but who cares. I'm floored at how quickly you're picking these things up. Maybe it's completely normal. But to me, it's amazing.

We had our first beach trip of the year. (And since I'm a mega hot-weather-wuss who hates going to the beach when it gets above 75 degrees, I jumped at the chance to go when it was 72 and low humidity). February seems like an odd month for a beach trip, and I guess it is, but this is Florida, and it's not uncommon for the weather to be jacked up. (ie: it was fuh-REEZING less than a month ago.) I was banking on you (ie: my mildly prissy daughter) not wanting to get sandy and especially not wanting to go into the frigid, bone-chilling water. I was wrong on both accounts. You loved LOVED playing in the sand - throwing it, digging in it, piling it on top of your legs, the whole shebang. And the water? It was top-notch in your book. Perhaps this is payback for me wanting to see the reaction on your face when your toes hit the cold water, but you couldn't get enough of the water. This is not your first trip to the beach, but this is the very first time you've enjoyed the water.

You love talking on your phone (we realized very early on that you don't want a Fisher Price phone to play with - you want the real thing. So your phone is one of Daddy's old phones). You have the same conversation each time.
(you put the phone to your ear)
"Hey-yo!" (how you say 'hello')
"Hi."
"Oh."
(handing the phone to me)
"Bye BYEEEEEEEEE!!!"
"Yay-ter!" (how you say 'later')

It's hysterical. Truly, truly hysterical.

I have KLOVE on pretty much whenever the TV isn't on. A few weeks ago, "Come Home" by Luminate came on. When the opening bars played, you immediately started singing the "Oh oh oh oh" part at the beginning. I know you've heard that song countless times, but this was the first time you've ever 'sung' anything. And let me tell you, pumpkin, it was fantastic. And when the song is coming to an end, you squeal "Song ... again!" I finally just put it on a continuous loop on YouTube so you can hear it over and over and over (and over and over ...). For you to like a song, particularly THAT song, it warms the cockles my heart.

You like to say 'How 'bout?' a lot. Like, if I ask you if you'd rather have a turkey sandwich or a grilled cheese for lunch, you'll say "Umm, how 'bout turkey [tuh-keeeee]". If I ask who's on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, you'll say "How 'bout Mickey! How 'bout Goofy! How 'bout Pluto [boe-toe]!" How 'bout that you're ridiculously adorable. How 'bout that.

You've recently discovered the wonder of Mommy Kisses. Whenever you get hurt, you immediately say "Mommy KISS!" The downside to this cuteness is that sometimes, instead of "Mommy KISS!", you screech "KISS IT!". I know what you mean, of course, but seriously. I've gotten some side-eyes from people who've overheard this. Anywho, I kiss the offended area and you're as good as new. Thanks for thinking I have special healing powers.

You had your first ear infection this month (and it was a double ear infection, you little over-achiever). I never would have known if you hadn't started wailing that your eye hurt. I just thought you had croup. But when you said that your eye hurt, I called your pediatrician to ask about pink eye (the only eye-related 'illness' I could think of). The nurse said that I'd know if you had pink eye, but that your eye pain might be related to your ears. So I brought you into the doctor, and lo and behold, you had an ear infection in each ear. You were mainly complaining of your right eye hurting and it turns out that your right ear had the more severe infection. So for about a week, you'd wail "Eyeeeeeeeeeeee! Kisssssssssss!" And I'd dutifully kiss your eye, ask if it felt better, and you'd pitifully say "yes". I know it still hurt, but you saying 'yes' made me feel like a superhero. Thanks.

Just in the past week, you've loved taking walks. You grab my hand and say "walk" and away we go. We don't walk far, just to the end of the street and back, but you seem to really enjoy taking it all in. Sometimes we discuss important things such as grass, leaves, dirt, bugs, and mailboxes. Other times we don't say anything at all. Walking hand in hand with you as we mosey down the street is one of the highlights of my day. That you enjoy something as simple as taking a walk, and that you like holding my hand, does more for my soul than words can express. I have visions of us years down the road, still taking these walks. Our topics of conversation will move from grass and leaves to school and boys. And when you're older and think it's lame to hold your lame mother's lame hand, it'll be okay. Because I will always remember our walks when you were two. So take my hand, little one. Cuz you and me? We've got a big world to explore. How 'bout that.

Hugs and smooches,
Mommy & Daddy

Headlines for March 1, 2011
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Flooding, Tornadoes Wreak Havoc on Midwest
Reba McEntire Inducted Into Country Music Hall of Fame
Sugar Ray Leonard, Kendra Wilkinson to Hoof It on 'Dancing' Series
Opening Arguments Begin in Deadly Arizona Sweat Lodge Case
U.S. Ramping Up Pressure on Libyan Leader
E. coli found on 50 percent of shopping carts
Mom sells kids' toys on eBay as punishment (excellent idea - don't test me, kid!)

Weekly Natalie - Week 111

2011-02-24T16:34:00.004-06:00

Natalie has her first ear infection. I'm uber thankful that she made it over 2 years before getting one, but being the over-achiever that she is, her first ear infection is a double ear infection. Poor little bunny.

These pictures were taken last weekend before she turned into a croup-y, mucous-y, fever-y munchkin.

I cornered her in the kitchen and made her smile for the camera
before I'd let her leave. Ha!

My two loves, bonding over Mickey Mouse

Some severe tickle time, courtesy of Daddy

Weekly Natalie - Weeks 109 & 110

2011-02-17T15:44:00.006-06:00

We had a busy two weeks - a fun trip to the zoo, a Daddy/Daughter Valentine's Dance at church, trips to the park, and just general craziness from living with a whackadoo two-year-old.

She wasn't 100% sold on the zoo at first

But when you've got a daddy like Lee, it doesn't take long

to warm up to a new situation

Team Smith, all looking in different directions.
Typical.

Ewwwwww.

There's just not enough Purell in the world ...

Nat loved those guys!

Striking a pose in her Valentine's Dance dress

Running to come get me!

Another one of her 'running faces'

Weekly Natalie - Week 108

2011-02-03T05:54:00.004-06:00

Oatmeal is pretty funny business in this house

Trying to smile whilst having a mouth full of oatmeal

Fishy face

LOVE her

January 2011 - Recap

2011-02-01T14:20:00.003-06:00

Well goodness sakes, you little myna bird. Just when I thought you'd NEVER talk, here comes January! This is the first month where I can't keep track of all the words you know. It seems like you say new words on a daily basis. And somehow, you know just the things to say to make Daddy and me laugh. You especially like to say things like "okay", "oh yeah", "I know", "dude", and "boo-yah". Not surprisingly, 'boo-yah' is one of Daddy's and my favorites. It sounds so cute coming out of your mouth.

Some of your favorite new words are 'please' (peesh/peeze), 'thank you' (tah-koo), 'two', 'three' (fee), 'four', 'five', 'six' (ick), 'eight', 'nine', 'shucks', 'Huckle' [I'm thrilled to see you still like Richard Scarry books] (Huh-cooohl), 'mouse' (mersh), 'pray' (buh-RAYYYYYY), 'amen' (ah-MANG), 'bread' (buh-REDDDDDD), 'Mickey' (MEE-kee), 'Minnie' (mee-ee). You can also name most of the critters on Sesame Street: 'Abby' (Tabby [why you insist on putting a T in front of name is beyond me]), 'Elmo' (Ahmo), Ernie (Uh-nee), Bert (Buh't), 'Oscar' (Ah-cur), 'Big Bird' (Buh'd). For The Count, instead of saying 'count', you say 'ah ah ah'. Just like this: (at the 41 second mark)

You also have names for several people: instead of calling my mom Gramma Lu, Lu, Gramma, Gamma or anything remotely similar, you call her Bob. We're going to work on you calling her Wow since you already call my dad Pep. (How on earth did they come up with those names, you may ask? Their birthdays are 3 days apart, so I had a card for each of them on our kitchen counter. The envelopes were upside down, so Dad looked like Pep and Mom looked like Wow!) You call Aunt Lisa Ita. You call Aunt Karen KK. You call my sweet friends Amanda and Carlie Manda/Manta and Cah-yee, respectively. It's so nice for you to finally call people by something other than WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH.

You can say all but 3 letters, which makes your alphabet puzzle way more fun. And each letter ends in an explanation point. There's no "A" or "B" in this house, oh no. There's only A!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!

And you've also started saying 'no'. I suppose we should thank our lucky stars that we made it two years before we heard 'no'. Even though you love to say it, you don't always use it correctly ("Natalie, would you like an apple?" "No." "Okay, no biggie." "Aaah-PUHL!!!") but you have put quite the sassy little attitude behind it. And THAT has to stop. Daddy and I don't mind if you say 'no'. It's a perfectly acceptable word. But when you become Little Miss Sassypants while you say it, that's when we have a problem. You seem to be picking up quickly that if you say it rudely, consequences are swift.

Far and away, your favorite game this month was 'Peee-pohllll' (ie: looking at pictures of people on Facebook). You can't get enough of looking at people's pictures. So thanks, Facebook friends, for providing my munchkin with some entertainment.

Either it's because we turned your crib into a toddler bed or it's because of some strange thing that happens when someone turns two or it's just an unfortunate coincidence, but ever since you moved to your toddler bed, your sleep habits have been off. Before, I couldn't predict ANYthing about how you would react or respond to a particular situation, but I knew, I KNEW, that you would sleep at night. And now? Well, we had a few weeks of you getting up in the middle of the night. And while that might not sound strange for some kids, for you it's weird. You barely get up in the middle night when you're sick, and this month, you seemed to get up just for the sake of getting up. Daddy or I would blearily walk you back to bed and you'd fall back asleep quickly. You're also not sleeping as long at night anymore. You were a consistent 11-to-12-hours-a-night sleeper. And now, you're more towards 10 or 10.5 hours. Again, not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. But this is a HUGE change for you. Another huge change? Your naps. For a week or so, I was lucky if you slept for 45 minutes. That's outrageous, coming from my child who had been sleeping at LEAST two hours during naptime. You've slowly increased your naptime up to almost 1.5 hours, and while that's not ideal, it's a heckuva lot better than 45 minutes.

I now know why two-year-olds aren't typically sought out for baby-sitting duty. One of your favorite games is putting your babies to sleep. [Side note: you're the proud parent of three babies. You have twin babies who you've named Blue and Pink and one you've named Baby. Blue and Pink are cute, squishy, and smell like baby powder. Baby, on the other hand, has seen better days. You've only had her since Christmas, but this gal looks like she's had a lifetime of hard times. Her once soft, silky hair has turned into this matted, Rastafarian, cave woman-y hot mess. However their outward appearance, you love all three of your babies and require all of them to sleep.] Anyway. Back to Baby Bedtime. This involves bringing every blanket, pillow, stuffed animal, and doll from your room and bringing them all out to the living room. First, you gently and lovingly place your baby dolls on pillows. Then you 'put them to sleep' by piling your blankets on top of them. Then jumping on top of the blankets. Fun for you. Not so fun for your babies buried underneath 12 pounds of bed accessories.

I want you know that I pray for you constantly. I pray for your heart; I pray for your happiness; I pray for my ability to properly mother you; I pray for your future best friends; I pray for your future husband; I pray for your relationship with God. I often wonder what God has in store for a non-spitfire (that would be me) when He blesses me with a rascally spitfire (that would be you). I may feel like I don't know what I'm doing, but He does. So I'm along for the ride. Thanks for coming along with me, sweet girl.

Hugs and smooches,
Mommy & Daddy

Headlines for February 1, 2011
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Reports: Mubarak to skip bid for re-election after hearing Obama message
Wall Street skyrockets to 2 1/2-year highs
Media descend on Packers, Steelers
Miranda Lambert tops ACM nominations at 7
Sleeping with pets brings risk of serious disease
Massive Winter Storm Creates Dangerous Conditions from Texas to New England

My One Word

2011-01-29T06:47:00.004-06:00

This month, K-LOVE has been talking about My One Word. The premise is that instead of making a laundry list of resolutions, think of one word that sums up your hopes for 2011. That's right up my alley; I'm notorious for compiling an impressive list of resolutions only for them to be all but forgotten by March.

People have called into K-LOVE and shared their words. And their words are great - abide, compassion, faith, love, and thankful are just a few.

I was having a hard time coming up with my word. I want it to be powerful, encompassing, and personal. I want it to center on an area of my life that I feel is in need of an overhaul.

A guest pastor came to our church a year or two ago. He said he was asked "If he could sum up Jesus' ministry in one word, what would it be?" His reply? Others.

Once others popped into my mind, I knew it was supposed to be my one word.

So here we go, 2011. Others it is.

Weekly Natalie - Weeks 106 & 107

2011-01-27T15:06:00.006-06:00

Sorry, Week 106. I got nothing for ya. But Week 107? You more than make up for it.

You can't tell, but she's drinking from cute cup that says Natalie on it.
Here, she's demonstrating in perfect form that she's not ready
for an un-lidded cup.

Fun at the park

Numbers are AWESOME!

Oh, the joys of throwing sand.

Wanting me to smell her pretty 'flower'

Runs like a girl ...

... but still has some pretty fancy footwork

Seriously. LOVE her.

Weekly Natalie - Week 105

2011-01-13T08:11:00.003-06:00

It's been COLD here lately. Florida is the only state in the country without snow (who knew that Hawaii got snow?) but it doesn't mean we're without the blustery weather.

Excited to see an airplane

Ready to pounce!

I love that little moptop of mine

Pausing to remove her sock. That's right - just one sock.
For some reason, she needs to let her left foot be free.

She looks like she's eavesdropping on an important conversation
being held in the coat closet.

Weekly Natalie - Week 104

2011-01-06T06:12:00.004-06:00

What better way to spend turning 2 than to go outside and enjoy the downpour?!

Ready, set, go!

Seeing that Daddy just came to the door

She has the BEST cheeks.

Demonstrating her interesting hair styling technique
on her new baby doll

Silliness at Zoolights

2010 - Year End Review

2011-01-01T10:19:00.004-06:00

Happy 2nd Birthday, my sweet pumpkin-headed, spitfire, be-pigtailed best girl!

Oh my gosh, I've been reading your monthly recaps from 2010. I can't believe how much you've changed in just a single year. And it's also cool to see how much you've stayed the same. In keeping with last year's recap, I'll now present several Top 10 lists.

Top 10 Things You Love:

Airplanes and Helicopters
VeggieTales
Sesame Street
Mickey Mouse/Minnie Mouse
Cheese
Cookies from Publix
Playgrounds
Bananas
Busses
Books

Top 10 Things You Hate:

Being told 'no'
Waiting
Sitting still
When the credits roll on either VeggieTales or Sesame Street
Tacos
Loud noises (especially the vacuum)
When your stuffed animals or dolls have clothes on
Riding in a shopping cart without anything to eat
Riding in the car for long periods of time
Having a sock and a shoe on your left foot while riding in the car (weird, random, and 100% true)

Top 10 Things You're Good At:

Making Daddy and me laugh
Running and jumping
Eating
Sleeping
Giving Eskimo kisses
Identifying all your letters and most numbers up to 20
Counting 1-5 and 10 on your fingers
Entertaining yourself with books
Making funny faces and noises
Climbing stairs

Top 10 Things You're Not Good At:

Being patient - I mean really, come on kid, one of these days you've GOT to learn that things don't always happen on your timetable. Pitching a fit because dinner's not ready while I'm physically making you dinner is not helpful. It's not like I'm taking a nap and you want to eat dinner. I'm in the kitchen, cooking your dinner and you're in Nuclear Meltdown Mode.
Sitting still - it's like you think I'm going to make you take a nap if you're still for more than 2 seconds. Sitting still is fun. Trust me.
Accepting that you're not the boss - Daddy and I are the bosses. Team Smith is a dictatorship. I know that's unfair, but think of this - you get to be the dictator when you have kids. Until then, you're under the authority of Daddy and me.
Folding clothes - throwing clothes around the living room is NOT folding. Sticking your hands through Daddy's socks and making hand puppets is NOT folding. Climbing in the basket of folded clothes is NOT folding.
Mowing the lawn - you might be too short to push the mower, but you're tall enough to reach the phone to call someone to mow our lawn.
Being go-with-the-flow - you're not the most content child. Philippians 4:11 is a verse that I hope to teach you and one I hope you'll take to heart.
Keeping your books on your bookshelf - you prefer to be able to see every book you own, and what better way to see them than to spread them all over your floor. And many times, you like to take a quick swim through your books.
Saying certain words - you know a lot of words, but there are some key ones that you should work on, namely 'hi', 'I love you', 'Mommy, you're the best and most beautiful mommy in the wide world'.
Sharing - I hope it's normal for a 2-year-old and especially for a 2-year-old who's an only child, but you know nothing of sharing. I imagine you'd rather eat tacos while holding a fully-clothed doll while I run the vacuum than share a toy.
New situations - I can totally relate to this because I'm the same way. You're extremely panicky in new environments, you often want to leave immediately, and crowded situations really send you over the edge. I'm not sure how to help you overcome this, but it's something I'm really going to focus on in 2011.

From January 2010 to December 2010, you've gone from someone who hadn't taken her first step to someone who runs in circles. You've gone from someone who said two words to someone who says over 20. You've gone from someone who has 4 teeth to someone who has 12(ish) teeth. You've gone from someone who haaaates baths to someone who loves baths (as long as you're standing up). You've gone from someone who weighed a tad over 20 lbs to someone who weighs at least 30 pounds. You've got from someone who loves food to someone who, well, still loves food. You've gone from someone who didn't know her numbers to someone who, when holding two things, holds up two fingers (and when you hold three things, you hold up three fingers). You've gone from someone who doesn't know her alphabet to someone who knows each letter and knows words that start with each letter. You've gone from someone who slept in a crib to someone who sleeps in a toddler bed. You've gone from someone who didn't know anything about Sesame Street or VeggieTales to someone who loves Elmo and Bob. You've gone from someone who hates being in the church nursery to someone who's all giggles when I pick her up. You've gone from someone who likes books to someone who looooooooves books. You've gone from someone who was awesome and funny to someone who is fantastically awesome and excruciatingly funny. You rock our world.

Hugs and smooches,
Mommy & Daddy

December 2010 - Recap

2011-01-01T10:10:00.007-06:00

My dearest pumpkin,
So I think you feel you're from England. Or Canada. You pronounce certain words with a thick accent, particularly 'book' and 'boat'. You say 'book' as if you're British and 'boat' as if you're Canadian (don'cha know?). It's enormously entertaining. You've said a lot of new words this month including 'people' (peeeeeeee-pohhhhhhl), 'gobble' (obble gobble), 'buoy' (yes, you say 'buoy'. You don't say 'cheese', 'I love you', or 'hi', but you say 'buoy' ...), 'bike', 'wow', 'I know', 'table' (teeee-bohhhhhhhhhl), 'duck', 'duckie', 'hippo' (heeeep ... [long pause] ... pohhhhhh), 'diaper' (deh-pohhhh), and 'bob' (you're a huge fan of VeggieTales). [FYI: Gramma Lu has considered changing her name to Gramma Book or Gramma Boat or even Gramma Bob since you show no desire to actually say 'Lu'].

You like to play with my hair. You think it's fun to pat it, to scrunch it, to finger-comb it. Perhaps you'll become a hairdresser when you're 40 ... because by that time, you might have picked up on what it means to be gentle. Ouch.

Now that the weather is cooler (yay!), you're wearing long sleeves all the time. Which brings me to your current favorite game: Where's My Hand? You love this game. The rules are simple. I put a long-sleeved shirt on you. You tuck your hand inside your sleeve and get a distressed look on your face. In response, I say, 'Oh no! Your hand is gone! Where'd your hand go?' Your distressed look immediately turns into a delighted look as you poke your hand through. You giggle and I breathe a sigh of relief at the sight of your hand. We play this game about 2,183 times a day. And it never gets old.

You know what you DO think gets old? Clothes on your dolls and stuffed animals. You have a stuffed Corduory bear who should rock his trademark overalls-with-a-missing-button. This, however, is not the case. YOUR Corduory bear is naked. Which defeats the whole PURPOSE of the story of Corduroy. Perhaps it's time for a lesson on how you shouldn't take creative licenses with your teddy bears. Your baby dolls have clothes sewed onto them. And you take that as a personal insult. And you're very distressed that your Cookie Monster toy has a cookie permanently attached to his hand. Maybe you feel that you could do a better job clothing/accessorizing these toys. Maybe you feel that the clothes/accessories stifle the toys' personalities. Maybe you like nakedness. Who knows.

I graduated with my Masters this month. I started it before I got pregnant with every intention of finishing it before Daddy and I had a baby. Obviously God had other plans. I took five semesters off when I had you, and started back in January. Back then, December seemed so far away and I had no idea how I'd manage school and a toddler. But I did it. And I'm so glad I did. I want you to value education. Even though I'm a stay-at-home mom, I don't not value education. And just because I don't work outside of the home doesn't mean this degree was a waste of money. I've always wanted a Masters to fall back on should the need arise. I love being a SAHM, but I'm glad I have this degree in my back pocket in case I need to whip it out.

We took you to Disney World for the first time this month. Daddy and I were planning to wait until you were at least 4 or 5 before we took you to Disney, but some friends of ours happened to be there, had room for us, and are Disney experts. So we decided to go for it! It turned out to be the coldest weather Orlando had seen since the late '80s which made it a little crazy at times, but it was still fun. You love Mickey and Minney. You love Pooh. You love the princesses. You do NOT love, however, waiting in line, sitting still, or being patient. And those three things are requirements at Disney.

I think you're in a growth spurt. Which I hope will taper off soon. Because I simply can't feed you enough. For breakfast, you have oatmeal mixed with half of a banana, a glass of milk, and anywhere from 1 to 4 more pieces of fruit (usually clementines or apples). And you sign for more food. Ridiculous! I really shouldn't complain though. You are a fantastic eater. You're good at trying almost everything. You may not like it, but you usually try it.

You're now in a toddler bed. The first few days and nights were easy-peasy. We put you in bed, you slept. End of story. It didn't take long before you realized that you could get out of bed at will. And you did. For your quiet time, I don't care if you're in bed or not. You can read, play with your toys, sing to yourself, run around your room, whatever floats your boat. For naptime, however, Daddy and I have decided that you have to stay in bed. We tossed around different ideas for you, such as not caring if you slept during naptime or not. But we decided that for the sanity of this house, you need a nap. Several times, you've gotten out of your bed during naptime and started playing with your toys. I quickly put you back in bed a la Super Nanny and leave the room. Usually I only have to put you back in bed once or twice. But Christmas Day? Oh my GOSH. I didn't keep count, but it had to be upwards of 50 times. And you were MAD. I stood outside your door on the other side of the baby gate and waited for you to open the door and holler for someone to get you. You'd see me standing there and get even madder. Thankfully I was in the kind of mood to where it was almost funny, how determined you were to out-stubborn me. Let me tell you something, little love. I will NOT be out-stubborn'd by a toddler. A saying I've adopted over the past few months is "I do not negotiate with terrorists!" And at times, you're a little toddler terrorist. A cute little toddler terrorist. But a toddler terrorist nonetheless. And I mean that with all the love in my heart.

And since you've been born, the love in my heart has grown exponentially. We'll talk about what 'exponentially' means next year.

Hugs and smooches,
Mommy & Daddy

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

World Welcomes 2011; Million in Times Square
US dollar seen rising in 2011 after rough 2010
6 Dead in Rare New Year's Eve Twister Outbreak
Brazil to swear in 'Iron Lady' as first woman president
Lindsay and Mel top worst moments
Oprah's network announces host contestants
Christmas trees bum non-Christians out, study shows

Weekly Natalie - Weeks 102 & 103

2010-12-30T05:28:00.004-06:00

Merry Christmas from Team Smith!

I love her hairbow-that-looks-like-a-Christmas-package-bow

Giving her baby doll an Eskimo kiss. Adorable, no?

Airplane spoon!!

Checking out her new airplane calendar

Checking out her Sesame Street dollhouse

I better get used to this look

Showing us her teeth

My best girl in the wide world

Right after sneaking up on us :)

Weekly Natalie - Week 101

2010-12-16T06:26:00.005-06:00

What a crazy 101st week! On Saturday, I graduated with my Masters in Instructional Technology (NOT in Google, as Lee likes to tell people). Right after the ceremony, we drove home, picked up Nat, and drove to Tallahassee to have dinner with family. The next morning we drove to Disney World for a mini-vacation. Little did we know that we'd be going to Orlando during the coldest weather they've had since the late 80s. I'm all about cold weather, but 30 degrees with 15-20mph winds was a little intense.

We think Nat was a little too young to really 'get' Disney, but we all had a great time. I think next time we'll try the Animal Kingdom. I think the giraffes would get a kick out of Nat's giraffe impression. Ditto for the elephants.

Me and my love after graduation

Nat was SO excited to see Pooh and Tigger.

She also loved seeing Mickey and Minnie but REALLY didn't
want to get her picture taken. It was taking time away from
her 'try to grab Minnie's bow' game.

My sweet little family

Weekly Natalie - Week 100

2010-12-09T05:48:00.005-06:00

I love how silly Natalie's gotten recently (I mean, she's always been silly, but the toddler silliness is over-the-top). It's great.

Thinking how she wants to 'help' me fold the laundry.

"I see you, Mommy!"

"Oooooh!"

Holding up her sheep PJs and saying "Baa"

The Sesame Street Sticker Pox have infected the Smith house

Seeing a sticker of Elmo

My sticker-y cheeseball

Weekly Natalie - Weeks 98 & 99

2010-12-02T06:08:00.008-06:00

You would think that posting pictures once a week wouldn't be hard. Yes, you would think.

Natalie and I were playing outside when she jumped out from
behind that bush to surprise me. I love her.

My little love

HA! Lee's boots come up past her knees.

So excited to see the Christmas tree!

I love my little cheeseball.

Smiling at Daddy through the tree

I see you, Daddy!

Showing us how she's not touching the tree
(riiiiiiiight)

November 2010 - Recap

2010-12-01T06:39:00.003-06:00

Oh my sweet chatterbox. You've doubled your vocabulary this month. Here are your new words: nana (this is what you call Daddy's mom and also what you call bananas - thankfully Nana doesn't mind being equal with a banana), ball, apple (ahh-puhllllll), me, mall (mawwwwww), yummy (ah-mee ah-mee), bus (bahssssssssssss), and puppy (buppy). I have no idea how you're picking what words to start saying. To Daddy and me, it's a random hodge podge of words. But I'm sure to you, it makes all the sense in the world.

(Now that you've doubled your vocabulary, how's about working on doubling your tooth count. Seriously. I'm beginning to doubt that you even HAVE baby teeth.)

You don't like to share. And you are highly protective of things that aren't even yours, especially playground equipment. You think that anything you've ever played with, touched, looked at, and/or thought about is automatically yours. And you get insulted when someone else encroaches on your territory. You point accusingly at the offender and look at me as if you expect me to handle it. Like "Um, Mom? That boy over there? Yeah, he's on the big kid swing. I can't swing on the big kid swing, but that doesn't matter. Everything in this playground is mine, and THAT boy is on one of the swings. Tell him to go home. Now."

We've spent countless hours in front of your Magna Doodle, drawing letters, shapes, and numbers. But numbers have been your favorite this month. (I don't want it to sound like I *make* you sit down and learn your numbers - we have 0% structure when we play, but you love to learn, and I'm more than happy to oblige.) You can identify pretty much every number through 20. But instead of pointing to the '9' when I ask, you turn the Magna Doodle upside down and point to the 6. You think it's hee-larious that a 6 is an upside-down 9. Have I mentioned that you're weird?

One day, you were trying to pick up two mini-basketballs at the same time (note: it didn't work). I asked you how many balls there were and you proudly held up two fingers. You let me have one of the balls and I asked how many balls you now had. And you held up one finger. Yes, it's probably a fluke. But I like to tell myself that you totally understand subtraction.

When I get you in the morning, I recently started asking you if you had sweet dreams. This prompts you to launch into a stream of various animal sounds, pointing to body parts, and holding up random fingers. The conversation goes something like this:

Me: Hi pumpkin! Did you have a good sleep? Did you have sweet dreams?
You: *horse noise*
Me: You dreamed about horses? That sounds exciting!! (In reality, that sounds terrifying - have I told you about my crazy fear of horses?)
You: *hippo face*
Me: Horses AND hippos? Wow! How fun!
You: *points to your ear*
Me: Horses and hippos and ears? Really?!
You: *fish face*
Me: Horses and hippos and ears and fish? Holy moly!
You: *holds up 1 finger*
Me: Horses and hippos and ears and fish and one? That sounds like a crazy dream!
You: *sounding out the letter B*
Me: Horses and hippos and ears and fish and one and the letter B? Dude. That's wild.
*I can practically see your wheels turning as you try to come up with another thing to add to the dream. It's hysterical*

We put up the Christmas tree this month, and I have to admit, I was really nervous as to how you'd handle it. Last year, you showed no interest in it. Granted, last year, you were hardly mobile and easily persuaded to play with other things. This year? Not so much. We might regret this decision, but we decided to decorate the tree with regular (ie: breakable) ornaments. And so far, you've done really well. Granted, we've had to tell you 14 gajillion times to be gentle, but so far, so good. As soon as the tree was set up, you pulled one of your chairs over to the tree, sat down, and started petting the tree. It was so, so cute. Daddy tried to tell you to keep your hands folded when you come up to the tree, so you can learn to look with your eyes, not with your hands. Well you, Miss Literal, upon hearing that, tried to touch your eye to the tree. So much for that lesson.

I love watching you put together your alphabet puzzle. First of all, you can put it together really fast. Granted, you've put it together 4,912 times, so you SHOULD be fast, but still. Second, you make a sound or say a word for almost each letter.

A: ahh-PUHL (apple) or you clap your hands together (like an aligator) or you point to the sky (airplane)
B: buh (sounding out the letter) or beebee (baby) or bah-bohl (bubble) or you lift up your shirt (belly)
C: cuh (sounding out the letter) or you say cooooooo-kie (still said in the Cookie Monster voice)
D: Dah-DEEEEEEEE (Daddy)
E: you raise an arm up and make a burrrrrr sound (elephant)
F: you make a fish face
G: guh (sounding out the letter)
H: you make a blubbering sound (horse) or you give us a hug
I: you point to your eye (I can already see the meltdown that'll come when you find out that 'eye' starts with an E)
J: you stand up and jump
K: kuh (sounding out the letter) or you stand up and jump (kangaroo) or you kiss me or you run away because you know I want you to kiss me
L: ruh (trying to sound out the letter)
M: Mom-MEEEEEEEEEE (Mommy) or you point to your mouth
N: you point to yourself or you point to your nose
O: ohhhh-yeeeeeeeeeahhhhhhhh (that one's my favorite)
P: puh (sounding out the letter)
Q: cuh (sounding out the letter)
R: ruh (sounding out the letter)
S: ssssssssss (either making the S sound or being a snake) or you break into a huge smile
T: tuh (sounding out the letter) or you point to your toes or you point to your teeth or you point to your tongue
U: --
V: --
W: wuh (sounding out the letter)
X: --
Y: (You get very excited when you get to this letter - it was missing for a few months and when Daddy found it, it was like he had given you a million dollars [or, in terms of your currency, a million crackers])
Z: --

And you like taking one of the puzzle pieces and finding that same letter in your letter magnets. When you find a matching pair, you squeal and come racing towards me, so proud of yourself.

You fell out of your crib for the first time this month. You were in your crib for quiet time (which, by the way, has really worked out well for both of us. Each morning, I put you back in your crib with a stack of books so we can both have quiet time. You do your Natalie Noise during quiet time, so it's not technically *quiet*, but it still lets me get dressed and get ready for the day by myself). Anyway, so I hear you making your Natalie Noise. Then I hear a loud CRASH and think "Oh my gosh, this can't be good". You immediately start wailing - and I can tell it's not a "Hey, get me out of here! I hate Quiet Time!" cry. No, this is an "OWWWWWWWWWW!" cry. I run into your room and there you are. Sitting on the floor between your crib and your bookshelf. It's a miracle that you didn't crack your head on the bookshelf. You were terrified - I knew something was wrong when you snuggled with me for 10 minutes. I think that fall has kept you from trying to climb out again, but Daddy and I are going to convert your crib to a toddler bed.

So there goes my attempt at keeping you in your crib until you were 7. Bummer.

You blow my mind, sweet girl. With your creativity, your curiosity, your opinions, your sense of humor, your insatiable appetite for anything carbohydrate. I love being your mom. I love being there for all the new things you learn. I love hanging out with you. Thanks for not yet thinking I'm too lame to hang out with.

Hugs & smooches,
Mommy and Daddy

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Headlines for 12/1/10:

2 million to lose jobless benefits as holidays loom
State Dept.'s best sources burned by WikiLeaks flame
Remembering the comic genius of Leslie Nielsen
Dad charged with kidnapping 3 missing sons
Is Mariah Carey having twins?
Heart Attack Grill serves ‘quadruple bypass burgers’

Weekly Natalie - Week 97

2010-11-18T06:16:00.004-06:00

We spent last Sunday in Mobile with our cousins and their daughter. It was so nice to catch up - despite only living an hour away, we don't see each other nearly enough. Unfortunately, Nat was in a full-fledged I-don't-want-to-share-or-play-nicely-or-be-sweet-or-do-anything-except-grouse-and-whine mood until the last hour, but I did manage to snag a smile from her while we were playing outside. She loved that Crazy Coupe!

Weekly Natalie - Week 96

2010-11-12T08:44:00.007-06:00

One day late - but it was for good reason. Lee had off yesterday for Veteran's Day and we spent the day hanging out as a family. It was wonderful. We went to the park, got some books and DVDs from Family Bookstore, got some lunch, and took naps. Perfection, I tell ya.

Smooshy cheeks, sweet smile, and my missing hand towel!

Reeeeeeeeeach!

Enthralled with watching Daddy

"Hey, it's my turn!"

Getting schooled by Daddy

Weekly Natalie - Week 95

2010-11-04T11:59:00.008-05:00

Get ready for some serious cuteness, Internet. I bought Natalie's Halloween costume almost two months ago and it was pretty snug then. So I was worried that she wouldn't fit into it by the time Halloween rolled around. But thankfully she did - she had zero wiggle room, but that didn't matter. She should learn now that looking cute is sometimes uncomfortable.

Imitating Lee (her current favorite past-time)

Me and my sock-hopped (and Ritz-ed) little love

See what I told you? Serious cuteness.

All ready for the sock hop!

Daddy is the funniest

Why let a little rain get in the way of playing outside?

She looks like she's directing the rain drops :)

One of the sweetest pictures ever.
Nat and Gramma Lu having some snuggle time.
(I'll refrain from grousing about how Nat doesn't snuggle with ME)

October 2010 - Recap

2010-11-01T07:40:00.004-05:00

My sweet super-sensitive munchkin,

We're creeping closer and closer to the end of 2010. Which means you're creeping closer and closer to turning 2. Which means I'm creeping closer and closer to weeping in the corner, what with being the mom of a 2-year-old and everything.

Several things have stayed the same over the past few months. You still have the mouth of a 8- or 9-month old. You're still not a big talker - you're a big communicator but you haven't learned any new words recently. Your version of communication includes (but is not limited to) signing, pointing, throwing tantrums (feel free to stop that method any time), and squeaking. Yes, squeaking. You sound not unlike a guinea pig. (I know this because Aunt KK and I used to have guinea pigs. Aunt KK's guinea pig was a mellow, low-key beauty named Rosy. My guinea pig, however, was an energetic, moppy-topped, jumpy, noisy fellow named Moe. There are a lot of similarities between you and Moe. Except you don't sit in cedar shavings. And you're not shaped like a brick.)

This is what you sound like:

But what's new this month? Jumping! You love to jump. Anytime you see the letter J, you immediately start jumping up and down. For a week or so, your version of jumping was bending down then straightening your legs, all without your feet leaving the ground. But one day, you actually jumped. And let me tell you, you are getting some *serious* air. It's really impressive. Your basketball-loving daddy is so proud.

So you haven't learned any new words this month, but you've definitely started honing your sense of humor about words. "Baby" (or "bee-bee", as you say it) is one of your favorite words. Any kid in a stroller is a "baby" (even if the kid is 5 years old) and you know exactly where all the babies are in your books. One day, I pointed to a picture of a newborn in a stroller and asked you what that was. You quickly replied "bee ...... beebadobadobaaaaa" and burst into a fit of giggles. Then I asked you to say "bubble" (or "bah-bohl"), which is another of your favorite words, and you said "bah ...... bohleebadobadeebah". Cue the giggles again. A few days later, we were reading one of your books that has pictures of ocean creatures. One of the pictures is of kelp. You pointed to it and when I told you it was kelp, you immediately did your sign for "help" and started smiling. I was happy to play along, so I dramatically said "No! It's kelp not help!" Which, of course, made you laugh harder and keep signing "help". It was hysterical. I love watching you develop your sense of humor. Cuz that's what we run on in Team Smith - humor. Well, that and cheese.

You've never been a fan of feeding yourself with a spoon or a fork, but you're becoming a lot better. You get severely (like, for REAL) distressed when food falls off your spoon. Like, almost to the point that you don't want to eat anymore. You're great at getting the spoon in your mouth, but you're not a fan of scooping the food onto the spoon. Weird. (side note: in fact, you don't like scooping anything: sand, bathwater, dirt). So you want me to put food on the spoon for you. And I do - it's not a big deal. I know you won't be going to college still needing me to scoop your oatmeal for you. (Right?)

I'm immensely proud that you appear to be a full-fledged dork. You love numbers and letters, and you'd rather play with your flashcards than pretty much any other toy you have. You're able to identify most of the numbers 0-9, and for numbers 1-5, you can hold up that many fingers (though for 3, you grab three fingers with your other hand - you haven't mastered the dexterity of joining your pinky and thumb). Wherever we go, you point to the numbers above each checkout lane. You point to prices. You point to aisle numbers. Hmmm .... one of these days we should have the 'pointing is rude' talk.

You can also identify pretty much every letter. We often sit in front of the refrigerator and play "Where's That Letter?" with your alphabet magnets. Even if the letter is upside down, you're usually able to find it. Refrigerators haven't ever been this much fun.

You turned into a full-fledged daddy's girl this past month. It's really awesome, considering you spent the first 20 months of your life being a full-fledged mommy's girl. After you eat breakfast, you immediately run to our bedroom so you can hang out with Daddy while he gets ready for work. You mimic everything he does - you rub your fit over your face when he shaves, you move your hand up and down by your mouth when he brushes his teeth, and you run your hands through your hair when he brushes his hair. This has made Daddy's morning 100% better, I assure you.

In fact, our lives in general are 100% better with you, I assure you.

Hugs and smooches,
Mommy & Daddy

Headlines for November 1, 2010
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Elizabeth Smart Trial to Begin 8 Years After Kidnapping
Final Stretch for Florida Senate Race
Mail Bomb Terrorist's Third Attempt
Kentucky Teen Beats 115 Others to Take Home Miss World Title
'Captain Kangaroo' Actor James Wall Dead at 92
Oregon overtakes Auburn to top BCS standings

Weekly Natalie - Week 94

2010-10-29T06:39:00.004-05:00

Shoot. One day late.

I didn't take many pictures this week, but the ones I did take serve a great purpose to illustrate just how dorky we at Team Smith are. Natalie's favorite things to play with are flash cards. (See? Told you we were dorky.) This is a common game in our house: dump all the cards out of her basket, methodically look at each one and put it back in the basket (all while making her noisy Natalie Noise). Repeat. Then repeat again.

Flashcards are FUN!

Swimming in her cards

A very common sight in Casa de Team Smith

Belly flop on her cards

Weekly Natalie - Week 93

2010-10-21T06:47:00.004-05:00

I took a few pictures of Natalie during snack time the other day. This girl loves her some snacks, so it was a prime opportunity to get some cute shots.

About to eat some grapes - woo hoo!

Sweet baby.
(So these aren't really PIGTAILS! per say, but what are they?
PIGBUNS! ? PIGLOOPS! ? ANTENNAE! ?)

Looks like she's got a secret!

The cutest, slowest tooth-grower this side of the Mississippi.

It's hard to do an impression of a moose with a grape in her hand

Scruncher Bear!

Signing 'all done'

:) :)

Weekly Natalie - Week 92

2010-10-14T05:45:00.009-05:00

I take Natalie to the Naval Aviation Museum a few times each month. I know she's too young to really know what she's looking at, but this kid can't get enough of planes and helicopters. And stairs. And Legos. And it just so happens that the Air Museum is chock-full of each of those things. It's a win-win-win-win.

Chowing down on her snacks while watching a WWII video

Trying to climb out by herself

Pointing to the little boy who was sitting in the plane she
wanted to sit in. The look on her face plainly says "Um, Mommy?
See that boy over there? Yeah, take care of him, will you?"

Spider Baby

Soooooo big!

Watching some military guys do a dry run of an upcoming ceremony

Blurry Nat, running back and forth to the Lego House

Lee and Natalie walking through the corn maze
(Yes, we got lost.
Yes, multiple times.)

Realizing that it's hard to dig in the sand when you're
holding on to every toy you brought with you.
(Oh, and PIGTAILS!)

Dumping out her tools

Ha!

Sweet baby face

Pausing for a little smile

AIRPLANE!!!

Doing her "Oh my gosh, there's an airplane" dance!

LOVE her.

Safety McFeetFirst going down the slide

Weekly Natalie - Week 91

2010-10-07T06:18:00.006-05:00

I took Natalie to Sweet Seasons Farm this past weekend. It's a really great place that has a corn maze, hay rides, pony rides, corn launchers (!), and a playground. Lee wasn't able to come with me, so I was wrangling Natalie myself (which is why there are so few pictures). We're going back tomorrow so I'll be sure to take more pictures.

Me and my little love (who was not a happy camper by this point)

She loved climbing up and down the stairs.
At the top, there was a big tube slide. She wanting nothing
to do with it, but she definitely loved the stairs. Silly kid.

Performing a drum solo on her new helmet.

She looks unhappy in this picture, but I swear she was giggling

September 2010 - Recap

2010-10-01T05:49:00.003-05:00

Oh, you funny, funny little baby girl. I love your sense of humor. Without a doubt, you know how funny you are. When you do something bad, you immediately try to break the tension by dancing a little jig, playing peekaboo, or running through the list of animal noises/faces you know. While it's cute, I am SO on to your little game. And it doesn't work. (It does work a little bit on Daddy though ...).

This month, you've really let your sensitive personality show through. Especially when reading books - particularly Richard Scarry books and Fisher Price lift-the-flap books. You're deeply concerned about characters who are crying, sad, or who have fallen down. If you see a character who's crying, you point to him/her and immediately start whimpering. I'm not sure if you're imitating what the character is doing or if you're sad because the character is sad. Either way, it's sweet to see you so concerned about others. And if you see a picture of a car that's been in a wreck or is upside down or on its side, you point to it and look really distressed. Like you know that a car is supposed to be upright, sitting on all four wheels. And when it's not, something must be wrong. And if you see a picture of someone falling, tripping, or otherwise on the ground, again, something must be wrong. (I should add that it sounds like these books you read are violent - people falling down, wrecked cars - but I assure you that they're not. Richard Scarry is fantastic.)

Speaking of Richard Scarry, his books are your favorites. Your Aunt KK and I used to read Richard Scarry books when we were little, and it's so cool to see you enjoy them too. And you love - no, make that LOVE - finding Goldbug. Goldbug is hidden on each page of Cars, Trucks, and Things That Go. You practically burst out of your skin when you find him. You make this "OOOOOOOOOOOH!!!" sound, start dancing around, and point to him over and over. Sometimes he's tricky to find, but thankfully Daddy and I can come to your rescue and point him out (yeah, we're pretty proud of ourselves that we can find a gold-colored bug in a book geared towards preschoolers).

45 minute temper tantrum. No explanation needed.

This month, I started giving you toast for breakfast. Before, I had just given you regular bread, but I wanted to see what you thought of toast. And you love it! But the funniest part is how you have become an expert food-blower-onner. As soon as I put it on your try, you immediately hold up your hand and say "hot!" (actually, it sounds more like "ah!", but whatever). Then you pick it up and inflict hurricane-force blows on it. It's awesome.

Your latest game is Nattie Drums, Daddy Drums, and Mommy Drums. If we call out "Nattie Drums!", you start beating on your legs. Then you make your rounds to everyone in the room and play the appropriate drums on them. Sometimes Daddy Drums or Mommy Drums involves a single tap, and sometimes it's an all-out, no holds barred drum solo of epic proportions. You get such a kick out of it and you usually end up in a pile of giggles before too long.

You haven't learned any new words this month. Your total vocabulary is holding steady at 7 (Momma, Dadda, shoes, this, cookie, bubble, and baby). I constantly ask you to repeat words back to me. Before, when I would ask you to say a word you hadn't said before, you would just look at me with this listen-lady-I'm-not-falling-for-this-dumb-game stare. Now, though, you say "Momma" for any word you don't know. As much as I'd like for you to be more verbal, it's fun to hear so many 'Momma's.

I'm wondering if you're one of the kids whose speech is delayed because you know sign language (not ASL by any stretch ... more of a bootlegged, these-are-our-made-up-signs sign language). You have no desire to say 'dog' because you have a sign for 'dog' (in your case, you stick out your tongue and pant). You have no desire to say 'please' because you have a sign for 'please'. It doesn't matter, I'm sure. But it's something I'm mildly concerned about.

Daddy has a pick-up truck - it's a silver Chevy. But every time we pass pick-up truck, you say "Dadda". It's SO cute. Thankfully you don't get distressed when the truck's occupants don't acknowledge you - you don't seem to think it's actually Daddy in the truck. But you know that he has a truck, so you always think of him when we pass one. I love, love, love that.

You're still fairly picky when it comes to food. You consistently eat from a core group of food (pasta, bread, turkey, cheese, apples, bananas, raisins, Cheerios, sweet potatoes, broccoli, Ritz crackers), but it's hit-or-miss (usually a miss) when it comes to anything else. Just the other day, you had finished most of your lunch and you were ready for an apple (yep, you get apples for dessert. I know you'll be horrified to read this when you're older). I told you that you needed to eat 4 peas before I would give you an apple. I guess you were feeling especially feisty that day because you looked straight at me, picked up a pea, LICKED the pea, and then PUT THE PEA BACK DOWN ON YOUR TRAY. Then you motioned for an apple. Say WHAT?! I politely informed you that licking a pea did not equate to eating a pea. Then, still looking right at me with a big smile on your face, you started placing pea after pea in the pocket of your bib. Again, say WHAT?! I politely informed you that I could SEE what you were doing. I wasn't being fooled into thinking that you were actually EATING them. Needless to say, you were apple-less that day.

I handed in my Best Mom in the World award this month, and in return, I received the Worst Mom in the World award. I took you to the playground by our house and you made a wrong step and fell off (it was about a 4' drop). Granted, there wasn't really anything I could have done to prevent it. But still. I felt like a royal schmuck. Thankfully the playground had been freshly mulched not too long ago, so you landed on a big pile of mulch. It was a blessing that you weren't hurt, but I still took you to the pediatrician to check you over. The worst part of the whole thing for you was when I had to pick the mulch out of your sweaty moptop.

Now I don't really have any other toddler experience prior to you, so I don't know if this is typical or not ... but you go cuh-RAZY when you see airplanes. Or helicopters. Or school buses. Or semi trucks. Or garbage trucks. You do the same thing if you them in a book too. To you, there's nothing cooler than seeing these things. You squeal, screech, yell, dance, and/or spin around. I love seeing the world through your eyes. I pass by garbage trucks all the time and don't think a thing about it (except when garbage flies out and hits my car - THAT'S annoying). But you? It's as if every time you see one is the first time. Your excitement is truly infectious. I don't even think a tween girl about to go to a Justin Bieber concert is more excited than you when you see an airplane. To you, the world is amazing, beautiful, and exciting. And you know what? To me, YOU are amazing, beautiful, and exciting. How about that?

Hugs and smooches,
Mommy & Daddy

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Headlines for October 1, 2010:

Obama to unveil Emanuel's replacement
Couple indicted in Dugard kidnapping case
Storm kills 5, takes aim at New England
Obama meets with U.S. woman freed by Iran
'Social Network' is epic
Yabba dabba doo! 'The Flintstones' turn 50
11 million baby toys and high chairs recalled

Weekly Natalie - Week 90

2010-09-30T11:44:00.007-05:00

Now that the temperature had dropped below hot-enough-to-fry-an-egg-on-the-sidewalk, we're going outside a lot more. And the first thing Natalie goes to is her tricycle. Jess - I'm going to Toys R Us today to get her a helmet :)

Distracted by dog that just passed by

Getting the hang of it!

Riding a tricycle is hilarious!

Watching a group of big kids ride past on their bicycles.
She so wants to be big.

In case anyone was wondering, she's still soooo big!

Carefully maneuvering onto her tricycle

The tricycle experience was short-lived once she found a big stick

I love her smiling eyes

Swinging!!

So excited to see a school bus

Just when I think she's an expert bubble-blower ...

... enter the Bubble Eater

Weekly Natalie - Week 89

2010-09-23T08:13:00.004-05:00

Well, the munchkin found her birthday present almost 4 months early. Granted, Lee and I didn't go to great lengths to hide it - we put in the garage, where we pass through at least 5 times a day. So it wasn't a shocker that she found it. And since she's too young to care whether or not she has something to unwrap on January 1st, we let her play with it.

Daddy, showing Nat the finer points of pedaling a tricycle.

She got the hang of it pretty quickly

No reading session is complete without donning a winter cap

Numbers are FUN

Sweetness

Trying to hide her smile.

I'm biased, yes. But she has the cutest smile ever.

Weekly Natalie - Week 88

2010-09-16T06:16:00.007-05:00

Week 87 and my 30th birthday - a match made in heaven. (How on EARTH can I be 30? Especially when I still feel [and frequently act] like I'm 12?)

Nat's latest trick is climbing into her rocking chair. Which is a feat
in and of itself. But then she throws an oversized book in the mix
just to make things a little more interesting.

The book quickly fell from her lap, but she didn't sweat it.

Loving the cowboy boots I got her at the Mom 2 Mom sale.
An awesomely cute $2, if I say so myself.
Which I do.

I love her. So very much.

Even though I don't particularly like Halloween,
and even though it's 6 weeks away, I wanted to post these.
I bought this (most awesome) costume (in in the WORLD)
from the Mom 2 Mom sale. When I got home I realized
that it might be too small for her. I tried it on her yesterday,
and while it fits, it's questionable whether or not it'll fit in 6 weeks.
So I wanted her to wear it at least once.
All she needs are bobby socks and a scarf in her hair!!Can't get much cuter than this face.

Silly girl

My gappy-toothed little love

Seriously love this costume

Weekly Natalie - Week 87

2010-09-09T07:44:00.007-05:00

My fantabulous husband surprised me with an early birthday present to take an impromptu (well, as impromptu as parents of a toddler can get) trip to Panama City to see my wonderful sister and brother-in-law. I didn't take nearly the number of pictures I was planning, but that's how it goes!

We left at her bedtime so she'd sleep the whole way.
Ha.
We played peekaboo the whole way instead.

Peekaboo!!

Running away with Daddy's tickets and the basketball he needs

Wearing Daddy's tickets like a boa.
My little fashionista.
Passed out like a champ on the way home.
I love her moptop hair. And pouty lips.
And her overall adorableness.

Weekly Natalie - Week 86

2010-09-02T12:46:00.009-05:00

Hooray! The return of my PIGTAILED! little love. I can't believe how long her hair is getting. Her PIGTAILS! aren't little paintbrushes anymore; they're actually bouncy and curly (and, of course, sweaty, but that goes without saying)

Some Daddy/Nattie reading time

Being a total goofball at the park

PIGTAILED! cuteness

PIGTAILED! peekaboo

Happy after her last trip down the slide

PIGTAILED! swinging

Out of the bus ...

In the bus! (her favorite game at the park)

Whoa ...

I love her crinkly, smiley eyes

Mono PIGTAIL

Super cheeseball

Doing her Laundry Basket Dance

Giving her frog a new home

Her surprised (and yogurt-y) face

Trying to get me to chase her
(two nanoseconds after I shot this picture, I did)

Time for a Seuss break

Reading her Sesame Street book in the dustpan.
Don't ask me.