Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all!  We're going to a party tonight and I made an 08 cake!

Natalie's Riding

I was suprised this morning to see that Natalie can get on and off this little car herself. She's not pushing it anywhere yet, but she likes to sit on it and play with all the buttons and dials.

Family Picture

On Christmas Eve we had dinner with our friends and here's a cute picture of us!

10 Month Bunny Pic (and 1 Month for reference)

Christmas Twins and Hair Drama

Instead of buying the matching kid's PJ's to mine at Children's Place, I just matched Polly! The adult PJ's were 8.00 and the kids were 16.50...tell me how that makes sense?



I tried dying my hair tonight. I got dark ash blonde, because that is how I always remember my hair. But post pregnancy it's always seemed so dark so I finally decided to color, it's been about 2 years. Anyway I think it turned out a little red, yikes! That, or I'm just not used to seeing it lighter yet. What do you think? You might have to click and make it bigger to be able to see clearly.

Christmas Morning

Natalie must have been antsy for Santa because she slept HORRIBBLY last night. She was first up every 2 hours, then every hour. Nothing could be found to be wrong, as soon as we picked her up she was back asleep.

Nonetheless we had a great Christmas. I made muffins and hot chocolate for Ryan and I, and Natalie had Cheerios and peaches. Then we opened gifts on the webcam with Oma and Opa. Next, we opened presents from Susan and Jen, and from Ryan and I to each other. Finally, we called Grandma and Popaw on the webcam and opened their gifts. Natalie was very tired by the end and went straight to a nap. She was trying so hard to sit up in the crib and fight sleep, but she just ended up backing herself into the corner and passing out.

Natalie got a ton of cool stuff! Bath toys, clothes, pj's, Cabbage Patch Doll, Boo Boo toys for the freezer, books, puzzles, blocks, games, you name it! Even some pool toys and a jewelry box. Ryan and I got a lot of wonderful gifts too - ornaments, new Christmas decorations, books, clothes, hats, pjs, scarves, slippers, golf balls, photo frames, and new luggage for all our travels.

Thank you so much for thinking of us. We hope you all had a great Christmas too! Here are some pics of us enjoying the morning!

Merry Christmas

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To our out of town friends, we wish we could share Natalie's first Christmas with you all, but we will do our best to post some pictures and videos. It's more for us than her, she won't really get it yet.

To our VA friends, thank you for making our Christmas special. We have enjoyed having dinners and parties to attend and making all three of us feel loved.

Ryan and I both look forward to many more memories with you all near and far in 2008!

Natalie's Holiday Video

Natalie and Ryan watched her Santa Baby Einstein video today.

Drake came to join in the holiday fun.


Natalie with a small smile.

Natalie's Playdate

We went to a daytime ornament exchange and let all the kiddos play. Natalie played with Maddie, Sondra's daughter. I got the cutest ornament! It's a moose that looks like it was made out of kitchen utensils and food. We had a good time!

Tis The Season

My monday playgroup, The Mod Squad, had a family potluck on Saturday and we exchanged Secret Santa gifts with each other and the kids. Natalie got a Disney Princess fleece blanket with her name embroidered on it, and I got a party girl picture frame with a gift certificate for a pedi. These are some of my best VA friends! Heather, Sondra, Pam, Jackie, and Polly! We had pomegranate martinis, mmmm!


Here I am at an Ornament Exchange after Ryan got back from Vegas. It was my first night out without Natalie in a week. Good times!

Outfit from Oma

Natalie is trying hard to wear all her Christmas outfits before December is over. Here is what she wore to church today. All the kids got a present her in her classroom today, a book of family prayers.

We also had a nice service about making the most of what you've got. Christmas might not be the perfect way you envision it, but when the angels were told about Jesus, they were filled with great joy. We were given a chinese take-out box to hang on the tree and fill with slips of paper of what you have that brings you joy. So that way when you don't get the gift you wanted, or the family you want to celebrate with, or something else that tries to bring you down, you can look inside and remember all you have to be joyful for.

Just looking at these pictures of Natalie help me remember to have joy. Her wide open mouth smile just looks joyful!

Mohawk is back?

She used to have her cute little water spout, carrot top, mohawk, but now it's flopped over. Here it came back when she put more food in her hair!

Just Like Daddy

I caught Natalie trying to sneak in to her presents early, just like her daddy does.

Here I go!


Look what I've got!


What is it???

Natalie and Moani

Natalie went to play with Moani today while her momma went to her other daughter's school. They had fun mooching for food and playing together. Natalie was very worn out when we first arrived and had a little nap. I heard Moani went to sleep at 5:30 tonight so they need to play more often!!!

Ryan's Home!!!

I didn't post this, but Ryan was in Las Vegas from Friday to Friday for work! Natalie and I survived our first TDY (temporary duty) without Ryan. He enjoyed free time there too - he tried a few casinos and new eateries with friends. I know he hit the Palms, Treasure Island, and a few casinos on the old strip. Didn't come back with any winnings though - although he will make money from the per diem (food money) from his travels.

He was surprised that Natalie looked older, talked more, and can even stand a few seconds on her own. I'm glad to have him back. It was a tough week, but we made it!

Christmas Pictures

Here is Natalie's 9 month/Christmas picture. We drove up to Richmond yesterday to have them done. She's so cute, if I do say so! She just cut her 8th tooth today so she has 4 on the top and 4 on the bottom. A big mouthful for such a little girl. She's starting to change her look I think, more like a kid than a baby. Sad!

Sick Again

Little Miss got the all clear from her Doc on Thursday that the ear infections were gone. Well after a 102.9 fever today and another trip to urgent care, they are both back. She's on a stronger antibiotic this time that causes 'loose stools' and yeast infections. Oh, cloth diapers will be just a bowl of cherries this week. She also has to stay on Tylenol and a decongestant. What a week this will be. Here's a few pics of her looking like she feels fine...



Note the dog food on the tip of her finger...she's in there ALL the time!!! You might have to click on the pics to see it larger.

Date Night

Here are some silly pics of Ryan and I before a night out on the town. We had dinner at Texas Steakhouse and then looked for new phones at the Sprint Store. We had fun being together without Miss N. Thanks for sitting as usual Polly!

Ho Ho Ho - or something like that!

Around here, we've had several news articles circling about Santa not being able to say Ho Ho Ho because it's degrading to women. How lame.

Here's some pics of Natalie in her Christmas finest delivering presents in her new wagon from Grandma Windle!



She's laughing in this picture, not crying!

Bozo Eats Dinner

Now that Natalie can't keep her hands out of the spoon, bowl, tray...she gets VERY messy. She also did her own hair tonight. Nice...

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Look hard for the antler hat, it kind of blends into the chair.

Eating with a Spoon

Natalie is going through 2 independent streaks with eating. First off, she eats breakfast fine with a spoon, me feeding her. Dinner, she either wants to feed herself by picking up food or not eat. So I think she likes fruits better than veggies now. Tomorrow I may try veggies in the morning to see if she eats them. Anyway I bought her some 9 month and up spoons, and if we load it up for her, she's feeding herself! Watch this video!

Hollydazzle

Last night we went to City Center for a Hollydazzle festival. There were crafts, characters, and a train to watch. It was so cold, so we didn't stay for the fireworks, but Natalie had fun visiting with her friends.

Here she is all bundled up. "I can't put my arms down"


Me and Natalie enjoying the lights.


Liam!


Maddie!


Caitlin and Christopher!