Say Cheese!

Natalie loves taking pictures with her new "cheese." She also loves to see the flash. So, she takes a lot of cheeses of herself! Our neice Ava used to do the same and we laughed. Karma laughs now. =)

Making A Cake and Eating It Too!

Natalie helps me make a cake and then is very proud of being able to read "C-A-K-E Cake!"

Plan B is Go!

Forget those boy-green curtains, check out these pink flower print ones! They're a keeper! Next we get to see how long it takes 2 people to agree on a shade of girl-green paint.

Bringing The Beach Home

Natalie's had a sand box for a few weeks now, but has been too scared to get in it, she usually just squats around the edge and lets me do most of the digging/dumping/pouring. Not anymore! She took her shoes off and dove right in!

A Baby No More

Saturday night Natalie slept in her Pack-N-Play at the in-laws.
Sunday night she did not.
She climbed out numerous times.
She had to sleep that night with me.
At the beach she slept in a day bed in our room ~ with no side rails, just some extra pillows on the floor.
Now, at home, she sleeps in my old bed.
Sideways.
Or Upside down.
All through the night.
When I think about it I want to cry.
My baby girl is growing up.

V is for Vacation!

We spent 5 days at Pawley's Island, SC and had a wonderful time. We were there with my extended family, this part consisting of 11 adults and 11 kids (ages 2 to 16)!! With the exception of one family of 4, we were all in one house together! The kids did a great job of entertaining each other and we adults had some fun too. One afternoon Josh even got in a round of golf while Natalie and I did some shopping. Our game of Putt Putt quickly turned sour, however, as it was during a day with no nap and Natalie didn't understand why she couldn't just hold onto all the golf balls.

As for the actual beach, unlike last year, Natalie LOVED it! We spent each morning there and she went from being afraid to touch the sand to pouring it on herself out of a bucket. She also would head down to the water on her own and Josh or I would have to run after her to be there for her. Natalie had a lot of fun kicking over mini sand castles that we would build for her, regrettably, I didn't get a picture of her doing this, but there were several others taking photos, so maybe one will surface. Although I kept SPF 50 on her the whole time, she's come home with the cutest little Water Babies style tan line around her butt. It's adorable!

As with all good vacations, I didn't want to leave, but was so glad to get home.

Na-a-lie & Afa

Our vacation began with 2 days at Josh's parents house. Not surprisingly, the most fun of the weekend was watching Ava and Natalie play together.

We're Back!

We're back from our week vacation. Have no fear, I'll update soon, but first I have hundreds of emails to check, tons of laundry to do, and millions of pictures to sort through. Then you'll be able to read about all our family visits, life on Pawley's Island, and Natalie's unexpected transition to a big girl bed!!

Here's one my Uncle took of us and e-mailed to me. They're still there for another day, so his laundry must not be piling up like mine. =)

What's Better Than New Shoes?

New Shoes On Sale!!!

The other day Josh noticed Natalie's toes were red when we took off one pair of shoes, this morning I had some difficulty getting a different pair on and then after we did get some shoes on Natalie kept reaching down to her toes. "What does this mean?" you may ask. Well, it may take two adults and a week to figure it out, but it turns out her feet had grown! Duh! So today we ventured to Stride Rite, got a fitting, I found 3 pairs I liked and Natalie instantly put this pair on and was ready to go. And, as you may have read earlier, they were on sale!!! Happy Toddler, Happy Mama, Cute Shoes!

A Banana!

Natalie and I were in Publix and she reached and asked for a "Nana." "Huh?" says me, "you want a banana?" "A Ba-Nana!" Okey Dokey. Where she learned what a banana was and how you eat one is beyond me, but go for it, Girl!

My Dayee!
Happy Fathers Day!

We celebrated a few days early since we're headed out of town on Saturday. Natalie can read I Heart U and says "I Wove You!", so in the card I was going to write I Heart U. After I wrote the "I" she took the marker from me, scribbled "Wove" and then scribbled "You". Then she read the card to Josh. "I. Wove. You!" What a beautiful moment!

Scratch That About The Window Treamtent

It's a good thing I'm ahead of schedule on this planning Baby's room thing. The curtains came in. They're totally the wrong shade of green. They're a very GREEN-green. A boy's green. Not a sweet little baby girl's green. So after the hardware comes in (due to arrive on the 10th) then we'll see what a plan B could be.

Week In Review

Swimming Lessons are not going to be very fun.

A fork makes as good a nose (think Pinocchio) as it does a hat.

Dove Milk Chocolate with Almonds... Yum!

I will never again work a 12 hour shift.

Chicken Fingers are good in ketchup but are better plain.

Praise Publix for their Baby Club coupons!

We're guaranteed Baby's window treatments will be finished before she gets here.

Mosquitoes love Josh. Josh hates mosquitoes.

The beach house we're staying in looks like a collage from Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware. I can't wait!

Chick Fil A has graduated from being called "eat" to being called "9". (look at the big C and turn it backwards!)

Salem steals Biscottis and makes Natalie scream at him and then cry.

It's the first week of June and it's already 95 degrees.

Carter and Parker are both "Tarter".

"Nite Nite Sog (Frog). Weereisit? Nite Nite Sog. Weereisit? I unno. Nite Nite Sog. Weereisit?" Repeat endlessly, even in Publix. ~ a result of Natalie's first frog sighting and subsequent chasing in the back yard

Tomorrow is Friday.

=)

Dreams Can Come True

remember this?

Well, dreams really can come true for some Dads:

**Editors Note: Josh and Natalie played together doing racing and jumps. No cussing, no shooting, no drugs, and definitely no hookers were any part of this quality time.**
=)